Authors: Sandra Miller
“Oh pooh, you can live anywhere, and probably a lot more comfortably than in this creepy monstrosity.”
Looking around the room as if contemplating the truth in Tessa’s statement, he said to himself, more than for her benefit, “I have a lot of good memories of this old house.”
How could she have been so insensitive? Of course his grandparents’ home held a lot of sentiment for him. She might as well have slipped bamboo slivers under his fingernails if she was somehow trying to hurt him subconsciously.
“Of course you do, I’m sorry.”
“But I do appreciate the fact that you worry about me.”
“It may surprise you to know that despite your over-lord mentality, I’m beginning to find you somewhat tolerable at times.”
“Well thank you, I consider that quite a compliment coming from someone so indoctrinated in socialist rhetoric.”
Casting him a quick grin, Tessa moved to the farthest corner of the room, where she wiped away the imaginary dust from the armoire. He was now leaning against the piano, though still watching her.
“My grandfather fought in the Battle of Blair Mountain against the wealthy coal barons and the US Government who backed them, just to earn the right to be treated like a human being and earn a living wage for his family—so my social and political prejudices could be somewhat skewed, I suppose.”
“And that’s why I ignore you. Besides, I wouldn’t have any of this if it wasn’t for the hard work and sacrifices of my own grandfather. He worked as a shoe shine boy and chimney sweep in Boston to pay his way through college and law school. If it wasn’t him, I’d be busting my ass on a constructions site somewhere.”
“Is that what you did before college?” Tessa queried, her curiosity peeked, for she had assumed he grew up just another spoiled rich kid.
“Yep, I actually got my undergraduate degree in architectural engineering, hoping to start my own firm. But after I graduated the old man asked me on his death bed to take over the firm so his legacy could live on. I couldn’t say no. Not after all he’d done for me. He and my grandmother took me in when I was five, and I lived here with them until I went away to Harvard.”
“Where were your parents?” she asked before realizing what an intrusive question it was. “I’m sorry, don’t answer that, it’s none of my business.”
Shrugging his shoulders with indifference, Mr. Richards forced a lop-sided grin. “They were busy jetting around the world spending the old man’s money, I guess. They had wanted to send me away to a boarding school in Switzerland, but he wouldn’t hear of it. I think he offered them quite a large sum of money to change their minds, though he never came right out and said as much. But I overheard enough conversations between him and my grandmother to know what was going on.”
Not quite knowing how to respond to what must have been a painful memory for him; Tessa bowed her head briefly, regretting having asked about his past. True, she may have lost her parents at a young age, but she had not been abandoned, there was huge difference. Having been practically sold to his grandparents had to have created in a five year old child a great deal of confusion and enough emotional damage to last a life time.
When she lifted her eyes and found his eyes still cast in her direction, as if trying to guess what she now thought of him after revealing such a private thing from his past, Tessa’s heart melted for the abandoned little boy inside the man.
“Thank you for sharing that with me.”
“It wasn’t my intention,” he laughed softly. “Maybe I just wanted you to know that for as much as you loathe me and my wealth, I envy you and the ties you have with your family. You’re children are very fortunate to have you as their mother.”
“I don’t loathe you…” giggled Tessa. “Just you’re money.”
“I appreciate your honesty.”
“I’m glad, because I seem to be incapable of keeping my foot out of my mouth most times.”
“I always assumed you had Tourette’s, so don’t worry about it,” he teased.
Tessa couldn’t help but to laugh. “Wow, you’re getting really good at sarcasm. I’m proud of you.”
“I try…” he smiled. “Now, back to what I came in here to ask you; I want you to come to Martha’s Vineyard with me for a week.”
Tessa couldn’t help but to scoff at even the suggestion of spending a week among socialites; with imagery from The Great Gatsby flashing across her mind.
“Uh, no thank you.”
“Please…Consider it a paid vacation.”
“I’m pretty sure the whole concept of a vacation is to get away from your boss.”
“That’s true,” he relented, amused once again by her bluntness. “Then come with me and work your ass off cleaning the beach house while I enjoy
my
vacation?”
“Are you asking me or telling me?”
“I’m ordering you if that will make you change your mind.”
“I’m going to have to check, but I don’t think cleaning your summer home was in my job description.”
“I’ll double your salary for the week.”
“Thank you, that’s very generous, but I have plans this weekend.”
“When was the last time you had a vacation?”
“Never,” she admitted.
“Then cancel your plans, it’s time you had one. We’re leaving in an hour.”
“Then my answer is no.”
“Great, make sure you pack a bathing suit and sun block.”
When she turned to argue, Mr. Richards had already slipped out of the room, though she could hear him whistling as he ascended the staircase, his mood obviously lighter after getting his way. Why had she allowed herself to feel sorry for him when he was obviously still every bit the spoiled brat?
It took Tessa less than twenty minutes to pack her bag since her wardrobe was limited to say the least. The only clothing she owned suitable for the beach was a couple pairs of cut offs and a few tank tops and tee shirts. As far as a bathing suit, she
hadn’t owned one since Rene’ was born. In fact, just the idea of walking around in one caused her to cringe.
She never had been a woman who was comfortable enough with her body to display it to anyone, not even her ex. Being raised by a modest and deeply religious mother had left a lasting impression. A woman of faith didn’t offer up her bits and pieces to be viewed by the world, her body belonged to her husband alone, and even then, she needed to practice humility. Although over the years, Tessa had begun to question such a strict code of conduct, the fact that her body showed signs that she had carried and bore four children helped her to adhere to it.
