Lori was fishing for information, but Jordan was reluctant to fill her in. “There’s no mystery, Lori. I just needed time away to relax and look at property for a possible weekend retreat. If there’d been any emergency with our parents, I’m sure you, Diane, and Amy could handle things. I’m in touch with Dad by email several times during the week. He likes to talk sports and stuff. If there was anything going on, he’d let me know.” That should satisfy her.
“Now that you’re involved with this belly dancer you don’t seem to have much time left for your family. We saw that TV ad she did for a beer company. Lara almost had a fit when it came on. You really screwed things up with your former girlfriend, let me tell you. By the way, Andrea invited Lara to be one of her bridesmaids, as her younger sister won’t attend the wedding. You were supposed to escort her sister down the aisle, and now Lara’s taking her place. Just wanted to give you fair warning, that’s all.”
“Thanks, sis. I’ll do my best to avoid any conflicts with Lara at Andrea’s wedding. Perhaps Andrea would prefer to get someone else to accompany Lara down the aisle. Her new boyfriend might fit the bill.” It would let him off the hook. He’d never wanted to attend that damn wedding anyway.
“That’s strictly up to Andrea. I have nothing to do with it,” she snapped.
He’d had about enough for one conversation. “Look, Lori, I’ve got to call Amy tonight, and I don’t want to phone too late. I’ll be in touch soon.”
“I won’t hold my breath,” she said, and hung up.
Jordan sat there for several long moments, staring at the phone. He’d never known his sister to be so abrupt and annoyed. What was with her? Shaking his head in confusion, he punched in Amy’s phone number. Her phone rang several times, but no one picked up, and her mail box was full. Oh well, he’d tried. Amy could always call him tomorrow. He’d watch the late-night news and head to bed.
~ ~ ~
By the time Sam finished a few hours of painting and the laundry it was after nine. For some reason, the house seemed unnaturally quiet. She couldn’t help remembering Jordan’s words about the grayness of his experiences when he was away from her. Was she beginning to feel similarly? A shiver went through her at this thought and what it meant. She was starting to count on him for the joy in her life–and that was not very wise.
Rather than dwell on the dangers inherent in depending on a man to provide her happiness, she tackled the mail. The letter from Beth and Sean Fuller caught her attention. Opening it, she found the check she’d sent them and a brief note letting her know they didn’t need her money. Well, she’d been warned to expect them to refuse, but she couldn’t help the brief flash of pain that pierced her. Staring at the check, she decided fate had ordained she have that money. There were plenty of ways she could use it. Summer was coming and she needed new outfits for work and social occasions. She’d put some aside for savings and visit Ellie at that boutique. Perhaps she’d splurge on a new refrigerator and stove. The floor could use new linoleum or tiles. Not that she was concerned about Jordan’s critical eye, she assured herself. But it made sense to update things, she reasoned. Yes, that money would come in handy.
~ ~ ~
When Sam entered the gallery on Tuesday morning, Peter was waiting for her.
“Well, you look rested,” he said. “How was the weekend? Did Jordan find the country retreat he was looking for?”
“Not exactly.” She headed for her desk. “But we did have an enjoyable time and I relaxed. By the way, I had a call from Max Beltzer saying he’d met with you and wanted to set up an appointment. What’s that all about?”
He sauntered over and perched on one corner of her desk. “Max phoned me on Monday morning about another proposition. Since I’ve been acting as your business agent, gratis, I suggested we meet for lunch and talk. Guess where he took me?”
Tilting her head to one side, Sam narrowed her eyes. “I can’t imagine.” She wasn’t anxious to hear about more belly dancing jobs. So far she’d been able to keep this part of her life secret from the family and that was just the way she wanted it.
“The Blue Monkey restaurant. And the Berdoga brothers were waiting for us. Seems the Berdoga family often dines there.”
Sam shrugged noncommittally. “That’s nice.” He still hadn’t explained the reason they met but she wasn’t eager to find out.
