The Marriage Mishap, page 12
She knew he still had problems accepting the tiny role she played in Sacramento Building. “By the way, you can expect the price of masonry work to increase.”
Jay stopped suddenly and looked down at her, his playful expression gone, his businessman’s face in its place. “Why? What have you heard?”
“Mary Carlin is putting a wing on the house and redecorating. Her husband will have to pay for it somehow.”
“Haley, you’re a jewel.” Jay kissed her cheek with a loud smack. “I can’t believe you get all this information from talking with those old hens at your ladies’ clubs.”
“I spoke with her at church yesterday. You should get over there right away with some ideas for a new dining room.”
Jay nodded. “I’ll make an appointment with her husband this afternoon.”
Haley shook her head. “Abner Carlin dotes on her completely. He’ll do whatever Mary wants. Talk to her.”
“A jewel—you’re a perfect jewel.” Jay’s expression darkened. “You didn’t tell Harrington about this, did you?”
“I hardly think Harrington Construction will be interested in a job this size.”
Jay uttered a cynical laugh as they resumed walking. “Martin Harrington doesn’t want a shovelful of dirt turned in this town without one of his men on the other end. He’ll want the job, believe me.”
“Well, you have a head start.”
They turned the corner onto Second Street and ran right into Elizabeth Denning, a man at her side. A stunned, awkward moment passed while she and Jay gazed at each other.
Finally, Jay spoke. “Good day, Elizabeth.” His stance stiffened, his grim expression demanding an explanation of the man beside her.
Elizabeth lowered her lashes and smiled. “Jay. Good to see you, Haley. I’d like you to meet Charles Potter. Charles is taking me to lunch.”
“He is, huh?” Jay looked the man up and down.
“Yes. Well, we must go.” Charles’s hand cupping her elbow, they disappeared down the street.
Jay watched them go, his gaze boring into their backs.
“He seemed like a nice man,” Haley commented.
“Nice? Nice!”
“You wanted Elizabeth to see other men.”
Jay’s mouth fell open, then snapped shut. “Yes. And I’m very happy for her.”
They stood outside the Oak Tree Café, the bright green-and-white awning shading them from the sun. Haley gestured through the plate-glass window behind her. “Would you like to have lunch with Adam and me?”
Jay rolled his eyes. “No, thank you.”
She touched his arm. “You might enjoy it. Adam is not as bad as you think.”
Jay turned toward the street. “I’m sure he’s lovely—”
He looked as if he’d seen a ghost. “What’s wrong, Jay?”
“Nothing, nothing.” He captured her elbow and hurried her down the street. “Look, Haley, maybe you and I should eat somewhere else. Alone.”
“What’s going on?” Haley dug in her heels. “What did you see?”
“No, Haley—”
He reached for her arm, but she pulled away. Across the street, at the entrance of the Madison Hotel, stood Adam. Beside him was a woman.
Beneath the brim of her large hat, Haley saw enough of the woman to know she was very pretty. Dark hair. An elegant dark gown, matching parasol, kid gloves and shoes. Haley pressed her fingers to her throat, and a lump of emotion rose in her breast.
The woman gazed up at Adam, and he looked into her face. They talked. A familiarity bound them together, radiated from them. A hansom cab pulled up, blocking them from Haley’s view. A moment later, it pulled away, leaving Adam on the curb. He stood there watching as the seconds crawled by unnoticed. Finally, he turned and walked away.
Jay shuffled beside her. “It’s probably nothing, Haley. Just because they spoke on the street doesn’t mean anything is going on.”
Outside the Madison. Waiting for a hansom. She’d stood there herself, a few weeks ago, with Adam by her side. The knot wound harder and tighter in Haley’s stomach, until it circled her heart and yanked it nearly to a stop.
“Who is she?” Her voice was low and measured.
“Really, Haley, you don’t know—”
“Who is she?” Haley turned on Jay, her eyes burning.
