Secret Sundays
Page 15
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
TIFFANY
“Good-bye, dear,” said one of Muffy’s friends, patting Tiffany on the cheek as she prepared to leave Muffy’s luncheon. “I’m sure I’ll see you and that adorable baby of yours real soon.”
Caught up in trying to remember the woman’s name, Tiffany murmured, “Thank you. So nice to see you.” Social lies were acceptable now and then, she said to herself, recalling how condescending the woman had been to her before her wedding to Beau.
As she bid several other women goodbye, Vanna stirred sleepily in Tiffany’s arms.
After the last of Muffy’s guests had left, Tiffany turned to Muffy. “I’ll be right back. I need to put Vanna down for a nap.”
She carried her baby upstairs to the nursery Muffy had had decorated especially for Vanna. Stepping into the room, Tiffany caught her breath in admiration. It was a baby girl’s fairyland, complete with watercolor prints of fairies hiding in flowers. The theme was carried out in the garden print fabric at the windows and in the pink-and-green quilt folded neatly in the white spindle crib. A ruffled skirt complemented the quilt and pretty pink sheets.
Tiffany gently placed Vanna in the crib and rested her hand on her baby’s blond curls. At the sound behind her, she turned. Muffy stood in the doorway, watching her.
“She’s lovely, so much like my Beau,” Muffy said quietly.
Tiffany moved away from the crib and closed the door behind her.
###
Downstairs, Tiffany turned to Muffy. “What did the women mean when they said they would see me soon?”
Color swept into Muffy’s cheeks. “Regard and I have a surprise for you. We’ll leave the baby with Miranda. Come with me.”
“Oh, but ...”
Muffy took Tiffany’s elbow. “We won’t be gone long.”
They placed the baby monitor in the kitchen and made sure Miranda would listen for Vanna’s cries. Then, Muffy ushered Tiffany out the front door.
“Where are we going?” asked Tiffany.
“You’ll see.” The happy lilt in Muffy’s voice worried Tiffany. Surprises from Muffy weren’t always wonderful.
With surprising energy, Muffy led Tiffany one block north and two blocks west. She stopped in front of a tall, narrow, classic Charleston building painted pink. Black shutters abutted the windows. A small, wrought-iron balcony overlooked the narrow street.
“Here we are,” said Muffy, beaming at her.
“What’s this?” A sinking feeling inside Tiffany warned of trouble ahead.
Clasping her hands together, Muffy said, “Regard and I recently put a down payment on this house. It’s perfect for you! You’ll be only a short walk away. I’ve already talked to my decorator. She’ll do the whole house for you. What do you think?”
Tiffany staggered back, searching for the right words.
“Well?” There was an edge to Muffy’s voice that Tiffany knew well.
“I don’t know what to say,” Tiffany answered truthfully. “It’s a very nice gesture, but I already have a home. A home I love in a town with friends I trust and who love me. My life is there with them and the work Beau asked me to do.”
Muffy’s nostrils flared. “But I want to see my granddaughter grow up. I want her to have the kind of life a Wright child deserves. I know you grew up poor, without many advantages. Why would you keep Savannah from the kind of life she could have here with us? She deserves better than what you can give her. She deserves someone who can teach her manners and how to be with people who matter.”
Forcing herself to remain calm, Tiffany held up a hand. “Please stop. I trust that you mean well by doing this, but I can’t accept it for either Vanna or me. We have a good life in Williston.” Through clenched teeth she added, “She knows love and security with me. And she will be taught manners and how to deal kindly with other people. I’m very capable of doing that for her, Muffy.”
“But ...”
“Thank you, but no thank you,” said Tiffany firmly. Coming from someone else, someone who loved and respected her, it would be a very sweet gesture. From Muffy, it was another slap in the face. Tiffany had always known Muffy didn’t like her. And now she understood the baby wasn’t going to change that. Because no matter what, she was the wrong person for the Wright family.
With as much dignity as she could muster, Tiffany turned and walked away. “Beau,” she whispered, “why did you have to leave me alone to deal with all of this?”