“Well, aren’t you curious?”
“When you’re ready to tell me, you will.” She folded her arms over her chest.
“Okay, I’ll get to the point. A convention of craft breweries in the New York area will be held soon at a midtown hotel. Hassan and Omar want you to be with them as the symbol of the East Village Brewery Corporation. You’ll wear your belly dancing outfit and, basically, just be around as a focal point for their display of craft beers. The amount they’re offering you to do this is extraordinary. Acting as your agent with your interests at heart, I tentatively agreed. But Max wants to meet with both of us to finalize plans. Isn’t that exciting?”
“Not particularly,” she replied. “Since the Fullers sent back the check with a note saying they didn’t need my money, I’ve plenty of extra cash. Why would I want to put myself out there? I’m sure the newspapers will cover the event. I don’t want my conservative family to have more ammunition against me. As it is, they’re giving me the cold shoulder since my run-in with Andrea last week at Melina’s.”
“Ah, so that’s the problem. Do you really care if they know you’re earning big bucks endorsing craft beer? I should think you’d be pleased to have such an easy source of income. There are sports stars clamoring to represent anything from toothpaste to chewing gum. You’re fortunate this job just fell out of the sky and into your lap. I don’t understand your reasoning. As a business person, you have to think logically, not emotionally.”
Sam took a deep breath while she absorbed his words. Was she overreacting again? And did it really matter if her staid family was upset by her actions? They’d never understood her or her interests. Why factor them in when making decisions? “Okay, I’ll listen to his proposal. You’re more objective than I am when it comes to my family. Actually, it doesn’t matter what I do. They’ll always find something wrong.”
He started laughing. “You’ve hit the nail on the head. I’ll call Max back, and we’ll arrange to meet later today.”
“Since Tuesdays are usually slow, I’d like to leave an hour earlier to shop for summer outfits. Do you mind?”
“Shopping again? Women never have enough things to wear,” he teased. “You know it’s fine with me.”
~ ~ ~
Max Beltzer stopped by the gallery early that afternoon. “Hi, Samantha. Did Peter fill you in on the proposal?”
“Yes, he did. And it does sound interesting. Peter’s waiting in his office for us.”
For the next half hour, Max gave details of the coming craft beer convention. “It should be a well-attended event since craft beers are really gaining ground in this country. Hassan and Omar are considering opening a branch office in Toronto. A close cousin lives there and will invest in the corporation. Who knows? You might be making appearances in Canada soon.”
Peter sent her a smug glance. “You never know what kind of opportunities will come your way, Sam.”
The whole situation was a bit crazy. Here she was, trying to make a living as a serious artist, and her belly dancing hobby was slowly taking over. Oh well. As Peter implied earlier, she should take advantage of everything. “You’re so right, Peter.”
“By the way, I understand the owners of the Blue Monkey restaurant are annoyed with you for that story in the newspaper,” Max said. “I told the Berdoga brothers about it and one of them is going to speak to Sean Fuller and try to straighten things out. It would be fun to film the next TV ad right at the restaurant.”
“Good luck with
that!” Sam exclaimed. “I sent them a large check to cover any business they may have lost because of the story in the paper. They sent my check back with a curt note letting me know they didn’t need my money. I don’t know what to do to make things right with them. They were the closest friends I had.”
Max patted her shoulder. “Leave it to the boys. They’ll think of something.”
“Yes. Don’t worry about it,” Peter added. “Now go and shop for your new summer wardrobe. That’ll get your mind off things.”
Max and Peter sounded like doting uncles, Sam thought with a wry smile. “Okay guys, I’ll try to follow your advice.” It made much more sense than stewing about things she couldn’t fix.
Before heading to the boutique, there was one stop Sam needed to make. She hadn’t spoken to Melina since the angry scene at the restaurant last week. She’d settle her account there and apologize for losing her temper. Squaring her shoulders, she headed for the small Greek eatery. Fortunately the place was empty of customers. Melina was putting fresh tablecloths in place as Sam entered.