Jay drew in a deep breath. “Amelia Archer. I’d heard she was back in town, her mother’s ill or something. She and Adam were involved for about a year. But that was long ago, Haley.”
Her heart pounded in her ears as she watched Adam walk back up the street, away from the Madison. Amelia. Isabelle had mentioned her name when she arrived in town, thought it was she Adam had married. And the ladies at the club meeting—they, too, had known about the relationship between Adam and Amelia Archer, though they tried hard to cover it
“What happened?”
“Rumor at the time had it they would marry. Then Amelia left town.”
Dread welled in Haley stomach. “And?”
“The next thing anyone knew, she’d married. She never came back.”
“Until now.”
Jay nodded. “Until now.”
Chapter Ten
Jay rose from his desk chair when she walked in, concern creasing his brow. “Where have you been?”
She knew she must look as grim and tense as she felt, judging from the expression on Jay’s face. “Walking.”
“Haley, seeing your husband with Amelia on the street today means nothing. They could have simply run into each other.”
Jay, always the diplomat, always concerned for her feelings. She drew in a deep breath and sat down across the desk from him. “And it was simply coincidence we saw them outside the Madison? I won’t be my mother. I won’t live in a marriage with two people conducting separate lives.”
“You’re getting way ahead of yourself, Haley.”
“You saw the look on Adam’s face. It spoke volumes.”
“It didn’t say a word to me,” Jay insisted, and sat down.
Haley shook her head. “He loved her, and she married someone else. He didn’t even have a chance to talk her out of it. Adam must have been devastated.”
“If you’re that concerned about an encounter on a public street, in broad daylight, then go home and talk to him.” Jay cleared his throat. “Things are all right between the two of you at home, aren’t they?”
Haley’s breath caught. Things couldn’t have been worse between them. Thanks to Martin, thanks to Adam…and thanks to her own plan. Now more than ever, Haley knew something had to be done.
She rose. “You’re right. I’ll talk to him.”
“Good.”
“How are the McKettrick plans coming?”
“Almost done.” Jay rose from the chair. “Now quit stalling and get out of here. Go do something nice for your husband.”
A tiny smile crept over her face as Jay kissed her cheek, and she left the Sacramento Building Company with his instructions in mind. She walked to the Harrington Building.
Mr. Trembler greeted her as she stepped into the reception area. “Good day, Mrs. Harrington. Mr. Harrington is in conference with Mr. Harrington.”
“Good. I’d like to see them both.” Haley ignored his protests and let herself into Martin’s office.
Adam stood gazing out the window. He turned when she walked in. “Haley, I didn’t know you’d be in town today.”
Martin gave him an I-told-you-so look and clamped down on his cigar.
Adam’s brows furrowed. “Is something wrong?”
Yes, everything was wrong. Haley’s heart pounded. How long had he been with Amelia Archer today? Was he thinking of her now?
She forced herself to remain calm. “I’m glad I found you both together. Martin, I’d like you to come to supper with us. I’ve invited the McKettricks to join us.”
“The McKettricks?” He chomped his cigar.
“I know how important this project is to the business. I thought some socializing with them might give you an edge.”
Martin grunted and sat back in his chair. He eyed Adam, and for an instant Haley thought she saw a flicker of pride in her husband’s eyes.
“Sounds like a good idea,” Adam said.
“Tomorrow night.”
The words hung in the room for an instant. Haley’s gaze remained on Adam. Did he flinch? Did he shift uncomfortably? Would he refuse and go to Amelia instead?
He did none of those things, at least not that she could detect.
“Seven o’clock?” Adam asked.
“Yes.” Haley smiled faintly. “Adam, could I speak with you privately for a moment?”
“Sure.”
Martin glared at them as they left his office.
They crossed the reception area to Adam’s office. It looked like his house—deep blue carpet, heavy masculine furniture. It smelled like him, too. Haley’s heart squeezed tighter.
He eased himself onto the corner of his desk, rested his hands on his thigh and swung his leg. “Is something wrong?”
