Love is Lovelier

by Donna Simonetta

  She took her glass and sat back down at the table.

  Hadley slumped down farther in her chair and shook her head. “Thanks, Miss Heather, but you can’t help.”

  Sam didn’t seem to agree; she bounced in her seat and her smile was now wide. “Maybe she can help you, Had.”

  Hadley took a bite of her cookie and shrugged as she chewed and swallowed. “I don’t see how.”

  Heather thought back to when she was twelve, as she tried to figure out what the girls problem might be, and decided it probably had something to do with boys. “You never know, I might be able to help. What’s up?”

  “You’re a responsible adult, right?” Sam asked eagerly.

  “Some people might argue I’m not, but on a good day, I’d have to say, yes, I am a responsible adult. Why do you ask?”

  Heather was clueless, but Hadley seemed to realize what Sam was getting at, and sat a little taller in her chair. “It won’t work. Will it?”

  Heather looked between the two girls through narrowed eyes; this whole thing was starting to sound less and less like boy trouble. “Do you two want to let me in on the secret?”

  Some silent communication went on between the two girls, and finally Sam blurted out, “Could Hadley come and live with you, Aunt Heather?”

  Heather thought about the palatial mansion where Hadley lived, and then her own tiny place. She laughed, “In my one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment over the Nosh Pit? Why on Earth would Hadley want to live there with me?”

  Hadley gulped, and her eyes were like saucers. “One bathroom?”

  “Yep,” Heather replied and took a swig of her milk.

  Sam held out her hands in a placating gesture. “Okay, okay, Had. It’s not the greatest apartment.”

  “Hey!” Heather interrupted in indignation around a mouthful of cookie.

  “Sorry, Aunt Heather.” Sam slanted a glance at her aunt, and then turned her attention back to her friend, “But at least it’s in Rivers Bend, Hadley.”

  “This conversation is getting more and more cryptic and I’m starting to get worried. Would you one of you please tell me what’s going on?”

  “My mother is getting married to some rich old fuddy-duddy.”

  “Hadley, that’s not a nice thing to call someone,” Heather corrected gently. Knowing Hadley’s mother, it was probably accurate, but still not nice.

  “Sorry,” Hadley managed to say without actually sounding the least, little bit sorry.

  “The fuddy-duddy, sorry Aunt Heather, Hadley’s mom’s fiancé, is an ambassador to some tiny county in Asia. A former Soviet republic, or something like that, we don’t know precisely what it means, but we know it’s far away, and Hadley is going to have to move there…”

  “Or my mom’s favorite option—I could go to boarding school in Switzerland,” Hadley said with a heart-rending sigh.

  “And I take it you don’t want to do either of those things.”

  “Nope.”

  “What about living with your father? I know it would still mean moving away from Rivers Bend, but at least it would be in Virginia.”

  Hadley’s eyes filled with tears, and she stuffed a whole cookie in her mouth.

  “Her dad said she can’t live in Richmond with him,” Sam whispered.

  “What? Why not?” Heather was flabbergasted. What kind of man would send his daughter to live in some remote Asian outpost or to a boarding school thousands of miles away where she didn’t know a soul?

  Hadley swallowed the cookie hard, as if it were made of concrete. “He said with the baby there’s no room for me.”

  Heather had never met Hadley’s father, but she knew he was a wealthy man, and it was just an excuse, as he lived in a huge home in Richmond with his new family. Her heart broke for Hadley. She wasn’t always the easiest child, and with Ghastly Gloria as a mother it seemed inevitable, but deep down she was a good kid with a big heart.

  “I’m sorry, Hadley, it sounds like you’re in an awful bind, but I don’t have room in my apartment.” Realizing it sounded a lot like Hadley’s father’s excuse, she added rapidly, “Seriously, my place is tiny!”

  “It is,” Sam conceded with a sigh.

  Hadley’s mouth twisted into a smile, “No offense, Miss Heather, but this plan lost me at one bathroom.”

  “No offense taken, sweetie.” Heather patted Hadley’s hand. “Is there any other family you can go to who would be closer than Asia or Europe?”