Sam walked over to her. “Melina, I wasn’t able to come in before this to tell you how sorry I am about what happened last week. I hope there weren’t any repercussions. I shouldn’t have brought that group here in the first place. They couldn’t appreciate the wonderful food you serve. I also want to settle my account.”
Melina’s round face lit with a smile. “Oh, Sam, you don’t need to say anything. That woman was very mean to you. I could see it from the beginning. You did the right thing, believe me.” She gave Sam a big hug. “I don’t blame you one bit. I told my Nickolas about it and he thinks so too.”
Tears came to Sam’s eyes at Melina’s words. “Thank you for saying that. I’ve been feeling low all week. I don’t usually lose my temper, but my sister Andrea pushed all my buttons and I just exploded. I was supposed to be one of the bridesmaids at her upcoming wedding, but now I’m not even going. My parents are upset and want me to call my sister and make up. I just can’t do that.”
“Why should you? You did nothing wrong. I was standing nearby when she talked about your house. I wouldn’t have stood for those nasty words either. Now why don’t you sit and have something to eat–maybe a cup of soup or some spinach pie?”
“I’m on my way to shop, but a cup of soup sounds tempting. Let me settle my bill with you at the same time.”
“Fine, fine, you sit down and I’ll get your soup.” Melina hurried to the kitchen.
“And bring my bill,” Sam called out.
Thank goodness for friends like Melina. Some of the heavy weight she’d been feeling inside slipped away as she sat down, ready to savor Melina’s great cooking.
Chapter 21
“Good to see you again.” Ellie beamed at Sam when she entered the small boutique. “What are you looking for today?”
“Summer outfits. I need several for work and something for social occasions.” Sam glanced around the shop. “You know I’m not the greatest shopper. With the weather growing warmer, I can’t continue to wear the lovely clothes I bought here recently. Can you suggest some outfits for me?”
“Of course. Actually, you can still use leggings but in lighter tones and fabrics. Let me see if we can mix and match tops and bottoms to give you more versatility.”
For the next hour, Sam tried on sundresses, several long skirts, tops, and bathing suits. She finally selected two sleeveless dresses, one long and one short skirt, and four tops to go with the skirts.
“You can use these white leggings to go under the dresses or short skirt,” Ellie said holding up a pair. “Now let’s see about bathing suits.”
“No bikinis,” Sam announced. “A one-piece suit would be fine.” She still needed to lose some weight around her middle, no matter what Jordan said.
Ellie gave her an appraising look. “I wouldn’t be afraid of a bikini. It all depends on how it’s made. Let me give you several, plus the one piece, and then you can judge.”
Still skeptical, Sam tried on a black bikini. It wasn’t as low cut as some she’d seen. And it did hug her curves. She walked up and down the small dressing room, trying to decide whether she liked it or not.
Ellie was waiting on another customer, but she came in to take a quick look. “Fantastic!” she exclaimed. “You have to get that one. I can just imagine what a sensation you’ll be on the beach or in the pool.”
So far, Ellie had been right on target. She’d take a chance and buy it. At least Jordan would be pleased. She grinned at this last thought. Then she picked out a dark-brown one-piece suit for serious swimming.
“I’ll take these two,” she told Ellie. “Now I need a cover-up, plus a jacket or shawl for chilly nights.”
By the time she left, Sam had spent a hefty amount of money. But she’d earned it, she assured herself even as her conscience started to act up. She’d never indulged in new clothing this way, choosing to spend any extra cash on painting supplies or tickets to cultural events. It was fun, dressing up and looking good for a change.
~ ~ ~
Sam stopped at the Korean market for groceries. Her pantry was bare. By the time she reached home, it was almost seven. She still had to feed the cats and herself before relaxing. While she was opening a large can of cat food, the phone rang. Tempted to pick it up, she decided to listen to the message first. After several rings, a familiar voice came on. “Samantha, it’s Uncle Jim calling. Faith and I are planning to come into the city a week before Andrea’s wedding, and we want to spend time with you. We’ll be staying at a hotel in mid-Manhattan.”
