From Heartbreak to Mate

Chapter 7

The shower was not as long as Carissa had planned. She had washed her hair first, then started thinking about everything she would need to do to get ready for the party. That had led to her anxiety building and getting out of the shower after only a few minutes. That way, they would have plenty of time, especially when it came to taming her long curls.

“That was fast,” Hailey said as Carissa stepped into the bedroom, wrapped in a plush robe. “I thought you were going to stay in there and relax.”

“I was,” Carissa sighed. “But then I started thinking about how long it might take to do my hair and realized I needed to hurry.”

“Not really, but if it makes you feel better, it’s fine,” Hailey said, smiling at her friend.

A light tap sounded on the door, interrupting them.

“Girls?” Alice inquired from the hallway.

“Come in!” Hailey and Carissa called out in unison, making them giggle as they had when they were children.

Alice opened the door and stepped in, closing it behind her. She was carrying a tray with three large mugs, making Carissa smile. Alice had done the same thing many times over the years. When she and Hailey were children, the mugs were filled with steaming cocoa. Now, they contain coffee prepared with the same love and care.

“Carrie, I made you a mocha with hazelnut, and Hailey, you have a mocha with peppermint,” Alice said as she offered the women their mugs. She looked at the makeup and hair styling devices on the bed and asked, “So, what is the plan for tonight? Carrie has to show off her beautiful hair, so please don’t tell me that it is going to be hidden in some kind of up-do.”

“Carrie showered and washed her hair so we can make her curls look their best,” Hailey giggled. “I will be doing an updo for myself. I plan on showing off a pair of earrings I found a few months ago, but haven’t had a chance to wear them yet.”

“That sounds perfect for both of you,” Alice nodded approvingly as she sipped from her mug. “What about your makeup? Do you have everything you need, or do I need to pick up supplies in town?”

Carissa shrugged, “Don’t ask me. My makeup usually consists of moisturizer, sunscreen, and lip balm. Hailey is the makeup artist extraordinaire."

“A title I will proudly accept,” Hailey grinned. “I will be wearing a minimal makeup look with red lips that match my dress. I think Carrie needs a plummy, smoky eye with a natural lip. Maybe one that is just a shade or two darker than her natural lip color. That will make her eyes pop, and the green in them stand out even more.”

“That sounds perfect for both of you,” Alice grinned as she sipped her coffee. Her phone dinged in the pocket of her cardigan. She pulled it out and smiled. “If there is anything you need in town, let me know in the next thirty minutes. I will be making a trip into town to pick someone up at the airport.”

“Who?” Hailey asked as she sorted through her professional-level makeup case.

“Andrew Fenn,” Alice replied. “Your dad convinced him to fly in for the party. John is tired of him skipping it and gave him no excuses this year.”

“Is he still single?” Hailey asked, wiggling her eyebrows.

“He is,” Alice said, frowning at her. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Hailey, but if he has not fallen madly in love with you by now, he never will.”

“A girl can dream, can’t she?” Hailey laughed.

“She can,” Alice agreed with a sly smile. “Maybe you will get lucky, and Drew will bring a friend who falls madly in love with you at first sight.”

Carissa looked from Hailey to Alice and asked, “What is so special about Andrew Fenn?”

Hailey answered, “Andrew Fenn is the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome. He is in that deliciously tall range, between 6’4” and 6’6” tall. He is built like a god, with black hair, and his eyes, dear God, his eyes. They are like a peridot green, but sometimes, when the light is just right, they look like golden topaz. There are a lot of handsome men, but Drew Fenn is magnificent.”

Hailey paused and sighed deeply. Alice rolled her eyes at Hailey acting like a love-sick teenager. That made Carissa giggle even though she had tried to fight it.

“What Hailey is forgetting to say is that Drew is the CEO of Fenn Enterprises, which includes the largest construction company in Montana,” Alice said, sighing in frustration. “Drew is far from just a pretty face. He is intelligent, kind, and generous, to go with his good looks. He also likes to give back to the community financially and by volunteering. Drew’s a good man in every sense of the word, and I hope he finds the right person soon. He deserves that.”

