by Curry, Edna
In fact, Jeff seemed to be spending most of his time away from the office, only dropping in for an occasional short conference with Alice.
At lunch, Diane commented to Sally, “Doesn’t it seem odd for Jeff, a newly transferred employee, to get so much time off?”
Sally laughed and sent her a sideways glance. “Not when you know that Banning Corporation owns Special Tours.”
Diane’s mouth dropped and Sally let forth another peal of laughter. “Explains a lot, doesn’t it?”
By Thursday afternoon when Jeff walked into Alice's office with Arlene in tow again, Diane had resigned herself to the fact that Jeff was not at all interested in her. So, when Bob called late that afternoon, she was more than usually nice to him.
"The ski opener is all set for this weekend, Diane. Can you come home for it?" Bob asked.
"Great! I'd love to. I'll give Mom a call and make sure it won't upset any of their plans."
"I already did.
Diane pushed down a surge of irritation at Bob’s presumption. “Honestly, Bob, I wish you wouldn’t do that. I’d rather have called her myself.”
“Gee, Diane. I just thought I'd save you a long distance charge. She said it's fine with her. Paula has Sunday off, so she’ll join us."
"Okay. I'll be home tomorrow night."
"How about meeting me at the restaurant? I have to work until eleven in order to get the rest of the weekend off, but we can talk a bit on my break and I'll buy you dinner."
"It's a deal, Bob. I'll try to make it by nine or so."
Diane hung up the phone and turned back to her computer screen. She started in surprise when she saw Jeff lounging against the doorframe of her office.
As Jeff listened to Diane making the date with Bob on the phone, he felt as though he had just dropped something precious and fragile, and it had smashed. Of course, he'd heard her and Bob plan this skiing weekend weeks ago. But somehow he thought he and Diane had developed something special between them in the last few weeks. Maybe the special feelings were only in his mind. I've been so busy with Banning's troubles, I've neglected my own life. No wonder she's going out with someone else.
"Big date with Bob?" he asked, stepping into her office and sitting on the edge of her desk.
She glanced up at him, putting up a slim hand to push her blonde curls back. “The ski resort opens Saturday. It's open to the public. You could bring Arlene." Her voice sounded petulant and cold.
Would she care if I did? Arlene does really love to ski. Maybe I could talk her into staying over an extra day for the first skiing of the season. Arlene owes me a few favors anyway; it isn't as if I'll be taking advantage of her. Anger made him reckless. "I may just do that, since you're going with Bob?"
"Yes, fine," she said shortly.
Jeff swore silently. This was ridiculous. The more he said the worse he made things. Just how well did she know Bob anyway?
Pursing his lips grimly, he dropped a folder of handwritten papers on her desk and attempted to keep his voice polite and professional. "Here's the information you'll need on Banning Corporation's people for their trip to Puerto Vallarta. Put it into a database so we can reuse the mailing list repeatedly over the next few weeks. We'll send them each a welcome aboard letter and one of these brochures today, then follow with the usual series of mailings for a group tour. You can get started on the names and addresses while I write the letter."
"All right." Her voice sounded as stiff and polite as his. He stared into her clear hazel eyes. "This is a most important tour group to me. I have a very personal interest in Banning Corporation. So, no botches, okay?"
"Yes, Sir." Her cheeks turned red at the reminder of her former mix-up.
He knew he was being very rude, but couldn’t help himself. Jeez, was he feeling jealous?
Diane saw his still tan face crinkle into a frown at her formal reply and his brown eyes darken dangerously. Then he straightened up, gave her a stiff smile and walked out.
She let out her breath slowly and swallowed, then started a new database on her computer and carefully began typing in the information he'd given her.
After work, she packed for the weekend, trying to regain her high spirits. She drove to the valley, and went up to the house first to see her folks and leave her overnight case.
Her mother was home and she spent a soothing hour chatting over a cup of coffee. It was always pleasant to catch up on what was happening with the people she'd known for so many years in their little town. Although, she thought ruefully, that was just what she objected to their doing with her life.
Then she and Bob had a relaxing dinner together. He'd saved his break time so he could spend it with her. Paula brought them fresh lemon meringue pie for dessert and sat with them to make their plans for the next day, then Diane went home to bed.
The next morning, the weather cooperated. The sun shone beautifully, but it was not warm enough to melt the snow.
Diane’s father had breakfast with them in his pilot's uniform, ready for work.
"Have a nice time, kids," he said as they kissed him goodbye. "I'll be home tomorrow. I've got the Minneapolis to Phoenix run this week."
Diane came to attention.
"Isn't that the flight which goes to Puerto Vallarta?"
"Why yes. That is, it connects to there. What made you ask that?"
"At work this week I was typing up itineraries for a tour group that’s going there. Remember when we went to Puerto Vallarta about five years ago? It was so warm and beautiful!"
"I remember. We've had a lot of good times together, haven't we?"
Diane gave him a hug. "We sure have, Dad. See you later."
The slopes weren't crowded so early in the season, and Diane, Bob and Paula frolicked freely on the slopes. Diane knew she would have stiff and sore muscles tomorrow from the unaccustomed exercise, but it was worth it.
