by K. M. Morgan
***
Once outside of the studio, Kara started to make her way back towards the house.
“I’m sorry about that,” Kara said.
Daisy was still in shock. Who talked to their wife that way? Daisy felt so bad for Kara. What a terrible position to be placed in. Her friend deserved so much better than that. Suddenly she realized all the bragging Kara had done about how great it was to marry rich was just a front meant to deflect from what was really going on—the pain she felt inside.
“No. I’m the one who is sorry. I can’t believe he talks to you like that,” Daisy replied.
“Look, he can get a little moody sometimes when he’s working. He’s not always like that,” Kara said defensively.
“I sure hope not.”
“You just have to remember he’s a genius. They work a little different than the rest of us.”
Why was Kara making excuses for her husband’s bad behavior? If anything, Luke should be the one apologizing, not her.
Daisy tried not to put herself in the middle of things. It wasn’t her marriage. But Kara was her old friend.
“I’m in no danger of being mistaken for a genius, so I wouldn’t know,” Daisy joked.
For whatever reason, Kara felt the need to explain away her husband’s belligerence some more. “It’s just that he’s been really frustrated since he’s started doing landscape paintings.”
“About that, since when did Luke stop doing painting of models?”
Daisy got a surprising answer.
“Since he married me,” Kara revealed.
“Oh.” Daisy was only able to muster one syllable aloud. Meanwhile her mind was racing.
“I got tired of modeling for him after a while. You begin to feel so cheap--like a piece of meat. At the same time, I didn’t want some other woman posing for him either,” she explained.
“I understand,” Daisy said.
“So I got him to promise never to do anymore paintings of models again. Unfortunately, he doesn’t think any of his landscape work is up to par. He feels out of his element. On top of that, he blames me for stifling his creativity,” Kara continued.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Daisy said.
“Hey, that’s what martinis are for,” Kara deadpanned.
As Daisy looked into Kara’s eyes, her friend’s pain was all too evident. Kara didn’t live some fairy tale life. There didn’t seem to be a happily ever after on the horizon for her. Instead, what looked like a dream from the outside, was more like a quiet nightmare on the inside.
“If there’s anything I can do--”
“There isn’t. Anyway, I think I’ve hit my cocktail limit for the day. After a while, the booze starts to act a little too much like truth serum. What do you say we switch subjects to interior decorating?” Kara said.
That was the best suggestion Daisy had heard all day.
Chapter Seven
Daisy had never been more excited to start work in her life. She was no fan of drama. Decorating however was pretty much her favorite thing in the world—outside of cupcakes and cookies, and pie, and etc.
Daisy whole-heartedly subscribed to the idea that if she loved what she did for a living, she’d never work a day in her life. It was hard to go wrong with any job that involved shopping after all. Besides, decorating was in her DNA. She had redecorated her own apartment five times—and that was just for the fun of it.
Actually getting paid to decorate seemed almost too good to be true. She loved mixing and matching décor, finding just the right accent pieces, and seeing the smiles on her client’s faces after a job well done.
While Daisy’s romantic life was a hot mess, she was completely on top of the ball when it came to work. Her business philosophy was big city quality at small town prices.
As they discussed Kara’s plans for the party room, Daisy could tell Kara was happy to have her around. Not just because they were old friends. Kara had been desperate for a good decorator. Every room in the house practically had Luke’s name written all over it.
Kara was excited to have one room that was just hers. A little sanctuary for her soul. The more they talked redecorating, the more Kara calmed down from her emotional high. She actually started laughing and smiling a little. It was like old times again.
Once Daisy got an idea of what Kara was after with the redesign, it was time for her favorite part of the job—shopping. Daisy drove into town knowing just what furnishing and accent pieces she was looking for. The question was, would she be able to find them in a town like Whistling Wind?
Fortunately, she did. Daisy picked out some great pieces that she knew Kara would flip for. She couldn’t wait to return to the Longwell estate to show Kara pictures of the furnishings she’d picked out.
***
As Daisy returned to the Longwell estate, Kara was waiting at the front door.
Just then, the hunky landscaper Matthew Madsen came around the corner and approached.
“Hey there beautiful,” Matthew said, a smile plastered on his face.
Wow. Did Daisy hear that right? Maybe she had been wrong about Matthew before. Perhaps he did have an interest in her.
Or—maybe not. While Daisy turned around to address Matthew, she saw that the gardener’s compliment was actually directed at Kara instead of her.
Matthew gave Kara a piercing gaze.
What luck? Daisy didn’t have any men interested in her, yet Kara had too many. Considering Kara was already married—albeit unhappily—she could stand to spare a hunk.
Matthew didn’t give Daisy the least bit of romantic attention however. He was squarely focused on Kara Longwell.
Kara meanwhile seemed nonplussed to be getting Matthew’s attention.
“Don’t start with me Matthew,” Kara replied.
Matthew continued to ignore Daisy and threw his affection at Kara.
“What’s the matter? I’m sure I can make it better,” Matthew said.
Kara rolled her eyes and greeted Daisy instead.
