by Mia Caldwell
The toilet had a heated seat and also acted as a bidet. Elly showed her how to use it, which buttons to push for what purpose. Jada was amused at having to take lessons on how to work a toilet.
But the toilet wasn’t the only part of the suite that required lessons. Elly also showed her how to operate the remote that controlled the room’s lighting and temp, the television and audio systems, too, which had immense offerings of channels, movies and music.
The true highlight of the suite, however, was the least technological part. Double, glass-paned doors opened onto a quaint balcony with a small iron table and chairs. The exterior vista of natural lawns rippling down to the lakeside was more spectacular than any high def television, and the songs of the cooing lake birds and trilling insects more soothing than any musical soundtrack. Jada made plans to have her morning coffee on the balcony.
Elly asked her if she’d like to rest and Jada told her she’d wash up a bit, but no, she wasn’t sleepy. Elly bustled off, then, and told Jada to let Mrs. Best know when she was hungry, and to not forget to let Mr. Forest know when she was ready for a tour of the grounds. She assured Jada that she only lived to help in any way and she’d be thrilled to do anything Jada wanted.
The young woman’s enthusiasm made Jada smile and want to tease her a bit, but she resisted the urge, shooing Elly away with reassurances that she wouldn’t dream of hesitating to inconvenience Elly for the least little thing Jada might want. Elly departed with a satisfied expression.
Jada no sooner splashed some water on her face and looked through some of the bathroom drawers (which were filled with exotic lotions, oils, soaps, sponges and scrubbers and basically anything anyone might ever need when bathing), when her phone buzzed with a text.
It was from Mrs. Best. “No hurry, dear, but your lunch is ready. I’m keeping it warm for you. You might enjoy eating on the east patio. Text me and it will be waiting.”
Jada smiled at the way the older lady spelled out every word in her text. It reminded Jada of how her mother texted, as if it were an email.
She spent a few minutes poking around the room, finding all sorts of necessities in the vanity drawers in the dressing room. She particularly liked the heavy, old-fashioned hairbrush that reminded her of the kind in movies where the lady of the house brushed her hair hundreds of strokes every night before bed.
Soon, her stomach began to growl. Jada hadn’t eaten much more than a snack all morning, and it was now past one. She texted Mrs. Best that she was ready and headed down to the first floor.
Mrs. Best and Elly were already waiting on the patio when Jada arrived. They pulled out her chair, fussed over her, whipping covers off the food and laying a fine linen napkin on her lap. The food was steaming and smelled like heaven, a rich vegetable bisque with hunks of crusty bread topped with toasted, earthy cheeses and fresh herbs. It was hearty, simple food of the best kind, and Jada ate with gusto.
The food and fresh air invigorated Jada, and when she finished, she called Mr. Forest and requested his promised tour of the grounds. He was beside her in a flash and they spent the next half hour roaming the stone paths and small, tucked-away gardens in the surrounding grounds.
It was clear that Ian preferred to keep the place as natural as possible. Wildlife was allowed virtually free reign and carefully managed by Grover to ensure the health and well being of the entire ecosystem.
They were returning to the front of the house when Jada heard the distant chopping sound of an approaching helicopter. Mr. Forest said it was likely Jada’s things arriving at last, and he called Elly and Billy to meet the copter at the landing pad and tote everything up to the house.
Jada watched from the veranda as the helicopter landed smoothly. Elly and Billy soon had their arms loaded with bags and boxes and made their way toward Jada and Mr. Forest. The helicopter, as when it brought her, lifted off again and sailed away.
Jada felt silly just standing there while Elly and Billy did all the heavy lifting but Mr. Forest stopped her when she tried to go to them.
“Please, Miss. It’s their jobs. They’d be embarrassed if you were to do it for them,” he told her gently.
All right then, she thought, and stayed where she was. If being the pampered princess made the two young people happy, who was she to argue?
Elly tromped up holding out a small crate by a handle. “Shall I take her to your room, Miss Jada?”
Jada blinked and realizing it was a pet carrier. “Is my cat in there?”
“Yes, Miss.”
