Anna Meets Her Match by Arlene James Read Free Book Online Page A

this is an important decision. It needs time.” Ophelia tapped the little watch pendant pinned to her blouse and waved obliquely toward the door.
    Mags stared at her for a moment then her eyebrows shot up. “But he said—”
    “Talk,” Odelia interrupted hurriedly. “No more talk . E-except about the design.”
    Mags blinked at that then she cleared her throat. “Ah. Well, it’s just that m-my idea is the best. Uh, the way Anna Miranda has designed it, that is.”
    “Now, sisters,” Hypatia began sternly, but once more Odelia charged in.
    “You don’t agree that we should talk about the designs a little more?”
    Hypatia seemed uncomfortable. She actually fidgeted, shifting her trim weight side to side. Anna sat fascinated, not at all certain what was going on but entranced by the sisterly byplay. She said not a word as Odelia and Magnolia entered into a spirited debate of their individual preferences.
    Some minutes later, Chester entered to remove the tea tray. Bending over it, he looked straight at Odelia and announced, “Mr. Reeves is home.”
    With that, he straightened and exited the room. Odelia popped up and scuttled after him as far as the doorway. At the same time, footsteps could be heard in the back of the central hallway. Odelia produced a lace-edged hanky, which she began waving.
    “Yoo-hoo! Reeves, dear! Can you help us please?”
    Several heartbeats passed, during which the only sound was that of Hypatia softly moaning. Finally, Reeves said, “Of course.”
    Anna twisted in her chair and leaned over the arm to watch Odelia grasp his elbow and pull him bodily into the parlor.
    “We just can’t decide,” she trilled, tugging him forward. “Anna Miranda’s done such a marvelous job for us, but we just can’t agree. Give us your opinion, won’t you?”
    She hauled him over to the table, where Magnolia laid out the four options for him. Reeves slid a hooded glance at Anna before quickly bending over the table. Anna held her breath. After a moment, he turned a look in her direction, surprised appreciation in his copper-brown eyes.
    “These are quite good.”
    She managed a blasé nod and a dry, “Thanks.”
    He went back to the designs, tapping the fourth with the tip of one forefinger. “This one’s the best.”
    Anna stifled a crow of delight.
    “Well,” Hypatia said, sounding relieved, “that’s that.”
    Odelia jerked, all but physically throwing herself back into the fray. “Oh, but…what about the staff?”
    “The staff?” Mags echoed.
    “They ought to have a say in this. We’ll be depending on them, after all, to keep everything running smoothly the night of the auction.”
    “Odelia,” Hypatia said wearily, pressing her fingertips to her temples.
    Undetered, Odelia began gathering up the designs. “I know, we’ll take these back to the kitchen.” She nudged her sisters to their feet. “We’ll each make our case, and see what Chester, Hilda and Carol have to say. That seems fair, doesn’t it?”
    Hypatia sighed and sent an apologetic look to Reeves, who lifted a hand to the back of his neck. Absolutely no one, including Anna, was surprised when Odelia turned to him and instructed, “Now, Reeves, dear, you’ll entertain Anna Miranda for us for a few minutes, won’t you?” She began pushing and shooing her sisters from the room. “So rude to leave her sitting here on her own, you know.”
    Anna watched the whole thing in bemused fascination, especially the part where Odelia winked at Reeves then pinched her thumb and forefinger together and drew them across her lips in a zipping motion.
    “Yeah, thanks for that,” he said wryly.
    Anna waited until their footsteps receded before favoring him with a direct look, her elbows braced against the arms of the chair. “What on earth is that about?”
    “Don’t ask,” he grumbled, sliding his hands into the pockets of his slacks. “Just let this be a lesson to you. Be very, very exact when dealing with my