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“Of course I trust you. I just–”
“Then trust me. Robert, you sound really stressed. Are you feeling all right?” Two could play the game of diverting a conversation. Last time, Robert had picked a fight about the board’s insistence on traditional family values. Gregory opted for intrusive concern.
“What? Of course. Just that jetlag I mentioned. I–”
“Exhaustion isn’t doing you any favors. Get some more rest, and if these ‘bad feelings’ keep waking you up, you should see a doctor.”
A knock sounded at the door. Martin had left it cracked open, so when Gregory looked up, he saw Hanna’s face poked through the gap.God, that’s a sight for sore eyes. The perfect antidote to Robert’s lies and bullshit.He held up a finger to ask her for a moment. She nodded.
Robert had continued talking.“…important part of business. You’re new at this, and my name is on the line if you don’t handle obligations. It’s natural I’d have some concerns about–”
“Robert, I’m going to have to stop you there. You’re obviously overwrought about this, because I know you. You wouldn’t be insulting me and my competence if you were feeling more yourself. You have always been my most solid support, and I’ve been grateful for that.” Gregory pitched his voice to a place in between affectionate and stern.
“Well, no, of course I am, Greg.”
“I know. Thus, I have to believe the jetlag, the exhaustion, and the stress of the upcoming board gathering has put you off your game. Go have a nap. Make an appointment at a spa. Enjoy your vacation. Leave the rest to me.”
“Sure. But I–”
“There’s someone I need to talk to, Robert, so I’m going to let you go. I’ll see you at the party.” Gregory didn’t even wait for a goodbye. He just terminated the call.
Hanna raised an eyebrow. “That sounded like you smacking Robert down in the most polite way possible.”
“Good. Because that’s what I was doing.” Gregory tossed his phone onto his desk. “Robert is perpetrating some bullshit-scented shenanigans and he’s on my last nerve with them. I’m just trying to stall him off until I have the information about what he’s up to. If he’s playing dirty pool, I want to have proof so he can’t wiggle out of it.”
“With a man that used to sliding into and out of trouble, it’s best to wait until you’ve got the cold facts. Otherwise, he’ll find a way to spin it.” She stepped fully into the room. “Have you got a moment for a question, or is this a bad time?”
“That depends. What scent are the shenanigans you’re perpetrating?” He smirked up at her.
She laughed, as he’d hoped she might. Hearing that sound cured everything wrong with his day. “Better than Robert’s, I hope. They’re lunch scented. I need to go into Norwich tomorrow, and I wondered if you might want to come.”
“What are we going to Norwich for?” he asked. That he’d go with her was obvious to him.Even if I probably don’t have time. I’ll make time. Once Martin hears Hanna asked, he’ll probably throw me out the door himself.
“I found out a little about the history of Greenhill Hall,” she said. “During World War II, a widow lived here, and she took in one of the children evacuated through Operation Pied Piper.”
Gregory leaned forward. “Really? I didn’t know that.”
Hanna nodded. “I found a few of the boy’s things, and his name tag. Vivian said she’d like to know more, so I did a little research. It seems the little boy died under dubious circumstances. As did all the widow’s children before.”
“That’s odd.”
“Isn’t it? All the deaths were officially declared and written up by the same doctor. His granddaughter has kept up a practice in Norwich. I called, and she’s agreed to see me tomorrow afternoon. So, I thought maybe…” A nervous smile played over her lips, and she chafed one thumb with the other.
“I’d love to go with you. I shouldn’t, mind you, but I’d love to.”Yes. I’d love to go on a date with you. Hold your hand while we walk through Norwich and see the sights. Pretend there aren’t a dozen reasons we shouldn’t.
Though one of them had to point out that elephant in the room. After a moment, he said, “Is this us going out as friends?”
“It’s us going out. Whatever that means.” She glanced down at her hands, then back up. “Your grandmother guessed about us. She said we moon at each other.”
He made a face. “Thanks, Gran. Though I can’t say she’s wrong.”
“Neither can I. I told her we had to be just friends until circumstances changed. She told me she’d do what she could to change them. I think she’s rooting for us.” Hanna chuckled.
He felt the back of his neck heat up with a blush. “That’s Gran for you. Though I’m not entirely sure what she could do, I trust her to have an idea. Her dementia has manifested in the strangest ways, but it doesn’t seem to have touched her business or relationship acumen.”
She glanced off to one side. He wondered why, what that little slip meant, but then she continued. “She wants you to be happy, I think. So, let’s just call this ‘going out to have a nice time and get a little history’. Maybe this time, we cannotput a label on it.”
What if I want to? Gran, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but if you can find a way…“Then no labels. We’ll go and enjoy ourselves. Let’s be honest. I could use half a day to unwind before the party.”
