Not Quite Perfect (Oakland Hills Book 3) (30 page)

“Are you all right?” Zack asked.

She’d just been standing there like a zombie. He probably thought she wanted something from him. A good-night kiss would’ve been nice, but she’d gotten the message. “I’m great.” She waved, headed for path through the lavender. “Have a nice night.”

She heard the beep of his car alarm setting and his footsteps following. “I’ll see you to the door,” he said.

“Gentlemanly of you,” she muttered.

“Better late than never.”

She glanced at him as she pulled open the screen door. His eyes were fixed on hers, sad but intent.

“Is there—are you feeling—” She clamped her mouth shut. No. She wouldn’t pry. She would learn self-restraint if it killed her. The door swung open and she turned to him with a polite smile. “There. I’m in,” she said. “Thanks again.”

“How about dinner tomorrow?”

She studied his face, not understanding him at all. “Okay,” she said finally.

“My place?”

They couldn’t keep on having sex instead of talking. “Mine,” she said.

He nodded and then kissed her quickly before ushering her into the house and walking away.

* * *

April was so unbalanced by the bad date with Zack, she lingered in the kitchen with a cup of herbal tea, waiting for her mother to come by on her way to bed and keep her company for a few minutes.

Stool sprawled on his side at her feet, as motionless as roadkill. She sipped her chamomile tea, a small smile lifting the corner of her mouth, remembering the day she’d adopted him. He had unfortunate gustatory preferences, but he was worth it. She reached down and scratched his warm belly.

Her mother appeared in the kitchen doorway. “Back so soon?”

April met her gaze and nodded.

“Trouble?”

She nodded.

“Let me get my own cup. Just a minute.” Her mother put a kettle on the stove—she didn’t believe in microwaving much of anything—and went through the cupboards, getting her cup, her tea, a saucer. Finally, the water boiled, she poured, and she sat across from April at the old table, an expectant look on her face.

“Did you know his wife died of cancer?” April said without preamble. “She was younger than I am now.”

“I thought there might be something like that.”

April set down her cup, surprised. “You did?”

Her mother nodded. “I thought so in January, when he came for the picnic.”

“I can’t believe it,” April said. “How do you see those things? You can’t find your car in the parking lot at Target, but you know a complete stranger is nursing a tragedy in his past.”

“People are a lot more interesting than cars. I pay better attention.”

April sipped her tea and considered upgrading to vodka. “Well, you were right. He’s kind of screwed up.”

“Aren’t we all?”

“He still loves her,” April said. “I can feel it.”

“Love isn’t a pie,” her mother said.

“Love isn’t—what?”

“Always plenty to go around.” Her mother put her hand over hers. Her fingernails were trimmed short and unpolished. “But maybe you’re right.” Her gaze drifted to the floor, where Stool was running jerkily in his sleep. Did he have four legs in his dreams?

“Right about what?” April asked.

Her mother gave her a pat, her smile falling. “About Zack.” Her voice sounded tired.

April pulled her hand away. “In what way?”

“He’s not right for you. Or, what I mean is, you’re not right for him.”

April couldn’t speak for a moment. “Why do you say that?”

“Oh, don’t look like that, honey,” her mother said. “I just mean… he’s not the kind to play the field. He plays for keeps. He’s the serious type.”

April managed to say, “And I’m not, right? I’m not serious?”

Her mother batted big sympathetic eyes at her. “You’re wonderful, but you’re not serious the way Zack is serious. He’s more than halfway in love with you, anyone can see that. An all-or-nothing kind of man. I just don’t think you’re ready for that kind of commitment. You’re a free spirit.”

“Here I thought you were trying to set us up,” April said.

“Maybe I was. Before I’d met him, before I’d realized how deep his feelings run. I think it’s been good for him to have a little fun, but I’m worried he’s going to get hurt.”

Her mother was worried about
him
getting hurt. “I’m capable of love, you know.” She sounded ridiculous. If her mother didn’t believe that, who would?

“This is a time for you to focus on yourself as a person. You’ve started a new career, which is wonderful, but you’re still living at home.”