Haley gripped the handle of her parasol. She should have planned what to say, she should have thought it over.
“At a club meeting…a few days ago, someone mentioned that an old acquaintance of yours was in town.” Haley lifted her gaze to his face. “Amelia Archer.”
He flinched. It was instantaneous, but she saw it. Haley willed her emotions to calm.
Adam leaned forward slightly. “And?”
“And I…” Haley fidgeted with her handbag. Inside her gloves, her palms dampened. “And I wondered if you’d like to invite her for supper.”
He stared at her for a long moment, while her heart pounded and her thoughts ran wild. Finally, he drew in a quick breath.
“Amelia Archer and I were involved. She left town to visit relatives, and married someone else.” Adam rose and slid his hand into his pocket, jingling his coins. “That was nearly a year ago. It’s all over with and forgotten.”
“And you haven’t seen her since?”
He pressed his lips together. “No.”
“I see.” Haley swallowed the lump of emotion in her throat. “Well, I’d better let you get your work done.”
She felt Adam behind her, but didn’t look back as she hurried from the office.
Iris McKettrick had been introduced to Haley at a meeting of the Ladies for the Beautification of Sacramento Club and she had liked her well enough. She had dark eyes that flashed with a quiet intelligence. She and Johnny, her husband, were young, not yet thirty, but Johnny had already put over ten years into his business. Only in the past two years, though, had it flourished, and the speculation was that his marriage to Iris had helped him immeasurably, though no one would admit aloud that she was the brains behind the operation.
Haley rang the brass bell at the McKettrick home, a fashionable place set amid a finely manicured lawn. Acceptable calling hours ended at five o’clock, and it was nearly that late now, but Iris was congenial when she received Haley in the parlor. They chatted for a few minutes, and Haley invited her to supper. She knew Iris would accept. The fact that they had money now hadn’t ensured their place in polite society. An invitation to the Harrington house wouldn’t be rejected. Haley left a few minutes later, mulling over the next step in her plan.
Supper that evening was a strained affair for Haley, but Adam didn’t seem to notice. He ate, talked little, sipped wine. Was the McKettrick job on his mind? Or was it Amelia Archer?
Haley tossed and turned in bed while Adam worked downstairs in his study. She heard him in the bathroom sometime after midnight, then lay awake for hours, staring into the darkness, trying to think of some other possible reason Adam had lied about seeing Amelia, apart from the obvious.
Martin arrived early for supper the next evening and monopolized Adam’s time in the study until the McKettricks arrived. Keeping conversation at the table light and flowing wasn’t easy with Martin there. Finally, the meal was concluded, and Haley and Iris retired to the parlor while the men went into Adam’s study for brandy and cigars. By then, Haley had a headache.
“I’m sure they’re discussing the plans for your houses Adam has been working on.” Haley smiled. “They’ll probably be in there all night.”
Iris settled on the settee. “I imagine so.”
Haley could tell Iris wanted to be in the study with the men, beside her husband, analyzing the plans, but such a breach of decorum was unthinkable.
“To be honest with you, Haley, I’m not in favor of this project. It’s Johnny’s idea.”
Haley sank into the club chair across from her. “Providing housing for your factory employees sounds like a progressive idea to me.”
Iris shook her head. “All those tiny, nondescript houses near the factory will look good when they’re new. But after a few years? It will look worse than the West End. I hardly want the McKettrick name associated with dismal bars, flophouses and drunks.”
“I see your point. Have you discussed it with Johnny?”
“Of course. Several times. The factory is a long way from town. He thinks he’s doing the employees a good turn by providing housing. But I won’t have the McKettrick name associated with a slum.”
Haley’s headache began to pound worse as she thought of all the work both Jay and Adam were putting into the plans, plans that might never come to fruition, if Iris McKettrick got her way. Still, she couldn’t disagree with her concerns.
