Chapter 4
“We have a lot to talk about,” Vi told Gran as soon as they entered her unit. It was small but comfortable, with a little kitchenette and table off the living room and a decent-size bedroom and bath. Through the large picture window in the living room, pretty white lights lit the peekaboo view of the garden for security purposes and nighttime walks. Easier to see were the parking lot lights and cars parked there.
Gran didn’t say anything until Vi closed the drapes and they sat down on the sofa. Then, “You’re not happy about Malcom and me, are you?”
“To tell you the truth, I’m in shock. He seems nice enough, but you’ve only known him a few weeks. It’s too fast, Gran. If I were doing this, you’d say the same thing.”
Her grandma made a pfft sound. “How could you know anything about it? You’ve been in love exactly once, way back in college. For all of what, six weeks?”
Over the years, Vi had grown used to her outspokenness. Even so, the words hit hard. She wanted to trust enough to love someone again. But between Devin and the scars from middle and high school, she was jaded. “Excuse me for being skeptical, but you’ve fallen in love even faster.” For all Vi knew, Malcolm wanted a helpmate to take care of him as he grew older. She didn’t want her grandma used like that. “As for me, the right man hasn’t come along yet, but when he does, I’m sure it’ll happen.”
“Maybe if you didn’t find fault with every man you’ve dated, you’d have better luck.”
Nothing new there. Gran thought she was too picky. “What’s wrong with being careful? I refuse to settle for anyone who falls short.”
“I think that’s wise, but your standards are so high, finding anyone who rises to them is close to impossible.”
Vi raised her chin. “That’s not true.”
“Oh, no? Let me refresh your memory with a few recent examples. You didn’t like the way Casey ate with his mouth open. Larry had a good job. If you’d given him half a chance, he might’ve worked out, but you didn’t like the sound of his laugh, so you ended that. You did the right thing with Eric, though. I didn’t like him.”
At least they agreed on Eric. Vi sighed. “Let me set you straight about the other two. Casey had no table manners at all. He was an utter slob with terrible B.O. I ended things with Larry because his shoes were gross and he wouldn’t get them repaired or buy a new pair. Plus, he expected me to see films he enjoyed and eat where he wanted to go. He refused to see any of the movies I suggested, and he always made excuses to eat at his favorite places even when he knew I didn’t like them. He paid more attention to his ferret, Ralph, than me. That thing never liked me, and it smelled. Tried to bite me, too. Larry thought it was funny.
“All clear signals that I was at the bottom rung of what he cared about.” He was selfish in bed, too, and didn’t wash his sheets often. “Why would I put up with anyone like that?” The way she had Devin. “But this conversation isn’t about me.”
“You’re right. At my age, moving fast is okay. I’m seventy-seven years old, and Malcom is seventy-eight. He’s a good man and treats me well. We love each other. Can’t you and Blake be happy for us?”
“So love each other. There’s no need to get married. You live on the same floor.” Time to deliver the bad news. Vi cleared her throat. “At least for now.”
“Exactly.”
What was she getting at? “You lost me.”
“Aren’t you talking about moving?” Gran asked.
“Yes, but how did you know?”
“Because—why don’t you go first, Vi.”
“All right. I got some bad news at work today. Our CEO embezzled money. Lots of it. The board fired him last night and has filed for bankruptcy.”
Gran’s mouth hung open. “No.”
“It’s true.”
“That’s terrible. Is DD Telecom closing their doors? Does that mean I have to switch to a different phone service, and what about my TV and internet?”
That was all she cared about? “The company won’t close, but they’ve tightened the purse strings. Things should be okay. Tarleton Iglesias, a man with smarts and integrity, fingers crossed, is going to run the company now. He was hired the year before I was and seems like a good fit. But to save money, half the workforce was laid off.” Most of them good people with great skills. “I wasn’t one of them, thank goodness, but I didn’t get my bonus or a raise.”
“That’s a shame. I’m glad you’re still employed.”
“You and me both. But, Gran, without the bonus I won’t be able to contribute anything toward your down payment here. I doubt Rose will be able to help much, either. I’m afraid you’ll have to leave the 709.”
“You’re right, Peter would never allow Rose to use his money on me. It doesn’t matter—I’ve already decided not to accept any money from either of you girls.”
“But we offered our help and you agreed.”
