Matters of the Heart

by Helen Colella

  “Since you’ve been here for all this time, I figured you’d know what’s going on, who’s in charge, and to whom I should speak to about opening a new account.”

  “It’s true I am privy to certain things. How do you think I can help you?”

  “My boss told me the restaurant had changed hands because of an inheritance settlement. I thought a new owner might be interested in what we have to offer.” He paused and glanced around. “If the gentleman who burst through here a few minutes ago were the owner…perhaps, you could inquire if I could speak with him after lunch. Maybe generate a new client.”

  “He’s not the owner, but he is the manager. His name is Charles Wharley.”

  “Isn’t he the one I need to see?”

  He watched the puzzled look spread on Sarah face.

  “Charles is usually the one to talk with, but so you know, the kind-of-new owner is here, too.”

  “Exactly what is a kind-of-new owner?”

  Sarah nodded. “My boss has been part of this business for what seems to be forever. But because of a recent death in the family, it’s become a full-time responsibility. Thus,” she paused. “A new owner.”

  “Gotcha! Do you think I might be able to have a few minutes of the new owner’s time?”

  “I don’t foresee a problem.”

  He clicked his pen and prepared to write. “Good. And who might that be?”

  Two couples entered. Sarah excused herself again and walked to greet them to explain the wait time. They were on a tight schedule and left promising to return another day. She turned her attention back to Nick.

  “Now, where were we?” She looked around. “Oh, yes…our owner. That’s the young woman going into the kitchen.”

  Nick glanced in the direction Sarah had indicated. He caught sight of a petite woman with shiny auburn hair that swished across the back of a hunter green sweater. Could it be? He held his breath and hoped she’d turn around. When she did, he gasped.

  “Amanda Conifer.”

  “That’s right. You know her?” Sarah’s eyebrows rose, awaiting his response.

  Grinning like a schoolboy caught passing a love note to his heartthrob, he simply answered, “Yes. We’ve met before.”

  Was this serendipitous or what? The gods had blessed him with good fortune.

  “From the look on your face, Mr—” she stopped then added, “What did you say your name was?”

  “I didn’t. But it’s Nick Dalton.”

  “Well, Mr. Nick Dalton, I’ll see if she has a few minutes to spare, especially since you’re already friends. In the meantime, I’ll seat you for lunch, all right?”

  “That’ll be fine. I’m hungry.”

  She led him to a small table for two in the back dining room near the window overlooking their garden.

  Nick took his place at the table. “Nice view, Sarah.”

  She handed him the menu and recited the special of the day. “A server will be with you in a few minutes.”

  He smiled politely, thanked her, and let his gaze settled in the garden. Daisies dominated.

  That explained the bouquet she’d brought her grandfather, the same one from which she’d plucked a flower for him. After a few minutes or so, he opened his day planner to the back and gently fingered the now-dried flower she’d given him. Then, as if to keep it a secret, he quickly closed the book and glanced around the room. He noticed every table held a small vase filled with fresh daisies. Must be significant. Someday, he’d ask her about the story behind the flowers and show her the daisy she’d given him.

  The flowers led to thoughts of her grandfather and finding out about his health. As quickly as the thought entered his mind, so did the reality of what had transpired. He remembered Phil had spoken of a new owner who’d inherited the place due to a death in the family. Probably Pete.

  * * *

  Walking into the kitchen, Sarah discovered Amanda had moved into the office and proceeded accordingly.

  When told who was waiting, Amanda flushed, her heart quickened, and her stomach flip-flopped. She felt light-headed and giddy. Barely able to speak, she mumbled, “How in the world did he find me here?”

  A confused expression creased Sarah’s face. She rattled off a list of question. “Why would he be looking for you? Who is this Nick Dalton? Are you keeping a secret? Is there more to this than meets the eye, Amanda? Do I detect a romantic interest?”

  Amanda smiled, tugged her sweater into place, smoother her hair, and licked her lips.

