The Old Fashioned Way (A Homespun Romance) (11 page)

Another thing to work on, was managing her time better.  She'd have to learn to keep some of it for herself without feeling guilty.  It wasn't going to be easy.

Three days after the flyers were all distributed, Abby received her first call.   The woman on the other end of the line had just bought a house in Canyon Crest Estates.  She wanted to know when Abby could meet with her.

Abby's voice wouldn't function, and her legs began to shake.  She'd seen the model homes in Canyon Crest Estates.  The houses were all five hundred thousand dollars and up.  Decorating a big house was a dream come true, but what if she made a mess of it?  What if....?

You can do anything you want, Abby. 

The ring of assurance in Daniel's voice as he had said the words spliced through Abby's panic.  "Mrs. Greggory?  I'm free at six this evening.  Would that suit you?"

Abby spent the rest of the day organizing.  Digging out the album that held photographs of some of the best designs she'd done, she found a magazine which held pictures of the latest fashions in window treatments.  Next she hunted for something business-like and confidence building to wear.  Thanks to Agnes’ talent for sewing, Abby had plenty of clothes.

Halfway down the stairs, on her way to the store for a box of chocolates, Abby stopped.  No, she wasn't going that route again.  She had to stop reaching for food every time she was under stress.  Changing direction, she went into the kitchen, and found some carrot sticks.  As she munched on them, Abby thought of the turn her life had taken.  The golden glow of her expectations had become a canvas to paint dreams on.  Hope that everything would turn out well for The Busy Bee provided a splash of green.  Her love for Gran was a deep, rich blue.  Hamish, Agnes, Jack
Williams, Lou and all her other friends were a warm, comforting pink.  Daniel...Abby's breath caught in her throat...Daniel was the red of excitement, of danger that she couldn't resist.

"Where's Abby?"  Daniel asked Sarah Trenton casually.  He had looked for her in the office, in the community room, the house.  As a last resort he was trying the store.

Sarah looked up from the cash register.  "She had to go out."

"I see," said Daniel. 

He'd expected this after the kiss.  Abby had avoiding him down to a fine art.  Was she out as in out shopping, out helping someone, or out taking a perfectly healthy Muffy on yet another trip to the vet?  Unable to ask the questions, he picked up a cushion, put it down, wandered down an aisle and stared blankly at a quilt. 

What's the matter with you, Hawthorn?

He couldn't explain the feeling gripping him, the longing to be with Abby.

"Abby said she was going to Canyon Crest Estates to look into the possibility of decorating someone's house."

Daniel spun around.  The smile on Sarah Trenton's face told him she had tuned into the cause of his restlessness.

"Abby mentioned it was something you said that convinced her to give her business another try.  Thank you, Daniel."

Sarah's eyes conveyed an unspoken message to Daniel.  I owe you for helping Abby back to this point, but hurt her and you'll have to reckon with me.

Daniel had a pretty good idea Sarah wouldn't be the only one he'd have to deal with.  There was Agnes and Hamish and ninety percent of Carbon Canyon watching out for Abby. 

He should be happy that Abby had decided to give his suggestions a try.  As for the restlessness...maybe he needed some time alone to think about it.  Time away from Carbon Canyon.

On impulse he decided to go to Los Angeles.  In the world he was used to, everything here would probably take on a different perspective.

Telling Sarah he was going to Los Angeles and would be back in time for the weekly meeting the next day only took a minute.  Daniel hurried to the guest house for his car keys.  He'd made the right decision.  It was time to touch base with his world again. 

"Gran, I can't believe it," Abby walked into the house, her cheeks fire engine red.  "The Greggorys' house is huge and so beautiful.  It will take a miracle to land the contract.  Mrs. G. and I talked, and she asked me to submit an estimate."

Sarah smiled at her granddaughter.  "I know you'll get the job, Abby."

Abby chuckled.  If she'd told Gran she was putting in a bid for redecorating the White House, the comment would have been the same. 

"How are things at the store?"  Abby asked.

"Everything's fine.  Daniel stopped by to find out where you were."

"He did?"  Abby's gaze fell on the bottle of oil on the mantelpiece. 

Her grandmother looked in the same direction.  "I think you should give him another massage.  He mentioned how much better his hands are feeling, and I noticed at dinner he was finding it easier to bend his fingers over his fork and knife.

Abby sat her enormous patchwork bag down.  "I'll give him a massage after dinner."

"Oh," Sarah peered at her crocheting.  "Daniel won't be here for dinner.  He's gone to Los Angeles."

"Los Angeles?" 

Abby couldn't believe it.  Her mouth went dry.  What had prompted the sudden decision to leave?

"Only for the night.  He'll be back tomorrow."

"I see." 

The rush of relief coursing through Abby left her weak.  For the few seconds when she had thought Daniel had left for good, she'd felt as if someone had switched off all the lights and left her in the dark. 

The fact he had gone to Los Angeles had her on edge.  Was he missing the bright lights, or was there someone special he couldn't do without?

Sarah smiled as Abby left the room.  Her granddaughter's reaction to the news when she'd heard Daniel had gone to L.A. was just what Sarah had hoped for.  So was the way Daniel had looked this morning.

It was just like David, Sarah's husband, had always said, "Life isn't all up or all down.  It's like a Ferris wheel.  Sometimes you're right on top and at others you're at the bottom.  When you're at the bottom, all you have to do is be patient till it's your turn to be on top again."

Sarah was glad Abby was finally on the upswing. 

"Hi."  One quick look showed Daniel the community room was empty except for Abby whittling her dog in the corner.  A glance at the clock showed it was barely seven.  What was she doing here so early?

