Certainly Sensible (22 page)

Allie shifted uncomfortably. “My incision is still tender, but I can walk by myself now. Can I
please
go home?”

Dr. Li examined Allie’s stitches. “I think so, as long as your mother’s there to help you. I don’t want you pushing yourself too hard too soon.”

“Don’t worry, doctor,” Susan said. “I’ll take good care of her.”

“Thank you, thank you!” Allie exclaimed, but winced in pain and curtailed her exuberance.

“I’ll leave a prescription for pain meds at the nurse’s station. Susan, be sure you fill it before you take her home.” Dr. Li patted Allie’s arm and left.

“What all shall we take with us?” Susan asked, surveying the room. A lot had accumulated in a mere forty-eight hours. There was the hastily packed bag she’d brought for Allie yesterday, filled with clean underwear, socks, and clothes to wear home; the flowers from Brandon; a potted plant from her dad and Sharlene; get-well cards from Megan, Caroline, Richard, Brittany, and one from Emily and Sara. Susan started gathering up the cards and stopped short. “Hey, when did this one arrive?”

“This morning,” Allie said with a frown. “It’s a generic
Get well soon
card, just signed Mark.”

Susan flipped it open. “How did he even know you were sick?”

“Does it matter?” Allie asked.

Susan hated the look of hurt and disappointment on Allie’s face. “Does it?”

Allie sighed. “Mark and I never had the relationship I fantasized about, Mom. He wouldn’t even speak to me that night in Chicago.” She shook her head, the tears springing to her eyes. “How could I have been such an idiot?”

Susan stepped to Allie’s bedside and took her hand. “You weren’t an idiot.”

“But I was so sure it was the real thing. Even though Caroline kept warning me.”

Susan gently hugged Allie, thinking what a run of bad luck her daughter had had this summer, but there was a knock on the half-open door, interrupting her unhappy thoughts.

“Come in,” Allie called as Brandon pushed open the door.

Brandon looked around the room. “Going home today?”

Allie smiled and nodded. “Dr. Li just discharged me.”

Susan turned her back to give them a little privacy, and took much longer than necessary to gather up the cards, flowers and toiletries, and place them on the rolling cart.

“Maybe it won’t be long before you can get back to practicing the piano.”

Allie slowly moved to dangle her feet off the side of the bed and slipped into her sandals. “It’s hard for me to sit up for any length of time right now, but maybe in a week or so. Besides,” she sighed, “my piano career may be over.”

Susan turned around in surprise. “What?” she asked at the same time that Brandon said, “Why?”

“I was in the process of applying for a transfer to Ball State when this”—she indicated her stomach—“happened. And really, the only reason I was planning to go there was because of Mark. It’s probably too late to apply anywhere now, at least for the fall semester.”

Susan frowned. “Allie, tell me you weren’t applying to Ball State just because of Mark.”

Allie looked chagrined. “Sort of. They do have an excellent music school, but I don’t know anyone else there. Now I don’t have a dorm room, and I don’t know what classes I could enroll in so late. I’m probably just going to have to drop out until the winter term. Maybe I can find a job…”

Brandon held up his hand to stop Susan’s objection, his eyes twinkling. “Did you ever consider transferring to Bradley?”

“I wish,” Allie replied. “But it’s too expensive. Dad’s made it clear he won’t pay for any more private schools.”

Brandon rocked back on his heels and beamed. “I hope you don’t mind, but I looked into it, and if you’re interested, I know the right people in the admissions office. You know—the ones who can put your application through and bypass all the red tape.”

Allie frowned. “I’d be paying back student loans until I’m old and gray.”

Brandon shook his head. “That’s the best part. There’s a full ride scholarship available. Of course you’d have to audition…”

“Brandon,” Susan said, “what a great opportunity!” She silently crossed her fingers, hoping this miracle offer could become reality.

Allie was stunned. “You did all this for me?”

“Of course! Bradley’s music department would be lucky to have you.” He winked at her.

“And you wouldn’t have to worry about living arrangements since you could live at home,” Susan added.

Allie looked at her mom, her face glowing.
“This would be perfect if it works out! Brandon, I can’t thank you enough.” Allie beamed at him and reached for his hand. He blushed as their fingers touched.

Susan went back to her fictitious packing. She promised herself she’d send a nice, long thank-you note to Emily. First for taking such good care of Allie, and second, for bringing Brandon into their lives.

