Heartbeat Echoes

by Brittany Yeats

  As Melissa set her pocketbook on her desk, the phone rang. Before Melissa could suck in the breath to warn Lynn, the overzealous girl answered the phone and three seconds later, poked her head in.

  “Your brother is on line two.”

  Melissa winced and sighed.

  “Lynn, next time it’s him or my mother, I am busy. For the rest of your time here, I want no calls from either of them. Yes?”

  Lynn nodded and went back to her desk to set up Melissa’s day. Melissa took a deep breath and picked up the phone.

  “Hello, Conner. I’m afraid you’ve caught me at a bad time. I’m about to do an office walk through. The phone calls and emails I spent the last weeks using as communication just didn’t get the real message across.” Melissa heard Conner scoff.

  “Melissa, knock it off. You can stop pretending you know what you are doing. No changes need to be made. You need to come home and handle our pain-in-the-ass mother.”

  “What’s wrong, Conner? Don’t appreciate all the nudging about settling down and making babies?” Melissa almost laughed with glee at the sound of Conner’s teeth grinding.

  “What did you do to distract her? I am losing my mind. Do you know how many of her friends have daughters? All of them.”

  This time Melissa did laugh out loud. She heard Conner’s teeth grind harder.

  “Father left this company to me, title and all. I will see to how this company is run. Our mother is not a pain in the ass, she’s extremely high maintenance and has no idea how to live life for herself. It is not my job to teach her how to do that. So sorry I am no longer available for her to hover over but I must dash. Goodbye.”

  Melissa set the phone down on his loud protests with a very satisfying click. Locating her leather folder and a pen, Melissa nodded at Lynn. Together, the pair left the office, diving into the veins of the company.

  ~ ~ ~

  Melissa saw a million and one ways the efficiency of the company could be updated. Out-dated equipment, older methods of completing tasks, not to mention the total lack of staff. Melissa knew Conner had better business sense, but she got the feeling that he was waiting for this arm of the company to go out of business so he could sell it and deal with what he deemed more appropriate areas of the business.

  “Lynn, how long has the company been operating this way?” Melissa looked over at Lynn’s silence and watched as the girl looked at everything but the boss. Patience was Melissa’s virtue. She stopped in the middle of the hallway, waiting for an answer. Lynn held silent for about five seconds and then let out a guilty tidal wave of information.

  “On my first day, Mr. Yard called me into his office and asked a bunch of questions about how to operate this business at the lowest cost and how many corners we could cut and which workers would be the cheapest to keep. It was an awful meeting. I never did understand why he would want to run a company so cheaply.”

  Melissa was seeing red and marched her way back to her office.

  “Get my brother on the phone. Now!” Melissa paced around her office to try to calm her blood pressure. It was infuriating to think of how close Conner came to bankrupting this arm of the company. When Lynn squeaked that Conner was on the line, Melissa hit the speaker button so hard, she checked to see that the phone wasn’t broken.

  “Conner—”

  “Hello, dear sister. It’s so surprising hearing from you out of the blue. I pulled Mother in from the garden to listen as well. What did you call about?”

  Melissa made an honest effort to unclench her jaw. “I am not coming home. I have called to yell at you about how horrendously you have run this company. I wish I could take a page out of Joshua’s book and punch you for bad business practices.” Melissa stopped herself before she said something rude in front of her mother.

  “Did she say she isn’t not coming home? Oh Conner, you had me so excited I was getting my daughter back.”

  Melissa clenched her fist and took a deep breath to keep from putting it through her desk.

  “Mother, this is a business call. I need to speak to Conner alone. And for the record, just because I am not living in your house does not mean you have lost me. It means our relationship will be stronger. We needed distance. I’ll see you at Christmas.”

  “Christmas? What about Thanksgiving? And your birthday? I’m not going to see you until December?”

  Melissa heard the tears in her mother’s voice and was slightly concerned about the absence of guilt for not wanting to come home.

  “All of my employees rent a beautiful hall for Thanksgiving. They spend the holiday together to give thanks for having a job and all the other blessings in their life, and to build company morale. Apparently because the owner and any member of his family have all been too busy to attend this little event every year, company spirits are extremely low. I am going to change that. As for my birthday? I am going to be thirty and I’ll be partying over here with Liz and anyone else that wants to come. I’ll see you both at Christmas.”

  Melissa clicked the phone into the receiver over her family’s protests, only realizing after she let go of the phone that she never got to give Conner the scathing dressing-down she had in her head. She looked up at Lynn hovering in the door way and nodded. “It’s time to get this company into shape.”

  Over the next several weeks, Melissa did just that. She had endless meetings, argued over several different ways of operating the company from all of her executives, and brutally rejected or cheerfully accepted all their suggestions. She was still met with some resentment but Melissa did not let that deter her.

  When October hit, Melissa began to organize a launch party. She wanted a brand-new look and a fresh start for what she privately thought of as her baby. She worked with all the departments and had the whole building buzzing with how hands-on an owner she was. Everything about Yards by Yards was redesigned and it was going to be a sensation.

