Saturday Morning by Lauraine Snelling Page B

and this is my husband, Joe.” The way she said it made it clear that Marcy was not an alternative. Her husband might have a nickname, but she didn’t.
    Andy shook hands with her and then with Joe. “I’m glad to meet both of you. Martin said you came from Dallas. Welcome to the West Coast.” She greeted the other couple, whom she’d known from company Christmas parties and summer picnics, and sat when Martin pulled out her chair. Laying her box on the table, she untied the bow and lifted out the lavender wands, wrapped so carefully in tissue paper with a lavender bow, and handed one to each of the women. “A token from Lavender Meadows.”
    “How lovely.” Each woman held the wand to her nose and smiled in delight at the fragrance.
    “Did you make these?” Marcelene turned the ribbon and lavender wand and admired the handiwork.
    “Yes, they are one of our specialties. They last a long time, and when the fragrance fades, you can brush them gently to release new scent, or add a few drops of essential lavender oil.”
    When Martin cleared his throat, Andy glanced at him and detected a hint of annoyance in his expression. Why would just mentioning Lavender Meadows earn her that look? Oh, Martin, what has happened to you? She felt herself shrivel inside.
    Forcing herself to smile, she tucked the box down at her feet with her evening bag.
    At least the women seemed to appreciate her gift.
    The waiter arrived with menus, explained the evenings entrées, took their drink orders, and left. It was Joe who started out the conversation, lightening the mood with a humorous account of their move to San Francisco.
    Andy liked Joe. Not only did he have a good sense of humor, but he was also a good storyteller, which he came by naturally, she learned a few minutes later. He was a novelist. Somehow one comment from Brad turned the conversation, however, and before she knew it, they were talking about company business.
    “So I understand you’re going out with a Realtor tomorrow,” Brad said, catching Andy off guard.
    “Why, I—” She glanced at Martin and saw the look in his eyes. “Yes. First thing in the morning.” Sorry, Lord. Now she would have to go. Lying wasn’t something she took lightly, and spending the day with a Realtor in this city hovered somewhere between having a root canal and a mammogram.
    Brad nodded. “We ask a lot of our executives and their spouses, but we’d like to think we make it worth their while.”
    I wouldn’t know, since my husband hasn’t told me how much of a salary increase you gave him, or how much the bonuses will be or—anything else . Andy’s first thought was to tell Brad that some things couldn’t be bought, things like family roots, dreams, and happiness. But she kept still.
    “If there is anything AES and I can do to help you, feel free to ask.”
    Again Andy smiled. “Thank you. I will.”
    The conversation turned to expansions and acquisitions, which was frankly boring, as far as Andy was concerned. She glanced over at Joe and saw him watching his wife, his smiling eyes telling Andy that he was proud of her. Picking up her glass of iced tea, she looked over the rim at Sophia, who was watching the candlelight reflect off her diamond ring. The other woman, Denise, who sat at the opposite end of the table, nodded at everything her husband said. She reminded Andy of one of those plastic dashboard dogs.
    Feeling guilty for being bored, Andy made a real effort to attend to the conversation. If only Martin had discussed his job from time to time, she might appreciate the expansion that they were talking about.
    During a lull, Joe put in a word or two about sales techniques, based on his experience selling computer equipment back before he started writing. “I remember my boss telling me, ‘The customer is always right, even when they are wrong.’”
    A round of subdued laughter followed. They obviously thought the concept ridiculous. But Andy didn’t. She followed the same