right now. And I canât help him. That being the case, Iâd prefer not to see him again.â
Leigh looked crushed. âIâm sorry, Hope. The guy led me to believeâI mean heâs the heir to Morris Fabrics and all and youâre running this placeâI just naturally thoughtââ
âI know you did, and itâs okay.â Hope knew how charming Russell could be when he put his mind to it. She sighed, âMr. Morris has a way of implying closeness where none exists.â
Leigh nodded, understanding that much very well. It was clear from the look on her face that nothing more needed to be said. âListen, about the meeting this morning. I want you to know Iâm behind you all the way.â
âThanks. Iâm going to need every bit of help I can get,â Hope said. Especially since neither Chase nor Rosemary was in her corner, she thought.
Unfortunately Hopeâs day didnât get any better. One by one, buyers came in to express their concerns about the new direction she had charted for Barristerâs and the security of their jobs. Shefelt exhausted and depressed while she was driving home, but began to relax when she entered the house and caught a whiff of Carmelitaâs delicious lemon chicken.
After a long, hot soak in the tub and a glass of wine, sheâd be able to forget all about her horrendous day and Russell Morris. By the time Joey arrived home from Little League practice, all would be back to normal. Or as close as it could be, with Chase living in the guest house out back, she amended wryly.
Unfortunately, Hope hadnât gotten any further than kicking off her heels and putting down her briefcase when the front door banged open and Joey came running in, his head ducked down in shame. Tears streamed down his face. âMy God, what happened?â she cried, looking at the swelling bruise that seemed to cover most of his upper cheek and all of his left eye. Where were his glasses?
He tried to shrug it off and escape further maternal scrutiny. âItâs nothing.â
âNothing!â Hope cried. She stepped in front of him, latched on to his arm and gently but firmly prevented his escape to his bedroom.
Carmelita gasped as she joined them. In her mid-thirties, the slim housekeeper had lived with them since Joey was born. As emotional as she was kind, the devoted employee loved Joey almost as fiercely as Hope did. âOh, no, Joey,â Carmelita said, wringing her hands.
âThis looks wicked,â Hope said seriously. She started for the telephone. âIâm calling the doctor.â
âMom, noââ Joey dashed after her and grabbed her sleeve. âDonâtââ
Looking more panic-stricken than ever, Carmelita said, âIâll get Mr. Chase. Heâs a doctor. He will know what to do.â Not waiting for Hopeâs permission, Carmelita took off at a run.
Realizing what a big deal was going to be made out of this, Joey swore, using language a flabbergasted Hope had never heard coming from his mouth. That mouth, now that she looked at it, seemed a little swollen, too. And there was a tear in the sleeve of his T-shirt. Slowly she put down the phone. She still intended to call the doctor if necessary, but later, when she had a bit more information. Hands on her hips, she faced her young son. âWhat happened to you?â
His lower lip shot out in mutiny. âI got in a fight, okay?â he said rebelliously.
This was a first and completely unlike Joey. She faced him incredulously, bending her knees slightly until she and Joey were at eye level. âWhy?â It didnât take a genius to realize Joey didnât want to say, which made her all the more anxious.
âWhatâs going on?â Chase asked breathlessly. He joined them, Carmelita fast on his heels. Heâd obviously been dressing when Carmelita summoned him. Rather than finish, heâd merely grabbed his
Flowers for Miss Pengelly