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“Well, I know Mama worked with Joe, and I thought having some of her work colleagues there on our special day would help me feel closer to her.” Gracie wipes a fake tear from the corner of her eye, and this Oscar-worthy performance teaches me never to underestimate her.
“Oh here, dear,” the woman passes her a tissue from the box beside her chair.
“Thank you,” Gracie snuffles, using the tissue to dab her eyes. “I was wondering if Joe had a list of associates. People they worked with who maybe we could contact to share our day with. You must come too of course,” Gracie adds, reaching across the table to take the woman’s hand.
“I’d be honored,” the old woman places her other hand on her chest. “I don’t know if I can be much help on the guestlist front though, I didn’t know any of his colleagues, unfortunately. Joe never had all that much to say about work. But then, I suppose there isn’t much you can say about selling stationery.” Mrs. Deferman takes a sip of her tea and Gracie looks at me, failing to hide the shock from her face.
“There may be something in his office, you’re free to take a look. Everything’s still there. I haven’t had the strength to go through his things yet.”
“Oh, Mrs. Deferman.” Gracie moves in for another hug. “Thank you, thank you so much.”
Clever fucking girl.
We finish our tea before the old woman leads us up the stairs and opens up the door to a box room. There’s a small desk and paperwork scattered everywhere. Invoices, and catalogs all displaying stationery.
“I’m sure he’ll have had a contacts book here somewhere.” the woman says, perching her glasses on the end of her nose and scrolling her eyes over the bookshelves. I grab Gracie's arm while she’s distracted, pointing my head to the floor space under the desk where I spot a briefcase identical to her mother's.
“Here we go. Joe’s little black book,” the old woman says with a chuckle.
I know anything relating to the agency is gonna be in that case. We need to get it out of here and back to the club. I glance around the room trying to come up with something that won’t involve causing the old woman distress. Then my eyes spot something out the window that gives me an idea.
“Would you look at that,” I come at Gracie from behind, wrapping my arm around her neck.
“Is that an apple tree, Mrs. Deferman?”
“It sure is. My Joe planted that when we first brought the place.”
“Well, I just love apple pie,” I tell her, learning from Gracie and putting on a sweet voice of my own, I’m surprised at how well I actually pull it off.
“You do? That was Joe’s favorite. It’s why he planted the tree,” she laughs, looking out the window proudly. “You must pick some and take some back with you, so Gracie here can make you a pie. I have a great recipe for making the perfect pastry, the trick is to…”
“Why don’t you girls go out back and pick some of those apples. I can copy the names and numbers from the book. And Gracie, you can tell Mrs. Deferman the story about how we met.” I crush Gracie’s neck a little tighter in my arm and smack a kiss on her cheek.
“You’re gonna love it,” I whisper at the woman.
Gracie follows her out the room, looking back at me with evil eyes, and I wait until I can see the pair of them chattering around the tree. Gracie holding a bag, while Mrs. Deferman fills it up with apples. I take the briefcase and the little black book. And sneak back down the stairs, taking the briefcase out the front door to the truck and hiding it under my seat. When I make my way back inside. I hear them in the kitchen, and make my way through to them.
“Well, I think we’ve got everything we need.” I join them, placing the black book on the kitchen counter.
“And I’ve got the apples.” Gracie holds up the bag gleefully.
“We should hit the road if we want to get back before dark,” I suggest, hoping to move things on and get the hell out of here.
“Wait, you still haven’t told me how you two met.” The old woman sounds genuinely interested, so I don’t disappoint her.
“Well,” I take Gracie’s hand in mine, ready for my final performance.
“The truth is. I saw her, and in that moment I knew I had to have her. So, I gave her no choice and swept her right off her feet.” I touch my lips to Gracie's knuckles and watch her mouth drop from its forced grin.
“You cheeky thing,” the old woman lands a half-hearted slap on my shoulder.
“And she’s been driving me wild ever since.” I pull Gracie onto my body, the same way Jessie does to Maddy whenever he’s been away from her for more than five fucking minutes.
“But you wouldn’t have her any other way,” Mrs. Deferman says knowingly.
“No, I wouldn’t.” I place a finger under Gracie’s chin, forcing her to look up at me, and I take the opportunity to taste those lips again. Crisp and fresh, just like the apples she’s holding.
“How lovely,” the old lady swoons.