“No worries—I’ve decided to cash in my life insurance policy. I made up my mind about that almost as soon as I moved in. It means you and Rose won’t inherit anything from me, and I’m sorry about that. But I’d feel terrible making you girls shell out your hard-earned money on me when I have the funds I need.”
“After all you did for us when we were growing up, we want to help out. Or did until this bankruptcy. We don’t care about that insurance policy, we care about you. Your social security and pension only stretch so far. Wherever you end up staying, we can still help with the rent.”
“No, thank you. This is good news. Be happy I can take care of myself. Malcom and I are looking for a bigger unit and think we’ve found it, but I can’t pay my share without cashing in the policy.”
So much to take in. Vi’s head was spinning. “Have you contacted the insurance company?”
“I left a message with my insurance agent this afternoon.”
“What if there’s a problem or the policy isn’t worth what you think it is?”
“I’m sure there’s enough, but if there’s a problem, Malcom will know what to do.”
Vi was horrified. “You can’t put him in charge of that, Gran. It’s really none of his business. Besides, he may not know a thing about insurance.”
“If I know him, he’ll want to help. He’s very smart about business things. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have founded AM Auto Parts and franchised it so successfully.”
Everyone had heard of that company. Vi was impressed. “He’s the man behind that?” Was Blake part of the business, too?
Gran nodded. “You don’t get that successful without hard work and a whole lot of brain power.” She sighed. “I love a smart man.”
“Gramps was smart, too,” Vi said to remind her about her dead husband. He’d died when she was ten, and she could barely remember him. Four years later, when her parents had divorced, a big relief because they were always fighting, Gran had moved in to help take care of her and Rose.
“He wasn’t stupid, that’s for sure. After all, he married me.” Gran smiled. “Chester was a good man, and so is Malcom.” She glanced at the digital clock on the wall. “It’s late and I’m sure you’re tired after the long work week. I have a bridge game to get to.” She stood. “It’ll be interesting to find out what Malcom and Blake discussed. Goodnight, Vi.”
She’d never been shy of announcing when she wanted guests to leave. Fine with Vi. She wanted to phone Rose and commiserate over the bombshell Gran and Malcom had dropped on her tonight. She kissed her grandmother’s proffered cheek and opened the door. “Have fun at bridge. I’ll talk to you again soon.”
In the lobbyafter the unsettling conversation with his grandpa, Blake headed toward the front desk to sign himself out. Vi was already there, doing the same. This might be a good time to strategize next steps and all that. Tonight, as he had so much on his plate besides the love and marriage thing they’d sprung on him.
“Hey,” he said. “Was your conversation as aggravating as mine?”
“I’m shaking my head. This entire thing is ridiculous, especially wanting to get married after knowing each other three weeks.”
“Tell me about it. We should find a quiet place to talk. Are you in a hurry to get home?”
“Not really.”
“If we hang around here when our family are playing bridge or sleeping, management might not like it. Let’s go somewhere.”
She glanced upward as if she needed to think about the idea, and the corners of her lips turned downward. Finally, with a look that was either dislike or contempt, she nodded. “You’re probably right. Where are you thinking?”
Stung, he asked, “Do you have a problem with me?”
“Why would you think that?”
“The expression on your face when you look at me.” She frowned again, and he told her. “Like I’m the last person you want to go anywhere with.”
Her face got red, signaling she was embarrassed. “Sorry about that. I don’t mind looking at you at all. You have a—” She blushed redder still and cleared her throat. “I’m so rattled right now, it’s hard to think about anything else.”
He wanted to know what she’d started to say but wasn’t about to go there. They had more important things to discuss. “Do you know the Come On In?”
“The bar? I’ve eaten there a time or two and like the food. But it’s Friday night and sure to be crowded and noisy.”
“Good point. What part of town are you in?”
“The east side. You?”
“West. Pick a place near where you live and we’ll meet there.”
“Well…” She cocked her head to one side and chewed on her bottom lip, which for some reason he found cute. “How about the Pancake Hut? They’re usually quiet in the evening.”
“And the food is great. See you there.”
On the drive toward the restaurant, Blake thought about the situation that’d been thrown at him and Vi. Talk about a punch to the gut.
She was right about the Pancake Hut—there were at most a handful of customers and one tired-looking waitress to take care of everyone. They sat down at a table with a laminated top.
