Love With A Stranger (18 page)

“She said she could come on Mondays and Thursdays if that would be sufficient for your needs,” Jason revealed. “Today is the last day with her other employer because they’re moving soon, so she can start next week.”

“Two days a week will be perfect. I don’t need a daily housekeeper; that was Tom’s idea. He insisted that I not do any cleaning or cooking, or even laundry and errands. But I don’t mind doing some of those things and I did them before we married. All I need is for Mary to clean the house thoroughly, and I can take care of the rest. In fact, it will give me worthwhile things to do with my time.”

“That sounds like a good idea to me. And, yes, you can stop taking any medication, but continue with the exercises and relaxation techniques that Linda taught you. And make sure you eat three well-balanced meals a day.”

Cass laughed and quipped, “Don’t worry, Doctor, I can cook. I may be a little rusty, but I’m sure it will come back to me with practice.”

Jason grinned as his blue gaze drifted over her. “You look and sound wonderful, Cass, and I’m pleased with your progress. No, your
recovery.
In my opinion, you’re totally well.”

Cass made a mock half-bow and said, “Thank you, Jason, because I feel wonderful, better every day.”

“What you’re doing with the house and for yourself is good for you because you look radiant and relaxed. I remember when I had to pack away reminders of the past. It can be difficult, but theraputic. New surroundings help the healing process. I resisted making those needed changes for too long after Joan died because of the children; it was their home, too, and I didn’t want them to think I was discarding her memory too fast; but I moved a year later.” Jason decided to drop a few facts about himself in case they made a difference to her and could hinder a future relationship. “Actually, I remarried, but it was too fast and we weren’t compatible, so it didn’t work out. I’ve been divorced for thirteen months. I bought the new house a few blocks down the street from here and completely refurnished it after the divorce. I’ve been happy there.”

“I’m sorry to hear you had such trouble, but as you said about me, you look and sound as if you’re doing great now.”

“It was a mistake for both of us, but we corrected it quickly. Thank goodness we didn’t have a child, so I don’t have any ties to her. She’s long gone and far away from Sea Island. Now, back to Mary. I’ll give you her phone number. She’ll probably want to meet with you to check the size of your house and duties you want her to perform before she gives you a price, but she’s very reasonable.” Jason glanced at his watch and said, “Well, I best get going and get changed so I won’t be late for our tee-off time. I do want you to come to my office in a couple of weeks and get a complete physical. Call my receptionist and make an appointment for around the twenty-fifth. But call me at home or the office if you have any problems before that date.”

As Cass escorted him toward the door, she said, “I will, and thanks for everything you’ve done for me.”

“It’s easy to do things for you, Cass, because you’re a special person.”

Cass smiled in gratitude, but didn’t respond in like kind. If he didn’t leave soon, she was going to melt under that fiery blue gaze! She could hardly keep from staring at him, from touching him! He was just too enchanting and irresistible, too darned tempting! She opened the door and said, “Thanks for stopping by, Jason.”

He paused in the doorway, turned, and asked, “Would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow night at the Cloister? Maybe take a scenic drive afterward? We could both use a diversion after a hard week of work.”

Cass accepted before comtemplating whether or not she should, “That sounds nice. I love the Cloister. What time?”

“I’ll pick you up about six-forty-five and we’ll eat at seven. Okay?”

“Perfect. I’ll see you then. Good luck with your game today. Goodbye, Jason.”

She watched him get into his car, start the engine, and leave. Luck was on her side today, she decided, because Jason was out of sight before Inez returned, still in a belligerent mood. With other and more important matters on her mind, Cass ignored the woman and went to freshen up for her two appointments.

Before leaving the house later, Cass not only let Inez leave early that afternoon but also gave her Friday off, which the housekeeper protested to no avail.
If luck stays with me tomorrow when I meet with Mary, you’ve seen your last day here.

As she drove to the two meetings, Cass recalled that both would be brief ones because she had given the men such short notice when she’d made them yesterday. In fact, she still was surprised they had agreed to see her so soon after contacting them. She was dressed in a lovely pale-green suit by Oberon,
low heels, and simple jewelry. She had worn her wedding rings out of what she considered propriety for this occasion. Her hair was clean, shiny, and wavy from hot rollers. Her makeup had been applied with a light, but flattering, touch; as had Chanel #5 perfume.

