That Christmas Magic, page 9
“You’ll never guess who I spent the last hour talking to.”
“Perhaps you could tell me on the way to Mother’s?” Andrew responded dryly.
“Drew.” Some of the enthusiasm drained from Kelly’s happy voice. “Are you feeling ill? You’re quite pale.”
“I’m fine.”
“Maybe we should cancel this dinner. Really, I wouldn’t mind.”
“There’s no reason to disappoint my mother.”
“Drew?” Kelly seemed hesitant.
“Are you ready?” His firm voice brooked no disagreement.
“But I wanted to talk to Jo Marie.”
“You can call her after dinner,” Andrew responded shortly, his voice fading as they moved toward the entryway.
The door clicked a minute later and Jo Marie’s fingers loosened their death grip against the counter. Weakly, she wiped a hand over her face and eyes. Andrew and Kelly were engaged to be married. Tonight was his birthday and he was taking Kelly to dine with his family. And Jo Marie had been stealing a kiss from him in the kitchen. Self-reproach grew in her breast with every breath until she wanted to scream and lash out with it.
Maybe she could have justified her actions if Kelly hadn’t been so excited and happy. Her roommate had come into the apartment bursting with enthusiasm for life, eager to see and talk to Andrew.
The evening seemed interminable and Jo Marie had a terrible time falling asleep, tossing and turning long past the time Kelly returned. Finally at the darkest part of the night, she flipped on the bedside lamp and threw aside the blankets. Pouring herself a glass of milk, Jo Marie leaned against the kitchen counter and drank it with small sips, her thoughts deep and dark. She couldn’t ask Kelly to forgive her for what had happened without hurting her roommate and perhaps ruining their friendship. The only person there was to confront and condemn was herself.
Once she returned to bed, Jo Marie lay on her back, her head clasped in her hands. Moon shadows fluttered against the bare walls like the flickering scenes of a silent movie.
Unhappy beyond words, Jo Marie avoided her roommate, kept busy and occupied her time with other friends. But she was never at peace and always conscious that her thoughts never strayed from Kelly and Andrew. The episode with Andrew wouldn’t happen again. She had to be strong.
Jo Marie didn’t see her roommate until the following Monday morning. They met in the kitchen where Jo Marie was pouring herself a small glass of grapefruit juice.
“Morning.” Jo Marie’s stiff smile was only slightly forced.
“Howdy, stranger. I’ve missed you the past couple of days.”
Jo Marie’s hand tightened around the juice glass as she silently prayed Kelly wouldn’t ask her about Saturday night. Her roommate must have known Jo Marie was in the apartment, otherwise Andrew wouldn’t have been inside.
“I’ve missed you,” Kelly continued. “It seems we hardly have time to talk anymore. And now that you’re going to be doing volunteer work for the foundation, we’ll have even less time together. You’re spreading yourself too thin.”
“There’s always something going on this time of year.” A chill seemed to settle around the area of Jo Marie’s heart and she avoided her friend’s look.
“I know, that’s why I’m looking forward to this weekend and the party for Drew’s company. By the way, he suggested that both of us stay the night on Saturday.”
“Spend the night?” Jo Marie repeated like a recording and inhaled a shaky breath. That was the last thing she wanted.
“It makes sense, don’t you think? We can lay awake until dawn the way we used to and talk all night.” A distant look came over Kelly as she buttered the hot toast and poured herself a cup of coffee. “Drew’s going to have enough to worry about without dragging us back and forth. From what I understand, he goes all out for his company’s Christmas party.”
Hoping to hide her discomfort, Jo Marie rinsed out her glass and deposited it in the dishwasher, but a gnawing sensation attacked the pit of her stomach. Although she’d promised Kelly she would attend the lavish affair, she had to find a way of excusing herself without arousing suspicion. “I’ve been thinking about Andrew’s party and honestly feel I shouldn’t go—”
“Don’t say it. You’re going!” Kelly interrupted hastily. “There’s no way I’d go without you. You’re my best friend, Jo Marie Early, and as such I want you with me. Besides, you know how I hate these things.”