Chapter Nineteen

Caroline had been on her “new” job as Richard’s executive assistant for two full weeks. Her pay increase would show up in her next paycheck, and she’d already made up her mind to look for an apartment of her own.
I’m independently wealthy!
Okay, just independent.
She laughed to herself but felt liberated all the same.

Richard was due back in the office today after his week-long golf trip and then business trip to Los Angeles. Caroline had been in constant touch with him, but she knew today would be a stressful day. With Richard out of town, Caroline had functioned efficiently on his behalf, but now that he was back, she felt the familiar butterflies in her stomach.

Business, strictly business, Caroline
.

She had already checked email this morning and forwarded important messages to Richard, returned voice-mail messages he didn’t need to personally handle, and was proofing a new Hamilton Hardware ad for the Sunday
Indianapolis Star
.

As if the day wasn’t already busy enough, Caroline heard a voice in the hallway and winced. Misty strolled regally into Caroline’s office, dressed for the summer heat in a flowing white skirt, loose pink blouse over a black bra, white three-inch high-heeled strappy sandals, her wild red hair tied hastily back with a scarf, the wrong shade of red lipstick and smeared mascara on her cheek.
Money can buy expensive clothes but not class,
Caroline thought.

Misty held a large box filled to overflowing with off-white oversized envelopes. Watching her walk into the office, juggling the box and wobbling on her heels almost made Caroline laugh, so she turned away and pretended to be busy at her desk.

“Caroline, I have our wedding invitations ready to go into the mail today. There’s only three weeks till the wedding.”

Caroline quickly lost her sense of humor. “Why are you telling
me
?”

“Caroline, don’t be obtuse. You have to mail them.”

Caroline bit her lip to keep from opening her mouth and letting all kinds of arguments spill out. She swallowed and instead chose her words carefully. “I wasn’t aware that
I
was going to mail
your
invitations. Richard hasn’t mentioned it to me.”

“That’s your job. You’re his secretary, aren’t you?”

“Executive Assistant,” Caroline said. She shuddered as Misty dumped the tangible proof that the wedding was still on, right on top of her desk. She moved as far away from them as she could get and still be seated at her desk. “I’ll see to it that they get to the post office with the rest of the office mail.”

“No, no, no, that’s not going to work, Caroline,” Misty said with a smirk. “I don’t have time to go buy stamps, so you’ll have to go to the post office and buy two-hundred and fifty first-class stamps and then stick them on.”

Caroline looked at Misty, incredulous. “Misty, I have actual work to do here. I don’t have time to bother with your wedding invitations!”

“Whatever you’re doing will just have to wait. This is more important.”

“More important to whom?” asked Caroline.

Misty stamped her foot and almost lost her balance in the process. “To Richard and me, of course!”

“And just what will
you
be doing while I’m putting stamps on your invitations?” Caroline felt like giving Misty a piece of her mind, but then she realized she couldn’t, because once Richard was married to this woman, she’d have to be polite to her.
Maybe Mom was right about this job,
she thought. Misty was proving to be a huge thorn in her side.

“I’ve got a bridal shower to attend. Tell Richard to call me.” Misty turned around and flounced out.

“Tell him yourself
,
” Caroline muttered. She recognized the familiar stress-related nausea coming over her. She reached into her desk drawer and downed two antacid tablets, slamming the drawer shut afterward. Misty was using the wedding invitations to torture her.

Maybe I could ‘forget’ to mail the invitations
? But Richard would expect her to honor his fiancée’s request, and she couldn’t let him down. She blew out a puff of air and got back to work proofing the Hamilton Hardware ad, hoping it would take her mind off the box of wedding invitations slash torture devices sitting on the edge of her desk.

Richard walked down the hall headed for his office, whistling a peppy tune. Caroline thought he looked more handsome than ever, well-rested, light-hearted. He stopped by her desk and fingered the box of wedding invitations sitting there.

“I see Misty’s been here,” he said, blushing.

“She wants these invitations to go out this afternoon, each with its own first-class stamp.” Caroline could barely spit out the words. “Somehow she got the idea that, as your assistant, it’s my job.”

Richard started thumbing through them. He pulled out an invitation with her name on it, then found three more addressed to Susan, Allie, and Megan. He handed them to her with a weak smile. “I guess we can save some postage if I hand-deliver these. As for the rest, I hope you don’t mind.”

