Page 81 of The Best of Friends

“You’ll have to do that eventually,” Blaine told her. “We can keep it quiet through the negotiations. In the meantime, I’d need you to work up some sketches, maybe a few samples.”

The thought of being on TV was exciting, but she was more intrigued by the idea of learning to work with a new metal. “I’d lean toward stainless rather than silver,” she said, considering her options. “It’s less traditional.”

“Like you?”

She laughed. “Exactly. Stainless and precious gems. I wonder if there’s a problem with settings. Movado does beautiful watches in stainless. They’re elegant and classy.” She rubbed the carving. The gold wasn’t working for her right now. Moving in a new direction could really help her creativity.

“I’ll do it,” she said. “Give me a couple of weeks to get some ideas on paper.”

“I can’t wait to see what you come up with.”

“Just don’t tell Mom.”

Blaine hesitated. “Elizabeth will have to know at some point.”

“But not right now. I don’t want her messing with me, and you know she will. I need time, Dad.”

“All right. I won’t tell her you’re working with us on this. But the longer it takes until she finds out, the less pleasant it’s going to be for everyone.”

“Something I’m used to.”

After dinner, Elizabeth finished responding to her many invitations. That dreadful Marjorie Danes had actually sent an invitation through e-mail. So tacky. Elizabeth had refused without bothering to read the particulars. What was next? Wedding announcements via text message? Would it kill people to keep a good supply of embossed card stock and lined envelopes? Her work finished for now, she tapped her pen against her desk as she considered how to deal with the David problem.

Through subtle probing, she’d discovered that he hadn’t been in touch with any of the women she’d invited to the party. It made no sense. He’d been the one to return to Los Angeles. He’d specifically said he was looking to settle down and get married. She’d offered to help, and he’d agreed. There had been nearly a dozen perfectly eligible women there that night. He had to have been interested in at least one or two. So why wasn’t he asking them out?

She rose and walked down the hall to Blaine’s study. Blaine had been extremely cheerful at dinner, something she found annoying. He was so chatty when he was happy, and she couldn’t figure out how to shut him up. Well, if he wanted to talk to someone, he could call his son and find out what was going on.

Blaine sat on one of his leather sofas, reading some kind of report. He looked up as she entered.

“I need to talk to you,” she said, moving to the sofa opposite his and sitting down. “About David.”

Blaine removed his reading glasses and set down the report.

“David hasn’t contacted any of the women who were at the party,” she began. “I’ve checked with them all. The point was to give him a chance to meet suitable young women in a controlled setting. He knew the plan, so it’s not that he wasn’t interested. It’s been over a week. If he doesn’t call soon, they’re going to think he’s never going to call.”

Blaine looked at her. “I don’t see the problem.”

“We’re talking about your son’s future. I know you care what happens to him. He needs to get going on this. He’s in his thirties. If he wants to still be alive when his children graduate from high school, time is ticking.”

“The men in my family live well into their eighties,” Blaine said, reaching for the report. “He’ll go out with the girls he wants to. He’s never lacked for female companionship.”

“I’m not interested in his having a good time for the weekend. This is about the rest of his life.”

“David knows what he’s doing.”

She held in her frustration, when what she really wanted to do was scream and throw whatever was in that stupid folder across the room.

“Obviously he doesn’t,” she said between clenched teeth. “I want you to talk to him.”

Blaine sighed and lowered the report. “What should I say?”

“That he needs to start asking out these women. What if they meet someone else before he can decide if one of them is right for him?”

“Then he’ll learn an important lesson.”

“Don’t you want grandchildren?”

“Yes, but I’m surprised you do.”