The Room with the Second-Best View (12 page)

“I've got it,” she called back. Under no circumstances would she stand by like a helpless female and let the guys do all the heavy lifting.

She carried her burden up the three concrete steps, panting only a little. At her approach, Charlie appeared from inside the house and took the box from her hands. With a grin, he lifted it up and balanced it on one shoulder as if it contained nothing heavier than a pillow.

“Show-off.” She smiled so he'd know she was joking. He had been working for Justin for only a month or so, and she didn't know him well.

He flashed a good-natured grin in return. “Where's this one go?”

“In my office.”

She pointed down the hallway to the small bedroom they had designated as hers. Since Justin would be running his handyman business from here, he would set up his office in the larger one.

Alone in the main room, she gazed around and filled the empty space mentally with the furniture they had picked out. The sofa would go there against the far wall and would face two chairs angled to form a cozy conversation niche around the fireplace. No coffee table, lest the small area feel cluttered, but a pair of adorable occasional tables would add to the comfortable atmosphere she hoped to create. She could hardly wait for them to be delivered so she could see them in place.

Footsteps on the stairs drew her attention, and she turned to see her fiancé descending from the loft they had decided would be their bedroom. Warmth filled her at the sight of him, his hair in disarray and dark curls dampened by a sheen of sweat on his forehead.
Mr. and Mrs. Justin Hinkle.

“That's the last of it,” he said as he reached the floor. “Can't thank you enough for the use of the truck and your strong back, Junior.”

“Ain't no problem.” The big man pulled a bandanna out of the chest pocket of his denim overalls and swiped it across the back of his neck. “I know you'uns would do the same if'n I needed the help.”

“You know it.” Justin clapped his shoulder. “Just say the word.”

Puzzlement crept over Junior's face. “Uh…please?”

Susan hid a smile. “What he means is all you have to do is ask and we'll be glad to return the favor.”

Junior's expression cleared. “Okay.”

Charlie returned. “Is that all there is?”

Since she rented a furnished apartment and Justin had sold many of the bits and pieces he'd picked up at garage sales when he moved in with the Richardsons last year, the sum of their possessions had fit in a single truckload.

“That's it. Thanks for your help, Charlie. See you Monday. I'll pick you up at seven.”

“You bet, Boss.”

The two men departed, leaving Susan and Justin alone in their new home.

He scrunched his features. “I wish he wouldn't call me Boss. It sounds so official.”

She laughed and stepped closer, drawn like metal to a magnet. “That's the price of success.” A rogue curl stuck out on one side, and she smoothed it into place over his ear. “I felt the same the first time someone called me Dr. Jeffries. Like I was pretending to be a grown-up.”

Hooking an arm around her waist, he drew her to him. “How are you going to feel when they call you Dr. Hinkle?”

A delicious thrill shot through her. “I'll probably grin like an idiot.”

He lowered his head and their lips met, sending a multitude of shivers coursing through her. The kiss ended too soon, her lips reluctant to release his. She stepped prudently away, aware that the rigid self-control she had exercised all her life in any endeavor she undertook was rendered feeble and fragile in close proximity to the man she loved. An equal passion shone in the eyes that bore into hers, and she cleared her throat. Time for a little ice water.

“Your Aunt Lorna called today.”

Rolling his eyes, he heaved a sigh. “Again?”

“Twice, actually.” The second time, Susan had felt obligated to take the call. “She's upset about the flowers.”

“What flowers? I thought we decided not to have flowers.”

“Exactly.” The conversation had lasted far longer than Susan's patience, and Mrs. Ryan informed her in no uncertain terms that she and her cat did not appreciate being kept waiting in a cold exam room. “She insists that it's bad luck for a bride to not carry a bouquet, and I'm dooming our marriage before it even begins.”

Justin made a rude sound with his lips. “I hope you told her to mind her own business.”

“Of course not, but I didn't give in either.” She allowed a touch of doubt to creep into her voice. “She's your great-aunt, Justin. I don't have a relationship with any of my relatives, so I don't want to alienate her. Maybe I should carry a few daisies or something, just to make her happy.”

He took her hand and led her to the wall where the sofa would go, and they sank to the floor to sit side by side.

“Aunt Lorna's a tough old bird and a lot harder to offend than you think. If you give in on the flowers, she'll see that as an open door. She'll elbow her way into every detail, and before you know it, we'll be getting married at St. Paul's Cathedral.”

“Don't be silly. She can't be that bad.” She leaned sideways to nudge his shoulder with hers. “When was the last time you saw her, anyway?” Susan decided to skip relating the part of the conversation where Aunt Lorna lamented the fact that the family had abandoned her and left a helpless old woman to die a lonely death in the frozen north.

“Let's see. It's been…” He leaned his head against the wall, eyes closed as he considered. “Seven years? She came down when my brother graduated from college. No, wait.” He opened his eyes, and Susan detected a glint of sadness in them. “It was mom's funeral. Kevin and I took her ashes up to Boston and stayed with Aunt Lorna. So it's been five years.”

Susan slipped her hand into his and intertwined their fingers. She'd lost her mother when she was young, but at least she still had Daddy. Justin's father died of a heart attack when he was in high school, so the loss of his mother left him with no parents. His brother, Kevin, lived in Texas, and his grandparents were gone as well. So really, Aunt Lorna was the only family he had left besides a distant cousin.

