[What's Luck Got To Do With It 02.0] Down on Her Luck

by Carmen DeSousa

  I peeked up at Markus from beneath my lashes, but then my built-in Markus-meter went off, offering me a chance to protect myself from getting lost in the romantic moment. “As if any of that mattered; you’ve been able to come and go in my house since we were seven years old.”

  “That’s true.”

  The overhead recorder announced Point Park, and Markus readied us to leave the train.

  The park, located at the confluence of three rivers in downtown Pittsburgh, not only had a historic blockhouse from the French and Indian War, but also boasted beautiful landscaping and a 100-foot water fountain.

  Markus hooked the leash to Buddy’s collar, then set him on the grass. Buddy took one look at the wide open stretch of grass and bolted, only to reach the end of his leash in seconds. “What did I tell you about that? You promised to show Laina how well trained you are.” Buddy sat, and Markus rolled out a towel on the grass. “You lie back while I go wear him out.”

  “Sounds like a deal.” I lowered myself to the towel and watched as Markus ran with Buddy, careful to hold the leash away from his legs.

  I raised my head to the sun. It was cool, but the clear, sunny day made it feel perfect. Pittsburgh really did have amazing weather. Yeah, it got cold, but even that was beautiful.

  My phone chimed, and I pulled it out immediately, hoping Raylene was okay.

  Not Raylene. Joe. I stared at the text. Are you coming home for Thanksgiving or staying with your family in Pittsburgh? I really want to talk to you, Alaina.

  Home? Why had Joe seemed to forget that he left home? Left me?

  I’m sorry I haven’t called. I’ve just been so busy. I’ll call you on Friday.

  Okay. Happy Thanksgiving. I love you. Tell your mother and Ray I said hi.

  I shoved the phone back in my purse. I’d meant to call him, but there never seemed to be a good time since Raylene wasn’t hiding anymore. Why was Joe doing this all of a sudden? For three months I’d thought our relationship was over. Yeah, we’d lived together, but he’d pulled so far away I’d thought he was indifferent. Now, I had to hear that he’d thought I was indifferent.

  I sighed, wondering if I would have felt differently about his proposal if he’d delivered it in person.

  “Whew!” Markus whooshed out a breath. “If you ever want to burn calories, try keeping up with Buddy.”

  I laughed. “I noticed.” I moved over so Markus could sit beside me.

  He sat down, immediately wrapping his arm around me. Then, as before, Buddy settled down between us. Markus reached down and ruffled him between the ears. “Happy?”

  I knew Markus was talking to Buddy, but I leaned my head on Markus’s shoulder. “I am.” And I was suddenly grateful Joe hadn’t asked me to marry him in New York. Coming home was the best decision I’d ever made. I’d have to sneak away and call Joe right after Thanksgiving. It wouldn’t be right to officially break up with him on a holiday.

  Markus rested his head against mine. “Me too.”

  From Point Park, we rode the train to Station Square.

  Another fountain was the main event of the riverfront attraction, only the fountain at Station Square danced to the music.

  Buddy enjoyed running back and forth with the dozen or so kids, which meant Markus had to run with him, and I couldn’t help but think again what a great father Markus would be. I suddenly wondered if I would have been a good mother, something I’d never thought about.

  I’d thought about having kids, of course; I’d just never thought about what kind of mother I would have been.

  Markus ran up to me, as did Buddy, who decided to shake the water off his fur at that exact moment.

  “Yikes! That’s freezing.”

  Markus took advantage of my freezing comment and sat down beside me, wrapping both his arms around me. “Better?”

  “Always. You’re like my own personal space heater.”

  “And I don’t even steal the covers …”

  I narrowed my eyes, thinking back to a few nights ago when I’d stayed at his place all night. He hadn’t stolen the covers. Raylene said Markus wouldn’t push me, but he did. He constantly pushed me with subtle innuendos, making me burn inside. But … I couldn’t take our relationship to the next level until I officially broke off my relationship with Joe. While I thought it’d been clear that we were over the moment Joe took off for Chicago, his letter said otherwise.

  Ignoring my gaze, Markus smiled. “Hungry?”

