Chapter Seven

“Can you take a look at this, Richard? I can’t figure out what Mr. Hamilton is trying to say here.” Caroline laid this week’s Hamilton Hardware ad on his desk, the one she’d just printed off from her email.

Richard looked at the jumbled up mess. He stood up, scrutinized it, paced back and forth in front of his desk, crossed his arms, and then picked it up for a closer look.

Sumer sail starts Sat. get your boat supplys at huge discontd! (Richard—put picture here! Thanx from Howard Hamilton)

Richard laughed. “Well, he’s either got sailboats at a discount, or he’s selling discontinued boating supplies.”

Caroline also laughed. “And the picture we use will depend on what this week’s special really is. Mr. Hamilton is such a good customer, but his spelling…Well, maybe one day you can convince him to let us write the ads.”

Richard nodded. “Until then, I guess you’ll have to call him and ask which it is.”

“I’ll get right on it.” Caroline picked up Mr. Hamilton’s ad and was just leaving Richard’s office when Misty appeared in the doorway, blocking her way. She stifled a groan, but nodded politely.

“If you don’t mind, Caroline, I need to speak to Richard—privately!” Misty marched into the office and glowered while Caroline slid past her and quietly closed the door on her way out. She could hear Misty shouting and Richard’s bewildered tone, but she couldn’t quite make out what they were saying.

Caroline returned to her desk and immediately heard her phone ping with a text message. It was Lucy.

—What’s all the drama?—

Caroline responded,—Something about the wedding I guess.—

After several minutes of Misty’s loud, angry-sounding words from inside the office, Misty emerged and flounced off down the hall without so much as a backward glance. Caroline watched her go in dismay.

“Sorry, Caroline,” Richard said, stepping out into the hall. “That was rude of her.”

Caroline waved away his concern. Rude was Misty’s trademark. “Is there a problem?”

Richard cleared his throat. “Well, apparently Misty had a disagreement with Sharlene about some wedding detail. I need to talk to my sister, I guess. Can you get her on the phone?” He went back into his office, this time leaving the door open.

“Of course.” Caroline picked up her desk phone and dialed Sharlene’s cell phone, a number she’d unfortunately committed to memory. “Sharlene?” she said when Sharlene picked up. “This is Caroline at the office, and Richard needs to speak to you. Okay, please hold,” she said before calling out, “Richard, I have Sharlene on line one.”

Richard put his sister on speakerphone while he logged onto his computer. “Sharlene, Misty was just here and angry about something to do with…”

“Richard, darling, it’s just that neither she nor that wedding planner has any taste whatsoever. That’s why I chose the flower arrangements for the ceremony, and I expect you to back me up.”

Richard sighed. “Just do whatever you want, but please don’t stir Misty up anymore. I have actual work to do here.” He paused, then added, “Unless you’d like to come back to the office and handle some of the clients you left dangling?”

Sharlene snorted. “Richard, don’t be absurd. You know I don’t have time for that now.”

“I didn’t think so.”

Caroline was busy at her computer by the time Richard hung up the phone, finished checking his emails, and came out of his office. She’d called Mr. Hamilton and solved the ad problem, and was planning to go to the printer after lunch.

“You forgot these yesterday,” Richard said as he handed her several heavy books, “and with all the commotion from Misty, I forgot to remind you.”

Caroline juggled and almost dropped them. “Oh, are these the books you promised Megan?”

Richard reached over to help her with the load, and their hands touched for a moment. He blushed as he unloaded the books onto her desk. “Yeah, and yesterday when Misty…”

“Megan will enjoy the books,” Caroline told him, trying to put a cheerful spin on this uncomfortable conversation. “And I understand about Misty. Planning a wedding must be stressful.” Caroline almost gagged on that sentence but stopped and forced herself to return to a professional demeanor. “If you don’t mind, Richard, I’ll just go ahead and put these books in my car, go to lunch, and then to the printer.”

“Well, sure,” he said, flustered.

Not looking at him, Caroline shoved the books into her oversized handbag and hurried to the front door.

“Problems?” Lucy asked, stopping Caroline in her tracks.

Caroline shifted the bag to her other arm, both shoulders drooping. “I’m taking an early lunch, hoping to distance myself from Richard and his wedding plans.” She folded her arms and studied a spot on the floor. “What in the world does he see in Misty anyway?”

