Chapter Fifteen

I didn’t get to bed until two AM thanks to my work on the brochure, which I didn’t finish. In the morning I stumbled in to work feeling like my eyelids were swollen to the size of lemon wedges. If I hadn’t gotten up late, I could have put cucumber slices over my eyes the way Mama is already recommending. But who was I kidding? I would have needed to buy out the entire cucumber sections at Publix and Piggly Wiggly combined to even begin to reduce the swelling.

Patty was waiting at the door. As soon as she saw me, she dragged me to the break room.

“Rough night? Yes, of course. I did your cards before I came in this morning. You are overburdened with responsibility and someone you care deeply about does not understand your need to martyr yourself so you can buy your family’s love and approval to keep them from disappearing into the ether.”

“I’m not in the mood, Patty.” I wished I could roll my eyes, but knew the puffy lids would prevent that kind of flexibility. “Honestly, where do you get this stuff? And don’t say from the Universe because the Universe doesn’t make a habit of conversing with me. Though a case could be made for me martyring myself, I am not buying anyone’s love and approval. And nobody needs a deck of tarot cards to know I have responsibilities. Now move out of my way so I can get to my office.”

“It’s not your office anymore, remember? La Brenda has moved in, taken command, and redecorated in a style that will make you swear you’re in the middle of a magazine shoot for cutesy dens of the South. Come on, take a minute and tell Patty all about your latest troubles. Odell called in late, so we’re safe.”

“Oh, why not? Bring me a cup of coffee and I’ll tell you anything your cards haven’t already revealed.” I snared a crooked folding chair and plunked myself down.

Patty brought the coffee and hopped onto the counter. She sat next to the microwave and stared down at me. “Okay, give.”

“First of all there’s my sister DeLorean, her baby, and her golden doodle.” When Patty looked puzzled, I told her it was a designer dog, a poodle-golden retriever cross. I gave her the condensed version of my sister’s arrival, waited for her to make sympathy noises, and launched into an account of Christian’s trip home with Trinity in tow.

When I finished, she said, “Wow, you poor thing.” She slid off the counter and I waved her back up.

“There’s more. Jack was supposed to take me out Saturday night, but no one gave me the message, so he ended up eating dinner at my house, which was not fun, thanks to my family butting in. Next day Mama sprained her ankle and now she and her two Chihuahuas are living in my family room. Jack took me to see his new place. I’m sure he either wanted to tell me he has feelings for me or that he wants us to be best buddies the way we used to be. But I’ll never know since my sister called at the crucial moment having hysterics about a family emergency and I had to go straight home, which did not endear me to Jack. Upon arriving home I discovered that my mother’s ex-husband is not her ex-husband since her marriage was not legal and he was or is married to someone in Arkansas named Lurlene. But he is still trying to extort money from Mama by threatening to tell her new boyfriend that she is an adulterer.” I left out the part about Veronica’s packet of work that I hadn’t finished.

“I knew it!” Patty put her hand over her heart. “You should have seen your card layout. Total and complete chaos all around your family and your love life.”

“Patty, I have no love life.” I spaced the words out for emphasis.

“But the cards say you do.” Her hair started to slip sideways and she passed her hands over the top of her head to adjust it. One of her hair clips sprang loose and flew across the room just in time to pop Odell across the nose as he opened the door. I hauled myself to my feet and picked up the clip, which had ricocheted off Odell to bounce against the microwave and land next to the coffeepot.

“I believe this is yours,” I said, handing it to Patty.

“Thank you much.” Patty reapplied the clip to a strand of hair that had fallen in front of her face. She pasted on her fake “I really do care about the customers” expression, saluted Odell, and did an about face.

Odell finished turning purple and waving his short little arms and asked me what did I think he was paying me for. Skipping the salute, I made tracks for my ex-office.

I refrained from telling Brenda that the chintz curtains on the window and the posters of puppies and ducklings cavorting in meadows under a guardian angel infested sky were not something a normal person would have chosen for office décor. I settled myself in the new visitor’s chair she’d installed in front of the desk. She seemed to have the work well in hand. I reached for a stack of invoices and she snatched them out of reach.

“Umm,” she said, patting the bun at the back of her neck. “How should I put this?”

“You took a secretarial course where you learned everything there is to know about running an office and you can handle the work without my input?”

