that’s how you are.”
One thing he’d come to grudgingly accept over the years, though, was that sometimes you had to give a little to get a little. “Come on, you’re smart enough to know that you’ll probably have an easier time getting it through if you play it soft.”
“I know, but I can’t stand that superior look Favreau next door gets on his face. He turned me in for not having my trees trimmed to the exact right height under the power lines on the property frontage. The city came in and practically shaved my jacarandas. And his fool gardener is always chopping on my bougainvillea.” She glared out the window at the long, low wall between the two properties, covered on her side with a profusion of greenery and blooms that ended abruptly at the top of the fence as though shaved off with a chain saw.
“Maybe he needs a hobby.”
“The man’s already got one—being a pain in the neck.”
“Is that a hobby?”
Gloria snorted. “For him, it’s a career.”
P AIGE SAT AT HER desk in her home office, talking into her headset while she simultaneously packed files into her laptop case.
“Yes, I know it’s going to be a big delay, Alma. I know you were planning to have everything redone by June in time for Peter’s graduation. But it’s a family emergency and I don’t have a choice.”
“I hope you realize what an imposition this is to me,” a tart voice said into her ear.
Next time I’ll have my grandfather plan his accidents better, Alma. “Yes, of course. If you’d prefer to take the project to another designer, I’ll understand,” Paige said and crossed her fingers. A few seconds ticked by.
“I don’t think I’d feel right doing that,” Alma said grudgingly, as though granting a favor. “After all, he is your grandfather.”
Toothaches were nothing compared to this, Paige thought. “Great. Okay, I’ll keep you posted, but we should be able to get rolling again in about six weeks. In the meantime, we can stay in touch by phone and e-mail and I can have some samples sent to your house.”
“Don’t forget to give me your cell phone number,” Alma said.
Not a chance. “Don’t worry, Alma. We’ll still be working together, it’ll just move a little more slowly. Thanks for your understanding.” With a few more pleasantries, Paige disconnected.
And cursed like a sailor until the air in the room turned blue.
“Wow, I didn’t know you knew how to talk like that.”
Paige glanced up to see Delaney in the door, looking at her inquiringly. “Clients,” she said dismissively, pulling off her headset. “The ones I wanted to keep asked to change to avoid the delay. The one I really wanted to get rid of has decided she’ll do me a favor and wait.”
“Dontcha just hate it?” Delaney asked cheerfully, crossing the room to give her a quick hug. “How’s your granddad?”
“Better. Still hurting, and he can’t do much for himself, but I think he’s past the scary stage. Thanks for asking. And for keeping an eye on my place while I’m gone. You’re the best.”
Delaney waved a hand at the sleekly opulent room. “It’s no hardship to hang out here, trust me. So you didn’t hear the rest of Kelly’s announcement the other night.”
“Oh, God, right, Kelly. So what’s the deal?”
“She and Kev talked it over and they’ve decided to go ahead and have it. They’re getting married.”
Paige’s eyes widened. “Little Miss Footloose and Fancy-Free?”
“They have been living together for a couple of years now. That’s kind of serious.”
“Yeah, but there’s serious and there’s serious. ” Paige thought for a moment and a slow smile spread over her face. “Kelly with a baby. That means we get to be aunties.” Her eyes widened. “Baby shoes,” she shrieked.
“Definitely.” Delaney grinned. “The wedding’s in two months.”
“Kelly and Kev—who would have guessed?”
“Maybe Kev.”
“They’re going to make great parents,” Paige said dreamily.
“You know it. Anyway, we’re cooking up a party for them, so I’ll let you know. Assuming you’ll be here.”
“I’ll have to play it by ear right now.”
“Where’s your grandpa today? Did you just leave him on his own with a few crackers and a bottle of Coke within reach?”
“Oh, he’s got a housekeeper to keep an eye on him. Anyway, I’m just down here for the morning so I can get some stuff together. After that, I head out.” And, galvanized by the thought, she began moving around her office in hyperdrive, gathering things together.
With a sigh of pleasure, Delaney sank down into her favorite seat—a deeply overstuffed chair in a bronze damask. “So what’s it like there? Are you going stir-crazy?”
“Not really. It’s kind of nice. I’m getting a chance to spend time with my granddad, which I haven’t in a while, and it feels good to be helping. It’s actually more like being on vacation than anything. Sleeping in, no meetings, just like a little getaway.”
“You need that. You’ve been running like a mad dog since you went out on your own. You need a chance to catch your breath. How long are you going to be gone?”
“Haven’t a clue.” Paige slid her laptop into its carrier and added the power cord. “A few weeks, anyway. Maybe more. I want to stick around until I’m sure he’s all set.”
“I thought you said he wasn’t hurt bad.”
“Nothing lasting, but he’s not going to be up and driving anytime soon. I want to stay and finish the job. Besides, there’s this whole other thing going on.” She set the laptop case next to a tote bag on the floor.
“Define whole other thing. ”
“A zoning issue. My grandfather’s all up in arms about his next-door neighbor wanting to turn her home into a burlesque museum.”
Kelly gave a startled laugh. “A burlesque museum? Like strippers?”
“Tamer, I think. More like vaudeville. My granddad’s neighbor was a big star back in the day.”
“Who?”
“Gloria Reed.”
Delaney tapped her feet lightly on the carpet. “The name’s vaguely familiar. I think I might have read an article on her somewhere, maybe.”
“Under whore of Babylon, if you listen to my grandfather.” Paige unplugged her BlackBerry from its wall charger and headed toward her desk. “Anyway,