After calling Rene to tell her she was going out of town and would be able to be reached on her cell, to let her brother and sisters know, Tessa dialed Gregory’s number and waited apprehensively for him to answer.
“Hello beautiful,” he answered.
“Hi, Greg. I’m sorry to bother you, but I have to go out of town unexpectedly, so I’m afraid I’ll have to cancel our date for this weekend.”
“Is everything alright?” The concern in his voice was genuine, leaving Tessa feeling guilty about not offering him the whole truth. But for some reason, telling him she was going away for a week with her employer to the beach sounded less than legitimate all of a sudden.
“Everything is fine. It’s a work thing, but I’m being paid twice my weekly salary so I can’t really turn it down.”
“No, I guess not. Will you be able to call me?”
“Yeah, I’ll have my cell. I’ll call you once I get there and get settled in.”
Releasing a sigh, Gregory asked, “Can I count on seeing you next weekend?”
“I’m not sure when I’ll be home, but it’s definitely a date if I am.”
“You’re killing me, Tessa Maguire, I hope you realize that.”
“Don’t be so dramatic,” she teased.
“I’m not being dramatic. You don’t realize how much I look forward to seeing you. You’re very addictive.”
“I fill a void, but I’m okay with that.”
“Why are you so
mean to me,” Gregory asked, laughing.
“Because I love the way you’re so easily flustered.”
“Yeah well, there are plenty of things I’m beginning to love about you.”
Uncomfortable with the turn their conversation had taken, Tessa told him she had to go, but that she would call him soon. When their call ended, she stared at the phone in her hands and smiled to herself, and was still smiling when Mr. Richards
rapped at her door and asked if she was ready. When she affirmed that she was and swung open the door, he looked down at her over-night bag in astonishment.
“Is that all you’re taking?”
“Yeah, why?”
“We’re going to be there a week.”
“It doesn’t take much room to pack a couple pair of shorts and something to sleep in.”
“I understand that, but I wanted to take you out to a nice dinner a couple of nights while we’re there. You’ve been working hard around here, you deserve it.”
Waving off the idea, Tessa swept passed him and down the hallway. There was no way she was going to any swanky restaurants on Martha’s Vineyard. Not only would she not know how to act, there was absolutely nothing in her closet for her to wear that wouldn’t end up embarrassing both herself and Mr. Richards. But he didn’t need to know that, nor would he.
“I’m sure you have plenty of friends there to go out to dinner with. Besides, my idea of dinner on vacation is roasting wienies on a stick over an open fire.”
Not bothering to respond until they and the retrievers were inside his SUV and pulling out of the driveway, Mr. Richard glanced over at her and smiled sheepishly.
“What are you grinning about,” Tessa snapped playfully.
“Roasting wienies, huh?”
“Yes, what’s wrong with that?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never roasted wienies over a fire before. It sounds a little carnal to me.”
“It is
carnal,” she agreed. “But also very delicious.”
“There’s just something about slapping a piece of processed meat on a stick that doesn’t sound that appealing.”
“If you’re not careful, Richie Rich, before you finally come to your senses and fire me, you could be knee deep in the white trash world of fried bologna sandwiches and holler-hopping.”
Seth Richards laughed out loud and nodded his head. “Now that’s a scary thought.”
“Yes it is,” she giggled, before they both settled in and chose to remain silent for the remainder of the drive into Amherst.
It wasn’t until they hit I-90 and had to stop for gas did the conversation pick up again, and it was not as if the silence between them was uncomfortable—not in the least. They both apparently had a lot on their minds, though Tessa doubted his thoughts were as complicated as hers, he was not the one falling in love for possibly the first time. Maybe this trip would offer her some much needed clarity when it came to Gregory Hayes. She had thought of nothing else but him for the past month, and realized she needed to get a handle on the strong emotions they were developing for each other.
It quickly became evident after their first meeting at the Daily Grind, that Tessa’s assumption that Gregory was simply being nice to her was incorrect. If the things he said to her were true, he was just as smitten. It showed in the fact that he called every morning just to say he was thinking about her, and every evening to say good night, although their nightly conversations usually lasted for well over an hour, if not longer.
It was hard for her to believe that an eight year age difference seemed to matter so little, if at all. They never struggled to find topics to talk about, to laugh about. Tessa had never met someone with whom she had so much in common. There was something about Gregory that seemed so—right.
“Thank you, by the way, for coming,” Mr. Richards told her a little awkwardly, proving again that he was unrehearsed in simple displays of graciousness, while intruding on Tessa’s pleasant musings. An intrusion that she welcomed since she could feel the familiar warmth coming over her, as it always did with the mere thought of the young professor.
“How could I possibly say no when you ordered me so politely?”
“I wanted to do something nice for you after the way Kristen treated you. I have had a lot of very convoluted and pressing issues to take care of at the firm, and wouldn’t have been able to give them the time and attention they needed if it weren’t for the fact that I knew you had things under control at home. And I appreciate that, very much.”
“Thank you, that means a lot to me, believe it or not.”
“Well, you’ve been a delightful surprise, Ms. Maguire, to say the least.”
“The jury is still out on you, so don’t expect me to reciprocate those feelings just yet,” teased Tess. “Although after living with you, my opinion of Machiavelli has softened a bit.”
“Really?
I’m touched.”
“You should be. That’s not something easy for me to admit.”
“Well, before we dive into the subject of class warfare, can I ask you a question?”
“Sure, why not? I’m always up for a game of ‘drill the maid’.”