Sam rushed to pick up the phone. James Milburn was her father’s younger brother. He and his wife, Faith, had always been interested in her welfare. Since they lived in Baltimore and seldom came to Manhattan, she didn’t see them very often, except for large family affairs. “Uncle Jim!” she cried. “So nice to hear from you. Of course I’d like to see you when you’re in town.” Did they know she wasn’t attending Andrea’s wedding?
“Good. Let’s set up some dates. I know how busy you are with the gallery and painting, but maybe you can make time for us. By the way, Andrew and Geoff are flying in from California for the wedding. I know they’ll want to spend time with you, too.”
Andrew and Geoff were first cousins—Jim’s children. This was getting complicated. Taking a deep breath she plunged in. “I’m on the outs with Andrea, so I’m not going to the wedding. I don’t know if you’ve talked to my parents.”
There was a brief pause. “Yes, your father phoned a few days ago and told me. I’m not terribly surprised. Andrea’s always been treated like a princess. She’s self-centered and spoiled, but your parents don’t realize this. Whatever happened, I’m sure it wasn’t your fault. Faith and I have watched the three of you grow up. It’s easy to see how difficult things have been for you. We’ll make time to see you outside of the wedding. How’s that?”
Sam’s eyes grew moist. At least some people in her family understood the situation. “Thanks, Uncle Jim. I’ll look forward to seeing all of you. Let me give you my phone number at the gallery. It’s easier to reach me there than at home.” Thinking of her weekend plans with Jordan, she added, “I’ve been seeing someone on the weekends, but my parents and sisters don’t know anything about it, and I want to keep it that way. I’m letting you know this in case you call on a Sunday or Monday and can’t reach me. We sometimes escape for a few days.”
“That’s good news, and I won’t say a word. Who knows, you might want to ask him to join us one evening for dinner.”
That was a distinct possibility, Sam thought after the conversation ended. She couldn’t help smiling while she went about preparing dinner. Uncle Jim and Aunt Faith were in her corner. Andrea hadn’t been able to dupe them as she’d done with her parents. It would be fun reconnecting with her cousins. Andrew and Geoff were close
to her age and also single. Andrew was a computer programmer and Geoff worked for a publishing firm. Uncle Jim taught history at a university while his wife was a kindergarten teacher at a private school. Almost ten years younger than her father, her uncle had always been a fun-loving and adventurous man. With a wistful sigh, Sam couldn’t help comparing her uncle with her father. It would’ve been great growing up in an intelligent, close-knit family like Uncle Jim’s.
Sam prepared a vegetable frittata for dinner with a side salad. Eating out with Jordan was spoiling her. Usually she enjoyed cooking for herself. Now, it seemed a little lonely. But she wasn’t going to give in to that feeling. Instead, she’d do something constructive with her kitchen. After finishing dinner, she surveyed the whole room. If she wanted to buy new appliances and put in different flooring, she needed to straighten out her cabinets and clear the counters.
Easier said than done. After almost two hours of work, she’d hardly made a dent. Why had she let things get this disorganized? She would never allow her studio to look this way. Well, at least she’d made a start–a small one, but it was a beginning. Feeling a bit overwhelmed, Sam made a cup of peppermint tea and carried it into the living room. She hadn’t read the Sunday papers yet . . . Kicking off her shoes, she settled back to enjoy a well-earned rest and catch up on the news. When the phone rang, she groaned. Who could be calling at this hour? It was close to ten. The answering machine could pick up any messages. Still, she was curious, and she rose to find out if this was a call she’d rather answer.
When she heard Jordan’s voice, she picked up the receiver quickly. “Hi, I didn’t think you’d call.” Her heart started thudding, and her pulse quickened. It was great to hear him on the other end. Clasping the phone, she went back to the sofa.
A Total Mismatch Page 17
