by Woods, Karen
“That’s a dumb name. Who ever hearda a girl with two first names?” Jaime complained.
“Jaime!” his mother corrected.
Dani laughed. “You don’t think it’s so dumb that your friend Billy-Dean has two first names.”
“That’s diff’rent. He’s a boy!”
“Why don’t you just call me Dani?”
Chapter Nine
Gil was on his way out of his door when the telephone rang. With a heavy sigh, he went to the phone. It better be important!
“Gil,” the woman said without preamble.
“What’s happened?”
“Jaime went into that girl’s room this morning and cut up her pearls and left her a threatening message. We shouldn’t underestimate the brat. She turned this all to her advantage without even raising her voice. She got the kids both feeling guilty about how they’ve treated her.”
“Look, I’m supposed to be at the office in a half hour. I really don’t have time to talk now.”
“I wish you would take this seriously, Gil. She accepted a job at Devlin. She starts tomorrow. The brat is settling in for the long haul.”
“A job? Doing what?”
“Clerking in the accounting department. Accounting is the last place that we need her to be. And you know it.”
“I see,” Gil replied. “She was engaged to a man who could have taught her all the fine points of the art of cooking books. It should be easy enough to create an appearance of her having implemented some of those techniques. Harry’s computer security is astonishingly lax, as we both well know. It’s very easy to get money out of there. And even easier to hide the fact that you’ve done it.”
“I hadn’t thought of that. You’re so brilliant, my love.”
“That’s one of the reasons that you keep me around, darling.”
It’s not the only reason,” she replied.
“I have an appointment with a client in forty minutes.”
“I’ll let you go, love.”
“Please just don’t do anything rash. Let’s just sit back and see what happens.”
“I’ve told you that I would,” the woman stated.
“I really do have to go.”
“Have a good day, love. I’ll see you at the cottage?”
“I’ll be counting the minutes, Sweetheart. A week away from you seems like an eternity,” Gil said.
“I wish we could come out in the open with our relationship.”
“How many times have we been over this?” Gil replied his voice holding a hint of anger. “You know that we can’t come out of the shadows yet. Harry would never understand. Just be patient, love. You’ve got to work your end, while I work mine. In just a little while longer, we’ll be able to leave here and live a life of leisure.”
“I know. My end is working fine. We’ll be ready to launch the next phase in a few weeks. But it worries me that the brat is going to add more complications to the plans.”
“Don’t worry about her. We’ll figure some way of reducing that threat,” Gil replied. “I’ve had some thoughts on the matter.”
“So have I. We need to talk in person.”
“Yes. At the cottage. I have to go. I can’t keep Amalie waiting.”
The female voice huffed, “Amalie! I wish you paid half as much attention to me as you do to your widows...”
“The widows are an essential component in our plan for retirement, love. I only do it for you, for us. They mean nothing to me.”
Chapter Ten
She followed her father into his home office following their ride around his property. Both her father’s stables and property were exceptional, but she had expected they would be. Jase walked right behind her. She was all too aware of him.
As soon as they were inside Harry’s home office, her father walked over to his desk and sat down at his computer. With two clicks, he pulled up the webpage from the Virginia Department of Taxation to let her register her business on-line.
“There you go, Dani. You need to fill this out to do business in the state of Virginia,” her father said, rising from the chair and motioning for her to sit down.
She sat and looked at that webpage. “This is a big decision. I’m not sure I want to do this.”
“It’s up to you, Dani,” her father said. “I want you to stay. And like you said, you need to be able to do your art to be able to stay. If you’re going to run your business, you need to register it with the department. I’ve never met a government yet that didn’t want its taxes.”
Jase agreed, as he stood on the other side of the desk from her. “Now that’s the truth.”
She sighed. Lord, is this the right thing to do? I’m not sure I want to put down roots in this place. But I want to get to know my father better. Registering to pay business taxes isn’t necessarily putting down roots. It’s just making sure I can earn a living with my art while I’m here.
“Well, it’s not like I’m incorporating here or anything,” she dismissed as she began to fill out the form.
“It would be better if you ran at least as a limited liability company,” Jase offered.
Dani looked up at him and said, “I don’t really think it’s worth the effort.”
Jase countered, “It’s the cheapest insurance policy you’re ever going to be able to take out to protect your assets, becoming a LLC.”
“I don’t think it’s really appropriate for me.”
“Care to explain why?” Jase demanded.
“The pieces I produce are solely my work and it’s all done on commission in consultation with the client. I’m ultimately responsible for all my work. It wouldn’t take much for the courts to lay aside the protection of the LLC and to hold me liable, even if I did go through the process of setting one up.”
“An LLC would protect you personally from any employment claims.”
“I don’t intend to have any employees, ever. My business is mine. I take on only those commissions I can do. Given the nature of my business, I can’t see any advantage to operating as anything except a sole pro-prietor. I’ve always operated as Dani Devlin, sculptor. That’s my website URL; danidevlinsculptor dot com.”
“You’ve got the Devlin stubbornness, all right,” Jase dismissed.
