Love Caters All

by Nicci Carrera

  His chest squeezed. Poor Maya. He grabbed the tissues from the night stand.

  Maya dabbed her eyes. She took several deep breaths. “He didn’t come home. The coast guard, with help from all the local fishermen, set out to look for Papá. They finally found him three days later.”

  “Your mama told me the story. We went to the memorial together to pay our respects. I’m so sorry. But you’ve been a wonderful daughter and sister. I want you to be the mother of our children. After we have some fun. You’ve worked so hard for so long.”

  “It always feels like I could have done more. Now the twins don’t need me any more. There’s not much more I can do for them.”

  “You’ve set your mother up with the food truck so she doesn’t have to clean houses any more. You’ve almost finished paying your sisters’ way through school. I think it’s time for you to enjoy life now, Maya. I think your Papá would agree.”

  Her face relaxed into a smile. She wrapped her hands around his neck, pulling him into a kiss.

  ****

  Maya squirmed in her chair at the outdoor table overlooking the bay. Like Lobster Cove, Pine Bay mixed the scent of pine trees with ocean air.

  She was sore. This thought brought a smile, which Rick, sitting across the picnic table from her, didn’t miss. He gave her a knowing glance accompanied by a proud half-smile.

  “Yes, you’re a good lover,” she whispered. “Now wipe that grin off your face.”

  The town of Pine Bay was magical. Everybody knew each other. The locals treated visitors like welcome guests. Maybe a hundred people lived in Pine Bay at any given time. A very winding road through the mountains connected them to the nearest town. Light supplies arrived via airplane. Hence the name Lost Coast.

  With so few people, things were relaxed. For example, there wasn’t a rental-car agency, so the owner kept one of his old cars to lend to guests. If there was more than one guest, they just had to share. The airport also had a truck they let people use. With cooperation it all worked out fine. Indeed the place seemed to foster cooperation. The sleepy little town clicked along. Everyone’s needs were met without a ripple. In so many ways, Pine Bay reminded Maya of Lobster Cove, on a much smaller scale, just like Rick said.

  This morning, Rick borrowed the car to drive them down to a restaurant that sat on a bluff overlooking the ocean. They nibbled on blueberry muffins just like home. Coffee sent up a curl of fragrant steam from giant cups.

  The thought of home introduced a splinter in this perfect moment. Fortunately Rick didn’t notice Maya’s change in mood. He chattered on about his life, so carefree compared to the man she’d met just four or so months before. He wore a perpetual smile on his normally stern mouth. She made him happy.

  Rick stopped talking abruptly, pointing out to sea. A mother and baby whale poised just beyond the surf. Maya’s heart raced at the sight. The whales were so close she could see the mottled gray-and-white patterns on their backs in detail. They moved slowly.

  She leapt to her feet. The chair fell with a bang. “Whales!”

  Rick stood behind her, his hands warm beneath her elbows. “Yeah,” he whispered.

  They watched for a long time, snuggled together in a cocoon. Finally they returned to their table. The whales continued to do whatever they were doing there while Maya and Rick dined. Rick said the whales were probably dining as well.

  Or else the mother was nursing the baby whale. “Oh, Rick, it’s the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.”

  Rick nodded, “I agree. Almost.”

  “What do you mean?” He was staring straight at her. Her cheeks warmed. “Aren’t you the charmer?”

  “Why…whatever do you mean, Maya?” Rick was trying to look innocent. Unsuccessfully.

  “You’re not going to get your way all the time with those charms, mister.”

  “Well what am I going to get away with?”

  She threw her crumpled napkin at him. He mock-ducked as though she had thrown a baseball.

  “You know, you’d make a good mama, like that whale.”

  “Are you comparing me to a whale?” She pretended to be insulted, but wasn’t. The whale was the sleekest most beautiful thing she had ever seen. Her gray-and-white skin gleamed in the misty sunlight.

  “No!”

  She smiled. “I’m just teasing you. But, Rick, you mentioned waiting for a while. I would like to. Is that okay with you?”

  “Yes, we need to have some fun together, figure out where we’re going to live.”

