“I don’t follow…What’s wrong with a sister helping her brother? Especially with the situation you just described,” I questioned.
“There’s nothing wrong with it, but Damien felt left out and he turned his attention to other things.” Daniel stopped there for the moment.
“Other things?” I was so intrigued by Jade, I needed to know more. I urged Daniel forward with his explanation.
Daniel hesitated, but explain further. “Viv said during the time Jade was helping her brother and even after he died, Damien appeared preoccupied. Jade hadn’t noticed, but Viv did. She told my mom about it, and my mom suggested that Viv go to Damien. She did and he dismissed it. Viv was grieving herself and she was taking care of Jade, so I think she cautiously accepted what Damien had explained to her.”
“I have a feeling you haven't told me the end of the story, yet.” I presumed there was more and when Daniel didn’t answer me, I quickly took my eyes off the road to see his expression.
He nodded.
“Before you go on, let me tell you why I’m so curious.”
“I was hoping you had a reason for all of this.” He sounded relieved.
“I met Jade for the first time on Thursday night at The Palm. I danced with her. All I can say was that she was incredible. I can’t tell you why. I honestly don’t know why. I just know that I want to get to know her better. I’d like to ask her out on a real date.”
“I get it. It’s soon, but I get it.” That was all Daniel said, but when I glanced at him, I noticed he had a sly grin to go along with his statement.
I grinned back. Then I put my mind back on the road. The traffic started to break up and I knew we would be back on LBI soon, but I needed to hear the rest of the story.
“Where was I? Yeah, after Jimmy’s death, Damien and Jade were still together, but from what Viv told my mom, he was not himself. He was short with Jade and distracted. One night, Jade had been out with a girlfriend and when they returned to Jade’s beach house, there were Damien and Courtney, another friend of Jade’s, in the bed that he shared with Jade.” Daniel was embarrassed to have to disclose this information, but he knew it wouldn't go any further than this conversation.
“What the hell was he thinking? Jade was his fiancée. He should have been there for her,” I remarked, as I became tense and shook my head without taking my eyes off the road ahead. I barely knew her, but I was ready to tear this guy Damien apart for hurting Jade. Yet who was I to talk? I had my own problems with my brother Mike and his fiancée.
“I know. Jade is a beautiful woman, inside and out. Damien was a fool. That night, after Jade and her friend let them both have it. Damien stayed behind to talk with Jade, but ultimately, he left. They never worked it out and Damien moved in with Courtney, much to the dismay of everyone…except for Jade. From what I understand she was quiet about the news and never discussed her feelings about it. My parents said she was a real class act. She never said anything negative about Damien either. Jade left him to his own devices and she moved on.” Daniel was candid.
“Did he at any point try to get her back?” I asked.
“I don’t know. If he did, then Viv never mentioned it,” Daniel added.
“You said she moved on. Did she meet someone new?” Again, my need to know more about Jade crept into the conversation.
“Not that I know of. I know she left the company she worked for as a chef to open her own business. From what my parents said, Jade moved on alone, but kept herself busy with her career, not a new man.” Daniel’s statement was good news for me. I wasn’t sure if Jade and I would go out again, but I was relieved to know that she was unattached.
Just then I took the exit to the Causeway that led me back to LBI. We arrived at the house around 4:30 in the afternoon. I explained to Daniel that I was invited to have dinner with Viv this evening and that I had called her before I left to ask for a raincheck. Daniel said I should go and that he would order something in for himself while I was out. Viv nor I would hear of it. I told him when I tried to cancel she said no and was insistent that he come to dinner as well. She said she and Jade would love to see him after all these years. Daniel seemed pleased and agreed that he would join us.
Thinking about the evening ahead, especially with Daniel there, made it feel like everything was falling into place. It’d been a long time since I felt good…it felt right. I pulled up to the driveway and parked the car so that I could retrieve Daniel’s things from the trunk. Daniel asked that I get the walker, so he could use it on the stairs. He joked that it would be a slow go for him and that he should head up first while I unpacked the rest of his stuff from the car.