  “I don’t know, Sarah.” Then after taking a deep breath, she added, “But I’m about to find out.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Nick read the menu three times, not remembering a word of it. He fidgeted with the utensils, folded and unfolded the napkin, and gulped down a glass of water. This is not like you, Nick. settle down. He’d always been able to talk to women before. Just think about it. She’s just like any other woman. Stop lying to yourself. This Amanda Conifer is different, and you know it.

  The server approached his table. “Ready to order?”

  He answered quickly, not even knowing what to expect. “I’ll have the luncheon special and an iced tea.”

  She repeated the order before leaving. “A cup of broccoli-cheese soup and the chicken parmesan. Is that right, sir?”

  “Perfect.” Dish water and dog food would be perfect right then. He didn’t even know if he’d be able to eat anything.

  Unbeknownst to him, Amanda had plucked a daisy from the vase on her desk to bring to him. Before making her way to his table, she stood and watched him through the etched glass partition that separated the office from the two dining rooms. It’s him, all right, as fine as she remembered. She swallowed hard, took a few deep, cleansing breaths, put on her best smile, and headed in his direction.

  “Well, if it isn’t the patient from Room 440.” She extended the flower. “Happy to see you’ve made a complete recovery.”

  Rising to greet her, he accepted the flower.

  “This makes two that you’ve given me. Good thing I like daisies.” He winked and motioned for her to join him. Control your excitement, Nick. Let everything unfold in its own time. “It’s great to see you again. How have you been?”

  She filled him in on the details of her grandfather’s death and other details of how she’d become the new proprietor. “This temporary job is now my new, fulltime career. What are the odds of that happening?”

  He offered his sympathy and asked if he could be of any help.

  “Thanks, but Charles has been taking care of most things around here.”

  “Of course you’d have someone to take care of you. What was I thinking?” He glanced away. The boyfriend…. Well, there went any chance of him developing anything more than a working relationship. How could he have been so foolish to think he had a chance with the lovely Amanda?

  Wallowing in a moment of self-pity, he only caught, “Did your sister tell you I called?”

  With a quick nod and a forced smile, he said, “She relayed the message at dinner last night.”

  “Seems you’ve had a run of bad luck yourself and have just returned from a short vacation, or as Monica so aptly described it, ‘a getaway to regroup.’”

  “That’s about it. The business has literally gone up in smoke.”

  “Any clues as to what started it?”

  “The authorities believe one of the street people tossed a burning cigarette into the trash bin behind the building. The fire marshal said the fire spread fast.”

  She reached over and touched his hand. “But here you are, and you’re okay. That’s what counts. Besides, you can always start up again.”

  They got lost in each other’s gaze. Neither spoke or glanced away until Charles bristly interruption broke the magic of the moment.

  “Amanda!” he snapped. “Jack Haliway is here to see you. He’s waiting in the office.”

  Annoyed with Charles’s abrupt manner, she flashed him a look that demanded an immedia
te apology.

  Charles looked from one to the other and realized his misdoing. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but Jack needs to get back to Denver and has asked me to hasten you along.”

  “Tell him I’ll be there in a moment, Charles.”

  Once Charles was out of sight, Nick asked, “Is that the jealous boyfriend?”

  “Me and Charles, a couple?” She burst into laughter. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

  Embarrassed and worried by Nick’s observation, she felt a need to further defend herself. She frantically waved her hands and protested with vigor. “Wrong, so totally wrong. No boyfriend, just a zealous friend—like an older brother. That’s all.”

  She even crossed her heart.

  “Okay. Okay. I believe you.” Nick inwardly sighed with relief. Maybe there was still a chance of moving this friendship forward.

  Amanda rose then before she excused herself and asked, “Are you in a hurry, or can you stay until I take care of some personal business?”

  “Oh, yes, I can wait.” He grinned. “As you see.” He pointed to the young server headed toward them. “I’ve ordered lunch. Can’t let it go to waste.”

