Lacy

I felt like I was looking into the mouth of Hell and it was painted bright red and wearing a silly hat. The mouth was turned down at its edges. “Lacy, may I speak to you?”

“Of course. Come into the living room and let’s sit down. Melanie, would you make us some coffee, please?”

Melanie had a put-out look on her face, but she complied, working quietly so she could overhear us from her post in the kitchen.

“I thought I made it very clear that my reputation is resting on how you comport yourself in this business.”

“Yes, ma’am, we’ve discussed that. Is there a problem?” I thought I’d try to bluff it out, even though I knew exactly what she was talking about.

“I believe you know to whom I refer. Keeping company with—much less being out all night with—a man who is covered with illustrations, wears a leather jacket and doubtless has an extensive record of if not actual criminality then at least depravity, simply isn’t done. Please tell me this isn’t the carpenter you hired for Mrs. Roberts’s home?”

“Yes, ma’am, I’m afraid he is. Did Mrs. Roberts have any complaints?”

“Not that I’m aware of, but that’s not the point. I expect you to employ clean-cut, successful looking contractors who reflect your overall good taste.”

I nodded and sat back, barely holding my temper. “To be fair, Mrs. Pettibone, Riker isn’t just a carpenter; he’s a craftsman. His skill is unrivaled, and I felt very fortunate to have him work on my projects. He also holds a degree from the University of Chicago and is a community activist who works to rehabilitate troubled youths.”

Mrs. Pettibone shook her head. “He’s not one of us, Lacy, and I don’t want him affiliated with you or your company. End that association, or I will end ours,” she pronounced and rose to leave. Melanie gave her a beaming smile as she approached the door.

“For what it’s worth, Mrs. Pettibone, I’ve been trying to tell her the same thing.” Melanie just had to get her shot in before the opportunity passed.

I huffed and fumed all afternoon. I sent Melanie on a long set of unnecessary errands because I was afraid I’d throttle her. I sat down at the computer and went through my list of customers, check-marking those who had come via Mrs. Pettibone’s patronage. I was truly pissed when I saw it was the vast majority. How had I let myself get cornered like that?

Once I was done for the day, I showered and then left for Riker’s, picking up some fried chicken on my way. Jonas opened the door when I knocked. Riker would have eyed me; Jonas eyed the chicken. “Plenty there for you, too,” I told him, and he promptly pulled out three pieces, nodded and headed outside.

“You know what they say about the way to a man’s heart…” Riker was standing in the kitchen doorway, his work belt around his waist, and he wasn’t wearing a shirt. I’d never had the daylight opportunity to really study his torso, but there he was in all his glory, and he was magnificent.

“Is it alright I came by?” I was feeling angry and tentative at the same time. I knew this conversation wasn’t going to be a pleasant one.

“Sure, why wouldn’t it be? I can probably guess what’s wrong.”

“I bet you can. Let’s sit somewhere and eat and let me talk to you.”

He nodded and gestured me to the living room, where there was at least a sofa and a couple of over-turned crates serving as a temporary coffee table. Riker had told me that he wanted the cheapest, sparsest furnishings, saying that teenage boys were notorious for fighting and tearing things up. The house was definitely not a candidate for Better Homes and Gardens, but it was serviceable.

“Okay, sweetheart. Sit down here and tell me what the old battleax had to say.”

“You knew?”

“Of course I knew. Do you think this is the first time someone’s judged me by my appearance? Did it occur to you that I don’t exactly look like her ideal grandson? If I had to bet, I’d say that she told you to drop me.”

I nodded, tears streaming down my face. “It’s just that everything I have… Well, Riker, I’ve been such a fool. I was so anxious to get my business started that I let her tell me what to do. She controls better than 90% of my clients, and I’m afraid that I’m done for if she withdraws her support. I’d have to sell the cottage and start all over again somewhere else, because my reputation here would be ruined. And the worst thing might be that Melanie would win. You do know she’s going to interior design school with the intention of coming back here to be my competition, don’t you?”

“My God, don’t get so riled up. Mrs. Pettibone is not nearly as influential as you might think. To begin with, her friends are all her own age. Even if she’s given you a few leads, most of those people have lived in their houses for seventy years and have no intention of investing money in interior design. Your true customers are people your own age who are living in a starter home and want it to look special without breaking their budget. Sure, you might have to work a little harder, but your eggs won’t be all in one basket. In fact, you might even find out there’s a lot less stress involved when the stakes are lower.”

“You know, you’re absolutely right. I don’t know why I didn’t look at it that way before. I was so convinced that Mrs. Pettibone held the magic key to success.”

“She’s convinced of the same thing, but that doesn’t make it so. Okay, I realize she serves a purpose while you’re getting started, so here’s what I suggest. Stop recommending me to your clients. That’ll keep Pettibone happy. I’ll work on your house and you work on my house, just like we’ve been doing. I can get clients on my own, and I suggest you do the same thing. Don’t focus on her referrals; go after your own. You know how to do it. You got more confidence now, and you certainly have a stellar list of references to back you up. Target those housewives. I’m telling you, that’s where your niche is. And as for you and I, nothing changes. That will keep Pettibone happy and out of your hair, and who knows? We might actually get a little more work done.”

I dropped my chicken and threw my arms around him. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For being you and for understanding and not making this difficult for me. I was afraid you would get pissed off and I’d never hear from you again.”

“You have such little faith in me? Come on, Lacy, there’s more to us than that, and you know it. Do I look like someone who’d let his life be run by Old Lady Pettibone?”

I shook my head. “No, you certainly don’t. And as I’m sitting here, I’m wondering why I am.”

“That’s been your choice, but it doesn’t have to be your choice from now on. Remember that. You can always change your mind. In fact, I recommend it. Give her a little bit of her own medicine. If you start building a clientele that doesn’t involve her, she loses power. If she’s not calling the shots it’ll make her crazy, and maybe she’ll learn a little something about humility.”

“You’re a genius, you know that?”

“Sure, I know that. It just occurred to you?”

I playfully slapped him across the face. “You also have an altogether too high opinion of yourself, has anyone told you that?”

“Not twice.”

“So, what does this do to your calendar?”

“Just offhand, I’d say I can get this house done sooner, and when that’s finished, I know a certain young lady who needs her second floor redone. So I would tell her to get busy and pick out wallpaper samples and curtain fabric and whatever it is she has planned.”

“What she has planned is far more than a little fabric and wallpaper. She’s looking at built-in shelving, task lighting, refinished floors, and maybe even a dormer.”

“If a dormer’s on the list, you’ll have to wait until spring, so cool your jets in the meantime and work on your business. Your playroom will still be there come springtime.”