  “Yes.” I laughed. I was definitely hungry.

  “What did I say?”

  I dropped my head. “Nothing. You didn’t say anything … I was just … Never mind. Let’s eat.”

  I wanted to say, I know I’m falling in love with you…

  But I couldn’t say that. Because as soon as I said it, that stupid director of fate would yell, Cut. Cut. Cut. We can’t have her falling in love this early on. That’s not exciting enough. How ’bout we have the train derail in front of the restaurant…

  16

  Fate Doesn't Take a Holiday

  Not sure why, but for some crazy reason, I told my mother and sister that I would take care of everything for Thanksgiving dinner, which meant I’d gotten up before the crack of dawn to get the pumpkin pie cooked and out of the oven before I had to put the turkey in the oven. Then I’d spent hours prepping the potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce and, of course, all the snacks that we’d munch on throughout the day.

  Then it was time to get cleaned up and take a nap before Markus came over. If this was going to be anything like our Thanksgiving holidays throughout the years, we’d be up all night playing cards and then hit the stores at seven a.m. for all the Black Friday deals. That had been the tradition as long as I could remember.

  Showered and changed, I headed downstairs to turn on the TV and take a nap on the couch. Nothing said nap like the sound of football in the background.

  The doorbell rang, so I headed toward the front door. It was only eleven, and I’d told Markus to come over at noon — I stopped in my tracks. Wait. Markus never came to the front door. Now hesitant, I made my way quietly to the front door. I couldn’t imagine that a salesman would come on Thanksgiving, but I didn’t want him to see me, or I’d feel compelled to answer the door.

  A peek through the peephole revealed the back of a man dressed in a dark suit. He didn’t seem to be holding a vacuum cleaner or literature. “Hello?” I called through the door. I never answered the door for strangers, no matter how nicely dressed.

  The man turned at the sound of my voice. “Alaina?”

  “Joe?” I unlocked the deadbolt and opened the door. “What are you doing here?”

  He huffed out a laugh. “Nice to see you too. It’s Thanksgiving. And since you haven’t found time to talk to me, I figured I’d drive to you for my answer.”

  “You drove?”

  “Yes. Can I come in?”

  I wagged my head. “Oh, yes. Sorry.” I stepped back inside so he could come in.

  Joe wiped his feet and stepped inside, then took me into his arms, planting a kiss on my lips so quickly I had no time to respond.

  “Oh …” I said, stepping back. “Wow. I can’t believe you drove all this way to talk.”

  Joe forced a smile, but it was weak. “Not just to talk. I screwed up. I know that now.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a black box.

  “Oh, Joe … Ummm …” I stuttered.

  Joe dropped to his knees on my mother’s Oriental rug. “I love you, Alaina, and I’m sorry if I didn’t make that clear to you. I just didn’t want to make a mistake like I did last time. But the time apart from you … It’s been hell. Please say you’ll be my wife. We’ll stay in New York, if it makes you happy. Anything, just say the word.” Joe flicked open the velvet box, revealing a dazzling diamond ring that had to be several carats.

  “Joe?” my mother’s voice behind me called, allowing me a chance to take a breath.

  Joe stood. “Hello, Belinda. Happy Thanksgiving. Hi,
Ray.”

  I turned to see that my sister had also come into the foyer. “Ummm … Joe’s here, everyone.”

  “We see that,” my mother said through a chuckle, her gaze falling on the ring in Joe’s hand. “Come inside, Joe.”

  Joe looked at me, but then followed my mother and sister into the kitchen.

  I followed behind him, my hands going to my face, wondering how to tell the man I’d lived with for three years that I was in love with another man, in less than two weeks. Well, thirty-three years and two weeks.

  Once inside the kitchen, my mother turned back to Joe. “You want coffee or tea, Joe?”

  “Coffee’d be great,” Joe said, but then he turned back to me, taking my hand in his. “Alaina …” Tears came to my eyes, and he smiled, clearly thinking they were happy tears.

