“So, what are you planning on getting her?”
“How about I just show you?” Jackson said, taking a bite of his burger.
“You already got something?” Kate asked, dousing her fries with ketchup. “I thought you needed my opinion.”
“I think I managed okay on my own.”
Kate looked at him, puzzled. “So what is it?”
“I’ll show you. After lunch,” he said, stuffing a couple fries into his mouth.
From the way Jackson was eating, Kate guessed that he was either starving, or really excited to show her Lucy’s present. She tried to keep pace with him, but got full and eventually tossed her napkin onto her plate.
Jackson drained his milkshake and paid for their lunch. When they were back in the car, Kate looked at him in surprise. “So… Are you going to show me Lucy’s present?”
“Yes. I’m taking you right to it.”
Kate fiddled with the radio. “You’re not going to tell me what it is, are you?”
“Nope.”
“Can I guess? Will you tell me if I get it right?”
“You’ll never guess,” he grinned. Kate screwed up her face and folded her arms across her chest, trying to pay attention to where they were going. They were headed south, but she knew that once the road narrowed down to one lane, the only thing left was the lighthouse. She looked at Jackson and he winked at her. “Just wait.”
As the lighthouse came into view, she sat up a little bit in her seat. Jackson slowed down and then pulled into the driveway of a large house. He put the car in park, turned off the ignition, and leaned over the steering wheel, peering up at the house. Kate sat, gaping at him, her hand on the door handle.
“You didn’t…”
“I did!”
Kate clapped her hand over her mouth and was out of the car almost immediately. She stood in the middle of the brick driveway, gazing up at the towering house. Fresh white paint, bright red tile roof. Two huge palm trees on either side of the driveway, blue plumbago spilling out of the flower beds on either side of the front door. It was gorgeous.
Jackson clapped his hand onto her shoulder. “Do you think she’ll like it?”
“She’d better!” Kate said.
Jackson reached into his pocket and dangled a key in front of her. “Be my guest.”
Kate ran to the front door and unlocked it, throwing the door open wide and then stopping in her tracks. From the front door, you could see clear through the kitchen and living area to what was probably the dining room, and then beyond that – the beach.
Jackson followed Kate to the dining room where she stood staring out of the immense sliding glass door. He unlocked and opened the door for her so she could step out onto the sprawling back porch. Being the last house before the bridge to the lighthouse, there was an amazing view of the lighthouse and the jetty. Kate gazed down at the grasses swaying in the dunes, then out at the ocean, and then over at Jackson.
“This is incredible. It’s really yours? You bought it?”
“I close tomorrow. The realtor’s a friend of mine, already gave me the key,” he said.
“Does Lucy have any idea that you did this?”
“Nope. I don’t think she suspects anything.”
Kate gasped. “Wow. A house. Congratulations!” She hugged Jackson tightly. “I am so happy for you guys. Everything’s happening for you all at once!”
Jackson gave her a squeeze in return. “Come on, I’ll show you the upstairs. I’m sure you and Lucy will love the master suite.” Kate followed him up the stairs to a loft that split the second floor in half. “Second floor ocean-view balcony,” he said, pointing to two French doors in the center of the loft. “Two bedrooms and a bathroom that way,” he said, pointing to the left. “Master bedroom that way.”
Kate walked into the master bedroom and nearly laughed out loud. “I think this room is as big as my living room, kitchen, and dining room put together,” she gasped.
“Check out the bathroom.”
Kate opened the set of French doors into the bathroom. In one corner was a walk-in shower. In the other corner was an enormous tub set into a bay window. A wall-length mirror and countertop ran in between the shower and tub, with a vanity table spaced directly in the center. As she turned around, she realized that tucked behind the French doors were massive his-and-hers walk-in closets. “Lucy is going to freak out.”
“I know,” Jackson said, his face lighting up.
Kate stood in the middle of the bedroom, trying to imagine what it would be like for Lucy and Jackson to fill this whole entire house. Then it hit her… it was starting.
