Hard Irish Read Free Page B

done in an impossibly short time.  She’d read a local magazine article on the hotel’s new owner, Tiffany Parker Bentley, and known that hard-driving efficiency would appeal to the Clinton-like feminist.  For once, the fact that Rocky was a woman operating in a man’s world had worked in her favor instead of against her.  With Maggie’s help this morning, Rocky could quickly send the emails and faxes to put the Drake Hotel job in motion and have more time with her father.
      Maggie started out last summer as a volunteer at Rocky’s Build-A-Future camp then signed on as the McKenna Construction’s receptionist and soon became invaluable, not only helping Alice Owen, their longtime secretary, but also serving as a go-to-woman for jobsite offices and paperwork, saving Rocky lots of time.  And when Rocky had to move her father’s things from his apartment after his stroke, both Alice and Maggie had made the task bearable. 
    She entered the air conditioned building and for a brief moment her breath caught at the disorder until she realized the books from the shelves and the drawers from the cabinets were in neat stacks and not ransacked as they had been one day last month.  The office had a home-like appearance to its furnishings and decor with book shelves and comfortable sitting areas to each room, a central kitchen/break room, and a jungle of plants.    
      “Maggie?”  Rocky navigated her way through the front office.  After a moment she heard a door shut then the click of heels on the hardwood floors.
    “Rocky?”  Maggie called out.  “Bugger me, you gave me a fright.”
    She appeared in the doorway of Rocky’s office, better known as the Rainbow room because of the fairytale murals of rainbows and a unicorn riding princess Rocky’s mother, Keira, had painted on the walls of the onetime playroom.  Rocky had been coming to the office since an infant.  The furniture had changed from crib to tea party table to desk, but Rocky had kept the paintings, something she was glad she had done after losing her mother to cancer five years ago.   
    Rocky shook her head and smiled.  Only the Brits could make bloody, bugger, and bollocks attractive adjectives.  “I came in to put the Drake job in motion.  This looks like a project.”
    “A bit of belated spring cleaning.”  Maggie waved her hands toward the mess and joined Rocky in the reception area.  At forty something with strawberry hair that hung somewhere between curly and straight and designer black glasses that somehow missed being stylish, the buxom woman had “hard life” written on her wrinkled brow.  She’d lost her mother at an early age, and from occasional comments, Rocky got the idea Maggie’s father had passed her around to distant family members after that, so unlike the stable home Rocky had had.
    “A project I do not envy.  Is Alice coming to help?”
    “No need.  I can handle the dust mites better than her asthma can.”
    “Good point.” Rocky frowned at the disorder.  “I can help after I take care of a few things.”
    “And have you miss time with your Da?  Wouldn’t have it.  Besides I get more work done by myself.  Any change in his condition?”
    “Yes.  No.  Maybe?”  Rocky sighed.  “It could be wishful thinking on my part, but it seems to me that there are moments lately where I swear he’s aware and he’s trying to tell me something.  His expression becomes intense and I feel as if his hand grips mine.  It gives me real hope that damage from the stroke isn’t as severe as they think.”
    “Good to hear.  What can I do to help you?  I could use a break from cleaning.”
    “If you’re sure.”
    “Quite.” 
    “Okay.  You can send faxes while I do the emails.”
    Maggie winced as she looked toward the Rainbow room.  “Hope you can get to your computer.   Your office is a bloody mess.  I’m not only cleaning the shelves but vacuuming under them as well.  You won’t believe the