“But as Drew’s wife you’ll be expected to attend a lot of these functions. I won’t always be around.”
A secret smile stole over her friend’s pert face. “I know, that’s why it’s so important that you’re there now.”
“You didn’t seem to need me Friday night.”
Round blue eyes flashed Jo Marie a look of disbelief. “Are you crazy? I would have been embarrassingly uncomfortable without you.”
It seemed to Jo Marie that Mark had spent nearly as much time with Kelly as she had. In fact, her brother had spent most of the evening with Kelly at his side. It was Mark whom Kelly really wanted, not her. But convincing her roommate of that was a different matter. Jo Marie doubted that Kelly had even admitted as much to herself.
“I’ll think about going,” Jo Marie promised. “But I can’t honestly see that my being there or not would do any good.”
“You’ve got to come,” Kelly muttered, looking around unhappily. “I’d be miserable meeting and talking to all those people on my own.” Silently, Kelly’s bottomless blue eyes pleaded with Jo Marie. “I promise never to ask anything from you again. Say you’ll come. Oh, please, Jo Marie, do this one last thing for me.”
An awkward silence stretched between them and a feeling of dread settled over Jo Marie. Kelly seemed so genuinely distraught that it wasn’t in Jo Marie’s heart to refuse her. As Kelly had pointedly reminded her, she was Kelly’s best friend. “All right, all right,” she agreed reluctantly. “But I don’t like it.”
“You won’t be sorry, I promise.” A mischievous gleam lightened Kelly’s features.
Jo Marie mumbled disdainfully under her breath as she moved out of the kitchen. Pausing at the closet, she took her trusted cardigan from the hanger. “Say, Kell, don’t forget this is the week I’m flying to Mazatlán.” Jo Marie was scheduled to take a familiarization tour of the Mexican resort town. She’d be flying with ten other travel agents from the city and staying at the Riviera Del Sol’s expense. The luxury hotel was sponsoring the group in hopes of having the agents book their facilities for their clients. Jo Marie usually took the “fam” tours only once or twice a year. This one had been planned months before and she mused that it couldn’t have come at a better time. Escaping from Andrew and Kelly was just the thing she needed. By the time she returned, she prayed, her life could be back to normal.
“This is the week?” Kelly stuck her head around the kitchen doorway. “Already?”
“You can still drive me to the airport, can’t you?”
“Sure,” Kelly answered absently. “But if I can’t, Drew will.”
Jo Marie’s heart throbbed painfully. “No,” she returned forcefully.
“He doesn’t mind.”
But I do, Jo Marie’s heart cried as she fumbled with the buttons of her sweater. If Kelly wasn’t home when it came time to leave for the airport, she would either call Mark or take a cab.
“I’m sure Drew wouldn’t mind,” Kelly repeated.
“I’ll be late tonight,” she answered, ignoring her friend’s offer. She couldn’t understand why Kelly would want her to spend time with Andrew. But so many things didn’t make sense lately. Without a backward glance, Jo Marie went out the front door.
Joining several others at the bus stop outside the apartment building en route to the office, Jo Marie fought down feelings of guilt. She’d honestly thought she could get out of attending the party with Kelly. But there was little to be done, short of offending her friend. These constant recriminations regarding Kelly and Andrew were disrupting her neatly ordered life, and Jo Marie hated it.
Two of the other girls were in the office by the time Jo Marie arrived.
“There’s a message for you,” Paula announced. “I think it was the same guy who stopped in Saturday morning. You know, I’m beginning to think you’ve been holding out on me. Where’d you ever meet a hunk like that?”
“He’s engaged,” she quipped, seeking a light tone.
“He is?” Paula rolled her office chair over to Jo Marie’s desk and handed her the pink slip. “You could have fooled me. He looked on the prowl, if you want my opinion. In fact, he was eyeing you like a starving man looking at a cream puff.”