She laughed and cavorted like a teenager again. All the troubles at work seemed far away and unimportant. What Jeff thought of her didn't matter in the least. She was back on home territory, among people who loved her, and nothing could spoil the day for her.
As she swooped down the final leg of the run, Bob caught her at the bottom, swinging her into his arms and kissing her soundly.
"Gosh, you're beautiful, all rosy from the sun and cold!" he exclaimed.
"Bob. Not here. Everyone can see us."
"So what? It was just a little kiss."
Which was probably true, but sent a wave of resentment through Diane anyway. But she said no more, because Paula came to a stop near them, looking upset.
Before she could ask Paula what was wrong, Diane saw Jeff and Arlene standing at the ski rack in front of the chalet. Judging by the scowl on Jeff's face, he’d seen the kiss, too.
Arlene was gorgeously outfitted in an expensive aqua suit which emphasized her beautiful red hair. In fact, Diane thought with sinking heart, they made a handsome pair, both tall, slim and expensively dressed.
"Hi. You did come, I see," Diane said, introducing Bob and Arlene.
Jeff's reply was stiff. "We thought it might be fun. You said it was open to the public, I remember."
"Yes, of course it is," Diane said, managing a small grin. Bob's greeting was definitely cool, and Arlene's smile looked as frozen as the snow under their skis. "Having a nice time?"
"Lovely. We were out earlier and went inside the chalet to warm up by the fireplace."
"Ready for the next run, then?" challenged Bob.
"All set," Jeff replied, straightening up from fastening on his skis.
"Be a dear and give me a hand first, Jeff," Arlene interrupted.
"Sure." Jeff turned back and bent to help her.
Bob and Diane waited and they spent the next hour riding the ski lift and gliding back down the slopes with them. Diane was all too aware of Jeff and Arlene's presence, and Paula seemed to enjoy frolicking with Jeff as well, to Arlene's annoyance. To anyone watching, Diane was sure they looked like a happy fam
ily, but she felt the choppy undercurrents of tension.
Diane was torn between pleasure at seeing Jeff and jealousy at seeing him out with Arlene as they made several runs down the slopes together.
Arlene tired before the rest, so she and Jeff said goodbye and left to return to the Twin Cities.
"Let's go just one more round," Bob coaxed Paula and Diane.
Paula shook her head. "First I have to warm up. The wind is coming up and that last ride up the lift almost froze me!"
They went into the chalet and drank mugs of hot chocolate in front of the fireplace, then went back out again.
Finally, tired and happy, the three of them went back home for supper as Rose had asked them to, since she would be alone.
They found the house silent. Rose wasn’t there. A note was propped against the napkin holder on the kitchen table.
"Oops, guys, looks like Mom had to go back to work. We'll have to get our own supper or go out," Diane said, picking up the note and opening it.
But Rose hadn't gone back to work. The note said Bill had been hurt in a car accident on his way to the airport that morning, and was in the local hospital.
They all piled back into Bob's car and went over there. Why, oh why, hadn't someone told them? Diane wondered. The thought that her father had been lying in the hospital in pain while they had been happily cavorting on the slopes, made her sick.
Rose was sitting in the waiting room in the lobby. Her usually perfect hairdo was awry and her worried face wore no makeup. Pain shot through Diane, as she realized her mother was no longer young, however much she might usually try to appear so. Walking quickly to her mother, Diane hugged her. "How is he?"
"As well as can be expected, they say, whatever that means. He's in surgery now. His legs were badly damaged."
"Why didn't you send someone for us?" Diane asked.
"And spoil your day as well? There was no immediate danger, and nothing you could have done here."
"We could have been with you."
"I'm fine, really."
"Have you eaten?"
"Eaten?" Rose looked puzzled, as though she had forgotten when last she did. "No, I guess not. And oh, dear, I was going to fix supper for all of you, wasn't I?"
"We'll all grab something in the hospital cafeteria," Diane said firmly, taking her mother's arm and leading her down the hall to the elevators.
Rose hung back, protesting, "But they said they'd call me as soon as he came out of surgery. I must be there when he wakes up."
"I'll tell them to page you in the cafeteria," Diane said firmly.
But they had finished eating and spent another long hour in the waiting room before a nurse came to tell Rose she could see her husband now. Rose sent a worried look over her shoulder, and hurried after the nurse.
Bob went to get them more coffee, then he, Paula and Diane settled down to wait some more.
At last the nurse allowed them to join Rose at his bedside for a few minutes. Bill looked very pale and weak, and was too sedated to talk.
Finally, the nurse convinced Rose that there was nothing more she could do, so they all went home.
Sunday was mostly spent at the hospital. It was too early to tell how permanent the damage was, or whether Bill would ever walk again, let alone fly his beloved airplanes.
Diane thought it was ironic that everyone had always worried about Bill's dangerous job, and he should be injured in a car, which they all took for granted every day.
"You see, I told you I was safer in the air than on the ground," Bill quipped weakly. "But you would never believe me."
"Well, you didn't have to go to such lengths to prove your point, did you?" Diane attempted to match his mood.
Bill grinned, his face still white against the pillows.
