“Like I said, friends with my dad. But they were all friendly with him, so…” He frowns a little. “I guess it’s because she’s practical. And a little bit younger than the others.”
“Practical and younger. Okay, right… how much younger?”
“She’s in her sixties, I think.” He shrugs. “I don’t ask.”
We walk up her front step and ring her bell. A dog barks before I hear someone scold it. There’s scratching on a wood floor then silence for another few seconds before the door opens.
A woman in her mid-sixties with stylish dark hair cut short, an elegant business outfit of a button-down shirt and trousers, and glittering jewelry greets us.
“Hello, hello, sorry about that. Hotdog can be a little…” She makes a face. “Eager.”
Hotdog stands behind a little wooden room divider fence and stares. He’s a cute black lab and his tail is wagging like crazy.
“It’s good to see you, Liz,” Josh says, kissing her cheek.
“You too, you too. Come in, come in. This must be your new wife.”
“Hi, I’m Maggie,” I say, shaking her hand.
Her entryway is gorgeous. The floor is gleaming hardwood and there are simple and understated oil paintings hanging on the walls. It’s a mix of modern artwork and classic architecture that seems to work really well. She leads us down a short hall and into a formal sitting room.
“Tea?” she asks. “I’ve already made some.”
“Please,” I say.
“Me too.” Josh smiles at her. “When was the last time I was here?”
“Two Christmases ago?” she asks. “I think you were at the party.”
“I was,” he says, nodding.
“Back when your father was still with us.” She sighs. “I miss that man sometimes.”
“I do too.”
“Be back in a flash.” She leaves the room.
I look around at the built-in bookshelves. They’re lined with leather-bound volumes that I swear all have a little crust of dust on them like they’ve never been opened. He leans toward me and grins.
“Like I said,” he whispers, “easy peasy.”
Liz comes back a minute later with a tray. She places it down on the coffee table, pours three cups, and offers them to us. I take mine and sip it with a pleased smile.
“So,” she says. “I think I have an idea of why you’re here, but you go ahead and start.”
“It’s business, unfortunately,” Josh says.
“Of course. You and your father, always business.” She laughs and looks at me. “Is he always like that, all business all the time?”
“Yes,” I say. “That’s why he married me.”
She laughs and shakes her head at Josh. “You better be treating this one well. I think she’s too much for you.”
He grins at me. “She definitely is. And she’s also the reason why we’re here.”
Liz nods a little, sips her tea. “Go on.”
“You know who her father is, right?”
“It’s the only thing anyone’s talking about.” She sighs and frowns at him. “Marrying the enemy, dear? Your father would be rolling over in his grave.” She looks at me. “No offense. You seem like a lovely young woman. It’s just that, his father hated your father with a passion you wouldn’t believe.”
“My father was more agnostic about the whole thing,” I say.
Liz smiles. “I’m sure. I’ve met him, you know. Your father’s a decent man. I never understood why George hated him so much.”
“My father could only see business,” Josh says. “In most situations, that’s not a bad thing. But sometimes he got too competitive.”
“Yes, well, that competitive spirit is still alive at Cork.”
“I know it.” Josh frowns. “Liz, I want Cork and Bushings to merge.”
I stare at her but she doesn’t react. I expected something from her, especially considering the way Josh just blurted it out like that, but she only manages a little sigh and a shake of her head.
“Why?” she asks.
“Because we both know Cork isn’t going to survive much longer.”
“We’ve been doing well. Some restructuring—”
Josh cut her off. “Could buy us a few years, at best. Come on, Liz. We all know Bushings is going to get pushed out of the market sooner or later and Cork is next. We’re not going to pick up their business, but one of the big guys will.”
She shrugs. “I know it. I think we all know it. But nobody’s talking like that, not yet at least.”
“I want to talk,” Josh says. “I want it out in the open. If we team up with Bushings, we’ll be so much stronger. We might actually be able to fight back.”
“They won’t go for it,” Liz says.
“Can we convince them?” I ask. “I mean, I understand that there are some longstanding hatreds and prejudices, but I’m in the family now.”
Liz looks at me and nods. “Yes, that’s true.”
“She’s not going anywhere,” Josh adds.
“He’s right. I love Josh and I want this partnership to work more than anything.”
Liz cocks her head. “I have to ask… are you the mastermind behind this?”