Her teeth ground together. “You think I can’t qualify for a mortgage.”
“I guess...” He blinked. “You and your sisters have so much cash tied up in Fitzgerald House.”
“I make a good living.” But she didn’t. Acid burned in her gut. Her job was finished in a week and a half.
“I can ask around for available apartments,” he offered.
“No, thanks.” Now that she knew the asking price, she’d contact mortgage companies.
“You could move in with Abby,” Daniel suggested, taking a sip of his tea.
Bess wanted her own space. “I’ll figure it out.”
Daniel flashed his endearing crooked smile.
Her heart beat faster. Didn’t her darn body understand that one smile from Daniel could never erase the scars from his rejections?
“Can I keep renting after September thirtieth?” Until she figured out a way to buy her apartment.
Daniel set his glass down and drew circles in the condensation. He nodded before he answered. “Sure. But you need to move your plants so we can show the place.”
“Move my plants?” An ache grew in her chest. “But I babysit a lot of those orchids.”
“What?” Daniel’s brow furrowed.
“People hire me to care for their orchids.” She leaned forward. “When they flower, I send them back.”
“I...” He pushed back his ball cap. “I’ve never heard of anything like that.”
“It’s better than throwing away a valuable plant.” She straightened her shoulders. She hated people tossing perfectly good orchids. “It’s easy money.”
He grinned again. This one probably had panties dropping throughout the café.
Not hers. Never again.
“That’s—clever.”
“Thanks.” Warmth from his compliment swelled in her chest. She was pitiful. He was taking away her home and a stupid compliment made her insides wiggle like jelly.
“They’re beautiful, but it looks like a jungle.” He wagged his finger. “They have to go.”
“Okay.” She rubbed between her eyes. “Maybe they’ll fit in the B and B’s sunroom.”
“You’d have to keep the apartment picked up,” he warned.
“Sure.”
“I’ll help you move your stuff.”
Wasn’t that the story of her messed-up relationship with Daniel—first he broke her heart. Then he offered to help.
“Can I wait until after Mamma’s wedding?”
She didn’t want anyone to know about her troubles.
“I can help you move stuff on Sunday.”
Rush me, much? “In the afternoon. Late afternoon. There’s a family brunch on Sunday.”
“That works.”
She sighed. Now she needed to meet with her sisters and confess she’d lost her job and her home.
* * *
“THE ARBOR LOOKS SPECTACULAR.” Dolley stood under Bess’s ladder. “You, not so much. Get dressed. Now.” Her sister already wore her yellow chiffon halter dress.
Bess tugged the tulle until it draped down the side of the arbor. Climbing down, she took a few steps back. Then glanced over at her sister. “You look fantastic.”
Dolley twirled and the skirt flared out. “You will, too, once you’re dressed.”
“Is Mamma ready?” Bess looked at her watch. Lord, she needed to check the ballroom.
“She’s getting her hair done.” Dolley waved her off. “Go.”
Bess took the Fitzgerald carriage-house steps two at a time. She tore off her shorts and T-shirt and hopped in the shower. After scrubbing, she washed her hair and shaved, slowing down so she didn’t nick her ankles.
With a towel wrapped around her hair, she slapped Abby’s lemon verbena lotion on her legs and arms. Then she blew her hair dry. She grabbed a handful of her strawberry-blonde curls. What do I do with this mop?
Instead of making a decision, she dashed on makeup. Then she pulled on a strapless bra and underwear, wishing she’d picked a dress with straps.
“Are you ready?” Dolley called out from the living room.
“Everything but my hair.”
Her sister leaned against the bathroom doorway. “You might want to put on clothes, too.”
“My shorts?” Bess joked.
“No.” Her sister moved behind her. “Let’s put your hair up.”
“Or I could leave it down.”
Dolley grabbed a brush and binder, and tugged it through Bess’s hair. “No, up. You have a nice neck and you’re almost tan.”
“You mean my freckles are blending together.” It was the best they could hope for in a family of redheads.
Dolley pinned and hummed, spraying Bess’s hair with more hair spray than she’d used in a year. Then she pulled out sections of hair and curled them.
“Is Abby ready?” Bess craned her neck to see what Dolley was doing.
“Stop moving, and yes. She’s in the kitchen, but she’s dressed.”
“I have to check how Molly’s doing in the ballroom.” Bess tapped the counter. “Are you done?”
“Almost. Jeez.” Dolley wrapped another strand of hair around the curling iron.
“I don’t have to look great. It’s Mamma’s day.”
“It won’t hurt you to dress up. There might be good-looking men at the wedding.”
Daniel would be attending. Bess swallowed. Maybe the dress would make him see what he’d tossed aside. It would be nice to have him regret what had happened between them.
Dolley stepped away and handed her a mirror. “I’m awesome.”
Bess blinked. Her hair was all gentle swirls and soft curls around her face. “It’s...amazing.”
“I’m a genius. Hang on.” Dolley pushed her back onto the vanity chair. She rummaged in Bess’s makeup bag. “Don’t you own eyeliner?”
“No.”
Dolley pulled open Abby’s perfectly organized makeup drawer. “Close your eyes.”
“Eyeliner makes me look like a raccoon.” But Bess closed her eyes.
“Sit still.” Dolley worked on her eyes, adding more eye shadow along with the liner. “There.”
Bess blinked, worried she would cry and muss Dolley’s work. “I look...” Like someone else. Her eyes were bigger, greener. “I bow to your superior hair and makeup skills.”
“You should.” Dolley hit her hair with another spritz of hair spray. “Get dressed.”
Bess pulled on a chiffon dress similar to the ones her sisters wore. Abby and Dolley had convinced her to wear the strapless design. Slipping on sparkly heels, she tugged on the short skirt. “Well?”
Dolley whistled. “You’re hot. Let’s go help Mamma.”
They headed to the Mamie Eisenhower room in the main