  “My Aunt Lily lives in Baltimore. She’s a teacher there; I texted her, but she was at work and couldn’t talk, so she texted back and said she’d call me when she got home.”

  “Maybe she can help,” Heather said with encouragement. If the woman was a teacher, she couldn’t possibly be as shallow and materialistic as Gloria, right? And she must like kids. “Baltimore isn’t too far away. I could bring Sam to visit on weekends sometimes.”

  Hadley screwed up her mouth, and her tears threatened to make a comeback. “But it won’t be the same as being in the same school every day, and pretty soon it’ll be too much of a pain to keep in touch, and you’ll make new friends, and everyone will forget me. It’s what always happens.”

  “It won’t happen with me,” Sam said in a way that reminded Heather very much of Jeff. Like father, like daughter, both were loyal to the core.

  “Let’s wait and see what your aunt has to say, Hadley, maybe she’ll have some good ideas.”

  “Aunt Heather’s right, Had. When Dad and I needed her, Aunt Heather moved across the whole country to help us; I’m sure your Aunt Lily will help too.”

  At Hadley’s dejected, hopeless expression, Heather sent up a silent prayer Aunt Lily was a better person than her sister, Gloria, and she’d come through for her niece, and give her a place to live.

  The girls put their milk glasses in the dishwasher, and ran upstairs to Sam’s room, calling out their thanks as they went.

  Jeff appeared in the doorway to the Retreat offices, his hands shoved into the pockets of his worn jeans. “They tell you about Glo’s plans?”

  She nodded, and asked her brother with gravitas, “Do you ever think about how lucky we were to be born into the Braden family?”

  He walked over and snagged a cookie from the platter. “I sure do. Every time I bring Hadley home to her mom’s house. We may not have been rich like Gloria, but we always knew Mom and Dad loved us, and we always had each other’s back.”

  He raked his hand through his perpetually messy hair, a tell of anxiety for him. “And you know I’ve still got yours, right, kiddo? I shouldn’t have forced Mick on you here at work, but he’s one of my best buddies, and I didn’t know…”

  “Jeff, chill. It’s all good.” She forced her phony smile back into place. “I’m a big girl. I can work with Mick. No worries about me.”

  He smiled back at her. “Always so tough.”

  “Nah! Not me.”

  He slumped in the seat Sam had just vacated.

  “You’re not looking so tough right now, Jeff. What’s up?”

  “I just wish I could offer to take Hadley here with us, and I know Sam is a little p.o.’ed with me I’m not.”

  “Sam floated living with me out there as an option, but Hadley was put off by the idea of having to share a bathroom with me,” she smiled, as her brother chuckled. “But I can’t say I wasn’t relieved. Taking care of someone else’s child like that is a big responsibility.”

  “It’s not the responsibility so much for me. Hell, I figure not many people could do a worse job raising a child than Gloria, but I’m hoping there are going to be some big changes in our household soon, and they’ll impact this decision.”

  “That’s more cryptic than you usually are, Jeff.”

  He smiled his lazy smile and asked, “Can you keep a secret?”

  “You know I can.”

  “I do.” He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “I’m going to ask Maggie to marry me.”

  Heather squealed, “I’m so happy f
or you! About damn time!”

  “Hey! It hasn’t been that long.”

  “I guess not, it just seems like you two have been together forever. She’s fit in so well with our family, I can’t even remember a time she wasn’t here. You were made for each other.”

  “Thanks, sis, but mum’s the word! I haven’t asked her yet. I have to go to D.C. on Thursday for a board meeting for my Foundation. Maggie’s coming with me, and we’re going to stay at the Hay Adams. I’m going to ask her then.”

  “Very posh! I approve. Do you have a ring?”

  “I do. It’s probably not as big as the one Pierce gave her…”

  “But on the plus side, you would never try to kidnap her at gunpoint the way Pierce did.” Heather pointed at him with a cookie.

  “There is that. One point in my favor anyway.”

  “I have a feeling you could give Maggie a ring out of a gumball machine, and she would wear it with love and pride because it came from you.” Heather flashed him a grin. “No accounting for taste.”

