by Liz McMullen
Rowan’s heart seized a bit. Her friend was in love, but couldn’t accept it. Not because Suzie was above her; it was the fear of hurting Suzie that held Jodeci back. “You’re not the player everyone makes you out to be, and you’re already faithful.”
Jodeci closed her eyes and hissed out the breath she had been holding. “You noticed.”
Rowan tucked tomorrow’s deposit into the blue zippered bank bag, then locked it in the safe. “Yes and no. I’ve seen a good change in you. You’re happy.” She put Desiree’s phone in the small compartment in her messenger bag. “And I have been getting rich from the girls drowning their sorrows. If you snub a few more, I may be able to pay off my student loans.”
Jodeci chuckled. “Anything for a friend.”
“You and I have the same problem.”
“Maria?” Jodeci whistled the tune from The Sound of Music as she slid her leather jacket on and tucked her cut of tonight’s tips into her back pocket.
Fear. It was unspoken, but it reverberated loud and clear.
She didn’t mind Jodeci’s deflection as she didn’t want to look too deeply into her own motivations. “Okay, Romeo, let’s see if Suzie is looking for some buddy love.” She set the alarm and locked the front door.
Then Jodeci surprised her. “Do you really think she loves me?”
“Yeah.”
“Fuck.”
Rowan shivered and picked up her pace. Her truck was still a block away. “Text Suzie and let her know we’re on our way. I think Desiree has had enough surprises for one day.”
“On it.”
Rowan was always impressed by people who could text and not walk into a tree. She turned on the car with her remote to give the heater a head start. “They still up?”
Jodeci cracked up, then showed Rowan the meme Suzie texted her. It was a candid of Desiree captioned with “My Hero” in swirly girly font.
This was going to be fun. Rowan just knew it.
Chapter Thirteen
Porter Hall
Suzie crawled into Desiree’s bed, startling her awake. “What gives Suzie, seriously?”
“Your boifriend is coming over. Thank God you keep your side of the room so neat.”
Suzie was up to no good, and as soon as Desiree’s brain started to function again, she would let her have it.
It appeared she wasn’t waking fast enough, so Suzie decided to fight dirty. Tickling, the worst. It didn’t take long for Desiree to cry for mercy, and by the time she untangled herself, she was wide awake.
Suzie upped the ante in the cruelest way possible, grinding coffee beans, which meant they were having guests. Desiree reached into the jeans she’d left beside the bed to check the time. She was positive it was way too late or early for someone to come over. Her heart started to beat faster when she came up empty. Where the fuck was her phone? She got up, frantic, looking in her coat pockets. She even dug out her bra from the laundry.
Desiree was about to tear their room apart when she noticed something suspicious. Suzie was not helping her look and was humming as she set the electric kettle to boil. “What have you done with my cell phone?”
Suzie looked at her doe-eyed, then batted her newly mascaraed lashes.
“Suzie,” she warned her, “do you have my cell phone?”
The smirk and cologne spritz said it all.
“Suzie!”
Her roommate ignored her while she traded her boxer shorts for a lacy thong and matching bra. Jeans and a cashmere sweater later, Suzie was ready for guests. The coffee was steeping in the French press when Suzie’s cell rang.
Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda” played in all its bootylicious glory. Jodeci’s text ringtone. “Seriously?”
“At the very least, put your pants on, and enough drama from you!” Suzie blotted her pink lip gloss with a tissue. “It’s your own fault. You were the one who gave Rowan your phone, completely sober.” She tossed Desiree a brush. “Tame that nest! How on earth it gets so tangled is beyond me.”
Desiree got up like her bed was on fire, brushed her hair, and dressed before she heard the knock on the door. “Shit, they’re here already.” She did her best to make her bed.
“Just a second,” Suzie intoned like an actress allowing someone into her dressing room. She gave Desiree enough time to sit and look natural before opening the door.
Jodeci enveloped Suzie in a more than friendly hug while Rowan stood in the doorway looking as awkward as Desiree felt. She held up the phone and started to apologize. “I’m so sorry. I forgot to return this before you left. I was so busy and then you were gone.”
She stood stiffly in the doorway, unwilling to enter Desiree’s space. Even though they were only standing a few feet apart.
“Anyway, it’s late. I should get going, I just wanted you to have this. I know when I can’t find my phone, it’s like I’m missing a limb.”
Desiree took the phone, happy to see the screen light up with no signs of water damage. “You rescued my phone twice. That was very kind of you.” She smiled and welcomed Rowan into the room. “At least take a cup of coffee for the road. We keep extra to-go cups for guests.”
Rowan still looked incredibly uncomfortable, far different from her stiffness after the car ride or the quickly repressed hurt in the library. Desiree was not sure what she could do to put the woman at ease, so she decided to fix the coffee she promised. “Milk and sugar?”
“Sweet enough to stand your spoon up, thanks.” Rowan’s New York accent was back. She figured it became more pronounced when Rowan was ill at ease.
She thanked Desiree for the cup and left the room after a quick good-bye.
She was nearly down the stairs when Desiree stopped her. “You don’t have to go. I’m not sure what I did to make you feel unwelcome, but let me make it up to you.”
