Designs On Daphne Read Online Free Page A

the Continental Club weekends or somethin’ with you? Hank’d like it too, y’know?”
      Feeling flustered, Daphne shook her head. “How’m I gonna pull that off? Heck, I been sendin’ Rodric go away signals all these years . . . feels real silly, suckin’ up to him just to decorate his apartment, when I can’t hardly stand him.”
      Daisy shrugged. “You’ve made clear where you stand, Daph. He can’t have expectations beyond a decent apartment. If he did, he’d be huntin’ easier grounds. Ty said he doesn’t want to hire a fussy professional, wants someone he knows, that he’s comfortable with. He just doesn’t want a place that looks like his mother decorated it, that’s all. Anybody that walks into Hymie’s can see how good you are at that funky down-home Texas look everybody raves about these days. You need a project like that, Daph. Go to Austin, have some fun.”
      Her sister’s words ignited the little charge Daphne’d carried in her belly since Ty mentioned it at the rodeo. She sighed anyway, a long, labored, beleaguered sigh. “I guess you’re right. Can’t do any harm, a coupla weeks in Miz Esther’s nice apartment in Austin and a fistful of cash, I guess. I might find some good Navajo rugs and a big abstract painting or two, somethin’ that would be a nice focal point for his place. I gotta do somethin’, or I’ll be renting back our six hundred acres and lettin’ you buy two hundred head of cattle.” When she saw Daisy’s eyes light, she back-tracked quickly. “I’m jokin’, Daize, I’m jokin’! Sheesh, don’t get any ideas!”
      Daisy shook her head and laughed. “Where’s your phone? I’m callin’ Ella for Miz Esther’s number. If you don’t have your decoratin’ job lined up by sunset, I’m borrowin’ Hank’s big truck and haulin’ you to the auctions next week with a pile a money, and we’re comin’ back with Angus calves, got it?”

4

       Watching Daphne gaze over the Austin skyline, Esther hoped she gauged the willowy young woman’s interest correctly. “So what do you think, darlin’?”
      “It’s sure got pretty views,” Daphne sighed. “From just about every window. These giant, high-ceilinged formal rooms are simply fantastic, and I just love the floors. I’ve never seen a kitchen space as elegant, either, long and narrow, with so much counter space and that big, open sunny dining nook.”
      Esther felt a little surge of hope.
      She’d always liked sweet, tender-hearted Daphne, liked especially the way she’d always looked after her little sister Daisy. Her son had pined after Daphne most of his life. It was understandable. Practical and nurturing, Daphne was guileless girl, with just the right amount of sass.
      Now, after the disaster with Caroline, Rodric’s heart had finally mended, and he was ready to make his move.
      “Well, honey, closing is tomorrow, so it’ll be Rodric’s by lunchtime. He wants to be out of his rented place by the end of the month. Think we can pull it off?”
      “Oh, sure. Sure we can.” Daphne’s wide, agreeable smile made Esther brighten. She was determined to do whatever it took to help her son capture Daphne’s heart.
      “Let’s get to my pied-à-terre, then. It’s over near Hyde Park. We’ll get you settled, and I’ll take you to lunch at Chez Zee to celebrate. Then, I guess we’d better start shopping, no?”

    *****
      Daphne sat on the giant, creamy pale leather sofa in Esther McGreer’s fifth floor apartment with her feet up, flipping through the latest copy of “Austin Living”. Stacks of “Western Home and Gardens” and “Architectural Digest” were on the floor nearby. Tearing page after page, she laid pictures in piles on the floor, arranged by the empty rooms in Rodric’s new apartment.
      It was a little overwhelming.
      The apartment had four bedrooms, four full and two half baths, two patio decks, giant formal living and dining areas, a study, a game