Chapter Ten

Caroline stepped into the elevator and pushed the twelfth floor button to take her to the offices of Charing Cross Marketing, a large company with offices in several major cities. She had summoned every ounce of courage she had to force herself to apply for the open position in copyediting she found online, and then Margaret Smithson, head of Human Resources, had called her to interview for it. The office building was located in a fast-growing business corridor not far from Meadows Advertising, so Caroline rationalized that the drive to and from work would be nearly the same.

As the elevator doors parted, Caroline hesitated and almost didn’t get off. You have to do this. She set her jaw, walked down the short hallway, opened the heavy double glass doors, and strode purposefully into the office.

“Good morning,” she said to the receptionist. “I’m Caroline Benedict, and I have an appointment with Ms. Smithson.”

The receptionist pushed a button on her headset and announced Caroline’s arrival. “Please have a seat. Ms. Smithson will be right out.”

Caroline sat down on the leather sofa in the plush waiting area, nervously flipped through one of the business magazines on the mahogany coffee table, and looked around at what she could see of the offices from that vantage point. The company handled mostly corporate clients, unlike Meadows Advertising, which dealt with small businesses. Caroline saw the irony in the fact that this would have been the perfect agency to handle Truitt’s ad campaign, the one her father had so cavalierly handed over to Sharlene while under her seductive spell.

The office was remarkably quiet, with assistants in business suits bustling around and speaking in hushed tones. Do I really want to join Corporate America? The answer was that this was the only response she had gotten to her many job applications, and if she was hired, it would pay well and come with full benefits. And distance her from Richard and his wedding plans.

A slender African-American woman in an impeccable two-piece business suit and black pumps emerged from a wood-embossed corridor. Caroline briefly wondered how the woman could walk wearing that tight pencil skirt, but forced herself to refocus.

“Ms. Benedict?”

“Yes.” Caroline stood to shake her hand.

“Please, follow me. I think you’ll find Charing Cross to be quite different from Meadows Advertising, but with your qualifications, I’m sure you’ll fit right in here.” Ms. Smithson led Caroline down the hall to her private office. Caroline tried to swallow the lump in her throat before stepping inside.

****

Caroline returned to her office at Meadows after the nerve-wracking interview and checked her email. To her surprise, Allie had loaded up her inbox. “I don’t have time for all this drama,” she groused, but opened the first one anyway.

Car,

Brittany and I have been emailing back and forth, so I’m forwarding them to you for your opinion. She wants me to come up to Chicago to visit. I feel guilty for putting her off, but my relationship with Mark is going so well and I don’t want to be anywhere but with him. Besides, you know I hate Chicago. Too many memories of school and it’s too soon, even if I wanted to be parted from Mark, which I don’t. Besides, when was the last time Brittany was in love? She just doesn’t get it.

Caroline moaned. In love? She reluctantly opened the forwarded exchange between Allie and Brittany.

Allie,

I’m leaving for Chicago tomorrow to spend the entire month of July with Aunt Emily. There’s only so much shopping I can do (okay, not entirely true). When are you coming? I’m sure Mark can spare you for a few days. Please? Nordstrom’s is calling my name!

Brittany

Brittany,

Yes, but Mark is so gorgeous, and sweet and lovable and—you get the idea. I just can’t tear myself away right now! The last three days alone we’ve been to a museum, a boat ride on the Canal, and an outdoor classic movie. I’m falling in love! :)

Allie

Caroline couldn’t believe her eyes. Allie thinks she’s falling in love with Mark? They’ve only known each other a few weeks. She shook her head and deleted the email, clicking on the last one from Allie.

Caroline,

I told Brittany I’d ask, so can you spare a few days in July to drive me up to Chicago? Feel free to say no. :)

Caroline replied, rather tersely if she was being honest.

Allie,

Why are you emailing me? We share a very small bedroom, and I’m busy right now—working. Talk to me tonight.

“Caroline, darling, you look nice today. Why are you all dressed up?”

