Part 8 (2/2)
”Fine.” Not even aware she'd made a decision, Claire went inside, washed her face, and brushed on mascara and lipstick. Sneakers laced, she closed the laptop, straightened her notes and then, like an alcoholic giving in to the bottle or a dieter reaching for the hidden candy bar, she ripped open the Amazon box. Inhaling the delicious new-book smell, she ran a hand over the glossy hardcover copy of The World of Downton Abbey and the smaller paperback Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey. Slipping the paperback into her cross-body bag, she left the condo and walked to the elevator. Her sigh of relief was covered by the ding of its arrival.
In the coffee shop next door, Claire spotted Brooke Mackenzie at a small table near the window. The redhead had a newspaper folded in front of her and a pen in her hand. Claire was debating whether to greet Brooke or walk to the counter when the younger woman raised her head and spotted her. A shy smile tugged tenuously at her lips. Unable to ignore anything that seemed to require that much effort, Claire walked over to her.
”Would you like to join me?” Brooke asked, the smile wavering on her lips.
”Sure, thanks.” Claire sat down and removed her bag. When the waitress appeared Claire ordered a Diet c.o.ke. ”What are you reading?” Claire nodded to the newspaper.
”The want ads,” Brooke said.
”Ahhh.” Claire didn't want to pry, but the redhead didn't look or sound at all happy about the idea. ”Are you looking for anything in particular?”
”Not really.” Brooke set the pencil down. ”Something that I can do part-time around the girls' school and after-school schedules. You know, something flexible.”
Claire's drink arrived and she took a long sip. ”I know what you mean. I worked multiple jobs while Hailey was growing up, depending on what we needed. My ex paid child support, mostly, but we were married such a short time and all that I didn't ask for alimony.”
”Really?” Brooke asked.
”Well, I was the one who wanted out, so I felt like I couldn't ask for too much, you know?” Claire said. ”How about you?”
”I wasn't the one who wanted out if that's what you mean. And it's not like I never worked. I put my husband-or rather my ex-husband-through medical school. And setting up his practice.”
”Wow.” Claire could see the anger and hurt that clouded Brooke's eyes.
”Yeah,” Brooke said. ”But we were up in Boston and my parents and sister were there, so I had child care covered. Here it's just me. And Zach when he remembers or feels like it.” She took a deep breath like she was trying to calm herself down. Claire remembered all too well how that kind of anxiety felt.
”I know how hard it is to do it alone,” Claire said. ”I was an office manager at a communications firm for a lot of years, but I took a lot of extra small jobs to supplement. I even delivered pizzas for a while.” This had ended when she'd seen the discomfort on the faces of Hailey's friends' mothers on the occasions when she'd arrived at their doors with their pepperoni pizzas and wings. Every Christmas season she'd worked as many evening and weekend hours as she could get. ”I sleepwalked through a lot of those years. But Hailey and I always had each other. I'm not sure who raised whom.”
”Is it true you're a writer?” Brooke asked.
”Well, I did manage to write and publish two novels,” Claire said. ”But I didn't do it particularly quickly.”
”I think it's a miracle you did it at all,” Brooke said. ”Single mother or not. Are you still writing?”
”Yes.” Or she would be soon. ”In fact, this is supposed to be my year of writing full-time.”
”That's so cool,” Brooke said. ”Am I allowed to ask what you're working on?”
”You are,” Claire said, almost embarra.s.sed by how much more enjoyable it felt to talk about the book than try to write it. ”I write historical romance-both of my books were set in seventeenth-century Scotland and so is my new one. It's about a hero and heroine whose parents have pledged them to each other but who realize they don't want to get married.”
She watched Brooke Mackenzie's eyes for a reaction to the story pitch/blurb and was gratified and relieved to see her hazel eyes light with interest.
”That sounds cool,” Brooke said. She leaned forward. ”Why don't they want to get married?”
If Claire knew the answer to that question, she would be up in her condo right now typing her heart out. It took all she had not to ask Brooke what she thought should keep them apart. Claire s.h.i.+fted uneasily in her seat. ”Well, I'm still trying to nail down the story details,” she said as if this were not a problem.
Brooke watched her for a long moment as if waiting for more, but Claire had nothing else to offer.
”So was Hailey's father involved in her life?” Brooke finally asked. ”I mean, if you don't mind my asking?”
”He was. In his way.” Claire knew this was a nonanswer, but Daniel Walker's approach to parenting and responsibility were even harder to explain than her writing or lack thereof.
Brooke twirled the pen on the paper but made no move to pick it up. ”Zachary only takes the girls when his girlfriend has her son. He's so far removed from the man he was when I married him I hardly know who I'm talking to anymore.”
”People change,” Claire said. ”And not always for the better.”
”That's for sure,” Brooke replied. ”But it really, really sucks.”
”I know.” Claire looked at the redhead, who'd let go of the pen and was now fingering a long red curl uncertainly. ”Look,” Claire said surprising both of them ”I know your girls don't really know me, but if you need help-well, I'm in the building and I'm sure I could do in a pinch.”
Brooke's eyes glistened and Claire was afraid the woman was going to cry. ”Thanks. I really appreciate it.”
”No problem,” Claire said, fiddling with her straw as a silence fell between them.
Brooke finished her coffee. ”Will you be at the screening Sunday night?” she asked.
”I think so,” Claire said. ”My daughter's trying to manage my life from school in Chicago. She threatened me with dire consequences if I don't attend.”
”How dire?”
”She threatened to post my profile to all the online dating sites. I'm just a mouse click away from the new version of the blind date.”
Brooke laughed. It changed her face completely.
”I'm not planning to let her know how much I enjoyed the screening. I probably would have gone back even without the threats.” Claire finished off her Diet c.o.ke. ”To tell you the truth, I can't wait to see what happens when the Crawleys show up at Downton Abbey. How about you?”
”It looks like Zach will be taking the girls on Sunday nights, so I'm in.” Brooke leaned forward. ”Do you think Samantha will be there?”
”I don't know. She seemed kind of into it, but I'm guessing she has a pretty packed social life already.”
By unspoken agreement they paid their checks and prepared to leave. ”I feel kind of bad for calling her a rich b.i.t.c.h,” Brooke said. ”I mean she is rich, at least according to my ex-husband who seems to know these things, but she's a lot nicer than I expected.”
”Yeah,” Claire said though she was still reserving judgment. ”I guess she didn't seem quite as hoity-toity as she looks.”
Out on the sidewalk they said good-bye and headed their separate ways. As she walked north on Peachtree, Claire chewed over the fact that Brooke Mackenzie's life was far more complicated than she'd suspected. Which meant there was every chance that there was also more to Samantha Davis than expensive clothes, a posh southern accent, and a wealthy husband.
CHAPTER TWELVE.
AH, MR. AND MRS. DAVIS,” EDWARD PARKER SAID with a nod of his head. ”How are you this fine Sunday afternoon?”
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