  “You’re just like every other man. Food trumps all.” She heard his chuckled. “What’s so funny?”

  “You, Amanda, you are. You’re charming, smart, amusing and beautiful.” He liked her spunk and smiled. “Yes, Miss Conifer, I can wait for you, for as long as it takes.” He picked up his napkin and placed it on his lap. “And yes, food is important to me, especially like now when I’m starving.”

  “That’s good on two counts. First, you’re going to enjoy your meal—we serve great food. Second, I’d like to continue our ‘getting acquainted’ chat.” She turned to leave then stopped. “This shouldn’t take too long.”

  Nick picked up his soup spoon. “If I may,” he paused. “Please give Mr. Haliway my best.”

  “That’s right. You do know Uncle Jack, don’t you?”

  With raised brows, he answered. “Yes, I do. And you know that how?”

  “My grandfather told me you and he crossed paths at Jack’s office in Denver several years ago—something about Uncle Jack doing contract negotiations for you.”

  He shrugged. “Sorry, I don’t recall the encounter with your grandfather. But had it been you, I surely would have remembered.”

  Her eyes twinkled with pleasure and delight. Before leaving, she mentioned another bit of information. “Did you know we, I mean my grandfather, bought our walk-in from your company?”

  “Sorry. I don’t recall that either. He probably dealt with one of my reps.”

  “Yes. That’s exactly what he said. All done over the phone.”

  “Too bad I didn’t know you then. Who knows what kind of friends we would have become by now.” He winked at her then scooped up his soup and tasted it. You’re on a roll, Nick. Stay calm.

  Amanda’s interest in him grew with every word. She put a twist to his question and said, “The question is, who knows what kind of friends we can become now?”

  “Only one way to find out,” he quipped back without looking at her. “You’ll have to go out with me. Like on a date.”

  “We’ll talk about that when I come back, Mr. Dalton.”

  Pleased with herself, she smiled and left to meet with Uncle Jack.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Jack Haliway and Amanda embraced. They had not seen each other since Pete’s funeral. He held her at bay. “How are you doing, Mandy? Is it getting any easier for you these days?”

  “I’m good, Uncle Jack. Some days are harder than others, but overall, I’m doing well.”

  His sympathetic half-smile instantly comforted her. She knew he understood, and she felt a sense of relief from her on-and-off-again distress and anxiety. Uncle Jack had a way of making her feel good about her life, always supportive.

  He removed a folder from his briefcase. “This won’t take long. I just want to advise you of your grandfather’s will and have you think about what you want to do with your inheritance.”

  Once settled at her desk, Poppy’s attorney and long-time family friend got down to business. “Your grandfather has provided well for you, Amanda. Naturally, he left you everything.”

  “What’s everything, Uncle Jack?”

  He read the litany of items that included several savings accounts, income properties throughout the state, a substantial investment portfolio, the restaurant, the house, and other real estate holdings. He looked up from the desk. “It’s all yours.”

  Although she had never wanted for anything growing up, and because Poppy always provided her with the best of everything, she’d never known how wealthy her grandfather had become or ever thought to ask about that part of his life.

  “In addition to Poppy’s estate, which until I dig further for current value, is estimated to be in the multi-million-dollar figure range, Amanda. And that’s not all, we still have—”

  Totally flabbergasted with the sum of her inheritance she blurted, “There’s more?”

  He nodded and continued. “We have the invested monies you acquired from your parents’ death as well.”

  “Uncle Jack, I had no clue about these financial matters.”

  He raised his hand to quiet her. “Pete invested their insurance settlement. Over the years, the dividends have grown and been regularly placed in a trust fund waiting to be released to you when you turn thirty. At that time, you’ll be able to withdraw those monies, make changes on the initial investment, if you’re so inclined, or just let it continue to grow.”