“Exactly.” Her pupils had shrunk to the size of BB’s and I knew she didn’t like the little dig about the secretarial course.

I followed Patty’s example and quickly forgave myself. Went her one further and decided to sin no more. It was not Brenda’s fault she was the female version of her Uncle Odell.

With little to do except stare at Brenda’s posters while she worked and ponder where I’d gone wrong in failing to get Jack to understand about my family, it was a long morning. Patty came dancing into the room at lunchtime, asking if I wanted to go out for lunch. She suggested soup and sandwiches.

“Sure.” I would have gone along even if she’d opted for roast groundhog.

“I have the answer to all your problems,” she said when we were settled on opposite sides of a table at Quiznos. “You’ll feel a lot better if you don’t have quite so much to deal with.”

“It’s okay, Patty. The main thing is finding a way to get Philip off Mama’s back. As for the rest of it, it’s all pretty much business as usual. I can’t remember a time when my family wasn’t mixed up in one mess or another and it’s been my job to pitch in. I’m rescue central, you might say.”

“I do say. Definitely.” She tilted her head and squeezed her eyes into slits at the same time. The effect was one of odd angles and slightly off kilter features. “As for your mother’s ex whatever, did you know you can go on the Internet and look up anything you need to know about people? It so happens that I have a subscription to a people finder site and I get three free searches a year. Since I only used one so far, I looked up this Lurlene person he’s supposedly married to. Got her number for you.” She fished in her purse and drew out a crumpled paper.

My eyebrows struggled, trying to rise. Thanks to my still puffy eyelids, they failed. “How do you find time to get any work done?”

“It’s all in how you schedule your work day.” She winked and pantomimed tapping away at a keyboard, surfing the Internet, something she could do only when Odell wasn’t around.

“So you think I should call this woman and ask her to rein Philip in, maybe come to Charleston and haul him back to Arkansas hogtied in the trunk of her car? He’d just show up again like a stray dog that won’t go away after you feed it. Mama would never be safe.”

“Hey, if you want him out of the way permanently, I know people.” At my shocked expression, she laughed and said, “Kidding. The Universe would not condone.”

I drummed my fingers on the table. “You know, what he’s doing isn’t legal. I could contact a lawyer.” The only lawyers I knew were my real estate attorney and my divorce attorney, both elderly gentlemen who likely didn’t take on extortion cases, but I could ask them.

“Why bother with a huge legal expense? Find out where he’s staying, go over there, and tell him you’re turning the matter over to the district attorney if he doesn’t leave your mother alone. Then threaten to call Lurlene and get him in really big trouble.”

“I don’t even know if they’re still married, though I suppose I could call her. But how do I find out where he’s staying? Am I suppose to consult the cards?”

Patty shook her finger at me. “Don’t make fun of the powers. All you have to do is dial information or call around to area motels and see if he’s checked in. Of course, you’ll have to trick them into telling you.”

“Hey, good idea. I’m left wondering how you come up with all this cloak and dagger stuff.”

“Experience. Don’t ask me about my ex-husband; even the Universe would prefer that he existed in another dimension.”

When we got back to the shop, Brenda cornered me and thrust a pink memo paper into my hand. “I’m going to lunch with my uncle and I’d rather you didn’t disturb anything on my desk while I’m out.”

“You don’t have a thing to worry about, Brenda. I promise.”

She shot me a doubtful look and then scuttled out to join Odell in his SUV. I peeked out from between the chintz curtains until they turned the corner at the end of the block. Then I looked at the memo. It was a message from Veronica asking me to call her. I figured using the phone didn’t count as disturbing Brenda’s desk. And sitting in what used to be my desk chair probably didn’t count either.

Veronica picked up on the third ring. “Susan, have you had a chance to look over the packet I sent you?”

Thank God, I’d remembered. “I’ve already started.”

“Super. I don’t have a spare minute. I thought we wouldn’t be ready for at least another three weeks, but my contractor told me the work’s ahead of schedule. It’s going to be ready in a few days and then I want to have the house decorated as soon as possible. I know that’s short notice, but I need for you to get that advertising in gear and start buying the furniture I listed.”

Oh, right, a list that specific—civil war era couches and beds, two tasteful oil painting at least six feet by eight feet, countless little chairs, tables and knickknacks—Susan was going to produce on command. I pictured hours spent traipsing the sidewalks of Charleston, practically living in antique shops to get the exact items. But I could understand her rush and besides, the sooner she got the ghost tours started, the sooner I’d be moving on with life after the pawn shop.

