Chapter 2 - Legal and Luscious
"Hello," I said dreamily into the phone. "This better be important; its Sunday you know." I was still relishing in the time Em and I spent together yesterday and last night. In fact, she's out running some errands, but we will probably do the same thing again today.
"Gracie?" the voice on the other end of the line asked. "Gracie, this is Amanda . . . Amanda Fox, your attorney."
"Oh, hi Amanda," I said quickly dispensing with my grumpy attitude. "Don't you ever take any time off, girl?"
"Of course I do," she said cheerfully. "In fact, when you and I resolve the situation I am calling about, I plan to put on my shamefully revealing bikini, and sit out by the pool and have indecent fantasies while I watch the youngsters play."
"Good for you, Amanda," I said half-heartedly, "Now, why the call?"
"I've made the revisions to Allison's trust fund that you requested, and I need your signature before I meet with the bankers tomorrow. Can I drop by today and get this out of the way?"
"Of course you can," I said trying to shown my appreciation for her conscientious endeavor. "And Amanda," I added, "plan to stay for lunch. There's someone I want you to meet."
"Oh really? Business or pleasure," she asked.
"That depends," I replied. "Try to be here before eleven." When I hung up the phone I instinctively formed a mental picture of Amanda in my mind. I guess my new outlook on life has caused me to pay more attention to things and people around me. Amanda is an attractive, mature woman about my age, but I know nothing about her. Our dealings have always been strictly of a business nature. She handles all of my legal stuff. And she does it well.
I returned to reality and went about planning my day. I called the caterer to change my lunch order from two to three services. I've been doing business with this caterer for years so I left the specifics to him with no worries at all. There are clocks hanging every where you look in this enormous house, and every one of them made me aware of the fact that it was almost 9:00 a. m. I had enough time for a leisurely bath before my guests arrived.
Just as I started my tub to filling with warm water and bubbles, I heard the doorbell ring. Now who in the Hell could that be? There's one way to find out, dummy? Answer the door. As I neared the door I tightened the sash on my bathrobe, and needlessly patted my hair into place.
"Surprise, surprise," Amanda cried playfully when the door swung open. "I had nothing better to do, so I hope I didn't come at a bad time."
"Not at all," I stammered not bothering to hide my surprise. "Come on in," I said stepping aside to let her enter. "I'm so glad you dressed casual, Amanda." She was wearing one of those one piece short legged coveralls things, and she filled it out rather nicely. "I like your outfit."
"Thanks. Remember I said I was going to spend the rest of the afternoon poolside once I finished our business here? Well, I have that skimpy bikini on under this coveralls," she confessed as she pulled a lapel aside to show me a strap and the edge of a bra cup.
"That's the spirit, girl. This is Sunday, and you should relax. In order to maintain that laid-back attitude, let's do our business out on the sun porch."
"Sounds great," Amanda said. "I love your house, Gracie," she continued, "but don't you get lost in this gigantic place?"
"I only use about four rooms, and my housekeeper loves that," I replied cheerfully. "Do you think it's too big?"
"Size is relative, Gracie," Amanda said philosophically. "My apartment would probably fit into the size of this sun porch, but there's just me and my Maltese.
We were beginning to sound like next door neighbors, so I politely changed the subject. "Let's pretend this is a holiday. After all, it is your first visit here."
"Okay."