  He laughed. “Thanks for keeping my head from getting too big. Anyway, it’s why I can’t offer to take Hadley in. I don’t want to commit Maggie to something that big without discussing it first.”

  “Maybe this aunt in Baltimore will come through for the poor kid, and you won’t need to worry.”

  Chapter 22

  “I swear, Maggie, I’m walking over to the apartment as we speak.” Heather held her cell phone to her ear, as she looked both ways before trotting across Main Street to Miller’s Garage. “I’ll be there in two seconds to sign for your delivery, so stop worrying and go have fun with my brother. Okay, I’m here and I’m hanging up now. Bye!”

  Ed Miller straightened up from under the hood of a car. “Hey, Heather! What can I do for you?”

  “Hi, Ed. I was wondering if you could let me into the apartment? Maggie and Jeff ordered some of that assemble-it-yourself furniture, and since they’re in D.C. tonight they asked me to come over to sign for the delivery. Maggie’s ready to pop a gasket about it. “

  Ed scratched his head. “Huh, popping a gasket? That doesn’t sound like Maggie; she’s usually pretty calm.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a key. “Anyhow, here you go.”

  She flashed him a smile as she took the key from his outstretched hand. “Thanks. I’ll bring it back when I’m done.”

  “I’m heading out for the night soon as I finish with this car, so if I’m not here when you leave, you can just hold on to it.”

  “Thanks! I’ve been in and out of here so much that would probably help. I wouldn’t have to bug you every time I need to get into the apartment.”

  “Having a little visit with you never bugs me, Heather. You’re a good girl, and it’s mighty kind of you to make things so nice for Billy.” He ducked back down under the hood, so his last words were muffled, “Have a good night now.”

  “You too!” She called over her shoulder, as she climbed the staircase on the side of the garage that led to the apartment above it.

  She let herself in, and a few minutes later she heard someone clomping up the steps—must be the deliveryman. She rushed to the door and threw it open for him. Her jaw dropped when instead of a man in brown shorts, she saw Mick with his hand raised as if she’d caught him just as he was about to knock.

  “You’re not the deliveryman!”

  He looked down at his jeans and navy Retreat T-shirt and shrugged. “No. I’m not. I saw Ed downstairs, he told me you were here and you’d let me inside. Sorry to disappoint you.”

  “Oh no,” she hastened to reassure him, with her deeply ingrained good manners. “I’m not disappointed…well, maybe a little…”

  He raised an eyebrow, and she felt her cheeks heat up—sheesh!—she was never this awkward with people. Normally she could chat and charm with the best of them, but Mick turned her into a babbling goofball in no time flat.

  She took a deep breath. “I was expecting them to deliver a bed and dresser; Maggie asked me to come over and sign for it. She seemed to think it would arrive any minute, and I was frantically trying to beat the deliveryman here, but I’m starting to worry I missed him.”

  Mick wrinkled his brow. “That’s funny, Jeff asked me to come over after work to assemble a bed and dresser. Why wouldn’t he just ask me to sign for it? Why drag you over here too?”

  Heather pursed her lips. “I think we’ve been set up by Jeff and Maggie.”

  “You think?”

  “I do. They arranged for both of us to be here at the same time on a flimsy excuse.”

  “I don’t know about flimsy. Furniture is coming and it does need to be put together. Maybe Jeff thought I wouldn’t get here in time to sign for the delivery. Also, I haven’t been over to see the place yet, and Jeff knows I want to help get it set up for my brother. Maybe it’s just a coincidence.”

  “Hmm.” Heather frowned and narrowed her eyes with suspicion.

  “Now that I’m here, may I come in?”

  Heather stepped aside quickly, and bumped into the old-fashioned avocado-green laminate kitchen counter behind her. “Of course. I’m sorry. It’s your brother’s apartment; of course you want to see it. Come on in.”

  Great, she winced inwardly. Babbling Heather was back in control.

  The ghost of a smile showed in his eyes and on his lips as he entered the kitchen. “Thanks. The place looks real nice. You’ve done a good job here; I really appreciate it.”

  Mick was a big man, and he really filled the little kitchen. Suddenly it felt too small for the two of them. Heather stepped into the living room, now furnished with odds and ends donated by their fellow Rivers Benders.