April’s face heated. “I thought you didn’t mind—you’d even like having me around—” She heard the strain in her voice.

“But you’d love to have your own place. You’re more than ready for it.”

Standing, April walked to the sink and poured out the rest of her grassy beverage. “You’re right. I’ll get my own place as soon as I can find one.”

“I’ve blown it, haven’t I?” Trixie came over and caught her hand again between both of hers. “I love you just the way you are. I love having you around as long as you want to stay. You’re my baby. I love you.”

“I’m not—” April’s voice cracked. She could hardly say
I’m not a baby
and then start crying. Smiling tightly, she kissed her mother on the cheek and drew back, nodding. She had to change the subject or she was going to lose it. “I’m having trouble at work with some of the design assistants. Since Rita’s been out on leave, they’ve ramped up the hate. It’s kind of wearing on me.”

“Not you. You’re invincible.”

“You’d think so, but it turns out I have a few weak spots,” April said.

“And you don’t want to talk to Liam and Bev about it,” her mother said.

“I need to handle this on my own.”

“And Zack?”

“He’d like to help, but I don’t want him interfering either.”

“It’s complicated now,” her mother said. “No wonder you’re upset.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, the night is young. You have time to get a really good night’s sleep before tackling all of this tomorrow. It always seems worse at night. Go to bed, take some melatonin, and borrow my lavender eye pillow if you’d like, and I’m sure you’ll wake up fresh and ready in the morning.”

April nodded, realizing her mother’s company wasn’t what she’d needed tonight after all. A few shots and grunge music blasting in her ears would’ve been a lot more therapeutic.

After a hug and another few soothing words that didn’t, her mother said good night and left her alone in the kitchen.

So. She finally got involved with a genuinely nice guy, and her own mother didn’t think she was good enough for him.

Chapter 26

T
HE
NEXT
MORNING
, A
PRIL
ARRIVED
at work to find Rita standing near the color printer.

“You’re back!” April cried, beaming at her.

Rita picked up a stack of printouts and smiled back. “I decided to come in at the last minute.”

“Your kids are better?”

“Back in school, trying to get caught up,” Rita said. She made a face. “Them and me both.”

April strode to her desk and put down her bag. “It’s great to see you. I’m so glad they’re okay. That must’ve been horrible for you.”

Rita hovered in the opening of her cubicle, saying nothing. April assumed she was lost in her own thoughts, reading through the printouts, but then she realized her boss wanted to talk.

April didn’t like the awkward look on her face. She stood up taller. “What is it?”

Rita looked behind her, chewing her lip. “We need to talk.”

April’s mind flew back over the most recent drama with her biggest fan upstairs. “Is this about Teegan?”

“The situation has escalated to such a point… I’m not sure what I can do. If the design team really doesn’t want to work with you, I’m not in a position to override them. I haven’t been here, you know?”

Romantic drama and fitful alcohol-dazed sleep had already worn her down. She rubbed her eyes, trying to think clearly. “I’m not sure what to say. I did the best I could.”

“I’m sure you did,” Rita said. “It’s not fair to judge you based on a few complaints after you’d been left here on your own after only a couple months, but that’s all I have to go on. I’ve been gone. I don’t really know what’s been happening.”

April hadn’t even taken off her jacket yet. She looked at her bag, slumping sideways on the desk next to a pile of T-shirts and sketches. “Are you going to fire me?”

Rita didn’t meet her eyes. “Well, you’re a freelancer, so, technically, you’re not actually an employee that would be fired.”

Since she’d been kidding, shock temporarily pushed the air out of April’s lungs. “Not technically.”

“I’d like to set up a meeting with your brother, but he’s not in the office today.”

 
April nodded dully.

“I’ll see if I can set something up first thing tomorrow,” Rita said. “It might have to wait until Monday, if he’s not back.”

April glanced at the red blinking light on her phone, the pile of unfinished designs. “I should get to work. Teegan’s not the only one waiting for me.”

“Yes, I know,” Rita said, sounding pained.

