“Nope. Tell me what I just walked in on, Grace Andersen, and why Charlie couldn’t get out of here fast enough.” Willodean leaned her elbows on the desk, and they both watched the stack of file folders slide in a slow-motion waterfall across the desk. Grace started to pick them up but Willodean stopped her. “They weren’t in much of an order to begin with so just leave them.”
Grace rubbed her forehead and noticed a long stripe of something on her hand that she’d picked up while moving furniture. She rubbed at the greasy streak and pretended she was entirely too engrossed to answer.
“That might work if I’d never had a teenager,” Willodean said. “You don’t even know each other. What have you got to fight about?”
“We aren’t fighting. He was a big help.” Grace pulled the first file off the desk. It was only labeled with a dollar sign. Did that mean expenses? Bills?
“Oh, no you don’t. The mad in that room was thick. Don’t try to pretend that was friendly conversation.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Grace tried her usual bright smile again, the one that fooled everyone into thinking she was bubbling over with happy, but Willodean shook her head.
“You can’t fool me, Grace. Better actors than you have tried.”
Grace shrugged a shoulder. “I wanted everything out there, I guess, so I told him that Tommy Joe and I weren’t a love match, that I’d picked him because he had money.” Not that it was a secret. Tommy Joe knew just exactly what his attractions were, and he used them. There was no way Grace would have considered marrying him without that understanding.
Willodean nodded. “Yeah, that would send him off in a rush. Ever since he was a little boy, he’s been out to protect me. Comes from losing his daddy so young, I guess. And then his stepfather, Mason, my second husband, made sure to warn him about all the risks a rich man might face. Gold diggers, hustlers, sob stories, and just plain ol’ thieves.” Willodean ticked them off on her fingers. “Would have been a good idea to point out that he himself was a rich man who’d learned to gamble on one of those risks by understanding people, but he neglected that part, probably so that Charlie could keep right on protecting me. But maybe for Charlie’s good, too. Anyway, Charlie’s been on the lookout for anyone who’d take advantage of me for a long time.”
Grace leaned forward and covered her face with her hands. “What I don’t get is why it matters. I did what I did. I can’t change it. And I’d much rather have the truth out there. Why does it matter what Charlie thinks? I mean, I told him so he’d step back. Why does it feel so rotten that he did what I thought he would?”
“You young people,” Willodean said as she shook her head. “I could just tell you right now what you should do, how you should do it, but no, you’ll have to stumble around, make mistakes, until you end up right where I want you to go.”
Grace leaned back. “What do you mean? I shouldn’t have told him?”
Willodean’s smile was crafty. “No, ma’am. You did exactly the right thing. And don’t worry. I’ll initiate Phase Two. All you have to do is get the whole ‘convincing Charlie to step back’ thing out of your head. He’ll do plenty of that all on his own. We both want him moving forward.”
“You don’t get it, Willodean. I like Charlie. But I am not the right person for him. If I forget that, I could mess up whatever I build here.” Grace shook her head. “I don’t want to do that. For once, I want to think about the future.”
“But you like him?” Willodean leaned back in her chair, an easy smile on her face.
Grace rolled her eyes. “Well, yes, I like him.”
“Even though he was pretty sure you were going to steal whatever you could get your hands on.” She raised an eyebrow like she doubted Grace’s honesty.
“He was just trying to protect you. I can’t blame him for that.” Even worse, she couldn’t help the pang of envy that hit when she thought about having someone whose self-imposed job was to look out for her. She’d been doing it for such a long time now. It would be nice to just have some help now and then.
“You like him even though he’s too serious. He’s way too committed to his schedule. Anytime he thinks you’re making a mistake, he finds it impossible to let it go. He has to tell you all about that mistake and what you should be doing instead.” Willodean added, “Worse, he doesn’t even like this hotel. Any time he’s here for more than a day, he barks like a caged dog. Between you and me, that says a lot about his judgment and none of it good.”