“So, how was your shopping?” Kara asked.
“Is shopping ever anything but wonderful?” Daisy replied.
“You got me there,” Kara said.
Kara and Daisy then went inside, leaving the hunky landscaper with his bruised ego.
***
Kara was thrilled with Daisy’s finds. The rest of the afternoon, Daisy moved things around in the parlor, getting ready for the new furniture to be delivered the next day.
All in all, it had been a very productive day. Then, just as Daisy was itching to head home, Kara came to her with a change of plans.
“You’ve been a busy woman today, haven’t you?” Kara asked.
“Just doing my job,” Daisy replied.
“Job, what’s that?” Kara wise-cracked.
Even though Kara was clearly joking, it was also obvious that she had lost touch with her working days. Other than going over redecorating plans with Daisy, Kara had spent the bulk of the day by the pool working on her tan.
Daisy couldn’t pretend like she wasn’t more than a little bit jealous of that amount of leisure time.
“Don’t worry. You’re not missing anything,” Daisy joked.
“Anyway, I was wondering if you’re like to stay for dinner,” Kara said.
“I was actually about to head home. I do have a forty-five minute drive ahead of me.”
“Alright, but you’re going to miss out on homemade chicken broccoli casserole with a side of garlic mashed potatoes.”
Daisy’s eyes opened wide. “You had me at chicken broccoli casserole.”
Kara smiled. “I guess I don’t have to ask you twice.”
Chapter Eight
Wow. If there was one thing that didn’t disappoint, it was the food at the Longwell estate. Dinner was absolutely delicious. Then again, it was hard to go wrong with buttery garlic mashed potatoes—not to mention chicken broccoli casserole. They were called comfort foods for a reason.
“My compliments
to the chef,” Daisy said.
A big smile came to Anna Antonelli’s face. Being a maid was a thankless job, but at least her work in the kitchen didn’t go without kudos.
Daisy seemed to be the only one saluting her work in the kitchen. Then again, the rest of the family seemed to be preoccupied. Sitting at the table with Kara were Luke’s two grown kids Eric and Bridget from his first marriage.
Bridget Longwell was twenty-five, still living at home, and had no plans for that to change anytime soon. She was a mousy, bratty, pudgy woman with an abrasive personality. The term spoiled rich girl seemed to have been invented specifically for her. She was the kind of woman whose greatest concern in the day was thinking about what color nail polish to put on.
Ambition was not part of her vocabulary, unless the conversation was about shoe sales. She had expensive tastes, especially given the fact that she had no money of her own to speak of. She relied on daddy’s piggy bank for everything.
Eric Longwell meanwhile was very much like his sister—in that he depended on his father’s money for everything. Just don’t tell him that. He had a sense of entitlement that wouldn’t be shaken.
Daisy would have referred to him as a snot-nosed kid, but at twenty-four years old, Eric was very much an adult. Eric also lived at home and was in no hurry to move out. He preferred to just live in the lap of luxury.
In addition to mooching off of their father’s riches, the one thing both Eric and Bridget had in common was a mutual dislike of their step mother Kara. They viewed her as a home wrecker. Nothing more than a trophy wife. And they never hesitated to make their distaste of her known.
Daisy could sense a lot of tension at that dining room table—and not just between Kara and her step kids.
Kara didn’t seem so fond of the maid Anna either.
“By the way Anna, I spilled some of my drink on the carpet in the living room again. Why don’t you go work your magic on that stain before it sets in?” Kara declared.
The smile on Anna’s face was short lived. She tried not to make direct eye contact with Kara.
Just as Anna moved to leave the dining room, Luke entered from his backyard studio.
“I love that smell. Anna, you are an absolute wonder in the kitchen,” Luke said.
“Thank you Mr. Longwell. I made your favorite again,” Anna replied. She beamed as she looked at her boss.
“Fantastic.” Luke’s eyes got as wide as saucers as he looked at the chicken broccoli casserole.
Daisy couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Luke seemed like a completely different person all of a sudden. The surliness was completely gone. He had an actual smile on his face—as he looked at Anna.
That did not sit well with Kara.
Daisy saw Kara glare at the maid before finally speaking up.
“Anna, that stain isn’t going away by itself,” Kara insisted.
Anna then scuttled off.
Luke meanwhile took a seat at the table.
“Well, you seem happy all of a sudden…to see Anna,” Kara said.
Uh oh. Luke knew that look in his wife’s eyes. He’d found his way into the doghouse. With Eric, Bridget, and Daisy all at the table, Luke decided to pull his wife aside to smooth things over in private.
“Can I talk to you for a second in the parlor?” Luke asked.
“No. We have a guest. Let’s be hospitable,” Kara insisted.
Luke saw all eyes were on him. This time manners prevailed. He saved his explanation for later and turned to Daisy.
“Oh, right. The interior decorator. Daisy, I’m sorry about what happened back in the art studio. I’ve been having trouble tapping into my creative muse lately,” Luke said.
It was hardly an apology for the ages. Daisy could tell he wasn’t really sorry at all. He was only apologizing because he’d been shamed into it.
