Home for Christmas (3 page)

Once they were again seated and
assured that Austin Douglass and his colleague were on the opposite side of the
coffee house and well out of earshot, Savannah whispered frantically, “How do
you know him?”

“Well, as one of Seattle’s most
sought after Public Relations –“

“I already know that,” she
interrupted. “But
how
do you know him?” she asked quickly.

“He hired me for a project,
Savannah. Why else would I know him?”

“I just wondered if you … I mean if
you and he …”

“No, Savannah. Me and him are not …
you know.”

“It doesn’t matter to me at all,”
she said, trying to keep her voice even and without even a hint at the
unwelcome relief she’d felt, although why she should be relieved was beyond her
at the moment. “I just thought he looked like your type.”

“And what does my
type
look
like?” Courtney questioned quizzically.

“You know,” she said turning her palm
toward the ceiling, “casual.”

“Casual?” Courtney questioned
aghast, laughing loud enough that Austin, his guest, and several others glanced
in their direction.

“Courtney, please,” Savannah
uttered frantically.

“Okay,” she said, trying to wipe
the enjoyment off her face.

Courtney was very good at what she
did. She thought on her feet, she put inordinate stock in her gut feelings and
the dividends of those gut feelings usually paid handsomely. And when they
didn’t, it was usually a disastrous failure. But she believed in taking risks,
riding the waves, and seeing where life would take you. It made her
extraordinarily good at what she did. She took a moment to gaze at her friend.
She’d never seen her so …
flustered
as she’d been with Austin Douglass.

Savannah was the epitome of poise,
just like her mother had been. Controlling too, disciplined, put together …
all
of the time. Frankly, it was boring. Courtney had once disliked Savannah for
those very attributes. To be honest, it was probably because she wished she’d
had a little of the polish that Savannah did. Her family had as much pedigree
as Savannah’s. But she was wired differently.

In their youth, Courtney had
believed Savannah superficial and cold until they were forced to spend time
together at a youth camp. It was there she’d seen Savannah in a different
light. She’d actually grown to admire her, once she realized that beneath the
cool facade, Savannah was a warm and generous person. She rarely thought of her
own desires, instead she took great enjoyment in helping others. It had
actually shocked Courtney, that real glimpse of Savannah. But it was then she’d
decided Savannah was worth befriending instead of making fun of her behind her
back.

Glancing surreptitiously toward
Austin once more, Savannah took another sip of her latte, determined to enjoy
every drop, even if she was distracted by his presence.

“You said you’d wanted to see me,”
she reminded Courtney, determined to steer the conversation away from Austin
Douglass. Smiling happily to herself, she reveled for just a second in the fact
that she’d been able to discover his name after last night before chastening
herself over that perverse joy.

“Yes, well, I just wanted to catch
up and see how you were doing …
really
doing,” she amended.

“So you haunted Starbucks everyday
to ask me that?” Savannah questioned suspiciously.

“Missy,” Courtney replied, “I visit
Starbucks every day, multiple times per day.”

“Not this one,” Savannah countered.

“Well, sometimes,” she replied
grumpily. “And besides, isn’t that what friends do? Check up on each other?”
And so they conversed until the paper cups were empty and the noon hour had
turned, the afternoon pressing.

With a hug, a kiss and a promise to
keep in touch, they departed; one encouraged; the other intrigued and
thoughtful.

Courtney kept her head down,
pounding the pavement for several blocks in the general direction of her
office. Her mind whirling with possibilities. And that was what she did best.
Find possibilities and turn them into something spectacular. And right now, she
couldn’t get back to her computer quickly enough.

This afternoon, she had a coveted
meeting with Austin Douglass, a meeting that many nationally known names in her
industry vied for, but she’d won the contract. Or so she thought. They would
sign the deal today. But everything she’d planned, everything she’d created in
her presentation had changed on a dime. There wasn’t time now for a splashy
media presentation. And that … to a media specialist.

Biting her lip, she considered the
merit of the risk.  Was it worth it? This idea that had formed just
moments before. An idea so out of Austin’s world … that it just might work. And
it all hinged on Savannah. And that, in and of itself, was risky. Savannah was
her own entity. What Savannah needed, Savannah didn’t know she needed, and if
Courtney’s past relationship was anything to measure Savannah’s reaction to,
she realized it would take some crafty planning. Because if Savannah had a
fault, it would be her stubbornness, especially if she determined it had
anything to do with charity in regard to herself. But a disguised romantic at
heart, Courtney just had to explore this new opportunity.

