Angelica had done me a favor in the end. I’d been so shattered professionally and hurt personally. When she’d called to apologize and offer me the job after all, it’d been gratifying, and it had helped to soothe my feelings toward her. Last week, I’d taken lunch to her at her home and spent some time with her and Sabrina, who was acting more like a nurse than a business assistant these days.

For the first time ever, we’d not discussed business, since it was no longer my business and Angelica was barely involved anymore. I’d questioned her about one thing that still bothered me—how she’d found out I was Holden’s investor. Though she hadn’t admitted it outright, I was pretty sure she’d had someone hack financial records somehow. It didn’t matter anymore.

Angelica’s health was failing fast; it was obvious upon seeing her. She had a hospital bed in her house because she was too weak to sit up on her own at times, and she didn’t have energy to do much but lie around and watch streaming shows with Sabrina. The old Angelica had barely known what streaming TV service was, and now it was just about all she had. I couldn’t help but feel sympathy for her. Sabrina had told me in private that she’d be surprised if Angelica was still alive in two months. I was glad I’d gone to see her, because it had helped me put my remaining bad feelings toward her to bed.

Nick Carlisle sauntered up to our group then, with Seth lagging behind him, preoccupied with something on his phone. “When are you guys getting that brewery open for business? It’s gotta be close. The outside’s looking good,” Nick asked.

“We’re working on the beer and the inside,” Kemp said. “Shooting for late-July for a soft opening. We’ll be looking to hire a beer boy soon if you’re interested.”

Nick snorted. “I’m interested in the brewski, not the job.”

“We’re working as fast as we can,” Holden said. “Trust me, I want to open even more than you want us to open.”

“Good beer takes time,” I said smugly, as if I had all the beer knowledge in the world. I didn’t, of course, but I’d learned a bunch.

“So does construction,” Kemp said. “Trust me, you’ll know when we’re close to opening.”

“I’ll make sure of it,” Loretta said, apparently well aware of her reputation as a gossip hound, and we all laughed. “Dotty’s sitting all by herself over there. Why don’t we go keep her company?” She directed the question to Kona.

“Of course. I could stand to rest my feet,” Kona said, and they headed in Dotty’s direction.

“What’s up, Mr. Antisocial?” Holden said to Seth, who was still hanging back, texting away.