  She listened, totally awestruck by what she heard. “What do I do with all this stuff? Sure, I have some knowledge of how the financial world works, but I can’t imagine trying to manage something of this magnitude.”

  Under his advice, she agreed to have him continue to oversee her finances until further notice.

  “I’ll draw up the necessary papers to make everything official. Then as warranted, we’ll make any changes, if you want.” He closed the folder, put it in his briefcase, and stood to leave. “One more thing. What do you want to do about the restaurant? I know you came aboard as a temporary measure, but what’s your status now?”

  “I’ve been giving that a lot of thought, Uncle Jack. I want to run it, just like Poppy did.” A few tears trickled down her cheeks. “I miss him so much.”

  He nodded and smiled. “Me, too, sweetheart. He was a special man.”

  “He’s taught me well, and I know I can do a decent job, especially after all these months of ‘practice’ and having Charles to guide me.”

  Jack reached for her hand. “Remember, Amanda, you’ve still got me. I know you’re an independent woman, but anytime you need something, anything, you call me. Understand?”

  “I promise to call you the minute I have a problem I can’t handle.” She smiled.

  “Now, before I leave for Denver, is there anything you need?”

  “Yes, there is.”

  He sat back down.

  “It’s Charles.”

  Jack Haliway perked up. “A problem with the lofty Mr. Wharley?”

  “Not anything personal, but I’m not sure how to proceed.” She pulled her chair closer to the desk. “Just before Poppy died, we kind of agreed to bring him in as a partner.”

  Jack nodded. “He did mention it to me, too. But we never got around to signing the papers.”

  “I don’t think Charles is aware of the possibility.”

  “Not to my knowledge, either.” He leaned forward and whispered, “Having second thoughts about bringing him in?”

  “Not at all. I’m thinking that this partnership business should take place later down the line. I’d like to see how I can handle things first.”

  “That’s a great idea. We’ll talk when you’re ready. If it’s a go, I’ll take care of it. If not, we just forget it.”

  “Just like that?”

  “Yes, just like that.”

  “But what about my agreement
with Poppy?”

  “He’d understand if you changed your mind. He’d even understand if you decided to sell.”

  Her eyes widened. “Sell? I can do that?”

  “Yes, you can. It’s your business to do with as you see fit. You and only you make the decisions.”

  Pleased with what she heard, Amanda stood. “Thanks, Uncle Jack. I do think I’ll leave it alone for a while. I still want Charlie to be a partner. Let’s plan on making it official right after the New Year.”

  They exchanged a lingering hug. Uncle Jack kissed her forehead, then they headed toward the parking lot.

  “There’s a Nick Dalton in the dining room who sends along his best wishes.”

  Jack did an about face. “I’d love to say hello. I haven’t seen the young man in quite a while. Where is he?”

  Amanda motioned him to follow her.

  “Pete did tell me you were impressed with this young man. Are you romantically interested in him?”

  A grand smile and a girlish giggle answered Jack’s question. “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you about it someday.”

  “Although he’s someone I think your grandfather would approve of and even welcome into the family, I feel I have to offer you some advice.”

  Amanda’s cheeks reddened. “Oh, Uncle Jack, I’ve just met the man. I don’t know much about him.”

  “Exactly, that’s my point.”

  Her puzzled look prompted him to continue. “Right now, with everything that’s happened over the past year, you may seem vulnerable to some young scoundrel looking for an easy life. So take it slow with him, or anyone for that fact, who might want to romance you.”

  “Why would you suggest I might not be able to handle him or any man, Uncle Jack? I’m a big girl now.”

  He linked arms with her. “Mandy, I know you’re a strong young woman who can handle just about anything. I’m not worried about that. I’m concerned about men in general. One never knows what motivates people to endear themselves to others.”

  She wasn’t sure what he meant but replied with a respectful, “Okay, Uncle Jack. Advice noted.”

  At Nick’s table, the two business acquaintances exchanged pleasantries and made small talk before Jack excused himself and made ready to leave.