Rowan’s dark eyes were more blue than black at that moment, and she looked incredibly vulnerable. “No problem. I appreciate the gesture, but it’s late.”
The rejection stung a bit, which surprised Desiree. The hurt didn’t make sense to her; it was her idea to steer clear after all. “If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure.” Rowan was gone before she could say a proper good-bye. Somehow, the woman had known she wasn’t welcome or had anticipated Desiree’s rejection. She was responsible for this and Rowan had been nothing but kind to her. Suddenly, Desiree’s desire for self-preservation had crossed the line into cowardice.
Jodeci rested her hand on Desiree’s shoulder. Rather than react with surprise, she turned into the hug. “I didn’t mean to hurt her feelings.”
“I know.” Jodeci kissed the top of her head. “I need to go after her.” She moved out of touching distance. “This is my fault. I should know better by now.”
Desiree watched her friend take the stairs two at a time. She hoped Jodeci caught up with Rowan before she left. “I’m sorry,” she said into the silence for the second time today. Her heart was aching. Maybe if she was lucky, one day she could say those words in person.
Chapter Fourteen
Attic of the Orchard Inn
“I have some presents for you,” Mason Archer said with a flourish. He handed Desiree a messenger bag big enough to carry a binder, but not much more.
When she lifted the soft leather flap, she smiled appreciatively. The iPad case was designed to look like an antique leather diary while the camcorder and digital camera were the standard silver color. “These are wonderful.”
Mason’s smile crinkled the corner of his eyes. “You’ll find an SD card adapter in the zippered pocket along with power cords for each device. I’ve added apps that I think will be helpful for keeping records and inputting data. I’ve even installed iMovie so you can edit video files.”
“That’s a great way to cut down on file size. I’m sure there will be times I’m not saying or filming anything in particular.”
Mason nodded. He was both formal and welcoming. She figured he would fit into his family’s lifestyle at earlier points in their histor
y. She liked that quality. It was as if the past and present were blending with each other, an unexpected continuity.
He returned to the attic doorway and gestured at the birdhouse nailed to the wall. She walked right past that. “Lila was big on repurposing, truly ahead of her time. She used to keep tools and journals in here. I put them on the table to make room for your things.” He lifted the brass hatch and opened the house. “You can keep the messenger bag in here when you are not working.”
There was a cubby for the bag and shelves the right size to keep the electronics separate. “You can lug the messenger bag from room to room. It will also be a safe place to keep things while you work.”
Desiree appreciated his thoughtfulness. The attic was filled to the brim with occasionally ordered chaos. It would be easy to misplace things as she worked.
“One more thing before I leave.” Mason handed her a long, slender duffle bag. “You can use the tripod if you want to work hands-free, and I have a keyboard for the iPad if you don’t like using the touchpad.”
Desiree was pleased. Mason might have been a throwback to the Victorian era, but he was very considerate and thoughtful in creating her personal “toolbox.” She opened the iPad.
“There are one hundred and twenty-eight gigabytes on the iPad, sixty-four for the camcorder and camera.”
“Wow! That’s impressive.” Desiree was pleased to have such freedom, but it would be at cross purposes if she added video and images to the iPad.
“And a hearty desktop model in my office. You’d have to do something quite impressive to put a dent in the memory storage there.” Mason gave the room a final appraisal. “This should keep you busy for quite some time. I’ll come get you at five. That should give you enough time to get home and dine in your dorm.”
“You’ve thought of everything. I really appreciate you taking my responsibilities into consideration.” Desiree tapped the messenger bag. “This is an amazing opportunity. Thank you.”
“Practice. You are also welcome to do school work on the computer. I purchased it along with your work equipment.”
“Oh my goodness, that’s too much.” Desiree did some calculations in her head. Mason had just dropped nearly ten grand. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Remember, you’re family now. Nothing but the best for you.” Mason stood in the doorway. “I do have ulterior motives.”
Desiree’s heart sank.
“Kat spilled another secret.”
Her face dropped, she knew this was too good to be true.
“Nothing untoward. She told me you have a knack for graphic design, and the inn is in need of a website along with updated promotional materials. I know it’s a lot on top of the tasks I have already assigned, but you can work at your own pace, regardless of what project you are addressing.”
“I’m humbled. Thank you.” Desiree wished she could clone herself so she could work here full-time and keep up with her studies. She felt a pang that her time at the inn would always be short. Four hours during the week, six max on weekends.
“Considering the breadth of both projects, I’d like your permission to contact your advisor in the history department. This more than counts as an independent study.”
That did it. Unicorns, rainbows, and lollipops were dancing in her head. For the first time in her life, she felt that her dreams of independence were possible. If this job worked out, she was on her way to owning her own small business someday. “That is incredibly kind, and I have a meeting with Mr. Lassiter. Maybe I can even drop a three hundred-level class and still meet the requirements for my major.”
“Excellent. Give him my card and tell him to call anytime.” Mason smiled. “I have to admit, I’m nearly as excited as you. Things have not been this lively in years.”
She was glad she could give back to Mason at least a fraction of what he had already offered her. “Thank you. Would you mind if I get started?”
