Love Will Keep Us Together

by Kathryn Shay

  “Yes. How do you feel about that?”

  “I’m absolutely thrilled.”

  “Don’t be so quick to say that. This is going to be a hard eleven weeks.”

  “It’s already hard, Jordan.” Another killer smile. “But you’re worth it.”

  “As are you, ma chère. As are you.”

  * * *

  “What did he say after class?” Lexy’s jaw had dropped when Mari told them the story of her and Jordan. Sometimes her youngest sister was still innocent, despite her happy relationship, conjugal or otherwise, with her new husband.

  “That he wasn’t used to wanting a woman and not having her.”

  From a cushiony chair in Mari’s house, Evvie’s eyes danced. “The hero of a romance novel would say that.”

  “Your hormones are going crazy, girl.” Calla put her arm around her younger sister who was pregnant and married to her professional baseball player.

  Evvie grinned. “I should know after I found my Prince Charming.”

  Mari noticed Raven’s expression. “What’s wrong, Raven?”

  “This is a very bad idea, kiddo.” Mari was only two years younger, but all her sisters treated her as if she was totally innocent and naive.

  Next to her on the sofa, Brie grasped her hand. “I’m worried, too.”

  “Why? We won’t do anything unethical.”

  Calla frowned. “It’s quite a temptation. But it’s only for eleven weeks. Self-imposed celibacy for that long is doable.”

  Exasperated, Mari gathered her strength. “I only told you about this because I haven’t been honest with you guys in the past, and I decided when I came here to start my new life, I would be.”

  “What have you lied to us about?” Frankie wanted to know.

  “That’s a story for another day.” She stood. “More wine?” She went to the kitchen. Despite their worries, she was glad they were here. The Gentileschi girls had vowed to get together once a month. They liked to be at a place where they could speak freely, and Yvette had invited Lilly to go to a movie with her and Jordan, so Mari asked to have the gathering in her home.

  When she returned to the living room, refreshed wine and brought more hot pizza, she said, “Enough of me. What’s going on with the rest of you?”

  “I’m redecorating Mike’s house.” Evvie smiled fondly at Frankie. “I won’t be living next to Frankie anymore, but she has Ty now.”

  “Mike’s place is gorgeous,” Frankie said. “You’ll love living there.”

  “How are the wedding plans, Frankie?”

  “Papá wants us to wait until next summer so we can all go home again.”

  “Will you?”

  “We’re not sure.” She shot a glance at Brie. “What about you? Wanna go over there and have a double wedding?”

  “Sounds great to me.”

  All gazes turned on Brie.

  Frankie said, “Seriously? I was kidding. Isn’t that a little soon?”

  “No. Not for us. He asked. I said yes. No date set, though.”

  “Wow, look at us, just like ordinary sisters.”

  Mari hoped so. She wanted a new life, one with Jordan.

  The door flew open and Lilliana burst in. “Ciao, senoras.”

  Hugs and kisses all around. Until the girls noticed Jordan. Windblown, wearing a cashmere green sweater, tight jeans and boots, he looked wonderful.

  “You must be the Gentileschi sisters.”

  As if on cue, they said almost in unison, “Oh, my, God.”

  Chapter 5

  The doorbell pealed and Yvette, wearing her new yellow sweater and yellow jeans, raced to it. Jordan followed, not bothering to chide her about answering the door alone. She flung it open and a little girl Jordan had met at Stepping Stones stood there with her mother.

  “Carrie!” Yvette hugged her friend.

  “Hello, Dr. Dubois. Thank you for having Carrie Ann.” Her mother smiled—oh, no, alluringly—at Jordan. “Is there anything I can do for the party? Help supervise?”

  “No, Mommy. I want to be alone here.”

  Relieved, Jordan angled his head. “They know their minds at this age.”

  “What time should I pick her up?”

  He checked his watch. “Eight o’clock. That’ll give them three hours.”

  “Good luck.” An ominous message.

