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“He’s still very attractive, but...I don’t know. It’s different.” Em sighed and checked out the peeling paint on the ceiling again. “A lot of things have happened in my life since I had a childish crush on him.”
“Anything new with Jodie?”
“She’s the same old Jodie. I think she tried to set me up by introducing me to some single parents. One guy actually asked me for a date.”
“And you said...?”
Em scrunched her nose and shook her head. “A real jerk.”
“I think you just have a total dislike for men right now. That, too, will fade with time.”
Not possible, Em thought as she continued, “Sammy made good friends with Roger’s twin boys. They’re coming over tomorrow for a swimming party.”
“Sounds like fun. It should go a long way in helping Sammy adjust to life here.”
* * *
“I’M TAKING THE boys over to Em’s apartment to see her little boy,” Roger told Samantha as he sent his sons off to the car. “You’ll be all right till I get back?”
Sophia had the day off, and it meant Samantha would be all alone. Mentally, he ticked off the damage she could do in that time. Long distance calls to her cousin in England. At least she couldn’t get on the internet and buy out China without his password.
“Can’t I come, too?”
Roger’s jaw dropped. Samantha had always avoided her brothers every chance she got. Now she asked to be included in something that couldn’t interest her at all. It had to be Em. What spell had she cast over his daughter?
“Sure,” he said, “but I wasn’t planning to stay. The boys are going to swim and then watch a video.” Something that would probably make your skin crawl, he almost added.
“That’s okay. I’ll help. Watching three boys is a handful. I’ll get my suit.”
Still agape, Roger watched her rush up the stairs. What had happened to her? This daughter, who put up a stink if he asked her to watch her brothers while he showered, was volunteering to babysit? No way. Whatever she had going with Em was going to stop right now. Even if he had to stay around and supervise.
“Sounds like a good idea,” he said as he followed Samantha up the stairs and passed her in the hall. “I think I’ll take my suit along, too.”
Samantha paused by her door and regarded him. “Dad, I thought you wanted the time alone to get some paperwork done.”
“All work and no play makes fathers very dull. Besides, I can bring the work with me.” She shot him a look of disbelief before disappearing into her room.
What had he gotten himself into? He had yet to make all the schedules for the transfer to Seattle. A half dozen people had posted for other jobs; now, who would do their work? He had to review the remaining personnel and determine what jobs required immediate attention. And here he was blowing a chance at a peaceful day alone. Crazy. How could he accomplish these tasks at a noisy apartment complex while he baked in the hot sun?
But he had to go. He’d never be able to concentrate on his work knowing what he did about Em. He reminded himself again that in one summer she’d annihilated his sister’s good family upbringing. Who knew what she was capable of doing now?
While he changed in his room, Roger talked to the picture of his wife, which held a prominent place on the white-washed oak dresser. “You wouldn’t recognize Em,” he said as he pulled on his gray plaid swim trunks. “She’s grown up into quite a woman. Not that I’m interested, mind you. It’s just that Samantha seems to like her.
“Remember what a pill Em was? Well, your daughter’s another Em.” Roger slipped on his loafers and a shirt, and walked over to the picture. Picking up the gold frame, he said, “I sure could use your help raising Samantha.” He kissed the glass surface and whispered, “I miss you so much.” With a heavy heart he returned the picture to the dresser and headed out the door.
Roger met Samantha in the front hall. “Dad, you’re not wearing that!” When did she start talking like her mother?
He glanced in the hall mirror at his gray-plaid trunks. His white ones probably would look better, but he’d tossed them in the laundry last night. The colorful Hawaiian shirt had faded a little since Karen bought it for him on their delayed honeymoon to Oahu. Okay, so it looked a little weird, especially with the briefcase, but he was going for comfort, not to make a fashion statement.
“What will Em think? That I’m related to some geek?”
Roger dismissed the remark and opened the door. “This is me. You coming or not?” He had no intention of dressing to impress Em. This shirt reminded him of happy times with Karen. Furthermore, if Samantha found his clothes so despicable, she might decide to stay home and eliminate his need to stay at Em’s. After yesterday’s encounter with the cigarettes, he planned to keep his family’s exposure to Em at a minimum.
* * *
THE BOYS FOUND Sammy and hit the pool the moment they arrived at the apartment complex. Samantha took off for Em, who was sitting under a ramada, a wooden roof that shaded a picnic table within easy access of the pool. She got up and headed toward him as he secured the safety gate. He stopped short and stared along with every other male in the area.
Her white suit was conservative, covered by a sheer, colorful blouse in blues that hugged her every time a breeze passed by. “Hello, Roger. Samantha says you’re planning to work here.” Her puzzled expression showed a concern he hadn’t expected. “Maybe you’d prefer the apartment, where it’s quieter.”