  Melissa sat at the drawing table looking over the newest batch of designs her team had messengered over when she heard the door open and Liz shuffle in. Knowing that there was going to be opposition to doing another night of work, Melissa decided to go into the kitchen and not have Liz see her at the table. As she placed the kettle on the stove, Liz walked in and dropped into a chair, looking like a zombie.

  “Have you looked in a mirror lately? You look like a corpse.”

  Liz lifted her head and pierced Melissa with such a look, Melissa dropped to the floor in mock death.

  “If I wasn’t so freaking tired, I would be laughing so hard there would be tears.” Melissa popped up from the floor and set steaming cups of tea on the table.

  “I know you were sitting at that table and I really want to yell at you for it but I just can’t bring myself to do it because I have been working just as much as you have. Why did I have the crazy notion that this would be a vacation type of thing? Bonkers.”

  Melissa laughed and sipped her tea. “Well, we have lost so much weight from overwork and not eating we are going to look amazing in the dresses I’m designing for us for my launch party. Which is coming together so amazingly. Lynn had the idea of making it a fashion-show type of thing where models walk around with the clothes on. Not as structured with a runway and everything but have them mingling and talking about the clothes with everyone.”

  “Mel, that girl is too smart for her own good. A loose and fun fashion show that’s not formal and intimidating. Genius.” Liz sipped her tea and toed off her shoes, sighing as her toes began to relax finally.

  “Should I invite my family? Wow, that sounded so harsh. It wasn’t supposed to sound that mean, but I am really debating it. There’s so many possibilities of things that could go wrong because of them.”

  Liz just shook her head. “I think you should be thinking of another invite altogether. Joshua?” Liz chuckled at Melissa�
�s grimace.

  “I don’t know about him either. The changes I’ve made in the past month have made this company a very popular clothing brand, I have no idea if I can really trust the numbers, though. We made a bet. And I don’t want to leave if I lose.” Melissa winced at her own slack tongue. Liz sat up in her chair and pinned Mel with a drop-down-dead stare.

  “You did not tell me about a bet.”

  Melissa shrugged as nonchalantly as she could and sipped her tea, looking at anything around the room except at Liz’s demanding expression. Then knowing her friend for the pit-bull she was, Melissa gave a huge sigh and looked over.

  “When he showed up at the plane, I asked him what his first thought was about facing me actually leaving. He said it was to come up with some reason to make me stay.” Melissa nodded vigorously and pointed at Liz’s expression. “Yes. I made exactly the same face. So, we made a little bet, challenge thing. In a year, if I made this label wildly successful, then he’d come here and live with me. If it wasn’t wildly successful I would have to go home and marry him and live in California. So I am working like three dogs because I do love him but I do not in any way want to leave.” Melissa took a breath and waited for her friend’s reaction.

  “Well, I guess I’ll be your fourth doggie and help you out. Because I really want to stay as well. You go, I go, buddy.”

  Melissa tilted her head as affection swamped her. She took their cups to the sink and Liz rose and walked to the design table. “Let’s see what you’re working on and I’ll see if I can offer any opinions.”

  Melissa grinned and flipped through the pages of her drawings, knowing all the clothes were going to be better for it.

  ~ ~ ~

  As the day of the big launch party loomed closer, the only word that described Melissa, her life, and her company was frenzied. Invitations were sent out, models were hired, and the show’s clothes were made quickly but beautifully. As tasks were checked off her list, Melissa felt panic and excitement cycle through her in a vicious circle. She designed her own dress and was surprised how well it had turned out.

  Melissa’s original concept, with the agreement of her design team and even Liz had been to go for a rich, bright blue to stand out in the crowd. Melissa had drawn out a few designs but was unsatisfied with all of them. It was a lucky day when the design supervisor had been in the factory the same day as Melissa. Taking one look at Melissa’s eyes, the woman had cried out and dashed away, leaving Melissa standing by her work station, confused and worried. The woman returned with a shade of material that matched Melissa’s eyes in an eerily perfect way. It had strands of glittery silver running through it, making the material shimmer like starlight.

  Unable to sleep one night, Melissa had sat in bed and designed the dress of her dreams.

  The dress was a deep, flowing mermaid style that hugged her body to her knees and cascaded outward to the floor. The flowing came from the rippling waves of fabric coming out from the knees. The sweetheart neckline was lined with beads of purple and silver and all the accessories Melissa had bought were a shining silver. In an unconscious move, Melissa was going to sparkle on her big night.

  There were a few shocks along the way, as anyone could expect from a major event. Her first however, was the response from her own family. She had made beautiful, personal invitations for her brother, mother, and for Joshua. Conner had called within twenty-four hours with a flat-out no. He wanted her to come home and stop making a fool of herself as a business woman. Her mother had called a few days later, making polite conversation and then telling Melissa airily that she had put it on her calendar but it might interfere with a prior engagement.

