Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Tess unlocked the door of Nick’s law office at eight fifteen Monday morning.
It had taken two bus transfers, but she made it in plenty of time.
The office didn’t officially open till nine o’clock, so she locked the door behind her.
She fully expected Rory to hunt her down today but she didn’t want to be surprised if she could help it.
Monica, Nick’s previous secretary, had gone away to college, giving Tess an opportunity to secure the position.
Two nights a week Tess attended the local community college and would finally have her Associates Degree in Business Management in about six months.
It had taken her much longer than the average student, but she was proud of herself just the same.
Tess started a pot of coffee brewing, turned on the office machines and listened to the messages from Friday.
The office had been closed as everyone prepared for the wedding and Tess carefully wrote down each one.
At eight fifty-five, she unlocked the door, smoothed her skirt down and prepared to face her day.
“Good Morning, Ms. Martinez,” Del said as he walked in the door just as the first chime struck. “How was the wedding? I do hope Mr. and Mrs. Kord are having a nice time.”
“Me too,” Tess replied. “The wedding and reception were lovely. I’m sorry you couldn’t make it.”
“I am too, Ms. Martinez. Unfortunately, I had other obligations.”
Suddenly, the door opened and Tess gasped, her hand going to her throat. Bridget flew into the room, her cheeks pink from the cold. Flinging her book bag to the floor, she slapped her hands down on Tess’s desk and leaned forward.
“What the hell happened, girl? I can’t believe you took off like that. Ma was fit to be tied. You should have heard her tearing a strip off Rory last night. I tell you it was a sight to behold.”
Bridget’s golden hair was actually bouncing she was so animated. Swinging around, she plopped her mini-skirted ass on Tess’s desk, not even noticing they were not alone.
“You got any coffee?” she asked, jumping off the desk and heading for the tiny room in the back, still talking. “Colleen and I couldn’t believe it. I haven’t heard Ma yell at him like that in years. Not Rory, the exalted oldest son,” she snickered as she scooted out of sight.
Tess looked at Del, who stood there with his mouth hanging open.
“Where’s the creamer?” Bridget yelled. “You want a cup? I have to say, though, that I almost felt sorry for him. Can you believe that? I can’t. I mean as many times as he’s read me the riot act I ….”
Bridget came around the corner and stopped dead in her tracks.
Standing in front of the fireplace was the …
well, the world’s tallest geek. From his perfect suit, to his wingtip shoes, he absolutely screamed establishment.
He held a leather briefcase in one hand and pushed his huge black rimmed glasses up on the bridge of his nose with the other.
Bridget would have bet her last buck he had a pocket protector under that vest. His short hair was sandy blond and she had to admit he had nice eyes behind those hideous glasses.
Del could feel his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down.
The young woman wore a green plaid skirt that barely covered her ass.
With her high heeled boots and a bulky golden sweater, she was very attractive.
Her green eyes were wide in surprise and her pink lips formed a perfect ‘O’.
For the first time since she’d breezed in the door, she was quiet.
Bridget approached the desk and handed Tess her coffee. “I’m sorry, Tess. I didn’t know you had a client,” she apologized sweetly.
“No, he works here,” Tess told her. “This is Del ….”
Before she could finish, Del reached for Bridget’s hand. “Delbert Bertram Winston IV, I’m very pleased to meet you miss—”
Bridget slipped her small hand in his and turned to look at Tess over her shoulder. “He’s kidding, right?” she laughed.
Tess quickly shook her head, no, and frowned at Bridget.
“And you are?” Del asked, clearly beginning to feel insulted.
“Bridget O’Malley, Ms. Bridget O’Malley, the first,” she supplied, trying hard not to snicker.
“Ms. O’Malley. I hope you’re not disparaging my name? I’ll have you know I come from a long line of Winstons, all of whom have had distinguished careers in .…”
Bridget could not control herself a moment longer. Setting her coffee down as quickly as she could, she slumped against Tess’s desk, bent her head down and covered her face with her hands. Bridget was laughing so hard, tears ran from her eyes and she could not catch her breath.
“Oh my God,” she managed to choke out. “You think I’m laughing about Winston?
That is too funny,” she spat out, laughing so hard now, she snorted.
Raising her head, she held her stomach and stared off into space.
“What kind of woman names her son Delbert?” she asked in wonder before going into another peel of uncontrollable laughter.
