Trouble Me: A Rosewood Novel (47 page)

At his explanation Margot turned back, remorse in her expression. “I’m so sorry. The photos in the paper were terrible. It’s only that Jade’s especially vulnerable right now.”

“Hayley and I are going to see her, right after we pick up a snack for Hayley and a muffin for Jade at Braverman’s.”

Jordan nodded her approval. “She’ll like that—”

“Very much.” Margot’s smile made it clear he was back in favor.

“I made Miss Radcliffe a card yesterday,” Hayley offered shyly.

“That she will absolutely love, Hayley,” Margot said.

Then Jordan spoke, her voice low and urgent. “She’s here, Margot.”

Rob looked. There, coming up the sidewalk, was Nonie Harrison, dressed in a gray skirt that screamed
power suit
and thus was a little over the top for an elementary-school-board meeting. Fascinated as he was by the sight of the woman determined to destroy Jade’s reputation, Rob’s attention abruptly shifted back to Margot. He blinked in awe.

Without a wardrobe change or the help of some makeup professional, Margot had suddenly morphed from a concerned sister into the supermodel whose face and body had earned millions in front of the camera and on the catwalk. All it seemed to involve was a straightening of the shoulders, an angling of the head, and a smile that was as powerful as the sun. She stood out among the sea of faces.

Nonie wouldn’t be able to miss her. And he bet that, for all her beauty, Margot would cast cold fear into Nonie Harrison’s heart.

Rob noticed that the photographer, probably following Eric’s instructions, had moved closer to where they stood. He could hear the whir of the camera’s shutter capturing the other school-board members as they mounted the steps of the building. Most nodded pleasantly at the crowd of parents; some exchanged a few words with friends. All tried for an attractive smile for the camera.

Except for Nonie Harrison. Her demeanor as she marched up the steps was more like that of a soldier marching off to certain death. Grim and tight-lipped. Tight-lipped was fine with him. He hoped she intended to keep those lips buttoned when the school board began to deliberate.

But then Nonie saw Margot, and Rob had a moment’s worry that she wouldn’t make it into the building. She looked ready to faint, her face leeched of color. She faltered and stumbled on the shallow steps, and somehow Margot closed the distance, there to steady her with a hand to her elbow.

Jade’s sister had some seriously quick reflexes, he thought, amused.

“Careful, Nonie. You wouldn’t want to fall and mess your lovely hairdo. I do so admire the work of your stylist. Eugene’s a lucky man to have a wife who takes such good care of herself. I’m always tempted to tell him what an example you are to us all. Do you make weekly appointments, or do you find you need to see your stylist more frequently? Maybe I’ll make an appointment with … what’s his name again? It starts with a
T
, doesn’t it? Oh, never mind, I’m sure I’ll remember it. Give Eugene my very best, won’t you?” With a smile that left Nonie looking almost as gray as her suit, Margot stepped
back to let Nonie continue her wobbly way up to the school’s double doors.

“Oh, well done, Margot,” Jordan said, with deep satisfaction in her voice. “I believe I just saw the picture of a vanquished enemy. And it was beautiful.”

“Yes, it was, wasn’t it?” Margot sounded equally pleased with herself. “I do think Nonie needed that little reminder of the consequences of her actions. Well, I’d say our work is done.”

Jordan nodded serenely. “Yes, it is—unless Nonie has developed a sudden social-suicidal streak. In which case it’ll be my turn to have fun.”

A bouquet of flowers was propped against the door of her cottage when Jade returned from her expedition to the Shake Shack with Ned, Georgie, Will, and Neddy. She hurried toward the spray of pink and white flowers wrapped in clear cellophane, and her heart thudded in her chest as she took in the pretty arrangement: roses and a white-and-yellow flower with a sweet yet peppery scent that she didn’t recognize but knew Jordan would.

It was a lovely bouquet. Hope flared and was extinguished as quickly when she tore open the card and read the words:
Jade, Dr. Myszkiewicz and I wanted you to know that our thoughts are with you on this difficult day. I hope that your meeting with Dr. Myszkiewicz resolved many of the questions surrounding your parents. If I can be of any further assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact me. With best regards, GH
.

The flowers were beautiful and incredibly thoughtful. She only wished they were from Rob.

He really had no intention of getting back together with her. The tears that she believed she’d exhausted welled, blurring the edges of her vision as she carried the flowers into the kitchen and located a glass pitcher for them.

Placing the arrangement on the center of the coffee table, she picked up her iPod and scrolled down the list of artists she’d downloaded. Lucinda Williams suited her mood perfectly. Few other singer/songwriters expressed the agony of a shattered heart as well. Within seconds, Lucinda’s passion-rough voice filled the cottage. Jade sank onto the sofa and let the tears fall.

“D
O YOU
want to knock or shall I?” Rob asked.

“You knock, Daddy,” Hayley decided. “And you give her the muffins and I’ll give her my card.”

“Okay. That sounds like a plan. I better knock loudly, because I can hear music inside.” He rapped hard and then stepped back to stand beside his daughter.

The door opened, and the sight that greeted him wrenched his heart: a forlorn and woebegone Jade, her green eyes awash in tears. Hurriedly, she dashed them away with the back of her hand. “Rob? Hayley?”

“Hi, Miss Radcliffe,” Hayley said shyly.

“I—I can’t believe—” Whatever she was going to say was left unfinished and changed to, “Please come in.”

They followed her into the living room, where she hurried over to the docking system and turned off her iPod. Turning around, she exclaimed when she saw them standing, “Oh! Won’t you sit down?”

Still beset by shyness, Hayley squeezed in beside Rob on the large chair. However, her timidity didn’t prevent her from asking, “Have you been crying, Miss Radcliffe?”