“He sounds like the kind of person I have been looking for to bounce an idea off of,” Carissa mused. “I want to start an outreach program that is sort of like an at-home head start, but I have no idea how to do it.”

“Drew would be perfect for that. I will mention it to him on the drive back from town, if you don’t mind. That will open the door for you. I have known Drew for a long time, and what you are talking about sounds like it is right up his alley,” Alice said as she took a long drink from her mug. She looked at her watch and said, “I have to change and get ready for the drive. Melody and Cate have drawn up a list for the grocery store that I will need to pick up before I pick up Drew. I will leave you, ladies, to it and see you later. Send me pictures of the progress. I am dying to see your hair and makeup before the big reveal at the party.”

“We will see you later, Alice. If we need anything while you are out, we will send you a text,” Hailey called after her.

“Sounds good!” Alice yelled back from the hallway.

Hailey giggled, “Alright, Carrie, let’s get to work. I am dying to get my hands on your hair. By the time I am finished, your curls will be fabulous.”

-

John was sitting at his desk, answering emails. Most of them were general business that could be handled after the holiday; however, a few things could not wait. He was finishing up with the last of the urgent work when there was a knock on his open office door. John looked up to see Kyle standing in the doorway, smiling at him.

He was not a big fan of Kyle. The man worked as a paralegal with John’s law firm in Bozeman. Kyle always rubbed John the wrong way. He always seemed to carry an air of superiority that he found distasteful. Seeing Kyle standing in the doorway, a smug grin on his face, made John bristle.

“Kyle, what can I do for you?” John asked as he straightened in his chair. He gestured to one of the heavy leather chairs on the other side of his desk and said, “Please, come in and have a seat.”

“Thanks,” Kyle said, hurrying to sit on one of the chairs facing John’s desk. He took a sip from his coffee mug and said, “I wanted to tell you that I did get accepted to law school. I start in a couple of weeks in Missoula. Do you think there is a way I could transfer to your law office there?”

“I’m not sure,” John frowned as he leaned back in his chair, appraising the man before him. “I don’t believe we have any openings in the Missoula office, so it would depend on whether someone wants to transfer to the office here in Bozeman.”

“Oh? Are you sure you can’t use another paralegal there?” Kyle asked, still smiling.

“We have all the paralegals we need,” John stated flatly. John stared at Kyle and asked, “When you mentioned going to law school, I told you to discuss it with Carrie because it would affect her life as well. Did you do that? If so, what did she say?”

“I didn’t ask her,” Kyle admitted as he took a drink from his mug. “When it comes down to it, it is my decision. I told Carrie about it as we arrived here today. I have already found us an apartment, so all she needs to do is find a school to teach at. If she can’t, I’m sure she can get work as a waitress or babysitter the same as she did in college.”

John gazed at Kyle in shock at how dismissive he was about Carissa. John fell dangerously quiet as he spoke, “Kyle, I recommended that you apply to law school, only after you spoke with Carrie, with whom you have a long-term committed relationship. You ignored that and disregarded how this would affect her. A teacher can’t just walk out on her job and expect to be hired immediately at another school in the middle of the year. The fact that you expect that makes me question your judgment, not only in this, but in everything you do. That includes working in my law offices in any capacity.”

“Are you firing me?” Kyle asked, his eyes bulging slightly as he understood how angry his boss was.

“No. Not yet, at least,” John said, gritting his teeth. “That will depend on how you handle things from this point on. If you cannot look at a situation and see how it will affect all parties involved, you can never be a good attorney. Yes, we always want the best possible results for our clients, but we also do not want to destroy the innocent to give them what they want.”

“I understand,” Kyle said, stiffening as he rose to his feet. “I believe I will get another cup of coffee and then check with Alice to see if there is anything I can do to help. Carrie and Hailey are getting ready for the party in Carrie’s room and will be there for a while. I’ll get ready when they are done.”

“That sounds like a good idea. You know where the kitchen is,” John told him as he turned back to his computer.

John watched Kyle leave his office from the corner of his eye. He leaned back in his chair, shaking his head, still trying to believe what Kyle had just said and done. John hated doing it because of Carissa, but after this, Kyle would have no future with any of John’s law firms or other businesses. As of January first, if Kyle had not quit, he would be fired.