Randi tossed another dish into the water and spoke over her shoulder. “That’s good. I should have gone to college. I’ll be sure and wish her well.”
“She’s my brother's daughter, and she knows this place like the back of her hand. If you need anything, just ask her.”
Randi turned this time and smiled. “Thanks, I’ll do that.”
“Get some rest, too. When we start sweeping and washing down the walls, the days will seem very long and tiring. Don’t overdo it, and go to bed at a decent hour. Tomorrow you’ll wish you had.”
*****
Martin closed the phone and pushed it into his pocket. Celia had changed her tune, but he doubted her sincerity. Was she sensing that she might be losing him, or was she just trying to calm him? Either way, some time away from each other might help.
He walked over to Mike, who was just reeling in a fish. He tugged and pulled and after a fight with what looked to be a fifteen-pound catfish, he pulled it up and held it out proudly. “Now, this is a nice one.”
“Sure is. Are you keeping it?” Martin crossed his arms, looking at the wriggling fish.
“No, I catch and release most of the time. I like eating fish, and I can clean one, but it’s a lot of work." Mike unhooked the fish and leaned down, putting him back into the water. He washed his hands off, rose, and started packing up the fishing gear. “How did the call go?”
“Not great. Toward the end she started coming around, but I’m not sure if she’s sincere, or if she was playing me. The truth will come out when this party nonsense is over and things get back to normal.”
“So you’re hanging in until after the party?”
“I think I should. It’s not fair to dump her now, and besides her family and mine are both coming to the house. I’d rather see where things are going, and then decide.”
“It could be the craziness of this party that’s adding to the stress, but I don’t think so. I’ve met the woman and I don’t know how you’ve lasted this long.”
“Why don’t you really tell me what you think?” Martin laughed as he picked up his pole and chair and the two men walked back to the house.
“To be honest, man, I don’t normally get into this kind of conversation. It makes me feel like I’ve checked my testosterone at the door. That said, I think you need to be careful. Don’t let this holiday and all of your families coming together cause you to do something dumb.”
Martin stood outside a small storage shed and handed Mike his chair and rod. When he was done and they were walking up to the house, he spoke. “What do you mean, something dumb?”
“Don’t ask her to marry you. I did that once. I broke up with this girl, we had this huge fight, and the next thing I know, I’m down on one knee. Thankfully, I came to my senses.”
“I don’t plan on doing that. I’m going to wait until the party’s over to make up my mind. If I feel the urge to run out and buy an engagement ring, you’ll be the first one I call.”
Mike pulled the sliding glass door open and waved Martin in. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m not against marriage, and I hope to meet the right woman some day.”
“You want to get married? You seem like the loner type.”
“Sure. I want it all. I’m just waiting on the perfect woman. I know it will be a hard adjustment since I’ve lived alone for ten years. But I think I can handle it when the time comes.”
“Is there someone you’re interested in?”
“Not really, but my parents had a good marriage. They’re still going and I want what they have. I can’t have everything they do. They married right out of high school. But I’ll settle for happily ever after.”
Martin sat down at the kitchen bar and shook his head. “I think we did check our testosterone at the door. If you start wanting to perm my hair, I’m leaving.”
“No worries there.” Mike reached into the fridge and pulled out two very raw and red-looking steaks. “I’ll fire up the grill and we can eat these with our bare hands. Maybe that’ll help.”
Martin laughed as he watched his friend fire up his indoor grill. He didn’t know if it was getting away from Celia, or spending time outdoors with a friend, but he felt good. For the first time in a long time, he knew that no matter what happened he would make the right decision.
The decision might not be what Celia wanted. Then again, he might end up proposing, the way Mike had said. He did feel the next move he made would get him back on track. For the first time in days he was looking forward to spending Christmas with his family.
Chapter 10
Sunday
Randi took Emma at her word and went to bed early. Ann had come in later, but she was quiet and soon Randi drifted back to sleep. The next morning was Sunday, but she doubted if that would mean a day of rest.