Finally, she heard the men coming from the study, and they met them in the foyer. Bernard appeared with cloaks and hats, and goodbyes and thank-yous were exchanged. Martin lingered a moment after the McKettricks left.
“He liked them.” Martin winked slyly at Adam. “He liked the plans.”
Adam slid his hand into his pocket and jingled his coins. “I think so.”
“One problem.” Martin’s expression darkened. “He heard about the vandalism out at the Bailey work site. I don’t like it. It could lose us the whole project.”
“We could post guards for a while, until the culprit is caught,” Adam suggested.
“Damn good idea. Just what I was thinking.” Martin’s eyes narrowed. “But I want them armed.”
“Armed?” Adam shook his head. “That’s a big step, Martin. We don’t know who’s responsible. I don’t want somebody getting hurt—or killed—over some spilled paint and overturned nail kegs.”
“It’s not about paint or nail kegs. It’s about integrity. The integrity of Harrington Construction. I’m not losing this project because a client can’t trust us.” Martin pursed his lips and nodded. “I’m hiring armed guards first thing tomorrow morning.”
Adam shook his head in dismay as Martin left.
“I talked with Iris about the project,” Haley said from across the foyer. “She doesn’t like it. She’ll talk her husband out of doing it.”
“Great.” Adam plowed his fingers through his hair. “That’s just goddamn great.” He turned and stalked back down the hall.
“I need a lawyer. Does the Sacramento Building Company retain one?” Haley said as she breezed into Jay’s office the next morning, pulling off her kid gloves.
He looked up from the pot of coffee warming on the stove in the corner. “Certainly.”
“Is he any good?”
“Best I can afford. But—”
“Then hire the best—and keep my name out of it.”
“Haley, what in the world has gotten into you?”
She’d awakened this morning filled with purpose and energy. She didn’t want an ounce of it to be wasted. “I’m investing. I need a lawyer to handle the transaction—confidentially, of course. We’ll put it in the company name.”
“Investing? In what?”
Haley turned in a circle. “We need this place painted, inside and out. New furniture, too.”
“Has this got something to do with seeing your husband’s old girlfriend the other day?”
“Maybe.”
“Did you talk to Harrington?”
“Yes, and he told me about their previous relationship. Then he lied about seeing her.”
Jay shook his head. “That’s hardly the end of the world. He’s just married you. He certainly isn’t going to be spouting off about seeing an old girlfriend, no matter how innocent the circumstances.”
“Or how guilty.”
“Stop thinking the worst.”
Haley drew in a deep breath. “I suppose you’re right. How I can’t sit at home day after day letting these thoughts and worries consume me. I have to do something with myself. I came to Sacramento to join you in the business, Jay, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
“I never realized you felt so strongly about the Sacramento Building Company.”
Haley smiled. “My memories of this place are all so wonderful. My father, your father. You. Even when I was in San Francisco, a little part of me was always here. And now that I have the chance, I want to help make sure the Sacramento Building Company succeeds, for our fathers’ sakes as well as our own.”
“Certainly, there’s nothing wrong with that.” Jay turned back to the stove. “So Harrington has nothing to do with this?”
“Well…”
He turned to her again and frowned. “Haley?”
Since supper on Sunday when Aunt Izzy talked about seeing the pyramids in Egypt, and Adam showed Haley his skyscraper designs, the picture of Adam’s face had stayed in her mind. He wanted those things. They were his dream, his secret dream. If she helped Jay, maybe it would give Adam the nudge he needed to pursue them.
But this wasn’t something she should tell Jay. It was too personal.
Haley straightened her shoulders and looked directly at Jay. “We’re going to make the Sacramento Building Company a force to be reckoned with in this city. How quickly can you get the painters up here?”
“Hold on there. That costs money, and I need every cent I have in case the McKettrick deal comes through.”
“I have money.”
Jay laughed. “You’re spending Harrington money fixing the Sacramento Building Company?”
“Dear Grandfather Hasting, remember? He set up a fund for me. It’s all the money I need to get this place going.”