Muffy hurried up to her. “Regard is going to be furious. I made him do it.”
“I’m sorry, Muffy, but I’m not going to change my mind.”
Tiffany wished she had wings to fly away. She’d grab her baby girl and leave Charleston and Beau’s parents far behind.
###
Tiffany stirred uneasily in her chair at the dining room table. The evening was as uncomfortable as the afternoon had been. Regard was still furious that she’d told him she couldn’t accept his offer of a house near theirs. It still stung that he, too, had emphasized the kind of life they could give Vanna—a life they apparently thought she wasn’t capable of providing her daughter. In the past, she’d been intimidated by Regard and the smooth way he talked, hiding barbs behind his words with a confident manner. Now, she was stronger. It helped that Kevin was with her. As she toyed with her food, unable to enjoy the meal Miranda had prepared for them, he kept giving her concerned glances from across the table.
“I can see we shouldn’t have sprung the surprise on you so quickly,” Regard said, giving Tiffany a smile that barely concealed his annoyance. “You’ll come around. When it comes to doing the right thing for Beau’s child, you’ll see that it’s best for her to be here.”
“We have set up the business in Georgia, as Beau wanted,” Kevin reminded him.
Regard glared at him. “I don’t understand why he did such a thing when I have so many people here to help with the fund he established.”
“With all due respect, sir, I’m sure he was aware of that and wanted to show some independence,” Kevin responded.
“Well, he sure as hell, excuse me, ladies, sure as the dickens did that,” said Regard, laying down his fork with unnecessary force and getting to his feet.
“Now, Regard,” said Muffy. “We’re having a nice dinner here. Please keep your temper under control like a true gentleman.”
Regard’s face grew bright red, but he gave her a nod and sat back down.
After dinner, Tiffany said, “I’m going to give Vanna a bath.”
Muffy’s face lit up. “May I help?”
“Sure,” Tiffany said. As much as she knew how important it was to stand up to Muffy and Regard, she hoped to keep the situation from exploding. They, at least, wanted to be part of Vanna’s life. Her own mother had shown no interest in seeing Vanna.
After undressing her, Tiffany placed Vanna in her little safety seat in the tub. Vanna squealed with joy as she kicked her feet and splashed water with her hands. Watching her, Tiffany and Muffy kneeled together in companionable silence.
“I really want you here, Tiffany,” said Muffy. “Regard told me it wouldn’t work, but I insisted on going ahead with the purchase. He’s a gruff old guy, but he loved his son.”
“Yes,” said Tiffany. “We all did.”
Muffy grabbed hold of Tiffany’s arm. “As his mother, I almost can’t bear the thought of moving ahead without him. You’ve got to help me. You’ve got to move here.”
Tiffany filled with sympathy. “I think you know I can’t do that,” she said quietly.
Muffy burst into tears. “You can do it. You must do it. Don’t you understand? Vanna needs us!”
The bathroom door opened.
“What’s going on in here?” Regard roared. He glared at Tiffany. “How dare you do this to Muffy, you ungrateful little nobody? We told Beau not to marry you, that you were way beneath his class ...”
Muffy jumped to her feet. “Regard, stop it! She’ll never come here now.”
Tiffany picked up Vanna and wrapped her in the terrycloth robe Muffy had purchased for her. Material things did not equal love, she thought bitterly, remembering how difficult they’d made it for Beau while giving him anything he wanted.
Kevin joined them. “Are you all right, Tiffany?”
Tiffany shook her head. “We’ll leave first thing in the morning.”
“I don’t know what’s been said up here,” Kevin said, “but Beau and I had many talks about what he wanted for the future. And it didn’t include living in Charleston. There’s no need to keep pestering Tiffany to move here. She’s told you she’s not going to do it.”
The stare that Regard gave Kevin was lethal. “And who are you to tell us what she’s going to do or not?”
“I’m the guy Beau asked to keep Tiffany and his baby safe and happy.”
“And what does that mean?” Muffy said, looking from Kevin to Tiffany and back again.
