Of course, I was also keeping my eye on Donna and Wade, who I now knew had more than a little history between them. Surely I’d land that contract too, considering Donna would get a discount as she was part owner of the catering company.
The phone rang.
“Hello, Lisa Leann?”
It was Beverly. “Hi, Beverly, how are you this beautiful Friday morning?” I asked.
“Good, but I have news.”
“Oh?”
“This shower for Michelle, we’ve decided to change the location.”
“Really?”
“The church setting would have been nice, but we’ve decided to move the party down to Breck to the Mountain Bell Tower Resort, mainly to accommodate the invitation list, which grows bigger by the minute. Plus, this way we can serve cocktails.”
I was surprised. “I thought you’d decided against cocktails.”
“Well, some on the committee are insisting.”
“I see.” I wondered how Vonnie would take the news. I kept a smile in my voice. “So the venue will be at the Mountain Bell Tower Resort?”
“Have you seen their facility?” Beverly asked.
“No, I haven’t.”
“Well, then, how about meeting me over there for lunch?”
“A lovely idea. About noon?”
“See you then.”
I hung up the phone then stood up and stretched. Goodness. The day was getting away from me and here I was still in my fuzzy pink robe. I looked at my list of things to do and noted that I’d have to call Lilly later. It was time to get to the shop. I had some calls and orders to make before lunch, and I had to get moving.
A few hours later, after taking care of business down at the boutique, I put the “will return” sign in my shop window but not before moving the hands of the plastic clock to two o’clock. I locked the front door then hurried out the back to my awaiting Lincoln.
After I buckled myself in and started the ignition, I put my Bluetooth in my ear and dialed my sister. I got her answering machine, which twanged, “Hi, this is Lilly Lorraine. Sorry I missed your call but leave me a message. BEEP.”
“Lilly Loraine, just got the pictures from the shower, but I could see someone was missing. Me! Why didn’t you tell me about it? You got some explaining to do, sister.”
I hung up and pulled out of the parking lot. I took a deep breath. Lilly would call me later. For now, I’d concentrate on my drive to Breck.
Once I pulled out of the upper valley Summit View’s located in, I enjoyed the scenic downhill drive. I’ve always said there was no grander drive anywhere, at least not with such gorgeous drop-offs and heart-stopping views. My favorite spot was the switchback that faced the Breckenridge ski slopes and looked down upon the town of Breckenridge itself. The snow, of course, made it picture perfect. White majestic mountains, bright blue sky.
I love snow. It reminds me that God’s love covers our sins. That especially appeals to me, a woman who moved across the country to start a whole new life. I turned up K-LOVE on my radio and listened to Out of Eden sing “Every Move I Make.”
How appropriate, Lord, I prayed. I’m making all my moves in you. Thanks for the confirmation.
Soon enough I was pulling into the parking lot at the resort. As I scampered across the snow-glazed parking lot, I passed a car that looked familiar. A cream-colored Lexus with a caramel interior. I noted its Texas plates caked with icy sludge and felt a shiver run down my spine.
Though I knew this car couldn’t be the one I remembered from back home, the memory jolted me just the same. I guess what they say is true. No matter where you move, guilt has a way of following.
I shot off another prayer, one I’m sure I’d prayed a million times already.
Lord, I’m sorry for the past; you know I am. And I know you’ve forgiven me. At least, I know I should know.
I sighed at the emptiness I felt. Will I ever be free? I wondered.
I grabbed the handrail and walked up the metal mesh steps, holding tight just in case the heels of my camel boots slipped on the ice deposits left by the snow boots that had gone before.
I reached for the brass handle of the resort’s front door and swung it open, revealing a world of latte-colored marble that glowed across the floor of the upscale lobby. The added illusion was that everything—furniture, drapes, pottery, decorative tassels and throw pillow fringe—was dipped in gold. A wide garnet-red Oriental rug nestled in front of a roaring fire inviting one to step out of the cold and defrost in front of the dancing flames. As I stepped through the door and past the potted trees that lined the entrance, my cell phone rang. I checked and saw Lilly’s name. I stepped to the side and took the call.
“Lisa Leann, I had no idea you didn’t know about Mandy’s shower. Oh, will you ever forgive me?”
