Designs On Daphne (2 page)

3

  Daphne hummed the Green Acres theme song as she buzzed the sweeper through the little ranch house on Hobble Creek, determined to push the face of the woman she’d seen leaving the rodeo from her mind. Untangling the cord, she paused to move the giant trophy Daisy had just won in Austin, then stood back to admire it.

   It looked fantastic on the fireplace mantle, but when she tried it on Daddy’s table again, it felt just right there, too. She put it back on the mantle. The sunlight from the picture window caught it, making it gleam like fire, and she was sure she’d found the right spot.

  Then the screen door slammed, and she jumped a mile. Shutting the sweeper off as Daisy crossed the room, she said,“Geez, you scared me. You want lunch?”

  “Nope, just comin’ from Ty’s for a change of clothes and to check the mail.”

  “Huh, what’s Ty up to? He doesn’t need you this afternoon?” Daphne asked.

  “Ty left an hour ago, grumpy as a bear. He’s on his way to California on some fool mission over a woman. We actually got in a fight this morning, can you believe it?”

  “You fought with Ty?”

  “The first time ever.”

  “Honey, Ty’s about as easy goin’ as they come! What ever did you fight over?”

  Daisy rolled her eyes. “Nothin’. It was so stupid. He snapped at me and then started yellin’ about some valve he’d asked Jose to pick up. He was chewing the poor ole’ guy from here to eternity when I jumped in.”

  Daphne felt her jaw drop. “You jumped in? Daisy Mae, you may have known Ty since forever, but he is your boss!” 

  Daisy shrugged, but she looked upset. “He almost had Jose in tears, Daph, and it wasn’t anything except him being hung up on some stupid girl. It’s not Jose’s fault Ty keeps screwing up his personal life. Jose’s been looking after the ranch since before Ty was born. He’s too old to take any crap.”

  Daphne sighed.“Well, how about lunch? Why don’t I grill that nice tuna steak, and we’ll have a salad. I made a special dressin’!”

  “Aw, Daph, Ella made roast beef last night. She’s fixin’ sandwiches with her potato salad, Hank said. I’m expected there. How ‘bout you come along, too? You’ve got nothing to do here, and she’s always got plenty of food.”

  Daphne felt her chest pinch. Daisy was right, she had nothing to do. Even all the shopping was starting wear thin. Her closet was overflowing, and since she’d quit bartending at Hymie’s, there was no place to even dress up for. All she did was go down to the Dot Top or the grocery store- she’d taken a joy ride over to Beeville the day before, burnin’ gas just for something to do.

  She stifled a sigh. “Nope, you go along. I was at Ella’s just last week. I can’t be a fifth wheel all the time.”

  Daisy made her way down the hall, calling back, “Now you’re makin’ me feel guilty. I said, Ella likes your company. She’s always thrilled to see you, you know that. She asks for you all the time.”

  Daphne followed with a basket of clean laundry. “Honey, don’t you worry about me, okay? The way things are goin’ between you and Hank, I gotta figure somethin’ out for myself or I’ll be settin’ up to Ella Jean’s big table for the rest of my life. It’s too soon to be the old maid aunt, taggin’ along after you two all the time, know what I mean?” 

  Daisy grabbed clean underwear and a t-shirt from her dresser, then dug through the basket Daphne had set on the bed. She pulled out a folded pair of jeans. “Shoot, Daph, you did my laundry too. Now I’m really feeling guilty.”

  Daphne leaned to peck her sister’s cheek. “Well, heck, you’re the superstar now, Daize, winnin’ barrel titles left and right, jet settin’ all over the place. Least I can do is some laundry.” 

  Daisy straightened up. “Huh, maybe Austin was a fluke. Three more ‘til the title. You think Lucky and I can pull it off?”

  Daphne wrapped an arm around her sister’s taut shoulders and squeezed. “Honey, I know you can.” She followed as Daisy made her way back down the hall. “There’s iced tea I just made. How ‘bout a nice glass before you go? I could sure use one. I’m just about parched, from all this vacuuming.”