“No, this will do fine.” He placed his briefcase on the table. “I just have a few things to catch up on for the office.” Not that he’d get anything done with so much distraction, but he didn’t want to leave his children alone with her. Her attention was already back on the boys horsing around in the pool. It gave him a chance to observe her.
Several strands of blond hair had come loose from her ponytail. When had she decided to grow her hair long? It certainly was an improvement over the short spikes he remembered. He looked back at his sons, intending to keep an eye on them. They had a tendency to get rowdy if they thought they could get away with it.
At least he didn’t have to worry about Samantha. She was sloshing in the pool with some kids her own age. Four years in high school followed by four more in college. How was he going to pay for that without a job?
Suddenly, the task before him took on enormous proportions. He had a presentation to make the next day. Roger sat down and began making a list of what he had to accomplish over the next six months.
* * *
“WOULD YOU CARE for some iced tea?” Em stood before him holding two glasses.
Roger accepted the offered glass. He hadn’t even realized he was thirsty. After a long swallow, he forced himself to look away. The boys had disappeared. He half stood, searching the pool for any sign of them.
“They’re taking a break, playing in the sandbox with some trucks and action figures. Mind if I sit here? It’s the only shade left in the area.”
“Go ahead,” he said as he pushed papers to one side.
“I’ll try not to disturb you.”
“That’s okay. It’s time for me to take a break.” Usually, when his children were around, one part of him was always tuned in to them. For some reason he had lost himself in his work, and left the supervision to Em. Was it instinct or something else that had trusted Em to watch out for them? The realization struck him as odd, considering how he felt about her potential influence. He looked around for his daughter.
“Samantha’s playing cards with her friends in the other ramada.” Em nodded to the other side of the pool.
“How did you know...?”
“It’s the look you get. Sort of a fatherly, worried expression. I noticed it yesterday when you thought I was enticing her to smoke.”
“Déjà vu. I remembered how you turned my sister into a smoker.”
“I did what?” Her strident tone morphed into a long sigh. “Jodie Holden introduced me to every vice I ever had, including smoking.”
“My sister?” Roger started to laugh at the absurdity. “She was a milquetoast until you came along and ruined her.”
“You haven’t a clue what she was really into.” Em started to tap her fingers on the table. He glanced down to the movement and noticed that her nails, although polished in light pink, were short and practical, not the fake extensions in vivid colors Samantha often tried.
“Oh, no? When you showed up that summer, she started to drink, swear, smoke and carry on with the opposite sex.”
Em pierced him with her blue eyes. “Just like you were doing?”
Roger paused. Just like him? “That’s different,” he said. “I was attending college at the time.”
“No. What’s different is you’re male and we’re female.” Em sat straighter. Roger gave her his complete attention and doubted if anything other than a comet’s entry into the atmosphere could distract him. “And according to you, we’re supposed to abide by a stricter standard. Jodie chose not to, and I went along for the ride.”
Roger placed his elbow on the table and braced his chin in his hand. Maybe Em was right. He’d never paid much attention to his sister until Em arrived on the scene. “Well, she never soaped my car.”
A smile turned up the corners of Em’s mouth. Her cheek threatened to dimple. “You deserved that.”
He leaned across the table. “Thanks to you and those little stunts, Karen nearly broke up with me. She had a driving test on one of the days you soaped the windows, and we couldn’t get it all off in time. She missed her appointment.” He leaned back. “And I don’t appreciate that self-satisfied smirk. You really created havoc with my love life.”
“I was fourteen at the time. How old is Samantha?” Roger squinted at the ramada across the sun-drenched pool.
“She’ll be fourteen in October, but she’s been acting like someone in her twenties for the past year.”
“And she could easily pass for eighteen.” Em rose and took their empty glasses. “Looks like you’ve got your hands full.” She beamed a smile on him warmer than the Arizona sun. “Want some more tea?”
He watched her walk away—the swing of her hips, the swish of that golden hair. Em had grown up into a very interesting woman. A very interesting woman, indeed.
CHAPTER FOUR
“THANKS FOR HELPING, Mom,” Em said as Doris finished washing the dishes. Roger and the twins had stayed for lunch, a macaroni-and-cheese creation of her mother’s that Sammy couldn’t get enough of. Everyone else seemed to enjoy it, as well. The kitchen was small, with dark cabinets and barely enough room for the two to work. Em wiped the last plate and planted a kiss on her mother’s cheek, a small thanks for all that she had done.
“Once I finish up here, I’ll go back to my room and read,” Doris said. “You go entertain Roger.”
“I don’t know.” Em glanced through the kitchen doorway. “He’s engrossed in some business he has to complete for tomorrow.”
