The Time of Her Life

“Before, actually. My grandmother hired him before she ever broke ground on this place.”

“That continuity of staff says a lot about your facility. It’s not common nowadays.”

“Has plusses. Minuses, too. Our out-of-house tax attorney was around since the start, too, but he didn’t trust computers, so he wrote everything by hand.”

“That must have presented some challenges,” she said diplomatically.

Jay pulled a face. “He finally retired. We hired a new firm that conducts twenty-first-century business. But I suspect Northstar will reassign those out-of-house duties.”

She liked that he put business practices immediately on the table. “Once we start going through everything, I’ll be able to tell you for certain. One of our partners is Rockport Investment Banking. I think you’ll approve their caliber of service.”

Jay didn’t reply before they reached the office at the end of the hall labeled with a simple gold plate: Administrator.

Pushing the door wide, he allowed her to precede him.

The office must have cornered the building because two walls were nothing but floor-to-ceiling windows. The view beyond only proved The Arbors was heaven on earth. Beyond the manicured slope of lawn stretched a lake, calmly reflecting the arbors that circled the far end and the towering forest that hid most of the main house from sight.

She recognized pines and fir but there were other trees in glorious autumn bloom, bright splashes of color that hinted at how spectacular this view would be a little further into the season when the leaves really started to change.

“What are those red trees?” she asked. “I’ve never seen anything like them.”

“Around here we call them flaming trees.”

“They’re gorgeous.” She wanted to take cell phone photos to send to her family and friends. “Tell me I’ll be able to work in here and not stare out these windows all day.”

Jay smiled and seemed to like her response. Good. She needed to get off to a good start with this man.

“I’m sure the view will inspire you to do remarkable work,” he said. “It’s tradition. One that needs to continue.”

There was a warning in that sweet whiskey voice. Cocking a hip against the desk, she met his gaze. “Concerns?”

“Just want to make sure we’re on the same page. I’ve been dealing with the suits and attorneys. They’re all quick to promise they can take The Arbors to the next level. I want that, but not at the expense of my residents or staff. The quality of care is what makes us unique. You’ll be in charge of making sure everyone’s taken care of. Thought I should put that up front so you know what I expect.”

Hmm. Demanding, bossy even, but Susanna appreciated the honesty. Her own boss, Gerald Mayne, had warned her she’d have a tough job reassuring Jay that Northstar would continue the quality of service his family had established as a private facility. Jay took seriously his responsibility to those who relied upon him, which made her wonder why he was selling The Arbors at all. Gerald hadn’t shared that information.

“That’s what I want, too, Jay.” Susanna meant it. “We’ve got six months together, and I intend to make this transition smooth and positive. That starts with understanding what you do around here. Then we can figure out how to implement policies and procedures to get The Arbors on board as a Northstar property. How does that sound?”

“Like we’re on the same page.”

Susanna certainly hoped so, because absolutely everything important in her life rode on these next six months.

On her success.

CHAPTER TWO

JAY HEADED TOWARD the maintenance and engineering building to retrieve another radio—he’d given his to Susanna—pondering their first meeting. Unfortunately, leaving the administrative offices forced him into the front lobby, where Amber lay in wait.

“Thank you so much, Mr. C.” Her tone bore up her sour expression. “I guess you needed an engraved invitation to meet the new administrator. She must think I’m a total idiot.”

“What are you talking about? You made her feel right at home. That’s what I pay you to do.”

“I was covering for you, and you left me hanging.”

“Why didn’t you page me, then?”

“You were standing twenty feet away in the bushes. Did you really want the radio to go off where she could—”

“Since when do you use the radio?”

“Oh, right. Like I’m supposed to send a text message in front of my new boss.”

Jay chuckled. Amber had practically been reared at The Arbors because her mother had worked here for years. She was comfortable in a way even the longest hires weren’t. She’d volunteered for school service hours, had been a part-time transportation aide during high school. Understandably, she was worried about all the changes.

He tried to soothe her ruffled feathers. “You bought me a few minutes to get the lay of the land. I thank you for that.”

She gave an exasperated huff and spun around in her chair, dismissing him. He smiled and continued on his way, hoping the new administrator had come prepared to deal with this crew.

Circling the building, he headed toward the north end of the property and the maintenance buildings tucked away there, concealed by the trees and the slope.

Jay found Chester in the garage. A middle-aged African-American man with more and more gray in his hair each passing year, the maintenance and engineering supervisor was the calm in the middle of any storm. Jay couldn’t remember the man so much as raise his voice in his twelve years on the payroll.

“Need another radio, Chester.”

“You got it, Mr. C.” He disappeared through a doorway, where all electronics were locked in the climate-controlled office.

When he returned, Jay asked, “Everything okay? You get an ETA on the mower yet?”

Chester nodded. “The repair shop promised I can pick it up by Friday. Don’t fret. Worst case is it rains, and I get the crew out with push mowers.”

“The crew won’t like that.”

A slow smile spread over Chester’s face. “You know it.”

And that was that. Jay appreciated a supervisor who was a man of few words.

Arriving at the main building, he bypassed the front entrance and a second helping of Amber’s verbal abuse and made for the employee exit at the north wing. As he rounded the corner, Jay realized he’d made a tactical error.

The new administrator’s office.

He paraded in the middle of that view Susanna had been so excited about.

And there she was, showcased in the window. She’d removed her jacket, and the slip of a blouse she wore outlined her delicate curves with some silky fabric that looked soft to the touch.

Ironically, she stood in the same place he’d always stood, in a similar pose even. Hands wrapped around a coffee mug, trying to absorb the peace of the grounds when life inside The Arbors spun at tornado velocity.

He wondered what she was looking for and wondered why he wondered.

But he’d stepped right into it, so to speak, and there was nothing to do but keep moving. Susanna startled when she saw him—an unexpected intruder mere feet beyond the glass. Then her face lit with a surprised smile.