   “And laundry foldin’ and whatever else you’ve been up to, Miz Rachel Rae slash Martha Stewart slash Paula Deen,” Daisy said, grabbing two mason jars from the cupboard. Opening the refrigerator for the pitcher of tea, she looked into the pan cooling on top of the stove. “Is this your pineapple upside-down, too?”

  Daphne flashed her most charming smile, fluttering her lashes for effect. “Made it for you to take over to Ella Jean’s. I already got the call, she’s havin’ another one of her Sunday night barbecues with the whole ranch crew this weekend. Can’t have it be said the Antlerone girls don’t return hospitality, can I? ”

  Daisy grinned. “When you gonna get your own television show, Daph?”

  Daphne laughed. “Heck, maybe that’s what I do, call the cable stations, ask ‘em what do I need to do to start up a new show, call it ‘Hill Country Hospitality’.”

  “You’d be great. You got the clothes for it now, too.”

  “I sure do. Hey, what about some paint in here, a new color, somethin’ like a sunny yellow?”

   Daisy froze, and Daphne knew her urges to prettify had gotten her into trouble again. Her sister still obsessed over arranging Daddy’s chair just so, facing the television set. The Stockman’s Guide they hadn’t canceled his subscription to was right next to it, too. It was as if he would wander in from the back porch anytime, pour himself a whiskey, sit down and light up a cigarette. She’d swear, if it were up to her little sister, a fresh pack of Marlboro’s would set right on top of the magazine, waitin’ for him.

  She handed Daisy a thick wedge of lemon. Plopping it into her glass, Daisy said, “Once this room’s changed, Daddy’s gone for good. I know Momma’s never coming back, and I should just be able to let it all go, but I can’t, Daph. With me at Hank’s all the time, you oughta be able to make this place look the way you want it to, it’s just . . .”

  Daphne tucked her nose to back of Daisy’s head, nuzzling the short-cropped hair finally starting to grow in. “It’s just, you’re not ready yet. Sh-h-h, Daisy-chain, don’t mind me. Daddy’s not even gone a year. I got too much of the decorator bug lately, and not enough to keep me busy. I’m makin’ caterpillars ‘stead of butterflies.”

  Pulling away, she took a deep breath and squeezed lemon into her glass of tea. “I gotta find an outlet for all this energy. I just don’t know what to do with myself lately. There’s plenty of life ahead of me. Sometimes too much, it seems.”

  After a long gulp of tea, Daisy met her eye, testing the waters. “What about that new apartment of Rodric’s? Sounded like a nice job, and you’d have fun in Austin. Miz Esther’s a hoot. Ty said she’s got a fancy place you can stay in. Once this barrel buckle’s decided, I can come up for some fun, go dancin’ at the Continental Club weekends or somethin’ with you? Hank’d like it too, y’know?”

  Feeling flustered, Daphne shook her head. “How’m I gonna pull that off? Heck, I been sendin’ Rodric go away signals all these years . . . feels real silly, suckin’ up to him just to decorate his apartment, when I can’t hardly stand him.”

  Daisy shrugged. “You’ve made clear where you stand, Daph. He can’t have expectations beyond a decent apartment. If he did, he’d be huntin’ easier grounds. Ty said he doesn’t want to hire a fussy professional, wants someone he knows, that he’s comfortable with. He just doesn’t want a place that looks like his mother decorated it, that’s all. Anybody that walks into Hymie’s can see how good you are at that funky down-home Texas look everybody raves about these days. You need a project like that, Daph. Go to Austin, have some fun.”

  Her sister’s words ignited the little charge Daphne’d carried in her belly since Ty mentioned it at the rodeo. She sighed anyway, a long, labored, beleaguered sigh. “I guess you’re right. Can’t do any harm, a coupla weeks in Miz Esther’s nice apartment in Austin and a fistful of cash, I guess. I might find some good Navajo rugs and a big abstract painting or two, somethin’ that would be a nice focal point for his place. I gotta do somethin’, or I’ll be renting back our six hundred acres and lettin’ you buy two hundred head of cattle.” When she saw Daisy’s eyes light, she back-tracked quickly. “I’m jokin’, Daize, I’m jokin’! Sheesh, don’t get any ideas!”

