An Irresistible Bachelor(60)

The man gave a resigned shrug. "Mr. Walker died five years ago today. The missus has a hard time with it every year."

Callie was surprised. It was a little hard to imagine Jack's mother mourning anything.

Thomas turned back to Elsie. "Try Cote Basque. Tell Billy I sent you. He owes me and he'll fit her in.



Then call Curt Thorndyke's mother, Fiona. The two of them will reminisce and she'll like that."

Elsie took a deep breath. "Okay."

"And don't take what she said personally. You know how she is."

"Yes. I do. But frankly, when she gets like this, I don't really care;"

After the other woman left, Thomas said, "I was about to take a message up to you. Gray Bennett called. His number's on that pad over there."

"Oh, thanks. I did hear the phone ring up in the garage, but I don't feel right about answering it." She tore off the sheet, thinking tonight would be a perfect night to go out with him. Anything to take her mind off Jack.

She was on her way out when she remembered what Gray had said about Nathaniel Six. "I know this isn't any of my business, but what was he like? Mr. Walker, I mean?"

Thomas turned off the water and braced himself against the counter with his hip.

"He did a lot of good for a lot of people. And he loved Mrs. Walker. Used to say she was his finest creation." There was a pause and Callie couldn't tell whether he was trying to recall the past or choose his words carefully. "He was a handsome guy. Great athlete. Died real quick. Woke up one morning, feeling fine. Twenty minutes later, they found him dead in the shower. Brain aneurysm. He was just gone."

Although the tone was casual, the man was shaking his head as if he regretted the loss.

"He treated me real good. I met him when he was staying in Osterville for the summer. I'd just gotten out of the Navy and had a job as a caddy at the Wianno Club. One afternoon in July, I carried his bag for him. It sure was hot that day. A hundred degrees out and not a breath of wind, but he was bound and determined to finish eighteen holes. The rest of his foursome and their caddies wilted, but he and I made it all the way around. After that, he wouldn't let anyone else carry his bag. It was he and I, all summer long. Got to the end of August and he asked me what I wanted to do. I told him I liked to cook and he got me into the Culinary Institute of America on scholarship, one that I suspect he set up just for me. When I got out, I worked in some restaurants in New York City and I was damn good. Until I lost my arm."

Thomas looked down at himself. "One unlucky move on a motorcycle and I went from being on top of the world to someone who couldn't unscrew a bottle on his own."

His smile was measured and she couldn't guess at what he'd had to go through to overcome the injury.

"Anyway, after I recovered, I got a letter from him. We'd always kept in touch. I was honest about what had happened. Two days later he called and offered me a job as his personal chef. That was near about thirty years ago. Pay's good. Got my own kitchen. I'm a happy man."

The man offered a lopsided grin, as if embarrassed he'd said so much.

She smiled back at him. "You sound like you miss him."

"Yeah, I guess I do. He was good to me even if he could be ... difficult with others." Thomas clamped his mouth shut. "Listen, if you want a phone with a private line, go to the library."

Callie thanked him, and when she came back downstairs with her address book, she found the room, sat in a leather club chair, and picked up the phone. When Gray answered, he asked her out for dinner at seven and she agreed.

Next, she called the Hall Foundation and Grace's assistant put her right through.

"Callie! How are you? I just got back from a trip and I was about to call you at Jack's this very minute. I'm so excited that you took the job."

"And I owe you some thanks for the good word you put in for me."

"It was the least I could do. How are you and Nathaniel getting along?"

"We're doing quite well. He's quiet, but his eyes follow me everywhere."

Grace laughed. "How's the rest of the family treating you?"

Callie dropped her voice. "Mrs. Walker is a bit of a challenge."

"I can only imagine. And Jack?"

"He's good. Okay. Yup, definitely fine. But how are you?"

There was a pause.

"Not all that well, to tell you the truth. I feel like everyone I know is trying to sell off a piece of me. My ex-husband is threatening to write a tell-all book about our marriage, in spite of the confidentiality provisions of our separation agreement. My former chief development officer was shopping around an expose about the Hall Foundation and I had to level an injunction against him. And a doorman has picked up a ghostwriter and is going to write his memoirs about working in my building. Which will of course include details about me and my marriage."