Gary stood by the passenger door, a wide grin on his face. “What are you grinning at?” Donna asked. “Unlock the door – even!” she complained.
“Ah – D,” he laughed. “Unless you want to drive, you might want to get in on the other side.”
Donna rolled her eyes and groaned. “Not a word out of you. It’s a common mistake. Anybody could have made it.”
Gary shut her door and got behind the wheel. “You looked as if you were enjoying yourself in the cafeteria.”
Donna softly smiled. “I was. It’s the first time I’ve laughed since… well… you know.”
Gary pulled onto the main road. “Baby,” he sighed. “I’m sorry things turned out the way they did between you and Jared.”
“Yeah, well, I knew I was taking a risk when I sent you the samples. It’s my fault. Do you mind if we talk about something else?”
“Sorry, baby. It’s just I know you’re good at bottling things up.”
“What choice do I have, Gary? He left me without even giving me a chance to explain. He didn’t even want to try. Maybe it’s for the best.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Just, sometimes when you think you’ve got everything figured out, life throws you a curve. Now, please, Gary. Dealing with this is hard enough. Change the damn subject!” she snapped.
“OK – geez! We used to be able to talk about anything.”
Donna groaned in exasperation “I’m sorry – it’s just that…” she broke off, too choked up to go on. She looked at her watch. “I’m sorry, Gary,” she whispered. She took out her MP3 player and put in her ear buds. Jared started singing. Fighting bitter tears, Donna closed her eyes. “I miss you,” she whispered under her breath. At least the next time you read your dream diary, you’ll hear my side of the story.
Gary stopped for a red light. Cautiously, he leaned over and read the artist she’d selected. “Poor baby,” he whispered.
He glanced across at Donna a few times more. It was evident she wasn’t as over Jared as she wanted him to believe. As much as he disliked Sam, maybe he could help. In many ways Sam and Jared were alike, there was no denying that. The difference; Jared was devoted to Donna. Sam was a womanizer and devoted to no one, but then Richard wasn’t much better.
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Gary pulled in the circle drive in front of Triplet Hall. “We’re here,” he said and shut off the engine.
“You’re not gonna park your car in the garage?”
“I’ll move it later. I thought you might want to see what the house looked like from the front. It’s a bit bigger than you’re used to.”
Donna stepped out of the car and slung her purse over her shoulder, having already discarded the sling. Gary was right. Triplet Hall was massive. It reminded Donna more of a palace than a house, but to her it didn’t matter if it was a palace. It wasn’t where she wanted to be.
Gary and Donna climbed the steps and crossed the marble porch; entering the house through some tall double doors. She followed Gary through the foyer to the entrance room, where he opened another set of double doors. Alan, Sir Richard’s butler met them. “Good morning Dr. Browne.”
“Good morning. Alan, this is Donna Rigden, my cousin from America.”
“Good morning, Miss Donna. I’ll have your things taken to the Queen’s room.”
Donna furrowed her brow. “The Queen’s room?”
“Yes, Miss Donna. It has been named as such, since Her Majesty Queen Alexandria stayed here in 1908.”
Donna raised an eyebrow. “I’m staying in a room where a real queen slept?”
“I told you, living here would be a little different,” Gary grinned.
While Gary and Alan talked, Donna took in her surroundings. The fragrance of flowers lingered in the air. The black and white marble tiled floor shone as glass. The heels of their shoes clicked as they walked across it. The room was bright with crystal chandeliers hanging from a decorated ceiling. Stretched out before them was a double grand staircase made of finely polished mahogany. It curved round to the first floor.
“Will there be anything else, Dr. Browne?” Alan asked.
“Yes, Alan, ask Alice to prepare a light lunch. Donna skipped breakfast.”
“I’ll attend to it at once,” he smiled and disappeared.
“Where’s my room? I’d like to shower and change.”
“Come on. I’ll show you.”
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Gary opened the door and stood to the side. “Your room, M’Lady,” he teased. “Try not to drool on the carpet. You wouldn’t believe how expensive it is.”
Donna glared at Gary. “Smart Ass!” She walked past him into the lavishly decorated room. Across from the doorway stood an ornately carved four-poster bed, covered with a peach satin duvet, and matching pillows. Leading off from the main bedroom were two other rooms. One was a walk-in dressing closet. Donna laid her laptop on the bed.
“There’s more,” Gary said and opened the other door. “This is your sitting room, where you can entertain your guests, and through here…” he said opening another door on the other side of the sitting room, “… is your en-suite.”
Donna stepped inside and looked around. The bathroom was bigger than her lounge had been in her apartment in Louisiana. It had a separate tub, and the shower stall was big enough for at least two people.
“Lela, the upstairs maid will see to your needs. To ring her just pick up the phone, hit the number key and press six. That alerts the staff you need assistance.”
Donna didn’t say anything. She was still looking around her room.
Gary cleared his throat. “So do you think you can manage?”
Donna softly chuckled. “You’ve been living here since you moved to the UK?”
Gary grinned. “If you think this is impressive, wait until you see the outside. There’s a duck pond below the back garden.”
Donna smiled. “Richard mentioned something about a horse stable.”
“There’s a lot more to Triplet Hall, but I thought I’d let Richard give you the rest of the tour when he gets here.”
“That would depend on what time he gets here. I’m going out – remember? Sam is picking me up at six.”
