Henrietta's Heart

by Pat Dale

  “I’m sure it’s there somewhere. He rarely went anywhere without carrying it along.”

  “You’re wonderful. Do you know that?”

  “Between Brad saying it every day and now you, I suppose there could be something to it. So, how would you like to have this wonderful person for a mother, the in-law kind?”

  “I’d love it.” The gleam faded from Hattie’s eyes. “But I’m afraid Brad may have other plans now.”

  “Why would he?”

  “Tell me something. Does he ever talk about Sheila?”

  “You mean the young woman who helps him at the Express?”

  “Yes.”

  “No, he doesn’t.”

  “Has he ever brought her here for dinner?”

  “No. Hattie, what’s bothering you about Sheila?”

  She knew the cat would be out of the bag if Brad were playing house and keeping it from his mother. But she had to know. “I’ve seen the two of them together a couple of times lately and I wondered...”

  “If he’s up to something, he hasn’t told me. By together, do you mean they were being intimate?”

  “Yes. Well, no. Not actually intimate. But they were a whole lot closer to each other than they should have been!”

  “Is that green-eyed monster getting to you, child?”

  “Green-eyed monster?”

  “Jealousy. Could it be that Brad’s using this woman to make you jealous?”

  Maybe that is what he’s doing. But how could he have known I would see them?

  “I don’t know. Possibly. If that’s what he’s up to, it’s working. I’d like to pull that blonde hair of hers out by the roots. And that southern accent she uses makes me sick!”

  “Hattie! Calm down. She moved here from down south.”

  “South Flat River, maybe. She’s a phony. I think she’s trying to get her hooks into Brad. And he’s so naïve!”

  “I think you’d better get a grip, child. Those cute freckles are about to pop right out of your face.”

  “Well, that’s what I think!”

  “Good.”

  “Good? You’re his mother, and you say it’s good?”

  “Yes, dear. Now I know what I need to know. You love my son enough to fight for him. Good for you. If it helps you to know, I’m on your side.”

  The meaning of her revelation suddenly took Hattie’s breath away. She’d just confessed how she really felt about Brad. To his mom! Her wobbly legs carried her over to a chair where she more or less collapsed. It was time to think things through.

  Amelia said nothing more but went to the counter and poured two glasses of iced tea. When she came back to the table, she put one in front of Hattie and sat across the table.

  She sipped the tea while her mind raced through what she’d revealed to Amelia. And to herself. “I think I just said a mouthful.”

  “You were telling yourself from the heart, dear. I was just available to hear it. If your head is listening, your heart will be able to decide what you need to do.”

  “My dad’s advice again. Oh, Amelia, he always told me to follow my heart but I don’t know how to listen.”

  “Child, you’re making it too hard. All you need to do is to stop trying to think your way through things.”

  “I wish it were that simple. At this point, I’m not sure anything I do will make a difference.”

  “Oh, but that’s where you’re wrong. If you show the same intensity of feeling you did just now, there’s no way Brad can resist.” She gave a conspiratorial smile. “No way.”

  “I’m glad you’re on my side, Amelia. I don’t think I’d ever want to come up against you.”

  “Aggressive behavior is hard to overcome, dear. But there are other ways to be effective. As I said before, if a woman’s worth her salt she’ll develop her own way of dealing with it.”

  “I hope so. Well, I’ve got to get back to the store. Thanks for the lunch. This has been wonderful.”

  “Yes, dear, it has.” Amelia kissed my cheek. “Good hunting.”

  “You’ve made me feel like I can’t miss.”

  “In my mind, you can’t. Oh, Hattie? Is Sunday still on?”

  She swallowed hard, recalling her resolve to have nothing to do with Brad. A feeling of light-headedness swept over her, quickly replaced with the realization she’d do whatever it took to win Brad’s heart. If he were flirting with Sheila it would make her goal more complicated. But it wouldn’t change her heart. “Yes. I’ll see you then if not before.”

  Hattie drove slowly toward downtown, her senses reeling from the startling moment of truth. If her true feelings were so clear to Amelia, they were more so to her.

  She wanted Brad with every fiber of her being. She’d always loved him, but she must have blinded herself to the truth. Well, that would no longer be the case. It was time for some good old-fashioned feminine affirmative action.

  Two questions were foremost. She had to beat Goodnow at his game. But how? And she would have Brad for her own. What will it take to unwind him from the clutches of that blonde Amazon?

  No matter. Unwind him, I will. Brad is going to be mine.

  * * *

  Gerald came running out of the store as she pulled to a stop. “Miss Henrietta! I’m glad you’re back. The city building inspector’s here and raising a fuss.”

  “Building inspector? I didn’t know we had one of those.”

  “Yep. He’s also the guy that reads the water meters. In he came and demanded a guided tour of the whole place. He’s been writing on that pad of his for half an hour now. Growling and grumbling something awful, too.”

  Hattie dashed through the door with Gerald on her heels. The man was coming up the main aisle when she planted herself squarely in his path.

  “What do you think you’re doing in my store?”

  “You must be Hattie. ‘Fraid I got some bad news fer ya.”

  “Bad news?”