She waited only five minutes before she was shown into the lawyer’s office and seated before his large burled walnut desk. She was greeted with courtesy and received an advanced apology for the impending rush. She smiled and said it was unnecessary and she appreciated him taking time from his busy schedule to see her.

Tom’s lawyer got down to business immediately and went over the will with her, but there was very little to discover, as Peter had covered almost everything in their past discussion. She learned that all of the dispensations either had been handled or were still in progress. He gave her the deed to the house, now in her name, for which the loan balance had been paid off as per Tom’s instructions. The trust fund had been set up at Tom’s local bank and was functioning to support her. She took the file Simon Johnson handed to her containing a list of her holdings, due dates for payments of interests and earnings, and other legal papers, and was told to keep it in a safe place. He explained the remarriage stipulation, saying she could keep anything she had collected from the trust fund to that point in time; any balance would be turned over to Peter on the day of her remarriage. And, the bloodline will returned all Grantham monies and properties to Peter or his heirs following her demise, no matter if she rewed or the ten-year timetable had passed and she had collected the entire inheritance.

Simon also explained that although she had a forty-nine percent interest in the eight companies, Peter was in control of running them. At that point, he asked her if she had any questions. Cass thought the man looked uneasy. She told him no, but suspected he was withholding facts in that area. Since he was Peter’s lawyer and the eight companies’ lawyer, she
reasoned, no doubt he valued those clients and was trying to protect them from interference by a woman ignorant of business matters. As long as no problems arose and she received her earnings from them, Cass decided, she would not intrude on Peter’s decisions.

The lawyer went on to explain the donations to certain charities and foundations, all in the name of Thomas Ethan Grantham: a small wing at a hospital, several college scholarships, a free clinic for the poor, funds for the arts and for conservation and ecology.

Perpetual fame and gratitude from people and organizations who don’t realize what a terrible and wicked man you were! At least you did a few good things with your life and money!

Again, Simon asked her if she had any questions or comments. She shook her head and thanked him for his assistance. She left his office to meet with Tom’s accountant, Harrison “Harry” Dredger, whose office was in the same business complex.

Once more she was seen within minutes after her arrival, as if either she was an important client or the man was in a hurry to finish their talk so he could leave for the day, or perhaps be rid of her. Cass observed that his tone and expression didn’t indicate tension or dislike. It was clear Harry catered to wealthy clients, since his office and clothing were in the most expensive taste.

Per Peter’s instructions, the family accountant would continue to pay her household bills from her trust fund. Harry Dredger went over her monthly expenses, income holdings, taxes, trust fund, and inheritance payout schedule. April’s “allowance” had been deposited into her checking account, as every ensuing payment would be on the fifth of each month. He told her he would teach her how to manage her budget if and when she wanted to handle her finances herself.

Aware of how complicated they were Cass smiled and told Harry she didn’t intend to do so any time soon.

He said he would send her a monthly report on expenditures, and an annual one which would feature her assets and liabilities. He told her to feel free to phone him with any questions or changes she wanted to make.

Cass thanked him, and left with another file of papers which she would study more closely at another time. As she drove home, she realized she was a very rich woman, at least on paper and at a future date when she would fully own and control that wealth, if she didn’t remarry too soon.

You were a cunning and treacherous sneak, Thomas Grantham, but I’ll find a way to outwit you! I’ll get your money and I’ll find true love, just wait and see!

After she reached home, Cass phoned Mary Ellis, who suggested she stop by after lunch tomorrow so they could meet and talk about the job.

Within ten minutes of Mary’s arrival, Cass was certain that Jason was right about the vivacious and genial thirty-two-yearold with curly auburn hair and expressive hazel eyes that brightened when she talked. As she showed Mrs. Ellis around, she learned that Mary and her husband, an instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Brunswick, had only one child. Their son, who had been in a coma for a year following an accident with a drunk driver, was in a local medical facility where he could be tended and observed by doctors and nurses: Jason hadn’t told her that, and her heart went out to the young mother who couldn’t have another child. To help pay those enormous expenses, Mary worked three jobs.