I smiled because I just can’t help but enjoy a good apology. “Next time, you’ll call, right?”
“Right. But I wish you could have been there. You should have seen all the lovely presents. Besides, you’d have died for a slice of that cake. I ate two pieces and now I feel as fat as the town hog.”
I spotted Beverly waiting for me on one of the jacquard-print ivory couches that was tucked into a nook not far from the fireplace.
“Lisa Leann!” she called as she stood and waved.
I finished my phone chat. “Gotta go. I’ll catch you later this afternoon. Okay?”
We hung up, and I hurried toward Beverly. As always, she looked charming. As a bank executive’s wife, she didn’t have that “I don’t believe in wearing makeup or cold cream” look that seemed to prematurely wrinkle the faces of many of these high-country women.
In fact, Beverly’s face glowed with a well-blended palette of pigments that blushed her cheeks and lips and highlighted the coppery browns of her eyes as well as the tastefully chosen auburn of her fringe of short but stylish hair.
She gave me a quick hug and led me up a couple of steps toward the great hall.
“You’re going to love this place.” She let go to spread her arm in a wide gesture. “Before we dine, let me take you by the conference room we’re going to use for the reception.”
I followed her down the hallway to a large open room half set with round tables. Several hotel employees were rolling brown tables in place before popping their legs out, setting them up, and covering them with white tablecloths.
Beverly gestured again. “These walls open up to make a bigger room.” I nodded as she continued. “They have a lot of corporate and conference events here. From the look of things, there’s some sort of banquet here tonight.”
I turned and saw the back of a man with dark wavy hair and wearing a dark navy suit duck out and into the hallway. From the back, it looked exactly like . . .
No!
I steadied myself and turned to Beverly. “What’s the name of the sales manager you’re working with?”
“He was right here a minute ago.” She looked around. “Now, where’d he go?”
I felt as if I was having a hot flash, though I took a deep breath, keeping my voice smooth as silk. “His name?” I asked.
“Let’s see, where’d I put his card?” Beverly dug through her designer black Fendi handbag with the most adorable gold lock. I made a mental note to check it out at the Fendi website when I got home. “Here it is.” She handed it to me.
My eyes darted from the name on the card back to Bev’s face as if she owed me an explanation.
She tried to oblige. “He’s new. Fresh from Texas.” She chuckled. “Hey, maybe you two were neighbors.”
Neighbors
? I remembered to close my mouth. After all, I couldn’t make a public spectacle. Though doing so crossed my mind. My unease was contagious because Beverly continued to look around, as if she felt alarmed that he was missing. It didn’t take long before the object of her hunt waltzed through the open door.
Beverly looked relieved and motioned him over. “Oh, here he is now. Lisa Leann, I’d like you to meet Clark Wilkes.”
I tried not to die on that thick forest green carpet of the banquet hall. I suppose I could have run. I suppose I could have slapped him. But I decided to play it cool. “Hello.”
“Believe we’ve met, good to see you again, Lisa Leann,” Clark was saying as he reached for my hand. His dark chocolate eyes glinted fire. As he stared down at me he caressed the back of my hand with a slow circular rub of this thumb.
I felt a flame rush up my neck and into my face. I was definitely having a hot flash.
Clark looked satisfied, as if his eyes had delved into my soul and read a secret I wanted to keep.
I broke the moment by looking down at his shoes, a shiny pair of black lace-up Versaces. I looked up again and put on the performance of my life. “Really? I don’t recall you. Though I hear you, like me, are from Texas. I’m wondering if we’ve visited some of the same country clubs, been invited to some of the same parties . . .” I pulled my hand from his and resisted the urge to wipe it off.
He just stood there and grinned, his brown eyes glinting beneath his long black eyelashes. I wanted to roll my eyes and sing “You’re So Vain.” But I didn’t dare, mainly because Beverly didn’t need to witness anything more than she’d already seen.
Beverly interrupted my thoughts. “Shall we go to lunch?” she was asking. At least, that’s what I think she was saying, since I was finding it hard to focus.
“Maybe I’m mistaken,” Clark was saying. “It’s just that you look like someone I used to know.”
