The Old Fashioned Way (A Homespun Romance) (8 page)

He had protected himself in the past, let nothing touch his business reputation.  If he went ahead with helping Abby, he was going to risk that reputation.  Right now his chances of success were small.  If he left, he could return to his penthouse at the Castilian.  To the old way of life.  Safe, sensible,....

Empty?

Even before his inner voice supplied the last word, Daniel knew he wouldn't do that.  He couldn't quit now.

Tomorrow he would lay his cards on the table, make their options clear to Abby and the trio.  That was why he was here in the first place.  It wasn't his responsibility to see they implemented his suggestions.  That was up to them.  All he had to do was make his recommendations and leave.

Daniel realized his original problem of finding out what was wrong with The Busy Bee was now compounded by his own feelings.  Abby was an increasingly large part of his determination to stay on.

Deliberately Daniel began to catalog his life.  He had made, and was making, as much money as one man needed in a lifetime.  He had friends...of a kind.  He had a penthouse suite, a pedigree dog, and a very successful career.  What more could anyone want? 

"Someone to call your own, maybe?"

Daniel shook his head.  Rolling on his stomach, he buried his head in his hands.  The fact he didn't have an on-going relationship with a woman was his choice.  Since Eve, he had indulged in a few casual relationships.  Women whose faces he couldn't even remember.  For a long while now there had been no one.  Daniel had told himself it was because he had been too busy.  The truth was he hadn't met anyone who appealed to him.

A picture of Abby flashed into his mind.  Talking to Mr. Williams in a gentle voice.  Abby, telling him she would understand if he left Carbon Canyon.  Abby, with her hair as dark as night and eyes filled with secret pain.  She unsettled him, tied him in knots.

A part of him wanted to solve the mystery behind her pain.  Caution, developed over the years, warned him not to stir up a hornet's nest.

Each facet he discovered about Abby was a delicate, fragile link in a chain.  Patient, caring, generous, loving.  The list went on and on.  He had more than he could name.  The only link that didn't fit in the chain was her nervousness around him.

Daniel knew he wasn't going to cut and run.  He couldn't.  There was nothing to run to.  The nagging emptiness inside that had prompted him to take this holiday was still there.  He had to come to terms with it before he went back to Los Angeles and his work.

Abby glanced at the sandwich on one of Gran's blue and white plates.  Only crumbs of the two enormous peanut butter and jelly sandwiches she had eaten remained on the plate. 

It was all Daniel Hawthorn's fault.  He had walked into the store this morning, and her heart had done its usual flip-flop at the sight of him.  She had flown off the handle, something she hadn't done in years.  It wasn't only because of what he'd said about Gran and her friends.  Abby had been furious about the way he made her feel.  The man had no right to barge into her life and disrupt it.  She didn't need him, or his melt-your-brain-with-one-look gaze.

It was harder than ever to constantly remind herself that feelings couldn't be trusted. 

CHAPTER FOUR

The next morning, Daniel looked at the trio assembled in the community room.  Sarah's apologies and explanations had been profuse.  His gaze met Abby's as she came into the room.  Daniel felt his stomach tighten.

"Sorry, I'm late."  The blue and black top she had on over a black skirt, made her eyes look greener than ever.  "A customer had a question about something we sold her."

Daniel nodded.  He knew who would win if it was a toss-up between punctuality and a customer.

"Abby will take notes," announced Sarah.  "Shall we begin?"

Daniel looked around the room.  There were nine people in here.  He recognized Franz Koch who had brought him a card when he was ill, and Lou Wong who had sat with him one evening.

Asking everyone but the partners to leave the room, would be unthinkable.  He was beginning to realize The Busy Bee was really community property.

"I looked at your accounts and had a talk with Mr. Hawkins, the bank manager," Daniel began.  "The store hasn't made the last three mortgage payments.  Because he knows you so well, Mr. Hawkins pulled strings to give you one last month's extension.  So far the books don't show enough to make this month's payment.  We have a serious problem."

An hour later Daniel realized the problem was more serious than he thought.  Getting The Busy Bee back on its feet would take more than knowledge and expertise...it would take help from the patron saint of all such businesses. 

The trio adamantly refused to raise their prices, or change their mode of extending credit to anyone who asked for it.  They didn't want to consider closing the store and opening a mail order business.  They looked at the proposed budget he had drawn up, and agreed it was excellent but he knew it would only be followed till they found the next person in need. 

Rising exasperation told Daniel his initial doubts were right.  The trio's attitude brought back memories of the time he had suggested his grandparents move to Arizona because they both suffered from severe arthritis.  They had refused, saying they hated change of any kind.  So, apparently, did the owners of The Busy Bee.

