by Mary Davis
“I heard that Miss Mikkelson is in need of a place to stay.”
He took a slow breath. Yes, he still had the Aimee problem to deal with. “Where did you hear that?” News was traveling fast in the hotel today. And Henry always managed to know things first.
Henry smiled. “Oh, here and there.”
“Mr. Howard just hired her this morning, and she will need lodging before nightfall.”
Henry leaned closer as if the next bit of information was a secret. “I have just the place.”
He smiled. “She can’t stay with you, Henry.”
Henry stood up straight. “Constance would have my head.”
Of course she would. Constance was well liked by everyone on the island. . .especially Henry. “Where do you have in mind?”
“With my Constance. She has extra space at her house, and she does get lonesome by herself. She would like the company.”
Even if the company talks nonstop?
“Shall I ask Constance if she’d be open to it? I could ask her on my lunch break.”
“Why don’t you use the house phone and call her right now, and we can have this whole thing settled.” And he could have his place back.
“No, sir. I haven’t left my post for sixty years except for my regular breaks.” Henry turned up his wrist to look at his watch. “I go to lunch in forty-two minutes. I’ll talk to Constance then.”
If they had reliable cell phone reception on the island, he would have one and let Henry use that. Lunchtime would be soon enough.
He knew Henry was practically a permanent fixture at the front of this hotel. But sixty years? “Henry, you must have started working here when you were a baby to have been here that long.”
“I started when I was twelve. The regular doorman fell sick, and I was asked to fill in until he recovered.”
“What happened when he came back?”
“He didn’t pull through. No one said a word about replacing me.” A smile pulled at his mouth. “I guess I’m still filling in.”
Dillon laughed. “Let me know what Constance says.”
“Yes, sir.”
He turned away, then back. “Henry, may I ask you a personal question?”
“Of course, sir.”
“When are you going to marry her?”
“When she says yes.”
“Playing hard to get?”
“Harder than my first wife.” A sly smile slid across Henry’s face, and he leaned in a little closer. “But I’m going to wait her out.”
Maybe Henry had met his match in the stubborn department.
Having Aimee stay at Constance Mayhew’s would solve the problem of giving Aimee an advance. He wasn’t sure he liked the idea of doing that, anyway, and it wasn’t likely the hotel would advance her money; so that would leave him to give her a loan. She said she was staying, but would she really?
When he opened his office door, Aimee was twirling around in his desk chair. “Having fun?”
She stopped. “I didn’t know what to do. I promised not to roam around the hotel, so I thought it best if I stayed in your office. The typing didn’t take that long. I typed up your notes, as well.”
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know, but there was nothing else to do. And it gave me a good idea of what you thought was important in the meeting. Then I thought I might organize your files and straighten up your desk. . . .”
His insides twisted. No, she didn’t.
“But they are so neat and orderly I think they might be sanitized. I did water Gomer. And when I got tired of twiddling my thumbs, I started spinning in the chair.”
“Gomer?”
“That’s what I named your plant.”
She named his plant? He was tempted to ask her how she knew it was a boy but decided against it. “May I have my chair back?”
She jumped up. “Oh, sure. What do you want me to do now?” She walked around the desk and sat in the chair opposite his.
Dillon sat after she did. “I’d like to print out your notes and review them. Then go over the festival.”
“I printed a copy for each of us, both mine and yours.” She pointed to a blank file on his desk. “There.”
He opened the folder and read the first paragraph of her notes, then flipped through the stapled pages. “Did you write down the meeting word-for-word?”
She shrugged. “No one talked that fast. I got really good at shorthand in college. When it came time to study for a midterm or final, I had everything the professor said. I was in several study groups because I took such thorough notes. But none of that really matters here. Yes, I took the meeting down almost verbatim.” She folded her hands and bit the corner of her bottom lip.
He had to smile. There was no shortage of information from her. He was getting to know her from her little stories that seemed to fall out of her mouth. “Let’s just go over the highlights of the festival. The hotel hosts a concert in Marquette Park for the opening ceremonies, a Grand Hotel history lecture, a garden tour of the grounds, and the Lilac Festival Golf Tournament. You and I will be expected at each of these events. Mr. Howard would also like a supportive presence from the hotel at as many of the other events as possible. That means you and me. Because the golf tournament takes place on our golf course, you will be working with Steve, as well as myself, on that one.”
❧
Once again, Aimee sat in Dillon’s office alone with nothing to do. She really wanted to go looking around the hotel to see if anything sparked some new idea. Her search couldn’t be over so soon. Something still had to be here. But she had promised Dillon that she wouldn’t roam around, and it was a promise she intended to keep.
After Dillon had gone over the times of the festival events and what he needed her to do for each one, he had taken her to lunch in the staff lounge, bought her a club sandwich, chips, and a soda. Now it was the middle of the afternoon, and she still didn’t have a place to sleep tonight. Maybe he was working on her advance right now? She would really like to know how much it was, so she’d know what she could afford.
