by Aria Ford
He was sitting with his finger tapping his lips and he looked thoughtful. I frowned.
“Uncle?”
“You should also go to...um, what?” He looked up as if he barely heard me ask him a question.
“Would it be possible for me to have a say in how I spend my time?”
He looked up as if I'd actually hit him. His eyes widened and narrowed. His face went red. Then he sighed.
“Within certain considerations, yes. You know your loyalty to the company. But if it doesn't compromise that, then yes.”
I stifled a bitter laugh. “Thank you,” I said sarcastically. His eyes narrowed again. I didn't want to actually have a fight with him. But somehow, having met Allie again and discovering what he told me about her was false, gave me strength.
“You can moderate your tone with me, Drew,” he said, looking down. “I can still fire you.”
I closed my eyes. I wanted to say something stupid. Like, go ahead. I'd like to live my life for a change...make my day. But I didn't. I didn't want to compromise my future right now.
“Sorry if I caused offense,” I said carefully.
“Mm,” he nodded. He looked at his nails then perused the menu. “I'm taking the braised salmon. Yourself?”
I frowned. How the man could change subjects so quickly, I had no idea. I guessed that partitioning out my life wasn't any more consequential to him than choosing dinner.
“I'll have the blue cheese Wellington.”
He raised a brow at me. “You've got an appetite today.”
“I do,” I said. I blushed. I was hungry more often...it tended to go with having good sex. At least it did for me. I almost felt as if he was trying to guess what had changed in my life. I looked down, avoiding that cold gray gaze.
“Well, no harm in a good appetite,” he said, as if he thought there might be. “Now. Where's that waiter when you need him. You'll drink water too?”
“Yes, please,” I nodded. For all his suspicion of people who were teetotal – like Allie – he rarely drank anything stronger than water himself.
“Right. Ah. Here you are. Water for the table and, uh, braised salmon.” he looked at me mildly.
I placed my order and, when the waiter had gone again, leaned back in my seat, thinking hard.
I don't want to make an enemy of this man. But I want to let him know he can't push me around anymore.
“Uncle?”
“Mm?”
“You started your company when you were my age. Yes?”
“When I was thirty-two. Yes.”
“Oh. Well, when you were my age, you took risks, right?”
He snorted. “I lived for risks.”
“Oh,” I said again. “Well, in that case, you surely know how it feels to, well...resent boundaries sometimes?” I was trying to lead him into this. He didn't seem to like the direction I was going. He frowned at me.
“I took plenty of risks. I know better than anyone how dumb that can be. Don't do it, nephew.”
I sighed. “You turned out okay,” I muttered.
I thought he hadn't heard me, but his eyes met mine. “I did,” he said. “But you'll never know how narrowly I didn't. I don't want to see anyone in my family have to fight the way I did. It was hard.”
This was a side of Uncle I had never seen. This was the first time I was considering how hard he must have fought. It was understandable, almost, why he was so dictatorial. But still – he had made his own mistakes, so why the hell shouldn't I?
“I understand,” I said. “But...sometimes there are things a person has to work out for themselves, right?”
“Depends,” he said with a harsh chuckle. “Sometimes that person might cause untold problems. So then that person had best listen to his elders and not make all his own mistakes. Yes?”
It was my turn to stare at him. “Uncle...” I couldn't have been more surprised if he'd slapped me. How dare he! He had basically just told me he would rather dictate to me all my life than risk me harming his company. Again, I swallowed the urge to tell him to fire me.
“Yes?” he asked. He grinned dryly and leaned back in the chair, giving me a level stare.
“Nothing,” I said. What could I really say in the face of that? I shook my head bitterly.
“Fine,” he said cheerfully. “Now here comes our lunch. At last. I'm hungry too. And I expect the report to be on my desk at four o' clock tomorrow.”
“It will be,” I ground out furiously.
“Fine,” Uncle said again. “Oh, look. That does look nice. Could you pass me the salt? Thanks.”
I closed my eyes for a moment or two, feeling sick with rage. I had no real appetite left, and I wished I was elsewhere.
In fact, I wished I was in Asheville, with a certain someone who I had just met again. Thinking of her brought a smile to my face again. I tried to hide it, but I thought Uncle might have noticed it.
“Not so bad, is it?” he commented. “The fish is excellent. Never liked blue cheese, myself.”
I sighed. “I like it, uncle,” I said under my breath.
“Fine,” he commented, dabbing his lips with a napkin.
That more or less ended our conversation for the day. I wished I could find the words to tell him I was going to follow my own heart – no matter what he thought – but somehow they all remained stuck in my throat as we exchanged inconsequential remarks about the weather.
All I knew was that, in my heart, I had already decided I would be seeing Allie again... and soon.
CHAPTER TEN
Allie
I looked around the shop feeling an odd mix of stress and resignation.
