Michael opened his mouth, and closed it without speaking.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I see I’ve shocked you.” She purred, grinning. “I only wanted information about the town from someone who has been here a long time.”
Michael jumped when Heidi slammed the door shut on the cabinet behind the counter.
“Um, I guess that would be all right.” He glanced at Heidi.
Gloria smiled brightly. “Oh, good. How about tonight?” She followed Michael’s gaze to Heidi, who continued to scrub the counter. “I’m not getting into the middle of something between the two of you, am I?”
“No.” Michael and Heidi spoke at once. Heidi felt the heat rise to her face, and mumbled an excuse as she walked to the back of the store.
Of course the woman wasn’t getting between her and Michael. No her and Michael existed for Gloria to get between. Only Heidi’s foolish, little girl dreams. She swallowed furiously over the tears that threatened. Taking a deep breath, she straightened a few bottles of hand lotion, and returned to the front of the store. Gloria was nowhere in sight. Her full glass of chocolate soda sat on the counter.
Michael bent over a prescription he mixed, avoiding her eyes. He stood a bit rigid, and stared intently at the powder in front of him, as if he’d never seen medicine before.
She had to assure him she had no problem with him having dinner with a beautiful woman. No problem whatsoever. Why, he could have dinner with as many beautiful, charming, forward women as he wished. She tossed her head, reminding herself she meant no more to him than any other employee.
Heidi stiffened her spine, and raised her chin. As she opened her mouth to speak, the doorbell sounded. Mother came into the store, and hurried to her. She twisted a handkerchief in her hands, and her eyes were puffy as if she’d been crying.
“Mother. Is everything all right?”
“No, dear. Everything is not all right.” She took a deep breath. “I need a job.”
Heidi gasped. “A job!”
“Yes, a job.” Her voice trembled. “I’ve left your papa, and I need a job to support myself.” Then she lowered her face in her hands and burst into tears.
Chapter Sixteen
Heidi flew around the counter, her arms outstretched, and embraced her mother. The tearful woman leaned on her shoulder, shaking with sobs. Heidi couldn’t believe her mother and Papa would disagree to the point Mother wanted to find a job! Papa must be livid.
Goodness, where in heaven’s name would she find a job? Lord only knew how difficult finding a job had been for her. But Mother? She looked helplessly over her mother’s shoulder, at Michael, who glanced at the few customers in the store who watched Heidi and her mother with curiosity.
He left the prescription he worked on, and joined them. “Heidi, why don’t you escort your mother to the back room? I’ll look after things out here.”
“Oh, thank you so much.” She patted her mother’s back. “If you need me, let me know.”
“I’ll be fine. See to your mother.”
She clung to Heidi’s arm as they made their way to the kitchen. After settling her mother in a chair, Heidi fussed for a few minutes, preparing tea, giving Mother time to compose herself. She also needed time to come to grips with the startling announcement.
Taking a job? The mother she’d known all her life, would never think of a job if Heidi hadn’t obtained one. And now her parents were disagreeing to the point where they would be living in separate places. Which brought up another point. She could certainly contribute the little bit she’d set aside to secure lodging for her mother, but Papa would most likely be furious with her if she encouraged rebellion on the part of his wife.
Heidi sighed at the dilemma, as she poured the tea, and returned the kettle to the hot plate. She sat next to her mother and took her hand. “What happened between you and Papa?”
Her mother inhaled deeply. “Your papa is the most un
reasonable man I have ever known.” She sniffed.
Heidi hid her smile as she regarded her mother over the top of her teacup. Mother and Papa had been married forever, it seemed, but now he was the most unreasonable man she’s ever known? She took a sip of her tea, amazed at how the bracing liquid always seemed to calm tense situations.
“I tried to speak with Papa about your engagement, and he would not even listen to me.” Mother touched the corner of her eye with her handkerchief.
When Heidi raised her eyebrows, her mother continued. “I told him of your concerns, and I suggested to him we push the wedding back several months to allow you some time to come to terms with your marriage.” She stared at her lap. “He said no.”
Heidi’s heart sunk to her toes. “Mother, I don’t want the wedding pushed back, I want the entire thing called off.”
“I know dear, but I thought if he agreed to a postponement, he would be more amenable to breaking the engagement altogether.” She took another sip of tea. “But he wouldn’t even listen to me.” Her eyes snapped as she continued. “He said women didn’t know their own minds, and needed men to save them from their mistakes.”