Once we reached the landing to the deck, Daniel said he needed his wheelchair. Daniel was very strong in his upper body, but he still tired from the steps. He sat down and composed himself and then wheeled himself forward along the deck at the side of the house until he reached the open area of the deck that faced the Atlantic Ocean. He sat there and took it all in. I placed his bags near the sliding glass doors and joined him.
Leaning on the railing to face him, I smiled when I saw his peaceful expression.
“I’m happy for you, bro.” He stated with a wide smile, as he nodded with the clear intent that he agreed I made the best decision in buying this house.
I smiled and asked if he would like a beer. He said he would love one. So I went into the house with Daniel’s bags and placed his stuff in the bedroom on the first floor. I then grabbed two cold bottles from the fridge and heard laughter, so I went to see who was here. I looked out the sliding glass door in the living room to see Jade on the deck smiling as she and Daniel got re-acquainted after several years of not seeing each other.
I watched the two of them for a moment. Daniel spoke softly to Jade. I couldn't hear what he said, but whatever it was, it meant a great deal to her, because she reached for his hand, leaned down, and kissed his cheek as her eyes filled with tears.
She then knelt down in front of Daniel and continued to speak to him with her hand in his. She was comfortable with him. She seemed grateful and at ease. Whatever he had conveyed to her made Jade’s demeanor brighten once again. I watched as her angelic face glimmered with the warm, golden hues of the late day sun. Her smile radiated a tenderness that could be felt by everyone who was around her. I knew she had to be one special lady. At that moment, I pledged silently to definitely get to know her better.
In the few brief times we had been in each other’s company, Jade awakened me to feelings I had buried so deep inside that I didn’t even realize I missed them until now. Feelings that bubbled to the surface and made me feel alive again. I had my neighbor, who I barely knew, to thank for that.
From the first night I saw her, danced with her and touched her, she had gotten under my skin. No woman had ever done that to me, not the way Jade did. I didn’t know who she was, but I wanted to see her again. I needed to find out if these feelings were due to the atmosphere at the club that evening, or was it the excitement and expectations for the new life I had planned to start at the shore or was it just— her? Was Jade the woman that I had waited subconsciously for all this time? The one that I decided to look for as part of my plan when I moved here? Or was all of this fate?
I wasn't sure, but I intended to find out.
Jade
OUR DISCUSSION CAME to a halt as Blaze and I heard my neighbor’s car pull into the driveway. Tommy had a friend with him. His friend was not only attractive, he was someone to my surprise I recognized. It was Daniel Rosso. It had been several years, almost three to be exact, since I had seen Daniel. Seeing him now reminded me of how kind he had been to our family when my brother passed away. He felt our grief, but more importantly, he understood what haunted Jimmy.
His knowledge and understanding comforted me and helped me to move forward. I don’t know if I had ever really healed from Jimmy’s death, but Daniel helped me to place it somewhere in my heart, where it was protected. A place that allowed me to c
ontinue to live.
“Is that Daniel from the Center with your neighbor? You never mentioned that Tommy knew Daniel?” Blaze asked.
As I watched Tommy carefully assist Daniel from the car, my heart melted. That moment between Tommy and Daniel made me see that Tommy might just be the perfect person to care for and buy my parent’s old beach house.
“Jade, were you even listening to me?” Blaze questioned with a hint of persistence in her tone.
“Yes, I heard you the first time. And to answer your questions, yes, that’s Daniel from the Center and no, I didn’t know they were friends.”
“Well, at least you know how Aunt Viv was able to get the house rented without you knowing about it until now,” Blaze said.
I smirked. “Yeah, one less thing to talk with her about before dinner.”
