“Maybe.” She really didn’t know. Elle hadn’t been their onlyproblem. If it hadn’t been her, they might have eventually come to a breakingpoint over Jacqueline’s job, her travel, or some other issue. “Maybe not. Doesit matter now? Those years are gone, and we can’t be anywhere but here.”
Jacqueline nodded. “Wherever this is.” Her words clearly definedCasey’s confusion about the recent changes in the way they related to eachother as well. Jacqueline stood. “I want to check on Dad on my way home. Areyou okay?”
“Yes.” Casey answered as simply as possible, though she couldn’thelp but wonder if the larger question wasn’t, are we okay? She didn’t know how to answerthat one.
Chapter Fifteen
“Do I need to be concerned?” Owen asked as soon as shewalked into the Chattanooga office Monday afternoon. He’d been waiting for hernear the front desk.
“About what?” She smiled at the receptionist on her way by. Hefollowed her down the hall to the conference room she’d be using for anemployee meeting in less than an hour. She dropped her bag in a chair near thehead of the table, worrying a little when he closed the door behind them.
“You omitted the Blackstone letter.” He held up his hands to stopher protest. “And now the operations manager in Louisville said you snapped athim.”
“He called you?” Yes, she’d lost her temper and could havehandled things better. Since she’d argued with him within earshot of the dock,she’d known there was a chance he’d complain. But when two weeks passed withoutincident, she thought maybe he’d blown it off. She certainly had. But shewasn’t surprised to learn he’d reported her. He was a whiny baby who had nopeople skills and even less professional knowledge. She had no idea how he’dgotten his job.
“I phoned him about an unrelated issue. But your name came up.”
“The guy’s an idiot, Owen.” She circled the outside of the room,pausing near a table along the back wall to grab a bottle of water and abanana.
“He said you called him a dumbass.”
“Actually, I said he made usall look like dumbasses. He withheld important information and thenexpected me to help him out of a jam.”
“I can’t have my HR manager implying an ops manager in thiscompany is a dumbass.”
“Well, make up your mind, Owen. Did I call him a dumbass, or didI just implyit?” She tried to lighten the mood. His nod and small smile indicated she’dsucceeded. She sat and rested her elbows on the table. “So, what? Do I need toapologize?”
“That’s a start.”
“What does that mean?”
“If you apologize, I can probably talk him out of filing a formalcomplaint.”
“A formal—seriously?”
“If he does, I can’t go to bat for you with legal. Theircollective memories aren’t that short.”
She bit back a curse. That damn P&C letter would end upscrewing her after all. “I’ll fix it.”
“Make it a sincere apology. And do it in person.”
She nodded. Once he’d left the room, she let her head fallforward until her forehead rested on the table. When would she have time tosqueeze in an unplanned trip to Louisville? If she’d thought she could get awaywith delaying, she’d wait a couple of weeks—put off seeing his smug face. ButOwen would expect an update when she smoothed things over. Besides, if thisincident could jeopardize her future advancement, as Owen had implied, then shewanted to deal with it sooner rather than later. She’d arrive home Wednesdayafternoon, only to leave again Thursday morning for Louisville.
She lifted her head and began unpacking the training literatureshe’d had delivered to the center last week. She needed to focus on her taskfor the day. Trying to work through distraction was how she’d gotten herself tothis point, and continuing to do so certainly wouldn’t solve her problems.Later tonight, in her hotel room, she’d have a drink and wallow in self-pityover the current state of her career.
*
Casey grabbed the loaf of French bread she’d picked up at thegrocery store the day before and headed out to her car. She’d been runningbehind since her first consultation of the day had gone long, and she’d neverrecovered. Ten minutes ago, she’d finished uploading a set of proofs with justenough time to freshen up before going to Teddy’s for dinner. He wouldn’t careif she was a bit late, but she opted for the short drive instead of her usualwalk.
Several minutes later, she parked at the curb in front of Teddy’shouse just as Jacqueline got out of her own car in the driveway. Jacquelinecircled her car and met Casey halfway up the driveway.
“Hey, I know this is your night with him, but I was hoping youhad room for one more?”
“Sure.” Casey engaged her vehicle locks and slipped the fob intoher jeans pocket. Jacqueline’s keys jangled in her hand. She didn’t have anypockets marring the lines of the brown skirt that hugged her hips and endedjust above her knees. As Jacqueline turned toward the house, Casey followed,noting the creases in the back of Jacqueline’s ivory drape-necked blouse. Even wrinkled she’s gorgeous. Caseyacknowledged the observation easily. Jacqueline’s beauty had always reachedher, even through their most disconnected times.
Tendrils of Jacqueline’s upswept hair had worked their way freearound her face and at the back of her neck. She sported ballet flats insteadof the heels that accentuated her calves, giving one more hint to what she’dbeen doing just before she arrived.
“How was your drive?” Casey asked.
“Boring. Chattanooga.” Jacqueline slipped off her sunglasses andtucked them into her purse. She’d always shown fatigue in her eyes first, andtoday her weariness was evident. “I have to go to Louisville first thingtomorrow, so the fun isn’t over yet.”
“From one end of your region to the other? I thought you’d gottenmore efficient at plotting your travel.”
“I have. This one’s out of my control.” Jacqueline used her key,swung open the door, and called, “Dad.”
Though Casey didn’t hear a response, they found him in the livingroom staring at the television. The sound had been muted, so he should haveheard her.
“Hey, Dad.”
His eyes snapped to Jacqueline’s face, then tracked to Casey’s,and a moment of