He’d said the word know with such intimate intonation.
Though I was having trouble breathing, I let a peal of polite laughter ring out. “I guess everyone has a double.”
He looked amused and folded his arms across his chest. “And a history. I’d love to catch up on yours.”
Beverly, who had been watching the exchange, looked shocked at such a comment. I tried to force another laugh. “How sweet. But my Henry doesn’t allow me to share histories with other men.” I stepped back and looked at my watch and turned to Beverly. “What time was our reservation?”
“About now.” Beverly waved good-bye to Clark as we left the ballroom. “I’ll call you later.” Once in the safety of the hallway, she giggled a conspiratorial whisper into my ear. “No wonder you started a dating service. You seem to be able to zero in on the lovelorn with amazing accuracy. And here I had no idea the man was even single.”
“He’s not.”
She stopped dead and looked at me. “I thought you said you didn’t know him?”
I pointed at my diamond ring. “Didn’t you see his wedding ring? He’s married, all right.”
Beverly laughed as I followed her to our awaiting table. She looked back over her shoulder. “And obviously on the prowl.”
When we sat down at the table, I reached for the ice water the busboy had just finished pouring for me and took a swig.
“Are you okay?”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh, I feel as if one of my migraines is coming on.”
“That’s too bad. My sister gets those too.”
“I haven’t had one in a while, not since I left Houston.”
“Maybe your migraines are related to allergies,” Beverly was saying as she scanned the entrees.
Yeah, I thought to myself. I am allergic to something, all right, or should I say, someone.
Beverly was studying the menu. “This thyme roasted chicken with vegetables looks good.”
I tried to focus. “I think I’ll have the same.”
Beverly reached into her purse and pulled out a brochure and handed it to me. “I wanted to thank you for recommending these bartenders for our cash bar.”
I took the brochure in hand and stared at it, realizing the bartenders were none other than Velvet and Dee Dee, Donna’s blood relatives.
“I recommended them?”
“They said so.” She hesitated. “Didn’t you?”
I shook my head. “I’m not saying they wouldn’t be good, it’s just I’ve never worked with them.”
Beverly frowned. “Then maybe I misunderstood.”
Misunderstood, my eye, I thought, wondering how devious this mother and daughter pair might really be.
“What will you ladies have?” a cute blonde with a slicked-back ponytail asked as she pulled a pen and order pad out of the pocket of her black pants.
She jotted notes as Beverly gave her the order.
“And to drink?”
“Iced tea.” I turned to look at the brochure in my hand. If I could make my mind focus, maybe I could figure out what this bartender
thing was about.
But for now, I needed to sit and try not to bolt out of this resort, this town, and this state. Maybe what I really needed to do was
hightail it to Houston and hug my grandbaby for a few days.
It might be the safest thing to do, at least under the circumstances.
My cell rang again. I checked the number; it simply said “Clark.” I frowned. Somehow I’d sworn I’d taken his name out of my directory.
“Are you going to get that?”
I turned off my phone. “I can let this go to message.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
I nodded. “I’m fine. Really.”
The waitress brought me my tea, and I took a big sip as Beverly watched with one eyebrow cocked higher than the other.
Does she suspect?
I smiled as sincerely as I could. “Just a hot flash. Now, where were we? Any more thoughts on what you want printed on the party napkins?”
I felt like I was embraced in a clumsy dance as I pulled a seven-foottall artificial tree up my front steps then slid it across the thin layer of snow on my porch. Its outstretched branches, made from a real tree limb, grabbed at me as it waved green fabric leaves into my face and hair. I squinted at the assault and kept tugging backward. I had to lift the plant in its cement-filled planter, just a bit, to clear the threshold. I felt the weight of it topple toward me and took a couple of steps inside the house to keep my balance.
Through the leaves that tickled my face, I could catch a glimpse of my mother still sitting in my husband’s pickup truck, which I’d borrowed for the day. I stopped to catch my breath and caught a glint of sunlight on the car’s passenger window as it lowered, revealing Mother’s pruned face. Here she goes again, I thought, bracing myself for yet another round of complaints. But in this frigid air, I could not only hear her grievances but I could see them rise in a vapor cloud that dissipated somewhere above her head.