The Circle of Friends, Book V...Heather

II Unexpected Interest Heather pulled into the Toyota/Mitsubishi dealership at nine the next morning. She eyed the assortment of vehicles with trepidation and feared most would reside out of her price range. Parking near the main entrance, she leapt from her rattling old car. Slamming the door in disgust, she strode into the showroom. Several salesmen noticed her abrupt entrance and she scanned their faces. She did not see Mark in the showroom and scowled. A short young man tentatively approached. “What can I do for you today?” he said. Heather stared down at the man and wrinkled her nose. She knew that hungry expression all too well and had no desire to deal with an obnoxious salesman. “I am looking for Mark Gardner,” she said, standing up to her full height. “Let me see if he’s available,” the young man stammered. “Can I give him your name?” “Heather Jennings,” she snapped. Excusing himself, the salesman scurried down an adjacent hallway. Heather glanced around the showroom and the other salesmen dispersed, eager to be out of her way. Pleased to be left to her own devices, she scanned the cars on display, and her eyes fell on an Eclipse convertible. The bright red vehicle reminded her of Sarah’s former car, a wedding present from Matt, and she frowned. Soon Sarah would be receiving two new vehicles just for giving birth. Heather approached the little convertible, curious as to how much it cost. She doubted an Eclipse, convertible or not, would be in her price range, and one look at the sticker confirmed her suspicions. Heather would not drive away in this car any time soon. “Ma’am?” The salesman’s voice startled her and she turned to face him. Blinking, the young man gestured for her to follow. “Let me show you to Mark’s office,” he said. With a curt nod, Heather fell into step behind the young man. She wondered how someone like him could survive selling cars. Salesmen needed boldness and confidence, qualities this boy lacked. If he’d sold even one car that month, it would’ve been a miracle. The young man paused at an open doorway and gestured inside. “Just have a seat, ma’am,” he said. “Mark will be with you in a moment.” Heather stepped into the office and the salesman retreated. Mark sat at his desk, phone in hand and eyes glued to his computer screen. From her position, Heather couldn’t see his face, but the deep, gruff voice was all too familiar. Deep in conversation, he had not noticed her entrance and continued barking figures into the receiver. His tone was rather intimidating and Heather felt grateful not to be on the receiving end of the phone line. She eyed the chair opposite Mark’s desk and opted to remain standing. While she waited, Heather took in her surroundings. Surface decorations were sparse in Mark’s office, but one entire wall was covered with plaques and awards. Mark had consistently earned salesman of the month for the duration of his tenure, and after nine years at his father’s dealership, garnered a lot of recognition. She recalled his overbearing and forceful nature from her childhood. Heather had no doubt Mark could bully a car purchase out of anyone who walked into his office. Perhaps making this her first stop today was a bad idea. She was no pushover, but Heather did not feel like arguing with Matt’s older brother. Mark leaned back in his chair and the movement caught her attention. He did not turn away from his computer, but his face became visible at last. The similarity to his brother struck her, from the shape of his nose to the set of his jaw line. However, while Matt’s features were sharp and distinct, Mark’s were less defined, as if they had been blurred. His eyes were darker than his brother’s and his face fuller. The wavy Gardner hair, worn long by Matt, was kept short by Mark, although it had the potential to fluff out of control. At this early hour, he appeared groomed and professional. “You tell him that’s the bottom line,” Mark said, causing Heather to jump. “He’s not gonna get a better offer anywhere else in this damn town!” Slamming the receiver into its cradle, he spun around to his desk. His brows furrowed, Mark’s expression was nothing short of exasperation. He seized a folder on his desk, glancing up as he extracted a stack of papers. Heather braced herself for a cold reception, her shoulders back and ready for battle. Mark did a double take, surprised to find himself with an audience. Meeting her eyes, his expression altered. “Heather?” he said in surprise, leaning away from his desk. “Mark,” she said, the tension in her body easing. “Damn, Heather, haven’t seen you in years,” said Mark, a smile tugging at his lips. “You look great.” “Um, thanks,” she said, caught off-guard by the compliment. Mark sat up in his chair. “Well, have a seat,” he said, gesturing toward the empty chair. “Are you in town visiting your folks?” “No, I just finished grad school,” said Heather, easing into her seat. “I took a job as an assistant coach for Clemson. Start tomorrow, as a matter of fact.” “Really? The girls’ basketball team?” Nodding in affirmation, Heather pressed her back against the chair and rested her elbows on the armrest. “They needed an assistant coach and I wanted to stay close to my father, so it all worked out.” Mark appeared puzzled and Heather cleared her throat. She had assumed he knew about her father. “My father has terminal cancer,” she said, keeping her voice steady. “Heather, I’m sorry,” Mark said with genuine sympathy. “He’s made it a lot longer than they said he would, though,” said Heather. “Well, that doesn’t surprise me. He’s a fighter, just like you,” observed Mark. “Damn, I wonder if my father knows?” Heather shrugged, unable to answer that question. Their families had been close after residing as neighbors for almost twenty years, but she did not know how much they continued to communicate. Her father had concealed his illness from many, though, discreetly