By Design (3 page)

Pearl listened for the next twenty minutes while
the senator typed away, making comments as she went,
occasionally groaning,
only to start laughing in another instant.
“You know, you’re going to miss your flight if you don’t get moving,” Pearl
reminded the senator.

“
Oh,
shit!”
Candace chastised herself. “Crap! It’s almost seven. Why didn’t you say
something?”

“You seemed intent on solving your snarky artifact
problem,” Pearl said.

Candace finished typing something and closed her
computer. “Architect, Pearl. It’s a snarky architect; a snarky, expensive
architect
.”

“Well, I’m sure you’ll find a remedy,” Pearl
responded.

“I always do,” Candace said with a kiss to the
older woman’s cheek. “I will see you next Tuesday.”

“I’ll be here.”

Pearl
pulled herself from her musings and noted that Jameson was watching her
attentively. “So, what does my Candy have in store for you?” she asked the
architect.

Jameson
laughed. “Something tells me that I should be the one asking you that
question,” Jameson replied.

“You’ll
do just fine,” Pearl said. “You want some coffee, Ms. Reid?”

Jameson
looked around the large kitchen. “J.D.” Pearl gave the architect an odd look.
“My name is J.D. or Jameson, whichever. And, coffee would be great.”

“So,
Jameson,” Pearl began. “What are your plans for this old place?”

Jameson
pulled out her laptop. “Would you like to see some of them?” she asked
excitedly. Pearl nodded and took a seat beside the young woman. “It all
really
depends on Candace,” Jameson said
earnestly
as she booted up her computer. She
pointed to the screen. “I’ve discovered she has a bird aversion.”

“A
bird aversion?”

“Yeah,”
Jameson said pointing to the screen again. “In the eighteenth century wall
coverings were block printed. See, here? I suggested parakeets. She didn’t like
that concept,” Jameson smiled.

Pearl
tried not to laugh as she gained a new understanding of the senator’s musings
earlier in the week.
 
“I see.”

“Um.
So, I suggested pigeons,” Jameson showed the older woman a different design.

“Pigeons?”

“Um.
She didn’t like that either. Bird aversion.”

Pearl
laughed heartily. “You’re not too far off there,” she said.

“Really?
Candace is afraid of birds?” Jameson asked. “Oh shit,” she whispered. “I’ve
been sending her bird designs all week,” she said.

Pearl
watched the color drain from Jameson’s face and chuckled. She put a comforting
hand on the architect’s shoulder. “No, no. She’s not afraid of them,” she said.
Jameson looked up hopefully. “She had a pet canary when she was small. Her
older brother let it out of the cage one day and,” Pearl stopped.

“And?”

“Jinx
ate it.”

“Jinx?”

“Her
brother’s cat.”

“Oh
no,” Jameson said, trying to contain her laugh.

“Oh
yes. She cried for days. So sensitive, that one,” Pearl said affectionately.

Jameson
listened and couldn’t help but smile. “She loves this house,” Jameson said
softly.

“Yes,
she does,” Pearl agreed. “Candy was her granddaddy’s baby;
the apple of his eye
. She followed him
everywhere. He loved this old place. Had a story for every nook and cranny, he
did. He was a good man,” Pearl said wistfully. “She told you a bit about him?”

“She
did,” Jameson said. “
Actually
, she told
me a great deal about spending time here as a little girl; how she always hoped
she’d raise her children here.”

Pearl
was surprised as she listened to Jameson recap some of the highlights of her
conversations with Candace. Candace was an adept
communicator,
and she loved people, but she had become gradually
more reserved in allowing people to get close to her over the years. Pearl wondered
what it was about the architect that opened the senator up so
quickly
. Pearl set a cup of coffee in front of
Jameson. “She would have loved to have this house for the kids. It has never
meant to them what it does to her,” she stated a bit sadly. “For them, home is
just a house. They don’t have those memories,” she continued. Pearl sighed. “They
moved time and again. That was Jonathan. Bigger and bigger,” she said with a
shake of her head. “Candace used to have to fight just to cook their dinners.”

“Candace’s
ex?” Jameson asked softly.