Dani typed in the information on the form on the screen. “You say that like it’s a bad thing,” she teased, glancing up at Jase.
Her father laughed.
For a moment, only a moment, she saw, thought she saw, something, perhaps respect, perhaps something warmer, in Jase’s eyes. But it was gone, almost before she could register it, hidden behind his all-too-polite mask.
Her father said, “Anyone underestimating my daughter would be making a grave mistake.”
Dani heard the pride in her father’s voice and was touched by it.
* * *
There were several very well dressed women in the store, even at this hour of the morning. Dani felt their strong curiosity as she walked into the shop on her father’s arm. She was glad she’d worn her one good business suit for this trip into town. Otherwise, she would have felt out of place.
She met their curious glances. Most of the women looked away, clearly embarrassed for having been caught staring. However a couple of them only smiled at her and continued following her father and her with their eyes. Because there was nothing she could do about it, she just smiled at them.
Yes, these were the area gossips. Every town had them. Women with too little to do, and too much time to do it in. She doubted it would take even until lunch time for the news to spread that Harry Devlin was in this shop with a woman other than his wife.
A handsome brown haired man who was obviously the owner or manager of the store greeted them with great deference. “Mr. Devlin. This is an unexpected pleasure. How may I be of service to you, today, Sir?”
Dani spoke up, as she handed the store owner the old velvet box in which she kept her pearls. “I need to have these restrung. Can you do the work for me?”
“Thank you,” she said.
Harry said, “You haven’t met my daughter, Mary Danielle, have you, David? Dani, this is David Rogers, an old friend of the family.”
David smiled, but she could see the puzzlement in David’s eyes as he spoke. “No, I haven’t had the pleasure. Miss…Devlin?”
“Mr. Rogers,” Dani replied, feeling really tired of people hesitating over her last name.
“David,” Harry said, “I’d really like to buy my daughter a welcome home present, something intensely beautiful, so I immediately thought of your work.”
Dani smiled as she watched the way her father was working this man, knowing exactly how to get the best out of him. Harry Devlin was definitely shrewd.
David led them over to a display case.
She turned her attention back to her father. “I don’t need anything, Dad.”
Harry laughed. “Women never really need jewelry. But I don’t know any woman who would actually turn down a gift of gold and diamonds.”
“Well, there’s a first time for everything, isn’t there?” Dani asked, her voice low.
“Pick out anything you want. I want you to have something significant and gorgeous to mark your homecoming. I insist,” her father said.
She shook her head negatively. “No, thank you, Dad. I already have more jewelry than I ever wear.”
Harry laughed. “Come on. Pick out some gorgeous bauble to adorn yourself with. How about that diamond collar there. It’s absolutely stunning.”
“I’m really not a gorgeous bauble type of person,” she replied with a shake of her head. “I feel utterly ridiculous and self-conscious when draped in diamonds. Besides, I prefer stones with stronger hues and far less glitter. However, this definitely qualifies as stunning.”
David brought the collar out for Dani to see.
She picked up and examined the piece. “What is it, twenty carats of stones total weight?”
David smiled at her. “You certainly have an eye. It’s twenty point two five carats in a platinum setting.”
Dani looked at the piece, carefully. “The workmanship of the setting is quite masterly. The stones are well cut with no immediately visible inclusions.”
David nodded. “They’re all perfect stones. I selected them myself, and created this piece from my own design.”
“This is master work. I did some precious metals fabrication in graduate school. I know how hard working platinum is,” Dani replied.
“Why would you have done graduate level metal work?” David asked, genuinely curious.
“I’m a sculptor.”
She saw David smile. “Are you any good?”
“What a question to ask!” she replied with a laugh. Then she reached into her purse and brought out one of her business cards. “Why don’t you look at my website and make up your own mind?”
“I will. Would you care for the loan of a loupe to look at the stones?”
Shaking her head, she returned the collar to David. “No. Thank you. This piece is absolutely not my style,” she agreed. “It’s beautiful and beautifully made, but I’d never be in the least comfortable wearing it.”
“It would be lovely on you,” Harry said.
Then she turned to her father. “No. I don’t think so. However, I can easily can see it on Lyn, Dad. One almost needs to be as fair as she is to carry off this piece. Why don’t you surprise her with the necklace? I’m certain she’d absolutely adore it. Diamonds, blonde hair, and cleavage, are an unbeatable fashion combination, particularly with black chiffon. You buy that collar for her, and I’ll sculpt her wearing it.”
Harry smiled. “That, I’d love to have, Dani. I think you’re right. Lyn would love that necklace.” He looked at the shopkeeper, “David, put that collar on my account and deliver it to Lyn on our wedding anniversary next month, wrapped in silver paper and ribbons.”
“Of course, Sir. I’d be happy to.”
Harry nodded, “Thank you, Dani. I was wondering what I would get Lyn for our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. I’m going to have to take you shopping with me more often.”
She laughed. “You’d go broke, if you bought like this very often, Dad.”
“I think I can afford a few pieces of jewelry for special occasions,” Harry said, his tone indulgent. “I can’t thank you enough for solving my problem of what to get Lyn for our wedding anniversary.”
