Just Beginning: A Prequel to Just Destiny

by Rizzo, Theresa

  “That’s your mother talking.”

  Jenny’s head whipped up and her eyes narrowed in battle. “What?” she drew out in a low voice.

  “Sorry, but you’re acting like your mother. Don’t you think you’re being a little presumptuous judging them unsuitable? Just because you don’t like Annie, doesn’t mean she’s not right for Steve.”

  “I don’t hate her,” Jenny mumbled, as she dropped into a metal bouncy chair.

  Gabe crossed his arms over his stomach and laughed loud and deep. “Oh, yes you do. Admit it; you’d be thrilled if you never had to lay eyes on her again. Annie’s a little superficial, and self-centered, but she’s not that bad.”

  “She’s a... a... a—”

  Gabe’s smiled faded. “Careful, you’re starting to sound jealous.”

  She deflated and looked at Gabe. “You’re right; I do hate her. She just doesn’t fit.” Jenny thought about how to explain it. “You, me, and Steve...we have fun together. We get along great. We like the same games, same restaurants, same taste in movies, football, tennis... We’re like the three Musketeers. There was no fourth Musketeer.”

  Everything would change—was already changing.

  “We can make room, if she’s who he wants.”

  “But she’s loud. And she’s always late. And she dresses him to look like an idiot. And—”

  Gabe laughed. “I agree, Annie’s annoying. But apparently Steve sees something in her we don’t. Besides, we were bound to pick up a fourth Musketeer someday.”

  But not her.

  “Fine.” Jenny deflated, then brightened. “He can marry somebody else—anybody else.”

  Gabe chuckled. “That’s big of you, honey.”

  “I think so,” Jenny allowed with an arrogant, regal tone.

  Gabe sat down and put a sympathetic hand on her knee. “He doesn’t need your blessing.”

  Jenny sighed. “I know. You’re right.” They sat quiet for a minute, then Jenny looked at Gabe. “This is what I get for minding my own business and not fixing him up with one of my co-workers.”

  “You’re right, honey, it’s all about you.”

  “Maybe he won’t actually do it. Maybe he said that to get a rise out of me.” She leaped forward. “You think? To get back at me for the posters?”

  “Oh, no.” He shook his head. “I think he’ll do it.”

  She pouted. “Big help you are.”

  Gabe grinned. “Always here for you, babe.”

  Chapter 21

  Friday morning, dressed in her nightshirt, pink cotton robe, and slippers, Jenny padded down the asphalt driveway. She yawned and squinted at the rising sun peeking through the trees. She wasn’t usually up this early, but she’d been so tired last night she’d fallen asleep on the couch at eight o’clock while reading, waiting for Gabe to get back from the hospital.

  She and Gabe hadn’t seen much of each other lately, so it’d been hard to find the right time to broach her delicate topic. Picking up the Detroit Free Press, Jenny turned back toward the house.

  Maybe she’d surprise Gabe with his favorite meal; it’d been awhile since they’d had a romantic dinner. After mellowed by a great fish dinner and a few glasses of Pinot, having a baby might sound like a good idea to him.

  She’d take a nice bubble bath, put on a sexy little dress, spritz some Chanel Chance in a few strategic areas... She smiled. Perfect. It’d been too long since they’d had a romantic evening. Or maybe she’d get a few candles to scatter around the hot tub. Oh! And some sweet-smelling roses. A little champagne and chocolate in the hot tub under the stars... Jenny shivered. This was going to be an amazing night.

  Steve walked his bike through the hedge, looking disgustingly alert and cheerful. “Gabe ready?”

  “In a minute. He overslept.”

  “He’s been putting in a lot of hours.”

  Jenny ruffled her mussed hair and yawned. Boy, she needed a cup of coffee. “He’s pretty stressed. Hey, do you have any ideas for some cool new bike doodads that he might like? Our anniversary’s coming up and I wanted to get him a fun new toy to take his mind off work.”

  “You could get him a cardiac monitor for training, or Capognola pedals—those are really nice.”

  She eyed his bike carefully, taking in all his toys, then her gaze landed on his shiny blue helmet. “How about a new helmet? Yours looks much lighter than his, and with all those holes it has to be cooler.”