Still, Daisy wasn’t about to call him out on his insincerity. The man had scribbled out a big dollar check for Daisy to redecorate—even if he had done it begrudgingly. Besides, there was already plenty of drama in this house to go around.
“It must be tough being an artistic genius,” Daisy said.
Luke’s son Eric scoffed at that statement. “Genius? That’s a good one.”
Luke narrowed his eyes at his son. “Watch your mouth. My genius pays for you to sit around by the pool all day like a sultan of schlubbiness. Which, by the way, I’m going to be putting an end to real soon.”
Eric started to panic. What did he mean by putting an end to?
Eric tried to deflect. “Hey, what do we need interior decorator for?”
“Because, I want at least one room in this house that is all my own,” Kara explained.
“This place doesn’t even need redecorating,” Luke’s daughter Bridget insisted.
If Daisy didn’t feel awkward enough before, now she felt like she’d stumbled into a family group therapy session waiting to happen.
“I didn’t ask for your opinion,” Kara replied.
“Maybe you should have. That money could be better spent,” Bridget said.
“And I’m sure you have an idea just how to spend it,” Kara replied.
“Actually, I do.” Bridget then turned to her father. “Speaking of dad, I’m going to need another loan.”
Luke rolled his eyes. “You do realize a loan is something you intend to pay back. You mean you’re looking for another handout.”
“Same difference. The point is, I need some money,” Bridget explained.
Luke groaned and rolled his eyes. “Again? What for?”
Eric interjected. “I’ll bet there’s another shoe sale in town.”
“Stay out of this,” Bridget warned.
Luke shook his head in disbelief. “I just don’t get it. Don’t you already have over three hundred pairs of shoes?”
“Hey, it’s not my fault you don’t understand fashion,” Bridget said.
“There’s more to life than looking fashionable,” Luke replied.
“Says the man who walks around in sweatpants and a t-shirt all day. Get a clue already,” Bridget insisted.
“Don’t insult your father,” Kara said.
“Don’t tell me what to do. You’re not my mother,” Bridget declared.
Luke wasn’t about to let his children give their step mother lip. “Of course not. How could she could compare to your saintly mother? But who could? According to you, your mother is perfect. Yet against all odds you choose to live with me and bite the very hand that feeds you. In the end, I guess money really does talk.”
Bridget glared at her father. “This isn’t about mom. This is about Kara.”
“Unfortunately, it’s also about your mother too. More than you know. Give her your undying love all you want, but she’s not as saintly as you think,” Luke explained.
Bridget was confused. “What are you talking about?”
“I’ve just learned your mother is trying to shop a tell-all book about our marriage. The nerve of that woman. She doesn’t know who she’s dealing with though. I’m going to personally make sure that book doesn’t see the light of day,” Luke declared.
Daisy was beginning to wonder if it would be safer to her to hide under the table—or at least take away everyone’s silverware before the family decided to turn it on each other.
Just as Luke was about to continue, Eric’s phone rang. He checked the phone number on his caller ID screen and immediately jumped up from the table.
Luke turned his attention to his son. “Wait a minute. Where do you think you’re going?”
“It’s Sasha. I have to take this,” Eric insisted.
Luke was outraged. “We’re in the middle of eating.” He then switched gears. “Wait a minute. You’re not still dating Sasha Sanderson, are you?”
“That’s none of your business,” Eric said.
“It is when you’re dating the daughter of our old maid—who you remember I had to fire for stealing from me,” Luke explained.
“Sash
a and her mother are very different people. And the fact is, I love her,” Eric revealed.
Luke laughed. “You’re a fool. A woman like that, she’s only after one thing.”
Eric didn’t even want to let his father finish his sentence. “You don’t know anything about her.”
“She’s in it for your inheritance. The woman is only after the money,” Luke explained.
Eric couldn’t help but look over at Kara as he replied.
“Oh yeah? Sounds like someone who is sitting at this table,” Eric said.
Kara jumped on the defensive after that comment. “You have a lot of nerve.”
Eric didn’t even address his step mother. He instead just focused on his father. “Look, I love her—and she feels the same way about me. You can’t stop me from being with her.”
Luke disagreed. “Sure I can. You don’t seem to realize, I can cut you off anytime I want. Both of you actually.”
Eric and Bridget’s eyes both opened wide at that statement.
“What are you talking about?” Eric asked.
“I was going to tell you later, but now suddenly seems like the perfect time. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, and I’m really tired of the mooching that goes on around here. I’ve given you two everything and it’s still not enough. You just treat me like an ATM. That’s why I’ve decided that I’m going to change my will. I’ll spare you the suspense—you’re both being cut out,” Luke revealed.
Daisy could have heard a pin drop at that moment. She watched Eric and Bridget’s jaws practically hit the floor.
“But…what are we supposed to do now?” Bridget asked.
“You’re both adults. Maybe it’s time you start working for a living. I’m sure you’ll figure something out. All I know is it won’t be my problem anymore. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to work,” Luke said.
Luke then left the table and headed back to his art studio.