Grace frowned. “Is this the way this conversation is supposed to go? No, you’re supposed to realize I’m doing you a favor and decide to protect your son from me.”
Willodean waved her hand. “Hon, he’s a grown man. And he has been almost since the first grade, if you know what I mean. I don’t have to protect him. You have noticed most of the people around here look at him like he’s about to hand them a pink slip, right? He can’t get along with Tony, who is such a sweetheart that I can’t even understand that. Charlie’s not what you’d call a people person, and he doesn’t hesitate to do the hard stuff. He could have had you out of here Saturday without throwing his precious schedule out of whack if he’d wanted to.”
Grace straightened in her seat. “All right, Willodean. I really think you ought to be a little more… supportive.” She didn’t like hearing her talk about Charlie like this. She was his mother. She should be his biggest fan. He should have been able to count on her to sing his praises. Instead, she was just pointing out his flaws. Or maybe not flaws, but his… quirks.
Willodean’s smile was genuine, and the gleam in her eye was sharp. “Oh, really? You’d defend him? To me?”
“I can’t believe I have to, but yes. And I’m starting to understand his problem with Tony a little better too. Maybe he doesn’t like feeling second best when he isn’t. I like Tony, but if you’re blaming all of the problems on Charlie, you’re just missing the point. If you all treated him better, you might be surprised. I mean, he’s been a big help to me.” That was sort of true. Maybe just because he wanted to keep an eye on her, but he had helped. And she regretted telling the truth all over again at the reminder that the only way he’d help her now would be right off the premises.
Willodean straightened in her seat. “You aren’t implying that I am anything less than perfect, are you?”
Grace immediately felt the heat rush to her face. “Well, no, of course not. I’d never—”
Willodean snorted. “I’m messing with you. I am not perfect. I told you about losing my son. I’ve been looking for a way to fix what I broke for a long time. Charlie doesn’t make it easy, but I think one thing you got to get a handle on is whatever it is that makes you feel like Charlie ought to be wary of you.”
“He should. I mean, maybe not now that he knows what happened. I think I’ve proven very well that I don’t have whatever it is to be good at marrying a man for his money. But we’re still too different.”
“But you aren’t thinking he’s too good, right? Because I’ll tell you, I love him more than Elvis, this hotel, or breathing in and out, but he’s not perfect either.”
Grace shook her head. “Doesn’t matter. I’ve changed my mind about matchmaking. I want to work a while, get my feet under me, and find out if this is what I want. If it is, I want a chance to settle in. And if it isn’t, the fewer people I disappoint when I leave, the better. I don’t need a man, not now.”
Willodean tsked. “Course you don’t need a man. Don’t be silly. But wanting one… Grace, you can’t deny wanting one. And when you find the one that you want more than a job, more than a comfortable apartment, maybe even more than your own pride… you’d be a fool to turn your back on that. And I don’t think you’re a fool.”
Grace couldn’t look away from Willodean’s sparkling eyes. She was serious, obviously meant every word, and the breathing difficulty returned along with the hard knot in her stomach.
For the first time, Grace could imagine wanting someone that
much.
Willodean pursed her lips and gave Grace a chance to catch her breath by changing the subject. “Well, then, let’s take a look at everything I’ve got here. You’ll see I kinda have my own way of doing things.” Willodean patted the folders. “And that drives every one of the people who work with me nuts. The first week I hired Laura to help Tony as assistant manager, she brought me three new forms every day. The accountant stopped cursing every time I called him and Charlie gave Laura a warm hug when I introduced them. I get the feeling you might understand where they were coming from?” Willodean raised an eyebrow.
Determined to get back to normal, Grace straightened in her chair to sort through the stack. “If you’ve worked as many temp jobs as I have, you learn your way around a computer and a phone. Maybe I wanted to be a star, but I played a receptionist more than I got in front of a camera.”
Willodean shook her head. “I swear, every person I hire around here’s like the second coming of Bill Gates or something. PowerPoint this and Excel that. Whatever happened to a good ol’ legal pad and a pen? I did a pretty good business with paper.” Her eyes twinkled as she drew out the word.
