by Peggy Webb
Molly pressed her hands to her lips while Mickey barked, and Minnie nipped at her heels. For the first time ever, she wanted to swat them.
“What have you done?” She addressed her dogs, but her question was as much for Samuel as for her pets. What he had done was press all the right buttons and made her forget everything except the moment.
She bent over the dogs and began to pluck feathers out of their mouths.
“How can I create a ravishing frock if you two eat the feathers?”
A yellow feather dropped out of Mickey’s mouth and floated to the floor. Suddenly Molly saw a vision of her mother, smiling, her hair bright in the sun. If it hadn’t been for Samuel’s kiss, the feather would have been nothing more than a feather. But now she was vulnerable, and it was symbolic of the mother she had loved and lost.
A tear slid her cheeks. She hated being weak and vulnerable, even for a moment, and she tried to hide it by chiding her dogs again.
“What have you done?”
Samuel squatted quickly beside her. Molly’s tears affected him in such an astonishing way that he suddenly dreamed of himself as a sort of Knight in Shining Armor, the sort of man who would pick up a sword and do battle against anything that hurt her.
“Hey, now, there’s no need to cry. I’ll help you clean up the mess.”
“It’s not the dogs.” Her lips trembled, and another tear slipped out.
“Molly?” Samuel cupped her face and gently tilted it so he could see her eyes. “What, then? Tell me.”
“Promise you won’t laugh?”
“I promise.”
“Sometimes I’m silly. I see one thing and it reminds me of another, and before you know it, I’m crying.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes.”
“I think there’s more.”
“You promised you wouldn’t laugh, and you didn’t. Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome.” Still he squatted, and still he caressed her cheek. “Tell me why you were crying this time, Molly.”
Molly hated lying, but on the other hand, she felt the danger of telling him her true feelings. It was almost like inviting him into her heart.
She decided to tell Samuel quickly and get it over with. Then she would definitely, absolutely, get this relationship back on a casual basis.
“It was the yellow feathers, Samuel. They reminded me of my mother’s hair, and then I started thinking about her death, and before you know it, I was crying.”
“I’m so sorry.” His voice was tender.
“Thank you.”
“You’re a complicated woman, Molly Rakestraw...” His hands lingered on her face. “And a dangerous one, too.”
“Dangerous?”
He wasn’t ready to give an honest answer to that probing question. Instead he took her hands and lifted her to her feet.
“With the pins. I’m not so sure I can trust you not to attach a few feathers to my chest.”
While he spoke, he examined her face. She seemed to buy his explanation. That was a relief. The situation was close to being out of control. And he could never relinquish control.
“I promise I won’t attach feathers to your chest.” She gave him an impish grin. “Unless I decide you look good in yellow feathers.”
“I take back everything I said. You’re not merely dangerous—you’re formidable, too.”
She wielded the pincushion like a sword. “That’s because I have the pins.”
Their laughter lightened the mood. For the next twenty minutes Molly arranged beads and feathers over his chest, cocking her head this way and that, studying her handiwork as if she were creating a Dior original. From time to time she had him parade across the kitchen floor so she could get the full effect.
He obliged. Not only did he do her bidding, but he went even further and added a few steps of his own.
Molly laughed so hard, she cried.
They took a late lunch break, and then she enlisted his help in repotting her plants.
“I know less about horticulture than I do about dresses,” he told her.
“This doesn’t require knowledge—merely a willingness to get your hands dirty.”
“I guess there has to be a first time.”
“You never played in the dirt, Sam?”
“I don’t think my board members would approve.”
“They’re not here today and I’ll never tell.”
“Then lead me to the dirt.”
She happily dragged three philodendrons off the front porch and declared them puny. For the first time since his childhood, Samuel got his hands in the dirt. And it felt good.
He patted soil around a newly potted plant and smiled at Molly.
“A man could get addicted to this.”
“I’ve always found digging in the earth to be therapeutic.” She wiped a stray tendril off her face and got another smudge of dirt on her cheek.
As he studied the smudge, he decided it wasn’t repotting plants that was addictive; it was the woman. He’d come for a business talk, then stayed all day. What kind of madness was that?
“It must be getting very late.” That was as good an excuse as any for leaving.
“I don’t know. I try not to think about time.”
A woman like Molly could drive a man crazy.
“I always think about time. And it’s time for me to go.” He set the newly potted plant in the center of the table, then started to the door. “Goodbye, Molly. Thanks for lunch.”
Molly looked at his determined back, his long strides. He would soon be out the door.
“Don’t go. Not yet.”
He turned, and the sight of her with that smudge on her cheek almost undid him.
“What is it, Molly?”
He took a step toward her, and she retreated behind the kitchen table.
“You forgot to wash your hands.”
“So I did.”
He washed them quickly and left before he could change his mind.
Chapter Five
Samuel opened his hotel door on the first knock. His mother was standing in the hallway.
“Mother, where on earth have you been?”
“Didn’t you get my note?” She came into his room, closing the door behind her.