“Paula!” Jo Marie tried to toss off her co-worker’s observation with a forced laugh. “He’s engaged to my roommate.”
Paula lifted one shoulder in a half shrug and scooted the chair back to her desk. “If you say so.” But both her tone and her look were disbelieving.
Jo Marie read the message, which listed Andrew’s office number and asked that she call him at her earliest convenience. Crumbling up the pink slip, she tossed it in the green metal wastebasket beside her desk. She might be attending this party, but it was under duress. And as far as Andrew was concerned, she had every intention of avoiding him.
Rather than rush back to the apartment after work, Jo Marie had dinner in a small café near her office. From there she walked to the Land For The Future headquarters.
She was embarrassingly early when she arrived outside of the office door. The foundation’s headquarters were on the second floor of an older brick building in a bad part of town. Jo Marie decided to arrive earlier than she’d planned rather than kill time by walking around outside. From the time she’d left the travel agency, she’d wandered around with little else to do. Her greatest fear was that Andrew would be waiting for her at the apartment. She hadn’t returned his call and he’d want to know why.
Jim Rowden, the office manager and spokesman, was busy on the telephone when Jo Marie arrived. Quietly she slipped into the chair at the desk opposite him and glanced over the letters and other notices that needed to be typed. As she pulled the cover from the top of the typewriter, Jo Marie noticed a shadowy movement from the other side of the milky white glass inset of the office door.
She stood to investigate and found a dark-haired man with a worn felt hat that fit loosely on top of his head. His clothes were ragged and the faint odor of cheap wine permeated the air. He was curling up in the doorway of an office nearest theirs.
His eyes met hers briefly and he tugged his thin sweater around his shoulders. “Are you going to throw me out of here?” The words were issued in subtle challenge.
Jo Marie teetered with indecision. If she did tell him to leave he’d either spend the night shivering in the cold or find another open building. On the other hand if she were to give him money, she was confident it wouldn’t be a bed he’d spend it on.
“Well?” he challenged again.
“I won’t say anything,” she answered finally. “Just go down to the end of the hall so no one else will find you.”
He gave her a look of mild surprise, stood and gathered his coat before turning and ambling down the long hall in an uneven gait. Jo Marie waited until he was curled up in another doorway. It was difficult to see that he was there without looking for him. A soft smile of satisfaction stole across her face as she closed the door and returned to her desk.
Jim replaced the receiver and smiled a welcome at Jo Marie. “How’d you like to attend a lecture with me tonight?”
“I’d like it fine,” she agreed eagerly.
Jim’s lecture was to a group of concerned city businessmen. He relayed the facts about the dangers of thoughtless and haphazard land development. He presented his case in a simple, straightforward fashion without emotionalism or sensationalism. In addition, he confidently answered their questions, defining the difference between building for the future and preserving a link with the past. Jo Marie was impressed and from the looks on the faces of his audience, the businessmen had been equally affected.
“I’ll walk you to the bus stop,” Jim told her hours later after they’d returned from the meeting. “I don’t like the idea of you waiting at the bus stop alone. I’ll go with you.”
Jo Marie hadn’t been that thrilled with the prospect herself. “Thanks, I’d appreciate that.”
Jim’s hand cupped her elbow as they leisurely strolled down the narrow street, chatting as they went. Jim’s voice was drawling and smooth and Jo Marie mused that she could listen to him all night. The lamplight illuminated little in the descending fog and would have created an eerie feeling if Jim hadn’t been at her side. But walking with him, she barely noticed the weather and instead found herself laughing at his subtle humor.
“How’d you ever get into this business?” she queried. Jim Rowden was an intelligent, warm human being who would be a success in any field he chose to pursue. He could be making twice and three times the money in the business world that he collected from the foundation.
At first introduction, Jim wasn’t the kind of man who would bowl women over with his striking good looks or his suave manners. But he was a rare, dedicated man of conscience. Jo Marie had never known anyone like him and admired him greatly.