  “Mom,” I said. “Joe and I have to talk.” I paused as I thought about where we could go. What restaurant would be open on Thanksgiving Day? But I definitely had to get him out of the house before —

  A tap at the mudroom door sounded at the same time the door creaked open, and the familiar paw sounds clicked across the floor toward me. Markus never waited for one of us to answer the door, of course; he’d earned an open invitation years ago.

  I scooped up Buddy. “Hey, Buddy.”

  Markus approached me, immediately wrapping one arm around me, since his other arm held a wrapped box. “Hey, babe.” His arm dropped as he took in the stranger in the kitchen.

  “Markus,” I said through a gulp, “this is Joe. Joe, this is Markus.” Joe snapped the lid of the box closed and stuffed it into his jacket pocket before extending his hand to Markus.

  “Hello, Markus.”

  “Hi, Joe. I’m an old friend of the family. Nice to finally meet you. Did you drive all the way from New York?”

  Joe’s posture relaxed a bit at Markus’s words. Markus had made it sound as though he were nothing more than a family friend, and had addressed Joe as though he were happy to meet him.

  Joe stepped forward and possessively wrapped his arm around my waist. “Yeah. Headed out at five this morning. Didn’t want to miss spending Thanksgiving with Alaina.”

  I stepped out of Joe’s reach and set Buddy down, then headed to the coffee maker. “Coffee, anyone?” I asked as I turned and held up the pot.

  “Sure,” Joe chirped, taking a seat at the head of the table.

  “That’d be great,” Markus said, pulling out a chair at the opposite end of the table. He set the wrapped box he’d brought in with him on the end of the table, then sank into the vinyl-covered chair.

  Mom and Raylene sat down on the same side as each other, leaving an entire side for me to sit in between the two men in my life. Goody. I wondered if anyone would notice if I slipped some of Mom’s Jameson into my cup and then escaped out the back door.

  No way had Markus not seen the ring in Joe’s hand. And no way had Joe missed the hug and “Babe” comment from Markus.

  Dear God… Please open up a sinkhole in the middle of the kitchen so I can escape this nightmare.

  “So, Joe,” Raylene started, “I thought you moved to Chicago?”

  Bless my wonderful sister …

  “Well, yes, I did accept an offer, but I’m not sure if I want it if Alaina doesn’t want to leave New York.”

  I carried the cups to the table, setting one in front of Joe and another in front of Markus.

  “Hmmm,” my sister responded. “But what if Alaina decided to stay here for a while?”

  “In Pittsburgh?” Joe asked, his eyes darting up to mine.

  “In Squirrel Hill,” Raylene corrected him.

  I stepped to the empty side of the table opposite my mother and sister, and jumped when the chair closest to Markus suddenly popped out from beneath the table. Markus smiled, but the smile disappeared quickly, replaced by a look in his eye I’d never seen, coupled with a twitch in his jaw. Markus was mad. I’d never seen him mad. And after he’d been so friendly to Joe. The question was … Was he mad at me? Did he expect me to throw Joe out after he’d driven more than six hours?

  Joe met my eyes. “I would move here if that’s what Alaina wants. My company has a branch in Pittsburgh. After being away from Alaina for two weeks, I realized it didn’t matter where I lived if she wasn’t —”

  The screech of a chair cut off Joe’s words, and then Markus was on his feet. “I brought this for you, Laina.” He slid the box toward me.

  “Thank you, Markus,” I murmured, not sure what else to say to him. The slight comical side of the situation had staved off my tears, but I felt them fighting for release.

  Joe reached for my hand. “Did you hear me, Alaina? I’d move here if it’s what you want.”

  The doorbell rang, and I jumped. “Who else is coming to dinner?” I was on my feet in a second, Buddy on my heels, to answer the door. At this point, I’d answer the door for a vacuum salesman, or even someone carrying religious tracts. A conversation about Heaven and Hell could last hours, which would postpone the conversation waiting to happen in the kitchen. It wasn’t that I didn’t know what I wanted. I did. I just didn’t want to be rude to either of the men in my life. After all, I’d told Markus that I hadn’t officially broken up with Joe, even though I was standing by my earlier thought that Joe had been the one to leave me for something better in Chicago.

