“We’re prepared to double your salary,” Perry said. “Think of it, twice what you made before, corner office, expense account. You can move into a swanky apartment in Manhattan and live the good life.”
“You’re assuming I don’t have a good life here.”
“Let’s not rush into anything,” Perry said. “Take some time to look over the offer, get used to the idea,” Perry said. He pulled an envelope from his pocket and laid it on her desk. “As added incentive that loft you wanted to renovate in Soho is available. With the added salary you’d be able to afford it.”
“I’ll give that some consideration,” Kelly said.
“Take a couple of weeks,” Perry said. “I’ll give you a call then and we can work out the details.”
She watched as the entourage left her office and subsequently the property. Alex hung back and gave her a hug.
“I’d love to work with you again,” he said.
“We were good together,” she agreed. She’d enjoyed working with Alex. As the artistic director, he complemented her ideas and transformed them into visual beauty.
Admittedly Kelly was glad to see them go. Their offer was flattering, but she’d worked herself silly, put every penny she had to get this operation running. No way was she giving it up now for a loft in Soho.
With her former colleagues gone, the parking lot was empty. Kelly left her office to collect the receipts of the day. She had to pay the staff and make sure they would show up next week. Their checks were already written and in envelopes. They’d gathered in the large ballroom. Jace and Ari were there when she went in.
“Great day,” one of the women said. “I had a very good time.”
“Does that mean you’re willing to come back next week and do it again?” Kelly asked with a smile.
“Absolutely,” she said.
Kelly passed out their paychecks and said she’d expect them next week. “If anyone can’t make it, please let me know as early as possible, so I can find a replacement.”
“Will do,” someone said.
They filed out, leaving Jace and Ari as the only people in the room with her.
“You look tired,” Jace said.
“I’m exhausted,” she confided. “But my day is not done. I have to count receipts.”
“Want some help?” Ari piped up.
Tension drained out of her at the small child’s willingness to take some of the weight off her shoulders. Dropping down to his level, she hugged him. “Thank you, but you’d better eat your dinner.” She ruffled his hair. “That is if you didn’t eat too many of those cakes.”
“I didn’t. Dad wouldn’t let me.” Ari twisted around to check his dad’s compliance.
Kelly glanced at Jace. She stood up. “Thank you for coming back and helping. I know you didn’t want to.”
“You were spread too thin,” Jace said.
She realized his comment wasn’t censure on her decision about the house. She was glad because she was too tired for a debate.
“I have to go back to the office, but before I go what did the doctor say?”
“I don’t have asama,” Ari stated proudly.
“Asthma,” Jace corrected. “They have to get some test results back, but he doesn’t believe Ari has asthma.”
“What?” A smile spread across her face. “How?”
“The doctor said he may have been allergic to something in Colombia that caused restricted air flow.”
“Do they know what it was?”
Jace shook his head. “Whatever it was, we didn’t bring it with us. And apparently, it’s not here.”
“That’s why I breathe,” Ari said.
“I was concerned when I bought the horses that he wouldn’t be able to ride, but he’s taken to them.”
“What about his leg?”
Ari skipped around the room. “All gone,” he said, then ran back to Jace.
“Lack of activity. And he has a shorter tendon in one leg. With exercise and time, it’ll be unnoticeable.”
“He does appear to have less of a limp now than he did a couple of months ago.”
Jace nodded, putting his hands on Ari’s shoulders.
Kelly studied the tiny face. “You’re going to be fine,” she told him, still smiling. Ari left his dad and ran to her. She bent down and caught the small bundle. “Congratulations. This is the best news I’ve had today.”
“Me, too,” he said. “Best news.”
“You’d better go in to dinner. I’ll be in as soon as I finish the receipts.”
“You’re exhausted,” Jace said. “Why don’t you come to dinner first and then check the receipts.”
