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Claudia laughed. “You know what I mean.”
Lorna smiled affectionately. “Yes, I do. I was only teasing you.”
They talked baby plans for a while, then Claudia said, “Telling you about the baby isn’t the only reason I dropped by today.”
“Oh?”
“I wanted to invite you to go out with us Saturday night.”
“That’s sweet of you, but you and John will want to celebrate your good news by yourselves. I’d just be a fifth wheel.”
“No, you won’t. Anyway, we’ll be double-dating.”
Lorna made a face. “Oh, Claudia, not a blind date.”
“Don’t say it like that.”
“I can’t help it. I hate blind dates.”
“Jonah’s great. He’s a cameraman and works for John’s company. He’s a bit younger than you are, but he’s lots of fun and cute, and I think you’ll like him.”
Lorna grimaced. “Younger?”
“Not that much. Maybe a couple of years. Anyway, what’s the big deal?”
“I’m not good with younger guys.”
Claudia just rolled her eyes.
Actually, Lorna wasn’t good at dating, period. And she was especially bad at blind dates.
“Why are you always putting yourself down?”
“I’m not. I just…oh, you know. I never know what to say when I first meet a guy. I always feel like I’m boring them to death.” Like I bored Keith.
“Oh, Lorna, that’s ridiculous. You’re smart and beautiful and funny. Why would they be bored?”
“I might be smart, but I’m certainly not beautiful, and funny is still up for a vote.”
“See? There you go again. Putting yourself down.”
“Being honest isn’t putting myself down.”
“I swear, Keith did a real job on you, didn’t he?”
“Well, you’ve got to admit that finding out your husband prefers a silicone-breasted cheerleader barely out of high school and who can’t talk about anything more complicated than who’s dating who in Hollywood doesn’t do a lot to build your confidence.”
“Keith is an idiot.”
“I won’t argue with you there, but the fact remains he lost interest in me as soon as he realized he would have to work for my money.” Lorna wasn’t bitter. The truth was the truth. She’d misjudged Keith. She’d thought he really loved her, that her money wasn’t a factor in his courtship. She’d been wrong.
“Like I said, he’s an idiot,” Claudia said. “Anyway, back to Saturday night. We thought we’d go see a movie—maybe that new one with Drew Barrymore—it’s supposed to be hilarious, then go out for dinner. John and I discovered this really good Cajun place, and on Saturday nights they have a zydeco band.”
“Oh, Claudia, I don’t know….”
“Lorna, I’m not going to take no for an answer. You’re going, and that’s that. We’ve already told Jonah all about you, and he’s excited about meeting you.”
“If he’s so great, why does he need a blind date?”
Claudia shook her head in exasperation. “Honestly, Lorna, sometimes I just want to choke you.”
Lorna grinned.
“That’s better. Now say you’ll go.”
“Oh, okay, I’ll go.”
“Good. I’ll let you know what time after I talk to John. Now, tell me, have you visited the plant yet?”
“No, but I thought I’d pop in tomorrow just to say hello and meet the office staff.”
“You’re starting work on Monday?”
“Yes.”
Lorna had been going to take a couple of weeks off, then had decided one was enough. Besides, she was anxious to get started on her new job.
Claudia stood. Lorna couldn’t help studying her belly, exposed by her low-riding pants and cropped top. So far, she didn’t look any different than she’d always looked, which was fantastic. She grinned at the glint of silver. “How long are you going to wear that navel ring?”
Claudia laughed. “John likes it, but I plan to take it out when I start to show.” She slung her handbag over her shoulder. “Walk out with me?”
Lorna stood on the front stoop and waved goodbye until Claudia’s Jeep disappeared around the corner. Then she slowly walked back inside. Her shoulders sagged. She was happy for Claudia, thrilled for Claudia. But a part of her ached with the knowledge that even her baby sister had passed her by. That it was only she, Lorna, who had failed at marriage and was still childless.
Would motherhood ever happen for her? she wondered forlornly. Or was she forever doomed to be just an aunt or a godmother to her siblings’ children?
For the rest of the day, she fought against a rising melancholy. Finally, knowing the only way to stop the negative emotions was to lose herself in something she loved, she headed for the piano. It hadn’t been tuned since the move—something she had planned to take care of immediately—but today she didn’t care.
Minutes later, she was deep into the lilting waterfall of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto no. 1 in F-sharp Minor and the rest of the world fell away.
Nick was on the plant floor supervising the installation of a new bagging machine when his secretary paged him. Telling Jim Hennessey, his maintenance manager, he’d be right back, Nick walked out to the distribution center where it wasn’t as noisy.
“Yeah?” he said when he had Karen on the phone.
“Miss Hathaway’s here,” she said.
“What? What the hell is she doing here?” he muttered. “She doesn’t start until Monday.”
Ignoring his irritated response, she chirped, “Would you like me to show her around? Or do you want to come up and do it yourself?”
Nick knew Lorna Hathaway was probably close enough to hear what Karen had to say. He swore under his breath. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“You go on, Nick,” Jim said when Nick rejoined him. “I can finish this up.”
Nick exhaled a frustrated breath. “Thanks.” He stripped off his work gloves and the hairnet everyone had to wear on the plant floor, then headed toward the metal stairs that led to the next level where all the offices were located.
When he reached his office he told himself not to show his irritation. To be polite and businesslike. But one look at the haughty ice queen wearing a dress that probably cost more than he made in a week and thumbing through the second quarter report, and all Nick’s good resolutions flew out the window. He didn’t know what it was about Lorna Hathaway that got under his skin so bad, but he couldn’t stand her. She was the epitome of the type of woman who had always looked down her nose at Nick and his brothers. The kind that knew he was from the wrong side of the tracks and thought he should have stayed there.