She set her clock for seven, rose on time, showered, dried her hair and was drinking tea and eating toast as Ann stepped into the kitchen.
“You’re up early.” Ann stifled a yawn, poured a glass of juice, and sat down with an energy bar.
“To be honest, I wanted to get a lot done today, make it look good for Maids 101.”
“You’ll get what you want. It’s just us today,” Ann added as she took a bite of the bar that seemed to be covered in nuts.
“I normally get up early. If you don’t, you miss the best part of the day.” Randi took a sip of her tea and started in on her second piece of toast. “Your Aunt Emma told me we might start on washing down the walls, so I thought it would be best to get an early start.”
Ann looked up quickly, her brow furrowed. “She told you I’m her niece? That’s not like her.”
“She and my boss, Nancy, go way back. I think that makes her feel at ease. I hope you don’t mind.” Randi dipped a spoon into the jar of grape jelly and slathered her toast generously.
“I don’t mind. Normally, she doesn’t tell anyone who I am. She must trust you.”
Randi shrugged taking a bite. “Was Emma right? Will we start cleaning the walls today?”
“We’ll start in the great room. Celia doesn’t go to church on Sunday so we won’t want to wake her. Around two she’ll leave to play tennis with some gal pal, and we more than likely won’t see her again until eight.”
Randi nodded. “What about Mr. Taylor? Will he show up today?” Two more bites and her toast would be gone. She drank down the rest of her tea and rose. She went to the refrigerator and poured a bit of milk in her cup. She loved milk with sweets.
Ann finished her bite and drank some juice. “That’s a good question. Emma was telling me about the yelling and the phone conversation. Since he didn’t come home last night, he might come home today.”
“That doesn’t sound good. Is that typical for him to leave like that, spend the night elsewhere? I’m sorry. Is that considered gossip? I was just curious.”
Ann laughed. “It may be gossip, but that’s what the help does. Gossip.” They both laughed and Ann took a few more bites and then finished her thought. “Normally, Mr. Taylor would be gone most of the day, out riding his bike, or visiting some friends. He’s not a couch potato, so if he were home he’d be out by the pool reading a new script.”
“I haven’t met him yet. I’ve seen Celia. I looked for pictures around the house. There don’t seem to be any. Does he have an aversion to his own image? I know some actors are like that. They don’t have many mirrors or self-portraits.”
Ann took her last bite of her bar and smiled. “I’ve never heard anyone say. You could be right. Being in front of a camera so much would be a pain. I do know when he’s home he likes to just be Martin and forget about all the media -- the actor frenzy -- that goes along with his job.”
“I don’t think I would like that lifestyle, not being able to go anywhere without people knowing who you are. I’m too private. I guess that’s part of the reason they always warn us to not speak to the actors or bother them. I try not to watch TV just for that reason. This job pays good and I don’t want to ruin it by fal
ling all over someone I work for.”
“Mr. Taylor is handsome. You’ve never seen him act in anything?”
“Nothing. I watch DVDs, the old stuff. That way I’m not going to know who these people are. I know they’re rich, but I don’t have that romantic attachment that someone would have, if they’d fallen in love with Mr. Taylor through his movies.”
“I guess you’re right.” Ann rose, washed her glass and Randi did the same. “Are you ready to start cleaning?”
“That’s what I’m here for. Though I must admit I can’t wait to start on the decorating. I love Christmas and I’m sure these people have some beautiful stuff.”
Ann took her phone out of her pocket, plugged it into a socket near the toaster, then turned toward Randi. “I do too, and one great thing about this party the Taylor’s are throwing, is we’ll be serving. It will be so much fun watching the kids enjoy Christmas.”
Randi pulled out her apron and glanced to Ann. “That’s what Christmas is all about. I only wish we got snow in California. I have family in Kentucky and for years we went there during spring break. Two years in a row we went there for Christmas. One year we were snowed in for three days. It was so pretty, but cold.”