Lucy pulled her headphones off and tapped them thoughtfully on the reception desk. “Must be her sweet disposition.” They both laughed. “Listen, girlfriend, Jonathan won season passes at work to this season’s Symphony on the Lawn up in Belford, and I was thinking…”

“Won them?” Caroline said. “Cool.”

“Yeah, some sales competition. But the last thing I want to do tonight is sit on the ground in the summer heat.” She patted her expanding belly. “I was thinking you could use the distraction. Why don’t you and your sisters go instead?”

Caroline’s mouth dropped open. “Are you sure? That’s so generous.”

Lucy nodded as she put the headphones back on. “I’ll have Jonathan drop them by here this afternoon. We can always go next week if the weather cools down.” She pushed a button on the phone. “Meadows Advertising. How may I help you?”

****

“Did you get my text?” Caroline asked Allie. “You never answered. Are we going to the symphony tonight or not?”

“I got it,” Allie said. “And we’re going. Megan, too.”

Caroline nodded and then dropped the stack of books on her bed in their shared bedroom.

“What’s all that?” Allie asked.

“Art books, books on architecture, classic art, modern art, you name it. Richard sent them for Megan. He started to give them to me yesterday, but we got interrupted by Misty and her crisis du jour. And then she came back for an encore today.”

“So Misty’s still getting you all riled up, huh?”

Caroline sat down on her bed, dejected. “No. Well yes, but it’s because she’s so inconsiderate of Richard’s time.”

Allie lifted an eyebrow. “Isn’t it maybe time for you to move on? Seriously, Caroline, you work for Richard, but you have some pretty unprofessional feelings for him.”

Caroline picked up one of the art books and flipped through the pages. “No I don’t.”

“Oh, please, Caroline. You’ve been carrying a torch for the man ever since you first laid eyes on him.”

Caroline sighed, shut the book, and let her shoulders slump. “Maybe once, but that was before he got engaged.”

Allie slapped her forehead. “He got engaged after a drunken night in a bar when Misty brought up his dead mother and promises made before the two of them were even out of diapers! It’s not an engagement, it’s a guilt trip.”

Caroline nodded. “Maybe, but he could’ve broken it off and he didn’t. So guilt trip or not, he’s getting married.”

“Then forget Richard,” Allie said, sitting down on the bed next to her. “It’s time for you to find your own man.”

Caroline shrugged, got up, and started pawing through her side of the closet. “Sounds good in theory, but no one ever asks me out anyway.”

Allie got up and followed her. “You’re young, attractive, educated; any man would be lucky to have you. What about that guy in the office down the hall from Meadows?” She reached into the closet and pulled a dress out of her side and held it up, checking the look in the mirror.

Caroline’s eyes widened. “If you’re referring to Malcolm Atwater, he’s gay.”

Allie reached over and playfully poked her sister’s arm. “Not him, Car. The blond guy you said was staring at you when—is he a lawyer, or maybe he’s one of the realtors? I forget, but it doesn’t matter. You need to get out and find a man who’s unattached.”

“Says the single girl.” Caroline pulled a pair of emerald green capris out of the closet and got a white cotton t-shirt from inside the dresser. “And Richard’s so…”

“Engaged?”

Caroline ignored her sister’s remark as she started changing out of her work clothes. “So serious, so career-minded, so…”

Allie also started changing clothes, out of her sweats and into the sundress. “So…nothing. Wake up, Caroline! Richard has a lot of good qualities, I’ll admit, and he’s not bad-looking either, but the bottom line is—he’s getting married, aka off the market!”

Caroline stepped to the mirror, pulled her ponytail holder out, shook her hair, and tied it back again. “But Misty’s all wrong for him. How will he ever be happy with her? Maybe if I just wait…”

Allie wiggled into her dress and zipped it up the back. “No more waiting! I’m sorry, Caroline, but if he’s determined to marry that woman, you need to accept it and get on with your own life.”

“Oh sure, no problem.” Caroline sank onto her bed. “Except I have no life.”

“Then get one!” Allie put her hands on her hips and frowned at her reflection. She kicked off the flats she’d chosen and stepped into a pair of low-heeled sandals instead. “Hello? Are you listening to yourself, Caroline? Mooning over an almost married man! Here’s what you do. First, go get a new job—away from Richard—and then take control of your social life!”