  Both had ignored the response cards, assuming that Melissa would write down their answers. Her saving grace had been Joshua. He had sent his response card, on which was a big cheerful yes, buried in four dozen red roses along with his own personal message. It was reassuring to know that there would be one friendly face in the crowd.

  Liz had gone into a tailspin of crazy angry doctor when Melissa had told her they weren’t coming.

  “What a load of absolute shit, Mel. Screw them. I am in total shock. How could they not want to celebrate how amazing you are doing?”

  Melissa had shrugged and closed her eyes. “They do not share my views on what I am doing here. They think I am making a fool of myself and should come home to be the housewife and mother I was born for. So my mother can have her bragging rights and my brother can be the big company man who is just as successful as his father.”

  Liz had scoffed in disgust, silently wondering how a family could turn their backs on one of their own. Melissa had waved away the sound and used the rest of the night to deal with the million little problems that had popped up as soon as she had left.

  What would come as the biggest shock of all was actually happening without Melissa even knowing. One of the first items Melissa had taken care of after taking over was to strengthen the American side of the business. She had bought and opened five different stores in five different states in eight weeks. Melissa was being hailed as one of the gutsiest and exciting new fashion labels in the world. The numbers Melissa received each morning were always higher than the day before and that was not even scratching the surface of how popular she had become. The rich, the famous, and the everyday people all wanted a Yard.

  Melissa was at her desk late one night, going over those numbers, when her secretary, Lynn, poked her head in. “You have a call on line two. The caller said it’s urgent. I didn’t recognize the voice but I figured you want to take it anyway.”

  Melissa nodded and reached for her phone. “Melissa Yard.”

  The chuckle from the other end of the phone made Melissa shiver. “Well, well, that was extremely official-sounding. Very ‘wildly successful’ tonnage you have there, my dear.”

  Melissa almost fell out of her chair. After six months of silence, Joshua had finally decided to call her.

  “I was beginning to think you had lied straight to my face and in fact had forgotten all about me, moved on, and married some bimbo named Bunni. With an I.”

  “No indeed, Melissa. My heart is still pining away for you. My call is actually quite selfish. Have you noticed the date?”

  Melissa looked down at her calendar but didn’t recognize any importance with the day. “What is so special about today?”

  Joshua gave a long and dramatic pause. “It has been exactly six months since you boarded a plane and flew away from me.”

  Melissa inhaled sharply and understood exactly what Joshua was saying. Her deadline was coming up. A year to be successful or else she had to come home for an extended visit.

  “I must say, you have caught me quite off guard. If I knew my time was running out so fast I’d have slept less.”

  “You’re not doing too badly for yourself. I’ve been watching your stock. It continues to climb every day.”

  Melissa couldn’t help but feel thrilled at the little trace of pride in Joshua’s tone.

  “You haven’t seen anything yet.”

  Joshua shook his head as he looked down at the present he had made for Melissa. It was a newspaper article that raved about her, her company, and her clothes. The last line of the article said that Melissa was “a wild success in all aspects of her fashion life.” He looked over his bed and calculated he had at least six months of clothing to pack away. Wondering how he was going to get it all in one bag, he heard his front door open and rolled his eyes as his butler brought his sister upstairs. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw his bed.

  “Spring cleaning, darling?”

  Joshua shook his head.

  “I’m moving to Milan.”

  He looked up sharply as his sister gave a laugh so loud he swore the walls shook.

  “What’s funny?”

  “Y
ou thinking our mother is going to be all right with you moving to Europe for a girl.”

  Joshua was powerless to stop the smirk that spread across his face.

  “She thought it was an amazingly romantic gesture when I talked to her about it a week ago.” He got enormous satisfaction out of the huff his sister gave before plopping onto his pile of socks.

  “When will you lovebirds be coming back, if you are coming back at all?”

  “We are visiting for Christmas. Seeing her family and then coming to be with our big brood. We’ll be staying through ’til New Years and then I’m sure Melissa will be chaffing at the bit to get back to Italy.”

  Mandi nodded and looked over the piles of clothes on the bed. “You’re taking a lot of clothes for a two- or three-month trip. Is this going to be a more permanent move?”

  Joshua reached under her and pulled out a sock that was lumpier than most. From it, he pulled a small velvet box. Inside was their grandmother’s engagement and wedding rings. Mandi’s eyes popped wide and she sprang off the bed.

  “Married? You’re going to ask the marry question? Jesus, Joshua, holy shit. You’ve known her how long?”

  “We met in March after her father died. It’s October. It’s been seven months, give or take. I’ll probably wait until after the holidays because these are the first set without their dad or sister. I really feel like she’s the one, Mandi.” He looked over and quickly stepped back. “Mom started to tear up too. Why is this news to cry over? You’re getting another sister, which means you won’t be outnumbered anymore.”

  Mandi dried up quick and mulled over that appealing idea.