Abby's load of guilt increased as the morning wore on.  It was one thing to cling to their beliefs, it was quite another to expect Daniel Hawthorn to see their point of view. 

She shouldn't have challenged him like she had.  The trio were like water, Daniel like oil.  The two would never mix.  The more insistent he got, the more stubborn they became.  She could sense his mounting frustration and the tight rein he kept on his temper.

“You have to stick with your goals,” he said. “No loans or barter deals till the mortgage is paid every month.”

"I'm sorry you find us so uncooperative, Mr. Hawthorn, but you see, at our age, profit is not our only concern," Sarah stated firmly.  "Having something to do and helping others our age in the process is more important than money."

There were nods and murmurs of agreement from everyone in the room. 

Pack and leave, Hawthorn.  Forget you ever heard of this place. 

Daniel frowned at his notes.  He wasn't a quitter.  He hadn't come down here merely to offer suggestions.  His integrity was at stake here.  Running away would prove his ideas didn't work in practice. 

He looked around the room.  No one had told him it would be easy.  "As you don't find my first suggestions practical, we'll have to consider other ways of promoting business.  I suggest you have some flyers made, and distributed directly to homeowners in the area."

Abby couldn't believe what she was hearing.  In spite of their lack of cooperation, Daniel Hawthorn was still determined to help them? 

"We can get the flyers printed and distributed," Hamish agreed. 

"My next suggestion is going to cost money, but I think the payoff will be worth it.  There's a billboard, visible from the freeway, three miles before the Carbon Canyon exit.  An ad up there would bring in a great many more customers." 

"We'll find a way to pay for it," Sarah said. 

"There's just one more thing...."  He wasn't sure how they were going to take what he said next.  Glancing up to find Abby looking at him, Daniel told himself he had no doubt what her reaction would be.

"Yes?"

Daniel looked at Sarah.  Her head was tilted to one side and her smile was encouraging.

"There is no way the store is going to be able to make up its arrears in payment by the end of this month, therefore...."  Daniel paused.  He had to find just the right words to explain.

"Therefore?" prompted Hamish.

Taking a deep breath, Daniel looked at Abby.  "I've made the payments on behalf of The Busy Bee." He saw the snap of anger in her eyes and said quickly.  "Before any of you say anything, let me finish.  It was not an act of charity.  You now owe me four months' payment with interest.  It's what you owed the bank, with one difference.  We have a little more time to come up with a solution for the problems you face here."

"We will pay you back with interest."  Abby's fierce comment made heads turn in her direction.

"I expect you to," Daniel said evenly.  "I did this so I would have a little more time to help you."

Fear was a lump in Abby's throat.  She ought to be glad Daniel had helped them out.  She wasn't.  This put them in his debt and she hated the idea. 

"I think that about concludes our meeting," Daniel looked around the room.

There was a murmur of thanks before people left.  Daniel took a slow deep breath.  The fact he needed time to sort out The Busy Bee's financial problems, wasn't the only reason he'd made the payments.  He needed time to figure Abby out.

Daniel glanced at the chair she had occupied.  He had hoped she'd be a little relieved, but all he'd done was upset her.  As usual. 

Abby felt the situation was getting worse, not better.  Taking a giant bag of potato chips out of the pantry she decided to take it up to her room.

Owing Daniel money made everything worse.  Not knowing when they would be able to pay him back increased Abby's load of worry.  Things looked bleak for the store.  Yesterday they'd had one customer all morning.  Theodore Lucas had picked out a teddy bear for his grandnephew, and offered to work in the yard for two weeks as payment.

Everything was so complicated.

A little while later Abby crumpled the empty bag and threw it in her trash can.  Gran always said every cloud had a silver lining.  As far as Abby could see the horizon was covered with storm clouds, but not a single one had a silver lining. 

Saturday morning Daniel woke and linked his hands under his head.  He was getting used to being woken by the sound of birds fighting over the crumbs Abby put out each morning.  He could hear friendly growls as Princess and Muffy chased each other in the yard.  Princess had changed completely.  Gone was the  dignified dog he had owned.  With Muffy for a teacher, Princess was rapidly making up for all the lonely years she'd spent. 

He had completely recovered from the flu.  For a few days he'd felt a bit weak, but now he was back to normal. 

Daniel realized he didn't have much to show for his first two weeks in Carbon Canyon.  The flyers had been distributed yesterday.  Hopefully they would bring in some fresh customers.

Abby.  The last time he'd seen her had been at the meeting on Wednesday.  She was making a career out of avoiding him.  Daniel knew she was still mad with him.  He'd walked into the store Thursday, but she had immediately started a lengthy conversation with one of the customers about a knitting pattern and he'd finally left.  Pretending he had a question about an entry, he had asked for her Friday afternoon and been told she was at Vista.  She hadn't been in for the evening meal both nights.  Sarah had mentioned she was dining with friends. 

