Chapter 5
Saturday morning, Vi heard from Rose. “Got your text,” she said by way of hello. “What in the world is going on?”
“I’ll get to that in a minute. Tell me about the spa.”
“It’s fabulous, the best I’ve been to. Tasty, healthy food, friendly people, great places to walk and work out. The shopping in the area is also good. I’m already planning to come back next year. Hey, why not join me? It’s not as pricey as you’d think.”
Wouldn’t that be nice?. “As much as I’d like to say yes, we’ll have to wait and see.”
“Come on, Vi, you never pamper yourself. A me-time vacation is just what you need. I shouldn’t say this, but I don’t miss Peter at all,” Rose added.
Their relationship seemed to wax hot and cold, but Rose had never said anything like this. “That doesn’t sound good.”
“We’re okay. I think we needed a break from each other. I have a massage scheduled in a little while, so please get to the point. What’s so important that talking can’t wait till I get back?”
“You’re gone for another week, and so much has happened. I’ll make it quick, I promise.” Skipping most of the details, Vi started with the DD Telecom bankruptcy and the postponement of her bonus and raise—if she was lucky enough to get either one. “You know what that means. I can’t help Gran with the down payment.”
“That’s terrible about DD Telecom. You must be so disappointed. Poor Gran will be booted out of a place she likes. I know from when we looked for a senior retirement home for her before, we kept running into long waiting lists. It was so frustrating. Where will she live?”
“If I had room, she could bunk with me. Your house has a spare bedroom with its own bath. I was hoping she could stay there until we found her something else, but?—”
“Living with her would be hard. I doubt Peter would go for that.”
“Gran wouldn’t want it, either. Anyway, it doesn’t matter anymore. You won’t believe what’s going on with her.”
“Don’t tell me she’s sick?”
Lovesick, maybe. “Not in the way you think.” Vi filled her in.
When she finished, Rose’s disbelieving huff came through loud and clear. “That can’t be true. Gran wouldn’t fall in love and certainly wouldn’t think about getting married, especially so quickly.”
“You’d think. You should see the way she and Malcom make googly eyes at each other. It’s enough to ruin your appetite. Blake is just as upset about it.”
“Who?”
“Malcom’s grandson.” Vi explained that the older man was wealthy and moved on to Gran’s decision to cash in her life insurance policy to help finance their move into a bigger unit.
“They want to live together at their age? That’s crazy. If this Malcom person has all that money, why can’t he pay for the whole thing?”
“You know Gran. She’s adamant about paying part of the cost.”
“She was willing to take your bonus money for the down payment.”
“Only because we’re family and we guilted her into it. She’s changed her mind and decided to make the down payment for the unit by cashing in her insurance policy.”
“Boy, I sure wouldn’t, especially if someone else offered to pay. I’d be fine with it. Even if I wanted to use my own funds, Peter wouldn’t let me. If I suggested anything like that, he’d have a fit. He likes taking care of me financially.”
Vi suspected her sister put up with him for that very reason. And a good thing, as her part-time job at a boutique didn’t pay much. She lived a lush life, even if Peter kept a tight rein on his money. “Yeah, well, you’re not as headstrong as Gran.”
“That’s for sure. I had to sign a prenup before Peter and I got married. Does Malcom want the same?”
“That’s a good question. Blake might know. I’ll see what I can find out from him.”
“Is there a reason they want to get married so fast?” Rose asked.
“Blake asked Malcom about that in private, at the same time Gran and I had our little chat. Both say they’re in love and don’t see any reason to wait. So odd for Gran, and according to Blake not Malcom’s normal behavior, either. I’m guessing the real reason for the rush is that Gran’s supposed to make the down payment on her unit sometime in the next three weeks. It’d be crazy to use her life insurance proceeds for the unit she’s not planning to stay in and then hassle with getting the money refunded so she and Malcom could live together.”
“That’s understandable. What’s stopping them from cohabiting now, which I don’t even want to think about, and getting married later? Or not at all.”
“Because it’s against the rules at the 709. A couple have to be married.”
“In the twenty-first century? I don’t remember anything about that coming up when we first visited the place.”
“Why would it have? Gran’s been single since Grandpa died, and none of us ever imagined she’d meet a man and fall in love. When you think about it, the rule makes sense. If an unmarried couple move in together and one of them passes on, a definite possibility when you’re in your late seventies, who owns the unit? I’m no lawyer, but that’s my take.”
“That makes sense. Let’s hope Gran lives for a long time yet.”
“Amen. Anyway, Blake and I met up after we left the 709 to discuss the situation. We’re both in shock. We need a strategy of some kind to stop them or at least slow them down and?—”
“Hold it right there. Don’t say another word till you tell me about Blake.”
