If I Loved You (Harper Falls Book 1) (26 page)

Rose was invited for tea at Harper House on
Wednesday afternoon. And for the life of her she couldn’t imagine
why. In all the years she’d lived in Harper Falls she had never met
personally with Regina Harper. They lived in the same town but
existed in different worlds.

“And having it hand delivered,” Tyler
scoffed. “What did you tell, Lurch?”

“He didn’t look like Lurch, more like Alfred
from the old Batman TV show. And I said yes, of course. Wouldn’t
you have?”

“The day I’m invited anywhere near that
place will be the beginning of the apocalypse. But damn right I
would have said yes. If only to spit in the grand lady’s eye.”

“I don’t plan on doing any spitting, but
I’ll leave my options open,” Rose promised. “I’m going out of
curiosity. What does she want? What will she be wearing? I mean,
how formal
is
afternoon tea? Pearls
or diamonds?”

“Does she pour the tea herself or is there a
person whose only job is to pour tea?” Dani asked. “And will she
serve those little sandwiches with the crusts cut off?”

“I doubt Reggie has ever seen a crust in her
life,” Tyler sneered.

“Well, I guess I'm going to find out on
Wednesday.”

“We expect a full report,” Dani told her.
“How about dinner at my place that night, say around six
thirty?”

“And if you can,” Tyler said, “get
pictures.”

ROSE FELT FOOLISH, which didn't make any
sense. No one knew that she had spent an hour researching afternoon
tea. But in spite of it, she still wasn't sure what to expect.
Almost every source she referenced agreed on one thing—afternoon
tea is less formal than high tea. With that in mind, she had chosen
a crisp cotton dress in the palest of yellow. The flared skirt hit
her just above the knee and the belted waist was flattering to her
figure. She wore heather gray sling back pumps, the four inch heels
giving her confidence. It was ridiculous to be nervous but as the
butler—she would always think of him as Alfred—led her across the
highly polished marble floors, Rose felt the distinct stirring of
butterflies.

She had never been in this part of the
house, during the Lilac Ball access to anything but the ballroom
and bathrooms was strictly enforced. Rose tried to take in all the
details without looking like she was gawking. Elegant. Rose
supposed this is what the rich aspired to one hundred years ago.
Dark wood paneling on the walls, ornate sconces that at one time
must have been powered by gas, and expensive little do-dads that
had to be a pain in the ass to keep dusted. It was hard to imagine
children running through theses halls, they would be in constant
worry of damaging something. No, the children raised here would
have only two choices—either conform or rebel. Regina Harper’s only
child had rebelled—big time.

“Miss O’Brian, Madam.”

“Thank you, Potts. I’ll ring if we need
anything else.”

Potts
? Well,
that was disappointing.

“Miss O’Brian.” As Regina Harper came
forward to greet her, Rose was taken aback at how tiny the woman
was. With her heels Rose was close to a foot taller. Slender to the
point of gauntness, the woman glided towards her in a subtle cloud
of expensive perfume and breeding. There was nothing common about
Regina Harper. The high cheekbones, perfect nose and a thin, hard
mouth that time, not genetics, had given her. Her eyes were a dark
brown but completely devoid of warmth. Any nerves Rose had been
feeling dissipated the moment she made contact with the other
woman’s cool, boney hand. Outer trappings aside, it was like
looking at her aunt. Both women knew how to get what they wanted
and had perfected their own forms of intimidation. Well, Rose
didn’t let anyone intimidate her, not anymore. Whatever Regina
Harper wanted, she wasn’t going to get it with an icy stare and
superior attitude.

“I apologize for the early hour, but I have
an appointment this evening that dictates a less than the
traditional hour for our tea.”

Right, Rose remembered, four o’clock was the
usual time for afternoon tea. That had seemed strange until she
read that they didn't eat dinner until eight. How could you keep a
schedule like that and not have really bad digestive problems?
Maybe that accounted for the pinched look on Regina's face.

“Do you take anything in your tea? Lemon,
sugar, perhaps some cream?

“No, nothing, thank you.”