“I guess things change.” Grace could feel the tension across her shoulders as she said it.
Willodean sighed. “That’s the truth right there and thank goodness they do, am I right? Life would be boring if it was always the same.”
Grace had always thought the same thing. There was a beat of awareness that passed between them, like the philosophy they shared connected them.
“Now then, here’s the most important part, the calendar. Got the weddings listed here”—she pointed to the next two Saturdays in December and flipped the page to show a few in January—“and the two fan club meetings I already lined up are written in blue.” She looked pretty proud of herself. “Charlie’s been working up some kind of computer system that will talk to the front desk.” Willodean shook her head like it was all beyond her. “Hope you don’t mind working with him just a little to learn the ropes.”
Grace tried a stern lecture to herself, but she couldn’t stop the blood from rushing to her face. That was ridiculous. She’d never been a blusher, but something about the idea of having to work with a disgusted Charlie and being attracted to him anyway made it difficult to keep an even keel.
“And just hearing his name causes a reaction like that,” Willodean said with a small smile. “I’ve been there. When you’re sitting across from a man who wakes you up, makes you think things you’d thought you’d forgotten a long time ago.” She patted her sliding stack of files. “Thing is, I’m rooting for you. My Charlie, he’s… difficult, but he’s worth it all.”
Grace thought about explaining to Willodean again how she should be doing her best to protect Charlie, but she was pretty sure Willodean wasn’t going to change.
“If you’re set here, I’ll head on back to the hotel. Tomorrow or the next day, we can talk to Charlie about a budget for basic purchases. And then the fun part… shopping!” She clapped her hands together. “I love that part.”
Grace laughed. “Me too. Shopping with someone else’s checkbook is the best way.”
Willodean winked. “Smart girl.”
Grace wiped her sweaty hands on her jeans. “I guess we’ll have to see about that.”
“You believe in fate, Grace?” Willodean leaned against the door like she was too worn out to stand.
Grace stacked a few more files. “Maybe. I’ve always believed in the journey. Where I land is where I was meant to.”
Willodean nodded. “Good for you.” She pointed at the files on Grace’s formerly clean desk. “Looks like I better get out of your hair. Someone made a mess of your desk.” The twinkle was back in her eye as she waved and headed for the elevator.
Grace leaned back to rest her head on the chair. The quiet of the building was nice, even if it reminded her that she was on her own again. If only she hadn’t been so determined to prove her worth this morning. Charlie would still be helping with inventory. And if she hadn’t been so honest, he might have smiled and laughed with her as they worked. Now she didn’t know if she’d see that smile—the one that said they were together against the world—again.
It shouldn’t be so hard to let that go. She’d never had it before. But it was. Some of the excitement over the new job dimmed. And in her mother’s voice, Grace heard, “That’s why they call it work, Gracie. Just get started.” Good advice, Mom.
She picked up Holly’s iPod, pushed play on “Jailhouse Rock,” and pulled the first file off the top of the stack.
“Weddings. A very good place to start.” When she heard her own voice, she had to catch her breath. It was like she’d forgotten what brought her here, but every minute she spent at the Rock’n’Rolla Hotel convinced her that step had never been about Tommy Joe Huffle or settling down to please her mother or even about finding a rich man.
That wedding had been all about setting up this collision with Willodean, and it had indeed been a very good, if not quite practical or in any way normal, way to start. No matter what else happened, working with Willodean Jackson would be an adventure, maybe one big enough to keep her right where she was for a good long while. She had no idea where this path was going, not yet, but that didn’t worry her. She had enough to focus on today.
Her cell phone buzzed to let her know she’d missed a call, so Grace pulled it out of her purse to check the display. When she saw her mother’s name, she knew she’d have to call her and let her know about her newest job. But not right now. Right now, fixing the mess Willodean had left on her desk was more important. And easier. She’d start with that first.