“But you have a massage to get to.”
“Yes, darn it. When I’m home again, I want to hear about him.”
Vi doubted there’d be much to say. If all went well, by then he’d be out of her life.
On the otherside of town that same morning, Blake contacted Ace Recruitment. Unfortunately, the company was closed on weekends. He called Ross, a buddy and biking partner who’d worked at the original BW Bikes store several years earlier. Ross knew how the business worked and could do the preliminary interviews. “It’ll be a short-term gig,” Blake said.
“You got me at a good time. I’m looking for a new job.”
“You didn’t mention that when we went out riding a couple weekends ago.”
“Because I hadn’t given my notice yet. If this hiring thing works out and you’re happy with me, maybe I’ll stay. I need a steady job.”
“That’d be great. I could use a hand getting this new place ready to go and then running things when I’m at the other store.” Blake wasn’t going to hold his breath, as Ross’s employment track record proved otherwise, but for now he’d do.
He set up a meeting at the new store for that afternoon. Then he texted Vi with the time and place to meet the following day. Good thing she’d agreed to get together on Sunday.
An hour later, Ross showed up right when he’d said he would, a positive sign. He and Blake were roughly the same height, six feet, both of them lean and mean, thanks to the cycling they enjoyed.
Blake showed him around the shop. “As you can see, there’s a lot more to do here before it’s ready, but the construction team tells me they’ll finish up in the next week and a half.”
“When is the opening?”
“May first, a good three weeks from now.”
“That’s soon. Cool, though—cycling and tourist seasons will be in full gear then. This is a nice space and a great location. You’re gonna be busy. Tell me about this work you want me to do.”
Blake explained about interviewing prospective employees and, if Ross stuck around, training them. “Heading up HR,” he added.
“I thought Daisy was in charge of that.”
“She was, but we broke up Thursday night. Then she quit.”
“Say what? This happens a lot with you. I mean break ups.”
“Yeah, I know. She invited me out to dinner after work that night, at least that was the plan. Then in the parking lot, she proposed.”
“No way. That’s a new one.”
“Caught me by surprise. She wanted a man to take care of her and chose me. She thought I was a fat cat.” He wasn’t hurting, was more than comfortable, but not wealthy by any stretch.
“That’s harsh. You guys were together for what, two months?”
“Barely six weeks.” He shook his head. “Can you believe that?
“I’d run the opposite direction so fast.”
“I didn’t need to. She fed me a line about love, and asked if I loved her.”
“Let me guess. You said you like her but don’t love her.”
“Of course. Who falls in love after six weeks?” Except Grandpop and Caroline. Blake made a face.
“So she broke up with you.”
“Saved me from doing it. She quit the job, too.”
“I’d be so relieved.”
“I am. Anyway, this morning I found a dozen or so applications she hadn’t done anything with—another reason I don’t mind that she quit.”
“Wow. There are times when it’s good to be a serial monogamist.”
“Is that what I am? I don’t stay with anyone long enough to fit that description.”
“What do you call it?”
“Playing the field and enjoying myself.” Safer that way. “You’re not exactly a long-term relationship guy yourself.”
“Not now, but I’m thinking about it. I’ll be thirty in two years and want to get married and have a family.”
“Where’s that coming from?”
Ross shrugged. “I met this girl, Britt, at Bain’s when I needed a new tent for a hiking and camping trip this summer. We’ve been going out a lot. I really like her. You’re already thirty. Don’t you want to settle down?”
“Depends.”
“On what?”
Blake hadn’t figured that out yet and didn’t want to discuss it. He handed over a folder of the job applications. “Take a look at these and see what you think. Some might work out, others not. You’ll want to contact each applicant and set up meetings. Are you comfortable with interviewing people?”
“I can do that. When do you want the interviews to happen?”
“If possible, Monday morning. It’ll be noisy here, with the construction crew working, but you can meet at Hastings for coffee. There’s one a few miles south. If anyone seems interested and wants to see this place, feel free to bring them by. I’ll be here.”
“Sounds good.” They talked about money and Ross agreed to show up the following Monday at nine. They shook on it. “I appreciate this,” Ross said and left.
That done, Blake texted Vi. Can you meet me here at the new store midmorning tomorrow to brainstorm? He gave her the address. The contractor didn’t work weekends, and he wanted to show her around.
She replied right away. I’d like to see your new store. Around 10? Funny, a few minutes ago an idea popped into my head about the marriage situation. It’ll take me about 20 minutes to get there.
So far, he’d drawn a blank and was eager to hear what she’d come up with. Whatever it was, it’d be a good place to start. Surely between the two of them, they’d come up with something to keep the grandparents from doing what they might regret.