Woman of Substance by Annette Bower

furrows on his forehead. “Why?”
    “Employer expense for business tax purposes.” She gathered her purchases, straightened her coat, stood her full five feet eight inches, and said, “I would have visited Frank because he’s a kind man, but if you’re bound and determined to give me money, I’m going to take it.”
    “Look, don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m just starting a new job and I have to find a place to live besides the hotel I’m in, as well as some other concerns. I’d feel more comfortable knowing someone who he likes will be there.”
    “Yeah, and the man who is your father gets visited by paid help.”
    She turned her back on him and marched toward the exit. You insensitive jerk. You superior dweeb. Where has he been? Head buried in some research book. Didn’t he know people repay kindness with kindness?
    The image that reflected in the glass exit door was very different from the woman who began this day. The pants were accordion-pleated across her thighs, cinnamon sugar sparkled on her chest, and her lipstick was gone. She held the door for a mother pushing a sleeping toddler in a stroller. Glancing over her shoulder, she shrugged. I hope he’s asking because he loves his grandfather and for whatever reason he’s forgotten what small cities are all about . She’d let Jake pay her, and then donate the amount to a charity in Frank’s name. He would never know until the receipt arrived, and then the Robin Smyth he knew would be gone.
    Jake felt as if he’d been sucker-punched in the gut. Could the rumors about padding his expense account have followed him? Was it general news? No, it couldn’t be. He’d upset her again. He’d obviously touched on a sensitive issue.
    He watched Robin’s generous hips sway while she labored around the sofas toward the doors. He wondered whether she had been ill and there was a reason for the wig. He witnessed her humiliation due of some designer’s idea of convenience to weld seats to tables so they what? Couldn’t be stolen, or so that the cleaners could mop under them in record time? The Bushmen, with whom he had lived for three months, believed all people were part of the world. Why hadn’t his society gotten it right?
    He followed other shoppers through the mall door, jamming his hands into his jacket pockets as he headed for his car. He had meant to purchase gloves but Robin, with her dignity and generous nature, made him forget this practical need. She reminded him that he wanted to care about and handle essential matters, first. Right now the only thing he wanted to do was to be with his granddad as often as he could be.
    The Mustang wanted to surge past the speed limit as he gripped the steering wheel and pressed his foot hard on the accelerator. He couldn’t be late for his appointment with his grandfather’s doctor. The reason must be important for the doctor to see him on the weekend.

Chapter 4
    Robbie drove home and levered herself out of her car, then gathered her parcels and struggled up the walk to the front stairs, her purse and shopping bags dangling off her arm like charms on a bracelet. Mavis’s bangles had nothing on her now. Coffee, what was she thinking? She needed to go to the bathroom. The costume designer had suggested she minimize her fluid intake.
    She kicked off her loafers, dropped everything, and hurried up the stairs while she grappled with her coat. When she reached the bathroom, she slid down the slacks and quickly undid the crotch snaps, pulled up her belly, and slid down the leggings. Whew!
    When she put herself back together, her shopping bags were tipped and spilled in her front entrance, just where she’d dropped them. She examined the emerald green long sleeve T-shirt. It was just the thing for her to wear for her first visit to see Frank in his environment. Even though Jake would think she’s doing a job, she wanted to go for Frank because at the end of his life, she reminded him of happier days. Robbie,