“I can get going on the advertising.” I’d leave Brenda to her work and go in the back to use my cell phone. I’d tell Odell that Brenda was doing a great job and didn’t need me. He’d probably let me go, but an extra two days pay wasn’t going to amount to much when it came to paying my bills. “The antiques might have to wait a day or so.”

“Don’t wait too long. I tell you, this new firm is moving at the speed of light. I’m sure you’ve heard of them. They used to be owned by the Lenley family.”

My heart did a flip. The exact thing Jack had said to me a few days ago in The Pie Plate. Pieces clicked into place, making me feel dense for not having realized sooner.

“Yes, I have heard of them. Jack Maxwell’s running it for the new owners.”

“You know Jack? Wait,” she shrieked. “Your best friend from high school you’ve told me about a million times. He’s your Jack.”

Hardly my Jack. I wrapped a piece of phone cord around my finger and watched my unpolished nail bed turn purple.

“Of course I haven’t met him yet. My office manager hired the firm and I signed the papers. I’m seeing him this afternoon, though. We’ve scheduled a meeting to talk more about the project. I’ll tell him you said hello.”

“That would be great,” I said without enthusiasm. I was sure Jack was still ticked at me for putting my family first.

“Anything else before I ring off?”

“One other thing. I’m all set for the ghost tour business, in fact I’m getting pretty enthusiastic.” Had to. As far as a job it was the only game in town. “But I’ll have to pass on living and working at the B&B. My entire family is now living with me, pets included.”

High-pitched yelp on the other end of the line. “Susan, I don’t know what to say. But that’s okay, I won’t have any trouble finding someone, not with the current job market. Whoops, got to go. I have another call and it’s important. Call me in the morning for a status update, okay?”

The line went dead. I wondered what Jack would say when Veronica told him I’d said hello. I imagined him baring his teeth and hissing like he was warding off something evil.

Brenda and Odell took a long lunch. At least two hours. In between fielding calls from customers and manning the register so Patty could take a break, I didn’t even finish the first page of Veronica’s list of advertisers before I heard Brenda approaching. With a guilty start, I realized that even though she’d made it clear she didn’t want me touching the work, she would still object to me working on personal business. The Brendas of this world are like that.

I slipped out of her chair to flatten myself against the wall opposite the desk with my hands held at my sides and my eyes wide and staring like a criminal caught in the act. But then Brenda probably got that a lot.

She hovered in the doorway. “Uncle Odell wants to see you in his office, Susan.”

“Great,” I said. “Super.” I pulled the lower half of my face into a smile that showed most of my teeth.

The hound eyes, so like her uncle’s, looked ever so slightly less droopy. “I’m sorry. It’s not good news.”

No doubt. Unless I considered getting sent home two days early to be good news. I perked up. I really did need the time for Veronica’s project. Mine and Veronica’s project, I corrected myself. After all, I was her manager for Blackthorn House Ghost Tours. Brenda stepped aside and I slipped into the hallway.

“Odell.” I stood at his door. “You sent for me?”

He motioned for me to come in and I took a few steps toward his desk. He wrote something on an envelope before he glanced up and said, “Brenda tells me she’s already mastered the office system.”

“She’s a sharp lady. And well-educated. I believe she mentioned she took a secretarial course.”

“I know I said you could stay until Wednesday, but Brenda tells me you make her nervous sitting around and—and thinking, that’s what she said. You’re thinking. Makes it hard for her to get her work done.” He went through a series of frowns and throat clearings.

“You’re saying you want me to leave now instead of working out my week.” Wow, I felt almost as psychic as Patty claimed to be.

“That’s what I’m saying. No hard feelings, Ms. Caraway. Family is family.”

I was the last person to disagree with that statement. “I understand. Completely. Uh, it’s been nice working for you, Odell.” Now that I was officially dismissed, I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. I went back and grabbed my sweater and my purse, waved to Brenda, who was on the phone, and scooted behind the counter to give Patty a quick good-bye hug.

“It’s not good-bye, it’s see you later. ‘Cause we are still close friends and I do expect you to call. We can still meet for lunch.” Patty wiped a tear out of the corner of her eye. “Find out where your mother’s former lover is staying, and I’ll ride shotgun when you go after him. I mean it, hon.”

