311 Pelican Court - Debbie Macomber [97]
“So how’s everything at the office?” Rosie asked as nonchalantly as she could. She hoped Allison would bring up Janice’s name without any prompting.
“Dad’s really, really busy. Tax season is hard. He goes to work at six and he usually has to stay late. He has appointments all day. I hardly see him anymore.”
Zach had always been an early riser. During tax season, he often left the house before dawn, usually while Rosie was still asleep. From experience, she knew how tired and cranky he could be at the end of the day, too.
“I hope he’s hired the extra help he needs,” Rosie muttered.
Allison laid her fork next to her plate. “Mom, are you trying to find out about Mrs. Lamond?”
Instant color heated Rosie’s cheeks. She could deny it and almost did, but Allison was smart enough to recognize a lie. Rosie nodded. “I apologize, sweetheart, I shouldn’t be—”
“She quit,” Allison said as she leaned toward Rosie in a conspiratorial kind of way. A smile flashed in her daughter’s eyes.
“Quit?” Rosie repeated. “When?”
“Weeks ago. Before Christmas.”
Before Christmas? That was impossible. Rosie vaguely remembered Zach’s saying he’d given the other woman a promotion. “What’s the matter, didn’t she get a big enough pay raise?” Rosie asked. She didn’t try to disguise her dislike for the other woman.
“I don’t know anything about a pay raise, but the gossip is she left without notice and Dad was really upset about it.”
Rosie would just bet he was.
“The other staff members didn’t like her, either.”
“Really?” This was interesting, and contrary to what Zach had told her. He’d made Janice sound like a paragon of efficiency and helpfulness, implying that no one could resist liking such a friendly, supportive person.
“At first Mrs. Lamond was really nice. That’s what Mrs. Long said—you know, the office manager. But then later Mrs. Lamond got all uppity with the other staff. They said she manipulated Dad to do whatever she wanted.”
As if Rosie didn’t already know that. “I’m sure she did,” she said. “Do you know why she quit like that?”
“No one seems to have any idea.”
Rosie would have derived real satisfaction from discovering the details.
“Do you want me to find out more?” Allison asked, obviously eager to dig up dirt.
The temptation was strong, but Rosie shook her head. “Don’t worry about it.”
She and Allison chatted easily through dinner, laughing frequently and even reminiscing about pre-divorce days. It buoyed Rosie’s spirits to have this relaxed conversation with her daughter—and to learn that the Lamond woman was gone from the office.
The following afternoon, Rosie dropped by the accounting firm. She hadn’t been to the office since shortly before the separation, mainly because she hadn’t wanted to give Janice Lamond the opportunity to gloat.
Mary Lou Miller was at the reception desk. She looked up when Rosie stepped into the office, and her face showed surprise, followed almost immediately by genuine welcome. There’d been a time when Rosie’s relationship with the office staff had been pleasant and mutually respectful.
“Mrs. Cox, it’s so good to see you!” Mary Lou said.
“Hi, Mary Lou.” The sense of welcome was gratifying and helped ease her nervousness. Rosie hadn’t mentioned to Zach that she planned to stop by. Classes were cut short for the day because of a teachers’ seminar on new curriculum requirements in the areas of math and science. Rosie was exempted, since she’d taken the course while updating her skills. She had a rare afternoon free.
“How can I help you?” Mary Lou walked over to the counter, which acted as a partition between the waiting area and the inner office. “Do you want me to call Mr. Cox? Unfortunately, he’s with a client at the moment, but I can let him know you’re here.”
“Thanks, but that won’t be necessary,” Rosie told her. “I came to meet Cecilia Randall.”
“Oh, sure,” Mary Lou said. “I’ll get her right away.”
“Cecilia’s on her break,” a woman Rosie didn’t recognize announced from her desk. There’d been a number