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  “Need a refill?” A gentle voice dragged her out of her miserable thoughts.

  Gene stared up at warm brown eyes that looked familiar and comforting. “Thank you, yes.”

  The woman took away the pot and within a few minutes returned with a steaming replacement. “You haven’t been here before have you? Do you mind if I sit?”

  The gentle voice washed over Gene and she nodded. “Please do. I need the distraction from my thoughts.” Immediately after she spoke, she couldn’t understand why she had. The woman was a total stranger but at the same time—

  “Great, I’m Alice. Maxine and I run Maxali’s, although Max does all the hard work. I just produce the food.” Alice smiled, and Gene felt that familiarity all over again.

  “You look so familiar. Have we met before?”

  Alice chuckled softly and shook her head. “We haven’t met but you might know my relatives…they work for you.”

  “Oh, you know who I am then?” She knew it was a silly question but asked anyway.

  “Ms. Desrosiers, you are a heroine around here. Without your company we would be a ghost town.”

  In other circumstances Gene might have been proud of that statement, but right now it was like another nail closing her coffin lid shut. “I don’t think that’s true. Will I know your relatives?” Alice hesitated, and Gene wondered why.

  “My brother, Felix Lawrence—.”

  “Ah, that’s why you look so familiar. You’re Dee’s aunt.” Gene grinned. “Now it makes sense.”

  “What does?” Alice asked.

  “Nothing really. You have the same eyes and…it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “And you. I have to say that I’ve lived all my life in Grady and I know your family has been here over forty years, but we’ve never met and it’s a small town. I’d call that crazy, wouldn’t you?”

  Gene nodded, then poured out more tea before holding the pot toward Alice. “Would you care to join me?”

  Alice shook her head. “If I did Max would have a fit. In about twenty minutes we will be inundated with customers and my fresh scones are in the oven and out in,” she glanced at her watch, “about five minutes away. Thank you for the offer, perhaps another time?”

  “Perhaps.” Gene took a sip from the tea. The first of what appeared to be regular customers began to arrive as she heard the woman she now knew was Max greet them personally.

  “I guess I’d best go, please don’t be a stranger.” Alice smiled warmly before walking back to the counter.

  Gene watched Alice leave and that sense of dread which had for a few moments receded began to climb her fortress once more. Fishing out a ten-dollar bill she placed it on the table and left the café. The cool air fanned her cheeks and Gene desperately wanted to go home, lock the door behind her, and cry for all that she was about to lose. Sucking in a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and headed back to the factory. Running away never solved anything.

  “Grand-mère, you would be proud of me for taking responsibility at last,” she said into the wind and headed back to Desrosiers.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Dee had looked in every office and factory floor space possible for Gene to no avail. Her boss had disappeared. The question was, was it on purpose or did they just keep missing each other? She shook her head. It was four thirty, and for sure Gene would be with Matriarch. In all the years she had worked there, Gene never missed her evening visit, no matter what. Entering the lab, Dee heard whispered words, so quiet she couldn’t make them out, but she knew the orator. Her nervous stomach settled—she had found Gene. She remained where she was until the only sound she could hear was that of the air conditioning.

  “Hi, anyone home?” It was a phrase she used when she arrived at this time of the day and couldn’t see her boss. Gene hated being caught out in sentimentality.

  “Yes, yes, Dee, I’m here. Just checking on Matriarch as usual.” Gene walked into her line of vision, her normally thin smile replaced by a bleak expression.

  “Thought so. I was looking for you earlier. I just wanted to say—”

  “I know, how sorry you are that things are as bad as they appear and thank you.”

  “Well, yes, but—”

  “No buts, they are as terrible as they appear. I’m a failure, how could I have been duped so badly to give away everything that I own and not have a clue. Now all of you may lose your livelihoods, and possibly even the town itself might be destroyed. I don’t deserve your help or anyone else's for that matter.”

  Gene’s expression reminded her of those pictures on the net of kittens desperate for love. Dee’s heart ached in sympathy.

  “I failed you all…including Matriarch and her lineage. My grand-mère was right, I’m too soft…too weak she told me.” The bleak words fell like ash around them.

  Dee closed the gap between them and touched Gene’s arm and gently swung her so they faced each other.

  “As far as I’m concerned you are not a failure. I’m sure Ager deceived more than you. In fact, we know she did, in different circumstances. Yesterday you found out your company was in deep trouble, today you find out you are on the hook financially, because that same cause and effect made inroads into your personal equity. Gene, you are entitled to be upset, angry, want revenge, and anything else that goes with it. Right now, I just need the Gene I know and who loves…this company, and what we work for, the people who work here, and your family legacy. You are our heroine in Grady, no one can take that from you, not even Ager’s malicious manipulations.”

  Dee paused for breath expecting to continue when Gene quietly replied. “Thank you, Dee. Absurdly enough this is the second time in two hours someone has said something similar. In fact, it was your aunt.”