“I’ve never seen snow except on TV and movies. It does look like fun, making snowmen and sliding. I don’t think I would like the cold.”
“It’s okay. The cold, I mean. I was used to Christmas without it, but that year, it spoiled me. There’s nothing like sitting by a brightly-lit Christmas tree, looking out a window, watching the snow come down -- and drinking a cup of hot chocolate, of course.”
“You’re making me homesick for something I’ve never had.” Ann sighed as she walked out of the kitchen.
Randi nodded as she watched the woman go. She was thinking about the cute limo driver again, and she knew down deep, that you didn’t have to have something, in order to miss it.
*****
The rain on the 405 made it difficult to see. Mike was driving and Martin was helping navigate. “You can go over now, the lane's clear.” Mike hit the signal and moved to the right one lane.
“You really didn’t have to drive me home.” Martin squinted through the rain-soaked window. Go on over one more lane, while it’s clear.”
“Sure thing. And I don’t mind. I have an appointment in LA in the morning with a realtor about some property. I’ll just get a motel for the night.”
“Realtor? What are you selling? And of course you can stay at the house. Celia left a message that she’d be staying with friends. It’s one reason I’m going home.”
“Still not ready to face her? Don’t blame you. And I’m looking at some property for my sister. She’s thinking about moving. I guess I could stay. Are you sure it won’t put you out?”
“No, we have plenty of rooms, and while I’m thinking about it, I hope you’ll come to our Christmas bash. Do you have plans?”
“Not yet. Sounds like fun. I do like a good home-cooked meal. It’s always better if I don’t have to do the cooking. But since we’re talking about Celia here, will it be home-cooked?” Mike took the exit off the 405 that would take them to Martin's home.
“You do know Celia, but it's only catered for the big dinners. Mom will insist on cooking and my sister will too. I don’t know about Celia’s family, but if they want to eat they’ll pitch in. My mom has her own set of kitchen rules that she will enforce.”
“Kind of like that verse my mom used to preach at me from the Bible, if you don’t work you don’t eat? She loved quoting that one, but I would have starved a long time ago if she hadn’t insisted I help in the kitchen.”
“I know what you mean,” Martin laughed. “I’m no chef, but I would never starve if left on my own.” Martin glanced at his watch. “Speaking of starving, we could stop off and pick up a pizza.”
“Sounds good. Any toppings are fine with me.”
“Good. I have this one place I use. It’s got a drive-through. You’re less likely to be bothered by folks wanting an autograph. To be honest, a lot of the times I just toss on a hat and sunglasses and no one knows me.”
Mike laughed, “I bet they would never expect that Martin Taylor would be driving by their window to get a hot, fresh pizza.”
“No, and most of the time I’m in that old Ford. They sure don’t expect anyone with money to be driving that old thing.” Martin took out his phone and began to dial.
Forty-five minutes later they were pulling into Martin's driveway, a hot pizza in the back seat. It wasn’t until they pulled in front of the garage that Martin thought about Randi. How would he handle this?
There was a good chance she’d be staying in his home. Normally, none of the help stayed over, but having Maids 101 stay over was Celia’s idea. She’d assured him that it would be more efficient because the girls from the service would work on and off around the clock.
There was supposed to have been at least two girls from Maids 101, but something had happened and only Randi had showed up. Emma’s niece, Ann, was going to pick up the slack. That still didn’t suit Celia, so she’d hired two other girls to come in for a few hours every day. Martin glanced at his friend. He was regretting now giving Randi the impression that his name was Mike.
The real Mike shut off the car as the side garage door opened. Martin’s heart began to beat faster. It was Randi. She was slipping out to feed that stray. He’d bet Emma had told her to do that.
“Who is that?” Mike rested his arms on the steering wheel as Randi stopped in her tracks, glancing their way. “Does she have anything to do with why Celia isn’t home tonight, and you are?”
Martin looked at his friend. “I can’t explain now, just go along. This is going to sound really strange, but my name is Mike, and for now, you’re . . . Joe.”