Diane had never felt lonelier than she did that evening as she drove back to Minneapolis and parked her little blue Volkswagen in back of her apartment building. The wind had picked up and whipped her red wool coat around her and brought tears to her eyes, although she wasn't sure that they were only from the cold.
Chapter 6
When Diane called the hospital the next day, the nurse would only say that her father was doing as well as could be expected. There was no answer at her home or her mother’s cell.
Assuming her mother was at the hospital and Paula at work, she turned back to her computer, thinking, It'll be a wonder if I don't louse up today.
She'd told Anne and the other girls all about her father's accident over coffee this morning, so they were tolerant of her inattention. She found herself jumping every time the telephone rang, and was very relieved when at last Rose called just before lunch.
"He's feeling much better this morning, Diane, and there's some color in his face again, too."
Her mother’s voice sounded much better too, Diane thought with relief, more like her old self again. Rose might try to tell her only the good news, but Diane had learned over the years to trust the tell-tale nuances in her voice for the truth. Now she let out her breath in relief as Rose's voice showed her renewed confidence. "I'm so glad, Mom."
"But of course, it's too early for Dr. Saunders to tell us much," Rose cautioned. "There's so much that depends on how his legs mend."
"Yes, of course. I suppose it's too soon to know. Shall I come out tonight?"
"Oh no, Diane, it's too much for you to make that long drive every day. And he really should just rest. You would only be able to see him for a few minutes, yet, anyway. But they're allowing calls directly to his room now, so you can call him there and talk to him."
"I'll do that, Mom. But I'll also be out soon to see him for myself. Take care, now."
Talking to Rose had settled her nerves, and the rest of the day went smoothly.
Jeff and Arlene came in after her coffee break, spent an hour closeted with Anne, then left again, with only a friendly wave in her direction. At the moment she was too concerned about her father to waste time worrying about Jeff and his girl friend. Besides, the way he'd been avoiding her, it was obvious she hadn't made the kind of impression on him that he had on her.
She didn't see Jeff at all the next two days, then on Wednesday afternoon she decided to drive home after work to see her father. Bill had sounded very depressed when she'd talked to him on the phone that morning, and she needed the reassurance of seeing him for herself.
She left work early, fixed herself a sandwich, then took a quick shower and slipped into a comfortable pantsuit. She gave her blonde hair a few quick brushes and then touched up her makeup.
Just as she was dabbing on a bit of her father's favorite perfume, her doorbell rang. She opened her door to find Jeff standing there and stared at him in surprise.
"Hi."
"Hi, yourself. Whatever brings you here?"
"I wanted to discuss something with you."
Why couldn't he have discussed whatever it was at the office, she wondered in annoyance.
"May I come in, or do we tell it to all the neighbors?" He tipped his head to indicate the door ajar down the hall.
"I was just leaving," she said ungraciously, but held the door open and stepped back for him to enter.
"Oh?" He lifted one eyebrow. "Another skiing date with Bob? Anne said you'd left early to drive up to ‘Happy Valley.’"
She looked at him in surprise, her pert nose tipped up questioningly. "What makes you think that?" Was it possible no one had told him about her father's accident? Perhaps he had been too busy with Arlene to listen to the office gossip. She closed the door and stood facing him nervously. She had never met a man who threw her off balance emotionally as he did. Just being here alone with him made her pulse beat double-time.
"Well, if you and Bob weren't going skiing, he would have come here instead of the other way round, wouldn't he?"
She laughed wryly. "Do you always jump to conclusions and add your own assumptions to information you're given?"
"What do you mean?" For once she seemed to have shaken his
arrogant poise.
"I mean, I don't know where you got the idea that I would leave early from work merely for a date. I'm going home to see my father. He had a car accident Saturday and was badly hurt."
"I'm sorry!" He looked sincerely contrite and shocked.
She began to believe he hadn't known.
"Will he be all right?"
"Yes," she said, "but it's still too early to tell if there'll be permanent damage to his legs."
Her voice broke over the words and she turned away quickly to hide her tears. She went into her bedroom to find her purse on her dresser, taking a moment to use a tissue and regain her composure.
He was still standing there where she'd left him, as if in shock.
"Could whatever you wanted to discuss wait until tomorrow? If I don't leave now, visiting hours will be over before I get there."
He roused himself, instantly back in control. "I'll drive you. We can talk on the way."
It was a statement, not a question, and immediately Diane bristled. Why did he always have to boss her around? She locked the door behind them, breathing a sigh of relief that he was at least safely out of her apartment, and led the way to the elevator.
She punched the down button, saying stubbornly, "I can drive myself."
"I'm sure you can. But I would like to come, too, if you don't mind. I like Bill." His voice was terse and cold. He took her arm as they stepped inside, then pressed the main floor button as the door closed.
Immediately she was ashamed of her outburst. "Sorry," she mumbled. "I guess I've been on edge lately."
Actually, she was glad she would have his company on the hour's drive back and forth. She disliked driving alone at night.
She was acutely aware that he'd kept her arm as they walked out into the crisp, cold night. She shivered, half from the gust of damp, cold wind in her face, half from her reaction to his touch.
"We'll take my car," he said.