The beginning of the end of the Lucy she knew. Soon she would be married, a housewife, and eventually, maybe even a mother… Kate swallowed. Finally, she said, “So you got her a ring AND a house?”
Jackson chuckled. “I’m not really going to give her the house for her birthday. She said she just wanted to hang out with her parents for her birthday, so that’s what we’re going to do.”
“But when are you going to give her… the house? And when are you going to propose?”
“Well, this is what I was thinking,” Jackson said, sitting down on the floor in the middle of the empty bedroom. Kate joined him. “We do dinner and cake at her parents’ house like she wants, and her birthday’s over and done with. She’s not going to be expecting me to give her something after her birthday, right?”
“Right.”
“So I’m thinking, that Saturday night, after her birthday, if you don’t have anything going on… Do you have anything going on? Do you have to work?”
Kate thought for a second. “I have a wedding at two, but it’ll be over and done with kind of early in the evening,” she replied.
“Okay, so here’s the plan. We let Lucy think there’s a poker game as usual, but we tell her that you have to go to somebody’s housewarming party… I don’t know, somebody from work, or something. You suggest that she come with you to this party, because I’ll still be playing poker.”
A grin spread across Kate’s face. “I love it!”
“Great! I mentioned it to Lucy’s mom and sister, and they are flipping out. They’ve already started inviting people and planning food. Anyway, she’s going to think she’s coming to a party for someone she doesn’t even know…”
“…but the party’s going to be for her!” Kate sighed. “That’s so sweet.”
“And that’s when I’ll propose.”
“Jackson, that’s amazing. You’re amazing. God, she’s a lucky girl.” Kate leaned over and threw her arms around Jackson in another hug.
“And I’m a lucky guy!”
*
Later that evening, Kate and Chris lay sprawled on the couch, taking a break from their marathon make-out session. “So, I know you know that Jackson is going to ask Lucy to marry him, but did you know he bought her a house?” Kate asked, running her fingers lightly up and down across Chris’s flat stomach.
“A house? He bought her a house?”
“Yeah. A huge house on the beach, just before the lighthouse.”
Chris whistled. “Seriously? Moving in? Getting married?” He shook his head.
“What’s wrong with that?” Kate asked.
“It just seems a little fast, doesn’t it? They haven’t been together that long, right?”
Kate chuckled. “They’ve had a thing for each other since high school! And you think it’s moving too fast?”
Chris shrugged. “When’s he going to pop the question?”
“That’s the thing. He bought the house but she doesn’t know about it. So next weekend, he’s going to have a bunch of us over. We’re going to act like he’s playing poker but that I have to go to a friend’s housewarming party. I’m going to get Lucy to come with me, but the housewarming party is going to end up being for her, and then Jackson will ask her to marry him.”
“So he’s springing a house and a ring on her at the same time?”
“Isn
’t that amazingly romantic?” Kate gushed. She could see from the bored look in Chris’s eyes that he found the idea neither amazing, nor romantic.
“I guess,” he yawned. He stretched and sat up, disentangling his arms and legs from Kate’s.
“Leaving so soon?” she asked, propping her head up in her hand.
“Yeah,” Chris said, scooting to the edge of the couch. “I really should get going.”
“You know, Lucy’s spending the night at Jackson’s tonight. You don’t have to leave. You could stay if you wanted to.”
Chris glanced at Kate, and then slid his feet into his flip-flops. “I could, but I’ve got a lot to do tomorrow.”
Kate sat up. “What are you talking about? I’m the one that’s got to be at the office at like, eight. Just stay,” she said, reaching for him, trying to hook her finger in a belt loop as he stood up. She missed.
“Sorry,” he said. “I’ve got to go to the gym, and then I’ve got to get to the bank, I have a meeting with a client, and I have a lot of editing to do. I want to get up early and get going right away,” he said. “Maybe we can do something during the week,” he added. He leaned down over the couch and kissed her while she was pouting.
“What about after Lucy and Jackson’s party on Saturday? She’ll be staying with him again, and then you can come home with me.”
He smiled. “It’s tempting,” he remarked.
“Tempting like you’ll actually stay?”
