A Whisper

8: Gentleman Callers

In order to help eliminate temptation, I opted to wear pants on Tuesday. I didn't know where Eric and I were going, but just about everywhere required we dress nicely. I opted to go for white pants and a layered scoop neck top that showed off an appropriate amount of cleavage. Just as I was finishing up getting my makeup on I heard Gran talking to someone, followed by the unmistakable sound of Eric's voice.

I stepped out of the bathroom to find Gran holding a potted orchid. She was grinning from ear to ear, but I couldn't blame her. Eric had brought her a beautiful plant. If he let her, she'd drag him up to our rooftop garden where she was growing her own herbs and had quite the flower garden growing. Gran had insisted that wherever we end up she had to be able to have a garden. Gardening was her Zen thing.

"That's a beautiful orchid, Gran," I commented. Eric just scored mucho points with that.

"Your handsome new beau has good taste," she smiled.

Eric unveiled a bouquet of golden daffodils he had hiding behind his back.

"For you, Lover," he said with a charming little wink.

"Thank you. I love daffodils. They're so cheerful." I took the bouquet from him but I knew Gran would be the one to trim them down so I could get going. "I'm just about ready. I bet Gran has some grilling to do before we leave."

"Of course I do," she chuckled. "Go get ready. He'll be in one piece when you're out, honey."

"He better." I winked at Eric and went back to my bedroom to get my shoes. I located a pair of pumps that belonged to my sister.

After it became obvious that the police weren't going to be expending a whole lot of energy trying to find Hadley, I made the executive decision to box up her things and put them in storage. Her apartment was too expensive to keep paying her rent from month to month. Before the divorce she had put aside a sizeable amount of money in a trust for Hunter. She knew she wasn't capable of being in his day to day life like he needed her to be, but she did love him. Hadley wanted him to have a good shot in life, so she'd established a trust of a quarter million dollars that he could access by annuity once he turned twenty-five. I was listed as the executor of her estate.

She hadn't been declared legally dead. Seven years she had to pass first with no sign of life. We were more than halfway there.

I slipped on the fancy Badgley Mischka pumps with crystals at the toe and heel. The plan was to come home but Eric could be awfully persuasive, so I opted to carry a bigger bag that contained a change of clothes. Just a pair of leggings and a long t-shirt, nothing fancy. I found a pair of comfy flats and tucked those in my bag too. Last but not least, in went my toiletry bag and my phone charger. On my way out of the bedroom I turned off the lights. I brought the daffodils to the kitchen so Gran could trim them and get them in a vase.

"We have a reservation at 7," Eric told me.

"Should I expect to see you home tonight?" Gran asked me.

"I plan to be home tonight. We'll see how bad of an influence Eric is on me."

"I'm a great influence," he winked. "You look absolutely stunning, by the way."

"Thank you. You look nice too." He was in a suit again, but that wasn't a surprise.

"You two have fun tonight. Eric, I'm going to hold you to that promise," she told him.

"I'm a man of my word, Mrs. Stackhouse," he smiled.

I crossed the small space to hug Gran.

"If I see Scott Conant I'll get his autograph," I whispered. She had a little crush on the celebrity chef.