  Daisy shook her head and laughed. “Where’s your phone? I’m callin’ Ella for Miz Esther’s number. If you don’t have your decoratin’ job lined up by sunset, I’m borrowin’ Hank’s big truck and haulin’ you to the auctions next week with a pile a money, and we’re comin’ back with Angus calves, got it?”

4

   Watching Daphne gaze over the Austin skyline, Esther hoped she gauged the willowy young woman’s interest correctly. “So what do you think, darlin’?”

  “It’s sure got pretty views,” Daphne sighed. “From just about every window. These giant, high-ceilinged formal rooms are simply fantastic, and I just love the floors. I’ve never seen a kitchen space as elegant, either, long and narrow, with so much counter space and that big, open sunny dining nook.”

  Esther felt a little surge of hope.

  She’d always liked sweet, tender-hearted Daphne, liked especially the way she’d always looked after her little sister Daisy. Her son had pined after Daphne most of his life. It was understandable. Practical and nurturing, Daphne was guileless girl, with just the right amount of sass.

  Now, after the disaster with Caroline, Rodric’s heart had finally mended, and he was ready to make his move.

  “Well, honey, closing is tomorrow, so it’ll be Rodric’s by lunchtime. He wants to be out of his rented place by the end of the month. Think we can pull it off?”

  “Oh, sure. Sure we can.” Daphne’s wide, agreeable smile made Esther brighten. She was determined to do whatever it took to help her son capture Daphne’s heart.

  “Let’s get to my pied-à-terre, then. It’s over near Hyde Park. We’ll get you settled, and I’ll take you to lunch at Chez Zee to celebrate. Then, I guess we’d better start shopping, no?”

*****

  Daphne sat on the giant, creamy pale leather sofa in Esther McGreer’s fifth floor apartment with her feet up, flipping through the latest copy of “Austin Living”. Stacks of “Western Home and Gardens” and “Architectural Digest” were on the floor nearby. Tearing page after page, she laid pictures in piles on the floor, arranged by the empty rooms in Rodric’s new apartment.

  It was a little overwhelming.

  The apartment had four bedrooms, four full and two half baths, two patio decks, giant formal living and dining areas, a study, a game room, and a kitchen with a dining nook. Oh, and a pool on the rooftop. Overwhelming, yes, but maybe a dream come true, if she’d admit it to herself. Nobody had mentioned budget, not even once.

  Her cell buzzed.
Daisy!

 
She clicked into the call eagerly. “Hey, Daisy-chain. . .What am I doin? Settin’ here with a stack o’ magazines, just about buried. . . No, everything’s goin’ fine. I have no idea why a single man needs almost five thousand square feet of penthouse apartment, but I guess that’s none of my business, is it?. . . No, I’m not bored, not a bit. I had lunch with Esther yesterday, and there’s plenty of shopping to do . . . What? Yes, I meet Rodric later on today, to go over his plans . . .This mornin’? I had coffee with a new friend from my design class, and there’s an exercise class I’ll get to later. I’m tryin’ yoga tomorrow, gonna see if I can stand on my head. You eatin’ right? . . .Hank’s takin’ you to Las Vegas early for your birthday? Oh, honey, that’ll be fun! What an adventure for you both! Your classes start right after the Pro-Am, how’s the book-studyin’ goin’? You’re gettin‘ a head start? Oh, that’s real good. You’re not gettin’ too tired, with the practicin’ at Hank’s and workin’ at Ty’s? . . . Good. And how’s Ty?. . . Not cheered up yet? Darn him, why doesn’t he just ask Janie Dupree out for a nice date? . . . Well, I’m sure I’ll be home this Friday, but call if you need anything, all right?”

  Daphne hung up the phone. She hadn’t told Daisy the truth about the women in her decorating class. She’d been too shy to talk to them- they all seemed so citified, so much more sophisticated than she was, talking in fancy terms about color schemes and texture and space, using words like “Usonian” and “Louis XIV”.

