The realtor from whom Seth had bought the property met her there to show her around. The house had been modernized only a few years before, but still retained old-world charm, having interesting nooks and crannies hidden in its intricate maze of rooms. Furnishings had been purchased with the house. It would only require a thorough cleaning and some of Kathleen’s personal touches to get it ready for occupancy.
The attached winery had been deserted years ago, and the vines had been neglected, but she wasn’t worried about that for the present. With the money left her by Seth and the salary she had saved over the past two years, she had enough money for her and Theron to live quite well for several years. She would worry about what to do with the rest of her life later. Right now, she just wanted to live in peace.
As George was helping her back into the Mercedes, he remarked casually, “I think Alice is going to love it here. That little apartment on the far side of the kitchen has a nice view of the vineyards.”
“George!” She whirled around in surprise. “You mean that you and Alice want to come out here to live with me?”
“If you’ll have us.”
“Of course, I’ll have you.” She laughed. “It’s just that I thought you’d stay with Hazel.”
He shook his head. “Kathleen, it was Seth who hired us. We worked for him. Since he’s gone, we work for you. I’ll maintain the house, the grounds, the cars, and do anything else you want me to, but I don’t want you to pay me. Two or three mornings a week, I’d like to go into the city and work as a volunteer at a rehabilitation center for the paraplegic.”
“That’s wonderful.”
“I was wondering what you planned to do with Seth’s van. I—”
“You may have it to use or give away as you see fit.”
“Thank you. With your permission, I’d like to work on the vines. I’ve always had a hankering for wine, you know, and I’ve been reading up on it for years. I think with a little luck, I could make a go of a small vineyard and winery.”
“Yes, yes. Thank you, George.” Impulsively, she threw her arms around him and hugged him. “I need you and Alice now more than ever. I’ll pay her a housekeeper’s salary. I insist,” Kathleen said when she saw he was about to object. “And I demand the right to sample every bottle of wine.”
“You’ve got it,” he said, and offered her his hand to shake, sealing their agreement.
A few days later, Kathleen met with the new owner of Kirchoff’s and politely resigned her job.
“You don’t have to,” he told her. “We know your capabilities. Your husband credited you with the turnaround Kirchoff’s made a couple of years ago. We’d like very much for you to stay on.”
“Thank you, but I feel that I must do this.” She knew that the heart of Kirchoff’s had been Seth. When he died, the heart went out of it, and she didn’t want to pretend otherwise. “I would, however, like to recommend my assistant for the position. Eliot Pate is a gifted young man who knows as much about my job as I do.”
* * *
“Kathleen, thank you, my darling! I just got a call from our new owner and they want me to assume the job you so stupidly resigned.” Eliot sounded as if he were on cloud nine.
“It wasn’t stupid. I have a little boy to raise, you know. You deserve the job, Eliot. I envy you the exciting things that will happen to you over the next few years.”
“You can always come back and help me,” he offered.
“I may drop in to look over your shoulder sometime.”
“You have an open invitation. There’s one job I hope you won’t dump in my lap.”
“What?”
“Those goddam fashion shows. Kathleen, I have no patience with those bullies who run lights and the bitches who arrange for flowers. Would you please do those for me? At least for a year? Please?”
She laughed. “Okay, okay. How could I refuse?”
“Wonderful!” He paused a moment, then said, “Kathleen, I think Gudjonsen is tops. Have you seen those commercials? The new owners are turning handsprings. Erik’s not only talented, he’s a helluva guy. He’s been working like hell…” He cleared his throat and Kathleen smiled. She’d never known Eliot to be at a loss for words. “What I’m saying is that if the two of you have a… thing… you should tell the rest of the world to go—”
“Thank you, Eliot,” she said quickly. “I’ll keep that in mind, but Erik and I don’t have a ‘thing.’ ”
“I wouldn’t stake tomorrow’s martini lunch on that, but you’ve always been so goddam closed-mouthed about your private affairs.”
“And you’ve always been outrageous, but I love you. Call me.”
“I will, probably screaming for you to come back and relieve me of all this.” They laughed together, and then he said in a rare serious tone, “Be happy, Kathleen.”