Sintown Chronicles I: Behind Closed Doors (24 page)

He managed to get a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in business administration, but his rank was near the bottom of his class. After all of that, the best job he could find was a clerk's position at Home Depot in Winston-Salem.

During that year, his parents divorced. It shook him up badly. He had not known there was anything wrong in their relationship and the news came as a devastating shock.

Convinced that enduring four years of college entitled him to something better than a stock boy's position, he decided to go back to school. His application to the Babcock Graduate School of Management at Wake Forest University was accepted. Dad agreed to help financially. Those two years had been wonderful, completely unlike his undergraduate years. His instructors were knowledgeable people, and were teaching him things in which he was truly interested. He met Susan in the library shared by the Babcock and Law Schools and fell in love with her instantly.

He wanted so badly to have sex with her, but she wouldn't let him. He smiled as he thought of her physical charms.

During his years at the Babcock School, his confidence grew, but the weeks following graduation were discouraging. He discovered that the woods were full of MBA's. Nobody wanted him. Nobody needed him. Reluctantly he remained with Home Depot, and tried to take comfort in the fact that at least now he was a manager trainee.

“Sandy, I really wish you would go with me."

“Dude, why did she have to come on Saturday? Interviewing some female lawyer is not how I want to spend my day."

“She has a job, I suppose, and can only come on a weekend. You know how important it is to me to get this thing behind me."

“Yes, I do. But why do you need me?"

“I value your opinion."

His answer caught her by surprise. She was not used to anyone valuing her opinion.

“I'll have lunch with you, but I'm taking my car so I can come home while you are showing her the town."

“Thanks, Dudette. I really appreciate it."

He means it, she thought as she watched him leave the room. Something stirred within her, an emotion she could not identify.

Sandra sat next to Tim in the booth at Dot's Diner, trying to be pleasant, trying to be polite, listening to Tim and Dr. Honneycutt exaggerating the quality of life in Dot. What a misfit, she thought as she studied the young woman. Dressed in a business suit, long dangling earrings, too much makeup and Miss Priss is even wearing high heels.

“I'm sorry,” Sandra said. “I'm afraid I was daydreaming. What did you say your hobby was, Susan?"

“Walking and reading,” Susan replied with a wide grin.

“What do you like to read?"

“Oh, I read just about anything that is available. My first love is old fashioned romance novels, and I have recently embarked on a project of reading all the classic novels I skipped in high school and college."

“Susan, there are some things I need to do this afternoon and I'm going to slip out. I hope you and Dr. Honneycutt will join us for supper tonight.” Turning to Tim Sandra said, “I think I'll bake a turkey. I really want Susan to see Uncle Pete's library."

Driving home Sandra thought Susan might fit in after all if she would get rid of the business suit and earrings and scrub the gaudy makeup off her face.

She sat in her library reading and rereading the newspaper article. She had heard a news report on the car radio that said detectives thought Cathy Long may have been overpowered by one or more men while trying to make an arrest on a vice case. It had been determined that the room in which Deputy Long died, had been registered to a known prostitute. The announcer stated there was no change in Matt Dilson's condition, and that his wife was apparently out of town and had not yet been located.

Sandra put the turkey she purchased on her way home into the preheated oven and returned to the library, looked up the telephone number in the huge Charlotte directory, and called the Charlotte Memorial Hospital. The polite operator switched her to a recorded message, which simply said Sheriff Dilson was in ICU and his condition was critical. I owe him, she thought as she hung up the receiver.

After two hours of showing Susan Honneycutt the town, the trio wound up in Silas Coan's office, which Victoria White opened for them. Victoria now took over the presentation, much to Tim's relief. He was not at all pleased with the young woman's attitude. She seemed to be just going through the motions of investigating the opportunity. She didn't appear to be very interested.

Victoria asked Susan a simple question, which Susan obviously did not hear. She was staring out the window. Victoria repeated the question, a little louder this time. There was still no answer.

“Susan!” Dr. Honneycutt said sharply.

