Page 2 of Just One Look

“Ooh, that sounds ominous.”

“How can ‘hey’ sound ominous?”

“It’s not the word, it’s the tone. I’ve been listening to yours for nine months longer than we’ve been alive. I know that tone. What’s wrong?”

“Not wrong just… well, yes wrong. I think I’m on the wrong side of the generation gap.”

“You’re not old enough to be on the wrong side. And I should know because I know exactly how old you are.”

One thing was true, if anyone could read her moods with just one word, it was Emily. “This new bride, barely old enough to legally drink, wants to destroy a beautiful old house and modernize it. And I use that word very, very loosely.”

“How modern?”

Liz actually groaned, loudly.

“Oh dear.”

“Yep. That about says it all. I’ve been doing my best to stall, but I’m running out of excuses.”

“Stall?”

“I don’t want to just walk away because some other unscrupulous designer will do whatever they want for the paycheck.”

“Maybe you need to do just that. At least it won’t be on your conscience.”

“Of course it will.” Liz sighed. “I wonder…”

“What? In case you’ve forgotten, we have the death penalty in Texas for premeditated murder.”

Oh, how Liz loved her sister. The laugh was exactly what she needed. “I was thinking more if I’m in Houston, they’ll just have to wait for the preliminary drawings.”

“Will they?”

“Probably. They picked me after my remodel of the Dugan house made the cover of theDallas Magazine. Since the child bride wants to brag thatIredid her house, yeah, I think she’ll wait. Besides, she’s perfectly content throwing parties in the first Mrs. Belker’s twenty thousand square foot mansion on Straight Lane.”

“Maybe she’ll get used to it and give up on the new one.”

“That would be too easy.” Liz glanced up at the calendar on her wall. “I know I’m not supposed to arrive for a few more days, but what say you to having your favorite sister—”

“And older.”

“By seven lousy minutes.”

“Whatever.” She could hear her sister’s amusement over the phone. Emily loved teasing Liz for being older.

“Okay. Your favorite, older, sister visiting for an extra weekend? Thought I’d pop into town tomorrow and we can have a wild Friday night eating popcorn and watching old movies.”

“Yes to all but the popcorn and old movies. Friday is the big Baron Bachelor Auction. I have to be there.”

“To bail Devlin out. Got it.”

“You can come too. It’s usually a fun event and the food is always amazing at the old country club.”

“Actually,” her spirits began to lift, “I bought a fabulous dress on sale months ago and am still looking for some place to wear it. Sounds like your little shindig is the ticket.”

“Terrific. I’ll get you a seat at our table.”

“Done. Who knows, maybe I’ll find myself a fun bachelor to bid on.”

---