wiry woman who possessed enough gumption for ten people, stepped between Chloe and Alan and said, “My daughter has been trying to reach you to discuss financial matters. Did you get her messages?”
“I, um, no. I don’t recall getting them,” Alan answered as Magdeline and Arlin ushered him toward the door.
“Why don’t we go with you to your office,” Arlin suggested. She must have just had her hair done, because it was even brighter orange than usual. “We can call her together.”
Alan glanced at his watch and said, “I have a meeting now, but I’ll look into it as soon as I’m free.”
“Perfect!” Magdeline exclaimed, and she closed the conference room door behind him. She and her friends chuckled like they’d just pulled off the greatest scheme.
Rose shuddered, her snow-white hair bouncing with the movement. “That man gives me the creeps.”
Chloe tried to keep a straight face, but laughter spilled out.
“How did he get this job?” Arlin asked.
“I’ll tell you how. He’s Darren’s son,” Magdeline said. Darren Rogers was the CEO of LOCAL.
Rose put her hand over her heart and said, “Darren is dreamy. I have no idea how he fathered that man, although I have to say that I’ve heard the board is very happy with the work Alan’s doing.” She took Chloe’s hand and said, “How are you, sweetie?”
“I’m fine, Rose. Really. Alan is harmless.” Chloe was careful not to cross any lines with the residents, although she wanted nothing more than to say she was better now.
“As harmless as a rattlesnake, if you ask me,” Magdeline said. “I wonder what his wife sees in him. She’s a lovely woman.”
Chloe put on her virtual administrator hat and said, “That’s enough, ladies. He’s just a close talker. A lot of people are like that.”
“Do they all make you feel like you need a shower afterward, the way he does?” Arlin asked.
“Oh, please, Arlin,” Rose said. “I’m sure Chloe doesn’t waste her time on close talkers. She probably has a gaggle of more appropriate handsome gentlemen vying for her attention. Why, they’re probably lining up around the block, and they’re the ones needing showers after talking with her. Cold showers.”
“Oh my goodness, Rose. No, that’s not true.” Chloe picked up the folder of presentation materials and began sorting through them.
“What do you mean that’s not true?” Rose asked. “You’re a beautiful, smart woman.”
Chloe met their disbelieving eyes and said, “The dating pool on the Cape is rather slim. I don’t have a lot of luck in that department.”
“Oh, honey, let us fix that for you. Sit.” Magdeline nudged Chloe into a chair.
The three of them pulled chairs around Chloe and sat down, like a firing line.
“Okay. Now, Chloe, tell us how you are meeting men,” Magdeline said authoritatively.
Chloe knew they’d keep asking unless she gave them an answer, so she made it quick in hopes of returning to her meeting preparations. “I use dating apps, and I go to clubs. Well, a club. My friend Colton owns Undercover in Truro, so I hang out there sometimes.”
“Clubs are good. Hot guys hang out at clubs,” Arlin said.
“My granddaughter uses Binder. She said it’s the best way to meet guys,” Magdeline said. “I swear every time I talk to her, she’s going to meet up, or hook up, or whatever up it is you kids do these days.”
“It’s Tinder, Mags,” Arlin corrected her. “It’s a hookup app.”
“That’s what I said. Kids hook up for dates.”
“It’s a sex app, not a dating app,” Arlin clarified. “Geez, Mags, you really need to ask more questions before you go spouting off like that. My daughter told me all about Tinder. Kids go on there for sex. Nothing but sex.” She leaned closer to Rose and lowered her voice to say, “I wish we had that here. It sure would make things a lot easier than all the small talk nonsense we have to go through.”
“Okay, ladies, enough about Tinder.” Chloe had tried Tinder, but she’d known after the first meet-up that it was not the app for her. “And I really don’t want to hear about any sexual trysts going on at LOCAL.”
Arlin and Mags giggled like schoolgirls.
Rose waggled her finger at them and said, “You’re going to get in trouble.”
“Hush.” Arlin waved her hand dismissively. “Sex is a normal part of life.”
“Maybe Chloe should be on Tinder.” Magdeline looked compassionately at Chloe and said, “Sex is good, sweetheart. It can lead to other things.”