“Believe it or not, I could use a waffle about now,” Vi said as she pulled a pair of menus out of their slot beside the napkin holder and handed him one. “With strawberry sauce and whipped cream. I didn’t eat much today, and lost my appetite at dinner.”
“You and me both. My mouth is already watering for an egg and cheese pancake sandwich.”
For some reason, she laughed. A nice sound and her whole face lit up. The transformation wowed him. Without the wary expression, she was one gorgeous female. “What’s so funny?” he asked, smiling.
“The eager look on your face when you talked about food. I could almost picture you as a little boy.”
Maybe in the days when his father was still alive. “I’m not only eager, I’m ravenous.” He signaled the waitress over.
After she took their orders, Vi picked up the conversation where they’d left off. “I was stressed before I walked into the 709. My day was taxing enough without this.”
“Something at work?” he wondered.
She nodded. “I’m a sales manager at DD Telecom. Last night, without anyone but the board knowing what was happening, they filed for bankruptcy and voted out Alan Ragen, the CEO. His replacement seems like a good choice, and I’m sure everything will work out.”
She was solemn and earnest and attractive, and strands of her tightly bound hair kept fluttering around her face no matter how often she smoothed them down. Was she involved with anyone, and why did he care? Just last night, he and Daisy had split up. Anyway, this was no time to think about that.
“Oh, man, I hadn’t heard.” He’d been too immersed in getting his second store up and ready. “What happened?”
“I don’t know much except that Ragen is responsible for bankrupting the company. Apparently, he embezzled a ton of money. My boss delivered the news at a hastily called meeting this morning. They also laid off half the employees.”
Blake winced. “Sorry you got laid off.”
“I was spared from that, but they let go of some of the teammates I manage. And I didn’t get my first quarter bonus or the promotion I was slated for.”
“That sucks.”
“And not only because it came as a shock. I was counting on that money to help Gran with the down payment at the 709. I knew nothing about Malcom or this so-called love thing till they announced it. At least I found what bad thing number three was—is.”
“Because bad things always come in threes.” His mother used to bemoan the same thing, and he deliberately ignored it. “You don’t really believe that, do you?”
“I definitely do. First the bad news at work, second—” She broke off and shook her head. “Never mind about that. I’m curious, if you’re running AM Auto Parts now, how do you have time to open a new bike store?”
Why she’d cut herself off, he’d never know. Now that she’d lost the ability to help Caroline out, both her question and the gold digger possibility made sense. He shook his head. “I’ve had nothing to do with the auto parts business. Grandpop sold the company and transferred his partnership in the franchises about seven years ago. Even before that, I didn’t have anything to do with it.”
“Why not?”
“Overseeing all those franchises and the daily stress of running a big company? Not for me. I was only twenty-three but smart enough to recognize I wasn’t ready for that kind of responsibility.”
“That’s young to be so insightful about yourself. So you’re thirty now—the same age as me. And you own BW Bikes.”
“That I do.” He puffed up with pride.
“I was in there once, to rent a bike for a few hours with a guy I was seeing at the time. It has a good feel to it.”
“Always good to hear. What happened to the guy?”
“We were all wrong for each other. Story of my life.” She looked horrified at saying that and covered her mouth with her hand. It was obvious she didn’t want to talk about that.
He added to his story. “Like Malcom said, I’m getting ready to open a second store on the opposite side of town from the first one. It’s a great location, about a mile north of where Henry Simms Highway leads into town.”
“Isn’t that where the paper mill used to be and was closed due to environmental pollution issues and lack of funds to pay for the cleanup?”
“That’s the place. The mill is long gone and all sixty acres of land and the fresh-water lake are clean again.”
“I read about that, but haven’t been out there.”
“You wouldn’t recognize it. The land has been divided into a nature preserve and a development with restaurants, new homes, businesses, schools, churches and synagogues.”
“Smart of you to locate the new store there. Have you put up a big sign letting tourists know where to rent bikes?”
“A ‘coming soon’ sign is up. Do you ride often?”
“I used to, mostly to run errands before I was old enough to drive.”
“When I was a kid, I cycled all over, too, with friends or alone. That feeling of pure freedom… You never forget it.”
“I never had much time to ride for the fun of it.”
