It had been as romantic as she’d hoped when they danced at the church supper last night. She smiled at the looks her parents had exchanged at her ability to dance. What fun to surprise them! Maybe soon they would admit she’d grown up, no longer a little girl.
Not concerned with Clarence leaving so abruptly, but happy he did, she enjoyed her first dance with the man she loved.
Oh, dear. How did that thought slip out? A flutter in her stomach confirmed this was no random thought. Something that had been building for a long time.
When he’d held her in his solid arms, smiled at her excitement, and pulled her close at one point, she knew. She loved him, would always love him. Michael represented everything she ever dreamed of in a husband. Strong, caring, protective, and responsible. Someone who would cherish the woman he married. Determination flowed through her. She would be that woman.
Her mind drifted back to the conversation with her mother at the church supper. Once she’d assured Mother she had done nothing wrong−surely the kisses she and Michael had shared were not wrong−her mother agreed to speak with Papa about breaking the arrangement with Clarence. Not wishing to upset her mother, she didn’t dwell on Clarence’s frightening behavior, but simply emphasized her desire to no longer be engaged to the man.
A shiver ran down her spine, a reminder she needed to return inside before she had an asthma attack. She brushed the snow from her coat, shook out her hat and entered the warmth of the house. She sniffed. Roast chicken. Hopefully with mashed potatoes and gravy. Maybe biscuits, too. Her stomach rumbled as she hurried upstairs to wash for supper. Sunday evening at Mrs. Wilson’s table always filled her with warmth, along with the delicious food to fill her belly.
****
“How are you, Heidi?” Gloria’s deep velvet voice startled Heidi as she bent over the box of threads she sorted in the back of the store, late the next afternoon.
“Oh, Gloria. How nice to see you.” Again, Heidi got an uneasy feeling around Gloria. She made her feel like a bug the woman studied under glass. “What can I help you with?”
She waved her hand. “I need some hairpins. Plus I wanted to see how you were doing.”
“I’m just fine.” Heidi smiled, a tinge of something unpleasant settling in her stomach. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you where the hairpins are.”
Gloria touched her arm to stop her. “I think first I’ll have a chocolate soda again.”
The woman settled on a stool in front of the counter while Heidi prepared the soda. “Did you find a room yet?”
“Yes, in fact I did.” She pulled the soda glass closer, and stuck a straw into the liquid, stirring slowly. She looked around the room. “Where’s Michael?”
The uncomfortable feeling grew. Gloria was a beautiful woman. Shiny brown hair, pulled back into a loose bun, wide brown eyes, and skin like cool cream. Her dress fit her form snugly, outlining all the places men would be interested in viewing.
“He’s in the back of the store. We had a delivery, and he’s checking the inventory over, and signing.” She wiped the countertop with a wet rag, rubbing a bit too hard at the spot of chocolate that had dripped.
They both turned to the back of the store as Michael called a goodbye to the delivery man. He rolled down the sleeves of his white shirt over his muscular arms, and buttoned the cuffs, as he made his way toward them.
Gloria slid from her stool and stood in front of him. “Hello, Michael.”
“Oh. Hello. Gloria, isn’t it?” He nodded in her direction, and moved to continue past her.
She positioned her hand on his chest to stop him. “I wanted to ask you something, do you have a minute?” Her fingernails slid down, stopping at the top of his belt, resting there.
Michael pulled back, and frowned. “What do you need?”
“I wanted to invite you to dinner.”
A surge of anger shot through Heidi from her toes to her hairline. The nerve of the woman. Women did not invite men to dinner! And her hand on his chest. And fingers on his belt buckle. Really, the woman was far too fast.
Michael opened his mouth, and closed it without speaking.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I see I’ve shocked you.” She purred, grinning. “I only wanted information about the town from someone who has been here a long time.”
Michael jumped when Heidi slammed the door shut on the cabinet behind the counter.
“Um, I guess that would be all right.” He glanced at Heidi.