“I'm looking forward to meeting her and your cousin.”

“Ross?” A smile replaced the sad expression. “I'm kind of surprised he's coming. It's not like we were close or anything. We're like third cousins, or maybe second cousins once removed or something like that. I haven't seen him since I was a kid.”

“See?” Susan squeezed his hand. “Aunt Lorna had a good idea inviting him. It'll be like a mini family reunion.”

A scowl gathered on his brow. “Well, she could have asked before inviting him. We told her she was the only family being included.”

“Daddy did the same thing when he invited Uncle Mark without asking.” Now it was Susan's turn to scowl. Mark wasn't really even her uncle. He'd been Daddy's college roommate. The only reason he was coming at all was because he planned to make a vacation out of the trip and go to the horse races at Churchill Downs.

“Hey, if your dad wants to include his buddy, that's okay with me.” Justin shrugged.

She indulged in a smile and leaned her head sideways to rest on his shoulder. Justin was quick to defend anything Daddy did, an undisguised attempt to curry favor with the man who had staunchly disapproved of their relationship at first. What a relief that the two men in her life had made peace. At times she even suspected they were starting to like each other.

“So you think definitely no on the flowers?” she asked.

“Suz, do what
you
want to do. If you want to hold flowers when we get married, great. If you want me to wear a flower in my lapel, I will.” A low chuckle rumbled in his chest. “Heck, I'll even put a rose behind each ear and hold one in my teeth if you want. But don't do it because of Aunt Lorna.”

“I'd kind of like to see you with a rose behind each ear.”

Her giggle faded into a comfortable silence.

He tilted his head to rest his cheek against her hair. “It's kind of sad, really. Neither of us has many relatives.”

“I know. I'm an only child, Daddy and my mother were both only children…I don't think my grandfather had any siblings either. I guess I come from a long line of single-kid families.”

Justin executed a deft twisting maneuver that ended with Susan in his lap, her face inches from his. “How about we see what we can do about breaking that trend?”

His mouth covered hers, and she returned his kiss with enthusiasm. The next twenty-eight days would be the longest of her life.

 

Tuesday's Natural All-Purpose Cleanser

3 cups water

⅓
cup Castile soap

2 T. white vinegar

15 drops essential oil, such as lemon or peppermint

Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle. Use this cleanser as a natural alternative in the kitchen, bathroom, or anywhere you would use traditional spray cleanser.

Castile soap is a natural product made from vegetable oil instead of animal fat, as many traditional cleansers are. Thus, this cleanser is vegan-friendly.

Chapter Eight

A
t ten o'clock sharp on Monday morning, Millie and Lulu stepped out of the elevator on the second floor of city hall. Millie had selected a dignified navy-blue sling from the half-dozen Violet had made for her. Lulu carried an ancient briefcase, its leather straps stretched and creased. Franklin's first attaché case after he left college, she'd told Millie earlier.

They were greeted by Sally Bright, the mayor's secretary.

Sally's pleasant expression faded, replaced by concern as her gaze rested on Millie's sling. “I didn't get a chance to speak with you after church yesterday. How are you feeling?”

The question was uttered in the pitying tone that was starting to get on Millie's nerves. In fact, the onslaught of questioners she'd faced yesterday at the close of the service had forced her to desert her normal practice of gathering on the front sidewalk for a half hour or so of amiable chitchat. She'd escaped as quickly as possible to avoid the plethora of sympathetic well-wishes.

She kept her face pleasant. “I'm fine, thank you.”

Lulu, who was apparently oblivious to the fact that Millie preferred to avoid discussions of the unfortunate incident, blew a raspberry. “Don't let her fool you.” Her brash voice filled the room as if she were shouting through a megaphone. “She's still mighty tender in the tush area, if you know what I mean.”

Heat leaped into Millie's face. “Is Jerry ready for us?” she asked quickly to divert the conversation.

Sally nodded. “Go on in. He's expecting you.” Millie headed for the door when Sally added, “Frieda's been in there for ten minutes already.”

That drew Millie up short. Frieda had not been included in the meeting. She exchanged a glance with Lulu, who shrugged her boney shoulders.

Millie rapped a knuckle on the heavy wooden door before opening it. Frieda, seated in one of the three guest chairs on this side of the mayor's wide oak desk, turned at their entrance. Was her expression a bit shamefaced? Millie couldn't tell because she looked away so quickly.

Mayor Jerry Selbo rose from his high-backed chair behind the desk. “Come on in, ladies. Have a seat.”

He gestured toward the two empty chairs. One matched the one Frieda had selected, the seat constructed of padded vinyl. The second, obviously added for their benefit before their arrival, was of polished hardwood.

Lulu stomped forwarded with her long-legged stride and claimed the wooden chair. “You sit there,” she told Millie, pointing at the other. “It'll be softer on your backside.”

Face flaming, Millie lowered herself into the vinyl chair. She really must ask Lulu not to mention her rear end in public.

Jerry, at least, possessed enough courtesy to withhold comment, and waited until they were all settled before returning to his chair.