“Yes. But you forgot to mention that you’d be out long enough to give me ulcers.” Samuel wasn’t in the best of moods. He stalked to a chair beside the window and picked up the report he’d been trying to read for the last two hours. Snapping the papers, he scowled at her.
“I know you don’t approve, but I didn’t think you’d be so fierce.” Laughing, she put her hands over her heart “Spare me son, for I’ve done no wrong.”
“That’s not funny, Mother. I happen to be working on a complicated business matter.” He held the report in a death grip, frowning over the top of the page.
His mother sat down and gave him the kind of once over she used to when he was six and up to mischief.
“Is that dirt under your fingernails, Sammy?”
“Yes. I got it helping Molly repot plants.”
“You repotted plants?”
“Is that a crime?”
“No, it’s wonderful!” She settled back in her chair.”So, you visited Molly today?”
“Yes.”
“What did you do beside report plants?”
She was going to dig until she got the whole story, but he wasn’t going to make it easy. As a matter of fact, he was going to make it as hard as extracting teeth.
“Mother, if you want to know whether we became good friends and whether today changed my mind about you marrying Jedidiah, the answer is no.”
He looked down at his reports, and the sight of the dirt reminded him of the smudge on Molly’s cheek. He was totally unaware of the way his expression softened.
“Besides, we didn’t have time to discuss the wedding. I was too busy helping Molly with her sewing.”
“You helped with sewing?”
He j
erked his head up, aware that he’d told her something he’d fully meant to keep a secret.
“Mother, what is it with you? You’ve repeated everything I’ve said. Are you getting hard of hearing?”
His mother crossed her hands in her lap and tried to look serene, but he knew better. That perky look betrayed her.
“I suppose I’m a little addled by my own news. Jed and I have set a wedding date.”
The future Sam had planned so carefully—for all of them—shattered right before his eyes. It was too late to stop the wedding now, and besides that, his mother did look happy.
“I’m sorry I’m so grouchy. Too much on my mind, I guess.” He got up from his chair and hugged her. “Congratulations, Mother. All I want is for you to be happy.”
o0o
On the other side of town in the little house on Robins Street, Molly was hearing the same news from her father.
“The wedding will be in Tupelo, Molly, but Glory Ethel wants to give a big engagement party in Florence next week. She’s anxious for us to meet all her friends. She and Samuel are leaving today to start preparations.”
Molly loved parties. She adored meeting new people. She was thrilled and had told her daddy so. But she felt a strange reluctance to go to Florence.
“Are you sure I need to be there, Daddy? Since I spend most of my time in Paris and will rarely see her friends, I see no real reason for me to go.”
“Are you feeling all right, Molly? I thought you were undecided about going back to Paris.” He scooted across the sofa where both of them were sitting and put a hand on her forehead. “I’ve never known you to turn down a party invitation, and you’ve been unusually subdued this evening.”
“I’m fine, Daddy.” Feeling a little contrite, she took his hand. “And I’m very happy for you and Glory Ethel.”
“You don’t look happy. If you’re worried about me, honey, there’s no need. I loved your mother more than any man can love a woman, and I always will. But I love Glory Ethel, too, and that that won’t change a thing between us.” He chucked her under the chin. “You’re my wonderful one-and-only Jersey Queen.”
She threw back her head and laughed.
“There. That’s more like my girl.”
“Daddy, how is it that you can always make me laugh, even when I’m feeling blue?”
“Because that’s the way it is between us, Molly, and that’s the way it will always be.” He patted her hand. “Now, how about Florence?”
“I’ll be there.”
“I knew you would all along.”
“Wait until I tell Glory Ethel what a con artist you are. She might be just the woman to give you your comeuppance.”
“I’ll bet she could, too.” He shook his head, grinning. “She’s some kind of woman!
o0o
From: Molly
To: Bea, Belinda, Clemmie, Catherine, Joanna, Janet
Re: Stuff
Sam’s gone now, and I never knew a house could feel so empty. In fact, the whole town feels empty. Would you believe I stood at the window for fifteen minutes expecting I might see that Silver Cloud Rolls Royce driving by. I know you don’t have to drive by Daddy’s house to get to Florence, Alabama, but still, I just thought he might pass by and wave. I never even had a chance to say goodbye. Don’t you think goodbyes are important? I mean, after all, he’s going to be part of my family!
Molly
From: Joanna
To: Molly, Bea, Belinda, Clemmie, Catherine, Joanna, Janet
RE: ????
Are you falling in LOVE with BEA’S BROTHER!!!! This is so EXCITING!!! Tell all!!!
Joanna
From: Janet
To: Molly, Joanna, Bea, Belinda, Clemmie, Catherine
Re: NOT love
Molly is not falling in love with Sam Adams. That’s ridiculous. She still hasn’t even decided what she’s going to do about a job!
Janet
From: Belinda
To: Molly, Janet, Bea, Joanna, Clemmie, Catherine
Re: LOVE!!!
Janet, since when does love wait around till somebody gets a job? Look at me. And for goodness sake, look at yourself. You didn’t wait till your internship to fall in love with Dan.