Gloria smiled brightly. “Oh, good. How about tonight?” She followed Michael’s gaze to Heidi, who continued to scrub the counter. “I’m not getting into the middle of something between the two of you, am I?”
“No.” Michael and Heidi spoke at once. Heidi felt the heat rise to her face, and mumbled an excuse as she walked to the back of the store.
Of course the woman wasn’t getting between her and Michael. No her and Michael existed for Gloria to get between. Only Heidi’s foolish, little girl dreams. She swallowed furiously over the tears that threatened. Taking a deep breath, she straightened a few bottles of hand lotion, and returned to the front of the store. Gloria was nowhere in sight. Her full glass of chocolate soda sat on the counter.
Michael bent over a prescription he mixed, avoiding her eyes. He stood a bit rigid, and stared intently at the powder in front of him, as if he’d never seen medicine before.
She had to assure him she had no problem with him having dinner with a beautiful woman. No problem whatsoever. Why, he could have dinner with as many beautiful, charming, forward women as he wished. She tossed her head, reminding herself she meant no more to him than any other employee.
Heidi stiffened her spine, and raised her chin. As she opened her mouth to speak, the doorbell sounded. Mother came into the store, and hurried to her. She twisted a handkerchief in her hands, and her eyes were puffy as if she’d been crying.
“Mother. Is everything all right?”
“No, dear. Everything is not all right.” She took a deep breath. “I need a job.”
Heidi gasped. “A job!”
“Yes, a job.” Her voice trembled. “I’ve left your papa, and I need a job to support myself.” Then she lowered her face in her hands and burst into tears.
Chapter Sixteen
Heidi flew around the counter, her arms outstretched, and embraced her mother. The tearful woman leaned on her shoulder, shaking with sobs. Heidi couldn’t believe her mother and Papa would disagree to the point Mother wanted to find a job! Papa must be livid.
Goodness, where in heaven’s name would she find a job? Lord only knew how difficult finding a job had been for her. But Mother? She looked helplessly over her mother’s shoulder, at Michael, who glanced at the few customers in the store who watched Heidi and her mother with curiosity.
He left the prescription he worked on, and joined them. “Heidi, why don’t you escort your mother to the back room? I’ll look after things out here.”
“Oh, thank you so much.” She patted her mother’s back. “If you need me, let me know.”
“I’ll be fine. See to your mother.”
She clung to Heidi’s arm as they made their way to the kitchen. After settling her mother in a chair, Heidi fussed for a few minutes, preparing tea, giving Mother time to compose herself. She also needed time to come to grips with the startling announcement.
Taking a job? The mother she’d known all her life, would never think of a job if Heidi hadn’t obtained one. And now her parents were disagreeing to the point where they would be living in separate places. Which brought up another point. She could certainly contribute the little bit she’d set aside to secure lodging for her mother, but Papa would most likely be furious with her if she encouraged rebellion on the part of his wife.
Heidi sighed at the dilemma, as she poured the tea, and returned the kettle to the hot plate. She sat next to her mother and took her hand. “What happened between you and Papa?”
Her mother inhaled deeply. “Your papa is the most un
reasonable man I have ever known.” She sniffed.
Heidi hid her smile as she regarded her mother over the top of her teacup. Mother and Papa had been married forever, it seemed, but now he was the most unreasonable man she’s ever known? She took a sip of her tea, amazed at how the bracing liquid always seemed to calm tense situations.
“I tried to speak with Papa about your engagement, and he would not even listen to me.” Mother touched the corner of her eye with her handkerchief.
When Heidi raised her eyebrows, her mother continued. “I told him of your concerns, and I suggested to him we push the wedding back several months to allow you some time to come to terms with your marriage.” She stared at her lap. “He said no.”
Heidi’s heart sunk to her toes. “Mother, I don’t want the wedding pushed back, I want the entire thing called off.”
“I know dear, but I thought if he agreed to a postponement, he would be more amenable to breaking the engagement altogether.” She took another sip of tea. “But he wouldn’t even listen to me.” Her eyes snapped as she continued. “He said women didn’t know their own minds, and needed men to save them from their mistakes.”