Chapter Six
* * *
ON TUESDAY NIGHT, Charlie knocked on the door to his mother’s suite, pretty sure he knew how dinner would go. He’d been lucky enough to have a reprieve, thanks to her crowded social calendar and all the plans she and Arlene Masters cooked up. But now there would be lots of questions about Grace and innuendo and then more questions until his mother was either satisfied that his romance was on track or he lost his temper and stormed next door to the waterfall room to keep from telling her what he really thought.
Tonight he was resolved to hold on to his tongue and his temper. They’d have a nice discussion. Some of it would be about Grace, but that was only natural. He’d just explain to his mother that he wished she’d had better judgment than to push them together even if she insisted on giving Grace a job at the hotel. Then he’d tell her about his plan and remind her of the dates he had lined up. Maybe that would distract her enough that they would make it through this without raising their voices.
“Come on in, hon. The kitchen just brought up dinner so I think it’s still good and hot.”
He made a detour on the way to her small kitchen to run his hand down Misty’s back. She was sprawled over the length of his mother’s couch and greeted him warmly by lifting one eyelid while thumping her tail against the couch cushions. The green bows on her ears shook in time with the bells on her collar. “Don’t get up, sis.” Misty yawned, swiped her tongue over his hand, and closed the eyelid. “I thought you’d be slaving away, Mom.”
His mother snorted. “Sure you did, just like I’ve slaved away every time you’ve eaten here. If I did anything but order up Sal’s meat loaf, you’d think I didn’t love you anymore.” She bent and kissed the top of his head like he was six years old all over again. “And that’s one thing we can’t have. I will always love you.”
Charlie considered her and then picked up his tea glass. “Well, it would be hard to get over the disappointment, but if you wanted to try to make that casserole you made when you and Howard invited me to dinner the first time, I would eat it. Very carefully.”
They both laughed. “Yeah, I’m sure I made an impression with that tuna casserole, didn’t I?”
“Seemed to work out just fine, even if it was burned around the edge and raw in the middle.” He shook his head. “I couldn’t figure out ho
w you did that.”
“It was all a part of a master plan to break the ice, didn’t you know?” Willodean winked. “That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.” She patted his hand. “Guess I’ll never be Suzy Homemaker, will I? No matter how many years I’ve got.”
Charlie pulled the plate cover off and sighed with happiness at the meat loaf, mashed potatoes, corn bread, and green beans in front of him. “Just because you can’t cook doesn’t mean you haven’t made a nice home, Mom.” He picked up his fork and took a bite. As he savored slowly, he noticed she didn’t answer. She was watching him and blinked like she might have a tear or two.
“What? What did I do?” He had no idea. And this was the first sign that things might not work out like he hoped.
She shook her head and took a bite. He wasn’t sure if it was the corn bread or something else that cheered her up, but when their eyes met again, he was relieved to see her usual happy twinkle.
“Dinner was an excellent idea.” He sighed. “Hit me with it. Whatever it is. Advice, warnings, nosy questions. I can handle it now that I’ve got corn bread in front of me.”
Willodean pointed her fork at him. “Your daddy was the same way. I learned quick to feed him first and then ask for what I wanted. That man never could smile on an empty stomach.” She watched him carefully as she said, “You could have had mostly the same thing down in Viva Las Vegas. And there might have been a pretty girl to keep you company.”
Charlie shook his head. “We need to talk about that. Grace is not the right girl for me. And you know exactly why. I can’t believe you tried pushing us together. Maybe your skills are slipping.” He took a drink of the sweet tea and thumped the glass down on the table to punctuate his point. “You really ought to know better than that, Mom.”
“Oh, really?” she said as if she couldn’t believe her ears. “Know better, should I?” She narrowed her eyes at him. “First, watch what you’re saying, Charlie Aaron McMinn. I have a feeling you’re going to want to eat those words and soon. And second, you better tell me right now just what makes that pretty girl so unsuitable.”
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