Courtney mentally reviewed their
shared conversation over coffee. Unbeknownst to Savannah, her plan was hatching
and refining as they spoke. She remembered asking Savannah about her employment
plans, knowing the wealth was gone, and fairly sure there wasn’t a reserve. She
remembered the deep and regretful sigh. It broke her heart to see her friend
like that. Savannah had said,
To be honest, Cort, I’m not sure. I’ve got
some options but I don’t have to make any decisions until after the first of
the year, the third to be exact
.

And we have to be exact,
Courtney had teased as Savannah wrinkled up her nose.
Just kidding. Is it
necessary for you to … exercise those options so soon?,
she’d questioned,
fishing more for what wasn’t said than what was said.

Are you asking if I’m
financially able to take more time?

Something like that,
Courtney
had answered vaguely.

Yes. And, no. I’m not able to
sustain myself longer than a couple of months. And I’m imploring you to keep
that confidential,
she’d whispered urgently.
If I hear it around I’ll
know where it came from. No one knows that but you.

Would you accept my help?

No. Absolutely not.

Savannah, are you really in a
position to say, no?

Do you really need to ask that
question?
Savannah had mused.

Where are you staying?

I’ve rented a small apartment
until I make my decision.

Come stay with me
, Courtney
had interrupted.
Please?,
she’d entreated as Savannah began shaking her
head immediately.
You know it would be a huge favor to me. You know how
horrible I am in the kitchen, you know how terrible my condo can get. Do you
realize what kind of a gift you’d be giving me? I would actually get to live in
peace … order … have actual food in the house.

Savannah had chuckled.
Yeah,
right. You’ve got cleaners, daily if I’m not mistaken
.

I’m not kidding
, Courtney
had said seriously.
I’m truly asking and even demanding. I need a friend,
she had said, somewhat shamelessly.
Will you please move in with me until
after the holidays?

That’s sweet of you to ask
,
Savannah had graciously replied.
 I … I have a plan. I’ve already moved
my things into an apartment that I’ll take possession of this afternoon.

Courtney had quickly leaned
forward, placing her hand on her friends.
Leave it. Do something for
yourself and for me. It doesn’t always have to be part of your ‘plan.’ Be
flexible.

I’d drive you nuts
, she had
muttered.
Thank you, Courtney, but I really don’t think so. I’ll be fine
where I am. I have to start developing a new life and this is a good time to do
it.

Most likely you will drive me
nuts
, Courtney had confirmed with a smile.
However, I plan to keep you
so busy you won’t have time drive me nuts,
she had smiled.
See you
tonight, roomie
, she had said, picking up her bag, dropping her cell into
the pocket of her coat and kissing Savannah on the cheek.
Call me if you
have trouble getting in and store what things you’ve got in the apartment. Love
you.

And like the whirlwind she was,
Courtney had vanished, waving at acquaintances as she had left the
establishment.

Later that day …

“You’re not serious,” Savannah
exclaimed to the apartment manager late that afternoon. He only nodded his
head, none too apologetically. She narrowed her eyes as she tried to hide her
astonishment, which had worked effectively with her former employees. The
expression hadn’t worked. She couldn’t even elicit so much as a blink from this
apartment manager.

“Mr.,” she said menacingly, “I’ve
had a really bad day; I’ve had a day like I’ve never had in my whole life and
believe me when I say that I am absolutely out of patience. I gave you a
deposit and my things were moved into an apartment and now you’re telling me
that my things have vanished into thin air along with that very apartment?”

“I didn’t say that, Miss,” he
corrected. “I never said you’re things were gone, just that in truth, you no
longer have an apartment. I will refund your money within sixty days, how’s
that?” he questioned in an obvious conciliatory attempt.

“Absolutely not. Because it’s
already after five o’clock, I will expect a cashier’s refund check from you
tomorrow for the entire security deposit and first and last month’s rent or
you’ll be hearing from my attorney, and believe me, he’s really good and you
don’t want to get involved with him. We had a rental agreement in which I
signed and left for you yesterday and to which you are in breach. I have a
right to thirty days notice. And furthermore, I want to see my belongings right
now.”

“Take it easy,” he said, holding up
his hands, making her skin crawl. Courtney had been right; this truly wasn’t
the best part of town. “Here’s your rental agreement,” he said quickly handing
over her signed document. “I never signed it so it’s not in effect yet and … I
don’t have your things no longer.”

Angry tears pricked the corners of
her eyes. First the business, then her ancestral home, now the only belongings
she could call her own, the only furnishings that weren’t valuable enough for
the estate company … were
missing
. She’d never felt more alone and more
broadsided than she did at that very moment.