Jade’s smile was wobbly. “Yeah, I have been. I’ve been feeling pretty sad about things lately. Do you ever feel sad, Hayley?”

Hayley took a moment to consider, then she nodded. “Uh-huh. I feel sad sometimes when I think about my mom.”

“Me too. My mom’s one of the reasons I feel sad. Today is the day she and my dad died. She’s been gone for a number of years, and there are so many things I wish I could say to her and I can’t.”

Oh, God, no wonder she looked so distraught. Rob felt a stab of sympathy. What a hell of a double whammy she had to endure on the same day: the anniversary of her parents’ death and the school board’s vote on the future of her career. Yet even in the face of her sorrows, Jade had spoken to Hayley with a simple directness. It was exactly how he would hope an adult would talk to a child about such a difficult, wrenching subject.

He shouldn’t be surprised. She’d demonstrated that she could tackle difficult topics in the articles she’d written for her college newspaper. Her pieces had been honest and candid and funny, yet they’d also been full of sensitivity.

Jade’s explanation had driven away any lingering reserve on Hayley’s part. She unwedged herself to go sit beside Jade on the sofa. “I made you this when I was at my grandma’s house yesterday. I went there from school ’cause my throat was hurting a lot, but I’m all better now.” She offered the card to Jade.

“You made this for me? Oh, Hayley, thank you. I think I recognize the ponies in this paddock. That’s Dickens, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, and that’s Hopscotch and Maggie and Archer, Doc, and Sweet Virginia, and I wrote you a letter too. It’s inside.”

Slowly, Jade opened it. “
Dear Miss Radcliffe, I missed you at school today. I hope you come back soon. You’re fun. From Hayley Cooper
. Oh, Hayley,” she whispered. “I’m going to start crying again. Thank you very much. This is the nicest card.” She wrapped an arm around Hayley’s shoulders and hugged her.

“You’re welcome. And Daddy brought you two muffins. He got two because he said you liked them so much.”

Her eyes met his and her mouth curved in a small smile. “Thank you.”

A knock sounded on the door. It was followed by a call of “Jade?” and then the sound of footsteps—lots of them—and new voices joining in. The living room was soon filled to overflowing with Margot and Jordan and Jordan’s older children, Kate, Olivia, and Max, who offered cheerful hi’s to Hayley.

“You came promptly,” Margot said to Rob, grinning.

“Of course.”

Jade glanced at Rob, but when she asked her question, she directed it to Margot. “Where were you?”

“At school. Jordan and I thought it would be wise to remind Nonie Harrison of the consequences of speaking out against you, sweetie.” Her grin widened. “I think she got the message.”

“It’s too bad you weren’t there, Jade. Nonie’s expression was a sight to behold.”

“What?” Surprise laced Jade’s voice. “Do you mean she knows that
we
know about—”

“Oh, does she ever.”

Rob never would have thought he’d see a smile of such evil glee on Jordan Gage’s face, but there it was.

“And we had such a lovely talk with Pamela Hood,” Jordan continued. “I think both Nonie and Pamela are going to behave very differently around Warburg from now on.”

Jade was shaking her head. “I can’t believe you guys did that.”

“It was time, Jade,” Margot said.

“Past time,” Jordan agreed. “According to Maryanne Ferris, Rob’s been pretty busy too. Did you know he and Maryanne managed to get more than a hundred signatures
on a petition on your behalf? That’s a lot of people supporting you.”

“So we thought we’d come by and see whether we couldn’t do something nice for Rob and Hayley. We were wondering if Hayley might like a riding lesson with these guys and Georgiana. I’ll be teaching, Hayley. I’m not quite as good as Jade, but I’ll try my best,” Margot said.

“We’ve got a hard hat and everything else Hayley needs,” Jordan told Rob. “Also, these guys have been clamoring for me to make some fried chicken. We’d love it if Hayley could come to Hawk Hill for an early dinner.”

“Can I, Daddy?” Hayley pleaded, her eyes shining with excitement.

“Yes, but you have to do everything you’re told in the barns and around the ponies, okay?”

“I will.” Hayley turned back to Jade. “Will you be at school tomorrow?”

“I’m not sure yet, Hayley.”

“I hope so. I like you better than Mrs. Wilson.”

“That’s a very nice thing to hear, though I’m sure that if you were to get to know Mrs. Wilson, you’d like her a lot. Have a great riding lesson.”

“Okay, let’s go, gang. Those ponies are waiting,” Margot said, ushering the children out.

“They’ll be finished eating by six-thirty,” Jordan said to Rob.

“Thanks for thinking of this for Hayley. I really appreciate it.”

A smile lifted Jordan’s lips. “You are very welcome. Jade, you call us as soon as you hear from Ted Guerra. Unless you’re too busy.”

Jade jumped up to kiss Jordan on the cheek. “Have I told you how lucky I am to have you and Margot for sisters?”

“I heard that,” Margot called from the entryway. “And indeed you are.”

“About as lucky as we are to have you,” Jordan said, giving her a quick, fierce hug. “I have a feeling this day is going to end much more happily than it began for you. See you later.”

T
HEY WERE
silent as they listened to Hayley, Margot, and Jordan’s family depart and the slam of the front door closing behind them. Then, as if at the signal of a starting gun, both Rob and she spoke at once.

“I really needed to see you—”

“I can’t believe you’re here. I thought—”

They broke off to exchange awkward smiles. “Sorry,” Rob said.

“No,
I’m
sorry.” She shifted on the sofa to give him room. “Can we talk? I need to explain why I behaved like such an idiot last weekend.”