“My great-grandmother, my grandmother, and my mother, apparently,” Del informed her stiffly.
“Bridget, please,” Tess implored her, biting the inside of her cheek to keep herself from grinning. It really was a horrible name, but she liked Del and could see that he was getting angrier by the minute. Imagine. Calm, collected Del getting mad. It was almost too much for her.
“Ms. Martinez, I will be in my office. Excuse me.”
“Wait,” Bridget cried, wiping the tears from her face and staggering over to him.
“I’m sorry,” she told him, grabbing his arm to stop his retreat.
“Delbert,” tipping her head back. She tried to look sincerely into his eyes.
Nope, not going to be able to do it, she thought as she howled.
The more she tried to stop laughing, the more uncontrollable the urge became.
Looking down at the cute blonde, Del wondered how someone so alluring, could behave so rudely. “Ms. O’Malley, I find it hard to comprehend how someone with the impeccable manners of Mr. Kord’s wife, could possibly be related to you.”
“Maggie?” Bridget asked in surprise. “Impeccable manners? Oh, that’s rich. Did he tell you she got drunk and puked in his shoes?”
For a moment, Del looked horrified, the revulsion on his face caused Bridget to snort again, so he quickly went into his office and closed the door with a bang, her howls of laughter ringing in his ears.
“Bridget!” Tess scolded as she grabbed her arm and pulled her into Nick’s private office shutting the door.
“Del is a very nice man,” she told her, still biting her cheek.
Finally, she gave up and collapsed into Bridget’s arms. “It really is a horrible name, is it not?” she laughed.
“Oh, I feel so guilty for laughing. Look what you have made me do? We should be ashamed of ourselves, yes?”
“Yes,” Bridget agreed, trying to pull herself together. “In theory,” she hiccupped before the next round hit her.
“Come,” Tess insisted. “Let us step outside and get some air. Do not look at me. You will get to escape but I have to stay here all day. How will I be able to look at him now without …?”
“Okay,” Bridget agreed sniffing. They went outside and stood on the sidewalk, back to back.
The only way she would be able to stop was to change the conversation to a serious matter.
“So, where are you staying?”
“I cannot tell you. I promised and I am afraid that your brother will get it out of you.”
"Never, but it’s okay if you want to keep it a secret. He will find you eventually, you know that, right?”
“Yes, I know. I need some time to think things through. I hope your madre understands.”
“She understands better than you know,” Bridget told her. “I’ll tell her I talked to you and that you will call her in a few days. Is that okay?”
“It is fine. Are you okay now? I need to get back inside.”
“Yes, I’m under control, but I need to grab my book bag. Do you think I should go in and apologize to Winston?”
Tess smiled and turned her head away. “Not right now. I do not know if you will be able to behave and I would not want to make matters worse.”
“Good idea,” Bridget replied as she picked up her bag. “Self-control isn’t my strong point,” she agreed. “Stay in touch, Tess. You’re very important to my family and I’ll miss you,” she told her candidly.
“I will,” Tess promised as she picked up the ringing phone.
* * *
Two hours later Bridget was back. Tess was not at her desk so Bridget walked to Del’s door, knocked softly and walked in.
Winston was on the phone so she swiftly placed a pretty square box on his desk as he scowled darkly at her.
Bridget smiled, mouthed the words, "I’m sorry" and made an X over her heart before she backed out of the room, closing the door gently.
Del eyed the pink box suspiciously as he finished his conversation.
Whatever could she be doing now? It would not have surprised him to find a frog or something equally inappropriate inside.
Carefully he pulled off the top and his golden brown eyes widened.
The small heart-shaped cake truly astounded him.
Decorated with pink icing, little candy hearts were sprinkled all over it.
A little pennant flag rose out of the center with the words "Forgive Me" on it. Del pondered as he stuck his finger into the frosting and licked it off. What a strange contrary creature Ms. O’Malley was, horrible one minute and endearing the next. He would have to think about this.
* * *
Rebecca answered the phone just as Tess was getting ready to hang up. Slightly out of breath she plopped down on the sofa. “Hello?”
“Rebecca, I almost hung up. Are you busy?” Tess asked.
“No, I’m just a little out of breath. I have been trying to find something and not having much luck. How are you, Tess?”
“I am fine. It is you I am worried about. No baby yet, I see?”