“And those bags.” She reeled at how many of them there were. “Are those the clothes Cathy got for me?”
“Yes, Miss.”
“Seriously? You helicoptered my cat and clothes out here? That’s ... that’s ...” She couldn’t think of words appropriate to describe it. Outrageously decadent? Insanely wasteful? Crazy? Ridiculously kind?
“We didn’t send the helicopter, Miss,” Mr. Forest said. “Mr. Ian did.”
“Right. Of course. Well, that’s ... uh ... incredibly nice of him.”
Jada took Ms. Kitty from Elly and ignored her protests. She’d carry her own cat to her room. Poor thing was probably freaked out from the ride anyway.
Once in her room, Billy left her bags and Elly stayed and began putting Jada’s new things away. She pulled each item from bags marked with the logos of expensive stores Jada couldn’t afford to shop at, and held them up for Jada’s inspection.
Jada sat in a comfy wing-backed chair, holding a surprisingly calm Ms. Kitty on her lap, slowly stroking her silky fur, as much to sooth her own nerves as the cat’s.
The clothes were beautiful, and there were far too many of them. Dresses, pants, skirts, shorts and blouses. Lingerie and hosiery, a couple of bathing suits, a robe and sleepwear. There were even shoes, high and low heels, casual loafers, jogging shoes and an adorable pair of pink, fuzzy slippers.
Elly hung and folded everything with intent care, asking repeatedly if Jada wanted to try this on, or that. Jada didn’t want to try anything on. She was too busy trying to calculate in her head what it all cost, and why Cathy had gotten her so much. It was a complete wardrobe.
Jada also saw that some of the bags contained items for her cat, a litter box, a couple of brushes, some dry food and treats, a cute collar with delicate crystals on it, a plush bed, a scratching post, and more.
How long, exactly, did they think Jada would be staying here?
Mrs. Best knocked on the door and came into the room holding a pair of silver dishes. “I brought your dear kitty a little snack before suppertime. It’s just a bit of poached fresh salmon, and a tad of cream.”
Elly and Mrs. Best worried over the best place to feed Ms. Kitty while Jada tried not to roll her eyes at the over-solicitude of feeding her cat real salmon and cream.
Ms. Kitty sniffed the air and hopped off Jada’s lap, trailing after Mrs. Best. Mrs. Best beamed when Ms. Kitty tucked into the salmon.
“What a dear little thing. So pretty. A tabby cat,” Mrs. Best said. “I had one when I was a girl.”
Elly and Mrs. Best watched Ms. Kitty with admiration, like she was performing a miraculous feat and not simply wolfing down salmon like she’d never eaten a decent meal in her life. Jada fought back a laugh.
She needed to get out, clear her head. She stood. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to change my clothes and take a walk.”
“Of course, dear,” Mrs. Best said. “Call Mr. Forest if you’d like a guide, or Grover. They’d be happy to—”
“Oh, I have no doubt they’d be thrilled to help me. I think I’ll be okay on my own now.”
Before Elly had a chance to, God forbid, offer to dress her, Jada selected a pair of walking shorts and a sleeveless top along with a pair of cute, beaded sandals from among her new things and headed to her dressing room.
Before she shut the door, she noticed the two women had resumed their rapt study of Ms. Kitty, who had finished the salmon and begun hoovering up the cream at full throttl
e. What a show off, she thought with a grin.
She quickly changed from her spring dress and pumps into what she’d thought would be clothing more appropriate for strolling the grounds. Turned out, though, that the lemony yellow tank was made of the finest silk she’d ever touched, with a texture almost like water sliding over her fingers. And the white walking shorts had a tag which claimed they were made of cotton, but which was unlike any cotton Jada had ever felt. As for the cute sandals ... she was pretty sure there were expensive crystals spaced among the hand-crafted beads.
She vowed to do nothing that might get the least speck of dirt on her new things, and briefly considered changing back into her inexpensive dress, which before today, had been one of her best.
When she re-entered her bedroom, Mrs. Best was gone.
Still hard at work on Jada’s new wardrobe, Elly clapped her hands together when she saw Jada and gushed, “Oh, you look so pretty, Miss. That color’s perfect on you!”