Daniel knew he had to find a way of making contact with Abby.  She couldn't go on avoiding him like this.

Abby looked at the flask of coffee and sighed.  Gran's note said the trio were cleaning the store and would Abby please take Daniel's coffee over to him?

There had been some talk of finding a spare coffee pot for Daniel so he could fix his own coffee.  Obviously it hadn't been found yet.  Abby grabbed the flask and strode in the direction of the guest house.  It was barely seven.  Maybe she could knock on the door, leave the flask on the doorstep and run for dear life.  She had to find a minute today to unearth the coffee pot she had used in college.  Daniel Hawthorn could make his own coffee in future.

"Hi!"

Abby's head shot up at the sight of Daniel leaning casually against the front door of the guest house.  Burgundy, grey and white striped pajamas, dark stubble, tousled hair and a twinkle in his eye.  Above the wild thumping of her heart, Abby heard the sounds of birds in the tree, a tiny bark from Muffy somewhere in the distance.  The scent of roses drifted to Abby as awareness etched the scene into her memory.  The flask suddenly felt extremely heavy.

"Your coffee."  Abby's hand was as stiff as a drum major's as she held the flask out.

"Thank you.  Would you like to come in and share a cup with me?"

Abby raised her gaze and it tangled in the matt of hair on Daniel's chest.  He hadn't bothered to button his pajama top.  "No," she said quickly, looking away.  "I have to take Muffy to the vet."

"I see."  The dog's trips to the vet were becoming legendary.  "I hope there's nothing seriously wrong with him."

"Of course not."  Abby looked at him, realized what she'd said, and went bright red.  "What I mean is he has to have some tests, but he doesn't have anything infectious."

"I'm glad," said Daniel mock seriously.

Abby stood drawing patterns in the sand with the toe of her sneaker.  Daniel observed the sunshine glinting off her hair.  He liked the plaid scarf draped around her neck, the tiny matching hat perched on the back of her head.  He didn't want to bring up the subject of the money he'd paid the bank.  It would destroy this tenuous peace between them. 

"I have some good news," she announced, looking up at him.

"Yes?"

"Agnes's son by her first marriage is a cardiologist in L.A.  He's offered to pay for the billboard."

"He has?" asked Daniel in surprise.  "Agnes told me she couldn't get on with her daughter-in-law."

"She can't.  That's why we're getting the billboard.  Agnes called and told her son she and Hamish would have to move back with him for a while, if the store closed.  She says he offered to pay for the billboard right away."

"Clever," Daniel approved.

They smiled at each other, the first real smile they had exchanged in a while.

"Gran says at their age it's the results that count, not the methods."

Daniel nodded.  "Who decided what goes on the billboard?"

"I did.  I asked for a window in the background with a set of lace curtains.  In front of it, is a rocking chair with an afghan draped over one arm, a needlepoint cushion and a teddy bear.  The caption's going to read:  `The things that turn a house into a home.'  At the side we're going to have the name of the store and directions."

The scene Abby described was the one Daniel had seen her set up in the window of the store. 

"I wanted to give people a sense of coming home, of warmth.  That's what we're all about."  Abby sounded hesitant; as if she wasn't sure she'd done the right thing.

"Your ad sounds intriguing and that's exactly the effect to achieve.  Make people want to stop here.  I like it very much."

Daniel watched the color creep into her face. 

Coming home.  Daniel wondered what it would feel like to come home to Abby. 

His gaze dropped to her mouth and he heard her say quickly, "I called the owner of the billboard.  Sam Brite lives in Carbon Canyon and knows Gran.  He said business is slow, so he'll see to it right away.  We should have the ad in place by Tuesday."

And he could leave whenever he wanted to.  She didn't say the words but they hung in the air between them.  The smile left his face.  He wasn't ready to leave yet. 

"What time are we leaving for the play today?"  It was the only thing he could think of to get her to spend some time with him.

Abby's head shot up and her face went bright red.  "The play?" 

Daniel watched her, enjoying the effect his question had on Abby's composure.  "You...you wouldn't like it.  I...It's an amateur group and...and...."

Her voice sounded strange.  Hoarse, scratchy, desperate.

"I think we should give ourselves a chance to find out whether we like it or not.  Some amateur groups are pretty good," Daniel said smoothly.  "Besides, I've heard the old converted mill is a very interesting place.  What time shall we leave?"

Abby scuffed the path with her shoe.  Why hadn't Gran kept quiet about the tickets? The temptation to lie and say she had lost them tugged at her. 

"Abby?"

Looking up, Abby knew she had lost.  She had never been a good liar.

"Seven," she said slowly.  "The play starts at seven thirty."