leaving work and maintaining a low profile for the past few months. “Sorry, it’s been a while since I’ve seen your folks,” Mark continued, his fingers playing with a pen on his desk. “Been a long time since I’ve seen you.” Aware of Mark’s scrutiny, Heather sat up straight in her chair. “Well, your brother told me to come see you.” “Oh, he did, huh?” Mark said. “You still talk to Matt?” “I just saw him. Spent a few days in Denver.” “Really? So how is my baby brother, the father?” Heather rolled her eyes. “Disgustingly happy.” “He keeps telling me that,” said Mark. “Guess I’ll have to see it with my own eyes.” “He says you owe him a visit.” Mark chuckled, his fingers spinning the pen. “I know, I know. Supposed to fly out next month for a couple days. Just tough to get away from here.” Tossing aside the pen, Mark leaned forward on his desk. “So, Matt sent you to see me, huh? Guess that means you’re looking for a new car.” “Yes, and he said you would give me a good deal,” said Heather, narrowing her eyes, “or else.” Mark laughed, amused by the threat. His deep, rich voice echoed within the confines of his office. “Would I rip off an old friend?” he said. “Hell, yes!” Still grinning, Mark pointed a finger at her and winked. “Not all of them,” he admonished. Reaching for his phone, Mark punched three buttons and leaned back in his chair. “Dietrich?” he said. “You with someone? Got a customer for you. My office.” Not waiting for a reply, Mark hung up the phone. “Dietrich is one of my best guys,” he told Heather, rocking in his chair. “He’ll treat you right.” A sound in the hallway alerted Heather and a man in his thirties appeared in the doorway. He flashed her a brief smile and turned to his sales manager for instructions. Mark arose from his chair, his eyes on Heather, and she rose to her feet. “Dietrich, this is Heather Jennings,” Mark said by way of introductions. The salesman extended his hand. Heather returned his firm grip, determined to show him that she meant business. Mark moved to her side and she felt his hand press against her back. “Heather’s a very good friend of my father’s family and is to be treated like gold,” he commanded, his dark eyes flashing an unspoken warning of retribution for disobedience. “You show her whatever car she desires and let her take as long as she wants. When Heather’s made her choice, you bring her back to me for pricing, understood?” “Completely,” Dietrich said, unfazed by Mark’s firm request. He stepped aside and gestured for Heather to precede him from the room. Mark gave her a gentle shove, propelling her forward. Glancing over her shoulder as she exited the room, Heather saw him give her a nod before returning to his paperwork. His abrupt and unflinching nature had not altered, although his warning to treat a friend of the family like gold was uncharacteristic of Matt’s brother. Heather wondered what else about Mark had changed over the years. Heather stepped into the showroom and hesitated. Dietrich came up beside her and smiled. “So, what type of vehicle were you interested in?” he said, returning Heather’s attention to her original purpose for visiting the dealership. “Something that gets me from point A to point B,” Heather stated in no uncertain terms, “and can handle a lot of miles.” “We’ve got a couple models that fit that description,” he said with a knowing smile. Wasting no time, Dietrich took her on a tour of the lot. He pointed to every car that might appeal to Heather and fulfill her requirements. However, the sticker price eliminated several models right off the bat. Size narrowed the search even further, as she knew any vehicle above mid-sized would be more than she required. She selected four models that fell within her price range, and Dietrich let her test drive each one. He outlined the features of each car while she drove, giving her the facts, mixed with his own opinion. Taking gas mileage and overall cost into consideration, Heather selected the Corolla. There were several different models, but she knew the one with the fewest bells and whistles would suit her needs. Dietrich wrote down the information and returned her to Mark’s office. Another gentleman was inspecting her vehicle and Heather hoped it would start on the first attempt. She needed every possible advantage at this point, and a trade- in vehicle that ran was a must. Mark glanced up from his computer as they entered. “Find one you liked?” he said, continuing to type. “She preferred the Corolla,” Dietrich informed him, sliding the information across Mark’s desk. “And Patrick is test driving her Nissan right now.” Heather sank into the chair across from Mark, prepared for battle. Matt might have requested he give her a good deal, but that did not mean Mark would comply. He finished at his computer and spun around to his desk, eyes falling on the form in front of him. Scowling, he reached for the sheet. Heather watched as Mark leaned back in his chair, inspecting her selection. Lowering the form, he peered at her with dark eyes. “This is all you want?” he said. “The Corolla CE? That’s the base model.” “I don’t need a bunch of fancy gadgets,” she said, crossing her legs and taking a defiant pose. “Something cheap that gets good gas mileage is enough.” Mark c****d his head at Dietrich, who shrugged. Tossing the paper onto his desk, Mark folded his hands in his lap and slowly rocked in his executive chair. “Are you going to be on the road much?” he said. “I’ll be spending the summer scoping out next year’s prospects,” Heather said. “Most of that will be road miles.” “Then you need something that won’t kill your back and butt,” Mark said. “You’ll want some comforts.” “Mark, I’m not gonna spend a fortune on a car I’ll have torn up in just two years,” insisted Heather, feeling her defenses rise. “Not talking about spending a fortune,” said Mark. “How about bumping it up to the XLE model…” “It’s at least a thousand more,” she interjected.