interested in resilient design. I’m not there anymore. I have my own business designing mostly residential buildings.”
“Well, as it turns out, your residential designs have come to our attention,” Brant said.
“What?” She was gobsmacked. How on earth could any of her designs have reached Damon Brant’s attention? There were a lot of miles between Magnolia Harbor and Miami.
Brant chuckled. “Yoshi Akiyama is an old friend of my managing partner.”
“Oh,” was all she managed to say.
Mr. Akiyama again. She’d had no idea, when he’d hired her to design his bird house, that he’d be her main source of marketing. The man was connected all over the South. Every single project, including Topher’s, had been as a result of that very first house she’d built here on Jonquil Island.
“Yes,” Brant said. “Yoshi and Justin Waller were roommates at Georgia Tech. And Yoshi kept telling Justin that we needed to talk to you. Justin was out there in South Carolina last weekend and saw the house for the first time. He said the engineering is solid.”
“Thank you.” Heat crawled up her face.
“So, we’ve taken a look at your online portfolio. You’re very inventive.”
“Uh, thanks.”
“Look, I know this is coming from way out of the blue. But BWP is planning to expand our services into residential design, both custom-built homes and design build, and we’re looking for architects with that kind of experience. We need a team leader. And I was wondering what it would take to induce you to come down to Miami. We could give you an opportunity to design a lot more houses.”
Holy moly. This was like some weird dream come true, only the timing couldn’t have been worse. She’d just plunked down a huge chunk of her savings on that Herman Miller furniture. Could she cancel the order?
But did she want to do that?
She honestly didn’t know.
“Um, look, you’re right. This is from way out of the blue. I’ve been working to establish my own business, and—”
“I understand. And there’s nothing like working for yourself. But you’ll never have as much opportunity in South Carolina as you could here in Miami.”
“So, what’s your time frame? Can I think about this?”
“Of course. We’re just putting the plans together for this new division. You’ve got time, but we’d like to have you down to Miami in the next few weeks so you can see what we’re about and why we want you so badly.”
She almost said no, and then she thought about Granny and Daddy and all the people in her life who’d told her what a screwup she was.
Here was validation in the form of someone she respected. She’d be an idiot not to at least consider his offer.
“Okay. But I’ve got a couple of projects I’m working on now and—”
“No problem. If you decide the fit is good, you can complete anything you’re working on. Honestly, Jessica, we’re very excited about the possibility of having you. Justin hasn’t stopped talking about Yoshi’s house.”
“All right. I’ll consider it.”
“Great. I’ll have my secretary give you a call in a day or two, and we’ll schedule a visit.”
When she ended the call, she leaned back in her chair. Should she seriously consider this?
A little voice said yes, so she picked up her phone, called the furniture distributor, and canceled her order.
She could give it a couple of weeks. Maybe this offer from the firm in Miami was exactly what she needed.
Maybe she wasn’t cut out to be a businesswoman. She was terrible at the marketing and organization. Maybe getting a job would give her more time to do what she loved best.
It was an exciting thought, until she remembered MeeMaw’s house. If she left Jonquil Island, she’d have to leave the old place behind.
She couldn’t leave it unoccupied, and it would cost a fortune to renovate it to the point where it was suitable for a vacation rental. The truth was clear. She’d have to sell it. But letting go of that place would break her heart.
* * *
Thursday afternoon, after a day and a half of brooding over his nearly disastrous swimming adventure, Topher decided it was time to figuratively get back on the horse that had thrown him.
He put on his swimsuit and headed out to the beach. He understood the risks, but swimming was improving his health. He promised himself that he’d swim closer to shore, where he could touch the bottom in case he got into trouble. And he wouldn’t push himself too far too fast. He was an