“Indeed,”
Pearl said. Jameson looked up at the older woman inquisitively. “They both came
from prominent families,” Pearl said. “Jonathan’s employed a rather large
staff. He was raised by nannies and housekeepers,” she explained. She winked at
the unspoken question in Jameson’s eyes and laughed. “Governor Stratton had
only two people in his employ, myself and Mr. Bridges, his driver. Honestly,
neither of us did much,” she laughed. “Mrs. Stratton seldom
allowed
me to cook a meal by myself, and all of
her children were expected to contribute to the household duties. I was only
seventeen when I started with the
Strattons
,”
she reminisced. “I could barely boil water.” Pearl smiled at Jameson. “That’s
why Candy loved it here,” Pearl said. “There was always something to do, always
something to explore. Candy’s father married a woman much like her husband
turned out to be. That was never Candy’s way,” she explained. “She wanted to
learn everything about everything. When her father was away; you could always
find her here with her Granddad and Gram. I think it about killed her when they
both left this world. And, then she lost her father. David had this house,”
Pearl sighed deeply. “He didn’t require my services.”

“He
fired you?”

Pearl
chuckled. “Gracious no. David may be a bit spoiled, but he would never have
dismissed his Pearlie,” she said. “Candy needed me more at that time. The kids
were small, she was running for office. It made more sense for me to be there
for her,” she said. “I was never so glad when David sold this house to her. I
remember she walked through the house for hours that first
day
as if she
needed
to recall
every moment.” Pearl winked at the architect. “Well, I’ll
leave you to it.”

“Pearl?”
Jameson called after the older woman. Pearl turned inquisitively. “What is her
favorite room?”

Pearl
smiled. “That’s easy, her granddad’s study.”

“Do
you remember?” Jameson asked. “What it looked like then?”

Pearl’s
expression softened. “Governor Stratton never touched that room. It stayed the
same until David changed it. The wallpaper
was
tattered
from age. The Governor could never bring himself to change it.
It reminded him of his father.” Pearl slipped into a memory. “She is so much
like him,” she said softly. She sighed again as she recalled the older man.
“Yes. It was ornate even in its disrepair. Orange and reds as I recall.”

 
“Thank you, Pearl. I may be wandering about
the house on and off,” Jameson said.

Pearl
nodded. She began to make her way out of the kitchen and turned back to see
Jameson focused intently on her computer screen. The expression reminded her of
Candy’s. She shook her head. “I wonder if either of them even see it,” she
chuckled.

“Everything
is open to negotiation except birds and cats.
No
birds.
No
cats.” Jameson read the email
and laughed. She snickered slightly and sent off a singular picture in
response. Jameson waited for the reply. None came.

“You
did say anything was open to negotiation,” she fired off a short quip. Jameson loved
toying with the senator. Their banter had lightened her days these last two
weeks. In truth, she was keeping her promise to adhere as closely to the
original style of the house as possible. She was certain that Candace knew
that, but it seemed they both took great pleasure in this game. She was
surprised that there was still no response from the senator. Normally, Candace
had a quick retort. Senator Fletcher was a busy
woman,
and Jameson shrugged it off. There certainly would be more pressing matters for
Candace to address than Jameson’s antics. She returned to her task of mapping
out the kitchen so that she could design the addition off the back of the
house. Jameson found herself musing that she was grateful that winter was upon
them. It meant that any construction would have to wait. Secretly, that gave
her an excuse to draw out this project longer than she needed to. Candace
Fletcher intrigued her. The sound of the phone in the distance and Pearls’
voice interrupted her pondering.

“Why
are you calling the house phone? Don’t you have her number? Um-hum. Jameson!”
Pearl’s voice rang through the house. Jameson walked sheepishly into the large
living room. She pointed to herself as if to question Pearl’s need for her
presence. Pearl shook her head and handed the phone to the architect. “It’s for
you,” she said. “I don’t know what you did to get her to call home,” she
chuckled.

“Hello?”
Jameson said tentatively.

“Ms.
Reid,” a stern voice came over the line.

“Yes?”

“You
apparently did not pay much attention
in
American History class; did you?” Candace questioned as if
cross-examining
a witness.

“I
would beg to differ.”

“Well,
the evidence would suggest otherwise,” Candace replied.

“You
have evidence? I wasn’t aware that I was on trial.”

“In
which part of history did you find naked marble men the most prominent?”
Jameson tried not to laugh at Candace’s attempt to drill her. “Ms. Reid?”

“I
suppose ancient. That would be Roman or Greek.”

“Does
my home look Roman or Greek to you?”

“
Actually
, Senator; it does,” Jameson replied.

“My
Colonial American home appears Greek to you?”

“Roman,”
Jameson returned.

“I’m
sorry?”