“You should have called first,” he said.
Her head snapped up. Something flashed in her eyes, but was gone in a second. “Nice to see you, too,” she said evenly.
He almost smiled. She might be a snob, but she wasn’t stupid. “Thing is, I’m a little busy today. The cooler was on the fritz for two hours earlier this morning, which backed everything up, so now we’re behind. Added to that, we’re installing a new outer-bagging machine, and that’s put us even more behind. So this is a real bad time. Maybe you and I could reschedule?”
“I’m sorry about the problems. However, I only dropped into your office as a courtesy,” she said, rising. “I actually came to meet my staff.”
He frowned. “Staff? You don’t have a staff.”
She stared at him. “But Nan had a secretary—her name was Stella, I believe—and I know there were at least two clerks the last time I was here. And the bookkeeper.”
Nan Mackey was their former business manager, the one Lorna was replacing.
“Stella quit when Nan left. She was pregnant. Stella, that is. And the two clerks were temps. We were in the middle of inventory the last time you were here. Phyllis, the bookkeeper, telecommutes, only coming in at the end of the month or for meetings.”
“I see. Well…have you done anything about replacing Stella?”
He shrugged. “No. I figured you’d rather hire your own secretary.” Someone you can count on to help sabotage me. “Not take someone I chose for you.”
She nodded. “Yes, you’re right, although I would have much preferred to have Stella, since she would have been a big help to me. I don’t suppose there’s anyone else here who might fill the bill?”
“Nope. Not that I know of.” He looked at Karen. “You know anyone who aspires to the office, Karen?”
She frowned in thought. “I could ask around. Maybe Rita?”
“I can’t spare Rita. She’s my best line-supervisor.”
“Yolanda?”
He shook his head. “Not Yolanda, either.”
Karen shrugged. “Well, they’re the only two I can think of.”
“Sorry,” he said to Lorna. “Maybe you’d like to bring someone over from the Morgan Hills plant.”
She just looked at him. “You know I can’t do that.”
“Hey, you’re one of the owners. You can do anything you want.” Whether it’s kosher or not.
For a moment, she didn’t answer. Then, coolly, she said, “Can we step into your office, please?”
“I only have a few minutes.” He walked over and opened the door, motioning her through. Then he closed it firmly behind him. “Have a seat.” After she was seated, he perched on the edge of his desk, knowing that height always gave an advantage. He waited. If she had something to say, let her say it.
“Look, Nick, can we call a truce?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean just what I said. Let’s agree that we don’t much like each other. That’s fine. I don’t need for everyone to like me. However, we do have to work together, so can we also agree to be civil and courteous to one another?”
“Sure.”
She seemed taken aback by his ready agreement. “Good. Then you’ll not be making any more remarks like the one you just made in front of your secretary, right?”
“What was uncivil or discourteous about that? It’s the truth, isn’t it?”
Now she bristled, sitting up and tensing like a cat ready to strike. Her eyes, normally an icy blue, blazed. “No, it wasn’t the truth. When have I ever thrown my weight around?”
“Could it have been when you and your brother decided you’d replace Nan without consulting me or even asking me if I had a problem with it?”
That took the starch out of her sails. “I…” Her voice trailed off, and she sank back in her chair. Her gaze met his. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize Bryce hadn’t consulted you. And you’re right. He should have. We both should have.”
Nick shrugged. “Apology accepted.” He stood. “But you really should have called before coming over today, because I’ve got a full schedule. If you want to look around on your own, though, you’re welcome to do it. But if you can wait till Monday, I’ll show you everything you need to know to get started.”
She nodded. “Fine.” She stood, too. “Seeing as how I have no staff to meet, I guess I’ll wait until Monday. In the meantime, would you ask Karen to find a temp for me until I can get someone hired?”
“Why don’t you talk to Karen about that? That way she’ll know exactly what you want.”
“Okay. I just didn’t want to step on your toes.”
“No problem.”
Nick watched as she walked out of his office. She might have tried to disarm him with an apology, but she was a tight-ass if he’d ever seen one. No wonder her husband had left her. Nick could just imagine the way she’d lorded it over the poor guy and made him toe the line. No man with any pride could live like that.
Well, she’d met her match now. Nick wanted to keep his job, but he wouldn’t grovel before Lorna Hathaway in order to do so. And the sooner she knew that, the better.
But even as he told himself this, he felt the stirring of a grudging admiration for the way she’d handled herself today. At the very least, having her at the plant promised to be interesting.
Damn, damn, damn, damn.
Lorna mentally kicked herself for not calling Nick before going to the plant, but mostly she was furious with herself for not doing her homework.
She should have known the only “staff” she’d have would be a secretary. Why hadn’t she thought to check before opening her mouth? Instead, she’d just assumed that the people she’d seen on her last trip to Houston were permanent employees.
You know what they say about making assumptions, don’t you?
Now Nick DeSanto not only didn’t like her because she was part of the Hathaway family—at least she thought that’s why he didn’t like her—but he probably also thought she was lazy or careless or worse—stupid.
Well, it was her own fault if he did, and she would have to work doubly hard to correct that impression.
And topping everything off was the glaring omission Nick had pointed out—that neither she nor Bryce had asked him if he would have a problem with her taking the business manager’s job. In Nick’s shoes, she’d be furious. She’d think that they didn’t value him as an employee, which she knew wasn’t true. Bryce had recently told her he considered Nick DeSanto the best of his seven plant managers.