Belinda
From: Clemmie
To: Janet, Molly, Bea, Belinda, Joanna, Catherine
Re: Just saying
Maybe you’re so caught up in your daddy’s wedding, you’re a bit confused, Molly. Just saying.
Clemmie
From: Catherine
To: Molly, Janet, Bea, Belinda, Clemmie, Joanna
Re: Fun!
Give him a run for his money, Molly! From what Bea says, Sam needs somebody exactly like you!!
Cat
From: Bea
To: Molly, Janet, Bea, Belinda, Clemmie, Joanna
Re: Sam
Now, Molly, you listen to me. Sam doesn’t know the first thing about love! As a matter of fact, he’s scared of it, and all because our father happened to run off with a floozy. Don’t you dare get involved and let my brother break your heart!!!!
Bea
o0o
Samuel and Glory Ethel were back in Florence by midmorning. He’d been quiet on the ninety-mile trip, and so had Glory Ethel.
He parked in front of the Victorian house on North Wood Avenue.
Glory Ethel turned to him in the car. “Are you coming in, Sam?”
“Not today. I have a lot of work to catch up on.”
“You will be at the party.”
“Of course.”
“Why don’t you come and stay in your old room next week, help me get ready for the big shindig?”
“Won’t the Rakestraws be staying with you?”
“Yes. But the house is big enough for all of us.”
He stared off into the distance, seeing not the wide green sweep of oak trees along the street but a woman with golden hair and turquoise eyes. “I’m not even sure this town is big enough for all of us.”
“What did you say? I can’t hear you when you mutter.”
“Never mind, Mother. I’ll unload your bag.”
He unloaded her suitcase and escorted her into the spacious, polished hallway of her house.
“You will stay here, won’t you Sam? It’ll do you good to get away from that lonely apartment.”
“I’ll think about it.” He kissed her cheek. “‘Bye, Mother.”
After he left his mother’s house, his first stop was the bank. He’d unload his bag later.
He went straight to his office on the top floor and checked with his secretary about priority phone calls and mail. Then he went down the hall to talk with Carmondy, one of his vice presidents and his top operations officer.
Carmondy, just back from a vacation in Paris, was looking fit and rested and happy.
“Come in, Samuel.”
“It’s good to have you back, Carmondy.”
“You, too, boss. Enjoy Tupelo?”
Samuel was just about to reply when he saw the painting propped on the wall beside Carmondy’s wall. It was enormous. It was shocking. And it was Molly.
She was reclining on an array of red silk cushions, her long bare legs stretched out, and her hair making a curtain of gold down her bare back. A length of red silk barely big enough to cover a sneeze was angled down her stomach and draped across her hips. The artist had captured the wicked, wanton look in her eyes; the come-touch-me texture of her golden skin; the pouty, just-loved look of her perfectly sculpted lips.
“Astonishing, isn’t it, Samuel?”
Samuel stared at the painting. He was incapable of words.
Carmondy took his silence as homage due the beautiful woman on his wall.
“When I saw that painting in Paris—it was in a little gallery near the Louvre—I fell in love, figuratively speaking, of course. My wife was mad enough to die when she found out I’d bought it. She wouldn’t let me hang it in the house, so I sneaked it down here today.” Carmondy laughed, very much at ea
se as his boss walked closer to the painting. “I guess I can drape it with a curtain until I decide what to do with it. Looking at it does tend to distract—”
“Let’s talk business.” Samuel stalked off and sat down beside the desk, totally unaware that he was wearing a look that would quell a stampede of elephants.
Carmondy was undaunted. Everybody knew the boss was all business. He cheerfully pulled out his chair and opened a folder on his desk.
“Right, boss. Business first, women later.”
Samuel didn’t even smile.
o0o
Samuel avoided Carmondy’s office for the rest of the week, sending his secretary back and forth between them if he needed anything from his chief operations officer.
Over the weekend he moved temporarily into his mother’s house to help her with party preparations. By the time the day of the party arrived, his nerves were ragged and his temper was even worse.
He purposely stayed at the office late so he’d miss the arrival of Jedidiah and Molly. He thought if he could just get through the party and the wedding, he could get on with business. Though how he would explain a stepsister who posed naked was beyond him.
The house was quiet when he slipped inside. He could smell the roses his mother had arranged all over the house. It was like some damned funeral parlor. Crystal and silver glowed in the light of the chandelier, and hors d’oeuvres and petit fours and every frivolous food ever invented were laid out on the dining-room table—enough to feed five hundred, he’d guess. His mother never did anything in a small way.
Nobody was in sight. He supposed they were all getting dressed for the party, or, knowing his mother, out trying to buy a whole hog, complete with an apple in its mouth, to put in the center of the table.
He went grimly up the staircase and started down the hall to the room that had been his since his childhood. Halfway down the hall, the door to his sister’s room opened, and out stepped Molly.
She was wearing a dress that bared so much flesh she might as well have been naked.
They stared at each other while the ceiling fan stirred the humid air. Molly shifted her weight and the strap of the dress slid down her bare shoulder.