Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
When they reached Ivy’s building, Teddy practically skipped up the steps. Inside, Caleb followed them to the third floor. The walls were dingy, and the building smelled of coal, mingled with cooking and a faint trace of mold.
Ivy unlocked her door and went in. An elderly woman turned toward them, waving a spatula. “Where have you… oh! A gentleman.” She set the spatula down, wiped her hands on her apron, and hurried across the one-room apartment.
Caleb took it all in quickly, cataloging the state of the living quarters, and then Ivy herself.
“Ivy, are you going to introduce me?” the elderly woman asked.
Ivy smiled. “Grandma Evie, this is Mr. Hartwell. We work together.”
“Well, of course you do. I’ve heard all about him.” Grandma Evie smiled at Caleb. “Teddy and Ivy have both spoken nice things about you.”
He glanced at Teddy with a smirk. “Are you sure it was all nice?”
Grandma Evie laughed and took him by the hand. “I assure you, young man, they speak of you highly.”
He looked at Ivy, whose mouth was pressed into a firm line as her shoulders shook with silent laughter, until her grandmother turned to her. “Is this a quick visit, dear? I’m afraid we haven’t, well…”
“We came to invite you to join us for dinner,” Caleb said smoothly. It was obvious she didn’t have enough to feed all of them, and he wasn’t about to ask her to. “Won’t you come?”
“Dinner out?” Grandma Evie’s eyes widened. “I can’t remember the last time we dined out.” She smoothed a hand over her hair, then removed her apron. “Are you sure, young man?”
“I’m sure.” Caleb smiled broadly, then realized he’d been standing in front of Teddy and stepped aside.
Grandma Evie took one look at her, gasped, and clapped her hands. “Teddy, you got a new dress!” She took Teddy by the hands and pulled her fully into the apartment. “Let me look at you. Why, you’re lovely, dear. Simply lovely!”
“Thank you, Grandma,” Teddy said and blushed.
Teddy must have removed her coat while the old woman had turned her attention to Caleb. Not that he minded. His parents were gone, as were his grandparents, and he found he missed the way his grandmother used to fuss over him.
They left the building and walked a short distance to a nice café. Once they’d ordered, Grandma Evie asked Caleb where he’d grown up, what sort of work he did before, and how on earth he’d ended up in Chicago.
He answered truthfully, up to a point. When it came to what had brought him to the city, he didn’t lie, but he didn’t tell them everything. “I had an aunt pass away, and I’m here to take care of a few things for her.”
“Oh, you poor dear,” Grandma Evie said. “Were you close?”
“Not really. I hadn’t seen Aunt June for several years. But we wrote back and forth, and I promised I’d come see her someday. I just never found the time.”
“Do you regret it?” Teddy asked.
Caleb looked at her, then at Grandma Evie and Ivy. “I do, actually.”
Teddy nodded slowly, then blurted, “So what’s your favorite food, Caleb? Oh… I mean, Mr. Hartwell.”
He laughed and shook his head. “You can call me Caleb. All of you can.”
“Oh my,” Grandma Evie gushed. “A first-name basis already.”
“Well?” Teddy prompted. “And if ya say pie, I’m gonna holler. I don’t know what it is about pie and men, but they’re always seen together.”
Grandma Evie laughed. “There’s a reason for that, child. Do you know how to make a pie?”
“Nope.”
“Well then, it’s time we teach you. Come Saturday, we’ll bake.”
Teddy’s eyes flicked to Caleb and back. “What kind of pie?”
Grandma Evie looked to him. “What’s your favorite?”
“Blueberry. Any kind of berry, really.”
“Then that settles it,” Teddy said. “We’ll bake you a berry pie! I don’t guarantee it’ll be any good, especially if’n it’s my first.” She turned to Ivy. “You know how to bake pies, don’t ya?”
“Ivy makes exceptional pies,” Grandma Evie said. “Isn’t that right, dear?”
Ivy gave them a weak smile. “I think so. But it’s been… a while.”