Kevin straightened, drawing himself up until he was as tall as Regard. “It means Beau trusted me with the things he most valued in life.”
“By the time I wake up tomorrow, I want you gone. Understand?” Regard stomped from the room.
Muffy’s wails trailed after her as she followed him down the stairs.
“I’m sorry this happened, Tiff,” said Kevin wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
Tiffany nodded, wishing for the second time that day she had wings.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
CAROL ANN
Carol Ann left Grace’s apartment with mixed feelings. She was worried about both Grace and Sukie. Grace’s daughter was a nice girl, who was only now realizing to what lengths a mother would go to keep her child safe. And Sukie was trying to protect Chloe, the little girl who’d become her daughter. Thinking of her own baby, Carol Ann filled with gratitude for all that Ed was doing for her and the baby.
Her hand traveled to the baby bump she could no longer hide. “Baby, do you know how lucky you are? You are going to be loved by both your mother and the man who will be your father.” Growing up, there’d been many times Carol Ann had wished her own parents had made her feel loved.
Her cell phone rang. She checked called ID. Her mother. Carol Ann hesitated, and then, with fresh determination, she clicked onto the call.
“Hello, Mama.”
She sighed at the same old question. “What’s new? Aside from getting engaged, not much.”
Carol Ann chuckled as her mother screeched into the phone. “Engaged? Oh, my! My prayers have been answered. Is it that boss of yours?”
“Yes, Mama. I’m going to marry the nicest boss in the world.”
“Oh, my!” her mother repeated. “Now, you won’t have to work. Now, I’ll have you all to myself.”
Carol Ann shook her head. “Not exactly, Mama. I’ll be busy with my own family.” At the sound of those words ringing in her ears, emotion took speech away. How could life get any better?
###
Carol Ann stirred in her sleep, wondering at the warmth that enveloped her. She pushed away the comforter and heard a groan beside her. Her eyes flew open. She held back a joyful laugh as she realized Ed was lying naked beside her. She quickly pulled up the down-filled comforter and turned to him.
“Trying to chill me out?” said Ed, sleepily, reaching for her.
Carol Ann snuggled up to him, loving the feeling of his bare skin. It might be her imagination, but with their engagement official, there was a new easiness between them, a new willingness to try new things. Ed, considerate Ed, was a wonderful lover.
She reached up and touched his cheek. “Love you.”
He smiled at her. “Me too.” He picked up her left hand and studied the ring on it. “I wish my mother had had the chance to meet you. She would have liked you.”
“That’s so sweet. I hope you don’t mind, but I told my mother we’d drop by this afternoon to say hello.”
“Guess our Secret Sundays aren’t so secret anymore, huh?”
“Afraid so. In the meantime, let’s just enjoy the day.”
He grinned at her. “I’ve got just the way to do it.”
Carol Ann couldn’t hide the giggle that bubbled up inside her. God, she loved this man who made her feel so beautiful.
###
That afternoon, Ed and Carol Ann drove into the driveway of her parents’ house. Though the feeling of being trapped was no longer a worry, Carol Ann couldn’t dismiss her memory of it. She remembered the many times she’d sat in her car in the very same spot, wishing she didn’t have to go inside.
“Ready?” Ed asked, taking hold of her hand.
Carol Ann nodded. “If my mother asks us to stay for dinner, please say no. You’d be appalled at what she considers a fine meal.”
He winked at her. “Not like my cooking, huh?”
She grinned. “Definitely not.”
Carol Ann got out of the car and stood beside Ed at the front door while he rang the bell.
Her mother came to the door wearing one of her prettier Sunday dresses. “What in the world, Carol Ann? You can’t just walk inside anymore?”
“Hi, Mama. I’d like you officially to meet my fiancé, Ed Pritchard. You met him briefly once before, but you’ve never been formally introduced. Ed, this is my mother, Anna Mae Mobley.”
Smiling, Carol Ann’s mother took hold of his hand. “Such a blessing you are. Come in and meet my husband, Joe.”
