by Sandi Scott
“That was convenient, but I don’t think that office is there any more either. I don’t miss it,” Georgie said.
The idea of not seeing this old brick building with the marble floor, tin ceiling, and elevators with gold painted trim around the Art Deco styled frames was a little sad for them both. But, the business was growing and the space that had been just enough for Aleta when she ran the accounting firm was now too small for Emily’s prosperity. She had hired two new accountants, another financial advisor, and one more secretary. There just wasn’t enough room anymore.
“Not to mention the rent is insane at this location. Just three blocks down, I can pay the same amount of rent but get double the space with all new fixtures and have utilities included,” Emily told her mother when they talked over the idea of relocating. “I think I’d be dumb not to make the move now, don’t you?”
“I’d have to agree, honey,” Aleta said, proud her daughter was making such a name for herself. Sure, Aleta and William had built the place and the reputation from the ground up, but it was Emily who snagged some of the prominent local businesses as clients. It was her daughter who thought a mutual exchange of referrals with another firm in Indiana would make good business sense. It did and resulted in many new clients being tossed her way.
Emily was the boss, and Aleta couldn’t have been prouder of her.
“When is the big moving day?” Georgie asked.
“The deadline is rapidly approaching. Emily has about one more week to fully transition into the new space before she has to pay another month’s rent here.”
“Is she excited about the move?”
“I think so.” Aleta looked worried. “It’s taking its toll on her. Any move like this dictates you have to live out of boxes for a time, and that is a real hassle. I can tell it’s stressing her out, big time.”
“I’ll bet. We should have brought some bagels or sweet rolls or something.”
“I’ll arrange to have some sandwiches sent over for everyone for lunch.”
“Good idea, sis.” Georgie gave her sister a pinch on the behind.
“I’m not just a pretty face, you know.” Aleta slapped her sister’s hand away.
When they walked into the office, Emily noticed them right away and came up to meet them.
“Hi, Mom. Hi, Aunt Georgie.”
“Hey, honey.” Georgie kissed her niece on the cheek. “How are things going?”
“They’re going fine.” Emily looked over her shoulder at the employees that were still working while packing and labeling boxes. “It’s just a lot to keep an eye on. I don’t have too much time to chat. I’m sorry.”
“Do you want me to help?” Aleta asked. “I can answer the phones for you? Or help pack boxes, if you want?”
“You know I’d love it if you guys stayed, but I’ve got some really heavy lifting to do. I think you might end up getting in the way more than anything. I’m sorry.” Emily looked over her shoulder again to make sure her employees were still working.
“It’s all right, honey.” Aleta rubbed her daughter’s arm. “But let me get lunch for you guys. I’ll have something delivered for everyone.”
“Mom, that would be great. Thanks so much!” Emily hugged her Mom.
“Emily, I’m taking your mother shopping for a new outfit for a bruncheon this weekend. Tell her to treat herself to something flashy.”
“Yeah, Mom. In fact, why don’t you guys switch places?” Emily smiled. “Aunt Georgie will wear brown or navy with a cardigan, and you can wear a pink tiara and stilettos!”
“That’s a great idea, Em! What do you say, Aleta?” Georgie looked at her sister and laughed. “Pretend it’s Halloween. You think Clara Lu is a witch anyway!”
“Very funny.” Aleta slung her purse over her shoulder. “And I never said she was a witch.”
“Right. The word began with a B!”
“Who is Clara Lu?” Emily asked, pulling her wavy hair back from her face.
“Your Mom’s BFF from high school—after me, of course!” Georgie winked at Emily.
“Clara was not my BFF! She was just a girl we went to school with, and now she’s organized this bruncheon, and your aunt is making me go. So, if I have to go, I’m wearing my own clothes, thank you very much.”
“That sounds like it might be fun.” Emily was obviously distracted as she kept looking over her shoulder at the small staff that was answering phones, sifting through boxes, printing labels, and doing half a dozen other things that required supervision. “Mom, I’m sorry. I’d love to talk but ...”