“How come?” Teddy asked. “Can’t ya afford the ingredients?”
Ivy winced. “It’s not that so much as…”
Grandma Evie sighed. “Mr. Grimsby, our landlord, seems to think Ivy is the sort to marry him. Every time she bakes, he shows up at our door, thinking the pie is for him.”
Teddy, mid-sip of her iced tea, spewed it everywhere. “He what?”
Ivy sank lower in her chair. “He keeps proposing.”
“While tryin’ to squeeze more rent money out of ya,” Teddy huffed.
Caleb’s hackles rose. “He does what?”
Teddy slapped a hand on the table. “The man tried to raise the rent just because I was there. But I told him I was only temporary.”
“And she paid him,” Ivy said quietly. “So did I, with some of the money you gave us. I’m sorry, Caleb, but…”
“Don’t be,” he said firmly. “I gave you that money to use however you needed. If that means keeping a roof over your heads, that’s fine.”
Ivy swallowed. “Thank you. You don’t know how much that means to me.”
He smiled warmly, his chest swelling. He was glad he’d been able to help them.
“I’m sorry I didn’t mention it sooner,” she added softly.
“Ivy, don’t worry about it. I’m not upset.” He smiled again, fighting the urge to reach across the table and take her hand.
They enjoyed their meal, talked over dessert and coffee, then finally left the restaurant.
“That was the finest meal I’ve had in years,” Teddy said, patting her stomach. “Thank ya, Caleb.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, then turned to Ivy.
“Yes, thank you,” she said softly, her eyes shining. “You have no idea how wonderful that was.”
“Indeed,” Grandma Evie said. “Now I aim to have Teddy bake you two pies!”
Caleb smiled and escorted them home. They were right. The evening had been pleasant, the food good, and the company even better. He’d learned a few things about Ivy and her grandmother, and in turn, they’d learned quite a bit about him.
He didn’t usually talk about himself so readily and wondered why he had tonight.
Slowly, his gaze shifted to Teddy. She’d been the one asking the questions.
Lots of them, now that he thought about it.
At the time, he’d been too caught up in Ivy’s curious glances to notice that he’d simply kept answering.
Had Teddy really been that curious, or had she been asking on Ivy’s behalf? If so, she was a sly little minx.
Unfortunately, the more he learned about Ivy, the more he liked her.
And this wasn’t the sort of liking one reserved for a friend.
No, at this point, he wanted to know her deeply.
She intrigued him, stirred his protective instincts, and made him want to camp outside her door just to keep her landlord away from her.
By the following afternoon, Ivy had resolved three things.
First, she would endeavor to remain professional.
Second, she would be careful.
And third, she would keep herself so busy she wouldn’t have time to think about last night and how Caleb listened intently to every word she spoke. And when she talked… oh, goodness gracious. The looks he’d given her had sent tingles skittering up her spine.
When she and Teddy arrived at the office, Caleb was already there, working at one of the desks. Teddy lingered near the coat rack as Ivy removed her gloves. “I think we should take George for a walk, don’t you?” Teddy blurted.
“Teddy, we just got here,” Ivy said, reaching for her scarf.
“Yes, but you know how George needs his mornin’ walk.”
No sooner had she spoken than Margaret appeared in the doorway on the other side of the office. George stood beside her, his hind end wiggling furiously, as though he’d understood every word.
“Look at him,” Teddy said, pointing. “He can’t wait.” She bent down and clapped her hands. “Can ya, boy? Ya want to go for a walk, don’t ya?”
“Oh no.” Ivy stepped aside just as George bounded across the office and nearly knocked Teddy over.
She laughed and patted his head. “Come on, Ivy. Let’s take him.”
“Teddy…” She glanced around. “Young George isn’t here yet, is he? Or did he already take the dog to the park?” she asked Margaret.
“No, young George hasn’t been by,” Margaret replied. “He doesn’t come every day anymore. The leash is in the back. I’ll fetch it.”
“You should come too,” Teddy said brightly to Caleb. “Sometimes George gets unruly, and I can’t hold him. Neither can Ivy.”
