Certainly Sensible (9 page)

The rest of it Caroline got secondhand from Adele Meadows, Richard’s grandmother, who called the next day, fuming about how disgusted she was over the whole thing. Misty was able to talk Jack into going along with the whole setup, so she and Krystal met Jack and Richard at The Village Bar & Grill in Rosslyn Village. Apparently Misty got Richard drunk and then played the guilt card, the one where she reminded him of his dead mother’s dream of seeing him married to the daughter of her best friend, Tildie Peterson. Adele told Caroline that Richard barely even remembered the next morning that he’d proposed. But then a few days later Misty showed up at his office, sporting a five carat diamond engagement ring she’d bought for herself. She flounced in, flashed the ring at Jack, Lucy and Caroline, smirking as she walked into Richard’s office.

When Richard saw the ring he’d been incredulous. “Your
father
paid for your engagement ring? How does that make me look?”

“Never mind, Richard,” Misty had said. “You can pay me back in other ways.”

Caroline had almost gagged and had to leave the room.

And now, here was Misty again, interrupting their business day, forcing Richard to weigh in on wedding invitations of all things. Caroline leaned against the door jam and did a slow burn.

“Misty, can’t you see I’m busy?” Richard gently patted her arm until she moved it off his desk. “We can do this later.”

“No, we can’t, Richard, not and get the invitations out on time. These wedding preparations have taken too long as it is.”

Richard stood up and walked to the window, staring out. “We’ve only been engaged for a year.”

“Well, if you hadn’t been dragging your feet, and Sharlene insisting on this big society wedding, we could’ve been married months ago.”

Richard turned to face Misty. “Dragging my feet?”

Caroline cleared her throat, causing both Richard and Misty to remember she was still in the room. “Don’t you two have a wedding planner? Why not let her do this?”

Misty scowled at Caroline, but turned back to Richard and said, “Do you think you can make a decision about the invitations before dinner tonight with my parents?”

Richard visibly cringed. “I’ll see what I can do.”

Misty threw her red bag over her shoulder and pushed past Caroline. “Sharlene, Daniel, and Adele will be there tonight, too, Richard, so try not to be late.” And with that she walked out the door.

“Caroline, I…” Richard said, at the same time Caroline said, “Richard, what about…”

They both laughed. “You go first,” Richard said.

Caroline stepped back into his office and studied Richard’s face. “I was just wondering about Adele. I know she didn’t really approve of your…”

“My engagement?” Richard nodded and stared up at the ceiling, using his fingers to make air quotes. “‘Don’t give up on love, Richard,’ is what she said.” Richard sighed and dropped his arms to his sides. “According to Grandmother, the love that was Adele and Rich Meadows could’ve inspired romance novels, and I should be looking for the same thing, not settling for Misty.”

Caroline couldn’t agree more, but it wasn’t her place to say so. At least Mrs. Meadows was aware of what a big mistake Richard was making, and he’d be more likely to listen to his grandmother than to her. She nodded and closed Richard’s office door behind her. “He’s
engaged!
” she whispered to herself for the millionth time.

****

“Mom, what am I supposed to do?” Allie demanded as she stormed into the kitchen. “I take private lessons during the summer, on
my
piano. That’s what I do, that’s what I’ve always done.”

Susan was unloading the dishwasher and trying yet again to get everything to fit into the smaller kitchen cabinets, when Allie came in and started, or re-started, the same conversation they’d been having for a couple of weeks now. “Have you tried asking Sharlene about—”

Allie put up her hand. “Don’t go there. Total waste of time. Sharlene just makes one excuse after another.”

Susan put her hands on her hips and stared at the open cabinet. The dishes and glassware just didn’t fit right. Maybe she’d brought too much from the Belford house, since the kitchen there was nearly twice the size of this one. She groaned and started rearranging things, again. “Remember I told you Emily was going to talk to her former client, Professor Phillips?”

Allie reached around her mother and took one of the drinking glasses out of the cabinet where her mother had just so carefully placed it. She went to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of diet soda, checked the freezer for ice, scowled, and closed it. “Well, did she call him yet? It’s June and I’m wasting valuable time.”

Susan turned her back on Allie and exhaled slowly, hoping her daughter didn’t see her frustration. “I don’t know, Allie. I’ll give Emily a call this evening.”