April picked up a swatch of elastic orange fabric and began yanking it between her fingers, taking out her anger on it. “You got other complaints?”

“People didn’t seem to believe I was on an official leave of absence,” Rita said. “I had too much phone mail to listen to all of it, and the email covers four pages, but I got the idea. I was going to work from home the rest of the week, catching up, but after I started going through it, I realized I had to come in and deal in person.”

Partially recovered from her shock, April sat up straight. “It can’t be
that
bad.”

“April, I’m really sorry, but I’m not on very strong footing myself right now. I’ve been gone for over two months. That’s a really long time. I’m lucky they didn’t replace me.”

“They couldn’t, could they? Legally?”

Rita lowered her voice. “My kids have been back in school for a while. I… needed more time to be with them. I wasn’t ready to come back. Bev and Liam were very understanding.”

April let that sink in. “They
should
be understanding. Sounds like you needed to recover.” She could relate.

“Thanks.” Rita smiled faintly. “But they should’ve hired somebody to cover for me. It wasn’t fair to dump it all on you.”

“I was doing fine,” April said. “Really. I do good work. I know this sounds catty, but Teegan seemed to have it in for me. Seriously.”

Rita looked doubtful. “We’ll try to clear the air in the morning. Just do your best until then.”

As inadequate as you assume that’ll be
, April thought.

Coffee. She’d need coffee before she could face the rest of this day. She dug into her wallet for a few bills. The truck in the alley would have to be good enough. There wasn’t time to walk to her favorite café.

But just then a young woman with long brown hair appeared behind her with a men’s bright-red track jacket and a presentation board as big as she was. April had never seen her before.

“We need this by ten,” the woman said.

April smiled tightly. She’d never thought her own manners were exemplary, but working at Fite had changed her mind. “Good morning. I’m April Johnson. You are…”

“Darrin sent me. You know him, right?”

“He’s the creative director for the Men’s department,” April said. “And who are you?”

“We’ll start working on it right away, Hayley,” Rita said.

The petite brunette rolled her eyes at April and walked away.

“What is the matter with people around here? No time for a simple introduction?” April stood up. “Seriously. What is it about this place?”

Rita held out the board and jacket. “You’ll want to do this first. Darrin could be an ally for you against Jennifer and Teegan, if it comes to that.”

April took it from her and set it up on her desk with shaking hands. She didn’t have the temperament to roll over and take the abuse this job seemed to require, she just didn’t have it. Surely Rita could see the steam coming out of her ears. Her face had to be as red as the men’s jacket in her hands.

“No problem,” she said in a flat voice, opening the program on her computer.

April
knew
she was good. For months she’d done amazing work with few resources and no support. And they were going to shit-can her.

She could’ve thrown the Men’s presentation board on the floor and danced the Macarena all over it. But she didn’t care enough about Teegan or Fite to fly off the handle and make things worse for herself.

So she worked. She quickly completed the variegated stripe pattern Darrin so desperately needed, designing several color options and printing them out—possibly before the charming Hayley had even made it back to her desk.

Then she worked steadily through the rest of the pile, a paragon of talent and efficiency.

Rita left their office around ten to “put out fires” upstairs—April bit back a joke about always having been a pyromaniac—and didn’t return before noon, when April needed to leave so she could get home to Merry. Her plan was to take Merry to the tot park and get inspired by the toddlers staggering around the sandbox. Merry loved to watch the babies who’d mastered the walking thing, and April was eager to soak up the happy baby energy and some spring sun. She was going to count her blessings and put Teegan and Rita out of her mind until she could defend herself in the morning.

Unfortunately, when she got home an hour later, and then walked next door to pick up her niece, Bev met her at the door. Her eyes were fretful, her lips pinched with worry.

April stiffened. “What happened?”

“Oh, April, this is the worst timing.”

April’s gaze finally found Merry bouncing happily inside her plastic entertainment center. She looked fine, eight months old but as big as a toddler, but that didn’t mean anything with Merry. She cried when she was healthy. “Is it another ear infection?” Merry had already had two in her short life, one in each ear.