  The girls were noisy as they scooted into the big living room, which Jordan had turned into a play area. Yvette had picked out everything for tonight: dinner of peanut butter and jelly, a food Americans seemed to be fascinated with, and Jordan couldn’t figure out why. There were princess party dishes, favors and even tiaras. He knew his daughter had thought Lilliana would like the motif. A space he’d draped with crepe paper had been cleared for presents off to the left.

  Jordan prepared a snack of nuts and fruit and a drink for the kids. Yvette had wanted grape Kool-Aid, and he’d checked with Mariella about that. She said it was high in sugar but would be fun. Unless you care about your carpet, she’d laughed.

  Mariella. For Jordan, the week had been long and... excruciating. Seeing her in class twice this week, catching the flowery scent of her when they were close, then on two other occasions when they exchanged kids, and bumping into her at Stepping Stones, all made the longing worse. But in some ways, it felt good to feel desire zing through him, the joy that flooded him by merely seeing her beautiful face.

  Doorbell. Same routine. A friend, and a mother who flirted with him. After three girls had arrived, Yvette came out to the kitchen where he was putting the finishing touches on the sandwiches. Her mouth turned down into a frown. “Papa, where’s Lilly? She said she’d come early.”

  “Probably traffic, ma petite chérie. I’ll phone Mrs. Moretti in fifteen minutes if they aren’t here then.”

  When they still hadn’t arrived by then, he phoned Mariella. She didn’t answer. That was odd. Now worry coursed through his veins.

  She showed up at his door a full hour late, and mother and daughter seemed shaken-both were pale, and Lilly appeared as though she’d been crying. Mariella’s whole demeanor was tense. A solemn Lilliana raced into the living room, and he drew Mariella into the expansive kitchen.

  Keeping hold of her hand, he noticed it was cold and her lips bluish. “What happened, sweetheart?”

  “I had a fender bender, I think they call it here. In this traffic, the police took forever to arrive. The person who hit me was very unpleasant, and Lilly was upset about the accident and missing an hour of Yvette’s party.”

  He helped her off with her pink cashmere coat. “Come sit. I’ll make you something warm to drink.” She let him usher her to the table, and struggled not to ask why she didn’t call him.

  As soon as he set hot chocolate in front of her, and sat adjacent to her at the kitchen nook, she turned troubled eyes on him. “I’m sorry I didn’t call, but I so was upset after this SUV plowed into me. When I got out of the car, the driver yelled at me and I was just trying to keep it together. Then on the way over here, I was still shaky and didn’t want to use the phone. Again, I apologize.”

  He’d like to pummel the guy who was mean to her, but instead, focused on Mariella.

  “Were you hurt?”

  “My neck’s a little bit sore.” She rubbed it. “But Lilliana was strapped in tight and is fine. That’s the most important thing.”

  “The car?”

  “Drivable, but its back is crushed in. I’ll need to get a garage to fix it.”

  “Don’t think about that. Sit, enjoy your drink.” Now that he knew they were both basically all right, he relaxed.

  She’d put her hair in a braid, but tendrils had escaped. He couldn’t help himself from tucking them behind her ear. She leaned into his hand and he cradled her cheek. “You all right?”

  “As I said, shaken some, still. Give me a bit, then I’ll get out of here.”

  “We’ll see.”

  Lilly came into the room. “Mama, Yvette picked princess decorations. S
ee, this one looks like you.” She held up one of the plates.

  Mariella took the plate. “She does indeed. How sweet.”

  “We thought so, too,” Jordan said.

  She smiled at him.

  Mon Dieu, he was losing his heart fast.

  * * *

  Mari had never had a car accident. That was why she was rattled. She told herself to calm down and enjoy being with Jordan for a few more minutes.

  A cacophony came from the living room. She was happy for the exuberance, though the decibel level of five girls was beyond description. Soon, Yvette and Lilly came out again. “We’re ready to eat.”

  “My cue to leave.” Mari stood.

  Lilliana hugged her around the waist. “Can’t you stay, Mama?”

  “I don’t think...”

  “Of course she can, if you don’t mind having your mother here.”

  “Why would I? You’ll get to see Yvette’s presents.”

