A Seal Upon Your Heart (32 page)

CHAPTER 28

Wednesday after work, Tim dropped Martier off at her cottage to prepare for
dinner at Jakob and Elaina’s. She stared at the clothes in her closet not daring to wear any of Corrine’s, but finding that the ones she had so recently purchased didn’t give the right ‘vibe’. She had changed outfits twice when Tim knocked on the door and she had to be satisfied with a skirt and blouse that was reminiscent of her days at the convent; only this one had been purchased from money that she went to work daily to make—and it was a lot nicer. With a distraught sigh she bounded down the stairs and rushed to the door.

Tim caught his breath. He loved when she wore her long hair down to flow in thick curls over her shoulders. “Ready?” He slipped his hands to her waist and leaned in to kiss her but could feel her hang back a bit. A frown suddenly appeared on her face.

“I…no. I should change-” Martier gestured back into the house and made to turn. Tim chuckled and held her in place.

“Martier, sweetheart, you look perfect. Okay? You have nothing to worry about.” She was dressed modestly yet the curves of her body offered a hint of sexiness that was hard for Tim to ignore. Martier had filled out over the last few months, and while still obviously tall and thin, she no longer looked like an ad for the starving kids in Africa.

She bit her lips lightly, the creases still present on her forehead. “Are you sure?” Elaina had been friends with Corrine. How did she expect to be this woman’s peer? She would be able to spot in a second that her clothes were bought off the rack and not expensive designer wear and…

“It’s just dinner.” He said with a smile, hoping that it would ease some of her fears. “And you’ve already met half of the team. Jakob likes you, and Elaina is a sweetheart.”

Martier smiled and relaxed. “Okay. I’m ready. Let me just grab my purse.”

~***~

Martier was in awe at how big and pretty Jakob and Elaina’s house was. There was even a fountain in the front yard like it was a museum or the public library! The driveway wrapped around into a brick circle and the pretty fountain sat right in the middle of it. The house reminded her of a London brownstone, or what she had seen in books. Ivy grew up the brick sides and the grounds were so expertly maintained that she felt like going back to Tim’s house to re-landscape the entire property! Tim just kept the lawn edged and mowed and Martier had liked the wild way that the flowers had taken over the flower beds…but now she knew that it could look so much better.

Tim held her hand and rang the bell. Elaina and Jakob both answered together. Martier thought it was strange seeing him dressed casually in navy slacks and a polo shirt left un-tucked. Elaina wore a big welcoming smile that slipped momentarily when she sat eyes on Martier before she caught herself and reached out to usher the guests into the house.

Tim kissed her cheek and clapped Jakob on the shoulder. “Elaina, this is Martier Besigye. Martier, meet Elaina.” Elaina took the young girl’s hand and shook it graciously but she couldn’t believe what she was seeing, though she hid it well. What was Tim thinking? This was just a girl.

“Welcome Martier. Such a pleasure to finally meet you.” They exchanged small pleasantries and Jakob led them to a room where they could sit, talk and drink. Martier resisted the urge to gawk at everything but she was in awe of the perfectly decorated home. Still, she preferred Tim’s and not just because it was so familiar to her now, but because it had been decorated in a more comfortable and less opulent style.

Jakob asked what everyone wanted to drink. Elaina wanted white wine, Tim wanted beer and having liked the wine she had at Dhakiya’s house, Martier stated she would have wine as well. While Jakob tended to that, Elaina fixed her eyes on the young woman.   

“Martier, what a pretty name. Does it have a meaning?”

Martier smiled shyly and shook her head. If she had ever known that there was a meaning behind her name, she wouldn’t have remembered. “But thank you.” She replied.

Tim’s smile froze for he did think he knew the root of her name. Her father’s name was Martin and it seemed to be derived from that. Did Martier even know that her father’s first name was Martin? Maybe holding this information back wasn’t good after all. He had just thought to reveal all of his findings at once but now it only seemed cruel to know things about her family that she didn’t.

“How did you and Tim meet?” Elaina asked.

“At Rangbo, Singleton, Bradbury and Marx. I got the job as Tim’s secretary and assistant.”

Jakob returned then so no one noticed the look that fell across Elaina’s face. Her husband passed everyone their drinks and Martier turned to her again.

“You have a beautiful home.” 

Elaina’s lips pursed. “Thank you.” She said simply without looking at the young girl. She stood. “I better check dinner.” And then she was gone.

“Would you like the grand tour?” Jakob asked, surprised that his wife didn’t offer. She loved showing off the house.

Martier was enthusiastic about seeing it. She didn’t realize that being asked to tour someone’s home was the norm, though it might be a rich people thing. The house was big and took nearly half an hour walk through. But within that time Martier began to relax even more. Jakob was so friendly and he and Tim joked and laughed in a way that made her happy. Tim needed a friend like that. He was entirely too serious at times.

Jakob told her about all of the fun that she would have in New York and some places that would be nice to visit while she was there.

“I always have to make two trips to New York; One for the conference and then after, to take Elaina. She loves the shopping.”

Martier gave him and Tim a curious look.

“The conference is for secretaries. It’s a way for us to show our appreciation.” Tim explained. Martier nodded but still didn’t see why the wives couldn’t come along, too.