Her childhood sounded rough. His hadn’t been a picnic, either. “Maybe your parents can talk some sense into your grandma.”
Vi snorted. “I wouldn’t hold my breath. My father lives on the Big Island in Hawaii with—let’s call her a free spirit—he left my mother for. They’ve been there sixteen years now and are into surfing and partying. I have no idea how they survive, but I think she has money. We only talk on holidays and birthdays. My mother lives in Houston and does hair and nails when she’s not out partying.”
“They’re both that way, huh?”
“Like they’re barely old enough to drink, only in their fifties.” Her expression was pure disgust. “You should know that Gran is the most stubborn person I know. Once she makes up her mind… Well, unless a decision causes harm to someone, she rarely changes it.”
“Grandpop is the same way. Even he calls himself a stubborn cuss. That doesn’t bode well for their marriage.”
“What about your parents? Maybe they can talk sense into Malcom, even if he is bullheaded.”
“Wouldn’t that be nice. It won’t happen. My dad passed away after a freak accident when I was ten. Almost did my mother in.” Since then, she’d all but forgotten Blake and Whitney. “Dad’s parents, Grandpop and Grandmom, stepped up and helped out.” If they hadn’t, Blake and his sister would’ve been in a world of hurt.
“I’m so sorry. What happened to your mom?”
“Five years later, she finally came alive again. She’d been a secretary at Port Simms Elementary and got tired of the job, so Grandpop hired her to run his front office. She was happy enough there and finally started dating. A whole string of boyfriends, until she met someone she wanted to marry.
“They relocated to Sedona. The marriage failed and she moved on to someone else. A few months ago, she went through her second divorce. As you can imagine, she’s pretty messed up. Right now, she’s at an ashram in India, trying to find herself.” He snorted in doubt. “I texted her, but she took a vow of silence and isn’t supposed to speak or communicate with the world. When she’s allowed to get in touch, I’ll update her. She’ll want to know about Grandpop and will worry about her share of the inheritance.”
“I don’t blame her. My Gran shouldn’t get a penny of that money.”
Knowing Vi sided with him was a relief. “We’re agreed on that. Hey, what was with them bragging about us?”
“I was so embarrassed. It’s the kind of thing people do about their kids and grandkids. But in front of us and to someone we just met? Gran has never done that. Not to my face.”
“Grandpop has, but not like tonight. Go figure, right?”
“With no parents to help us with this situation, we’re on our own here. What are we going to do?”
At the moment, Blake had no idea. “Anything and everything we can to stop this wedding.”
“Or at least delay it till they come to their senses. They both need time to be sure this is what they want.” Vi yawned, covering her mouth with her hand. “We need a game plan, but right now I’m too tired to think about that.”
“I’m pretty wiped out myself. I have a lot on my plate right now. Opening the second store and other things, like finding someone to interview future employees and put them through an orientation.”
“There are people who do that sort of thing, you know.”
“I hired one, but she quit last night. She wanted—I don’t need to get into that. You wouldn’t know of anyone familiar with conducting interviews or training new employees to get them up to speed, would you? Maybe one of the people laid off at your company?”
Vi shook her head. “Not that I can think of, but if someone comes to mind I’ll let you know. Why don’t you hire a recruitment firm to do the work for you? My company uses Ace Recruitment, and most of the time it works out.”
“I probably will, but I’d still want the candidate to go through a second interview with me and make sure they have decent people skills and the smarts to hire employees and lead them through orientation. Once I find that person, my life will be a whole lot easier.” He shrugged. “A real pain, but that’s the way I operate.”
“Apparently, it didn’t work with the person you hired for the job.”
May as well tell her. “I made the mistake of hiring the woman I’m seeing—make that was seeing. We split up last night, and she quit.”
Her disapproving, pursed lips showed what she thought of that. “Sounds messy. I’m sorry you broke up.”
“Hey, it’s not your problem. I knew I shouldn’t hire her, but she really wanted the job. She left a pile of unopened employment applications instead of doing the work I hired her for, so good riddance. At least I have some people to interview. It’s all good. I’ll contact that recruiter company first thing tomorrow—if they’re open Saturdays. I don’t want to wait long for us to get together again. What about Sunday afternoon? You free? I’ll text the deets.”
“You’d better believe I’ll be there. Time is one thing we don’t have.”