I winced. Mama would die if she ever heard anyone refer to Philip as her former lover. As for going after him, that wasn’t part of my plan. I figured a simple call to an attorney should get him out of the picture for good.

“I’ll call you. That’s a promise.” For lunch. Not for Philip Beauchamp hunting.

I consulted my watch. Still a few good hours left to go antique hunting in Charleston. First I called home to check on Mama and DeLorean. They’d been suspiciously silent all day, and I needed five minutes to verify that they hadn’t become embroiled in another crisis or destroyed the house.

DeLorean took the call. A deep sigh of self-pity whooshed over the line and I braced myself.

“You have no idea what it’s like being stuck in this house all day,” she whined, without even asking how I was doing. For all she knew, I could have been in the clutches of pawnshop robbers or suffering from a fatal case of food poisoning. I allowed myself a moment of annoyance, but I knew a slight from DeLorean was not what really bothered me.

I took a deep breath and said, “I know it’s tough, but I’ll take over and let you get some rest as soon as I get home. I do love you, little sister, and I know it isn’t easy to Mama-sit.” After Philip had shown up yesterday, we’d both decided we couldn’t leave Mama alone again in case he returned.

“You’re a doll.” Her voice held a smile.

“Yeah, I am, and you make sure you remember that.”

Next I rang Jack’s number. I’d decided I needed to apologize for cutting our evening short, though I still didn’t think I’d been wrong to go home to handle a family emergency. Busy. I tried twice more and then got his office. Jack was in a meeting. Right. Veronica’s meeting. I wouldn’t have thought it would have lasted this long. I left a message for him to call back. Almost as an afterthought, I called Veronica’s number and left a message that I was now available full time if she needed me. I headed out for Charleston’s antique stores wishing I knew what the future held. No I didn’t. I couldn’t stand it if I knew for sure that the future was as bleak as I imagined it.

Veronica hadn’t told me what she was willing to pay for the furnishings, and I was so caught up with my problems, I hadn’t thought to ask. All I could do was find what she wanted and put holds on the items. It took me the rest of the afternoon, but I managed to locate a couch and an entire bedroom suite.

By the time I finished shopping, Jack hadn’t returned my call. He was obviously a lot more ticked off than I’d figured. So, who needed him? A week ago, I’d practically forgotten Jack ever existed and all I had to do was forget him again.

Monday was yoga night, but with Mama and DeLorean at the house, I decided I’d skip it. Okay, I was being a poor yoga student and probably some day I’d regret my failure to limber up. But right now I didn’t feel more than a twinge of yoga-skipping guilt. I climbed into the van and stuck the key in the ignition. The opening bars to When the Saints Come Marching In sounded from my cell phone, and I snatched it out of its holster and said hello without even checking the caller ID.

“Got your message. Thrilled you can start right away. Come to Blackthorn House tomorrow morning—eight o’clock.” As usual, Veronica sounded like someone who was juggling ten bowling pins and doing the Highland fling while she spoke on the phone.

“But I need to find the antiques,” I protested, trying not to sound too disappointed that Veronica wasn’t Jack returning my call. I’d planned on heading out about nine thirty or so and getting to Charleston after the stores opened.

“Scrap that. I’ve hired a decorator and she’ll do the buying.”

I held back a sigh of exasperation. “I’ve already picked out some stuff that was exactly what you wanted and put it on hold.” I wouldn’t be able to work for her if she kept changing her plans. I made a mental note to discuss this issue with her.

“You did? Okay, call my receptionist and have her give you the number for the decorator. Tell her—the decorator—what you found and I’m sure she’ll go ahead and pick it up. See you in the morning.”

“Wait, doesn’t this decorator have a name?”

She’d already rung off without hearing my last question, but I didn’t take offense. Veronica actually seems to rev into a special gear to manage her various businesses. I hoped she didn’t expect the same level of energy out of me. It was all I could do to manage my home life—mainly my family and their problems—and still get to work every day. I went ahead and called Veronica’s office and then the decorator.

I pretended it didn’t matter if Jack stayed mad at me forever. I started the van and joined the early rush hour heading out of Charleston toward the high span of the new Arthur Ravenel Bridge over the Cooper River. Toward my right a huge ship, a freighter of some kind, was heading east to some unknown port. I wondered what it would be like to run away to sea and not tell Mama or my sister.