Doris placed a wet hand on her shoulder and pushed. “Go on. I remember when nothing could keep you from bugging him.”
Em stayed put. “Was I that bad?” All those juvenile high jinks she had performed in an attempt to gain his attention. A tremble shook her head and shoulders. If only she could wash away her misguided antics.
Doris flipped back a strand of hair and sighed. “As I recall, you thought he walked on water.”
“Well, I know better now.” Another push from her mother sent her into the dining room. She had no desire to join the boys in the living room and watch another rerun of Star Wars, the video they had chosen. Samantha hadn’t returned from having lunch with a girlfriend, so Em couldn’t talk with her.
Despite the relatively pleasant time she and Roger had shared today, Em felt ill at ease. Maybe it was that ridiculous shirt he was wearing. It belonged on a bonfire. She had changed into white shorts and a red T-shirt, but obviously Roger hadn’t bothered to bring anything extra.
“Can I get you something? More iced tea? A beer?”
Roger looked up from where he sat at the dining-room table and smiled. Except for one slightly protruding eyetooth, he had a perfect smile, one that made her feel all warm and cozy inside. “No thanks. Pull up a chair, unless you’d rather join the kids.”
“I’d prefer adult company, if I’m not disturbing you.”
Roger tilted his chair back and stretched his arms over his head. His Hawaiian shirt momentarily pulled tight across his chest before he dropped his hands back to the table. “Actually you might be able to give me some insight. I’m working on transfering work from my department at Metro to another office in Seattle. It means several people will be losing their jobs unless they can move to Seattle. I’d like some input from someone who’s been there. Your mother mentioned you’ve been laid off before.”
“Twice.”
“Two times? That’s got to be hell!”
“More like an endless roller-coaster ride.” Em pulled out the wooden chair and sat next to him so she wouldn’t be forced to look at that shirt.
“Tell me about it. The company’s providing us with an agency that deals with outplacements, but I’m interested in hearing firsthand what actually helped to get you back to full employment.”
He moved his arm, so that the short hairs tickled hers, and Em shifted slightly to avoid the contact. It was too disconcerting and she was trying to keep her mind focused on their discussion.
“The first time was the worst. About twenty of us were walked out of the building like criminals the day we received our notice. They gave us one month’s severance and a printed list of possible employers we could find on the internet.” She folded her hands on the table in front of her.
“And the second time?”
“Not so bad. I had learned there’s no such thing as job security. Besides, this company made the transition bearable.” She needed to do something with her hands. Em reached for a pen and inadvertently touched Roger’s arm again. She pulled her hands into her lap.
“They expected everything to take two years to transfer,” she continued, “and they did what they could to keep our morale up so we’d stick around. Anyone who stayed through the entire process would receive a large bonus package.”
The space between Roger and her was decreasing, because Roger kept leaning toward her as though he wanted to catch everything she had to say. Em considered moving her chair a little farther away, but decided she liked the idea that he found her interesting.
“How did they keep you there?” Roger picked up a yellow legal pad and began making hen scratches.
“They offered training we’d need to make ourselves more saleable in the work world and gave us counseling as well as help in writing résumés and... Am I going too fast for you?” Roger stopped writing and looked up.
“No. This is great information. Go on.”
“How are you going to read that?”
Roger dropped his pencil and propped his head on his hand again. “It takes a while, but I manage.”
“Wait a minute.” Em got up and returned after a moment with a laptop computer. At least this would keep her hands occupied. “I’ll put it all down in a readable form. What else do you want to know?”
“What they did to make life bearable. Stuff like that.”
Em typed as she talked. “They gave us unexpected breaks that cost them very little....”
“That’s good,” Roger said, straightening and pointing to the computer. “Put that down.”
“Like one day they gave us the afternoon off to watch a video, a comedy, and they provided popcorn and pop.”
“Didn’t that cut down on production?”
Em typed in his question then added her answer. “No. Production improved. Most of us were glad to have some relief from the pressure that was always present.” She was really getting into this, enjoying their exchange.
“What else?”
“Well...” She closed her eyes a moment to picture the scene. “They used incentives.”
“To keep production at its peak?”
Em chuckled as she typed. “No, to keep us coming in every day. People who had collected sick time began to get ill Wednesday and recover by the next Tuesday. The company needed reliable workers, so everyone who didn’t miss a day during the week got a little prize.”
Roger placed his hands over his face and mumbled, “Oh, boy. Here it comes.” He brushed his hands through his hair before sitting back. “What’s it going to cost?”
“What’s the cost of four or five days of pay for just one person out sick, not even counting the production cost or the strain on the other employees who have to fill in?”