Regina went through the process of pouring
them each a cup and then offered Rose an assortment of crustless
sandwiches,
good call Dani
, and
delicate little cookies. It was quite a show, smoothly executed,
without a single spill or bobble. Rose realized that Regina,
straight-backed and knees together, took her tea seriously.

“I’m sure you’re wondering why I asked you
here today.”

Very Agatha Christie, but Rose was almost
certain no murdered had occured, so that couldn't be the reason. “I
admit you have piqued my curiosity.” Great, she’d been there less
than thirty minutes and she was using
piqued
in a sentence.

“This fall we will be celebrating the
centennial of the founding of Harper Falls. Preparations have been
ongoing for over a year. Now we are dealing with the final details
and it was suggested that a piece of original music would lend a
nice touch to the proceedings.”

Was she asking Rose to write the music? Or
perhaps was she needed the name of a current classical composer?
That seemed more like Regina's style. Since it appeared as though
the woman wasn’t going to elaborate, Rose decided to wing it.

“Music is always a lovely addition to any
event. The idea of an original composition that the town will be
able to use for years to come is brilliant.”

“Yes.” Regina seemed to think
brilliant
was overstating it a bit.
“Several members of the committee thought it would be appropriate
to have someone from the community do the composition. Your name
come up.”

“I’m flattered.” Rose was trying to think of
another person in Harper Falls who had the qualifications for the
job, but she drew a blank. Either way Regina didn’t seem terribly
pleased. So why the one on one meeting? Why not have one of the
faceless committee members contact her?

“We can pay you Of course, I don’t know what
you’re usual fee is for the little songs you write. But with all
the prestige associated with the commission we hope our little
stipend will be enough.”

Rose wondered if the woman was trying to be
insulting or if it just came naturally.

“If I agree to the commission, Mrs. Harper,
I would naturally donate my fee to charity. That said, I couldn’t
possibly agree until I had a better idea of what you and the
committee wanted. The general tone of the piece, do you want words?
Should it be rousing or reflective? I also need a timetable for
when you would want the music. I would hate to accept and then find
out that I couldn't finish in time because of my schedule.”

“I see. We just assumed that you would make
the time.”

“Well, you know what they say about people
who assume things.” Hardly an original comeback but Rose was happy
with it.

“No, what do they say?” Regina managed to
raise one eyebrow and look down her nose at the same time.

Rose had never had anyone call her on that
one, but what the hell. “If you assume, it makes an ass out of you
and me.” Ball in your court, bitch.

“Ah." Again, Regina was not amused. "Then
perhaps we should leave it for now. After I speak to my fellow
committee members, we will get back to you. That is if we’re still
interested in your services.”

Rose desperately wished Tyler was there. She
was so good at putting people in their place, and the fact that it
was Regina Harper would have been a nice bonus. But Rose had peaked
with the whole
assume
thing. So
instead of verbally eviscerating her hostess, she set her cup on
the coffee table and stood to leave.

“Before you go I have a question for
you.”

Rose sat back with a sigh. She’d been so
close. Two stiffly exchanged goodbyes and she would have been out
the door to fresh air and freedom. Instead, she plastered a polite
smile on her face and waited.

“Why did she come back?”

“I’m sorry. Who are you talking about?”

“Your friend. Tyler Jones.” The name seemed
to stick in Regina’s throat.

That was it. Conversation over. Rose
gathered her purse and stood again.

“I will not discuss Tyler with you, Mrs.
Harper. If you want the answer I suggest you go to the source. But
if you do I suggest wearing goggles.” Before she left, Rose
couldn’t resist one last little twist of the knife. “Or you could
always ask your son. Oh, that's right, he never speaks to you so
you still wouldn't have your answer. I’ll be looking forward to
hearing from the committee.”

Rose turned and walked out the door. From
the stunned expression that she'd left on the woman's face Rose
imagined it had been a long time since anyone had had the last word
with Regina Harper.

“IT WAS LIKE something out of a Bette Davis
movie.”

Rose snuggled up next to Jack. They were in
his bed; her new one hadn’t arrived yet.