Caleb looked up. “Young George usually handles him fine.”
“Yes,” Teddy agreed quickly. “But young George is strong as an ox for his age, and he isn’t here. Dog George is. And George needs three handlers at least.”
Caleb smiled. “You want people to see your dress.”
Teddy’s coat was unbuttoned, and she opened it to reveal the new frock. “Well… maybe just a little. Besides, it’s not windy today.”
Augusta and Josie entered the office and immediately stopped short.
“Oh, Teddy, that’s beautiful,” Josie said. She crossed the room, took Teddy’s hands and examined her. “Take off your coat, I want to see all of it.”
“I do as well,” Augusta said as she approached. “That blue is stunning on you.”
“Thank you,” Teddy said, blushing. She glanced at Caleb, and bit her lower lip before grinning. “Mr. Hartwell helped a lot. A man’s opinion, ya know.”
Augusta glanced toward Caleb, who shrugged and focused intently on the paper in his hands. She turned back to the women. “What’s this about taking George for a walk?”
“Oh, not just us,” Teddy said. “We asked Caleb to come too. I want to show off my dress and see how people react.” She fluttered her lashes. “I need to know what kind of reaction Mr. Rowan will have when he sees me.”
Josie smiled. “It’s winter, and you’re going to Montana. Your coat will be buttoned up. Trust me.”
Ivy smiled and nodded. “She isn’t wrong.”
“Maybe not,” Teddy said. “But there’s no wind today, and I want to show it off.”
Caleb laughed and stood. “Very well. I’ll accompany you with the dog. You may promenade ahead of me, Teddy, and dazzle the public.”
Teddy beamed and headed for the door. “Come on!”
“We’re waiting on Margaret and the leash,” Ivy reminded her.
“Oh, yeah, right.” Teddy stopped and tapped her foot.
“Trust us, you look lovely,” Augusta said. “But if you insist on walking George, Caleb can handle him. Ivy, there’s no need for you to go.”
“Oh no,” Teddy said quickly. “That wouldn’t do. People might think Caleb and I are… well, courting. What would Mr. Rowan think?”
“Nothing unless you tell him,” Josie said dryly.
Margaret returned with the leash and handed it to Ivy. Caleb stepped in and took control of George, and before anyone could object, Teddy grabbed Ivy’s coat for her and ushered them all outside.
Ivy laughed. “That was sneaky.”
“It was, wasn’t it?” Teddy said, eyes shining as she crossed the street.
“She’s something else,” Ivy murmured as Caleb joined her.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“I don’t know. For some reason, she really wanted us with her.” Ivy hugged her arms around herself, not from the cold, but because Caleb walked beside her.
“She’s gone without for a long time,” he said gently. “You can’t blame her.”
Ivy opened her mouth, then closed it again. There was nothing wrong with the three of them walking the dog.
As if reading her mind, George barked in agreement.
Besides, it was just a walk, and in public, no less.
Ivy slipped her hands into her coat pockets and followed Caleb and George into the park. Teddy was already halfway across it, heading straight for the pond. “Why does she have to walk so fast?” Ivy huffed.
“She’s excited,” Caleb said, struggling to keep George from breaking into a run.
“Good thing she’s not running.” Ivy sucked in another breath. She silently cursed the tight corset Grandma Evie had laced that morning. She doubted Teddy was wearing one.
Ivy took another step, slipped, and started to fall.
Caleb caught her arm just as George lunged forward and yanked the leash from his hand. The dog bolted after Teddy.
“George!” Caleb shouted. But the dog continued to race away. He turned back to Ivy. “Are you all right?”
The contact was innocent enough but sent a spark through her all the same. “I’m fine.” She pulled her arm from his and wished she hadn’t. She missed the warmth of his hand, the solid presence of him so close.
Caleb nodded, then sprinted after George and Teddy.
As soon as he was gone, Ivy sagged slightly. So much for her carefully planned resolve to remain professional, and careful.