“No
need to be sorry, Senator. You
apparently
skipped architecture as an elective,” Jameson snickered. “James Gibbs
is credited
with much of the English style your
home reflects, as well as most notable buildings of the period.”

“And
he was Roman?”

“No,
he was Scottish, but he studied in Rome in the early eighteenth century and his
designs reflect that Roman influence,” Jameson explained. “So, you see; as a
point of fact; Roman statuary is
actually
a well-placed addition….particularly for one with as much reverence for history
as you have, Senator Fletcher,” Jameson gloated. The continuing silence began
to unnerve her slightly. “Senator?”

“Well,
aren’t you just the cat that ate the canary,” Candace replied.

“No,
as I understand it his name was Jinx.”

Another
moment of silence
was finally broken
by
Candace’s roar of laughter. “You are a complete lunatic. Just how many
skeletons have you discovered in my home?”

“Only
the ones Pearl is willing to unearth,” Jameson replied.

“That
does not bode well for me,” Candace sobered.

“
Actually
, it bodes quite well for you,” Jameson
replied sincerely. She and Candace had only had a few phone conversations over
the last two weeks, but each had been enjoyable. Each time they had found a
reason to speak; the conversation had naturally turned to discussing their
days. And, each time they spoke, Jameson had found she would become spellbound
by the senator’s stories and her voice. Jameson found Pearl’s nuggets about the
senator endearing. The older woman had great affection for Candace. It was a
sentiment that Jameson was beginning to understand intimately.

Candace
felt Jameson’s compliment lodge itself in her chest. She closed her eyes for a moment
to quiet an unexpected rise of emotion. What was it about Jameson Reid that
captivated her? She looked forward to Jameson’s emails. She realized as the
silence lingered on the line, that when more than a few hours passed without
any contact from the architect, she felt disappointed. She cleared her throat. “Don’t
believe a word she says,” Candace said lightly.

“I
believe every word,” Jameson said. “So, no statuary, no birds, and no felines.
Any
specific
requests?”

“Chinese,”
Candace replied.

“You
want me to decorate this house with an Asian influence?” Jameson asked
skeptically.

“No,
I want Chinese food.”

Jameson
laughed. “I’m afraid I am a little far to deliver on that request.”

“How
long are you going to be occupying my kitchen?”

“What?”

“It’s
a simple question, Jameson. How long can I expect you to be in my kitchen?”

“Probably
another few hours. Why?”

“Do
you have any specific requests?”

Jameson
was lost
. “I don’t….”

“For
Chinese food,” Candace clarified. She started laughing. “I am sitting in the airport
right now,” she explained. “I should be home in about two hours. I thought
perhaps you could show me what you’ve been working on over dinner.”

“I
would love to.”

“So;
any requests?”

“Surprise
me,” Jameson said in challenge.

Candace
felt her face flush at the intended flirtation she detected. “Be careful what
you wish for, Jameson.”

“Sweet
or spicy, Senator. I can handle it.”

Candace
chuckled. “Noted. I will see you in a couple of hours.”

Jameson
disconnected the call and stood staring at the phone in her hands. “Did I just
flirt with Candace Fletcher? Oh my God; did she just flirt with me?” Jameson
put the phone back in its cradle and wandered into the kitchen.

Pearl
looked up and saw the architect’s dazed expression.
“You
all right? She didn’t fire you; did she?” Pearl asked
half-kidding, half-worried over the expression on Jameson’s face.

“What?
No, she’s bringing home Chinese.”

Pearl
pursed her lips in amusement. “Do you not like Chinese food?”

“What?
No. I….I need to put this all together to show her. She already thinks I’m
crazy.”

Pearl
shook her head watching Jameson focus on her new task. “Oh, you’re crazy all
right,” she thought. “Crazy about my Candy.”

***

Jameson
heard Candace’s voice as the front door opened and felt her heart pick up its
pace. Suddenly, she felt like a high school girl waiting to be picked up for
her first date. She hadn’t seen Candace since their first meeting. The prospect
of being in the same room with the affable senator made her stomach flutter.

Candace
smiled at Pearl. “She’s in the kitchen,” Pearl said with a smirk.

“You’ve
been telling my secrets, Pearlie,” Candace mock scolded the older woman.

“Only
the good ones,” Pearl promised.

“I’m
sure,” Candace groaned playfully. “Jinx?” she asked. Pearl shrugged. “What
other skeletons did you unearth for her?” Candace whispered.