Jada gave a playful twirl. “Thanks. You don’t have to butter me up, though. I already like you.”
Elly blushed. “Oh, no. I mean it. You’re lovely. I can’t wait to see you in your other new clothes. I’d never say anything I—”
“I was teasing. I’m sorry if I upset you. Well, would you look at that!”
Jada stared at the chaise lounge which sat in front of a large, open window. There, stretched out under a sunbeam, flopped on her side with her stomach pooching out from her so-called snack, lay Ms. Kitty, snoozing away on her new plush, cushy pet bed.
Ms. Kitty opened one eye a tiny slit and gave Jada an “I thought you were leaving” glance.
“Isn’t she just the cutest thing?” Elly asked. “She really loved that cream and salmon. Mrs. Best says she’s got some fresh shrimp for her supper. Does she like shrimp? Mrs. Best said she’s got tuna steaks if that would be better.”
“Since she usually eats dry kibble that’s only shaped like shrimp, I’m pretty sure the real deal will thrill her.”
“Oh good. I’ll let Mrs. Best know.”
“Well, Ms. Kitty looks like she’s in good hands with you So, I’m off. Thanks for taking care of all that.”
Elly waved a shy goodbye as if Jada were leaving on a long voyage. “It’s my pleasure, Miss.”
Jada was certain that young Elly wasn’t just saying that, that she actually meant it.
Jada knew where she wanted to go, and once outside the house, headed straight there on one of the paved, stone paths which wound among the swaying grasses and wildflowers down to the lakeside. She saw Billy along the way and was grateful he simply nodded and smiled, and didn’t beg to do something for her.
The lake wasn’t far, and she soon walked out onto a wide dock that was something like a deck, really, complete with comfortable, wooden chairs and loungers.
She settled into one of the hand-crafted deck loungers and took a deep breath. She heard a splash and saw a flash of green as a fish flip-flopped in the lake. A loon called nearby, tree frogs sang a lazy afternoon tune and dragonflies buzzed the surface of the blue water. The air carried the scent of lake water, grasses and distant flowers.
Her phone vibrated. She sighed and pulled it out of her pocket. Marina. Jada knew she’d left phoning her sister for too long and answered the call.
“What are you doing?” Marina asked by way of greeting.
“I’m relaxing beside a gorgeous lake in an outfit that probably cost more than my first car.”
“Ooh, I’m so jealous. Tell me more. What’s happened so far?”
“I’ve been on tours of the house and grounds, and I’ve had lunch. And a helicopter brought in Ms. Kitty and a crapload of new clothes for me.”
“Oh-my-God. That’s cray-cray. Tell me about the clothes.”
“I can’t. I’ve hardly had a chance to look at them. The maid’s putting everything away,” Jada said.
“You’ve got a maid? At a cabin?”
“Well, it’s not really a cabin after all. Hold on. I’ll send you a pic. Call me back when you get it.” Jada turned in her seat, took a quick snapshot of the house on the rise, then turned around and took a picture of the lake. She sent both to Marina.
Her phone buzzed again in mere moments.
“Seriously?” Marina’s non-question was high and loud. “That’s what Ian called a cabin? I love billionaires. Can you imagine?” She spoke as deeply as her voice would go, mimicking her idea of a rich toff. “Hello, darling. Would you like to spend a few days at our rustic cabin by the pond? I know you don’t care for roughing it, but I think we can make do if we imbibe enough fine wine to dull the sharp edges of the boondocks.”
Jada laughed. “But darling, will I have to turn down my own bedcovers at night? You know how I despise manual labor.”
“Ha! What’s the inside of the house like? Your room?”
“Words can’t describe.”
“Go take pictures for me then.”
“I can’t. I’m exhausted from the general decadence and the staff’s extreme-solicitude.”
Marina snorted. “Poor you. I bet.”
“I am! I feel like I’ve been in that old cartoon, the one where all the servants have been enchanted and turned into furniture and stuff. The people around here are so enthusiastic and in need of something to do, the only thing they haven’t done is break into a song and dance number about how glad they are to have a guest. This is the first moment I’ve had to myself all day.”