  Mari sighed. “An offer I can’t refuse.” Though she tried. She shouldn’t be dependent on Jordan like this, but his presence soothed her. And it had been a hard week, seeing him teach so assuredly, so comfortable with the students. And she’d caught a longing expression coming her way once or twice.

  She and Jordan ate in the kitchen, a simple fare of sandwiches and chips, while the girls bubbled their excitement in the main room. The two of them made small talk and once or twice he touched her arm or hand. Like a normal couple would behave.

  But you’re not normal. Or a couple.

  The warning came from her subconscious. She tried to accept that. But instead, the imp inside her responded, Not yet.

  “Presents!” That was a choral demand from the children.

  “I was told I could be in there for this part.” Jordan gave an indulgent expression. “I’m sure that would include you.”

  They sat on a couch off to the side while the five girls dropped to the floor. Yvette said, “This is so great.” She picked up a gift wrapped in shiny foil paper.

  She ripped it off. “A unicorn music box.”

  About six by six inches, the outside was lovely with shimmery gold patina, a large bottom drawer and two tiny side drawers that slid out to hold jewelry and other treasures. When Yvette lifted the lid, the box played the dulcet tones of a song about unicorns with its twirling namesake figurine.

  Everyone oohed and ahhed, and Yvette picked up a second present: An adorable mermaid doll-making kit. It included a soft-body doll, yarn hair, beads, fabric, accessories, adhesive tape and glue, plus all the other things needed to make the doll without needing needles or stitching. “I love it, Carrie,” Yvette said.

  The third gift was a fruit-scented stationery set containing a pencil case and fruit-scented markers.

  Jordan leaned in close to Mari. “I never heard of most of the gifts.”

  Leaning into his shoulder she said, “These will be the first of many things you don’t know about little girls.”

  Yvette saved Lilliana’s gift for last. Beneath the bright red paper and silver bows, was a Magical Starlight Globe. Yvette gasped. “Je n’y crois pas? See, Papa, it has a starry sky that will shine onto the walls and ceiling of my room!”

  The gift giver glanced up at Jordan. “Mama said to tell you that it has a night-light setting, too.”

  “I’m glad to hear that. It’s lovely, sweetheart.”

  “Can we go try it?” Yvette asked.

  “I don’t see why not. Does the globe need batteries?”

  Mari told him, “They’re already inside.”

  They leapt up and raced up the staircase in the foyer. Jordan and Mari smiled at each other. “I have a feeling the two of them picked out the globe from a catalog or on the Internet. Lilliana knew exactly what she wanted to buy.”

  “It’s sweet how well they get along.”

  A princess cake was next on the agenda. First, Jordan passed out tiaras. Carefully, he placed one on Mariella’s head. “It’s been a long time since I wore one of these,” she whispered to him.

  “It suits you.”

  The girls devoured the cake with creamy pink frosting as well as vanilla and chocolate ice cream and then used the fruit drawing kit on the cleared table. By eight, the three other girls left, and Yvette and Lilly brought her gifts up to the bedroom.

  Jordan said, “Whew! I have two doctoral degrees, but this kind of thing is much harder.”

  “Why?”

  “Because it’s Yvette’s birthday and I wanted the night to be perfect.”

  “As far as I could see, it was.”

  She helped him clean up, then checked the stove clock. “I should be going.” Mari had given Lilly permission to stay overnight for the first time at the Dubois house.

  He came to stand before her. He was so male with those wide shoulders, the masculine stance, how he smelled like some expensive aftershave. He grasped her arms gently. “I don’t think so.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean you’re staying here. You’re not driving an impaired car in the dark, alone, and you may be more hurt than you think.”

  “I can’t sleep at your house.”

  “I promise I’ll be a perfect gentleman. Now, there are four bedrooms upstairs besides mine down here. Pick one.”

  * * *

  Mariella studied her face in the mirror of the posh guest bathroom in Jordan’s house. “Well, I tried. But truthfully, I didn’t want to drive tonight. Or go home to an empty house.”