Caroline sighed. Here she was, twenty-four years old, working at a job she loved for a salary she couldn’t live on, pining for a man she could never have, and sharing a tiny bedroom with her college-age sister. Allie had made some good points, if only she could find the strength to follow through. “I wasn’t planning to live here with Mom forever. But I’m just so conflicted about the job and I can’t…” Caroline paused and looked over at her sister when Allie didn’t interrupt her. Allie was now wearing a very pretty flowered sundress with various shades of pink, purple and green set against a white background, her dark hair pushed back with a white headband, and pink sandals with tiny spiked heels. “You’re kinda dressed up for a night of sitting in the grass, aren’t you?”

Allie shrugged and grinned. “You never know who you might meet at one of those concerts. You’ve got the tickets, right? Megan and I have already packed the picnic supper.”

Caroline nodded. She looked down at her casual pants and nondescript t-shirt. “Should I change?”

Allie looked her over and nodded. “Tonight’s as good as any to start your new social life.”

Caroline took off her t-shirt and changed into a crisp multi-colored blouse. “Mom tells me you met Professor Phillips.”

Allie scrunched up her face. “Yeah, and he acted really weird. He just kept staring at me, all speechless or something.”

Caroline winked at her. “So he noticed you’re attractive?”

Allie shrugged. “It just seemed odd.”

Caroline stood up and smoothed a wrinkle from the back of her blouse. “Well, don’t worry about it. Emily vouched for him.”

“But he’s, like, old!”

“Old? I thought Mom said he was about thirty,” Caroline said.

“Well, I’m only twenty-one, so being ogled by a thirty-year-old man creeps me out.”

“I’m sure he wasn’t ‘ogling’ you. You’re attractive and men notice. If Emily said he’s a good person, then he is. Besides, you desperately need a place to practice this summer, right?”

Allie looked dubious.

“Has Sharlene relented about the piano?” Caroline asked.

Allie shook her head.

“Then accept Brandon’s offer. It’s not forever, but it’ll keep you busy till you decide about school in August.”

Allie gave that some thought. “So either I don’t practice at all this summer, or I let an old guy stare at me while I do.” She cringed when Caroline frowned at her. “Okay, I’ll call him tomorrow to set up a schedule.”

Caroline and Allie stepped to the mirror, surveyed their look, high-fived each other and called for Megan. Caroline decided Allie was right. She needed to jump start her social life, and tonight might just be the night.

****

“It’s too crowded here,” Megan fussed. “We’re never going to find a place to sit. Why did you two drag me to this thing anyway? I hate Mozart.”

“Quit whining, Megan. It’s not like you had anything else to do tonight,” Allie shot back.

“Ladies, please,” Caroline said, “no squabbling. We’re here to have fun. We’ve got a blanket, picnic supper, and free tickets, so let’s just enjoy ourselves.” She looked from one to the other of her sisters, waiting.

Allie blew out a puff of air and took in the gathering crowd, but nodded in agreement with Caroline. “Megan, didn’t you bring some of those art books Richard sent?” She looked over at the satchel slung over Megan’s shoulder. “You can look through those during the concert.”

“Yeah, and I’ve got way too much stuff in my hands. It’s getting heavy,” Megan whined.

Caroline shifted the picnic basket to her other hand and began to scout out a place for the three of them to sit. It really was crowded, but that was to be expected for the first night of the summer season. The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra played every weekend in Belford from mid-June until Labor Day. The “lawn” was actually a large grassy hill with an amphitheater on top, and people were camped everywhere she looked. Some came prepared for a simple picnic, while others had elaborately laid out tablecloths, candles, wine, and gourmet dinners. Children played, people milled around, and adults talked, read, or just quietly ate their meals.

Caroline pointed to an open spot at the top of the hill, left of the stage. “I think that’s the only spot we’re going to find.”

Megan stomped her foot. “No way! I’m not climbing up that hill lugging all this stuff in this heat!”

“Here, let me take some of those books,” Caroline offered. Megan handed over her satchel, nearly weighing Caroline down. “Great. So can you at least take the picnic basket?”

Megan took the basket from Caroline. “Seriously, can’t we find somewhere that doesn’t involve hiking?”

“Caroline’s right, Megs, there’s no place else,” Allie said. “Besides, that’s where the view is the best.” She started walking toward the hill. “Come on, the concert’s going to start soon, and I don’t want to miss a moment of Mozart.”