“We’ll see,” Chris said, ruffling her hair. “Have a good night,” he said.
“Good night,” Kate replied. She didn’t bother to make a move to walk him out. She watched him pick up his wallet and keys from the coffee table. He gave a little wave and winked at her. She waved back. As soon as she heard the door close, she grabbed a pillow and the remote and curled up into the corner of the couch.
She would have preferred curling up to Chris. She didn’t understand what the big deal was about spending the night. Max never seemed to mind staying over. And he always liked to cuddle. It’s not like she was asking Chris to move in with her. They’d been seeing each other and making out for… weeks now. But he still didn’t seem interested in spending the night. What was the deal?
*
“Happy birthday, dear Luuu-cy. Happy birthday to-ooo yooou!” Everyone clapped as Lucy bent over, held her hair back, and blew out the candles on her cake.
“Thank you,” she said. She kissed Jackson, and then her dad, Ed. Then she went around the table and hugged her sister, Maggie, her brother-in-law, Mark, and her aunt Janet. She hugged and kissed her mom. At last, she came to a stop in front of Kate.
“Happy birthday,” Kate said, flinging her arms around Lucy.
“Thank you. This is so much better than last year!” she said. “This is the kind of birthday I want every year. Just hanging out with you guys.”
“Lucy, you have to cut the cake,” her mom called.
Lucy returned to the table and started slicing up the cake, chatting with her mom and her aunt. She didn’t notice Jackson sidle up to Kate and nudge her as he stuck his hands down in his pockets. “Did you ask her about the party yet?” he whispered.
“Not yet,” Kate whispered back. “Haven’t had a chance.” Lucy looked up at them just then, and held up a plate of cake.
“Hurry up!” Jackson said out of the corner of his mouth.
Kate smiled at him over her shoulder as she took her piece of cake from Lucy. She followed Lucy’s sister, Maggie, into the living room. Maggie had declined a piece of cake and sat, curled up in the corner of the loveseat. Kate plopped down on the floor and smiled up at Maggie. “How have you two newlyweds been?”
“Good, thanks,” Maggie smiled. “How’s business?”
“Busy,” Kate replied, sticking a big bite of cake in her mouth and smiling as Jackson came in and sat down on the floor next to her.
“Hey, Lucy! There’s presents in here for you!” he called.
Lucy peeked around the corner as her parents, her aunt, and her brother-in-law all filed into the living room. She shook her head at the small pile of gifts on the coffee table. “You guys shouldn’t have!” she squealed.
Lucy sat down on the loveseat next to Maggie and quickly gobbled up what was left of her cake. “I think you should open Jackson’s first,” Maggie said, picking up a small white box with a tiny silver bow on top. She gave it a little shake.
Beaming, Lucy took the box from Maggie and bent to give Jackson a kiss. Kate noticed Lucy’s hands shaking a little as she pulled the top off of the box and slid the black velvet box out into her palm. Taking a deep breath, she opened the lid and gasped.
Everyone in the living room held their breath in suspense as Lucy turned the box around for all to see. “Diamond earrings,” she said. “Wow. Jackson, they’re beautiful.” She bent and kissed him again as everyone in the living room exchanged knowing glances. “Thank you, honey.”
“You’re welcome.”
Kate grinned at Jackson. “Are you planning on totally spoiling her, or what?” she whispered.
“She needed something to open on her birthday,” he whispered back.
“This is from Maggie and Mark,” Lucy said, reading the tag on a bright yellow gift bag. “Thanks, guys,” she said, pushing aside layers of tissue paper and pulling out a t-shirt. She unfolded it and held it up in front of her, then let out a shriek. “Oh my God!” she cried, jumping to her feet. She bent down and hugged Maggie, then crossed the room and nearly tackled Mark. “Oh my God!” she cried again. “Congratulations!”
Everyone was looking at each other in confusion as Lucy made her way back to the loveseat. She hugged Maggie again. Maggie could just be seen over Lucy’s shoulder, and she was beaming. “Mom and Dad, I’m pregnant,” she announced.