  “Yep. This old buildin’s in sad shape. You’re gonna have to do somethin’ ‘bout it or I’ll have to shut ya down.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “Nope. Here’s the list.” He handed her a scribbled sheet that looked a mile long. “I’ll let ya read it and then, if ya got any questions, call me at City Hall. I’d say you’re gonna need ta get busy fixin’ things. By law, ya got ten days.”

  She stared at the huge list. “Ten days! To do all this?”

  “Yep.”

  “Where have you been all these years? We didn’t even know Leadburg had a building inspector. What’s your name?”

  “Barney. Guess I been a little slow on things. Gotta make up fer it now, though. Everything’s gotta be shipshape. Hear that Wilson feller’s comin’ to town.”

  “Yeah. I hear that, too, Barney.”

  “Well, call me if ya need to.” The man gave her an uneasy grin and beat a hasty retreat through the door.

  They stood there until he’d disappeared. Then Hattie took the list and stomped up to her office with Gerald trailing. Fifteen minutes later, they’d gone over the twenty-some items. Two or three could be handled in a matter of minutes but others were structural in nature.

  “This list can’t be finished in ten weeks, let alone ten days. I don’t know what to do. There’s no way we can correct all this stuff in time to keep from being shut down.”

  “Sorry, ma’am. I had a bad feeling about this after the way Manley tore out of here this morning. Know what I think?”

  “What’s that, Gerald?”

  “I think the mayor’s egging the inspector on, trying to put you between the devil and the deep blue sea.”

  “That’s pretty perceptive. I’m sure you’re right. But which would you say is the devil?”

  “Oh, my guess would be the mayor.”

  “Yeah. Manley’s no doubt angry with me and he’s the kind of jerk who’d do something like this.”

  “But what’re we going to do about it?”

  “I don’t know. Clearly, I’ve got t
o come up with a plan, but let me think things through. There has to be a way.”

  “Well, I hope so, Miss Hattie.”

  “Keep your chin up, Gerald. And please, for today at least, don’t tell the others about this. I’ll have something to say to them tomorrow.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  She’d kept her composure until now but, after shutting the door behind Gerald, tears cascaded down her cheeks. It was too much. Manley had gotten even for crossing him with Goodnow and there was nothing she could do about it.

  It occurred to her that a visit to the city council might be in order. But when she remembered who was on the council, she knew they’d back the mayor. No, he had her right where he wanted her. And she had a sneaking suspicion he’d make his desires known very soon.

  A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Surely that rat of a mayor isn’t here already? She yanked it open, snarling, “Couldn’t wait to gloat, huh?”

  “Gloat?” Brad stood there staring at her, puzzled.

  “Oh sorry, Brad. I thought you were someone else.”

  “I’m glad I’m not whoever you thought it was. You look like you could kill with your bare hands.”

  “I probably could, right now. Come on in.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “What isn’t? Our friend the mayor sent the building inspector over to find problems. The man used a fine-tooth comb. They’ve given me a list and ten days to make it right.”

  “Building Inspector?”

  “Yeah. Did you know we had one of those?”

  “No, but I guess every town does. So, let’s get started.”

  “You’re kidding. You haven’t seen the list. We couldn’t do everything in weeks or months. They’ve got me cornered.”

  “You’re giving up? Just like that?”

  “I didn’t say I was giving up. But I can’t play their game and win in any amount of time.”

  “Then what are you going to do?”

  “If I can’t win their game, I’ll get them to play mine.”

  “Do you want to talk about it over lunch? I’m running late and haven’t eaten yet.”

  She smiled, realizing he didn’t know where she’d been. “No, I’ve had lunch. But I’ll have a cup of coffee while you have yours.”

  “Coffee? I thought you didn’t like the stuff.”

  “Really? I just don’t drink it on a regular basis. Sort of like beer. It’s not my kind of taste, but there are times when I make an exception. Right now, for instance, I’m tempted to go finish off a six-pack just to see what the thrill is.”

  “Hattie!”

  “Just kidding. Come on.”

  Chapter Ten

  Neil’s diner was nearly deserted when they flopped into one of the four booths in the place. Brad ordered a sandwich for himself and coffee for both of them. While he ate, Hattie’s mind wandered over the recent events. She glanced up to find him staring at her and something in his hazel gaze left her slightly dizzy.

  “So, are you just going to close the doors on the store?”

  “No way. If he’s going to shut me down, he’ll have to show up himself with the police backing him. I want the city to see what kind of man they’ve chosen for a leader.”

  “Won’t they think he’s just doing his duty? After all, that building of yours is awfully old. Surely, it must be on its last legs.”

  “Last legs? I guess so. Sometimes I think I am, too. But I can’t just lay my people off and crawl into a hole. No, if I’m going to be beaten into submission I want everyone to be aware of corruption behind it. A McCall doesn’t go down without fighting.”

  “I think I can help with that.”

  “How?”

  “The paper. This is news, you know. And, the city has to publish any list of complaints like the order they gave you. In fact, I believe the law states you have ten days from the date of publication to remedy things, not from when the order is delivered into your hand.”

  “Really? How much time could that buy me?”