The wooden chair hit the wall with a bang as Heidi jumped up and paced. “I don’t believe it.” She turned, her hands on her hips. “He cannot force me to marry Clarence Manfred. Does he not remember I’m the one who has to stand before the preacher and say ‘I do’?”
“I know,” her mother wailed, and covered her already swollen eyes with her handkerchief.
“Everything all right?” Michael pushed the curtain aside and entered the room.
“No, Mr. Henderson,” her mother said between sniffs. “I’ve left my very unreasonable husband, and I need a place to stay, and a job.”
“Mother, can’t you rent another room in the hotel?”
The woman stiffened her spine. “Absolutely not. I will not ask that man to pay for a room. I will find a job and pay for my own lodgings.”
Michael leaned against the sink, his arms crossed, and addressed Heidi. “I just locked up.Why don’t you and your mother join me for dinner, and we can discuss everything?”
Heidi’s relief was short lived. “I thought you were having dinner with Gloria?” She raised her chin and glared at him.
Michael frowned, and shook his head. “I forgot all about her.” He hesitated. “No matter, she can join us.”
Heidi raised her chin. “I would prefer not to discuss my family’s problems with her listening.”
“All right. We’ll all have dinner together, and then once Gloria is on her way, we’ll talk.”
His wide grin at the solution eased some of Heidi’s fears, and the tension between them seemed to trickle away.
****
Michael breathed a sigh of relief as he escorted the women to the front of the store. He had no idea why Gloria invited him to dinner, but he sure as hell didn’t want to go. Most of all he hated how upset Heidi was. Not that any relationship existed between him and his employee, he reminded himself quickly.
Then why did you feel like you were doing something wrong by accepting Gloria’s invitation? Like you were cheating on Heidi?
He didn’t want to dwell on that, so he kept his mind busy with seeing Heidi and her mother out the door and into his buggy. Once they were all settled, he turned to the women. “I’m to meet Gloria at the new restaurant on Maple.”
“That sounds nice, doesn’t it, Mother?”
Mrs. Lester nodded, and then rested her head on Heidi’s shoulder. Mother and daughter had reversed roles. Heidi patted her mother’s hand as they made their way through the traffic, to the restaurant.
Michael’s body tensed with Heidi sitting close to him, her scent wafting in the air. With three of them in the front seat of the buggy, her leg rested against his. Busy with her mother, she didn’t seem to realize the effect she had on him. His nostrils flared with her sweet scent. The blonde curls once again escaped her bun, making his hands itch to smooth them back, then crush her to him, his mouth absorbing the drugging nectar from her lush lips.
In all the time since his failed engagement, no woman had crowded his thoughts as Heidi had. No matter where he found himself, or how he occupied his mind, his attention invariably turned to Heidi. When he closed his eyes at night, her face came into view.
At first light, his heart thumped at the thought of her being in the store all day. How she would smile at the customers, her soft voice rippling over him, soothing. Then she’d bend over to retrieve something from under the counter and his blood would boil with the delicious ways he could run his hands over her bottom, guiding her to his groin.
He pulled his thoughts back to the chore ahead, as the restaurant came into view. The brick building had been a mercantile before Mr. Jennings had moved to a larger space across town. The new restaurant, Maxine’s, had introduced a higher quality of dining. Townspeople had been flocking there since the grand opening a couple of months before.
After surrendering his buggy to the attendant, they entered through the restaurant’s glass and wooden oak door. Gloria stood inside the entrance, speaking with a man who tried his best to place his arm around her shoulders. She turned when the door opened, and her eyes grew wide at the sight of him with Heidi and her mother.
She gave him a tight smile. “Well, I see you’ve brought chaperones.”
Mrs. Lester rallied herself. “Oh, I’m sorry, Michael. We don’t want to intrude on your courtship. Heidi and I will sit at another table.”
“No.” Michael bit out, then took a deep breath. “We’re not courting.” He turned to Gloria. “You don’t mind if they join us do you? This is Heidi’s mother, Mrs. Lester.”