Caroline hurried ahead of her sisters. The empty spot they’d seen was already filling with symphony-goers, so she needed to hurry if she wanted to stake out a spot. Caroline started walking uphill as fast as she could, considering all she was carrying. She got up there, scouted around for a spot, and tossed her sister’s satchel down to hold it. Once it was secured, she turned around to see where Allie and Megan were. Still at the bottom of the incline, bickering. Caroline sighed, but waved at them to signal she’d found a place to set up. Allie waved back and started up the hill, Megan grudgingly following behind.

And then it happened: with Allie looking ahead of her instead of where she was stepping, her stylish pink sandals caught in some undergrowth. She stumbled over a hole in the grass and fell, twisting her ankle.

“Ahhh!” she yelled, as the blanket and her handbag fell down beside her.

Caroline gasped. She was too far away to get to Allie’s side, and there were too many people between her and her sister, so all she could do was call out, “Allie! Are you okay?”

Caroline watched helplessly as Megan rushed over to her sister as quickly as her picnic-basket-laden arms would allow, but already a crowd was gathering, blocking Caroline’s view. “Excuse me, pardon me,” she said, making her way back down the hill and pushing through the people staring at her injured sister.

“Miss, are you all right?” asked an elderly gentleman.

“No, my ankle,” Allie moaned.

“Allie!” Caroline reached her and kneeled down to have a look at Allie’s swelling ankle.

“Can you stand?” asked another voice from the crowd.

Allie winced and put her hand on her forehead to shield her eyes from the early evening sun as she looked for the source of the voice. Caroline followed her gaze and saw a very handsome man stepping toward Allie, looking concerned. He appeared to be in his early twenties, tall with light brown hair, muscular, and dressed in designer jeans and a Ralph Lauren shirt. Allie opened her mouth to speak, but between rubbing her aching ankle and gaping at the attractive guy, she couldn’t seem to get any words out.

The young man reached for Allie’s arm. “Here, let me help you up.”

“I don’t think I can,” Allie sputtered.

“I’m her sister,” Caroline told him as she pulled out her phone. “I can call…”

“Caroline, what do I do?” Megan cried.

“What’s your name?” the young man calmly asked Megan.

“Megan Benedict,” she said, tears coming to her eyes. “That’s my sister Allie, and my other sister Caroline. What should I do?”

“It’s okay, Megan,” Caroline said, “take the picnic basket and go wait at the spot I just found,” she said, pointing up the hill. “I’m calling 9-1-1.”

“That won’t be necessary,” the young man said. “I can take her to the first-aid tent.”

“Are you sure?” Caroline asked, putting her phone away.

Megan sniffled but did as she was told, and the young man helped Allie up onto her good foot. When he ascertained she really couldn’t walk on the injured ankle, he easily picked her up. “By the way, I’m Mark Townsend,” he told Allie with a winning smile. Caroline could see that Allie was already smitten.

“Nice to meet you,” Allie said as Mark carried her down the hill to the first aid tent, Caroline trailing behind. He carefully eased her onto a chair inside the tent and told the attending nurse what had happened.

“I’m so embarrassed,” Allie said.

“No need,” Mark assured her. “Accidents happen. And maybe this one happened for a reason.” He winked at her.

Caroline lifted an eyebrow as she watched Allie grimace in pain while the nurse examined the ankle, and then blush as Mark Townsend hovered over her.

“I think you have a rather nasty sprain here,” the nurse told her. “I can give you an ice pack, but it really should be seen by a doctor. Is there someone who can drive you to the emergency room?”

“I can do that, if we can just get a golf cart,” Caroline told the nurse.

“I’ll just take the ice pack for now,” Allie said. Caroline frowned and started to object, but Allie held up her hand in protest. “Caroline,” she said without taking her eyes off Mark, “I promise to call Dr. Li in the morning, but we got these concert tickets for free, and I’m not about to miss it.”

Caroline didn’t think for a minute that Allie was nearly as interested in Mozart as she was in her heroic rescuer.

“Suit yourself,” the nurse said. “Do you want to borrow some crutches for the rest of the evening?”

“Yes, please.”

“Let me help you stand up.” Allie nodded her assent as Mark placed his arm around her waist and got her onto her good foot.

The nurse brought over the crutches. “Keep that foot elevated and the ice pack on it. Okay?”

“Okay, thanks.” She took a few steps leaning heavily on the crutches.

“Do you need some help with those, Allie?” Caroline asked.

Allie shook her head.

Mark stepped aside and let Allie hobble out. “A gentleman would never leave a lady in distress, so let me make sure you get back up the hill safely.”