“Why?
You trying to impress her?” Pearl returned.

Candace
pretended not to hear the older woman and headed
for
the kitchen. “Ms. Reid,” Candace greeted the architect
formally.

“Senator,”
Jameson replied, unsuccessful in concealing an automatic grin.

Candace
momentarily thought her feet might have become rooted in the floor. Jameson’s
smile lit her from
within,
and Candace
was helpless not to react with a broad smile of her own. “Looking for more bird
motifs to torture me with?” she asked.

Jameson
laughed. “No. I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize dinner.”

“I
see. So, the way to keep you focused is to feed you Chinese take-out?”

“No,
I’m not that picky,” Jameson answered.

“I
guess that explains your affinity for my kitchen,” Candace replied as she set
the bag on the table.

“You
need anything from me?” Pearl asked from the doorway.

“Not
at all,” Candace said. “Don’t you want to join us? I got chicken wings,” she
attempted to entice the older woman with a carton. “And fortune cookies.”

Pearl
shook her head. “
No,
thanks. I will leave
you two to your evening,” she said. “Go easy on that,” she warned Candace.

“Worried
about my girlish figure?” Candace asked, pulling a bottle of white wine from
the refrigerator.

“No,”
Pearl pointed to the bottle in Candace’s hand. “Worried Jameson will have to
carry your girlish figure upstairs when you finish that bottle,” she winked.

Candace
pursed her lips. “Don’t listen to her,” she said to Jameson. “A glass of wine
and she thinks I’m an alcoholic.”

“Ha!”
Pearl waved off the younger woman as Jameson
listened
on
. “Hardly. Watch her with that, Jameson. She can hold her liquor just
fine. Wine
….
”

“Enough
of you,” Candace laughed. “That was one time and I was seventeen.”

“Oh?
What about that time at your Christmas party when Rach
….
”

Candace
made her way swiftly to her friend and covered Pearl’s mouth with her hand.
“Don’t you have
some place
you need to
be?” she asked.

Pearl
shook her head when Candace removed her hand. “So eager for me to leave? I
thought you wanted me to stay and share your fortune cookies,” Pearl quipped.
Candace just chuckled. “Just watch her,” Pearl called back to Jameson as
Candace gently nudged her from the room. Pearl turned to Candace and kissed her
on the cheek. “Have a good night,” she said with a wink.

Candace
rolled her eyes as Pearl headed out the door. “Incorrigible,” she mumbled as
she made her way back to Jameson. “So? Chinese food and Early American décor;
would you like some wine with that?” she asked the architect.

“
Depends
,” Jameson answered.

“On?”

“How
heavy are you?”

Candace
looked at Jameson in disbelief for a moment and then laughed. “I promise you,
Jameson; it will take more than a couple of glasses of wine for me to get
carried off to the bedroom.”

Jameson
smiled. “I’ll make a note.”

***

“What
do you think?” Jameson asked. Candace looked at the pictures on Jameson’s
laptop screen in amazement. Her inability to answer began to alarm Jameson. “If
you don’t like something…”

“What?”
Candace jumped. “Jameson
….it
’s….I’m just
amazed that you were able to put this much together in such a short time.”

“It’s
what I do,” Jameson said humbly. “You gave me a lot to work with and Pearl has
been immensely helpful.” Candace nodded silently. Jameson watched a myriad of
emotions flicker in the senator’s expression. “Candace?” she asked softly in
concern. Candace sighed. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

Candace
released another small sigh and then looked at Jameson. The genuine concern
that reflected in the architect’s eyes touched her. Jameson held the senator’s
gaze firmly but
compassionately,
and
Candace finally smiled. “Nothing is wrong,” she said. “Pearl loves this old
place as much as I do,” she said.

“I
know,” Jameson replied. “She loves you more.”

“Yes,
she does,” Candace agreed. “She’s always been like my mother. I think if I
were
to be honest,” Candace closed her eyes in
an effort to compose herself. She felt Jameson’s hand on top of hers and took a
deep breath. “If I were to be honest; she may not have given birth to me, but
she
really
is the only mother I have ever
known.”

Jameson
listened attentively. She could feel the emotional burst emanating from
Candace. The declaration did not surprise her. Jameson had spent enough time
with Pearl to have gained an understanding of the unique relationship she
shared with Senator Candace Fletcher. She was certain that there were a great
many details about both women that she had yet to learn. Jameson tightened her
grip on Candace’s hand gently as the senator continued.