  Her stomach knotted. “Yeah…about that…”

  “Yes?” He was paying attention but didn’t look alarmed. Maybe he didn’t have too much attachment about where they lived. But how could that work with their jobs?

  “Rick, I really want to have children, but I don’t want to give up my career. I don’t want to leave Berkeley right now. I just started. Plus I made a commitment to Hugh.”

  “Well, you should.”

  “What?”

  Rick came around to her side. He looped his arm around her shoulders. “You should make a commitment to Hugh Yates. Make as many commitments to your career as you want, Maya.”

  “What if I want to work until I’m 85?”

  He chuckled. “I will be right there by your side helping you.”

  Expecting an argument, she was coiled for debate. Finally she processed what he had said. “Are you going to have the babies?”

  “No, I’ll take care of them while you work.”

  Does. Not. Compute. “What? You’re the CEO of GameCom for heaven’s sake.”

  “Not any more.”

  “You can’t tell me you’re going to give up—Wait. Repeat that, please?”

  “I quit my job.”

  “You can’t. You’re the CEO.”

  “Au contraire.”

  “But—” She was at a loss for what to say. Rick looked serious. Certain evidence was coming together in her addled brain. They were up here on weekdays. He wasn’t carrying a mobile phone either. She’d forgotten because the little time she’d known him, he hadn’t had one. “I would’ve seen news of that in the papers not to mention the internet.”

  “It’s in the papers today.”

  “Come again?”

  “Honey, I sure as hell hope so.”

  She pinched him lightly on his arm. “You better explain yourself.”

  “I think we should get back to your suggestion.”

  “What suggestion?”

  “The one about coming again.”

  “Rick, you better stop it right now. Tell me what’s going on.”

  He chuckled. “Okay. I went to the institutional investors when I realized the whole battle had become about me. The debate should be about the technology, strategy, and direction, so I offered to step down as CEO.”

  He was serious. Her heart skipped a beat. “Who’s going to run the company?”

  “My chief operating officer.”

  “It’s not your anything any more.” This would take some getting used to.

  “Ah, but it is,” Rick said with a smile. “I own thirty percent of the shares and control twenty-one percent of the proxies.”

  “Is the new guy going to do a good job?”

  “Yes, I trust Daniel. He’s my friend, been with me from the start. He helped me create the company culture. I trust him to maintain the culture as well as the vision.”

  “Oh.” Maya’s head spun. She was engaged to the majority shareholder of a Fortune 500 company. She had stopped thinking about Rick in those terms the moment they first kissed, but that’s who he was in the world outside their bedroom. This powerful man wanted to raise their babies.

  “Maya?”

  “Huh?” She had been staring at the whales, reveling in the comfort of their peaceful calm.

  “Are you up for kids? Because if not...I will accept it gladly. Anything to be with you.”

  Her heart flipped. An image of herself managing the restaurant while pregnant flashed. She could
do it. She would take a maternity leave when the time came, but if Rick was home with the baby, she could return to work after a couple months. “Oh...Rick. Yes!” Mama wouldn’t be in California, though.

  “What is it, Maya?”

  “It’s just I want my children to know their grandmama.”

  “So we’ll fly to Lobster Cove.”

  “In your little plane?”

  “No, I’ll get a jet. It’s just a few mil. I would’ve done it a long time ago, but I didn’t want to be another one of ‘those CEOs.’”

  “What are you talking about?” Okay, she had to accept she’d need time to get her head around his wealth. She’d have to think about those things later, though, because she had another question. “There’s something I need to go over with you, Rick.”

  “Sounds serious.”

  “I am serious.”

  “Okay.” His brow crinkled.

  “You are going to be my husband, not my business partner. So you must not interfere with me or with my dealings with Hugh Yates. Of course, I want to talk to you about everything. I want your advice, but those decisions will be mine alone. You can’t come into the restaurants and make suggestions. When you’re in the restaurants, in fact, you will be there as my husband, not my business partner.” She took a deep breath. She couldn’t believe she’d said all those things, but she needed to get them all out. Better to know now if this wasn’t going to work. Under the table, she twisted the ring on her finger.