  If I left with Joe to have the conversation I knew I needed to have, Markus would be upset, though. The tightening of his jaw told me that. If I just told Joe to leave without an explanation after three years, then he’d be upset. And I just didn’t want to hurt either man.

  I swung the door open without bothering to look who was calling, but then slammed my hand over my mouth when I saw who it was. “Howard?”

  “Hi, Alaina. I was hoping I had the right house. Can I come in?”

  This is the part in the play where I faint and the director yells, “Cut!” But I just stood there staring, wondering why the greatest producer in the world was standing on my doorstep with a bottle of wine in his hands.

  17

  With Any Luck

  Coming out of my shock at seeing Howard Edwards the Second on my front porch, I braced my hands against the doorframe. Did he think he could bully me into taking a role? “Why are you here? I told Michelle that I was sorry, but I simply cannot accept the role due to a family emergency.”

  “Excuse me?” Howard asked politely.

  “The role. I told Michelle I couldn’t accept the part. Isn’t that why you’re here?”

  “Howard?” Raylene asked from behind me. The familiar way she said his name had me stepping back to look at her. She approached the two of us. “What are you doing here?”

  Howard stepped over the threshold, even though I hadn’t invited him inside. “Hi, Ray. It’s been a long time.” He kissed her cheek, then handed her the bottle of wine. “Happy Thanksgiving, love. I hope you don’t mind my stopping by. When I saw Alaina … she and you, other than the hair color, could be twins. I knew she had to be your sister.”

  A bright red blush rose on my sister’s cheeks like I’d never seen. In fact, I couldn’t ever remember witnessing a man kissing Raylene on the cheek, even platonically. She just wasn’t that kind of woman. She naturally put off a don’t touch vibe.

  “So you do know each other,” I accused, lifting my head as Markus, Joe, and then Mom stepped into the foyer. No wonder Howard had stared at me outside the theater as if he had known me.

  Howard smiled. “Of course we know each other, but it’s been …” He looked thoughtful for a moment. “I’d come home on college break, and you’d just graduated. So, twenty-four years …?”

  Raylene nodded. “Something like that.”

  I tilted my head, completely content that someone else’s life was on display for the moment instead of mine.

  My mother clapped her hands. “Well, the more the merrier. Take off your coat, Howard, and come on into the kitchen. We have room for one more person.”

  H
oward flashed his million-dollar smile. “Love to, Mrs. Ackerman.”

  I gulped again as Markus caught my eye. “We need to talk,” he mouthed.

  I simply nodded and then followed my mother into the kitchen.

  Markus scooped the wrapped box off the table and then took my hand. “Excuse me, everyone. I need to discuss something with Alaina. We’ll be right back.”

  Joe stepped in our path. “I came here to discuss something with Alaina, as well.”

  Markus cocked his head and then pointed to himself. “Best friend for thirty-three years. I go first. Then you’re welcome to have all the conversation you want.”

  His hand tightly around mine, Markus pushed past Joe and led me upstairs to my bedroom. Once inside, he started to close the door, until he saw Buddy charging toward it. Markus held it open long enough for Buddy to barrel through, then closed and locked the door in one swift move.

  He set the wrapped box on my dresser, then turned to me. He took one step forward, then pulled me into his arms. His mouth pressed hard against mine and, without a thought, I opened up to him, allowing his tongue to touch mine. He pulled back only slightly, then took my top lip and bottom lip, again and again.

  “God, I love you, Alaina,” he said through his kisses, coaxing me back toward the bed.

  “I love you too, Markus, but …”

  Markus pulled back. “I wasn’t going to try anything. As if I’d want our first time to be when your boyfriend’s downstairs. Then again, that might be kind of kinky.”

  I shoved him back. “That’s not what I meant. And Joe’s not my boyfriend.”

  “Sorry, fiancé.”

  “He’s not my fiancé either. He left me. I let him leave. He asked me to go to Chicago, and I said thanks, but no thanks. I think that was answer enough that I didn’t love him enough to go further.”

  Markus sighed. “Then why is he here?”

  I closed my eyes. “He says he loves me … that he wants to marry me.”

  “And do you love him?”