“But you’ve got a lot to do. I can see that. We’ll get out of your hair.”
“I’ll call you later,” Emily promised before leaning in and giving Aleta and Georgie a kiss goodbye.
“That poor girl!” Georgie said once they were back in the parking lot. “She looks frazzled.”
“I know. And you know Em, Georgie, she won’t be able to rest until everything is settled in at the new office. She’ll be counting pens, and double-checking the new stationery, and sending letters to all the clients making sure they know she’s moved—not to mention continuing to work through all of it! I get tired just talking about it.”
“Me, too.”
“So, let’s get her lunch from Rosco’s.”
“Are you serious?” Georgie rubbed her stomach as if she were suddenly starving. “Rosco’s Fried Chicken? That is a genius idea! They’ll be expecting sub sandwiches or bland pasta salads. They will be so happy to get some fried chicken with potatoes and biscuits and all that delicious artery clogging yumminess!”
“I think so, too. I’ll make sure there is enough for us as well. We can swing by and pick up leftovers for our dinners tonight.”
“Good idea. Now, are we still shopping?” Georgie clapped her hands.
“Yes, we are,” Aleta answered firmly.
“What changed your mind?”
“You are right. I should go for no other reason than to brag about my daughter. Then, once I’ve done the ‘my daughter is better than your daughter’ routine to anyone and everyone, I’ll be leaving, never to darken their door again.”
“The drama.” Georgie rolled her eyes. “Are you sure you didn’t try out for any of the plays?”
“Quite sure! Now where are we headed?”
“Let’s go to Chino’s. I think you’ll see a few things you’ll like.”
They enjoyed a lazy afternoon filled with talk of the accounting firm, new clothes, high school memories, and, finally, a sweet reward of dainty cheesecake squares with raspberry glaze.
“On our way home, we’ll swing by the office one more time and get our dinners.” Aleta smiled. She peeked in the bag she had from Chino’s. Georgie had talked her into something that was completely out of her comfort zone.
“That item is just enough to add a little interest to even your most boring business suit. Trust me, everyone will be commenting on it.” Georgie smiled, wiggling her eyebrows mischievously at her twin. “It’s a statement piece, to be sure.”
Chapter 3
“I can’t believe you are wearing that boring suit with your beautiful new blouse,” Georgie scolded her sister when she showed up at Georgie’s door ready to go to the Clara Lu bruncheon.
“I could say the same thing about your outfit, Georgie.” Aleta shook her head as Georgie did a quick turn, sucking in her cheeks and pouting. “Except I would have to leave out the boring bit.”
“Do I look like Kate Moss?” Georgie asked excitedly.
“If Kate Moss gained a hundred pounds and decided to raid a geisha’s closet, maybe! Don’t you think those pants are a little loud?”
Georgie looked down at the bright yellow wide-legged trousers and shrugged her shoulders. “No, not with all the little bonsai trees and straw huts printed on them. Besides, my top subdues them.”
“That top?” Aleta pointed.
“Yes.” Georgie nodded.
“That top you are wearing?”
&
nbsp; “Yes.”
“That top subdues your outfit my eye!” Aleta snorted. “With leopard printed trim around the cuffs and the hem? I hope you don’t fall into a body of water because you will sink to the bottom under the weight of all your bangles. I feel like I’m going with a Thanksgiving Day Parade float!”
“I’d assume you were jealous except you look rather smashing in that blouse. I told you it would look good even with your most boring suit.”
Aleta tugged at the lapel of her brown blazer and smoothed the front of the matching trousers. “It’s not boring, although the blouse does look rather nice.”
“Did you look at the design when you got home?” Georgie plucked a piece of lint from her sister’s shoulder. “The pattern is really unique.”
“I hate to admit it, but I like the flowers.”
“Me, too.” Georgie looked at her watch. “We better get going. We don’t want to be late in case there is a sweets table. I’m driving.”
Pablo’s croaking engine echoed through the woods that surrounded the parking lot of the Craghill Mansion, a beautifully restored plantation style building with white pillars, scalloped trim, and jib windows that went from floor to ceiling.