  “Fine.”

  Relief flooded. Out at sea the whales remained. A stellar jay cawed from a nearby pine. A small sparrow on the deck chirped to his mate. Everything was right with the world.

  Rick watched her closely. “Any other demands, counselor?”

  Maya laughed. She snuggled beneath Rick’s arm, wrapping her arm around his strong back. “No, opposing counsel. I think we have a deal.”

  Epilogue

  The wedding took place in June, a year after Maya and Rick met in Lobster Cove. They had a morning wedding followed by a buffet-style brunch. Father Zack performed the ceremony at St. Joseph’s. They kept the guest-list short. Of course that user, Candy, wasn’t invited. Rick told Maya what Candy had said about her and Garth. Candy’s suggestion about Maya’s dating habits nearly tanked Maya’s relationship with the man of her dreams. Guess Rick was right about Candy all along. The rest of the guests were very good friends of Maya’s and of the Cruzes. Her sisters were bridesmaids and Sin Bennson was the maid of honor.

  Maya wore an antique Irish wedding gown Kelly Andrews of Wedding Bliss had found for her. Simple layers of cotton broadcloth with scalloped eyelet edges in a creamy ivory set off her dark hair, which she wore up.

  The dress was a smooth column at rest, but on the dance floor the layers lifted with each spin. A kick-pleat allowed her legs to move freely. Before the dancing, Maya switched her five-inch heels for the sequined ballet flats Blanca had made sure were by her seat at the wedding-party table.

  Where was Blanca now? The older twin wasn’t visible in the tented area to the side of The Sea Crest Inn. The whole inn was closed for their wedding. All the rooms were blocked for friends and families. Maya was able to change her clothes in Aunt Terra’s room. They’d rented one of the suites on the 3rd floor for Aunt Terra. This way the elderly woman had her privacy but could also participate with Maya and her bridesmaids. The inn provided fresh baskets of muffins along with coffee or tea, so they were all set.

  Maya took advantage of a break in the dancing to go to the bathroom because it was the only place she could be alone. She needed a moment to herself. Being a bride was wonderful but came with demands!

  To further enhance the odds of some solo time, Maya avoided the inside bathroom. Instead she went around the back of the inn to the little-known bathroom for people who were hiking back up from the beach. There was an outdoor shower for washing the sand off. The spacious marble tiled bathroom had a fresh smell from floating gardenias.

  Maya took a moment to touch her fingertips to her hair while she regarded her reflection in the gilded mirror. She was now Mrs. Nordan. If only Papá could have been here. She bit her lip. No crying. Her mantra today! She had to get back to her bride’s duty with her face intact.

  She hesitated for a moment. The roundness of the antique brass door handle filled the palm of her hand as she prepared herself to resume her hostess duties. She turned the knob. No one was outside. Birds chirped in the trees. Waves crashed far below like in Pine Bay.

  Rick had purchased the jet, which already proved very handy. He’d flown back a few days before the wedding to fetch some of his friends, making it much easier for the busy professionals.

  Taking time to recover from her battle over the unexpected grief on the happiest day of her life, Maya wandered back through the garden paths. She wasn’t quite ready to face people yet, so, instead of the tent, she ducked inside the inn. While there, she could thank the chefs, who had done an amazing job.

  Someone talked on a phone in an alcove near the entry. A man said, “I get it.” Then, “We have to take it slow.” Pause. “No, I know. I won’t.” His tone was pleading.

  She peeked around the corner. The speaker was Daniel Wilks, the new CEO of GameCom. Strange. What was he talking about? Clearly he was kowtowing to someone. But who? A prickle ran up the back of Maya’s neck. Something didn’t seem right about the new CEO being beholden to someone.

  Should she tell Rick? No. It was probably nothing, and this was their wedding day.

  She continued on around the door to the kitchen. There was Blanca engaged in a hot kiss with Luke Colson by the kitchen!

  Maya hurried away. The two figures were reflected in the picture window. They didn’t seem to have noticed her, given they were still kissing!

