The guy was dressed like he was heading for a meeting. She recognized the brand of expensive cologne he wore as one sold at Neiman Marcus. She could have made her house payment for a month with what a single bottle cost. Merry only knew because she’d sold perfume at a mall while putting herself through beauty school. Her experience there with uppity people had given her a disdain for most wealthy people who threw their money around on such frivolous things as thousand-dollar bottles of cologne.
She was about to tell Alex that Grace couldn’t go, but the disappointed expression on the little girl’s face stopped Merry.
“Really, Mr. Wyndham, we’d be happy to bring Grace with us. All Alex has talked about this week is her.”
“Please, Papa.Please.” Grace clutched her little hands to her chest and scrunched up her face. How could he refuse her?
“I have a meeting I must attend, and Mrs. Henderson has the night off.”
“I don’t want to go to a meeting with you,” Grace whined.
“How late do you think you’ll be, Merry?” Millie asked. “We’re open tonight until eight, so you could drop Grace back here when you’re done. Then Mr. Wyndham can pick her up.”
“Last year it only took us an hour.” Merry met the man’s gaze, her brows raised.
* * *
Carlisle glancedbetween the woman and her son, stopping when he came to Grace’s pleading little face. He’d promised her mother not to lose sight of what was important. His daughter knew when she’d won and clapped her hands.
“I can come. I can come.” Grace and young Alex clasped hands and danced around, Grace’s papers fluttering to the floor.
“You didn’t say anything,” Mrs. Hurst said with a soft laugh as she bent over to collect the pictures. “She could tell from the look on your face?”
“Sadly, yes.” He took the pages from her.
“Make sure you don’t play poker around her, then,” she said.
He frowned, confused.
“If a four-year-old child can read your face, she’d take you for every penny you’ve got.”
“Then it’s fortunate I don’t play cards.” He extended his hand to her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Hurst.”
“You too,” the woman said, taking his hand.
She had a good grip, something he’d come to appreciate since transplanting to the US. A wisp of long brown hair had escaped her knit cap. While she looked tired, she also had a twinkle in her hazel eyes as though she found him amusing. What a curious woman.
Carlisle quickly typed in a text to change his meeting and then turned to her.
“Now, if you’ll tell me where to find this event, my daughter and I will be on our way.”
“But I want to go with Alex.” Grace stomped her foot. Appalled at her disgraceful behavior, Carlisle was about to reprimand her, but Mrs. Hurst knelt to face his daughter.
“Isn’t it wonderful your father could change his meeting so he can take you?” The woman brushed aside a strand of his daughter’s hair in much the same way Grace’s mother used to do. “We can wave at you there.” Mrs. Hurst stood and said to Carlisle, “It’s at the community center behind City Hall. That’s near the train station. Bye, Grace.”
“But, Mama,” her son began, but Mrs. Hurst quickly took his hand.
Before his daughter could throw another tantrum, the woman had hurried her son from the building. Had he somehow offended her? He glanced down at Grace, who stared after her little friend, her bottom lip protruding in a pout. So much had happened since the accident, and both he and she were still adapting. It clearly meant a great deal to her to spend an hour with the boy.
“Let’s hurry and catch up with your friend,” he said, holding out a hand to Grace, “so we can sit by them.”
His daughter rewarded him with one of her brilliant smiles. She took his hand and practically pulled him outside.
“Excuse me, Mrs. Hurst,” he called when she stepped away from a small SUV where she’d been buckling in her son.
She turned to face him, shooting his daughter a quick glance and him a meaningful look. It seemed to question his sanity when she’d given him a quick escape.
“Grace would so love to do this scarecrow with her friend,” he said, trying to sound as apologetic as he could. “If you would be so kind as to permit us to sit near you?”