Our conversation was interrupted by the buzz of Blaze’s phone. That meant Reece needed her. She answered with a sigh of frustration as she excused herself to appease her lover. I noticed that Daniel was sitting alone on the deck next door. He didn’t see me when they drove up and he hadn’t noticed me now, so I decided to go to him and say hello. It had been awhile since we saw each other, and after Jimmy’s funeral we had lost touch. I always liked Daniel and I felt bad that we didn’t stay connected; now I would see if that could be fixed. I walked up the stairs to the deck that Daniel was on. He turned his wheelchair slightly to see who was behind him.
He smiled warmly at me. “Jade, good to see you.”
“Hi Daniel, it’s so nice to see you too,” I stated, as I walked over and leaned down to hug him.
His arms embraced me firmly. All of those memories flooded my body and my tears escaped me.
“Hey, what’s with the tears? You're going to ruin my reputation. I never make the ladies cry.”
I stood up, wiped my eyes, and chuckled at his response to my emotions. “I don’t know why I’m crying. I’m happy to see you I guess.”
“Well, as long as they’re happy tears.” He grinned.
I nodded. “Yes, they’re happy tears. How are you?”
“I’m good. How are you? Are you still making those delicious desserts?”
“Wow, you remembered?”
“Of course, how could I forget?”
When I took them to Jimmy, I took them to everyone.
“Yeah, he always did share them with you, didn’t he?”
“Yes, he certainly did.”
“Since you brought it up, I’m now the proud owner of Summertime Sweets right here on LBI, and soon to be the owner of a newer, larger building.” I boasted teasingly to Daniel. He always loved the pastries I brought to him and Jimmy. I think sometimes he ate more than Jimmy did. That small memory made me smile.
“That’s fantastic! I’m so glad you followed through with your plans. I remember you had talked about it when you came to visit Jimmy at the Center. It’s nice to see that your dreams have come true.”
“Thank you. Are you staying for a while? You’ll have to come and see the place in person while you're here,” I said. I was excited to see Daniel. It felt great to talk with him again. For some odd reason, it made me feel like Jimmy was close by.
“I’d love to. I’ll ask Tommy to bring me by sometime this weekend.”
“I’ll make sure to have a care package ready to take home with you. Are you still at the Center or have you moved?” I was curious if Daniel left the Center.
“No, I haven’t moved. I’m teaching art therapy there now. I have my own condo on the compound,” Daniel explained.
Daniel’s statement reminded me of the fact that I wasn’t a very considerate person. Daniel was still at the Center and I had only seen him two times since Jimmy’s death. Today would make three. I can’t even remember why we lost touch. He and Jimmy had become great friends while Jimmy was there. Why hadn’t I kept in contact with Daniel? He was always so kind to me. I decided that today gave me a chance to apologize and get reacquainted with him. I hoped he would forgive me.
I looked down to collect my thoughts and get up enough nerve to give a proper apology that was a long time overdue.
“Daniel, that's great that you’re teaching and living on your own.” I hesitated and turned to get strength from the surf.
Chicken.
Daniel, sensing my hesitation said, “Jade, please don’t feel bad.”
I couldn't face him. It really hit me that I essentially moved on without a word to Daniel when Jimmy died.
“Jade, please look at me. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
That got my attention.
I turned to face Daniel slowly, baffled and surprised that he knew what I was thinking.
“How did you know?” That was all I could assemble.
He smiled a knowing smile. “After Jimmy died, I had a feeling that I wouldn’t hear from you. Viv told me that you, naturally, took it very hard, but she said that there was tension between you and your parents, and Damien, too. I knew you had a great deal on your plate. I called Viv to get updates on you. She told me you opened the dessert shoppe, but I must confess I haven’t talked to her for a while. In the last year, a lot has changed in my life as well, so I was busy dealing with that.”
I knelt in front of him and took his hands. I stared at him with a heart filled with thankfulness. He was so gracious to understand and to not hold it against me. Not everyone in my life was that understanding, except for Viv and Blaze.
