“Very good. Here is the paper. Please read it carefully and sign it. Take your time to read it if you need, but there is nothing hidden in there. It just says you won’t reveal anything that has been discussed here tonight.”
Jo didn’t bother. They couldn’t take anything from her, since she had nothing to take. She flipped to the last page and signed it, handing it back to Mrs. Bryant.
“Well, that’s us done then. I will call you, either way, tomorrow after I’ve received instructions from Mr. Harrison.”
With that, she and her husband said their goodbyes and left her there alone to work this out with her potential new fake husband.
“Still don’t want that drink?” he asked, heading toward the cupboard.
“Do you have wine?”
“I do,” he replied, opening the bottom of the cabinet to reveal a built-in wine rack on one side and a cooler on the other. “White or red?”
“Red,” she replied, watching as he pulled out a bottle of merlot and popped the cork, letting it breathe a moment while he refilled his glass with caramel colored liquor from a very expensive looking decanter before filling her glass with wine.
“Scotch,” he replied, as if she had asked her question aloud.
Jo smile and nodded knowingly, though she was pretty much completely ignorant of how scotch tasted or if she would like it.
“How long have you been in Eugene,” he asked.
“Not long. Only a couple of days or so.”
“How do you like it so far?”
“People seem friendly enough.”
“Some are. Others, not so much.”
“I suppose it is that way everywhere, isn’t it?” she asked.
“What would make a woman turn up at a random house to discuss a job for which she is completely unqualified?”
“Desperations? Optimism? I don’t know. Is this a psychology test of sort now?”
“You’re saucy. I find that amusing.”
“I don’t know if that is good or bad for me here,” she replied.
“Good. Very good, I’d say.”
They chatted for quite a while, him continuing to ask a number of personal questions and she answering, until he finally gave her the opportunity to ask some of her own. She was of a single mind and had only one.
“So, do I have the job?”
“Yeah. I think you do. I’ve talked to several people and you are the first one I genuinely like. That’s very important to me.”
“Great, then when do we get started?”
“Well, first there is some legal paperwork to sign, things like, you won’t tell anyone about our arrangement. You’ll accept liability for anything you breach.”
“I do have another question. When do I get paid?”
“Half up front and half when the job is complete. You’ll receive the initial portion partly in cash and partly in check form to help you while you settle any affairs you need to tend to, either above board or below the radar. I expect you to be free of bother when you come aboard.”
“I don’t think I can get rid of my husband that quickly.”
“No, but you said he won’t be a bother, and I am willing to take your word for that.”
Jo nodded, hoping she was right and there was no trouble from him. This job was too valuable for him to tank it and she would be set for quite a while with it. Plus, Mr. Harrison wasn’t hard to look at.
“The car will take you home tonight and pick you up in the morning to take you for the paperwork the Bryants will have you sign.”
“Oh, great. Thank you so much, Mr. Harrison.”
“Ah, yes. The other thing. My name is really Dale Wilson. Everyone calls me King.”
“King? King of what?” she asked, thinking it seemed absurd.
“That is something you’ll find out along the way. Are we good here then?”
“Yes. I will see you or whoever in the morning then.”
“Very good. Thank you for coming in, Ms. Claybourne.”
“Please, we’re going to be married. Call me Jo.”
King smiled, obviously amused by her comment. He nodded knowingly and walked her to the front room where the driver sat waiting, just as they had said he would be.
Jo left, feeling much better about her life than she had prior to coming here. There was still some nagging feeling that this wouldn’t all work out and she’d be left just as bad off as she had been yesterday, but all she could do was hope for the best.
Back at the houseboat, she set about cleaning it. Hank couldn’t have picked anyone better to scrub his boat. When she felt anxious, she cleaned everything, and today was no exception. She spent the rest of the day scrubbing down walls and polishing cabinets until the place sparkled.
When she was finished with that, she reorganized shelves and the small collection of pots, pans and plates before moving on to the silverware drawer. Besides, there was not much to do with such low phone signal and no television. She made a note to get some books. Her stay here would at least give her time to catch up on her reading.