Craghill Mansion had been converted into a restaurant and banquet or special occasion hall. It comfortably seated two hundred people spread throughout the various rooms. The walls were covered with old black and white photos of the Craghill family history throughout the years, beginning just prior to the Civil War. The dark hardwood floors creaked pleasantly with well-worn wooden planks that were smoothed and buffed but held all the memories of the original owners for so many years.
“Could you imagine living in a house like this?” Aleta asked as they climbed out of the car.
“I know that if I owned it now, I’d be known as the crazy lady who lives at Craghill Mansion and thinks she’s Scarlett O’Hara.”
As was their habit, Aleta linked her arm through Georgie’s, and they headed to the entrance. From outside, the sounds of people talking, laughing, and music playing floated in the air.
“I wonder where the nearest neighbor lives.” Georgie asked.
Aleta looked around and shrugged, but before she could say anything, they were ushered in the front door by a cheerful woman in her early thirties with olive colored skin and almond shaped eyes.
“Hello. Are you here for the bruncheon?” The greeter bubbled.
“Yes, I’m Georgie Kaye, and this is my sister, Aleta Kaye,” Georgie answered for both of them.
“Welcome. I’m Peg. I’m one of the hostesses for the event. Please, help yourself to a glass of champagne. We also have samplings of chocolate. You are welcome to explore Craghill Mansion and the grounds before we get started.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Aleta said and removed her jacket.
“Definitely an interesting blouse!” Peg said. “Very bold. I love it!”
As the sisters entered, Georgie took two flutes of champagne and handed one to her sister. “I told you.” Georgie took a sip of champagne and immediately began scanning for the chocolate.
“Yes, you did.”
“What’s the matter?”
“I don’t see Clara Lu anywhere, and I’d like to get the formalities over and done.”
“Oh, come on. Samples of chocolate? Don’t tell me you aren’t having a little bit of fun?”
“Aleta?” A deep voice came from behind the twins making them both spin around to see who was calling. The man standing there had a nervous look on his face as if he were ready to apologize for a case of mistaken identity.
Georgie squinted.
“Jet? Jet Nordan?” Aleta almost whispered. She put her hand to her lips to hide a smile.
“I knew it was you. You haven’t changed a bit. You look even better than you did in high school.”
“Thanks.” Aleta blushed. “You look like you’ve kept yourself in shape.”
“I try.”
“You remember my sister Georgie?” Aleta stepped back a little just as Georgie was sipping the last of her champagne.
“I don’t think we ever had any classes together.” Jet Nordan looked at Georgie and said, “It’s nice to meet you. Boy, you guys don’t look at all alike! How many years apart are you?”
Aleta started to chuckle with a mouth full of champagne as she looked at her sister.
“We’re twins, but I’m older by two minutes. You can tell because I’m so much more mature,” Georgie joked. Aleta began to laugh, but poor Jet stood there with that same unsure look returning to his face. “You played football, didn’t you, Jet?” Georgie continued, feeling sorry for the man.
“Yeah. Varsity. I think it was your sister’s cheering that made us players want to win so badly.”
Georgie rolled her eyes as she nudged Aleta.
“I don’t remember you being such a sweet-talker in high school, Jet.”
“Some things a guy has to learn, you know ....”
“On the street,” Georgie said under her breath before helping herself to another champagne.
“Jet, it was really nice seeing you again. Georgie and I just got here so we’re going to mingle around.”
“Of course. Hey, please don’t leave without saying goodbye.”
“Absolutely.” Aleta smiled and folded her jacket over her arm then refolded it over her arm again.
The Kayes walked through the rooms looking at the pictures, weaving through about forty people who were milling around the mansion.
“I wonder what Jet is doing here?” Georgie asked. “The invitation said this was to celebrate women of a certain age.”
“Maybe he brought a woman of a certain age with him.”
“If he did, he wasn’t acting like it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t tell me you didn’t see his flirting on display!”
“Georgie you’re crazy! Or you’ve had too much champagne.”