Caroline stared at her invitation, addressed to Ms. Caroline Benedict and Guest. “No, I don’t mind.” She couldn’t look at him, because if she did he might see the tears she was fighting back. She stood and walked to the window, feigning a need for more light, opened the envelope and pretended to read it. When she’d composed herself, she put it down and looked him in the eye.

“What?”

Caroline swallowed hard.
Do I tell him about Chicago?
If she did, how would he react? Would he be angry at Misty? Angry at her for keeping it from him so long? She took a deep breath and said, “Richard, I saw…” She couldn’t force the words out.

“You saw…?”

Caroline tried again. “I saw Misty, well, with, I mean, at…”

Richard shrugged. “You’re trying to say you don’t think Misty’s the right woman for me.”

Caroline looked at him in surprise. “Are you having second thoughts?”
I hope…

Richard shrugged. “You’re in good company. My grandmother says the same thing.”

“Your grandmother’s a wise woman,” Caroline said, “but that’s not what I…”

Richard laughed softly. “Grandmother just likes meddling in people’s love lives. She’s a seventy-five-year-old woman with too much time and money on her hands.”

“You should listen to her because…” Why couldn’t she finish the sentence? Tell him about Misty and Mark? Even Adele Meadows saw the mistake Richard was about to make. Caroline silently berated herself for her lack of courage.

“Grandmother’s an incurable romantic. She says it’s a mistake but, well, Misty and I know each other really well. It’s like our marriage was always meant to be, and it was what my mother always dreamed of.” Richard looked pained at the mention of his mother.

Caroline’s heart sank. “Are you sure? I mean, I know you’re committed, but what about Misty?” Richard looked puzzled, so Caroline hurried on. “It’s just that Misty seems so, I don’t know, aloof, and Sharlene’s planning the society wedding of the year, and if you aren’t sure, maybe you should postpone.”

Richard rubbed his forehead. “Believe me, I know. Every bridal shower, every luncheon, all of the elaborate preparations, the guest list that reads like the Indianapolis Who’s Who—all dutifully reported to
The Indianapolis Star
, courtesy of Sharlene Meadows-Benedict.” He let out a deep sigh. “It’s just one day, I guess.”

Caroline tilted her head as she thought for a moment. “But there’s more to it than just a wedding day, Richard. What about the marriage?”

“Now
you sound like my grandmother. Well, I guess I’ll find out soon enough.” Richard walked into his office, ending the discussion.

Caroline watched him go, shaking her head at the thought of this upcoming travesty of a wedding, and angry at herself for not telling him what she knew. She was afraid Richard was going to get hurt. In fact, after what she saw in Chicago, she was pretty sure of it. Would telling him be selfish on her part? She just didn’t know.

“Caroline!” Lucy called as she strolled down the hall. “Look what’s here!”

Caroline turned around and was surprised to see Lucy in her doorway with another bouquet of flowers. “Again?”

“Yup. They just came.” Lucy smiled and set them on Caroline’s desk. She put her fingers to her lips to signal silence and gave Caroline a conspiratorial wink. Then she cleared her throat and said loudly, “Lovely red carnations just delivered for you, Caroline!”

Richard came to his office door when he overheard Lucy and watched as she made a big show of smelling the freshly cut flowers.

“Oh, hi, Richard, gosh I didn’t see you there,” Lucy said. “Caroline has a secret admirer. We think it’s Jared at Kinley Realty.”

“Oh?” Richard’s face was getting redder and redder as he stared at the carnations.

Caroline tried to read the look on Richard’s face.
Is he jealous?
She couldn’t tell because he turned around and went back into his office.

An email popped up in Caroline’s inbox and she checked to see who it was from. Sharlene.
Great. Just what I need right now
.

Caroline,

I desperately need your help planning the rehearsal dinner. I know how efficient you are, so I’m confident things will get done in a timely fashion. I need you to contact all members of the wedding party and confirm that they’ll be in attendance. I’ve attached their email addresses or cell phone numbers, so you can easily reach them. Just so you’ll know, the rehearsal dinner is scheduled for Sept. 1 at the Belford Country Club, immediately following the 6:00 p.m. outdoor wedding rehearsal on the Peterson estate. Call, text, or email if you have questions.