“I’m fairly new with the foundation,” he admitted, “and it certainly wasn’t what I’d been expecting to do with my life, especially since I struggled through college for a degree in biology. Afterward I went to work for the state, but this job gives me the opportunity to work firsthand with saving some of the—well, you heard my speech.”
“Yes, I did, and it was wonderful.”
“You’re good for my ego, Jo Marie. I hope you’ll stick around.”
Jo Marie’s eyes glanced up the street, wondering how long they’d have to wait for a bus. She didn’t want their discussion to end. As she did, a flash of midnight blue captured her attention and her heart dropped to her knees as the Mercedes pulled to a stop alongside the curb in front of them.
Andrew practically leaped from the driver’s side. “Just what do you think you’re doing?” The harsh anger in his voice shocked her.
“I beg your pardon?” Jim answered on Jo Marie’s behalf, taking a step forward.
Andrew ignored Jim, his eyes cold and piercing as he glanced over her. “I’ve spent the good part of an hour looking for you.”
“Why?” Jo Marie demanded, tilting her chin in an act of defiance. “What business is it of yours where I am or who I’m with?”
“I’m making it my business.”
“Is there a problem here, Jo Marie?” Jim questioned as he stepped forward.
“None whatsoever,” she responded dryly and crossed her arms in front of her.
“Kelly’s worried sick,” Andrew hissed. “Now I suggest you get in the car and let me take you home before…” He let the rest of what he was saying die. He paused for several tense moments and exhaled a sharp breath. “I apologize, I had no right to come at you like that.” He closed the car door and moved around the front of the Mercedes. “I’m Andrew Beaumont,” he introduced himself and extended his hand to Jim.
“From Delta Development?” Jim’s eyes widened appreciatively. “Jim Rowden. I’ve been wanting to meet you so that I could thank you personally for what you did for Rose’s Hotel.”
“I’m pleased I could help.”
When Andrew decided to put on the charm it was like falling into a jar of pure honey, Jo Marie thought. She didn’t know of a man, woman or child who couldn’t be swayed by his beguiling showmanship. Having been under his spell in the past made it all the more recognizable now. But somehow, she realized, this was different. Andrew hadn’t been acting the night of the Mardi Gras, she was convinced of that.
“Jo Marie was late coming home and luckily I remembered her saying something about volunteering for the foundation. Kelly asked that I come and get her. We were understandably worried about her taking the bus alone at this time of night.”
“I’ll admit I was a bit concerned myself,” Jim returned, taking a step closer to Jo Marie. “That’s why I’m here.”
As Andrew opened the passenger’s side of the car, Jo Marie turned her head to meet his gaze, her eyes fiery as she slid into the plush velvet seat.
“I’ll see you Friday,” she said to Jim.
“Enjoy Mexico,” he responded and waved before turning and walking back toward the office building. A fine mist filled the evening air and Jim pulled up his collar as he hurried along the sidewalk.
Andrew didn’t say a word as he turned the key in the ignition, checked the rearview mirror and pulled back onto the street.
“You didn’t return my call.” He stopped at a red light and the full force of his magnetic gray eyes was turned on her.
“No,” she answered in a whisper, struggling not to reveal how easily he could affect her.
“Can’t you see how important it is that we talk?”
“No.” She wanted to shout the word. When their eyes met, Jo Marie was startled to find that only a few inches separated them. Andrew’s look was centered on her mouth and with a determined effort she averted her gaze and stared out the side window. “I don’t want to talk to you.” Her fingers fumbled with the clasp of her purse in nervous agitation. “There’s nothing more we can say.” She hated the husky emotion-filled way her voice sounded.
“Jo Marie.” He said her name so softly that she wasn’t entirely sure he’d spoken.
She turned back to him, knowing she should pull away from the hypnotic darkness of his eyes, but doing so was impossible.
“You’ll come to my party?”
She wanted to explain her decision to attend—she hadn’t wanted to go—but one glance at Andrew said that he understood. Words were unnecessary.
“It’s going to be difficult for us both for a while.”