Lucy held up her “# 1 Aunt” t-shirt for everyone to see. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler both grabbed each other’s hands for a moment and smiled at each other. Then Mrs. Wheeler got to her feet and hugged Mark. She then made her way to Maggie. Mr. Wheeler sat for a minute, smiling, and then quickly swiped at the corner of his eye before getting to his feet and pulling Mark into a big bear hug.
“Wow! Congratulations, you guys,” Kate said, giving Maggie a hug. “That’s awesome!” She stepped aside as Lucy, her mother, and her aunt surrounded Maggie and started bombarding her with questions. Kate turned to look at Jackson, but he was huddled in conversation with Mark and Ed. Being the only non-family member, she decided to take a breather out on the back patio.
It was refreshingly cool outside as Kate sat down at the picnic table and pulled out her cell phone. She had asked Chris to tag along tonight, but he said he had already made plans with friends. That was the last she’d heard from him. She didn’t know what friends he was referring to. She knew that Max was at home working on some website project for a new client. Jackson was here. Kevin usually spent Friday nights with his work buddies. She considered texting Chris and asking him to stop by later that night, but then thought better of it. If he came over, he probably wouldn’t spend the night, anyway. She wanted some company.
She scrolled to Max’s entry in her phone book and sent him a quick text. “Are you doing anything tonight?”
It was barely a minute before she got a response. “Do you want me to come over? :)”
Kate chewed on the inside of her cheek. “Just want to cuddle. Is that ok?”
His reply was quick. “See you at 10?”
Smiling, she texted him back, telling him that 10 o’clock was fine. Then she headed back inside to the party, where Lucy had finished opening her cards and presents and was going around the room hugging everyone and thanking them for her gifts. She gave Kate a big, hard squeeze. “Thank you,” she said. “I love you!”
“I’ll take you out to dinner for your birthday some night this week,” Kate said.
“There you go, Lucy,” Jackson said, coming up and putting his arms around both girls’ shoulders. “Maybe Kate can take a night off from poker to
morrow night to take you out. And then somebody else can win for once.” Lucy grinned. Jackson kissed her on the cheek and then winked at Kate.
“That sounds like a plan,” Kate began. Then she feigned forgetfulness and smacked herself on the forehead. “Wait a second. You know what, I can’t play poker tomorrow night anyway. I have to go to a friend’s housewarming party,” she said. “Lucy, why don’t you go with me?”
“To your friend’s party?” Lucy asked.
“Sure! It’s just a girl I know from work. Bought this big fancy house on the beach. He wants to show it off,” Kate said. “I’m dying to see the inside.”
Lucy’s eyes widened. “Do you think she’d mind?”
“If I brought someone with me? No way. She’s cool. You’ll like her. So you’ll come with me?”
Lucy shrugged. “Might as well, since this guy’s got poker plans,” she said, elbowing Jackson lightly in the ribs.
“Great!” Kate cried. “I have an early wedding tomorrow, so maybe afterwards, we can go do a manicure and a pedicure before the party. How about that? My treat.”
“I can’t say no to that!” Lucy exclaimed.
Behind Lucy’s back, Jackson gave Kate a thumbs-up.
*
Kate got to her house just seconds before Max did. She closed her car door and smiled at Max as he pulled into the driveway right behind her. He got out of the car wearing a faded t-shirt, plaid flannel pajama bottoms, and flip-flops. He held up a pint of ice cream. Kate reached for it, but he pulled it away, leaning in for a kiss.
“I’m not sleeping with you,” she said. As soon as she said it, she wondered what was wrong with her. She wanted to sleep with Chris, but he didn’t seem to have any interest. Max would sleep with her in a heartbeat, and she didn’t want to.
“Just a kiss!” Max said, puckering up.
Kate kissed him quickly, and he handed over the container of ice cream. He followed her into the house and plopped on the couch while she turned on a few lamps. He watched her as she went into the kitchen to fetch two spoons. “Haven’t seen you much lately,” he said, kicking off his flip-flops. “Except for poker. How have you been?”
One of the Guys Page 8