  “Thank you, but I can’t take all the credit, everyone’s chipped in, donating stuff for the apartment, as well as their time to help get it cleaned up for Billy.”

  “Still, you’re the driving force, and I know Billy’s going to be over the moon when he sees his new place.”

  He put his hands on his narrow hips, and looked around the apartment; he jerked his head to the tiny ancient television set on the steamer trunk across from the plaid sofa. “Maybe I can upgrade the TV to a new flat screen for him.”

  “I bet he’d like that! Mrs. Warren donated that one, but it is pretty old. Maybe he can use hers in the bedroom, so her feelings won’t be hurt.”

  “You’re one of the kindest people I’ve ever known, Heather Braden.”

  His voice was husky, and she felt breathless as their eyes locked.

  A loud thump from the outside stairwell broke the moment with a jolt. Heather jumped at the noise. “Must be the furniture delivery!”

  Mick reluctantly dragged his eyes from hers, and cleared his throat. “I’ll get it. He could probably use some help getting the stuff up those stairs. I bet those boxes weigh a ton.”

  ****

  Two hours later, they sat on the parquet floor of the bedroom. They were hot and sweaty, and not for any fun reason. Surrounded by pre-cut pieces of wood, and plastic bags, Mick directed his laser focus at the dresser drawer he was attempting to assemble.

  Heather tossed a piece of paper to the floor beside her, and wiped some sweat from her forehead, where it beaded behind her choppy bangs. “Who knew the Swedes hated us so much?”

  Mick sat on the floor with a tiny hex wrench gripped in his large hand. He frowned at the ancient air conditioner rattling in the window. It was making a lot of noise, but doing little to cool off the room. “You’re just hot and cranky.”

  “No, I’m not!” She grabbed the piece of paper in her right hand and slapped it with her left. “Seriously! Look at the assembly illustrations. What the heck is this supposed to mean?”

  He squinted at the black and white drawing. He grinned at her and waggled his eyebrows. “It’s simple. It means ‘insert Tab B into Slot A.’ ”

  She yanked the instruction sheet back and scowled at it. “Where do you see that on here?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t, but it’s what those
things always seem to say.” A slow grin spread across his face. “We’ve got this, babe, because no one is better at inserting Tab B into Slot A, than you and me.”

  She rolled her eyes, but her face flushed in a way Mick suspected had nothing to do with the under-functioning air conditioner.

  Mick rolled his head on his neck until it cracked. “Your brother is so going to pay for this. He orders all this build-it-yourself crap, and then beats feet out of town, and leaves me to assemble it.”

  “Us to assemble it, you mean. I still think Maggie set this whole thing up to throw us together. Since she met my brother, she’s turned into a hopeless romantic.”

  Mick picked up two pieces of wood, and screwed them together. “I shouldn’t complain anyway. It was generous of Jeff to buy this stuff for Billy. Putting it together is the least I can do.”

  Heather bit her lip as she studied the sheet, and then dug through the wood on the floor to hand him a piece of wood. “I think this is the one you need next.”

  “Thanks. We make a good team.”

  Heather furrowed her brow, and he wondered if she was going to ask him what kind of team they made—a question he was not prepared to answer, but she eventually chuckled and went for a joke response. “You look like you should be in one of their ads. A hunky male model assembling a bedroom set, now that would get the ladies into the store!”

  He grinned as he held up the finished dresser drawer. “One down, three to go.”

  “Ugh! But now we’ve done the first one the rest should go easier, right?”

  “Right,” he replied with a confidence he wasn’t quite feeling.

  For a few minutes they worked in a companionable silence, until Mick asked, “Is that what you like about me?”

  “Your mad ability to assemble furniture designed by some sadistic Swede? You betcha!”

  He didn’t smile at her joke. “No, I meant my looks. Are they why you like me?”

  “You are pretty,” Heather teased, but her smile faded.

  He kept his attention focused on putting together drawer number two, as if her answer didn’t matter to him at all, but Mick was pretty sure he wasn’t fooling Heather. He could never fool Heather.