“What?” Mike laughed and his left brow rose.
“Tonight, you’re Joe.”
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
Martin reached to open his door and laughed. “Just get the pizza, and be a friend and go along. I’ll explain it, when I figure it out myself.”
Chapter 11
Caught in the Act
Randi looked out the window. It had finally stopped raining. She picked up the bowl of scraps and walked through the kitchen and out to the garage. As she opened the door she stopped in her tracks as a car pulled up.
As she saw who was in the car a smile broke out on her face, it was her limo driver, and another man. Could the other man be Mr. Taylor? Would Mike run around with Mr. Taylor if he was sleeping with Celia?
Celia and Martin were having problems. That was obvious, but what about Mike and Celia? Were they having an affair? Would she believe Mike if he said he wasn’t sleeping with Celia? He’d never confirmed or denied the fact. If he wasn’t sleeping with Celia, why wouldn’t he just come out and say so?
Regardless, he was cute. Randi moved her hand up to her hair, trying to recall what she looked like. She pushed her hair off her shoulder and behind her ear. She didn’t look too bad. She was wearing jeans, tennis shoes and a white smock. She’d taken a shower after cleaning for most of the day with Ann, and had gotten bored and went back to do more cleaning in the kitchen.
Since she didn’t want to stand there holding a bowl of scraps in front of two handsome men, she flashed Mike a smile and walked around to the side of the house. She went to the hole in the fence, dumped the food out and went back around front.
Mike and the mysterious man were standing by the back door talking. She didn’t want to pry or get in the way so she went into the house. She remembered there were dirty dishes in the sink. If the other man was Mr. Taylor she didn’t want him coming home to dirty dishes.
Once the garage door was closed she hurried to the kitchen and began to wash the bowls, including the one she had been carrying. She was just rinsing the sink when she heard voices. Rather than turn immediately and watch the two men enter, she kept working, and then turned.
“Pizza?” Randi asked, hang
ing the dishrag inside the sink cabinet. Her cute limo driver spoke first.
“You got it, hot pizza. I got my friend Joe to come over and help me finish changing the oil on the Harley. I thought I should feed him first.”
Randi started to speak, but the new guy, Joe, interrupted. “You never mentioned the bike. I think this is a bribe.” Randi smiled as Mike set the pizza down and glanced at his friend.
Something seemed off between the two men, but she dismissed it and spoke. “Since Mike hurt his hand he might need some help. If you boys need anything let me know.” Randi started to walk away but Joe spoke.
“Why don’t you join us? There’s plenty of pizza.” The man gave her a smile and pulled out a chair. “Go on, sit down. Mike will get us some drinks, won’t you, Mike?”
“I don’t know,” Randi said.
“Have you eaten already?” Joe asked.
“No.”
“Are you hungry?”
“A little.”
“Then join us.” Joe gave her a warm smile. His dark wavy hair looked a bit wet from the rain. He had brown eyes, tanned skin, and was about two inches taller than her limo driver. He was very handsome also.
“I don’t want to get anyone into trouble. You know, fraternizing with the help and all.” Randi glanced between the two men.
“Oh, you won’t,” Joe grinned. “Mike here is one of Mr. Taylor’s favorite employees. Why, he can do no wrong, it seems. The mere fact that he allows Mike to work on his precious Harley speaks volumes.”
“No need to go overboard,” Mike said as he turned to the refrigerator, getting out some drinks. “What can I get for you, Randi?” he asked.
“I don’t care. Anything that’s not diet, and are you sure? I don’t want to impose.” Randi looked from Joe to Mike as he set three cans of root beer on the table.
“You’re not. Grab some paper towels and join us,” Joe added as he sat down. “Tell me, Randi, how did you come to work for Mr. Taylor? Did you take Emma’s place?”
Randi got the paper towels from the sink and sat down. She took her pop and opened it, feeling nervous. “I work for Maids 101. They hired me to work the Taylor Party. I’m only temporary.”
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