Caroline had just hit send on that email to Allie when she looked up to see Sharlene standing over her. It grated on her nerves that Sharlene called her “darling” or “dear” like she was so much older. Caroline had dressed carefully for the interview in a gray pinstripe pantsuit with a white camisole, black pumps, her hair tied neatly back with a clip. She’d given special thought that morning to looking professional, but Sharlene’s implication that she usually didn’t hit home. Caroline made a mental note to start dressing more appropriately, even if Meadows Advertising was a business casual environment.

“I had a job interview this morning.”

“Job interview? Interesting.” Sharlene tried to hide her smirk. “Where was your interview? Maybe I can put in a good word. You know I’m acquainted with all the right people at all the right agencies in town.”

Caroline groaned inwardly, but since Richard and everyone else in the office already knew, she replied, “Charing Cross Marketing.”

“Wonderful, Caroline! I must say it’s certainly time you moved on with your career. Why, just yesterday I said the same thing to your father when…”

Caroline braced herself for more of Sharlene’s self-congratulatory monologue, but with perfect timing, Richard came out of his office and saved Caroline from ennui. Richard and Caroline exchanged shy smiles. Sharlene narrowed her eyes and grabbed Richard’s arm to get his attention.

“Richard, dear, I’ve got one o’clock reservations at the Skybridge Club downtown, and they won’t hold the table for us. Misty’s meeting us there. We’ve got lots of wedding details to discuss,” Sharlene said as she tossed a menacing look at Caroline, “including the rehearsal dinner and the guest list.”

Caroline blushed and tried to appear busy, organizing paper clips, rubber bands, pens, and post-its in her desk drawer.

“Between you and Misty, I’m never sure who’s actually planning this wedding,” Richard protested. “Don’t we have a wedding planner?”

“My poor brother. So wrapped up in his work he hasn’t paid any attention to the details. In case you’ve forgotten, brother dearest, Daniel and I are giving the rehearsal dinner, and I’d like at least nominal input from you and your lovely fiancée.” Richard gave Caroline a look that said what can I do? and allowed his sister to nudge him down the hall.

“Have a nice lunch.” Caroline turned back to her computer in anguish.

But Sharlene had one last parting shot. “Caroline, you and your sisters must come up to Belford and have dinner with your father and me one evening.”

“When?” Caroline challenged her.

Sharlene hedged. “Well, I can’t give you an exact date right now, dear, because we’re still in the midst of redecorations, plus all these wedding preparations…”

“Uh huh.”

“No really, Caroline, I intend to have you girls up for dinner as soon as possible. I’ll call you.” She threw her an air kiss and walked off down the hall on Richard’s arm.

Caroline shuddered. Yeah, right. Dinner with “us girls.” She knew it would never be arranged.

****

“I see Misty’s already at our table.” Sharlene waved to her as she and Richard got off the elevator. The Skybridge Club, a private dining club atop an historic downtown skyscraper, was accessible only by private elevator with a key, which was only distributed to members in good standing. Sharlene had used Daniel’s membership continuously since her marriage and quite a few times before that, so she was practically on a first-name basis with the wait staff. If that had been appropriate.

“Hi, Misty,” Richard said, kissing her lightly on the lips. When she didn’t kiss him back, he shrugged, held the chair for his sister, and sat down opposite his fiancée.

“Richard, why are you late? You’re always so late to everything.” Misty snapped her napkin open and spread it on her lap.

“Oh, Misty, dear, don’t be angry. It was all my fault,” Sharlene told her. “We couldn’t find a decent place in the parking garage—at least not one close to the door. These shoes…”

“New?” Misty lifted the white linen tablecloth to get a look at Sharlene’s feet.

“Well, of course, dear. You didn’t expect me to go through a second summer wearing last year’s shoes, did you?” They both tittered.

Richard rolled his eyes but brightened when the waiter handed them their menus and started listing the day’s specials. Sharlene waved him away.

“Just bring three Cobb salads and three iced teas. We have business to discuss.”

“Very good, Mrs. Meadows-Benedict.” The waiter walked over to the service station and returned immediately with their tumblers of tea.