My parents were the least understanding, and they said that I needed to move on. They continuously chanted that Jimmy wouldn’t want me to live the way I was living. I wasn’t living any differently than I had when he was alive. I was completely productive. I left my job as pastry chef at one of Reece’s places in the city and took my savings and the money Jimmy left for me and opened up Summertime Sweets. I bought the house that was available next to my parent’s beach home and slowly made it my own. I had also been in the process of planning my wedding with Damien. He was the one person that came to mind who I thought would have understood the most, but he was even less understanding than my parents. After a year of mourning and changing my career, I guess he had enough of my so-called defiance. When things didn’t go Damien’s way, he fucked one of my close friends.
Hmmm… he was more like Reece than I realized.
My negatives thoughts were washed away by the squeeze and jiggle of my hands. I looked at Daniel as he gave me a playful wink. He knew what I was thinking about. I knew that I would never let Daniel’s friendship drift away from me again.
“I am sorry I wasn’t a very good friend to you, but I promise right here and now that I will never let our friendship slip away again.” I smiled warmly with the hope that he believed me.
Daniel smiled back and leaned forward. “I’m going to hold you to it.”
We both laughed and turned toward the house, as the sliding door opened to display Tommy with a tray of drinks. I stood up immediately, excited to greet him.
Jade, you are far too old to be a school girl. Get a grip.
I surprised myself that my emotions heightened each time I saw Tommy. I definitely had to get them under control. I didn't want him to get the wrong idea or think I was available. I mean although I was single, I wasn’t looking for a long-term, complicated relationship with any man. I just wanted to be free to have fun. Jimmy would have been proud of me, no strings.
“Can I help you with anything?” I asked as I saw him struggle with the door and the tray. He couldn’t close the door as easily as he opened it. The truth was that door always jammed. It was nearly impossible to close it without this certain trick to loosen it up.
“Could you take this?”
I nodded and took the tray with the drinks and placed them on the patio table. I turned to see Tommy as he pulled on the door with sheer frustration. I giggled as I watched him struggle the way Jimmy had every time he closed that door. Tommy stopped what he was doing when he heard me laugh. He turned towards me and grinned before he walked over
to me and leaned in close.
“Okay, smartypants, what’s so funny?” He teased.
“You.”
“Me?…Me?” he asked once and then again, but this time he directed it to Daniel, who had his hand over his mouth. Probably to screen the chuckle that was trying to escape.
“If you know so much, then you fix it.” Although Tommy seemed amused, he challenged me to fix the door.
This was one challenge I knew I would win.
I looked at both Tommy and Daniel. Daniel’s smile was playful but curious. Tommy’s grin was more of presumed satisfaction that I wouldn’t be able to release the door from its current state of damage. Boy, was he in for a surprise. I walked over and stood in the doorway, my feet straddled the threshold so that I could get a firm grip on the door as I jarred it out of its current position. I lifted it up slightly from the handle and yanked hard. There was a loud crack and then the door slid forward. I moved outside and closed it slowly with the tips of my fingers gently on the handle and pushed it shut. I turned and lifted my chin, as I walked back to my new neighbor and my old friend with a delighted, satisfied look on my face. I was completely pleased by how my tiny maneuver made the door respond.
“I guess she showed you,” Daniel said just to hassle Tommy, all in good fun, of course.
Tommy turned to Daniel, who appeared to be holding back his laughter. I laughed because of Daniel. When Tommy caught a glimpse of me from the corner of his eye and saw that I was amused, he turned his full attention to me.
“So are you going to tell us how you did that?” he asked.
“I’ll think about it.”
“Fine, don’t tell me. I’ll just knock on your door anytime I have trouble with it in the future,” he said, as he stood in front of me and waited to hear my response.
“You know where I live.”
Just as Tommy was about to respond, Blaze came racing up the stairs as if she was on fire. This couldn’t be good. Blaze ignored everyone and pulled me to her.
Within Six Months (A Wild Roses Novel Book 1) Page 7