  He cocked his head to the side, a doubtful look crossing his face. “Good luck. He loves that artifact of his.”

  “Maybe if I find something not too bright and garish, he’ll give it up,” she mused.

  Hair sticking up, Gabe pulled his shirt down as he rushed into the garage. “Be right there.”

  “Water,” Steve called out.

  Gabe pivoted and headed back inside.

  “Hurry up. I got a date,” Steve yelled.

  Jenny arched an eyebrow. “Doing something fun?”

  “Annie and I are heading up north for the weekend.”

  “The kids will like that.”

  “Just us. Her mom’s watching Sophie and Josh.”

  She tucked the newspaper under her arm. “Wedding planning?”

  “Not yet. I’m working on a special proposal.”

  “Uh huh.” Sure he was. A good friend would ask about his “special” proposal. Guess she wasn’t that good of a friend.

  “I wish you’d make more of an effort to get to know her. Annie likes you.”

  “Uh huh,” she muttered. He expected her to be gracious before coffee? Now that was simply asking too much.

  He laughed. “Give her another chance. I’m sure you’ll come to like her.”

  Fat chance.

  “What’re you doing today?” he asked.

  “Working. Then I thought I’d cook my husband a nice romantic meal.”

  “I’ll think about you slaving away while I’m relaxing in the great outdoors with my girl.” He looked beyond her to Gabe. “Ready?”

  * * *

  Hours later, Jenny sat at her computer researching quaint bed and breakfast places, when her mom texted her.

  Mom: If you’ve got coffee, I’ll share my doughnuts.

  Jenny: Front door’s open.

  Mom knew Jenny could always be bribed with doughnuts. Wonder what she wants.

  Mom: Be there in fifteen.

  Jenny made a fresh pot of coffee and took two mugs out of the cabinet as the front door opened. Ritz charged the entryway, beside herself with joy that they had company. She whined, yipped, and wiggled under Mom’s attention.

  Jenny wrinkled her face as she took the box of doughnuts Mom handed her. “It’s disgusting. You’d think that dog never got any attention.”

  “Poor, ignored pup.” Mom gave Ritz a final pat, then followed Jenny into the kitchen where she washed her hands. Jenny arranged the doughnuts on a glass plate. Sugar, glazed, and Bavarian cream, all her favorites. And then there were the devil’s food chocolate ones, too.

  Oh my God. She closed her eyes to savor the sweet smell of doughnuts and coffee. Was there anything better? Almost orgasmic.

  Jenny handed Mom a mug and pushed the creamer across the granite for her to help herself as she rounded the counter and took a stool. She blew on her coffee and then took a sip.

  “Fresh doughnuts? Has to be a bribe.” She raised her eyebrows and looked sideways at her mom. “What’d you volunteer me for this time?”

  The last time Mom brought her doughnuts, she’d volunteered Jenny to pet sit for a neighbor’s two cats and guinea pig for two weeks.

  “No bribe. Okay, a little bribe, but first, we’re celebrating. To you.” She held up a sugar doughnut, and Jenny tapped her Bavarian cream against it, as if clinking glasses.

  “Me? Why?”

  “Michael says People Magazine bought your story on Steve.”

  “Yeah, they did. It’ll be in the January issue.” She took a bite.

  “That’s great. I’m
so proud of you.” She looked at Jenny. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

  Jenny shrugged. “I didn’t want to brag. It’s not like I’m a kid running to Mommy and Daddy with a good report card.”

  “You’re never too old to celebrate accomplishments. Families share the highs and the lows. We celebrate Dad’s promotions; we want to share in your good news, too. Next time, it’d be nice if you told us and we didn’t have to find out secondhand.”

  “Okay.” That Mom assumed there would be a next time pleased Jenny.

  “While we’re on the topic of successes…I have to tell you, you’ve really surprised me these past couple of years. You were right, and I was wrong. You and Gabe are perfect for each other.” Eyes wide and smiling, she shook her head. “It seems that Gabe truly was the impetus you needed to grow up. You’ve blossomed into a responsible, successful young woman, and I’m so proud of you I could burst.”