Allie took both the half-full bottle of soda and the glass and, without another word but with a loud groan, went back to her room and closed the door.

The doorbell rang, and glad for the distraction, Susan left the cabinet doors wide open to go answer it. There stood an attractive man of about thirty, dressed in khaki pants and a green polo shirt with the Bradley University logo on it. He was tall, blond, clean-cut, and had a charming smile.

“Hi, I’m Brandon Phillips. We have a mutual friend, Emily Martin? She told me…”

“Yes, Brandon, of course, come in. Emily’s told me so much about you.” Susan held open the screen door for him. “I wasn’t sure if Emily had gotten a chance to call you yet.”

“Hope it’s okay that I dropped by unannounced,” Brandon said with a smile. “Emily explained your situation, and she insisted I meet your daughter right away. I understand she’s quite gifted.”

Susan beamed. “Yes, in my slightly biased opinion, she is. Let me get her for you.”

Susan went down the short hallway to the bedroom Allie shared with Caroline and knocked twice. Allie didn’t answer, so Susan opened the door. There sat Allie on her unmade bed, listening to her iPod at such a volume that Susan could hear the Mozart blasting through the earbuds, and thumbing through a fashion magazine. She’d carelessly set the moist liter bottle and glass on the nightstand, causing a wet ring. Susan decided the stain would have to wait. “Allie? You won’t believe. That music professor I just told you about is here. Can you come out and meet him?”

Allie shrugged her shoulders, removed the earbuds, and followed Susan into the family room.

Brandon stared at her way too long, but he finally managed to mumble, “Nice to meet you.”

She was dressed in sweats, her hair up on top of her head in a knot, wearing no makeup, yet Brandon stood there speechless. Susan had seen lots of guys fall instantly for her daughter. After all, Allie was striking—tall, slender, long black hair, and carried herself like a model. So it didn’t surprise her that Brandon seemed awestruck. However, Susan had to wonder if that was a good beginning for a working relationship.

“Uh, Professor Phillips. Hello?” Allie snapped her fingers in front of his face.

Brandon recovered himself and stopped staring. “Oh, sorry. Your mother’s friend Emily tells me you have some free time this summer and need a place to practice.”

“Aren’t you kind of young to be a music professor?”

“Allie!” Susan said.

Brandon grinned. “That’s okay, Mrs. Benedict. Or can I call you Susan?” She nodded. “I know I’m young, but that just means I’ve got more energy than those old guys!” He turned his smile to Allie. “And I do own a piano. During the summers, my private students aren’t around much, and I’m only teaching one summer session at Bradley. Lots of free time for you to make use of my instrument.”

“We can’t pay you much,” Susan admitted, “but it would be wonderful if Allie could use your piano occasionally.”

Brandon waved that notion aside. “Oh, no, you don’t have to pay me anything.” He sneaked another glance at Allie. “I’m happy to let Allie have the use of my piano for practice as often as she likes.”

Allie shrugged. “Okay,” she said, and started back toward her room.

“Allie!” She turned around when Brandon called after her. “Uh, I’m always getting free tickets to concerts around town, if you ever want to go. Tomorrow night’s Symphony on the Lawn performance is Mozart. Emily says you’re particularly fond of his music.”

“Whatever.” She turned to walk off.

“Allison!” Susan was incredulous at her daughter’s rude behavior.

Allie turned back around. “What, Mom? It’s not like he’s asking me out on a date.” Allie rolled her eyes and went back to her room.

Susan blinked, mortified. Finally she said, “I apologize for my daughter’s behavior. She can be a little headstrong, and this whole move has been hard on her. It was so kind of you to come over and make her such a generous offer. About the piano, I mean.”

Brandon shrugged and reached for the door. “I know all about temperamental artists. Just tell her to give me a call when she wants to come over.”

“Let me get your contact information.” Susan grabbed her phone off the coffee table, handed it to Brandon, and waited while he keyed in his number. “Thanks for coming by, Brandon.” Susan held the door for him. “I’ll have Allie call you tomorrow and set up a practice schedule.”
After I have a talk with her about her manners.