“Well I suppose dinner is ready, we better head back before Elaina accuses me of ruining it.” Dinner was indeed set out on the large dining room table. Martier had to blink at how perfectly set everything was. One day she and Tim would have Elaina and Jakob to dinner and she wanted to remember how to do it just as perfectly as Elaina had.

“I hope we didn’t keep dinner waiting.” Jakob said while placing his lips on his wife’s cheek. She was placing a dish of potatoes on the table.

“No, I’m just finishing up.” She replied without meeting anyone’s eyes. “Please, sit down and we can eat.”

Martier cleared her throat after taking her seat. “I love the way you decorated your house. It truly is beautiful.”

Elaina regarded her for a moment. “Corrine and I used the same designer. I can always give you her name. She’s top in the field. Kind of pricey but…” Elaina’s eyes moved to Tim who finally caught the cold wave. “I’m sure that won’t be an issue.”

No one said anything after that. The meal was eaten mostly in silence. Tim and Jakob exchanged glances and Jakob shrugged almost imperceptibly.

“Um, this chicken is delicious.” Tim said, attempting to thaw the chill in the air.

Elaina smiled at him. “I’ll be sure to give the recipe to Martier. Maybe she can cook it for you sometime.” She looked at Martier. “You do cook, don’t you dear?”

Tim frowned.

Martier nodded quickly. “Not very well. Tim cooks much better than I do.” Her eyes moved quickly from Elaina to Tim. She guessed that Elaina didn’t much care for her. Maybe they could just be friends with Tim because she had no intentions of ever returning.

“Tim,” Elaina said suddenly. “May I see you in the kitchen?” She didn’t wait for a response but just jumped out of her chair angrily and stormed out of the room. Tim’s mouth stood agape. He glanced at Martier.

“Give me a minute. I’m sorry.” He left the table and followed Elaina out of the room. Jakob was at a loss. He gave Martier a weak smile and then hurried after his wife and best friend.

Elaina was leaning against the breakfast bar tapping her nails along the marble counter top. Her normally warm eyes glared at him with so much anger that Tim hesitated, causing Jakob to bump into his back.

“Timothy Alan Singleton, how DARE you bring that…that…GIRL into my home?!” She bit out.

“Elaina! What in the hell are you talking about? I told you I was bringing her-” He turned to Jakob for confirmation.

Jakob gave her an innocent look. “Yeah, I told you that Tim was bringing a girl that he was involved with
-”

She waved him away with her hand and Jakob stopped talking.

“I thought you were bringing a woman, not a little girl. I had no idea-”

“She is a woman. She’s not a little girl-” Tim interjected, his back stiffening.

Her eyes narrowed. “No, Tim. She’s another one of the office whores. I thought you had more respect than that! I never would have dreamed that you would be another one of those men that want to whore around with every temp that steps into the firm. Do you have that girl convinced that in exchange for sucking your dick she’s going to become your wife?!”

Tim’s eyes were practically bulging from his head. He’d never ever heard Elaina talk like this. He couldn’t even imagine her ever using the word dick.

Jakob was just as stunned. “Honey…”

She turned her angry eyes at him. “Jakob!” His mouth clamped shut and Elaina focused her attention back to Tim. She was shaking by this time. “I introduced you to a real woman, one that has some culture and sophistication and she’s not good enough! What? She too old for you Tim?! Because, you know what, Tim? Women don’t stay young forever. You have it good, don’t you? You’ll have your choice of women to select from no matter how old you are; even when you’re as old as that bastard Aaron Rangbo! You’ll never run out of young girls that apply for the position of being bed mates to a partner. When one gets too old, too talkative, too boring then you’ll pass her on for the next one! Meanwhile, women like Priscilla are spending hours in the gym, paying surgeons a MINT just to keep up! Well we can’t!” Her voice broke. “I thought you were different, Tim!” Elaina ran out of the room in tears.

“What the fuck-?” Jakob said as he watched his wife run past him. He looked at Tim in shock. “Tim, I’m so sorry! I don’t know what got into her! I-she…”

Tim looked at his best friend calmly. He didn’t seem angry. “Jakob…you do understand that she wasn’t talking to me, right?”

Jakob frowned and Tim thought that sometimes the smartest people were sometimes the stupidest. “Jake, she knows. She knows it all, the secretaries, the trips to New York, everything. I told you a long time ago that I wouldn’t interfere in your personal affairs but I’m going to tell you this once and for all; if you love your wife you better change your ways. The hardest thing in the world is losing someone you love—and I’m not just talking about to death.” He walked past Jakob who had visibly paled.

When he returned to the dining room, Martier was standing by the table with a look of discomfort on her face. Tim put his arm around her shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile and a brief hug. “Let’s get out of here, okay?”

“Yes.” She looked up at him as they headed out the door. “Did I…do something wrong?”

Tim kissed her cheek. “No. You didn’t. That in there wasn’t about you.” He sighed. “Let’s just go home and pop in a movie and relax.” She nodded and as they drove home she tried to pretend that none of it was important. But it was.

~***~

Martier was busy typing when someone cleared their throat. Her head popped up to see a nervous Jakob standing next to her desk. She smiled at him and he returned it weakly.

“Martier…hi.”

“Hi Jakob.”