Dillon backed into his office lugging one end of a table with Steve at the other end. “Set it down here. If we turn my desk perpendicular to where it is now, Aimee’s workstation will fit up against it.”
Her workstation? So he was going to keep her on as his assistant. “Can I help?”
“Could you move my chair out of the way? I’d have you move it out into the hall, but we kind of have that blocked.”
She rolled his chair into the corner. “My own place to work?”
“I thought it would be easier for you to work if you had something to work on.”
“Will it fit in here?” The table wasn’t as big as his desk, but it would be her own space.
“There was no place else to put you, and since this is a temporary job, this will have to do for the time being.”
And he could keep an eye on her. But she didn’t sense that was his reason for putting a table in his office for her. She would work hard and prove to him that she was the right person for the job.
After Dillon and Steve had arranged the furniture, which, in the end, fit nicely into the small office, Dillon went to get her a laptop computer to use. Steve remained with her. “We have many nice places to eat on the island. Where would you like to go for dinner tonight?”
She rubbed her hands on the arms of the chair behind her desk. Her own work area and chair. “Are you asking me out?” She already knew the answer to that.
He sat on the corner of her desk and flashed the most charming smile. “I am.”
That was a great smile. Dark hair, dark eyes, he was a package hard to resist. But she must.
“I’m sorry. I have plans.” She had her workday to finish, find a place to stay, move in her belongings, and unpack. Then she needed to decide what to wear tomorrow and how to shuffle her three dresses so she didn’t look like she was wearing the same things over and over—which is exactly what she woul
d be doing. Dinner would be a rush at best.
“Tomorrow night then?”
“I need time to get myself settled before I think about going out.”
“So, a rain check?”
How could she tell him no without causing waves between them? She had to work with this man, and it wouldn’t be good for there to be tension between them because she rejected him. “Maybe.”
His smile widened, and he rapped his knuckles on the top of the table before standing. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
He would. She smiled back.
He strutted out, and a moment later, Dillon entered their office. She liked the sound of that: their office. A part ownership in this little room gave her a sense of importance, even if it was only for a short time.
❧
Dillon placed the leather computer case he was carrying on the edge of her table. “Was Steve here the whole time I was gone?” He wasn’t gone that long, but now he wished he hadn’t told Steve to feel free to pursue her.
She nodded. “He asked me out.”
That could cause problems. “Aimee, Steve is not like you and me. I’m assuming that you are a Christian.” She nodded again. “Steve isn’t. Don’t get me wrong; he’s a nice guy. I’ve been witnessing to him. But if you go out with him, he may expect more than a simple good night.”
Aimee cocked her head slightly to one side, and her features softened. “That is so sweet of you to care like that. I told him I had plans tonight, which I do. I need to find a place to stay and unpack, but we can talk about that in a minute. I told him no for tomorrow night, as well, and that I needed some time to settle in. He asked for a rain check. I said maybe, which he took for a yes. It puts me in a real dilemma. I don’t want to go out with him, but I also have to work with him. So how do I tell him no without ruining our working relationship?”
Well, that was a relief; she didn’t want to date Steve. She was right about the situation potentially getting sticky if not handled carefully. “I’ll talk to Steve and tell him you’re off-limits as long as you’re working for me.” He could play the heavy, and any problems Steve had with it would be between the two of them.
“Really?” Her beautiful blue eyes widened. “That would be so great of you if you would do that. I really didn’t want things to be awkward and weird.”
He suspected that any working relationship with Aimee would be a little. . .unusual. “I’ll take care of it.”
“You are the best boss.” She smiled. “Can I ask another favor?”
It couldn’t hurt to ask. He nodded.
“Could I possibly get that advance, so I can find a place to stay?”
“You haven’t worked at the hotel even a full day. I’m afraid an advance is out of the question, but it won’t be necessary.”
“Dillon, you have been great about all this, but I can’t stay at your place again and kick you out. I have to find a place of my own. Do you think this hotel or some other one would let me stay until I get paid with the promise to pay? Maybe if you wrote a letter of recommendation or something.”
“That won’t be necessary. Constance Mayhew has room at her house and has agreed to let you stay with her.”
“You mean that nice lady with Henry I met at church yesterday morning?”
He nodded. “I’ll take you over after work.”
Her face broke into a genuine appreciative smile. “You are the best.”
❧
When the coach driver pulled up in front of a blue two-story house with white gingerbread moldings that looked like lace in the eaves, Aimee just stared up at it. People really lived in these cute houses? She had thought they were merely decorative, like in a Wild West ghost town.
Dillon opened the door to the coach and stepped down before holding his hand out for Aimee. She took it and stepped down onto the sidewalk. A white picket fence surrounded the yard, and an array of colorful flowers lined the walk and flower boxes at every window. Lilac bushes stood at attention on either side of the gate. They were heavy with blooms preparing to open within the next week or so.
Dillon opened the gate. “After you.”