Chapter Seven

“Can you take a look at this, Richard? I can’t figure out what Mr. Hamilton is trying to say here.” Caroline laid this week’s Hamilton Hardware ad on his desk, the one she’d just printed off from her email.

Richard looked at the jumbled up mess. He stood up, scrutinized it, paced back and forth in front of his desk, crossed his arms, and then picked it up for a closer look.

Sumer sail starts Sat. get your boat supplys at huge discontd! (Richard—put picture here! Thanx from Howard Hamilton)

Richard laughed. “Well, he’s either got sailboats at a discount, or he’s selling discontinued boating supplies.”

Caroline also laughed. “And the picture we use will depend on what this week’s special really is. Mr. Hamilton is such a good customer, but his spelling…Well, maybe one day you can convince him to let
us
write the ads.”

Richard nodded. “Until then, I guess you’ll have to call him and ask which it is.”

“I’ll get right on it.” Caroline picked up Mr. Hamilton’s ad and was just leaving Richard’s office when Misty appeared in the doorway, blocking her way. She stifled a groan, but nodded politely.

“If you don’t mind, Caroline, I need to speak to Richard—privately!” Misty marched into the office and glowered while Caroline slid past her and quietly closed the door on her way out. She could hear Misty shouting and Richard’s bewildered tone, but she couldn’t quite make out what they were saying.

Caroline returned to her desk and immediately heard her phone ping with a text message. It was Lucy.

—
What’s all the drama?
—

Caroline responded,
—Something about the wedding I guess
.—

After several minutes of Misty’s loud, angry-sounding words from inside the office, Misty emerged and flounced off down the hall without so much as a backward glance. Caroline watched her go in dismay.

“Sorry, Caroline,” Richard said, stepping out into the hall. “That was rude of her.”

Caroline waved away his concern. Rude was Misty’s trademark. “Is there a problem?”

Richard cleared his throat. “Well, apparently Misty had a disagreement with Sharlene about some wedding detail. I need to talk to my sister, I guess. Can you get her on the phone?” He went back into his office, this time leaving the door open.

“Of course.” Caroline picked up her desk phone and dialed Sharlene’s cell phone, a number she’d unfortunately committed to memory. “Sharlene?” she said when Sharlene picked up. “This is Caroline at the office, and Richard needs to speak to you. Okay, please hold,” she said before calling out, “Richard, I have Sharlene on line one.”

Richard put his sister on speakerphone while he logged onto his computer. “Sharlene, Misty was just here and angry about something to do with…”

“Richard, darling, it’s just that neither she nor that wedding planner has any taste whatsoever. That’s why
I
chose the flower arrangements for the ceremony, and I expect you to back me up.”

Richard sighed. “Just do whatever you want, but please don’t stir Misty up anymore. I have actual work to do here.” He paused, then added, “Unless you’d like to come back to the office and handle some of the clients you left dangling?”

Sharlene snorted. “Richard, don’t be absurd. You know I don’t have time for that now.”

“I didn’t think so.”

Caroline was busy at her computer by the time Richard hung up the phone, finished checking his emails, and came out of his office. She’d called Mr. Hamilton and solved the ad problem, and was planning to go to the printer after lunch.

“You forgot these yesterday,” Richard said as he handed her several heavy books, “and with all the commotion from Misty, I forgot to remind you.”

Caroline juggled and almost dropped them. “Oh, are these the books you promised Megan?”

Richard reached over to help her with the load, and their hands touched for a moment. He blushed as he unloaded the books onto her desk. “Yeah, and yesterday when Misty…”

“Megan will enjoy the books,” Caroline told him, trying to put a cheerful spin on this uncomfortable conversation. “And I understand about Misty. Planning a wedding must be stressful.” Caroline almost gagged on that sentence but stopped and forced herself to return to a professional demeanor. “If you don’t mind, Richard, I’ll just go ahead and put these books in my car, go to lunch, and then to the printer.”

“Well, sure,” he said, flustered.

Not looking at him, Caroline shoved the books into her oversized handbag and hurried to the front door.

“Problems?” Lucy asked, stopping Caroline in her tracks.

Caroline shifted the bag to her other arm, both shoulders drooping. “I’m taking an early lunch, hoping to distance myself from Richard and his wedding plans.” She folded her arms and studied a spot on the floor. “What in the world does he see in Misty anyway?”