  Outside, Maya took a good deep breath. Hokay. She really wasn’t used to Blanca kissing someone she’d just met. Luke Colson, the senior VP of Development at GameCom, was hot, though. Well…good for Blanca.

  Maya rejoined the group under the tent. She had talked to most of the guests, but she had yet to speak to some of Rick’s colleagues. Rick joined her. His arm looped around her shoulder in a snug, comforting hug. Together they greeted his colleagues as well as other friends. Not all of them, of course. Luke Colson wouldn’t show up any time soon!

  It was hard, today, to tell the twins apart, since they wore the same dresses, makeup and hair. But Cara hadn’t done much at the wedding to conceal her interest in Jason. So it must have been Blanca kissing Rick’s senior VP. Correction, GameCom’s senior VP. Maya constantly needed to remind herself Rick wasn’t the CEO any more.

  Here came Daniel Wilks, the new CEO and the man she’d overheard in the alcove, with his wife, Desiree. Desiree was beautiful, if too thin. Daniel had an athletic build. He wore a charcoal suit cut to fit his physique. The phone conversation she’d overheard in the alcove didn’t seem to mesh with this man who looked so in control of every detail of his outfit.

  “Hello, Daniel,” Rick said. “I hope you’ve been enjoying Lobster Cove.”

  Daniel chatted with Rick while Desiree talked to Maya. After they moved on, Maya scanned the crowd for Blanca again but didn’t see her. Noelia, Kelly’s assistant, announced it was time to cut the cake.

  They were back at their tables when Blanca finally returned, holding Luke Colson’s hand.

  “Now that’s interesting,” Rick said.

  “I saw them kissing by the kitchen,” Maya said.

  “No way.”

  “Way.”

  They said all of this with their smiles plastered on. Rick helped her avoid staring at Blanca and Luke, who were seated to their right. Not only were many eyes upon the bride and groom, plenty of cameras blazed, too. Maya didn’t want to embarrass her sister or Luke.

  Cara and Jason slid into position on Maya’s left. Mama sat at another table with her friends, so there were just the six of them on the dais. Three couples. Weird, being in this situation with her twins. They were all growin
g up.

  Wistful tears threatened. Maya emptied her champagne glass. The bubbles drove the tears from the back of her throat. Rick refilled her glass. His dimples showed around his big grin. Her chest filled with fizzing joy long before she raised the glass to her lips.

  After finishing the second glass of champagne, Maya said, “Soooo…I couldn’t help but notice the kiss by the kitchen, Blanca. Luke.”

  All conversation at the table stopped. Blanca looked totally…baffled. Not the reaction Maya expected from her teasing.

  “What are you talking about?” Blanca said.

  Luke chuckled. “You know, our second kiss.”

  “What second kiss?” Blanca planted her hands on her hips.

  Oh no. Twin tricks. Sure enough, Cara looked guilty. Rick’s eyebrows rose.

  “You didn’t!” Blanca said.

  Luke paled. Cara laughed. Jason’s eyes widened. Rick’s mouth started to twitch. He was going to laugh. Not good. How could Maya stop this? Nothing came to mind.

  “You didn’t,” Blanca repeated.

  “You’re the one who said he was such a great kisser,” Cara said. “I just wanted to find out.”

  “You kissed Luke after I told you I kissed him?”

  “Let’s not overreact,” Cara said, taking a sip of champagne while she regarded Blanca’s growing fit. “Oh brother.”

  “Sister!” Blanca screamed. “Or should I say evil twin?”

  Fortunately the music had started up. The sound system was so loud, no other guests seemed to notice the tension at the bride’s table. Maya cringed anyway.

  “Don’t act all hoity-toity with me,” Cara said, “Miss Never-Does-Anything-Wrong. Remember you’re the one who started it all by kissing Tommy.”

  “That was a hundred years ago!”

  “Hardly.” Cara stuck her hands on her hips, mocking Blanca’s earlier body language.

  “Why you evil—” Blanca shoved her chair backwards.

  All three men struggled to their feet. Luke went the fastest, knocking over his chair with a loud rattle. The scene now had the attention of several guests. Maya and Rick stood. Rick used his hands to make a calming motion. Everyone ignored him.