  Dee scrunched up her face and then held out her hands. “You’ve met my Aunt Alice? Where, when?”

  Gene smiled a little. “Maxali’s, about two hours ago. You have some of her features.”

  “Oh.” Dee was at a loss.

  “A very nice woman. I shall, if given the opportunity, go there again and perhaps next time, she will join me for tea.”

  Dee recovered her equilibrium and smiled. “She will if she can, for sure.”

  Silence settled between them.

  “I guess you need to go. Don’t you have a date with Chloe?”

  Dee frowned. A date with Chloe? What was that…oh right.

  “No, we cancelled, other things to do. I’m now free as a bird.” She watched and all she saw from Gene was a twitch of her lips. “I guess I’ll wish you goodnight.”

  “Yes, goodnight, Dee, I’m not sure that tomorrow will be any better, but we can hope.” Gene dropped her gaze.

  Dee turned away and pulled at the door handle. As it opened, she looked back. Gene had gone back toward Matriarch. Damn, unless I’m a rose tree of breeding I have no chance. She left the room.

  †

  Gene watched as Dee left, disappointment etched on her features. I would do anything to make you smile again, Dee, but I have nothing. Nothing that can change this debacle I’m confronting. Closing her eyes, she considered the possibility that through her naiveté many people would lose their jobs, Dee and her father included. Gene’s stomach flopped, that was the only word for it, and the last time it had done so with this much ferocity, her grand-mère had angrily told her to return to America and never to contact her again. At twenty-three it had seemed like the world was ending and she had failed her family. Now, twenty years on, she had failed this town in much the same way. Tears she had held back flooded her cheeks, and she wiped them away, much as she did years ago…

  “Genevieve, what is this?”

  “What do you mean, Grand-mère?” She looked around the small conservatory. Gene automatically replaced the watering can on the bench next to the new strain of Desrosiers rose, which had spawned so many wonderful fragrances.

  “The Jenner's have called me and indicated that you are romantically involved with their daughter. They have no
w declined the deal that would have spring boarded us to riches. What do you say about that?”

  Gene gulped. “Susan was willing, in fact she instigated the romance. I think I love her, Grand-mère.” Gene watched the aged, dark-blue eyes turn to ice, and the chill went straight down her back and she moved away from the rose.

  “You think? The day you say you love someone say it like you mean it. Love is…”

  Gene waited but her Grand-mère had a lost look in her eyes.

  “What are you staring at?” Gene dropped her gaze. “Genevieve, it is time for you to return to your father. I can do no more for you.”

  Gene, tears obscuring her vision, cried out, “Father wants me to learn the art of perfumery and he says that you are the only one he trusts with that. Am I ready?”

  “Will you fight for the love you have with Susan?”

  “Not if it compromises the business.” The words reverberated in her chest and she experienced a sense of failure and that had never happened before. “I can do better, Grand-mère, and concentrate on the business instead. Love doesn’t matter to me.”

  “Love should always matter, Genevieve, it inspires us and makes us better people capable of doing deeds we never thought capable of. When you learn that you will understand.” There was a heavy sigh.

  Gene watched her Grand-mère leave the room and placed her hands around her mouth as a sob exploded. What will father say? Oh god, I’ve let him down because I think I love someone and didn’t have the courage to see it to the end…

  The memory was enough that she rushed out of the room and saw that Dee about to open the door to leave.

  “Dee,” Gene shouted.

  At first, she wasn’t sure Dee heard her, but then the younger woman turned, her expression unfathomable.

  “Yes.”

  “Are you free this evening?” She gulped down the bile that nervousness caused and walked to within a couple of feet of her.

  “Well, yes, but I told you—”

  “Yes, yes, you did. Would you have dinner with me, please?” The seconds that passed before Dee answered felt like a lifetime to Gene.

  “Yes.”

  “Great, wonderful.” Gene beamed a smile, sure it was energized by the sun as her cheeks burnt. “I…I’m not sure which is the best place for dinner in town but—”

  Dee grinned. “My place at seven. I’m a decent cook. I promise not to poison you.”

  Gene shook her head and laughed. “Never entered my head. Seven it is then.”

  “It suits you,” Dee softly said. Their eyes met and Gene smiled.

  “What does?”

  Dee shook her head and moved to within inches, then touched the corner of her lips. “Smiling and laughing. You don’t do it often enough. I’ll see you at seven.”

  Gene remained rooted to the spot, and as Dee left the corridor her hand trailed over the skin that still scorched from Dee’s touch. Then she placed both hands to her forehead.

  “I don’t know where she lives.” Then she shrugged. “Idiot. I can look up her personal file.” Still smiling, she headed back to her office to do just that.

  †

  “It’s not happening, Meg, I will not have them over for dinner. I thought you agreed with my stance,” Felix barked and flopped down on the sofa.