  “Aw, thanks, Mom.” Jenny smiled, slipped off the stool, and gave her a big hug. She’d worked hard and waited a long time to hear that.

  “You’re a successful journalist, and then you’ve made this lovely house a home, for not only you and Gabe, but Alex and Ted, and all of us. Anybody who walks in the front door feels welcome and comfortable, and that’s because of you.” Mom poked a stiff finger her way. “And somehow you managed to still be available for Alex and Ted.”

  “Yeah, I know it’s the grandkids that really turned you around,” Jenny teased to lighten the mood. Mom was starting to go a little overboard on the accolades.

  She smiled softly. “I do love those kids. And Gabe. He’s been nothing but welcoming and caring to us—and his going in to stitch up Dad that Saturday was above and beyond. But best of all, he clearly cherishes you. And that’s what matters most to me.” She pursed her lips. “You chose well, honey.”

  “Thank you.” Jenny’s eyes narrowed on her mom. “Now back to the bribe. What’d you sign me up for this time?” She winced. “Please, not some fundraising committee at Michael’s school. I hate fundraisers.”

  “I didn’t volunteer you for anything. But it does have to do with Michael.”

  Mom polished off her doughnut, and wiped her hands on a napkin. She took a long drink of coffee, put down the mug, and looked at Jenny. “Dad has to go to Ireland for a week next month for business, and I want to go with him and make a vacation out of it.”

  “That sounds like fun. You should totally do it.”

  “Can Michael stay with you?”

  She blinked. “You want Michael to stay with us? For a week?”

  Granted, he’d be in school, but Jenny’d have to drive him to school and pick him up, then get him to after-school events, make sure he did his homework, feed him, monitor his social time, make sure he didn’t stay up all night playing video games…for a week.

  “Or two.” Mom winced. “Maybe three? Would you mind very much? Dad and I haven’t been away alone for years, and our fortieth anniversary’s coming up, and I’ve always wanted to see Ir—”

  “Go!” Jenny grinned. “Of course, we’ll watch him. Go. Have fun.”

  “You should ask Gabe first.”

  Jenny waved a dismissing hand. “He’ll be fine with it. Gabe loves having Michael around.”

  “You’re sure?” Mom’s face relaxed in relief and excitement shone in her eyes.

  “Positive. But are you?” Mom really trusted her to take care of Michael for weeks? Jenny hesitated to bring up bad memories, but she didn’t want any miscommunication, either. “If you’re going out of the country, we’ll need some sort of guardianship papers so we can authorize medical treatment for him or whatever, in an emergency.”

  Mom nodded and smiled. “I think between you and Gabe, you’re more than qualified to handle any emergency that might come up.”

  “Okay, then. Make those reservations.” Jenny beamed.

  They chatted for another fifteen minutes about Ireland, the trip, and the distant relatives Mom wanted to look up, and then she rushed off to pick Michael up and plan their vacation.

  Jenny rinsed out their mugs and put the rest of the doughnuts in a baggie. If Mom thought she was responsible enough to care for Michael while she was out of the county, she must be trustworthy enough to have her own kids. Maybe this was just another cosmic kick in the butt to have a baby.

  Cosmic kick in the butt? She picked up her phone and opened the calendar app. Three days late. Three days was nothing. She’d been late before. Could be stress. Could be she marked the wrong day. Could be anything.

  * * *

  Later that day, Gabe rounded the corner and entered the surgical waiting room. Ignoring the quiet news broadcasting from the flat-screen TV and the groups of quietly chatting people and the elderly man reading a book in the corner, he quickly located Caroline Timons.

  “Mrs. Timons?” Gabe lowered himself into the chair next to the plump, middle-aged blonde, and faced her. “Peter’s surgery went fine. I’m confident we removed the entire tumor. You should be aware that I did accidentally nick some healthy bowel. However, I inserted a couple of stitches and repaired it right away so there shouldn’t be any residual ill effects.

  “He received prophylactic antibiotics during surgery, so I don’t anticipate any extra risk of complications from the additional sutures, but we’ll be watching him carefully for any post-op infection, just to be sure.

