and gathered my gear. When I picked up the gloves a thought was nagging at me, but the thread of it snapped when my cell rang.
I t was Jared and he seemed to have recovered from his bad mood. “Since you were curious I thought I’d let you know, Herb said he was surprised the divorce decree wasn't filed and that he didn’t really know how these things work. He just assumed when she told him she was going last time it was all in process by now and he would get it delivered for him to sign any day now. He stopped by the department to see where things stood. Since he came in on his own I was able to share that much.
He rb asked when he could get inside but he wanted your number first. He seemed pretty squeamish about going there before you clean it. Evidently the publishers aren't as impressed with the dead as they are with deadlines though and that book is due. Herb said they were co-authoring it and he's already been in touch with them.”
“ Mae was still family to Herb.” I said, “He’s bound to be grieving. Has anyone been by with supper for him?”
“Not so I noticed, but you know this town, people are pretty quick to take food over if you get a bad haircut. They’re probably more concerned with Bill. What's the sudden fascination with Herb?”
“I just feel sorry for him. He d oesn’t seem to have a lot of friends. If you want to officially go in there you can get a copy of the book today or I can get it when he leaves me a key to clean the place. I'll take him a pie along with the book.”
“Huh,” Jared said, “You signing my next paycheck? And I’ve heard about your kitchen skills; hasn’t the man been through enough already ?”
“I’m heading to Charlotte,” I said indignantly “for a job. But I was planning to buy him a Diva Mama chicken pie for him this week. Besides, your attitude is kind of chauvinistic don’t you think? I bring home my bacon, who says it can’t be take-out?”
“ Nobody,” he said hastily, “I can’t help it if it’s still considered to be a boon for a woman to cook well, any more than being handy around the house or with cars is kind of on the wish list women have for guys. Women always assume guys know how to change a flat right? Well, most men just have an expectation that a woman ought to be pretty and sweet or a good cook. You only have one out of three in that group but the one kind of makes up for the rest.”
I believe that’s the worst compliment I’ve ever had.”
“There is an exception, if you’re good in some other room in the house for example,” his voice had a leer in it designed to make me laugh.
He hung up quickly before I could think of a retort and if my heart was drumming a little quickly, well, it had been a very long time since I had been in a relationship. We aren’t talking months here either. It was no wonder Jared was beginning to grow on me. But I was still annoyed with myself over my disappointment when he hadn’t stuck around earlier to chat.
I started getting ready to head uptown. Lucy had recently convinced me to have new coveralls made by her tailor and sat there barking out instructions to poor Mr. Lee while I was being fitted. They were periwinkle blue and fit like a second skin. With that change my wardrobe was suddenly limited to stretchy V-necks and close-fitting pants or jeans.
I put my nicest Ralph Lauren riding breeches on, which I probably would not be riding in until my old ones were in tatters and topped it off with an upscale tee-shirt and a lightweight asymmetrical blazer. I pulled on my black label Ralph Lauren boots and scratched Mosey behind his ears, promising Lucy would be by to let him out again and he perked up.
I locked the door and slung my supply bag in my old Range Rover, Bessless, and called the hotel to give them an ETA.
T he manager said he would meet me at the front desk personally to let me into the room if I would have him paged. He didn’t want the staff gossiping more than
I t was Jared and he seemed to have recovered from his bad mood. “Since you were curious I thought I’d let you know, Herb said he was surprised the divorce decree wasn't filed and that he didn’t really know how these things work. He just assumed when she told him she was going last time it was all in process by now and he would get it delivered for him to sign any day now. He stopped by the department to see where things stood. Since he came in on his own I was able to share that much.
He rb asked when he could get inside but he wanted your number first. He seemed pretty squeamish about going there before you clean it. Evidently the publishers aren't as impressed with the dead as they are with deadlines though and that book is due. Herb said they were co-authoring it and he's already been in touch with them.”
“ Mae was still family to Herb.” I said, “He’s bound to be grieving. Has anyone been by with supper for him?”
“Not so I noticed, but you know this town, people are pretty quick to take food over if you get a bad haircut. They’re probably more concerned with Bill. What's the sudden fascination with Herb?”
“I just feel sorry for him. He d oesn’t seem to have a lot of friends. If you want to officially go in there you can get a copy of the book today or I can get it when he leaves me a key to clean the place. I'll take him a pie along with the book.”
“Huh,” Jared said, “You signing my next paycheck? And I’ve heard about your kitchen skills; hasn’t the man been through enough already ?”
“I’m heading to Charlotte,” I said indignantly “for a job. But I was planning to buy him a Diva Mama chicken pie for him this week. Besides, your attitude is kind of chauvinistic don’t you think? I bring home my bacon, who says it can’t be take-out?”
“ Nobody,” he said hastily, “I can’t help it if it’s still considered to be a boon for a woman to cook well, any more than being handy around the house or with cars is kind of on the wish list women have for guys. Women always assume guys know how to change a flat right? Well, most men just have an expectation that a woman ought to be pretty and sweet or a good cook. You only have one out of three in that group but the one kind of makes up for the rest.”
I believe that’s the worst compliment I’ve ever had.”
“There is an exception, if you’re good in some other room in the house for example,” his voice had a leer in it designed to make me laugh.
He hung up quickly before I could think of a retort and if my heart was drumming a little quickly, well, it had been a very long time since I had been in a relationship. We aren’t talking months here either. It was no wonder Jared was beginning to grow on me. But I was still annoyed with myself over my disappointment when he hadn’t stuck around earlier to chat.
I started getting ready to head uptown. Lucy had recently convinced me to have new coveralls made by her tailor and sat there barking out instructions to poor Mr. Lee while I was being fitted. They were periwinkle blue and fit like a second skin. With that change my wardrobe was suddenly limited to stretchy V-necks and close-fitting pants or jeans.
I put my nicest Ralph Lauren riding breeches on, which I probably would not be riding in until my old ones were in tatters and topped it off with an upscale tee-shirt and a lightweight asymmetrical blazer. I pulled on my black label Ralph Lauren boots and scratched Mosey behind his ears, promising Lucy would be by to let him out again and he perked up.
I locked the door and slung my supply bag in my old Range Rover, Bessless, and called the hotel to give them an ETA.
T he manager said he would meet me at the front desk personally to let me into the room if I would have him paged. He didn’t want the staff gossiping more than
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