"Hi."  She gave him a quick startled look.  "You must have left L.A. very early."

"Five."  He had tossed and turned all night.  An early start back seemed to be the best idea he'd had in the last twenty four hours.

His suite at the Castilian had seemed as sterile as an operating room in a hospital.  Daniel had missed being woken by the sounds of birds, and falling asleep to the sound of owls calling to each other in the woods.  He had missed the warmth of Abby's presence, missed sitting at Sarah's dinner table and listening to an account of everyone's day.  Ordinary things.  Important things. 

Realizing Abby wasn't going to say anything, Daniel asked, "How did your meeting go yesterday?"

There was a glow in Abby's eyes as she looked at him.  "Very well.  I've been asked to submit an estimate."

It was just what she needed.

"I stayed up half the night thinking about Mrs. G's house," Abby said quickly as her eyes met Daniel's.  "I woke up early and knew I had to come down here and do something else just to calm down.  I still can't believe it."

She didn't want to admit, even to herself, that part of her sleeplessness had to do with Daniel's absence.  The rush of joy she'd experienced when he walked into the room was still with her.

"There's something I wanted to talk to you about before the meeting," Daniel said.

"Yes?"

"The accounts show the store has reached a breakeven point."

Abby knew that the next two weeks might not be enough to show a profit large enough to make this month's payment. 

"Do you think....?" she began, but the hope in her voice died out at the look on Daniel's face.

"You don't think we'll make it, do you?"

Daniel shook his head.  "Not unless we double our business or you let me lend you some money for next month's payment."

He knew the answer to his offer already, but the suggestion had been worth a try.

"We cannot borrow money we have no way of repaying.  We will have to foreclose.  I don't know how to tell G…Gran and the others the news." 

Daniel hated the tremor of disappointment in Abby's voice.  Hated the fact he'd failed.  It no longer mattered that his integrity was in question.  All he wanted was to help Abby.  He'd spent part of last night wondering what he could do to turn things around for The Busy Bee.

"Don't tell them yet.  I have an idea that just might work.  I met someone last night who might help us." 

"What is it?" asked Abby. 

"A friend of mine, Hank Trammell, is an editor at the Times.  We shared our first apartment together in college.  Bumping into him in the Castilian was sheer chance.  He was just leaving after a big publicity bash for a presidential candidate, when I arrived.  We had dinner together and I mentioned the store."

Daniel held his breath, waiting for Abby to say something.  When she didn't, he proceeded carefully.  "Hank expressed interest in doing an article on The Busy Bee."

"Why?  We're not important, or successful." 

"You're unusual," said Daniel firmly, not sure if he meant Abby or the business.  "Hank said he hadn't heard of entrepreneurship with such a unique slant in a long time.  An article in the Times could get you more publicity than you'll ever need."

He saw hope kindle in Abby's eyes again.  "Do you think it will work?"

Daniel glanced at his watch.  "We can give it a try if you don't think...."  He stopped.

"Think what?" asked Abby.

"Think I'm exploiting the trio or something."

Abby stared at him.  Daniel had grounds for his doubts.  She had been as protective as a mother tigress when he'd first arrived.

"I don't think you are capable of exploiting anyone," Abby said, "especially the trio.  You care about them." 

"Shall I call Hank and find out if he still wants to come?"

"Yes, please."

As Daniel left the room, Abby went back to her whittling.  Last night she had received a warning.  Daniel's time here was limited.  They were from two entirely different worlds.  Their paths had collided for a while, but things would eventually go back to the way they had been. 

Abby's heart contracted at the thought.  Daniel was being very kind about helping them, but he must be impatient to get back to his own life.  He couldn't carry them and their problems around forever.

The sharp crack made her jump.  Abby stared at the dog she was working on.  She had broken the blade of her knife.  Throwing it into a trash can, Abby decided the sooner Daniel left Carbon Canyon the sooner life would return to normal.

Daniel returned as she took a new knife out of Hamish's drawer.  "Hank says he's tossed the idea around with some of his colleagues.  Everyone likes the idea of doing an article on The Busy Bee.  He's coming down here tomorrow."

"So soon?" 

Daniel must have really pulled strings to get someone as important as an editor at the Times to come down at a moment's notice.  On the other hand it could be because the sooner he got things sorted out here, the sooner Daniel could get back to Los Angeles.

"Hank says he's going to have the article out in this Sunday's edition.  That's how keen he is on it.  People are tired of constantly hearing about the recession and the poor economy.  This is something really positive, and he feels it will have far reaching results.  Human interest stories always do."

Abby tried to smile.  Getting what she wanted so badly, meant losing Daniel.

"I'd better tell Gran and the others."  There was never any question that the work Gran was doing here was more important than Abby's muddled feelings. 

Daniel nodded.  "I've already had breakfast.  I'll be in the guest house if you need me."

He'd barely slept last night.  That must be why he had imagined the sadness in Abby's eyes. 

The sight of her in the white skirt and sweater had convinced him going to Los Angeles had been an absolute waste of his time.

Daniel looked at the new laptop he'd brought back with him.  He planned to start working out ideas for his next book.  His work might accomplish something nothing else could these days.  It might shut out thoughts of Abby. 

A couple of hours later, Daniel got up from his desk and walked over to the window.  He frowned.  It looked as if someone had set up a housecleaning movie set in the yard.  Hamish was on a ladder checking the drains, Sarah had her hair tied up in a scarf and was carrying a small pail of water.  Agnes was sweeping the drive while a few others were clipping the hedges.

"What's happening?" Daniel enquired, stepping out of the guest house.

"Daniel," Sarah called.  "We won't be able to have the meeting today."