“Richard,” Misty cooed, “please tell me you’ve spoken to your best man and arranged for groomsmen. We’re running out of time, honey.”

Richard grabbed a roll out of the basket in the center of the table and absent-mindedly slathered it with butter. “Well, Jack already agreed to be best man. And I’m going on the GGG next week, so I’ll talk to the rest of the guys then.”

“And just what is the GGG?” Misty demanded.

Sharlene put her fingers to her lips in a silent reminder. She didn’t want to insult her very wealthy future sister-in-law, but sometimes Misty could be a bit, well, inappropriate. Like yelling at her fiancé in a nearly deserted restaurant.

“Guys’ Golf Getaway,” Richard told her. “I thought you knew I went to Vegas around this time every summer for a week’s golf outing.”

“How would I know that?” Misty took a loud slurp of her iced tea. “And what am I supposed to do while you’re golfing?”

Richard looked perplexed. “I thought you had shopping to do, or something. Didn’t you say you were looking for a trousseau?”

Sharlene decided to intervene before the two of them had a spat. “Really, Richard, this golf outing is poorly timed,” she scolded. “We have so much left to do, and we haven’t even started discussing the rehearsal dinner.”

Richard scowled. “Sharlene, it’s a tradition, one Dad started when I was in high school. Remember? Besides, I don’t think you need my input on any of this.” Turning to Misty, he added, “And if it helps, I’ll use the time to line up the groomsmen.”

“Well, my goodness, what do we have here?”

Sharlene, Richard, and Misty all looked up to see Adele Meadows standing next to their table.

Richard stood up and greeted her with a hug. “Grandmother, what a pleasant surprise. What are you doing here?”

“Joining Polly Henderson for a late lunch, but she stopped to powder her nose, so I’ll just join the three of you while I wait.” Richard held out the fourth chair for her. “What do you young folks have your heads together about? As if I didn’t know.”

“The wedding, of course, Adele,” Misty growled. She poured yet another sugar packet into her tea and stirred it vigorously, clinking the spoon against the glass.

“We’re trying to settle some details about the rehearsal dinner, Grandmother,” Sharlene said. She reached over and put a steadying arm on Misty’s wrist. “So far, all that’s been decided is that it’ll be at the Belford Country Club. Do you have any suggestions?”

“I suggest you rethink the whole thing!” Adele looked first at Misty squeezing too much lemon into her tea, Richard back to scraping butter off his roll and reapplying it, and Sharlene drumming the table with her well-manicured fingernails.

Sharlene huffed, “Grandmother, please. We have so many loose ends to tie up and very little time left, so unless you have constructive ideas…”

Adele sighed. “I’m sure you’ll arrange all the wedding minutiae, Sharlene, with your usual impeccable taste.” She confronted Richard. “What I’m wondering about is the marriage.”

Richard cleared his throat, tossed the roll on its plate, and took a big swallow of iced tea. Misty busied herself rearranging the silverware next to her plate and didn’t make eye contact with him or his grandmother.

Adele glared first at Richard and then Misty. “Will you two be writing your own vows?”

Richard nearly choked on his iced tea. “Uh, I hadn’t thought about it.” He looked helplessly at his fiancée.

“That’s another thing to consider,” Sharlene replied, when Misty said nothing. “I suppose we could have the wedding planner compose them.”

Adele sat up straight and leveled her gaze at each of them. “Wedding ceremonies should be about your love. You know, your grandfather and I wrote our own vows, and back then it wasn’t even a popular thing to do like it is nowadays. Rich spoke so eloquently it brought tears to my eyes, and still does every time I remember it. What will you be saying to your bride, Richard?”

Sharlene wanted her grandmother gone before she ruined everything. “Thank you for your help, Grandmother, but I think we can let the happy couple decide this on their own.” She stood and reached over to help Adele out of her chair and out of their business. Really, her grandmother was the most infuriating old woman.

Adele patted Richard’s arm. “I suppose you young folks will have to excuse me now. I see Polly waving at me across the room.”

Richard stood politely as Adele got up and walked briskly across the dining room, leaving the three of them alone in an awkward silence.