Delinda shook her head. “He should have been. We should have done more to prepare him. The doctors said he died from an accidental overdose of his heart medication. It wasn’t an accident. The company was losing money before my son stepped in. Oliver was desperate, and he felt he’d failed me.”
Hailey gasped and covered her mouth with one hand. Is she saying that Oliver— “My son thinks I was oblivious to what was going on, but I knew. Just like I knew Dereck wasn’t ready to step into Oliver’s shoes like he did. It was almost too much for him as well. He had his father’s soft heart. All he wanted was Stephanie, but she made him doubt himself.”
And that’s why you hated her. It makes sense now.
“I couldn’t bear the idea that I might lose Dereck the same way I lost Oliver. So I pushed Dereck to be the man who could succeed where his father had failed. He needed to be stronger to survive. Stephanie saw me as harsh. I could do nothing right when it came to her. Every warning I gave either of them was taken as a criticism.” She walked over and replaced the photo in its spot on the shelf. When she returned, her face revealed none of the emotions that must have been raging within her. “I pushed my son because I love him, and it worked. No one won against Dereck. No one. Brett is head of the company now, and nothing shakes him. We raised him strong. No excuses. No second chances. Yes, I push my grandchildren, but only because I know how harsh life can be if one isn’t prepared for it.”
Hailey got goose bumps listening to Delinda. Her view of life was different, and yet somehow they had the same fears. I’m also afraid of failing the ones I love. Hailey placed a hand on Delinda’s arm. “I don’t know what to say except I’m sorry you lost someone you loved. Have you ever spoken to your family about it?”
“How could I? They barely visit me,” Delinda said, her voice just above a whisper.
“I might be able to help you with that.” Did I just say that?
Delinda’s eyes flew to hers. “What do you mean?”
Hailey hesitated. The solution seems so easy, but who am I to tell her what to do when I can’t sort out my own life?
“Oh, for goodness’ sake, have the fortitude to speak your mind,” Delinda snapped.
Okay, but this is for your own good. Hailey raised her fingers in a measuring motion. “If you tweak the way you speak to people—just a little bit . . .”
“Now you sound like Brett.”
Hailey breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s the grandson you’re closest to, right? He must know you well.”
Delinda’s eyes narrowed. “If this is how you are when you’re afraid you might lose your job, I cannot imagine how you’ll be when you realize I’m too attached to ever fire you.”
Wait. Did she just say something nice? “See, that’s kind of sweet. All you’d have to do is leave off the initial insult, and I would feel all warm and fuzzy toward you.”
“Oh, Lord.”
“And keep some of your thoughts in your head.”
With a sigh, Delinda sat back in her chair. “Anything else?”
“Smile more?”
Delinda glared at Hailey.
Hailey leaned closer and glared back. It all felt so ridiculous that Hailey broke into a laugh and a huge smile spread across her face.
Delinda slowly smiled back.
I wish Spencer could see this side of his grandmother. Blood related or not, they have traits in common.
Hailey’s phone dinged with a message. She ignored it because she’d already made the mistake of checking her phone while visiting with Delinda. Apparently, it was poor etiquette.
“Aren’t you going to check your message?”
“I’ll look at it later.”
“It might be important.”
“Mrs. Holihen would call if it were.”
“There’s no one else who might message you?”
Her phone dinged again. “No one that couldn’t be answered later.”
“Oh, for God’s sake, check your messages.”
Hailey reacted instinctively to the authority in Delinda’s tone. She took out her phone and glanced at it. Spencer. Heat rose up her neck. “It’s not important.”
“Oh, so it’s not who you had lunch with. I thought perhaps you’d been out on a date.”
Taking a page out of the older woman’s book, Hailey said, “For lunch? What a pathetic date that would be.”
Delinda tapped her fingers on the arm of her chair. “I suppose it depends on the company.”
Does she know? Or is she fishing for confirmation? Would she want me with Spencer?
“It was just lunch with a friend.”
“A male friend?”
Hailey tipped her head to the side. “Delinda, you know it’s none of your business.”
Delinda sighed. “I’m bored. I don’t crochet. Hollywood hasn’t made a good movie in fifty years. I’m practically housebound . . .”
Oh, please. She lays it on thick. “Where would you like to go? I’ll take you somewhere.”
“I don’t need to go anywhere, but I never had a daughter, so I missed out on talking about dating and lunches out. Humor me. What was your lunch like?”
“He took me out for pizza.”
“Pizza?” Delinda exclaimed as if it were a heinous crime. “Oh, dear, no wonder you weren’t impressed.”
She has to know. Otherwise, why would she be this curious?
Granted, she is curious about every other part of my life that has nothing to do with Spencer.
I could tell her whom I was with.
She just said she likes me too much to fire me.
But should I test it? Now? When things are just beginning to settle?
“Are you planning to see him again?”
Hailey pictured Spencer’s smile, his beautiful eyes, and the feel of his strong arms around her. “I think so. Yes.”
“I know the perfect designer. I’ll have him bring samples tomorrow. I wonder if he is still in London. He vacations in Tuscany if I remember correctly. I’ll call Alessandro. He’ll know.”
“I don’t need new clothing.”
“You do if he’s feeding you pizza.”
Hailey burst out laughing. “Delinda, you’re so bad.”
With a skyward roll of her eyes, Delinda said, “I’m sorry I don’t know a nice way to say that you won’t get your man if you continue to dress older than I do.”
This is her being nice. Hailey laughed until her eyes began to water. “Stop.”
“I’m trying. Is there a polite way to tell you that your hair is due for a trim and a treatment, and those fingernails . . . ? I’ve seen better on Michael’s feet.”
Hailey laughed harder still, until her sides began to hurt. “Oh my God, Delinda. No. No, there isn’t a nice way to say any of it.”
“Enough silliness. Let’s have a spa day tomorrow. I’ll have a foot rub.” She waved her hand in a wide circle. “And you can have everything else done.”
Gaining control of herself, Hailey dabbed the corners of her eyes. She took a calming breath and agreed if for no other reason than curiosity about what having “everything else done” entailed. “I think I’ve figured it out,” Hailey said suddenly.
“What?”