“Oh, he’ll be here before then.”
“Did you tell him Sam was taking me out?”
“Yes….”
“How did he react?”
“He seemed a little disappointed, but he was OK with it. He knows you’re going through a rough time, D. We all do.”
“I might not be going through such a rough time if everybody would just stop reminding me!” she snapped. “I am capable of dealing with disappointment. I’ve been blocking out painful memories all my life. Stop treating me like I’m a little girl!”
A helicopter flew over and landed on the other side of the grounds. “Sounds like Richard and his father are home. Why don’t you go ahead and get in the shower? By the time you get out, your things will be in your room.”
There was a tap on the door. “Excuse me, Dr. Browne. I have Miss Donna’s things.”
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“Dad, why are you so nervous?” Richard asked as they stepped onto the back portico and headed for the conservatory.
“Because, I haven’t seen Donna since she was a little girl.”
“What about her grandmother’s funeral? We were there then.”
“We saw her, but she didn’t see us. Even still, that’s been almost ten years ago.”
“You were the one who decided we should keep our distance.”
“It was for the best, Ricky, and you know that. If Forrest had known Donna had any connection to me…” he broke off. “It was the only way I could protect her.”
Gary met them in the entrance hall. “Where’s Donna?” Richard asked.
“Taking a shower and changing,” Gary replied.
“How is she?” Sir Richard asked.
“She’s doing what I told you she would do if this happened. On the surface, she seems OK, but, she’s not. She’s bottling it all up.”
Sir Richard sighed. “Then maybe Sam’s happy-go-lucky attitude is what she needs, right now.”
“I’m just not so sure he’ll be good for her,” Richard scoffed. “Let’s face it. Sam thinks he’s God’s gift to women.”
Gary softly chuckled. “Well, there’s the pot calling the kettle black. You don’t?”
Richard glared at Gary. “I’m going to shower and change.”
“Richard!” Gary called out. “I told Donna you would give her the rest of the tour. You might want to show her where the kitchen is. Alice is making us a light lunch.”
“It’s a nice day. Tell her to set it up on the portico. We’ll eat outside,” Sir Richard said. “I’ll see you in a few minutes, Gary. After lunch, we need to get Donna’s contract sorted.”
“I’m curious how she’s going to react when she finds out she’s been working for Triplet International, for the last year.”
“Yeah,” Sir Richard scoffed. “Me too.”
“Where’s John?”
“He’s taking care of something for me.”
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Richard took a quick shower and changed. He waited for Donna on the landing in the sitting area. A few minutes later, she came out of the room. “Richard,” she gasped. “I didn’t know you were out here waiting for me.”
He locked his cell phone and put it away. He offered her his arm. “Gary thought you might need some help getting to the kitchen.”
Donna chuckled. “He’s probably right.”
“What do you think of the place, so far?” he asked, leading her down the grand staircase.
“It’s… elaborate, and a little overwhelming,” she responded. “It’s going to take some getting used to, that’s for sure.”
“I assume Gary has showed you the music room and library?”
“No. He hasn’t shown me anything but the front of the house and my bedroom.”
Richard chuckled as they approached the doorway to the kitchen. “I’ll show you around if you have time. When was Sam picking you up?”
“Six. I hope you don’t mind.”
The corners of Richard’s mouth turned up. “Why would I mind?” he chuckled as he led her out onto the portico. “I was a little shocked that you didn’t tell me about your…” he motioned to her arm.
Donna instinctively looked at her arm and sighed. “I’m sorry, Richard. I promised Jared I wouldn’t tell anyone about it. I guess it doesn’t make that much difference now, does it?”
Alice set the last of the food on the table. Gary and Sir Richard stood. “Donna, this is my father, Sir Richard Triplet. Dad… this is Donna.”
Donna furrowed her brow and held out her hand. “Pleased to meet you, Sir Richard,” she murmured.
Sir Richard swallowed the lump in his throat. “Likewise, petal,” he said, firmly shaking her hand. “Sit down and get something to eat.”
Richard pulled out a chair for Donna. “I hope you’re hungry?” he said. “As you can see, Alice has prepared us a small snack.”
Donna looked across the table at the mass of food. There were several different finger sandwiches, pâtés and cheeses, as well as some sliced vegetable sticks, homemade crackers and three types of caviar canapés.
“I wanted to make sure there were some things Miss Donna might enjoy,” Alice interjected.
Richard picked up a plate. “What would you like?”
“Anything but the caviar canapés,” Donna replied.”
“Figured that,” Gary chuckled. “She doesn’t like raw fish eggs.”
“Not everybody does,” Richard frowned and filled his and Donna’s plates.
Sir Richard poured drinks. “To new beginnings,” he said, holding up his glass.
“To new beginnings,” Gary echoed.
Donna smiled and touched her glass to theirs, “To new beginnings,” she chimed in and sipped her drink. She turned up her nose. “Is it alcoholic?”
“Only slightly,” Sir Richard responded. “It’s cider - why?”
Donna took another sip and let it linger in her mouth. “I have an extremely low tolerance to alcohol. Gary knows that,” she said and glared at him.
Sir Richard smiled, “There’s not enough alcohol in this glass to make a midgie tipsy.”
“Maybe not to you…” Donna scoffed, “…but when you’re alcohol intolerant, it can make a huge difference!”