  No one commented back, of course. She was talking to herself. As she brushed her hair, she thought about the events of the evening. It was as if the gods were conspiring to push her and Jordan together. Admittedly, though, she didn’t need much pushing. She left the bathroom wearing a long-sleeved T-shirt of his. It skimmed her knees. Sliding into bed, she reached for her phone.

  Her sister answered. “Mari?”

  “Hi, Brie. I wanted you to know that I won’t be home tonight.”

  “Are you all right?”

  “I am. Thankfully.” She explained about the accident.

  “Are you sure you shouldn’t go to the hospital?”

  “No, my neck was sore earlier, but it’s better now.”

  “So, um, where are you staying?”

  “At Yvette’s house.”

  “Jordan’s house.”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you sure that’s wise?”

  “Given the snowy conditions, I do.”

  “That’s not what I meant. We could come pick you up.”

  “I know. But I’m all tucked into bed so I’m staying.”

  “Whose bed?”

  “I’m in the guest room.”

  “Well, stay there!”

  “I intend to.”

  A knock came on the door. When she disconnected, she told Jordan to enter.

  He stood in the doorway, looking tired, but beautiful in his p.j. bottoms and long-sleeved T-shirt the color of the Mediterranean Sea. Like his eyes. “Hi. Do you have everything you need?”

  “Yes, thanks.”

  “I checked on the girls. They fell asleep with a starry night surrounding them.”

  That made her smile. “You can come in.”

  “No, I can’t. Not if we’re to adhere to our plan.”

  “Just for a minute.”

  Sighing, he walked in slowly.

  She patted the mattress beside her. “Sit.”

  Jordan didn’t move.

  “Please.”

  He crossed to the bed and dropped down. She touched the whiskers which shadowed his cheeks and jaw. “Scratchy.”

  “Hmm.” He took her hand and kissed her fingers. “I’m worried about you. You’re still pale.”

  “I’m tired.”

  “All right. Let me leave so you can get some sleep.”

  “In a minute.” She slid her legs under her and came up on her knees. Encircling his neck with her arms, she leaned into him. “Kiss me, Jordan.”

  “This is exactly the k
ind of thing we said we’d avoid.”

  “I know. Kiss me.” She brushed her lips across his.

  “Mariella...”

  “Please.”

  He pulled her closer and she fell into his arms. They encircled her, and she pressed her chest to his. It felt so good, tears came to her eyes. His hands rubbed circles on her back. Their mouths mated, their tongues explored. Deep thrusts followed by a moan. Mari felt her nipples bead and she longed for him to touch them.

  But he didn’t. He drew back and set her away. He swallowed hard. “That’s all, mon amour.” He stood. “Sleep well.”

  “You too, my love.”

  * * *

  The next morning, Jordan stood at the stove. “What are you making, Dr. Dubois?” Liliana asked.

  “Bacon and crêpes.”

  “Crêpes are pancakes, right?” Lilliana asked.

  “Yes, ma belle. Did you two have fun at the birthday party and your sleepover?”

  “Yes, Papa.” Lilianna looked at Yvette. “I wish we were sisters and could stay overnight all the time.”

  Yvette said, “Me, too.”

  From the doorway, he heard, “Bonjour.”

  He turned. She was cute in his T-shirt and a pair of his pajama bottoms which bagged around her legs and bunched at her hips. “Bonjour.”

  “What smells so heavenly?” she asked, coming to the table.

  Lilly answered. “Pancakes and bacon.”

  “Hmm.”

  He set coffee in front of her. “It’s a mugful of espresso, so it should be strong enough for you.”

  She sipped. “Hmm, delicious.”

  He didn’t step away. He longed to touch her. “Sleep well?”

  “Very. You?”

  “Hmm.” He arched a brow. “I had trouble falling asleep.”

  She gave him an impish smile.

  “Go ahead and laugh.”

  “Why’s Mama laughing?”

  “Adult stuff,” Mariella answered.

  Shaking his head, he went back to the stove. He couldn’t look at her too long. Her hair was messy like he’d run his hands through it. Her eyes sleepy, like they might get after sex. And she smelled like flowers.