   Daphne knew what she liked, but she didn’t know a whole lot about that fussy ole’ French Louie. Besides, it didn’t seem like they cared much very much what she thought! The teacher was knowledgeable, a nice man, not snooty at all. She was learning a lot, not the least that she never, never wanted to come off the way the women in her class did.

   The friend she’d had coffee this morning with was Miz Esther. Well, what could she do? She liked Rodric’s momma just fine. Miz Esther had insisted Daphne move right into her pretty apartment yesterday, then surprised her by calling at eight in the morning for coffee, sayin’ she’d taken a hotel room overnight!

   Daphne sure enough could have done that, but Esther insisted she’d wanted Daphne to get comfortable in the apartment, wanted her to feel like she had her own little place in Austin, just across town from Rodric.They’d lingered over coffee, discussing the different designer showrooms and department stores around town, where Esther thought she might find some nice things.

   Just when Daphne thought they’d finished, Miz Esther ordered a brunch sampler and two champagne cocktails!

Over nova salmon and hollandaise, Esther confided that Rodric’s father was taking her on an African safari in two and a half weeks, but she’d surely be able to help Daphne get started. Then she said she didn’t know what to do with her precious pugs, she’d be gone so long, and her eyes looked hopeful!

   When she ordered their second champagne cocktails, Daphne offered to keep the pugs.
Oh, Lordy, what am I gettin’ myself into?

******

Rodric pulled out a handkerchief, mopping his brow before pressing Miz Daphne’s cell number.

  “Hello?”

  At the sound of her voice, he had a vision of her sprawled across the leather sofa in his mother’s apartment, right across town, and immediately grew hard.

  “I surely do apologize, Miz Daphne, but I’m gonna have to send a car for you again today. I’m still in court, and I’ll have to meet with my client afterward. How about you let the car bring you by Jeffrey’s later, and we have a nice cocktail or a glass of wine before looking through all those showrooms?”

  “Why Rodric, that’s just fine,” Daphne drawled. “That driver you sent over yesterday was real nice.”

  He wanted to ask what color panties she wore, but instead managed, “What time do you want the car? I’ll be in court all day, and my meeting afterward will run at least until six, but I can send the car anytime.”

  He almost added “honey” but bit it back, remembering Ty’s warning. “
You’re perfect for her, Rodric, but she doesn’t know it yet. You’re too nice, and it makes her suspicious. You fawn over her, and she treats you like meatloaf. I’m telling you, Daphne is used to rough cowboys. If you’re gonna gain any ground at all, you gotta switch it up. Act disinterested so you get her attention this time. . . And she’s a doozy, so that’s not the least of it. You’ll need real spine to get her to fall in love with you, but once her mind’s made up, she’ll be candy, I promise. She’s a woman any man would be lucky to have.”

   Rodric knew he had to follow Ty’s advice; there was too much at stake, now. Steeling his instincts, he tried to play boss. “And you’ll bring those picture boards you’ve been putting together, so we can keep track of things?”

  “I sure will,” Daphne agreed. “Maybe you can send the car a little early, Rodric? I might like to swing over to your new place, check to see if what we ordered yesterday was delivered.”

  He’d checked last night, but the idea of having Daphne in his apartment was too tempting to pass on.   “Why certainly! You take your time over there, say hello to Estevez and then let the driver take you on to get whatever else you need. He’ll bring you to Jeffrey’s at six-thirty for our drink. You want the car by three, then?” . . .
Honey?

  “That’s just fine, Rodric. See you later.”

  As she ended the call, Rodric breathed a sigh of relief.

  When he’d seen the view of Lake Travis from the penthouse’s master bedroom, he’d had the sensation of Daphne in his arms. Ty called to tell him about her decorating classes the day before he’d put the offer in. With a strategy to break down her resistance, he’d proceeded, paying more than he ever would have to live there alone. His instincts had been good, he assured himself now.

  Decorating seemed to put Daphne in the same soothing frame of mind a glass or two of good champagne did. Ever since the rodeo, she’d been sweet as pie.

   And he did love finding ways to keep her busy.