LISA

Late in the afternoon, when I arrive at the toy wholesalers after work, I'm still beating myself up about my behavior this morning. I shouldn't have flirted with her, but I did. I guess I was so thrown at seeing the Hamptons' Escorts business card on her kitchen island that I didn't think anything through. Maybe she didn't even see me on the website. Maybe she was checking out the men. Maybe the card really was her ex-husband's, but her reaction was extreme, and today I noticed her looking at me in a certain way. With interest.

"Can I help you?"

"Yes, please." Despite my anxious mood, I manage a smile. I've been looking forward to this moment for a long time and I need to put the conversation out of my mind. "I'd like to see your pool toys."

"Sure. I'm Randy, happy to be of assistance. Anything specific you're looking for?" The sales manager glances at my stained top and ripped shorts. He probably thinks I'm a gardener sent out to get toys for her bosses' kids.

"Just show me everything you've got. I need a huge selection."

Randy's eyes light up at this and he walks ahead to an aisle filled with inflatables. "We have just about anything from kids' inflatables to floating bars and there's lots of crazy stuff toward the back."

"Great." I glance over the enormous selection. "Let's start with the small things. The pink, sprinkled doughnuts look like they would be perfect for a bachelorette party. Are they good quality? I need toys that will last."

"They're good," he says. "And they're the biggest ones of their kind on the market. They have an inner seat and a cup holder. Wait, let me pull one down for you." He grabs a long stick and lifts one of the doughnuts on display off the hook. "Fifty-nine dollars. That includes a repair kit for small punctures."

I run my hand over the thick rubber. "Looks good. I'll have fifteen, please. Ten pink and five of the mixed ones."

Randy looks surprised but doesn't comment as he types it into his iPad. "I'm not sure if we have that many in stock. It would take about two weeks to get them here."

"That's fine, I'm not in a hurry; I still need to sign my storage lease. How about the floating bars?"

"This is our biggest and most spectacular floating bar," he says eagerly, pointing to a ten-seater with a round table in the middle. "It's four-hundred-and-seventy-nine dollars. Ten cup holders, a dip in the middle to place a wine cooler and comfortable backrests. It's hanging too high for me to get it down here, but if you give me an hour, I can arrange that."

"No need, I'll have two of those please. I've already checked out the reviews online." I point to the smaller floating bar that holds six. "And two of those." My excitement grows as we browse the aisles. This is it; I'm really doing it. It's taking my mind off Jennie and that's a good thing. At the same time, I'm a little afraid that I'm pouring my savings into something that won't work.

"May I ask what you're planning on doing with all this stuff?" he asks.

"I'm starting a rental business. Party props."

"Great idea." The way Randy looks at me makes me think he's wondering why he hasn't thought of this himself. "Lots of parties in the Hamptons. Have you approached any party and wedding planners yet?"

"Yeah, I have. The season hasn't started yet but some of them have already come back to me with enquiries, so I thought I'd better get the stock in before I give them a quote."

"Good for you." Randy opens a picture on his iPad and shows it to me. "This might interest you. We don't have it in stock, but we can order it for you."

"Wow." I eye the twenty-five-foot-high climbing wall that is attached to the edge of the show pool. "I've never seen that before."

"Glad I'm able to show you something new," he says with a grin. "It's safe for adults—provided you can swim of course—as you can only fall into the water, and it's fantastic for those who want something active. I've only sold one of these, ever, but they're popular in the Emirates for some reason. Perhaps they have bigger pools there."

"There are plenty of big pools here too. How much?"

"Twenty-seven hundred dollars."

"Okay." I look at the rest of the pictures while mentally scrolling through my budget and try to analyze who would want to rent something like this. Admittedly, I can't think of anyone who wouldn't want to have a go at it because it looks fun. Having a unique product people can't get elsewhere is a bonus, so I nod and hand him back the iPad. "I'll take it."

As I say it, Randy pumps his fist, then laughs at himself, rolling his eyes. "I swear, I don't even work on commission, but I love toys and you're my dream customer."

I laugh too and give him a hearty slap on his shoulder. "So you know how everything works, and how to set it up properly?"

"Oh, yes. It's my job to know how everything works."

I cast my eye over him and note that he looks quite buff underneath the oversized baby-blue company polo shirt he's wearing. "Looking for a side job by any chance?"

"Are you serious?" Randy frowns. "Doing what?"

"Just setting things up, really. Making sure it's all safe and solid. I can't offer you a contract of course, and I'm aware it's highly inappropriate to discuss this at your workplace, so maybe we could talk over a beer instead…" I glance around to make sure no one's listening in but we're all alone. "I need someone to help me on a freelance basis until my company gets off the ground, so if you have some spare time outside your job, I'd be happy to give you the hours on a trial basis, if you're interested."

"I most certainly would." Randy beams. "I could do with the extra money; my wife and I are expecting a baby and I only work here four days a week."

"Okay. Then let's meet up to discuss it." Randy is seriously keen. I haven't thought this through, but it seemed like a no-brainer, just like it was a no-brainer for me to start this business after seeing how the other half lives and how they struggle to get rid of all the things they buy, just for a party. I can't even count the times someone's asked me if I'd like an inflatable unicorn, a waterproof beer pong set or a beach volleyball net. Just like my clients' cleaners and gardeners, I can't accept any of those; I don't have a pool and I don't have the storage. At least not yet. They buy things because it fits the theme of their party. Money is not the issue; the issue is getting rid of the stuff cluttering their backyards. Most people here are environmentally conscious, they don't want to be seen throwing things away, so hiring would be the perfect solution. As far as party planners are concerned, I can only assume they'd be delighted with the opportunity to hire everything they need from one place, saving them a lot of time, stress and effort.

"I'm in. Are you local?" Randy asks.

"Sort of. I'm in Sag Harbor."

"Perfect. I'm in East Hampton, we can meet up somewhere in the middle." He beckons me to follow him, now bouncing like a kid in a candy store. "And now that I know the kind of stuff you're after, I have so much more to show you."

"Awesome." I follow him and chuckle at his enthusiasm. Randy was exactly what I needed to get my drive back.