Same schedule. Same people. Same damn demands. I felt resentful and angry and uncomfortable. It wasn't like me. But I couldn't even begin trying to shake it. I closed my eyes and listened to the order from the customer. Then I hurried back into the kitchen, needing to finish the next batch of croissants when the first lot baked.
“Marcelle?”
“Yes, Ms. Hendricks?”
“We need two coffees here...” I called.
“Great. Coming up,” Kelsey called back, answering first. “I'm glad there isn't any cappuccino needed...I still can't work that thing.”
I would normally have shared her laugh about that, but this Monday morning I couldn't find it in me even to smile.
I was restless and drained and, quite frankly, gloomy. I was missing Drew. I wished we had more time.
Well, better one day than nothing.
It didn't make me feel much better.
“Ms. Hendricks?”
“Yes?” I spun round as Kelsey appeared with plates in both hands.
“Can you fill these, please? One raspberry, one apricot.”
“Oh. Sure. Thanks,” I added, walking over to the device stiffly. I was halfway through filling them both with apricot jam when I realized what I was doing. “Oh, for...”
“Having a bad day?” Marcelle asked kindly.
“Kind of,” I ground out. “Want a croissant?”
“Sounds great,” she said with a grin.
I passed her the spoiled croissant and headed off to find another one. Passed it, with the correct fillings to Kelsey, who headed out into the front. I sighed.
“What is wrong with me?”
“Sorry, Ms. Hendricks?” a calm voice said in my ear. Marcelle. I shook my head. One danger of talking to yourself when you work in a crowded environment is that someone will answer you.
“Nothing;” I said. “Just having a hard day.”
“I'm sorry for that,” she said sincerely. “Is there anything someone can do?”
“Nothing,” I said sadly. There really wasn't. “I just need a holiday.”
Marcelle nodded. “Me too.”
We both laughed. Closing this place was tricky. We'd managed a week off for the holidays but even that was a close-run thing and I worried about upsetting loyal customers.
“We'll get one sometime,” I promised. “Yes?” I
asked our customers who'd come to the desk and were facing me with expectancy.
“A cappuccino to go and two scones?”
“Sure,” I said. My hands worked of their own accord, reaching into the front with the tongs to take out the scones, making foam for the coffee.
I managed to get that order right without messing it up and then I smelled something in the kitchen.
“Oh, for...”
I ran in to check on the buns. They were burning. I felt like crying. I had forgotten about them! It was something I had done twice in my whole life. What was wrong with me?
I leaned against the wall.
“It's okay, Ms. Hendricks,” my assistant said gently. “We'll just do more.”
I tightened the muscles round my eyes, holding back my tears. “Yes.”
We made new mix and I was just starting to knead it when Marcelle ran up from the back of the kitchen. I looked at her dully. Was there more disaster? “Um...what?”
“Telephone, Ms. Hendricks.”
I frowned. “Can you take it? Is it an order? The electrician?”
“It's someone who said they had to speak to you. Urgently.”
I rolled my eyes. It was probably the electrician, I reasoned. I had called him to service the oven weeks ago. If he was calling now to tell me he couldn't do it I was going to be mad. I marched up to the phone and lifted it in my fist.
“Hi?”
“Allie.”
I went numb. “You!” I said. It was him. Drew Liston. Calling me.
“It's me,” he agreed mildly.
I laughed. Suddenly, I noticed that the sun had come out and the day was beautiful outside. I had barely noticed it before. My heart soared. “It is. Why're you calling?”
“I need a reason?” he teased me.
I laughed. “Well, forgive me,” I teased back, making my voice sound all affronted on purpose. “But it is a surprise to hear from you, after all...”
He laughed. “I'm glad to hear it. It's good to hear your voice.”
“Thanks,” I said. “Same for me.”
“You can't hear your voice,” He said and I could almost hear his frown. “I can. So how's it the same?”
“I can too,” I laughed. “I do have two ears, dear... the phone's only on one of them.”
He laughed. “I miss you.”
My heart stopped. “That's so sweet,” I said. He laughed.
“Well, that makes two of us. Now. I'm calling in lunch hour, so I guess I should be brief – you're probably mad down there – everyone buying...”
“Yeah,” I nodded. “Place is packed. Monday afternoon.”
He chuckled. “Well, thanks for coming on to talk. I wanted to make a suggestion. Are you free this weekend?”
I almost dropped the phone. “What?”
“I said, would it be possible for you to visit this weekend?”
“What?” I was cold with disbelief. “You mean...at your home?”
He chuckled. “I thought maybe we could take off somewhere. Somewhere close to you. Or at least somewhere equally far from both of us? How about Michigan?”
I stared. “You serious?”
He laughed. “I am indeed. I have an apartment on the lake. Would you join me?”
“Okay,” I said. I was really laughing now. “But can someone please pinch me. I am dreaming, truly.”