“It’s not the latter.” Georgie stretched her neck to look around a group of smartly dressed ladies who were discussing a portrait of a young man in a Yankee uniform. “Peg did say something about a chocolate sampling, right? I didn’t just dream it, did I?”
“She did. Let’s check upstairs. I’m dying to see what the rooms look like.”
As they ascended the stairs, Georgie looked down over the banister at the guests. Jet was watching with that same smirk on his face that Georgie was starting to find a bit annoying.
“Don’t look now, but Jet’s got his eyes on you—to use a phrase from a great movie—like he knows what you look like without your shimmy.”
“I’m not looking, but thanks for telling me.” Aleta poked her head in the first room. It was a small bedroom that had been transformed into a beautiful dining area where the seven tables sat no more than two people at each one.
Exploring further, they found a bathroom that was in a very feminine lavender and white color pallet. Nevertheless, after they had explored the entire upstairs, they had yet to find the promised chocolate samples.
“Georgie! Aleta!”
Georgie squealed and nearly ran down the stairs as she focused on who was calling her name.
“Mary King! I don’t believe it!” Georgie said as she reached the bottom step and gave her friend a hug.
“As soon as I saw those pants, I knew it had to be you! And if I saw you, I knew Aleta couldn’t be far behind.” Mary was a full-figured woman whose features had never been beautiful but rather handsome. She had a nose like Sherlock Holmes and broad shoulders that would have probably been better suited for the football player Jet than Mary. When she smiled, it was contagious, and when she laughed, even more so.
Aleta also knew Mary and wrapped the woman in a tight hug.
“You aren’t going to believe this, but do you remember Greg Knowles?” Mary asked.
“Yeah, he was on the basketball team, right? Super-tall, with spiky black hair?” Georgie looked to Aleta who nodded at the same memory.
/> “He’s my husband.” Mary smiled proudly. “And he’s right over there. I think he’s totally devoured the chocolate samples.”
Both Kayes looked in the direction Mary was pointing, as much to finally locate the chocolate samples as to see Greg.
On top of having a full figure, Mary King was also only five feet tall. Greg topped out about six feet and five inches.
Before Georgie could make any jokes about the height discrepancy, Greg wandered over smiling and holding several pieces of chocolate on a napkin.
He was just as happy to see Georgie and Aleta as they were to see him.
“What has it been? Forty-five years at least, right?” Greg said.
“Neither one of you has aged a day!” Aleta replied. “You both look great and very happy.”
“Greg is the one who stayed in shape. I’ve thrown in the towel.” Mary joked. “I need to eat so I’ll have enough energy to keep up with the boys!”
“I’ve lost my hair, though.” Greg ran his hand over the short stubble that covered half of his head. “That’s what three boys and Wrinkles will do to a guy!” He pulled out his phone and with a quick tap produced a picture of three men with the same strawberry blond hair—all athletic looking, all smiling.
“They are just adorable,” Aleta said. “They favor Dad, don’t they?”
“Wrinkles is the most demanding of all the boys.” Mary laughed. “He favors me, especially around the hips.
“Wrinkles?” Georgie asked. No reason not to try and score a little business while she was at it.
“Our very demanding Shar Pei.” Greg pulled out his phone again and held up a picture of the biggest, most wrinkled dog Georgie had ever seen! “Wrinkles has taken over the house, but he’s such a good dog.”
“What a beautiful dog! A house isn’t a home without a pet, especially a dog.” Georgie gushed over the animal. He would be an absolute joy to paint—all those wonderful folds and dimples!
“Speaking of homes, Georgie, how are you and Stan doing?”
“Stan and I got divorced years ago,” Georgie said simply.
“I’m so sorry to hear that.” Mary took Georgie’s hand and squeezed it tight.
“Please don’t be.” Georgie proceeded to tell Mary and Greg of Stan’s sudden taste for adventure that took him out West in search of gold and the perfect fly fishing hole. The adventure that kept him away from his wife and teenaged children for longer than Georgie liked to remember.