“By all means. I put the pin for your iPad on a note card. You can change it to whatever you like. Just let me know. I promise not to intrude, but it’s a good backup. Which reminds me of something else. Gosh, I should have made a checklist. You can mutually activate the find function so you can locate your iPad and your phone, should either become locked up in the abyss.” Mason waved and left her to consider the many ways her life was about to change.
She wasn’t sure what to do to thank Kat properly. At least, she knew how to thank Mason: do the best job possible and honor his trust and generosity. Desiree had never anticipated such a dramatic reversal of fortune. There was more than freedom on the horizon. She was going to have to make some new dreams.
She had just finished setting up her iPad and the files she would use to keep track of the inventory when her cell buzzed. She hoped it was Suzie.
Desiree’s entire body tensed and the air hissed out of her buoyant mood. It was her mother. Rosalie said the college president would meet them for tea. She couldn’t imagine what Maman had in mind. Ice lodged in her stomach. She couldn’t ruin this for her, could she?
Chapter Fifteen
High Tea at the Country Club
Thirty Miles from South Hadley
Desiree’s hands shook as she drove to the country club. She did commit one act of rebellion: she didn’t go back to her dorm to change clothes. Since she wasn’t dusty from her time at the Orchard Inn, she looked nice from an American’s perspective. Rosalie was another story. She didn’t approve of jeans or off-the-rack sweaters. She’d bust a gasket over jewelry far too common for a Chevalier. The rebellion felt good, but she was certain what followed would be painful.
She took five minutes in the parking lot to gather herself and put on the armor that helped her survive her childhood. Desiree had never met the college president, and the closest she’d ever come was at convocation. She racked her brain and could not figure out what her mother had planned. It’s not like the college president was a principal she could manipulate.
She checked her hair in the mirror. It was smooth and thankfully behaving. Her steps were slow as she approached the clubhouse, which was designed to resemble properties of higher significance abroad. It was a testament to the fact that rich Americans were desperate to find legitimacy but their constructions were pale imitations of palace sitting rooms and royal gardens.
She saw her mother first. Rosalie was too busy charming President Hawthorne, in French no less. Guess her mother took the hint that she was not the only French-speaking person to visit Mount Holyoke.
President Hawthorne rose gracefully and offered her hand. “A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Chevalier. I am so pleased you were able to join us.”
“It’s an honor to meet with you. And please, call me Desiree.”
“Then you must call me Katheryne.”
“Desiree, ma coeur, be seated. We have so much to discuss.”
“Yes, Maman.” Her movements were smooth and controlled as she joined them at the table and placed a napkin on her lap.
“Madame President, as I was telling you before my daughter arrived, this is an incredible opportunity. It will enrich the lives of students for years to come.”
Desiree was clueless. Had Katheryne contacted her mother? Her mother wasn’t in the habit of investing in anything without immediate returns, and hostile takeovers were not exactly the gift that keeps on giving. What business could she have with the college president?
Katheryne picked up the narrative. “The local historical society will be so pleased that you plan to return the dorms around the green to their former glory while still providing for the needs of today’s students. Limiting the environmental impact of each dorm is very forward thinking.”
Desiree kept a neutral expression on her face though her heart was racing. A donation of this grandeur would have strings attached, enough to create a web to trap her. But how? It’s not like the president would aid Mother in her quest to tame and remake me into the daughter she always wanted.
“As you know, Desir
ee has a passion for history. It would be a great place for her to learn how to restore properties of consequence while looking out for the needs of present students, as well as those to come.”
“She could potentially use the apprenticeship as an independent study, perhaps even a senior thesis.” Katheryne smiled. Desiree could tell she really cared about her and was under the impression that she was helping Desiree achieve her dreams—the ideal stepping stone to future success.
“Actually, I’ve already accepted an apprenticeship at the Orchard Inn.” Shock shimmered in her mother’s eyes but was soon repressed. Rosalie had absolutely no idea what Desiree did with her time or even what classes she took. “And like the project Mother has suggested, I will be doing something of great interest to the historical society.”
Katheryne’s smile was warm. She seemed to appreciate someone who carved out her own path.
“I will be recording the history of the Orchard Inn and cataloging antiques. I wouldn’t be surprised to find letters and journals of interest to MHC since I imagine many guests were visiting or attended Mount Holyoke.”
“What an exciting project.”
Desiree was thrilled to see Katheryne warming to the idea, probably because she had no idea Rosalie’s endowment would be contingent on getting Desiree under her thumb. Her cheeks warmed and her college president shared her admiration and respect. But Mother was not to be counted out.
“Of course, dear, you could do that project in your spare time.”
Spare time was a thoroughly unfamiliar concept to college students. She was already stretched thin and it would be impossible to do it all. Her mother had anticipated this.
“By dropping a class, which Madame President promised wouldn’t be a blemish on your record, you would be able to devote a considerable amount of time to the project.” Her mother’s smile may have seemed charming on the surface, but that was just icing concealing her true thoughts and feelings. “You would get credit for your work. It would comfort me to know you were involved in the day-to-day operations as I cannot do so myself.”