LITMIR.BIZ

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like someone beat you to it. Too bad, you were really moving. Were you on the track team in college?” Sam sounded mildly amused.

      “Tennis,” she said shortly. “I have a wicked serve.”

      “I wouldn’t doubt it.”

      She dumped the keys back in her purse. She glanced up at him, prepared to make another excuse about getting to work. But her curiosity got the better of her.

      “So, you want to talk about our parents. Have you changed your opinion about their engagement? You seemed pretty supportive last night.”

      “And you’re definitely not. At least that’s what your mother says. She called Lester this morning at the crack of dawn.” He made a face. “She says you’re very upset and demanded that she call it off.”

      Julia felt awkward hearing her words tossed back at her. Especially by him. He made her sound like some sort of shrew.

      “I am upset. But I never demanded anything. I know my mother. She’s like…like a cat. You just don’t get very far delivering ultimatums. I never said call it off. I did say slow it down.”

      “So you do have reservations,” he said, choosing his words carefully. “Some strong reservations.”

      “Of course I do. For one thing, they hardly know each other. And this goat farm idea…it’s totally absurd. My mother wouldn’t last one week on a farm that grows costume jewelry, no less one filled with animals. To think for one minute that she could…that just goes to show how little your father really knows her.”

      His eyes narrowed. She hadn’t meant to sound so harsh, but somehow she couldn’t control it. Somebody had to face facts around here. It seemed as if she was the only one who would.

      “I don’t know your mother. I do know my father. He’s a good man. Solid. Dependable. If he says he’s going to do a thing, he’ll do it. He’s talked about this venture for years. He’s taken classes. He’s done research. He’s visited farms just like it. It’s not just some pie-in-the-sky fantasy.”

      “All right. I’ll buy all that. But tell me this. If he’s been dreaming about this cheese business for so long, why hasn’t he gone ahead and started it? Is it because he never had the capital?” she said quickly, before he could speak. “Of course, if he marries my mother, that sticky little problem is solved, isn’t it?”

      As soon as she’d said the words aloud, Julia immediately regretted her frankness. Sam’s face got pale as paper, then colored red. His dark eyes flashed, and he seemed to be closer, looming over her. She tried to look away but couldn’t.

      They stood staring at each other in a silent stalemate for a second and she realized that if he’d been an unleashed dog, she would have run for cover.

      “How dare you. My father is an honest, honorable guy. He doesn’t need to marry your mother for money. In fact, she seems a bit high-maintenance to me. I think he’s going to have his hands full. But he says he’s in love. I’m not debating him about it.”

      Now he was taking shots at her mother. She could have predicted that. She wasn’t going to be intimidated by him. She wasn’t going to back down. She suddenly wished she had on higher heels so she could stare him right in the eye.

      “He has the funds to start the business on his own?” Julia persisted. “Is that what you’re saying? Why hasn’t he done it yet then? Why hasn’t he…followed his bliss? Why did he need to wait for my mother to arrive on the scene?”

      He didn’t answer right away. Either she’d made him even madder or she’d backed him into a corner. Or both.

      “He’s been waiting to retire,” he said finally. “That’s one reason. And you’re right. He doesn’t have all the funds in hand. But he’d be able to borrow it. That wouldn’t be a problem. People get loans to start up businesses all the time. I thought you were a big hotshot real-estate broker. You should know that.”

      Julia tried not to smirk but it was hard. She knew all about financing and loan qualifications. Loan officers were not scrambling to get their hands on retirees with no income and little assets who were starting up farms.

      Maybe at Bank of Dumbbell Lenders. But not at most banks.

      She decided not to infuriate him any further with this point. What was the sense? This conversation had gone far enough. She crossed her arms over her chest and took a breath.

      “Are we finished? I need to get to work. I can see we disagree on this matter and are not about to find any common ground very soon. If ever.”

      She could tell from his expression he didn’t like being brushed off. She guessed it probably didn’t happen very often.

      “I can see that you’re a very rigid, uptight and close-minded woman. The packaging is definitely…misleading. I’ll grant you that.”

      Julia drew in a sharp breath. Rigid and close minded? Is that what he thought of her? Just because she dared to call it for what it was? He had some nerve.

      “Fine. That’s just fine,” she snapped back angrily. “I can see that you’re as illogical, impractical and naive as…as…my mother. And that’s saying something!”

      His mouth opened, then closed again. He’d probably been about to carry the argument further, then thought better of it.

      “At least I know where you stand.”

      “Same here,” she responded. “See you around.”

      She pushed open the door to her office and stepped inside, not daring to look back. She felt shaken and tired from the confrontation. Luckily, none of the sales staff had arrived yet. She walked down the aisle between the row of desks that filled the main room.

      Marion sat at the back, near the door to Julia’s office. She looked up from her computer and smiled. “Morning, Julia. Who was that guy you were chatting up? New client?”

      “He’s just…some guy. He’s just…an idiot. That’s who he is.”

      She knew Marion wouldn’t understand but it felt good just to vent.

      Marion gave her a look, then turned back to her computer screen. “Um…okay then. You had some messages.”

      Marion handed her a wad of pink messages slips. Julia took them without thinking.

      “Thanks,” she said quietly. She unlocked the door to her office, then suddenly noticed the bag of crumb cake in her hand.

      She’d totally lost her appetite. Her stomach was churning in a ball of knots.

      “Marion…would you like some crumb cake? Ella Krueger’s. The prize-winning crumbs.”

      Marion looked cheered by the offer. “Gee…thanks. I would. I didn’t get breakfast yet.”

      “Here you go. Enjoy.” Julia handed it down. “And thanks for coming so early and opening up.”

      Marion looked surprised. “Oh, sure. No problem.”

      Julia nodded and smiled. She paused at the half-open door.

      “Marion, you’ve known me a long time now. Would you say that I’m…uptight…or small minded?”

      Marion considered the question a moment. Longer than Julia thought necessary. Finally she shook her head.

      “Uh, no. I don’t think so. Not really.”

      Not really? Wasn’t that like saying “almost”?

      Julia sighed. She had to take what she could get.

      “How about rigid? Do you think I’m rigid?”

      Marion stared at her. “Well, you’re a very good businesswoman, Julia. You’re very assertive and tough. You really stick to your guns.” She smiled, looking puzzled by the question.

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