“Don’t cry little missy,” the
manager crooned.

Wiping her eyes angrily, Savannah
glared at him with vengeance. “I’m not crying, I’m angry! And I want to know
right now what you did with my things.”

“I don’t know, lady. The woman who
called, the one from your office, said she’d have a moving company come and
pick them up, which she did,” he said encouragingly.

“What lady? I don’t have a lady. I
don’t even have an office!”

           
“Well, she thinks you do. Now just run along, I’ve got my dinner waiting and my
cop show is coming on.”

“And you’ll have my cashier’s check
tomorrow?” Savannah clarified.

Walking back onto the now dark and
dingy sidewalk, Savannah quickly ran to her car. There were all kinds of
miscreants hanging around the busy street, strange that she hadn’t noticed when
she was renting the apartment. There’d been too many details, too many demands,
too many changes to think clearly. Besides, it’d been morning then. Everything
looked and felt better in the morning.

But enough of that, she warned as
she climbed back into her SUV and headed back toward the waterfront area of the
city. She had a visit to make this evening because if her suspicions were
correct, the
woman from her office
would be none other than Courtney,
and she was none too pleased with her right now.
And
she was determined
to stay that way.

Courtney had a way of glossing over
her little shenanigans, but this time, she’d really messed up Savannah’s
carefully laid plans. What she would only admit to herself, however, was how
vastly relieved she was with this particular shenanigan. She’d made a horrible
mistake renting that apartment in that neighborhood. But if Courtney knew that,
she’d never stop interfering, and Courtney’s interferences usually made
Savannah uncomfortable. She didn’t like to be managed, and Courtney was famous
for managing. But, on the other hand, wouldn’t she have done the same for
Courtney in similar circumstances? After all, what were friends for if not to
interfere in their life? Truthfully, Savannah had been dealt a tremendous
favor. That was the only certainty in her life right now.

Courtney had worked quickly and
diligently … and charitably, she might add. Her friend had made a disastrous
decision by renting an apartment in a horrendous neighborhood; it was obvious
she needed her expertise to navigate upcoming choices that would have lasting
effects in her life. And she was an expert
in people
, an expert at
seizing opportunities others had missed. It was the key ingredient to her
success.

She was also an expert at
capitalizing on events and turning them into mutually beneficial endeavors. And
this newly hatched plan of hers might prove to be just that; mutually
beneficial.  While she was convinced it was absolutely the right move for
Savannah Wentworth, she was confident that if her plan worked as successfully
as she thought it might, it would definitely increase her chances of landing
the Austin Douglass’s tech account.

Back at her condo, Courtney
continued to review the day’s events as she brewed herself another cappuccino
topped with steamed milk.

Douglass was shrewd, she’d give him
that, and he was the “it” guy around town with one of the fastest growing, most
innovative computer companies in tech city right now. And it would be highly
profitable for her to handle the public relations surrounding their forthcoming
IPO. She had expected to sign the deal this afternoon, but that plan was
waylaid by her new idea. Douglass liked the idea, she knew. She also recognized
the wariness. Known for his decisiveness, he was anything but that this
afternoon.

Courtney wasn’t mistaken. Austin
Douglass and Savannah Wentworth definitely produced some chemistry at
Starbucks. Sparks she planned to fan into flame … and of course, exploit. These
plans would be highly advantageous and beneficial to them all. A true win-win
scenario. Austin and Savannah were as different as winter and summer, oil and
water, night and day. But somehow, together, they made a striking couple. It
would just take her savvy, her expertise to get them both to recognize it in
the other, massaging their relationship until it was able to produce on its own.

The doorman buzzer rang,
interrupting her reflections. Courtney smiled. Everything was working according
to plan. She just
loved
it when circumstances worked as predictably as
these had. It made her job so much easier. Excitedly she ran across the condo
to buzz up her guest.

A few moments later, a resigned
Savannah knocked on Courtney’s door, which was thrown open instantaneously.
Courtney’s sympathetic smile was Savannah’s undoing and while she’d planned to
reprimand her interference; she merely threw her arms around her and let the
tears slide down her face.

“There, there, my friend. Come
inside. I’ve got your room all ready and a bath ready to draw,” and with that,
Courtney ushered Savannah to her guestroom where she’d already hung all her
friend’s clothes in the closet and unpacked her personal items, placing them in
their proper places. Fresh tears ran down Savannah’s cheek and even down her
neck when she saw the kindness.