Honor carried her packing supplies into her mother’s bedroom, where large piles of papers, pictures and bedding were stacked along the walls—items left behind when her sister, Patty, claimed the bedroom set for use in one of her guest rooms.
She opened the closet door and stepped inside. Her mother’s light, flowery scent still clung to some of the clothes, and as Honor folded them neatly into a cardboard box bound for Goodwill, the reality of her loss hit home. There would be no more hugs and cookies, no more cheerful pep talks when things were going badly, and no one to brag to when things went especially well.
Honor sat down with her back against the wall, closing her eyes to hold back her tears. “Mom, I’m sorry I moved away and didn’t include you in my life more often. I didn’t know we would have so little time together. I hope you know how much I loved you.”
Honor could almost hear her mother cooing, “Don’t be silly. Of course I know you loved me; it just wasn’t your style to say so all the time. Now, come on into the kitchen and have a cookie with me.”
Honor smiled and dried her eyes. Glancing up, she noticed an antique hatbox on the floor directly across from where she was sitting. Honor guessed her siblings had overlooked this piece of their mother’s antique collection. She scooted over to the box and examined it carefully before gingerly untying the silk bow that held it closed. She expected to find an antique hat inside, but instead, she found a Victorian Era blouse, skirt and petticoat, along with a small velvet bag. She turned the bag upside down over her open palm. Four pearls and a small brass key spilled out.
In an instant, Honor realized these were the last of the pearls from her great-great-grandmother’s necklace. The ones her mother had saved in the hope that Honor, like her sisters, would have daughters of her own someday.
Honor contemplated this tangible connection to her ancestors. She unfastened her necklace and slipped the new pearls onto the chain, giving her a total of five pearls. She refastened the chain around her neck, and then carefully tucked the clothing and key back into the hatbox and retied the silk bow.
She went into the master bath to admire the pearls in the mirror above the vanity. “This feels right; one pearl for each generation, starting with me and going all the way back to Great-Great-Grandmother.” She fingered the pearls, enjoying a sense of unity with past generations.
Her cell phone rang, interrupting her contemplation. She pulled it from her pocket, hoping Josh was calling, but it was just William - again.
Disappointed, she rolled her eyes and answered. “Hello, William. What now?”
William hesitated a moment at her unfriendly tone. “Pete Cross has more questions. Can I have him call you again?”
Honor felt sorry for Pete. He was more of a colleague than an employee and she didn’t want to put him in the middle of this situation.
“If I say ‘no,’ then I’m the bad guy. So, yes, have him call me. But after this, try not to call unless there’s a major crisis at Soft Fix, William. If I keep talking to you and working on software designs all day, I’ll never get finished here.”
“Come on, Honor… it’s not like you’re on a hot date or anything.”
“Go to hell,” she countered, as she flipped the phone closed. She remembered William’s cruel comments she overheard the night she left for Florida. “Maybe that’s why Josh hasn’t called. He doesn’t find me attractive, either.”
She sighed and went back to work in the closet.
A moment later, her phone rang again. Annoyed, she flipped it open. “This had better be a major crisis!”
It wasn’t William.
“No crisis, but did you know there are seven different area codes in the Chicago area?” the friendly male voice countered.
Confused, Honor glanced at the caller ID, but didn’t recognize the number. “Excuse me?”
“When you entered your number in my cell, you didn’t include your area code. This is the fifth one I tried, but there were seven possibilities.”
“Josh?”
“Hi, Honor. I figure you left the area code off on purpose so I couldn’t call you, but I really enjoyed meeting you, so I had to be sure.”
Stunned, Honor fumbled for words. “It was an accident! I hoped you would call. You really looked up all the area codes in the Chicago area? When you didn’t call, I thought… I’ll shut up now.”
Josh laughed. It was the most wonderful sound.
“It seems like you’re busy and I’m heading over to meet some of my brothers in a few minutes, but now that I know your entire phone number, I’ll call you later, okay?”
Honor’s knees turned to jelly. “Sure,” she squeaked.
Perhaps it was the new-found confidence she gained from Josh’s phone call, or maybe it was the additional pearls, but a new goal began to form in Honor’s thoughts. It might take years, but she was going to dissolve her business partnership with William.
Honor’s thoughts drifted back to Josh. “Mom, I’ve met a wonderful man. His name is Josh Lancing and he’s a contractor. He has a four-year-old son, named Cody who is just plain adorable. And Josh… well, Josh is incredible. He’s funny and charming and interesting and…”
Honor pictured Josh’s body. Below his wavy dark hair, blue eyes, and brilliant smile, were wide shoulders and a v-shaped torso. She recalled how the muscles flexed in his arms when he picked up Cody, wondering how it would feel to be wrapped up in those arms. “Mmmm…” she murmured, blushing at her lustful thoughts.
To take her mind off Josh, she tried to bring her new business goal into focus. Soon her mind was racing. It was William’s job to court customers and in the process, he formed close friendships with many of them. Honor wondered if she could convince any of them to stay with her if they simply split Soft Fix in half. Could she run a business without William?
She thought about the changes she would like to make in her life until finally, her desires crystallized.
“Mom, I know what I want now. No matter how long it takes, I want my own business. I want to enjoy life with someone who appreciates me. I want a home like yours - that’s filled with things that are important to me,” she paused. “And yes, Mom, I want a daughter of my own.”