sure I read it somewhere,” Caroline said and gave Jamie a final hug before holding her at arm’s length and thumbing away an unshed tear.
Jamie took a deep breath and smiled. “You’re the best, Mom, know that?”
I’m only as good as you, Caroline thought. She hated that Jamie was upset, but loved that she was willing to share worries with her mother.
“It’s weird seeing you doing nothing,” Jamie remarked.
Caroline gave a facetious ha. “Enjoy it while it lasts. I’m not sure how much more idleness I can take. When I close my eyes, I’m in the garage working on that oak railing for the Millers’ house.”
“Don’t even think it,” her daughter warned and glanced at the books on the porch table. “You can read.”
“Yes. I can read.”
“Got something sexy and hot?” When Caroline shot her a look, she sang, “Your loss.” But she was suddenly earnest. “Can I get you anything before I leave? Eggs? Cereal?”
“No thanks, baby. I’m good.”
“Remember,” she said as she edged toward the stairs, “I’m bringing dinner tonight. Lobster lazy-man style in honor of a one-handed birthday girl. Can I bring you more Tylenol?”
Caroline laughed. “It’s only my wrist. I can walk.” To prove the point, she stood and, taking Jamie’s arm, escorted her down the steps, but they were barely at the bottom when they wobbled as a pair. “Maybe not.”
“Oh please,” Jamie muttered. “That’s me.” Reaching down, she freed her heel from the tiny crack between step and stone where it had caught, the front access being one more thing Jamie would have fixed had Caroline allowed it. “You’re steady as a rock. Not that I wouldn’t love to cancel everything else and stay here today.”
“Don’t you dare. You’re behind already. Go. Really. I’m calling Annie back. She’ll be here by ten. Then Theo’s administrative assistant Allison’s coming, then the LaVall e s, Rob and Diana, then Dean. I’m good.”
* * *
Jamie started the car only when Caroline was back on the swing. Once on the street, she crawled forward to blow her mother a handful of kisses before giving the car gas. Seconds after the mint-on-teal Victorian was out of sight, though, she pulled over, picked up her phone, and tried Claire. When the call went to voice mail again, she tried Brian. Same thing.
This time, she redialed Claire and left a message. Call when you can, and please, please, please, don’t call Caroline yet. And don’t mention the hosting issue to anyone else, please?
Wondering how many other people already knew and, if the list went beyond three or four or five, whether it would be possible to put a lid on the secret at all, she headed for MacAfee Homes.
* * *
The MacAfee Building was several blocks from the center of town. A regal brick structure, it was designed to honor the Georgian Colonial style of the earliest homes built by the company. Its front door, which was oversized and paneled, had the requisite crown and columns, and its windows had multiple panes, but its six-story height had called for creativity. Though side gables and chimneys still rose at the top, its facade was a pastiche of those tall multipaned windows, with cornices, moldings, and pillared balconies strategically placed for visual appeal.
Jamie worked on the top floor, though not at the front of the building. That front, with its sunny southern exposure, housed executive offices that were spacious, one large desk per office and an assistant outside each door. At the other end, facing north, was the design team. Here, skylights allowed for available light, but none hit the computer screens so crucial to an architect’s work. The floor space was open, broken by large L-shaped desks that were arranged in three-person pods to maximize the sharing of ideas and advice.
Jamie shared a pod with her about-to-retire mentor and an architect-intern. The latter was already at her desk, struggling with an egress
Jamie took a deep breath and smiled. “You’re the best, Mom, know that?”
I’m only as good as you, Caroline thought. She hated that Jamie was upset, but loved that she was willing to share worries with her mother.
“It’s weird seeing you doing nothing,” Jamie remarked.
Caroline gave a facetious ha. “Enjoy it while it lasts. I’m not sure how much more idleness I can take. When I close my eyes, I’m in the garage working on that oak railing for the Millers’ house.”
“Don’t even think it,” her daughter warned and glanced at the books on the porch table. “You can read.”
“Yes. I can read.”
“Got something sexy and hot?” When Caroline shot her a look, she sang, “Your loss.” But she was suddenly earnest. “Can I get you anything before I leave? Eggs? Cereal?”
“No thanks, baby. I’m good.”
“Remember,” she said as she edged toward the stairs, “I’m bringing dinner tonight. Lobster lazy-man style in honor of a one-handed birthday girl. Can I bring you more Tylenol?”
Caroline laughed. “It’s only my wrist. I can walk.” To prove the point, she stood and, taking Jamie’s arm, escorted her down the steps, but they were barely at the bottom when they wobbled as a pair. “Maybe not.”
“Oh please,” Jamie muttered. “That’s me.” Reaching down, she freed her heel from the tiny crack between step and stone where it had caught, the front access being one more thing Jamie would have fixed had Caroline allowed it. “You’re steady as a rock. Not that I wouldn’t love to cancel everything else and stay here today.”
“Don’t you dare. You’re behind already. Go. Really. I’m calling Annie back. She’ll be here by ten. Then Theo’s administrative assistant Allison’s coming, then the LaVall e s, Rob and Diana, then Dean. I’m good.”
* * *
Jamie started the car only when Caroline was back on the swing. Once on the street, she crawled forward to blow her mother a handful of kisses before giving the car gas. Seconds after the mint-on-teal Victorian was out of sight, though, she pulled over, picked up her phone, and tried Claire. When the call went to voice mail again, she tried Brian. Same thing.
This time, she redialed Claire and left a message. Call when you can, and please, please, please, don’t call Caroline yet. And don’t mention the hosting issue to anyone else, please?
Wondering how many other people already knew and, if the list went beyond three or four or five, whether it would be possible to put a lid on the secret at all, she headed for MacAfee Homes.
* * *
The MacAfee Building was several blocks from the center of town. A regal brick structure, it was designed to honor the Georgian Colonial style of the earliest homes built by the company. Its front door, which was oversized and paneled, had the requisite crown and columns, and its windows had multiple panes, but its six-story height had called for creativity. Though side gables and chimneys still rose at the top, its facade was a pastiche of those tall multipaned windows, with cornices, moldings, and pillared balconies strategically placed for visual appeal.
Jamie worked on the top floor, though not at the front of the building. That front, with its sunny southern exposure, housed executive offices that were spacious, one large desk per office and an assistant outside each door. At the other end, facing north, was the design team. Here, skylights allowed for available light, but none hit the computer screens so crucial to an architect’s work. The floor space was open, broken by large L-shaped desks that were arranged in three-person pods to maximize the sharing of ideas and advice.
Jamie shared a pod with her about-to-retire mentor and an architect-intern. The latter was already at her desk, struggling with an egress
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