  “I never said they were coming here for dinner. In fact, all I said was that we are meeting up with them. You don’t have to attend…Dee and I will go.” Megan sighed, closing her eyes. Felix was a lovely man and she loved him dearly, but he’d never forgiven Max for taking Alice away from the family and into a life of debauchery as he once called it. She’d made a mistake years ago defending her husband when there was an almighty row at their home during Dee’s seventh birthday party…

  The shouting from the backyard wasn’t playful, in fact it sounded like the beginning of a war. Megan placed the sandwich platter on the kitchen table and stepped through the French doors to see Felix and Alice standing toe-to–toe, arguing. A woman who was a stranger was standing off to the side. If it hadn’t been for the ample breasts showing through the skimpy T-shirt, she’d have almost said it was a young man. Cropped hair, tattoos all over her arms, in tight blue-faded jeans, she had the air of confidence of a young person. She looked fresh out of college. Who was she?

  “What’s going on you two, this is a birthday party, not a sparring match.” She glared at them. Her gaze flared to the woman to the side who muttered a few curses. “Who are you?”

  “I’m Max, a friend of Alice’s.” The low deep voice fitted the woman perfectly.

  “Yes, she is, and Felix isn’t happy that I brought her. He insisted I could bring her when he found out I was dating.”

  Megan had what she hoped was a liberal attitude, after all college had shown her things. Her parents’ fierce church upbringing would have had them turning in their graves. The appearance of a woman threw her as she suspected it had Felix.

  “Max. You said you were dating a guy. This isn’t a guy!”

  “I never said such a thing. You asked me what my date’s name was and I told you, Max. Can I help it if you jump to conclusions? Besides, what does it matter.”

  The accusing stare and angry tone had Megan reach out and take her husband’s arm.

  “You are not a pervert. What on earth did she do to you? Has she threatened you, because so help me—”

  “Threatened me? The only person who is doing that is you. I love her, Felix, and she’s moving in with me—”

  “That’s our parents’ home and you will not take your deviant friend to live there. It will be over my dead body.”

  “Well, you’d better be thinking about joining mom and dad soon because she already has moved in.” Alice’s much taller frame dwarfed her brother.

  “Alice, please leave now…you’ve said enough,” Megan said.

  Alice gave her a hurt look but remained stoic. Then she thrust a parcel into her sister-in-law’s hands. “This is from us to Dee, tell her…tell her…I’ll catch her for a soda break soon.”

  “We don’t need your kind of presents,” Felix blustered.

  “Felix, go inside and calm down.” He narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth to speak. “Now.” Megan fixed him with a look and he walked into the house.

  In the space of a few minutes what had been going to be a family surprise for Dee when she came home from school was now a waste ground of bitterness and prejudice…

  Megan entered the family room and stood in front of Felix.

  “We talked about this a long time ago, Felix. We agreed that we might have been wrong. Can’t we move forward and forgive past mistakes.”

  There was a grunt in response.

  “Well, I’m going to move on. This stupid feud has been going on too long. I know you love your sister, and she loves you. The important thing is that Alice found someone to love. Would you rather she spent her life a lonely spinster or worse, in a relationship that she hates? Even though you said it wouldn’t last, Max has made her happy, you can’t fault that. Dee and I are meeting them on Saturday morning at the café to discuss Desrosiers. Come if you like or don’t. I’m going to my quilt meeting now. Your dinner is in the oven.” She left and shut the door forcibly behind her.

  †

  Charles looked over the sales forecast, shaking his head, muttering. “We have the orders, way more than we can produce. So why haven’t we the finances to be in the black? It doesn’t make sense.” He flipped over to the next screen showing discounts for each customer and whistled at the numbers. “Jeepers, no wonder there isn’t any money. Whoever would give these kinds of deals is giving away the product. Surely Gene didn’t give authority for this daylight robbery.”

  He stood and stretched. If the bank saw this, they would forget giving a time period to pay up because this was gross incompetence. He picked up the internal phone and called Gene’s number, hoping she would answer. Almost giving up he breathed a sigh of relief when she answered.

  “Hi,
Gene, do you have a few minutes to spare?”

  There was silence.

  “I have to leave in about fifteen minutes for an appointment. Will that be enough time?”

  Charles scratched the side of his cheek. “I should think so. I’ll be right there.” He ended the call and closed down the program on the computer and left the room. He arrived at Gene’s office a few minutes later and she waved him to a seat. He took the one opposite her.

  “How can I help?” She gave him a smile.

  For a woman looking into the barrel of a loaded gun she appeared happy, or certainly looked pleased with herself.

  “The discounts given to our top twenty customers…did you approve them personally?”

  “No, my father handled that originally and then I just left them as is. When Christine came, she took over the administration part of the organization. Why?”

  “I don’t know how to tell you this…” The groan he heard from Gene sounded like a wounded animal. “I know, you’ve had a lot to take in over the past forty-eight hours, but this is important to how the bank will view us.”