“Rightly, it should have been something silver. But, I’m glad to be helpful, Dad.”
“Okay, now it’s your turn. Pick out something more sedate from David’s collection,” Harry suggested. “But we aren’t leaving here without getting you something to mark the occasion of your homecoming.”
“Pushy old man,” she stated with humor in her voice.
“Stubborn child,” Harry replied.
“Mother, rest her soul, always said I was either blessed or cursed to have inherited both the Devlin and the O’Brien genes for stubbornness.”
“That, you are, daughter,” her father agreed with a smile.
She turned to David Rogers. “You are to bill me, not my father, for the restringing of my pearls. I want that clear.”
“As long as you’re under my roof, I’ll pay your bills,” Harry told her in a tone which couldn’t be heard by anyone farther away than David.
“I don’t have to stay under your roof,” she replied, maintaining a similar volume. “Know this, Father. My bills are my own. I trust you fully understand me?”
Poor David as if the man had just swallowed a frog, whole.
Harry smiled. “Completely.” He turned his attention to the shopkeeper. “Bill her for the work.”
“Very good. Now, what can I show you, Miss Devlin?” David asked, with a smile.
“Nothing. Thank you.”
“I insist you let me buy you a gift,” Harry replied.
“We’ve been through this already,” she replied. “I have everything I want and need.”
“You can pick something out, or I’ll surprise you. One way or the other you are getting something substantial to mark your homecoming. I insist.”
Dani sighed. “I see... Stubborn old man!”
“Stubborn female!” Harry countered with a smile.
She felt obligated to try to discourage this one more time. “Dad, you really don’t have to buy anything for me.”
Harry looked at his watch. “Nonsense. I want to give you a little something. And I’m at the place in my life where I don’t have to ask the price on anything I want. Just relax and pick out something you’d enjoy.”
“Are we going to have a contest to see who can teach stubborn to a mule? This could prove interesting. I don’t want jewelry, Dad. I won’t accept any large gift. Anything you buy for me in the way of jewelry, I’ll bring back and have credited to your account. If you really want to do something, make a donation to the local Habitat for Humanity group in my name. That would be putting the money where it’s needed, and would help Lyn as well in the fundraising for this ball she’s planning. The last thing I need is more things. Is that clear?”
Harry sighed. He looked at his watch, again. “Very well, my dear. Jase and I have a meeting in about an hour. Drop me at the office, then you can have my car for the rest of your errands, before you come back to the office at four.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
* * *
Harry smiled at the animation and anticipation that had come into her eyes when he told her she could drop him at the office. Suddenly, he knew what the perfect gift for her would be. But, he also knew he would have to time it just right, or she wouldn’t accept it. He tossed her his keys.
“Since you won’t let me buy you anything, we won’t take up any more of David’s time. Thank you, David.”
“My pleasure, sir. Any time that I can be of service... Miss Devlin?”
“Dani,” she corrected. “Please.”
David, smiling, asked, “Would you care to have dinner with me, sometime, Dani?”
She smiled at the store owner and shook her head negatively. “Thank you, no. I’m not undertaking social engagements at this time. I remain in mourning for my mother who recently passed away.”
“I’m sorry,” David said his voice gentle.
Dani nodded. “Thank you.”
“Is there anything else I can do for you at the moment?” David asked.
“I don’t think so. It was a pleasure meeting you, David.”
“Come in anytime.”
“Okay,” she said as she started the BMW a few moments later. “There was some subtext going on there. What is David’s store? The local gossip clearinghouse?”
Harry laughed as he punched in the destination into the car’s GPS system. “Just follow the directions from the navigation system. It will get you to the office.”
“Yes, sir. But you didn’t answer me.”
He continued, “The local gossip clearinghouse? I wouldn’t have phrased it that way, but that’s an excellent perception, my dear. That’s exactly what David’s store is. You handled that quite well, as I knew you would.”
She shook her head as she drove, following the audible directions from the navigation system. “You want everyone to know that your daughter has come home and further you couldn’t be more pleased about it, I take it?”
Harry nodded in the affirmative. “You know, I couldn’t be more pleased. As for David Rogers, he serves his purposes. He’ll spread that around, and if he doesn’t, any one of the half dozen women who were in the shop will, before the day is over. The word will be out that Harry Devlin’s beautiful daughter is home and that I couldn’t be more delighted about it. David’s actually a very fine young man. He and Jase were at Westfield together, along with Steve Anderson. The three of them used to be inseparable.”
“Jase went into the army, Steve into law, and David into the jewelry trade?” Dani asked.
“The jewelry trade is David’s family business. He does very well at it. This is only one of the thirty or so stores in the chain. But he spends most of his time here, because this shop has a good manufacturing facility,” Harry said. Then he added, “David has been in love with Beth for years. They dated when she was in college. I’ve never found out what separated them. I suspect we’ll be seeing more of that young man, when Beth’s ready to date again. But she’s been widowed for just about a year, and her heart is far from whole.”