  “Peter’s in the recovery room now. He’ll probably be there for...” Gabe looked at the wall clock. “Another hour or so before they move him up to his room. You can get his room number from the aid.” He nodded toward the volunteer at the desk. “Do you have any questions?”

  “That’s great news.” She smiled softly. “Thank you so much, Dr. Harrison. Will he be in a lot of pain?”

  “He shouldn’t be. They’ve given him something for the pain in the recovery room and I’ve written an order for pain meds. He should be comfortable. We’ve also inserted a tube down his nose into his stomach, to help prevent bloating, nausea, and vomiting, which we’ll remove in a day or so after normal bowel activity returns.”

  “When will he be ready to go home?”

  “About three or four days. Peter’s in pretty good shape, so it’ll probably be closer to three.” Gabe stood. “If you have any questions or concerns the nurses can’t answer, you have my office number, right?”

  “Yes.” Caroline stood and gathered her purse and magazines. “Thank you.”

  He nodded. “You’re welcome.” Gabe whipped off his surgical cap as he strode down the hall, heading for the dressing room. He quickly showered and dressed.

  With another couple, Gabe might worry about being sued for admitting making that slight mistake. Technically, he hadn’t had to tell them and chances were they’d never have known. His attorney would probably consider him a fool for admitting it, worrying the patient would be looking for any reason to pin a lawsuit on him, but Gabe felt they had the right to know, and he’d been pissed at himself for being so clumsy.

  Gabe nodded to an acquaintance and held the door open for him as he made his way toward the parking lot. He wasn’t God. Mistakes happened, and as errors went, this one was really almost a non-event, but it still irritated him. Though he’d had a crappy morning at the clinic, he was usually good at compartmentalizing his feelings and not bringing a bad mood into the OR.

  Gabe shoved the side door open, stepped onto the sidewalk, and headed for the doctor’s parking garage. Maple leaves liberally littered the asphalt, and there was a bite in the air. Gabe lifted his face to the fading evening light. He drew in a deep breath and exhaled. He might actually get home early tonight.

  Gabe fished the Samsung from his pocket as he entered the shady garage. His foot caught on some uneven concrete and he lunged forward. He bobbled the phone between his hands while struggling to regain his balance. The phone hit the cement face down. Crack!

  Oh, no. No. No! Gabe bent and picked up the phone. He closed his eyes and pursed his lips. The way this day was
going, there was no way he could luck out, was there? He turned the phone over in his palm. Slowly, he opened his eyes. Dozens of splintering cracks spider-webbed the screen. Crap.

  Maybe he’d just cracked the glass. He swiped an index finger across the screen. Nothing. He depressed the power button on the side. Black.

  “Come on,” he muttered. He tried the power again. “Oh, come on.” He turned the phone over, peeled it out of its case and removed the battery, then reinstalled it. Still dead. “Goddamnit.” He side-armed the phone against the concrete wall.

  The thunk echoed loudly in the garage, but the Samsung didn’t spray into satisfying pieces. Gabe clenched his hands on his hips and glared at the useless cell lying on the concrete floor. Screw it. He blew out a deep breath, took a step toward his car, then pivoted and stalked over and picked up the dented cell. He’d need to try and transfer the data to a new phone.

  Could this day get any worse?

  Gabe closed his eyes and took a calming breath before approaching his car. He circled the station wagon expecting to find a flat tire, but it all looked good. He turned on the ignition—half a tank of gas. Seemed safe. Pulling away from the parking lot Gabe headed for the Verizon store. There went his early night, but he needed a damned phone.

  He picked up the phone to call Jen to give her a heads-up he’d be late, glanced at the screen and threw it on the seat. It bounced off the seat, ricocheted off the door, and fell to the floor.

  Careful you idiot. The way your day is going, you’re lucky it didn’t break the window.

  As he drove down Harper, Gabe’s stomach growled loudly. He searched the console looking for a power bar. None. Of course.

  He passed Canton Express. Chinese? They hadn’t had Chinese in a while. He pulled into the Verizon parking lot, relieved to find no wait. Of course not, everybody else was home eating dinner. Gabe got a sales representative right away, bought a new Samsung and then his luck ran out; it was going to take twenty minutes to transfer the data, if they could coax the old phone to life long enough to access the data.