As Mary glanced around the bedroom and smiled, she said, “I work from eight-thirty to five, ma’am, unless you prefer nine to five-thirty. With a house this size to clean thoroughly in two days, I couldn’t do extra things like windows and blinds and oven-cleaning and such on the regular schedule, but I can
give you an extra day for those chores when one of my other bosses goes out of town and doesn’t need me.”

“Don’t worry about that, Mary; we have a window washing service that comes several times a year to do the outsides and insides, and my two ovens are self-cleaning. I only need for you to vacuum carpets, sweep floors and porches—but no walkways or driveway because I have a gardener who takes care of those once a week when he does the yards—mop, dust, and clean the bathrooms. I’ll take care of the rest between your visits. Since I live alone, most of the rooms are rarely used, except for my upstairs suite, kitchen, breakfast room, and den.”

“That’s fine with me, ma’am.”

“Excellent. If I ever ask you to do something that you don’t feel is part of your job or you don’t have time for, please just tell me and it won’t be a problem. Do you charge by the hour or day or what?”

“I charge eighty dollars a day for eight hours. I take twenty minutes for lunch, which I bring with me, and take two fiveminute breaks.”

“It isn’t necessary to bring your lunch, Mary; I always have plenty of food and drinks here, and it’ll save you time and energy in the mornings. As for rest periods, take them as needed and don’t watch the clock.”

“Thank you, ma’am. I have reference letters with me and you can speak with any of my current and past employers. I’m self-employed, so I pay my own taxes and social security out of my earnings. If that’s agreeable, I can start on Monday or on Thursday. Do you have any questions for me?”

As Cass searched her mind, she assumed from the woman’s next words that Mary must have thought she was being hesitant.

“If you’d like to think about it or contact my references, you can let me know over the weekend. I’ll hold the opening until Monday.”

Cass smiled. “I don’t need to speak with anyone about you. Doctor Burkman recommends you highly, so that’s good
enough for me. I know this is a big house to clean and I realize doing a good job takes lots of time, so I won’t expect the impossible. Either schedule you select is fine with me. If you ever need a day off for any reason, even just to rest, that’s no problem. How does that sound?”

“That suits me fine, ma’am.”

“Me, too, Mary, and I’m delighted I found you. I’m certain we’re going to get along great. Now, do you prefer to receive a check at the end of each workday or once a week?”

“Once a week is fine with me, ma’am.”

“I know that medical bills can be terribly high, Mary, so if you ever need a month’s salary in advance, please feel free to request it. And if you ever want to work on a day that another employer lets you off, that’s fine with me; I’m sure you can find things to do around here.”

“That’s very kind of you, ma’am, and it will be most helpful. If there’s nothing else, I’ll see you on Monday morning.”

“I can’t think of anything. Good-bye, Mary, and I’ll be praying for your son’s recovery.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Grantham, and good-bye.”

“What do you mean you don’t need me anymore?” Inez asked as she received the shocking phone call Friday afternoon.

“I’m sorry, Inez, but the situation between us isn’t working out and I’m certain you’ll be happier with another employer. I’m deeply grateful for all you did for me while I was ill and you are an excellent housekeeper, but I think we agree that our personal relationship isn’t a pleasant one. I just interviewed another housekeeper and hired her to come in on Mondays and Thursdays; I’ll have—”

“But Mrs. Grantham, I’ve been with you for over two years! I’ve done good work! You didn’t even warn me this was coming and you’ve hired somebody else behind my back! This isn’t
fair! Mr. Peter isn’t going to be pleased with you for firing me like this!”

Cass was annoyed with the rude woman but she tried to remain polite. “Perhaps Peter will want you to continue working for him. You can discuss that with him after his return tomorrow or you can phone him next week. After our many disagreements in the past and particularly how you behaved toward me yesterday, I don’t see why this should come as a surprise to you. As I was about to say before you interrupted me, I’ll have Mr. Dredger send you your regular check for this week’s salary and a second one for two-weeks’ severance pay. I’ll even furnish you with a reference letter.”