He laughed too. “Unless this is some weird mass hallucination, I am awake, so you are too. And I don't think it’s a hallucination, because I don't think a Skype call with our board of trustees is the sort of thing people usually see when they hallucinate. Do you?”
I laughed. “I don't hallucinate.”
We both ended up chuckling.
“Well, would you maybe call me later?” He said as the laughter died down. “It's about time we got in touch.”
I was taken away. “Okay,” I said.
He gave me his number. I gave him mine. He hung up.
“Ms. Hendricks?”
“Yes?” I said. I turned around dazedly to face my two assistants. I felt as if someone had just hit me with a truck. I looked at them both without really seeing anything. I was in shock.
“Ms. Hendricks... you okay?” Marcelle looked concerned. “Should we fetch the doctor or something? You look bad.”
I shook my head, weary. “No... I'm fine,” I said. “Just tired. And... floaty. I don't know.”
They exchanged worried glances but I felt like laughing. I was in shock, but it was a happy sort of shock. I did laugh.
“I'm okay, guys, really,” I tried to assure them. “Just had some news. Now. How are the scones?”
“We need another batch,” Marcelle confirmed quickly. She glanced at Kelsey, who headed ably out to the front to deal with the growing crowd of customers. “Now, Ms. Hendricks. Are you really okay? I'm concerned.” she leaned in towards me, a conspiratorial gesture.
I shook my head, coming through to the front of the kitchen, her following me. “No need,” I said softly. “I won't die.”
“I'm not sure about that,” Marcelle said skeptically. “You look like you saw a ghost.”
I chuckled shakily. “I didn't, though, really. Now. Let's get these things in the oven, eh? We can feed the burnt ones to the starlings out in the back.”
“Great,” Marcelle nodded. Always efficient, she had already cleared them off the tray. I finished the batter in dazed silence, my mind already elsewhere.
My mind was dreaming of holidays at a lakeside. And Drew.
***
I hung up in a kind of daze. I couldn't quite believe I'd just done that.
“Mr. Liston?” My secretary, Melody, came in. She frowned at me. “What's wrong?”
I shook my head. “Nothing,” I said gravely. “What's up?”
“I just came in to bring you the minutes from the budget meeting you missed,” She said. She put them down on my desk and then left, glancing back at me with an odd expression.
I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. Frowning down at the minutes from the meeting, they might as well have been written in Japanese Kanji for all the sense I could make out of them right now.
I'm so excited.
I grinned. I felt like a little boy again. Like when my grandfather took me fishing up in the hills or on the night before Christmas.
“Come on, Drew,” I said aloud. “You can make plans.”
I glanced at the clock. It was almost two pm. I had perhaps five minutes to make some holiday arrangements. I checked flights up to Lake Michigan. Our family owned a small house on the lake, usually under the care of an agent up there. I scrolled through my contacts, looking for her name.
“Stella?”
“Yes, Mr. Liston?” I was surprised she recognized my voice – it was usually my mom who made arrangements with her. I'd last spoken to her years ago.
“I was wondering if you could make the cottage ready for me this weekend?”
“Of course, Mr. Liston. From Friday afternoon?”
“Saturday morning,” I said.
“Perfect. You need me to leave the key in the usual place?”
“Don't worry – I'll bring my own,” I said confidently.
“Perfect,” she said.
It was. I was going to travel up there this Saturday. And take the chance to finally spend more time with Allie.
I still couldn't quite believe it.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Allie
I went home after work on Friday in a state of high excitement. I was still a bit numb, too – it all seemed like too much to make sense of. I packed in a kind of dream, leaving my suitcase standing by my door.
It had been years since I traveled – not since I finished cooking school, in fact. I'd come straight from there to Asheville, and not left in the last five years. This was going to be a big thing.
“I'm excited,” I told myself. In truth, I was apprehensive as well. I checked my phone again, making sure I downloaded the tickets. Last time I travele
d I hadn't owned a smart phone. It seemed weird to think of that now. Kelsey would laugh at me, I was sure. I mentally went through a list.
I was leaving the business in Frank's care for Saturday – he had very kindly agreed to keep an eye on it, popping in to check on Marcelle and Kelsey, who had also kindly agreed to step in for me. I was glad to have such helpful friends.
Now I only have to go to sleep, and then I'll be heading off.
I had a flight at eight in the morning, which meant I'd have to get up early. But after approximately six hours of travel, I would be there.
“Frankfort, Michigan.”
Saying it didn't make it seem more likely. I stretched and sighed. I had to make dinner and then try and sleep. I knew I would like there, restless and breathless with excitement. I still didn't quite believe it.
This was all quite typical Drew, I mused as I cooked my dinner. He stays away for six years, has no contact whatsoever. Then suddenly we're heading off for a holiday?
It was one of the things I'd loved about Drew from the first – his ability to sweep me off my feet. He was good at big gestures, though they weren't something he did often. They were always made when they were truly romantic.