“I can’t believe you’re bitching about being pampered.”
“Yeah, well, you’re probably right. Guess what? There’s a full-time member of the staff whose job is, literally, pampering people. She’s an esthetician and masseuse. She can do manicures and pedicures, even trim your hair. You name it. She wants to plaster me with mud.”
“You’ve got to be the luckiest woman on the planet,” Marina said wistfully.
“I’d think so, too, if there weren’t this issue of my also being on the press’s most wanted list. And that reminds me. I’ve got something for you to do.”
“What?”
“I need you to get in contact with anyone you know at the courthouse. Dig around, see what you can find out about the fake marriage license. Is this just a bizarre error, or what? Try to get someone to talk.”
“Er, really? Isn’t Ian’s team all over that?”
“Yeah, and I wasn’t too crazy about how they acted like I couldn’t help myself. I, however, know I have an ace in the hole, and that’s you, my dear little sister, the best reporter in the world. You’ll be able to find some answers, I’m sure.”
“I don’t know, Jada. I’m kind of busy. I’ve got plans this weekend and—”
“Seriously? Come on. You’re the perfect person to figure this thing out.”
“I can’t do anything Ian’s team can’t. With his power and connections? It’d be a waste of time to try.”
Jada blew out a loud breath. “Not true. You’re at the courthouse all the time, aren’t you? Getting info for the paper? You know people over there. Like Sylvia. That’s her name, right? She gives you the heads up when something big happens, right? You’ve told me about her. You said she’s in one of the records departments. Ask her if she knows or has heard anything.”
“It won’t help. Syl won’t know anything.”
“You can’t be sure until you ask. Come on, Marina. Be an investigative journalist for your big sister.”
Marina was quiet for a few seconds, before saying with a sigh, “Fine. I’ll try, if I get the time.”
“Make the time.”
“God, Jada, you spend a couple of hours with doting servants and you’re suddenly tossing out orders like you’re the queen of the universe.”
Jada smiled. “That’s right. Chop-chop, young reporter. Get to it.”
“Whatever. I’ve got to go. Send me some pictures of the inside of the house when you can bear to walk around again ... if you have the energy to click a pic.”
“No wor
ries. If I don’t, I’ll ask Elly to do it. Elly is my maid.”
“You’re killing me, you know.”
“Yeah.”
“Hey, Jada. Seriously, joking aside, keep safe out there, okay? I’m worried about you.”
“How sweet. I’m told it’s Fort Knox out here, and if you saw the woman in charge of security, you’d believe it. I’ll be fine.”
“Okay. I love you, Jada.”
“That’s the second time today you’ve said that. What the hell?”
“I guess I’m feeling sentimental. You did just get married, you know.”
“Remember, you didn’t lose a sister, you gained a brother.”
“Don’t I wish. If only he had his own billionaire brothers to introduce me to. And he doesn’t, just so you know.”
Jada ended the call grinning. Before she put her phone away, she noticed she’d received a text.
It was from Elly. “Are you comfortable? Can I bring you anything? A drink? A snack? A blanket?”
Jada assured Elly she was fine. These people seriously needed more guests to keep them busy. They were kind, though, and Jada wouldn’t have hurt their feelings for the world.
She closed her eyes and crossed her hands over her stomach. The peaceful sounds of nature lulled her, relaxed and quieted her busy mind.
She wondered how long she’d be staying at the lake cabin. And she hoped, with a pleased kind of naughtiness, that Marina didn’t solve the case of the fake marriage license too soon. The easy life might be overwhelming at times, but mostly, it was seductively wonderful.
Like Ian’s eyes.
Oops. She didn’t know where that came from. He did have lovely blue eyes, though. Funny how she guessed the color before she saw them.
She drifted off to sleep on that thought.
Chapter Seven
IAN PAUSED ON THE PATH to the lake. He could see part of Jada from where he stood, stretched out and languid in one of the deck loungers. He thought she might be asleep, but couldn’t see her eyes to be sure.
He felt silly, standing there uncertain of how to proceed. Billy waited behind him, loaded down with fishing gear.