As she walked up toward the door, Dillon followed, wheeling her suitcases behind him.
Constance opened the door. She wore a muted teal dress with a white cardigan sweater. “Miss Aimee, it’s so nice to have you grace my home.” Henry stood at her side. A little white dog came out and sniffed Aimee’s feet.
Dillon came in with her suitcases. “Where do you want these?”
“The upstairs bedroom. Henry, would you show him?” Henry and Dillon disappeared up the stairs.
Aimee knelt down and held out her hand to the dog. “What’s his name?” The little white terrier backed away and barked.
“Samuel Clemens. He responds to Sammy. He’s a little shy at first, but he’ll warm up to you soon enough.”
She stood back up. She would make friends with Sammy later. “Thank you so much for letting me stay here. You don’t know how much it means to me.”
“I have had seasonal employees here from time to time. I am particular about my boarders, but it’s nice to have a young person around.”
Aimee looked at the floor, then back at her hostess. “I know it’s unpleasant to talk about, but Dillon didn’t tell me how much rent will be. And did he tell you I haven’t gotten paid yet, so I can’t pay you anything until I get my first paycheck?”
Constance smiled. “Don’t worry about it, dear. You pay whatever you feel is right.”
“What if I don’t pay what you are expecting? I don’t want to take advantage of you. What have others paid in the past?”
“You are not others. You’re a friend of Henry’s. How about if I expect no money, just companionship, a little light cleaning, and you prepare a meal or two for us a week? How does that sound?”
“Too good to be true.” This woman was holding out a charitable hand to her. Would it do any good to argue with her? Probably not. Aimee would do all the things Constance asked, as well as pay rent, even if she had to smuggle it into the woman’s purse or leave it under the sugar canister at the end of her stay.
Henry and Dillon came back down the stairs. Dillon said, “Mrs. Mayhew, you have a very nice place here.”
“It belonged to my first husband. He was an only child, so it passed on to me.”
Henry winked at Constance. What was that about?
Henry gave Constance a peck on the cheek. “I’m going to ride back with Mr. Thurough. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I look forward to it,” Constance said.
Aimee raised a questioning eyebrow to Dillon, but he just smiled and left with Henry.
“Isn’t Henry coming back?”
“Back?”
“Doesn’t he live here?”
“Oh no, dear.”
“I thought the two of you were married. When I saw you together at church, I just thought you were a couple. A very cute couple.”
“A couple, yes. Married, no.”
“Now I’m really confused. You two appear to be in love.”
“We are. Are you hungry?”
She stared at her hostess’s retreating form, little Sammy at her heels. “Yes, I am hungry.” She followed Constance into the kitchen.
Constance opened the refrigerator. “Ham sandwich?”
Constance and Henry’s relationship was obviously off-limits. “I would love one. What can I do to help?”
Aimee buttered the bread and washed some lettuce, and after the sandwiches were made, the two of them sat at the table.
Constance said the blessing. Then, when she raised her head, she said, “We have to get to know each other, dear.”
Aimee wasn’t sure if that meant they needed to get to know each other in general or if, after they knew each other better, Constance would be willing to talk about her and Henry’s situation.
❧
Dillon took a deep breath before knocking on Steve’s door. Lord, please help me find the righ
t words so as not to offend Steve.
Steve, dressed in a golf shirt and khakis, opened the door. “You caught me just heading out. I have a hot date.”
Dillon furrowed his eyebrows. “With whom?” Aimee had said she turned him down.
“Melissa. . .or Mandy or Melanie.” He shrugged. “Something like that. I’ll remember when I see her.”
He already had a date when he asked Aimee out? Or had he made this date after she said no? Either way it didn’t matter. “I have a favor to ask of you. I know I said you could show Aimee attention, but I’m going to rescind that offer.”
Steve smiled. “So you’re interested after all.”
“No. I just think if you tried to date her, it could make the three of us working together awkward.”
“Yeah, right. You’re not blind, buddy. She is fine to look at.”
He couldn’t argue with that, but there was more to a woman—a person—than how they looked. “So you’re not going to pursue a relationship with her?”
Steve held up his hands. “Hands off. I promise. She’s all yours. Besides, there are plenty of other girls on this rock.”
Fine. Let Steve think he was interested in Aimee. As long as the three of them could work peaceably together, that was all that mattered.
Okay. Maybe he was a little interested. But that still didn’t mean he had the time.
Seven
After living in Constance’s house for the better part of a week, Aimee had fallen into the nice, slow-paced routine of the island folk, both here at the house and at the hotel. Only the tourists on vacation seemed to be in a hurry.
She had baked a chicken under Constance’s supervision. Constance’s idea of Aimee cooking a meal was to have her help out in the kitchen while Constance cooked. Aimee didn’t mind. She enjoyed learning from someone who knew her way around a kitchen.
She set the table while Constance brought over the dishes of food. “Henry will pick us up in a carriage tomorrow morning for church.”