“Oh, I'm sorry. I'm afraid my mind wandered elsewhere,” Susan responded.

Tim abruptly stood up, overturning his chair and barked, “Your mind seems to have been elsewhere all afternoon. You obviously are not interested in the position. I appreciate your time and I hope you appreciate ours. I see no point in continuing this."

Susan also stood, her face flaming red. “I am embarrassed.” Turning to Dr. Honneycutt she continued, “Sis, I should have told you last night that I wasn't genuinely interested in this position, and I certainly should have called you this morning. I have wasted everybody's Saturday afternoon and I do apologize.” Turning back to Tim she said, “Mr. Dollar, I mean no offense, but I have three excellent offers from outstanding law firms. I'm afraid I'm just not interested in working for you. Someday I might like to have my own practice. Dot would be a fine location. I just don't see myself taking instructions from someone who knows nothing about the law."

Now Dr. Honneycutt stood, leaving Victoria as the only person still seated. “Damn it, Susan. Get the wax out of you spoiled little ears. Tim is not asking you to work for him. He is offering to give you the damn business. I worked my butt off and make more sacrifices than you can imagine getting my practice started. All you have to do is sit your fancy little ass down in that chair and go to work. It
would
be your own practice."

“One correction,” Tim interrupted. “I have not offered the business to Susan. You are correct, Dr. Honneycutt, in saying I will give the business away, but I will decide to whom I give it, and I'm afraid Miss Honneycutt is no longer under consideration."

“Peace.” The small voice came from the only person still seated. The three turned their flushed faces and looked at the dignified lady holding up her right hand with palm extended. They all burst into laughter.

“There obviously has been a major misunderstanding. Now you young people sit back down and behave yourselves."

They obeyed.

“Miss Honneycutt, a successful attorney never assumes anything. I'm sure you learned in law school how to ask questions until you get to the facts. Real life is much different from the classroom. Whether or not you become my new boss, I trust you have learned a valuable lesson today."

Looking down at the desk Susan humbly mumbled, “Yes ma'am.” Then, looking Tim straight in the eyes, she said, “Will you give me another chance?"

Tim maintained the eye contact. “No man could say no to those big emerald eyes. Here is my proposal. Susan, if you are now genuinely interested in taking over this practice, spend a week or two in the office going through the files and talking with Victoria. Then, and only then, can you make an intelligent decision. I will compensate you for your time."

“It's a good idea, Susan,” added Dr. Honneycutt. “You can bunk with me."

“It
is
a good idea, Sis, but I promised Mr. Tucker I would give him an answer Monday morning about the offer to come into his firm."

The group pondered this obstruction. It was Victoria White who suggested the solution. “Why don't you call Mr. Tucker and level with him? See if he will give you a couple of additional weeks to arrive at a decision."

The doctor and secretary joined Tim in the outer office, providing Susan with privacy for her telephone call.

“Tim, I think Susan and I should go home and freshen up a bit before joining you and Sandy for dinner,” said Dr. Honneycutt.

“Yeah, I need some time to calm down too,” Tim chuckled. Turning to the heroine of the meeting, Tim continued, “Victoria, Sandy is roasting a turkey for dinner. Will you join us?"

“I would be delighted,” she answered. “I haven't seen the house since Pete remodeled it."

The office door opened. Susan's eyes were watering, but she was smiling. “He said I could take all the time I needed. He even said that if I decided to go into practice for myself he would do everything he could to help me through the first year or two."

Victoria chauffeured the two sisters to the Dollar home and Tim conducted a tour of the house for the legal secretary and prospective attorney. Dr. Honneycutt elected to help Sandra with the finishing touches of the meal.

Sandra was pleased with the way the turkey turned out and was quietly happy to be using the formal dining room for the first time. As she placed the turkey platter on the table, she chuckled to herself. Tim, certain that she would be furious that he invited an extra guest without first checking with her, proved most helpful when he returned home by getting a head start on dishwashing and table setting.