“Oh, no, that’s not necessary,” Caroline protested.

Allie shot her sister a dirty look.

“No trouble. Besides, my friends and I were sitting fairly close to where your sister fell. I’m going that way anyway.”

Caroline rolled her eyes as Mark helped Allie slowly make her way back up the incline on crutches to rejoin his four friends. “I’ll just go get our stuff,” Caroline told them, but knew neither Allie nor Mark was paying any attention to her. Caroline hurried up to get Megan. The two of them gathered their belongings, and returned to join Mark and his friends. The group happily welcomed Megan and Allie, leaving Caroline feeling like a fifth wheel.

Mark made introductions. “These are some old friends from college: William, Pete, Sam and his wife Georgia. This is Allie Benedict. Where do you go to school, Allie?”

“Bryce An…” Allie broke off. “Well, at the moment, I’m sort of between schools.”

“Between schools? Is that code for lost your scholarship?” Mark teased.

Allie smiled. “Something like that.”

Georgia offered Allie a glass of wine. “Bryce. Would that be Bryce Anthony Music Conservatory?”

Allie nodded, taking a sip of the white chardonnay. “It would be.”

“Wow!” Georgia gushed. “You must be talented or you wouldn’t have gotten in there. And rich, because that school’s expensive from what I hear.”

“Allie’s the best piano player you ever heard!” Megan exclaimed.

Allie blushed. “I do have other interests besides music.”

“Like what?” Mark asked.

He was extremely good-looking, and as Caroline sat on the sidelines watching all this, she knew Allie was succumbing to his charms. But they didn’t know anything about this guy and that bothered her. Allie and Mark talked all through the first half of the concert, the intermission, and the second half. They discussed literature, theatre, pop music, classical music, and art. In fact, everything that Allie was passionate about, Mark claimed to also enjoy, although Caroline was dubious about his sincerity.

“Mark, are you in school?” Caroline asked.

“I just graduated from Ball State University this spring, but I’m planning to go back for my MBA in the fall,” he replied, never taking his eyes off Allie.

“Hmm. Ball State. Small world,” Allie said, an attractive pink glow spreading across her cheeks. “That’s where my mother wants me to transfer next year. We had to move recently. My dad’s new wife wanted the Belford house, so now we live in Rosslyn Village.”

“In a tiny house,” Megan interjected, pouting.

Mark nodded. “I know what you mean about downsizing. My family lost a lot of money in the recession of ’08, and well, let’s just say old money doesn’t go as far as it used to. But your dad, isn’t he…”

Suddenly Allie slapped her forehead. “Didn’t you go to Willowby Hall Prep, and graduate two years ahead of me?”

Mark look startled. “I guess I did.” They both laughed, and then Mark added, “Imagine that: we attended the same high school at about the same time, but never knew each other.”

Allie sighed and looked down at her swollen ankle, reaching over to massage it. “I’m wondering how I’ll make the adjustment from a small music conservatory to a big university. It’s pretty overwhelming.”

“Don’t worry. It’s a great school, and I know you’ll like it once you’ve been up there for a visit. What if I show you around campus? After your ankle heals.”

Allie nodded enthusiastically. “I’d like that.”

Caroline groaned inwardly. I’ll bet you would.

The sun sets late in June, so it had barely gotten dark as the concert ended, the stars just bright enough to afford some light as people quickly cleared out. Caroline didn’t think Allie had listened to a note of the Mozart pieces she’d been so eager to hear.

Mark got Allie to her feet, helped Megan and Caroline gather their belongings, and told his friends he’d join them in the parking lot.

Caroline was concerned as she watched Allie hobble on her crutches, visibly favoring her right ankle. “I think we’re going to need a golf cart to get Allie to the car,” she said, scouting around for one. But all she saw was hundreds of people dragging picnic remnants and their personal items to the crowded parking lot. “I guess I’ll have to go ask the nurse to call for one.”

“I’ll wait here with Allie,” Mark told Caroline, “till you and Megan get back.” Immediately his attention was on Allie again. “And speaking of calling, give me your cell phone.” Allie handed it to Mark, and he programmed his number into it.

“There.” He placed it in her hand with an affectionate squeeze. “Promise you’ll call me after you see the doctor tomorrow.”

Allie giggled. “Okay.”

Caroline hadn’t planned to leave Allie alone with this guy, but she didn’t want to be rude. “Come on, Megan,” she said, and started walking to the first aid tent.