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see the lady yourself. Where are you staying?"
"Just north of Victoria," Jennifer said. "In Big Spur."
"How lovely!" the lady said. "The job's in Victoria! No transportation problem?"
She thought of asking Libby, and smiled. "I have a conspirator," she murmured. "I think I can manage."
She glanced up. "Can you estimate my commission?"
Her new employer did, and Jennifer grinned. It would be more than enough for Everett to pay off his
note. "Okay!"
"The client, Mrs. Whitehall, doesn't mind paying for quality work," came the lilting reply. "And she'll
be tickled when she hears the background of her designer. I'll give her a ring now, if you like."
"Would I! Miss... Mrs... Ms... ?"
"Ms. Sally Ward," the owner volunteered. "I'm glad to meet you, Jennifer King.
Now, let's get busy."
Libby was overjoyed when she heard what Jennifer was plotting, and volunteered to drive her back
and forth to the home she'd be working on. She even agreed to pinch-hit in the house, so that Everett
wouldn't know what was going on. It would be risky, but Jennifer felt it would be very much worth
the risk.
As it turned out, Mrs. Whitehall was an elderly lady with an unlimited budget and a garage ful of cars.
She was more than happy to lend one to Jennifer so that she could drive back and forth to Victoria to
get fabric and wallcoverings and to make appoint-ments with painters and carpet-layers.
Jennifer made preliminary drawings after an interview with Mrs. Whitehall, who lived on an
enormous estate called Casa Verde.
"My son Jason and his wife Amanda used to live with me," Mrs. Whitehall volunteered. "But since
their marriage, they've built a house of their own farther down the road. They're expecting their first
child. Jason wants a boy and Amanda a girl." She grinned. "From the size of her, I'm expecting
twins!"
"When is she due?" Jennifer asked.
"Any day," came the answer. "Jason spends part of the time pacing the floor and the other part daring
Amanda to lift, move, walk, or breathe hard." She laughed delightedly. "You'd have to know my son,
Miss King, to realize how out of character that is for him. Jason was always such a calm person until
Amanda got pregnant. I think it's been harder on him than it has on her."
"Have they been married long?"
"Six years," Mrs. Whitehall said. "So happily. They wanted a child very much, but it took a long time
for Amanda to become
pregnant. It's been al the world to them, this baby." She stared around the room at the fading
wallpaper and the worn carpet. "I've just put this room off for so long.
Now I don't feel I can wait any longer to have it done. Once the baby comes, I'll have so many other
things to think of. What do you suggest, my dear?"
"I have some sketches," Jennifer said, drawing out her portfolio.
Mrs. Whitehall looked over them, sighing. "Just what I wanted. Just exactly what I wanted." She
nodded. "Begin whenever you like, Jennifer. I'll find somewhere else to sit while the workmen are
busy."
And so it began. Jennifer spent her mornings at Casa Verde, supervising the work.
Afternoons she worked at Everett's ranch. And amazingly, she never got caught.
It only took a few days to complete the work. Luckily, she found workmen who were between jobs
and could take on a smal project. By the end of the week, it was finished.
"I can't tell you how impressed I am." Mrs. Whitehall sighed as she studied the delightful new decor,
done in soft green and white and dark green.
"It will be even lovelier when the furniture is delivered tomorrow." Jennifer grinned. "I'm so proud of
it. I hope you like it half as much as I do."
"I do, indeed," Mrs. Whitehall said.
The ringing of the phone halted her. She picked up the extension at her side.
"Hello?" She sat up straight. "Yes, Jason! When?" She laughed, covering the receiver.
"It's a boy!" She moved her hand. "What are you going to name him? Oh, yes, I like that very much.
Joshua Brand Whitehall. Yes, I do. How is Amanda? Yes, she's tough, all right. Dear, I'll be there in
thirty minutes. Now you calm down, dear. Yes, I know it isn't every day a man has a son. I'll seen you
soon. Yes, dear."
She hung up. "Jason's beside himself," she said, smiling. "He wanted a boy so much. And they can
have others. Amanda will get her girl yet. I must rush."
Jennifer stood up. "Congratulations on that new grandbaby," she said. "And I've enjoyed working with
you very much."
"I'll drop you off at the ranch on my way," Mrs. Whitehall offered.
"It's a good little way," Jennifer began, wondering how she'd explain it to Everett.
Mrs. Whitehall drove a Mercedes-Benz.
"Nonsense." Mrs. Whitehall laughed. "It's no trouble at all. Anyway, I want to talk to you about doing
some more rooms. This is delightful. Very creative. I never enjoyed redecorating before, but you
make it exciting."
After that, how could Jennifer refuse? She got in the car.
Luckily enough, Everett wasn't in sight when she reached the ranch. Mrs. Whitehall let her out at the
steps and Jennifer rushed inside, nervous and wild-eyed. But the house was empty. She almost
collapsed with relief. And best of all, on the hall table was an envelope addressed to her from
Houston, from the interior-design agency. She tore it open and found a check and a nice letter offering
more work. The check was for the amount Everett needed, plus a little. Jennifer en-dorsed it,
grinning, and went in to fix supper.
Chapter Six
Everett came home just before dark, but he didn't come into the house. Jennifer had a light supper [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]