As Sandra expected, the table talk was largely business, but nothing like the conversation that occurred during lunch. She found it intriguing, although Tim appeared a bit bored. Perhaps they were rehashing things already spoken, but to Sandra it was all new. As she had done at lunch, she studied Susan Honneycutt carefully, but with different results. The young attorney was wearing a simple blue dress with a narrow white sash. She still wore too much makeup, but tonight her earrings were tiny and complimented the shells of her ears. More than once Sandra wondered what it would be like to have a female friend.

Only twice did Sandra actively enter the conversation. Susan commented early in the evening that she regretted it was already dark outside when they arrived. She wanted to see the ponds on either side of the house. Sandra asked if by chance Susan enjoyed fishing and was pleased to hear Susan's positive reply.

The second time Sandra entered the conversation was when Susan answered a question by saying that, yes, she did have a boyfriend. The others were going to pass over this bit of news, but Sandra intervened.

“Well, tell us about him,” Sandra invited.

Susan colored a bit, but did not hesitate to reply. “His name is Victor Kimel—Vic for short. I met him while I was in law school."

“Oh, is he an attorney also?"

“No, he was working on his MBA degree at the Babcock School at Wake Forest."

“I'm sorry, I don't know what MBA stands for."

“Master of Business Administration. He is a business nut. I think he has been working at one job or another in the retail world since he was five or six years old. It's in his blood."

“Is he still in school?"

“No, he earned his degree. Unfortunately right now there is little demand for MBA's. The market is saturated. He currently is in a manager trainee program at Home Depot in Winston."

“Susan, Tim says I have expressive eyes. You do too. I can tell you really like the guy. Are there wedding bells in the near future?"

“Oh, I don't know about that. He hasn't mentioned it, and I don't know what I would say if he did. Right now we are both pretty much career oriented."

There was more that Sandra wanted to know, but Tim took the conversation away from her.

“Sandy,” Tim said when everyone was as stuffed as the turkey had been, “I know you want to show Susan your library.” Turning to the remaining guests he said, “The evening is not too cool. Let's sit on the porch and let our dinner settle."

“Not on your life,” Victoria replied smiling. “Tim, you haven't been in Dot long enough to know our customs, so Dr. Honneycutt and I will forgive you this time. Perhaps you noticed we didn't bring hostess gifts when we arrived. In Dot, dinner guests help the host and hostess clean up after the meal.” With that she stood, as did Dr. Honneycutt, and began gathering up now empty plates.

When they entered the library Sandra explained that the entire collection of books, with the exception of some reference works, was composed of classic novels.

“Oh,” said Susan. “Sis showed me your book review in the Dot newspaper. I have never read
Silas Marner
, but after I finish the book I am currently working on I certainly intend to correct that omission."

The compliment on her review pleased Sandra, and she was also pleased to see Susan lovingly run her hands over some of the volumes on the shelves. She remembered having done the same thing when she first saw Pete Harlow's library. “What are you reading now?” Sandra asked, still trying to be polite.

“
Middlemarch
,” replied Susan, “by George Eliot. It's a long book, but he can really tell a story."

“Me too,” Sandra exclaimed grasping and then quickly releasing Susan's hands. She wasn't sure that girlfriends held hands. “But George Eliot is a she, not a he."

“Really?” Susan blushed again, a little ashamed that a college graduate didn't already know that.

Sandra took down the proper volume of the
Funk and Wagnalls Encyclopedia
. It automatically opened to the George Eliot entry. She offered it to Susan to read, now knowing that, at best, Susan had only scanned the book report and the compliment was not genuine.

“Susan,” Sandra said leaning against the library table. “I'm going to say something that is probably really stupid. I hope you'll forgive me.” She paused before continuing, “I hope you will take Silas Coan's practice and move to Dot. We both like to fish and we both like to read. I think we could be friends. I've never had a girlfriend before. I think it would be nice."

Susan replied softly, handing back the encyclopedia volume. “I am very liberal, but...” She paused.

“But what?” Sandra asked.