As Carol Ann stepped inside, memories of her unhappy years here overwhelmed her. She closed her eyes a moment, fighting the urge to leave.
“You all right, honey?” Ed asked softly.
Carol Ann opened her eyes and reminded herself she needn’t worry about such things now. She gave him a bright smile. “I’m fine. Thanks.”
After Carol Ann introduced Ed to her father, she and Ed sat on the couch, making small talk with her parents, nibbling on cookies and nuts, and drinking sweet tea until Carol Ann felt they could politely leave.
At last she stood. “Thanks so much for everything. I wanted you to get to know Ed and to love him as much as I do.”
Carol Ann’s mother hefted herself to her feet. “Well, now, I expect to see you here a little more, Carol Ann. You too, young man. There’s plenty to be done around here. Since Carol Ann abandoned us, things just haven’t been the same.”
Carol Ann gritted her teeth. “Please, Mama.”
“It was very nice meeting you, Mrs. Mobley,” said Ed. “You have a lovely daughter with a very kind nature, which you must have noticed through the years.”
“Well, I ... We’re real proud of Carol Ann,” said her mother. “Yessir. She’s done real well for herself.”
Ed smiled at Carol Ann and placed an arm around her shoulder. “I think I have too.”
After bidding her father goodbye, Carol Ann walked with Ed to the front door. “See you later, Mama.”
Her mother smiled. “I hope so, Carol Ann. I truly do.”
Outside, Ed remained quiet as he walked her to his car and helped her inside.
“What do you think?” Carol Ann asked him as he settled behind the wheel.
“I think I love you more than you know.”
She leaned over and kissed him long and hard, not caring a whit that her mother was staring out the living room window, watching them.
###
When Carol entered the office on Monday morning, the place was abuzz with excitement.
“What’s going on?” Carol Ann asked Lynetta.
Lynetta made a face. “We have a new boss. Someone from headquarters in California.”
“Ed told me it might happen. You don’t seem very excited about it,” said Carol Ann. “What’s up with that?”
“You’ll see,” said Lynetta. Her eyes widened when she noticed the ring on Carol Ann
’s hand. “Omigod! You’re engaged?”
Carol Ann nodded and accepted a hug from her. “Can you believe it? It’s a dream come true for me. Even my mother is excited for me.”
“It’s one big sparkler,” said Lynetta playfully, studying the ring on Carol Ann’s finger. “I’m so happy for you, Carol Ann. And Ed, too, of course.”
“All right, everybody. Let’s get to work.”
Carol Ann turned at the sound of the unfamiliar voice. A tall, young woman wearing a black pants suit offset by a pale pink blouse walked into the room with noticeable assurance. Dark brown hair was pulled back from her sharp-featured face and clipped together at the back of her head.
“Who’s that?” Carol Ann whispered.
“That’s her, the new boss,” said Lynetta softly.
The woman stopped in the middle of the room and turned to face the group of female assistants. “For those of you who haven’t yet read the announcement headquarters sent out, I’m Lee Fredericks, here to replace Roger Carruthers. He was asked to tender his resignation. We’re going to be doing things a little differently around here. Until my personal assistant arrives, you’ll all be working for me. We’ve got a lot to do to catch up to the home office, so be prepared to work hard. I’ve spent the weekend setting up my office, so I’d be prepared to give the week a fresh start.”
Lee went into her office and closed the door. Through the glass wall of the office partition, Carol Ann observed Lee take a seat at her desk and pick up the phone, making notes as she talked.
The quiet that followed Lee’s speech was broken by everyone talking at once. Roger Carruthers had been a favorite among the top execs and their assistants. Tiffany had worked for him.
Grace sidled over to Carol Ann. “Seems like a self-important brat to me.”
“What does she mean by we all are going to be working for her? What about our bosses?” said Lynetta, giving them a worried look. “I’m already too busy as it is.”
Carol Ann looked over to Ed’s office. It was empty. “Wonder how the other execs feel about her?”
Ed strode into the room and signaled Carol Ann to follow him. He led her into his office and closed the door behind them. Turning to her, he gave her a worried look.