“I’ll be right there,” she said. “I need to find out if I’m going to meet the bills this month.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
JACE LOOKED AT his watch. Kelly hadn’t come to dinner before he and Ari had finished and cleaned up. Ari practically fell asleep at the dinner table. The doctor’s office and the excitement of a long day took its toll on him. It had been long for Jace, too. He went to the kitchen and made Kelly a sandwich and poured a glass of milk. Carrying the tray to her office, he went inside. She was asleep at her desk.
He hated to wake her. From the way he’d seen her rushing about, she’d had to be dead on her feet. He couldn’t allow her to stay like that. It was uncomfortable and, besides, she could possibly fall. Jace put the tray on the table. Turning her chair and holding her, he lifted her into his arms with the greatest care. She stirred, but didn’t come fully awake.
He refused to look at her sleeping face, but he couldn’t stop her pretty scent. She used some kind of floral shampoo and the sweet smell filled his nostrils. Her skin was silky smooth and warm to his touch. Jace carefully carried her up the stairs. Gently, he laid her on the bed. He removed her shoes and pulled a spread over her. Then, taking one last look, he left the room, closing the door softly behind him.
Jace knew she worked hard to make the Kendall a going concern. And she was starting from scratch. He’d heard some of the comments today from people who knew the Kendall. They spoke of its transformation. Of what Kelly had done over the past two years to make this the showplace of the county. She had done it proud, according to one of the locals.
She’d even had the people from her former job come to visit. Jace wondered what their purpose was here. What had they discussed while cloistered in her office? And what would happen now? There was a major complication Kelly didn’t know about. Yes, he’d taken Ari to the doctor this morning. But after that appointment, he’d spoken with Doug Thurston, who’d given Jace the news he wanted to hear. There was a loophole in the contract of sale.
Jace could get his home back.
* * *
THE LETTER SAT on the dresser. It had been there for three days. Sheldon hadn’t mentioned it to Audrey. The return address was the Kendall and it was in Jason’s handwriting. Sheldon could hardly believe it. How could Jason be living there? Sheldon was too afraid to read the letter. Strange because he’d never been afraid of anything his brother once said or did.
But now he understood Jason. In many ways, he walked in his brother’s shoes and they hurt. He knew what it was to be looked down on.
He was curious to know what Jason had to say, though. The Kendall logo on the envelope was different, but it was definitely the Kendall. Had Jason found some way to...what? He couldn’t own the place. Sheldon knew it was sold to a woman. Had she and Jason somehow gotten together? Many women in Windsor Heights were interested in Jason. Laura had told him. Jason was good-looking and had that strong image of the bad boy. Women loved that, she’d said. It made the guy more virile in their eyes. And women loved the challenge of taming all that strength. Well, some women.
Sheldon could possibly find all the answers to these questions if he’d just open the envelope. He would, he told himself. But not today.
Leaving the letter on the dresser, he headed out to work. He’d continue scraping hulls. Soon he would have to tell Audrey about Jason’s letter. She would find a way to ask if he’d heard anything if he didn’t volunteer the information.
Sheldon smiled. He liked Audrey. She was real. He could tell the difference now. Laura had been real, too. But he and Laura had lived in a different world. A world that isolated them and distorted how they should treat other people. Meanwhile, Audrey had had few privileges and when her daughter died, she took in her grandson and she was doing everything she could to fill in as a parent. But what struck Sheldon most about them is they appeared happy. They truly loved and respected each other, he thought. That’s what made all the difference. That and sacrifice.
When Jason had come to stay at the Kendall after his mother died, they looked on him as a burden. How could they have been so cruel?
And how could he ever do or say anything to make up for his past actions? Maybe sending that letter had been a mistake. And the reply could be just as much a slap in the face as he deserved.
* * *
THE DOORBELL RANG as Kelly was headed to the kitchen for a second cup of coffee. She tried to limit herself to two cups a day, but in the past month she found herself wearing a path in the hall leading to the caffeine station.