  “Well, it’s too late for this week’s edition, so it couldn’t run until next week, earliest. That would give you until ten days from next Wednesday.”

  “Almost two extra weeks. I don’t think it’s possible to get the work done in time. Besides, they’ll just come back and find more. They’re determined to put me out of business.”

  “Yeah, I suppose so. Oh, by the way, I haven’t asked about your meeting with Goodnow. How did it go?”

  “Great. They tried to give me a fraction of what they usually pay. But I was onto their little game, thanks to you.”

  “So what happens now?”

  “I gave them until Monday to come up to my price. It was fun turning the tables on those jerks.”

  “I’ll bet. I’ve been thinking about it and I have an idea. What little time there is before this all blows sky high gives us an opportunity to make plans.”

  “Our plans?”

  “Yes. I’m with you all the way now.”

  “Well, okay. Misery loves company. But what do you mean, make plans?”

  “I’m not quite ready to tell you about that yet. There are some details I need to work out first, but I do have an idea.”

  “This is my fight, Brad. Not yours.”

  “It’s my fight, too. Since it’s you they’re dealing with, they need to understand they’ll have to answer to me too. We’re in this together from here on in.”

  The intensity of his gaze lit a flare of hope deep inside her. Something was different. The way he looked at her. Or was it just she was finally acknowledging the love that had been there all the time?

  “Gee Brad, that sounds a lot like commitment.”

  “Yep. A guy can sit on the bench only so long before he has to get in the game.”

  “Well, I’m glad you’re suited up. I can sure use your help.”

  “Right. And after this store business of yours is resolved, I want to talk about us.”

  Excitement thrummed through her. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Sheila going by. The waves of heat coursing through her fizzled and died.

  “Us?” she asked. “I’d be interested to know what you really think about us. But, I’d also like to know why you and Sheila were rolling around on the floor when I came by your office this morning.”

  “Oh, that? I can explain that.”

  “I’m waiting.”

  “She’d come bursting through the door and ran smack dab into me. I was just helping her up.”

  “It was pretty clear you were helping her, but up isn’t exactly the direction that came to mind.”

  “Henrietta McCall! You have the wildest imagination. What else do you think I was doing?”

  She was about to tell him in no uncertain terms when his attention shifted.

  “Hi, y’all. Glad I found ya, Brad,” the Amazon purred.

  “What’s up, Sheila?”

  “Do you need to speak to Brad, Sheila?” Hattie took in the woman’s suggestive attire. “I was just leaving. Thanks for the coffee, Brad.” She scrambled out of the booth and dashed through the door.

  “My, my. That girl never does anything slow, does she?”

  “Hattie McCall? No way.” His frustration bordered on irritation. “What did you need?”

  “You know those big-wigs that want to buy the McCall land? Well, I have an ad they want us to run next week.”

  “An ad? What kind of ad?”

  “That’s why I came looking for you. It’s kind of different than what we usually handle.”

  She handed him the copy, then slipped into the place Hattie vacated while he read. It was a grandiose statement to the community calling for support against local obstructionists, clearly meant to smear Hattie and show her resistance in a bad light.

  “I don’t think I want to accept this. Who brought it in?”

  “The mayor. He said they knew he’d be in town and asked him to drop it off. Says they want it in bold with borders.”

&n
bsp; “Manley, huh? That doesn’t surprise me. So, these guys want to play hardball. That’s okay. We can play that way, too. Did Chuck ask for my approval on this?”

  “Nope. Said he knew you wouldn’t let personal sentiment get in the way of your civic duty.”

  “Civic duty, my foot! That jerk. He’ll find out what gets in my way. Come on. Let’s get back to the office. I’ve got some work to do.” She followed him out of the diner licking her lips, gaze glued to his butt.

  * * *

  Hattie went back to the store, unsure what to expect next. She’d been dying to hear Brad’s explanation of the morning’s incident, but she couldn’t stand being around Sheila another second. What a topsy-turvy day.

  She’d no doubt have a chance to talk to him later. For now, she had to contend with the inspector’s list. Grudgingly, she admitted several things included in the work order should be tended to right away.

  For the safety of customers and staff, emergency exits needed to be cleared and fire hazards eliminated. As for the sprinkler system repair, that could be done, but it would take some time. With the other items, there was little chance of getting them rectified soon enough.

  It was Friday afternoon and the store was bustling with early weekend shoppers. She worked her way to the emergency doors, moving the boxes stacked in front of them. This was no time to make changes on the floor. And Saturday would be busy, too. The rest of the doable part would have to wait for Sunday.

  It was still early in the afternoon, but she had to think. Clouds obscured the sun and threatened to bring rain by evening. And the temperature was dropping.

  Great. Let it pour.

  * * *

  Brad and Sheila returned to the Express office and she followed him into the back, shutting the door behind her.

  “I don’t think I’m going to print that piece of garbage.” He threw the copy on the desk.

  “Why? Just because you’re sweet on little ol’ Hattie doesn’t mean we have to turn down good money.”

  “Who says it’s good money?”

  “I do. Brad, we need everything we can get to keep this ol’ paper goin’. We can’t pick and choose by what we like, and what we don’t.”