“Which of you was Bette Davis.”

“Depends on the movie. The setting was
definitely
Now Voyager,
but the
dynamic was more like
Old
Acquaintance
.”

“I’ll take your word for it.” Jack loved how
Rose’s brain worked. He didn’t feel the need to know all the
references she made; it was just fun to hear her make them.

“I couldn’t raise an ounce of sympathy for
her, Jack. Her husband is dead, her son won’t even be in the same
room with her. And don’t get me started on living all alone in that
museum. Shouldn’t I have felt a teeny bit of sympathy for her?”

“I met her, once. We’d only been in town for
a few weeks and I was coming out of the hardware store. Parked
across the street was that ridiculously large Rolls Royce that she
rides around in. I could see she was waiting for her driver so I
thought I’d introduce myself.” Jack shook his head at the memory.
“I tapped on the window and waited while she looked me up and
down.”

“I know that look,” Rose laughed.

“You only have to see it once for it to be
burned into your brain.” Jack pulled her in closer. No reason
except that he liked her closer. “So, she finally rolls the window
down. And before I can say boo, she tells me she knew who I was and
considering that my background was nothing to be particularly proud
of, I had been wise to attach myself to her son. Window rolls
up—end of conversation.”

“Tyler calls her crazy. Not that that’s
all
she calls her. But I think she’s
evil.”

“Evil how?”

Rose thought for a moment. “Evil in the
this is my world and if you don't live up to my
standards I’ll kick you out,
kind of way
.
She tried it with Tyler. She held on to Drew so
tightly that he left her altogether. As I said, I should feel sorry
for her, but…”

“But she makes it impossible.”

“I thought about not telling Tyler that she
was the real reason I’d been summoned to Harper House. That woman
has already handed her too much crap and I hated being part of
shoveling on another layer.”

“But you
did
tell her.” Jack understood wanting to protect someone you love.
Keeping things from them wasn’t the way to do that. Besides, things
had a way of coming out, and no matter how innocuous the omission,
it was better to get it out in the open and deal with it right
away.

“And she took it like I would have expected.
With a sharp tongue and a shrug.” Only Rose and Dani knew better.
Inside that tough girl shell was a center of hurt and insecurity.
Most things rolled off with little damage, but the Harpers were a
wound that had never really healed.

“Do you think Regina realizes the main
reason Drew moved back here was because of Tyler?

“He told you that?” Rose had always
suspected; the timing was just too coincidental. But to have Jack
state it as fact was something else altogether. Now she
knew.

“Drew is pretty closed-mouthed, and not just
about Tyler. But now and then when he’s in a certain mood and has
had a few drinks, he’ll get talky. He’s not over her, Rose, but
something is keeping him from telling her.”

“Fear of losing a vital organ?”

Jack laughed. “There is that. I just wish
he’d do something. I would never have called Drew a merry old soul,
but lately he’s become even more reticent than usual.” And it began
soon after Jack had started seeing Rose, a fact he was not going to
share with her. Seeing Jack so happy, with Tyler’s friend, just
magnified what Drew was missing out on.

“I can’t tell you how Tyler feels about
Drew, she would never forgive me. And I promise not to tell her
anything we've discussed tonight. If something is going to happen
it has to be up to them to do it.”

“Agreed.” Jack slid down until they were
face to face.

“Such a pretty face.”

“I beg your pardon?”

Loving the outrage in his voice, Rose cocked
her head and studied him. “No, I stand by it. You, my friend, have
a pretty face. I noticed it the night of the Lilac Ball. I was
looking for someone with much longer hair, so at first I didn’t
recognize you. But when I did the first thing I thought was how
beautiful you were.”

“Rose—” Jack wanted her to find him
attractive and hot and really, really sexy. But
pretty
?
Beautiful
?
Come on.

“Hear me out. I said beautiful, not
feminine.” Rose could tell Jack wasn’t mollified by the
distinction. “It was the short hair that did it,” she continued.
“And your amazing cheek bones.” She leaned over and kissed each
one. “And the bright blue of your eyes. I called them Paul Newman
eyes.”