“Charmed.” Gloria shot back.
“Heidi may not know as much about the town as I do, but as a newcomer, she may even be able to help you more.” Before Gloria could open her mouth again, he grabbed her arm and escorted her to the Maître de, who seated them at a table near the back of the room.
Michael held out Gloria’s chair, while the Maître de assisted Mrs. Lester, then Heidi. Gloria glared at Heidi. Mrs. Lester still dabbed at her eyes, and Heidi kept fidgeting with her napkin, avoiding his eyes. Everyone eating together had not been a good idea. He should have arrived alone, told Gloria something had come up, and then taken the Lester women somewhere else. He ran his finger around the inside of his collar, and picked up the menu.
“Michael what looks good to you?” Gloria purred as she shifted her chair closer to him. He slid his body the other way. “Um, everything looks good. Heidi? What looks good to you?”
“Snake.” She muttered.
He swallowed, as a trickle of sweat slid down his chest. Gloria moved closer, and bent her head toward him. “I just can’t decide.”
Michael slid so far the other way, if he sneezed he’d land on his rump on the floor. “I think I’ll have the steak.” He took a sip of water.
“Hmm. What should I eat?” Gloria tapped her mouth with a well-manicured fingernail.
A waiter in a black suit with a white towel over his arm approached them. “Good evening, ladies, sir. Do we know what we’d like for dinner?” He turned to Mrs. Lester. “Ma’am?”
“I’m not hungry.”
Heidi placed her hand over her mother’s. “Mother, you have to eat. Have the soup at least.”
“Fine,” she sighed, placing her hands in her lap.
The waiter turned to Heidi. “Miss?”
“Do you serve snake?” She smiled brightly at the man’s startled look.
“No, we do not.” He sniffed.
“Fine. Then I’ll have the pork chops.” She closed the menu with a snap and handed it to the waiter.
“I still can’t decide.” Gloria hummed. “Michael, help me decide.” She gazed at him with wide eyes.
Heidi snorted and took a sip of water. Mrs. Lester patted her eyes with her handkerchief, and inhaled a shuttering breath.
“While she’s deciding, you can write dow
n steak for me.” Michael said.
“Very good.” The waiter added, and turned to Gloria. “Miss?”
“I’ll have the steak also.” She smiled at Michael as if they shared a secret.
He cringed, and looked away, right into Heidi’s eyes. What the hell was going on? He’d only seen Gloria twice, and done nothing to encourage her behavior. And no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t shake the feeling he was doing something wrong to Heidi. Ridiculous.
The entire meal passed in uneasy silence. Mrs. Lester remained oblivious to her surroundings, sighing every once in a while as she played with her soup. Heidi stabbed her pork chop with such vigor, the meat slid off her plate at one point.
Michael’s steak may have been good, but he never noticed. If not for large gulps of water, his dinner never would have gone past his throat.
Gloria continued to lean toward him, whispering irrelevant comments close to his ear, causing Heidi’s face to grow so red, he feared she would suffer apoplexy.
Mrs. Lester remained mute on her problems with her husband, and Gloria never asked for advice on the town. Michael kept glancing at Heidi, but if she happened to be looking at him, she immediately lowered her eyelids, and tightened her lips.
“No, Michael, the dinner is my treat.” Gloria tugged the check from his hand as the waiter stood nearby.
Michael took the paper back again, and held it with a no-nonsense grip. “I will pay.” He waved at the waiter, who took the check and his money. “Ladies?” He said, standing as the waiter moved away.
They all rose, and marched to the front of the restaurant where Michael retrieved their coats, and assisted each woman. He wiped his sweat beaded forehead with the heel of his hand, and opened the door to allow the ladies to leave.
Gloria slid her arm into Michael’s. “Thank you so much. We must have dinner again some time.” She looked pointedly at Heidi and Mrs. Lester. “Alone.”
Michael made a non-committal grunt. “Can we escort you home?”
A Prescription For Love: An Oklahoma Lovers book Page 14