Tasha patted her hand, but remained silent.
“I’m just tired of feeling so lonely,” Jaden added. “I’m tired of waking up to utter despair. So it’s time to move forward, and let’s start with this kick-ass movie dinner, right?”
“Now you’re talking!” Tasha practically cheered. “Look out for this bitch!”
Jaden laughed and felt a teensy bit better. Who knows, maybe sometime soon she might catch a glimpse of the girl she’d been before insecurity took her out at the knees.
Chapter 24
“Father and Son”
“MATTHEW, WHAT IS THIS?”
Ivan turned to find his mother holding up the box of condoms he kept in his bathroom. And she’d used his first name, so he knew he needed to think fast. They’d sprung this trip on him rather suddenly and refused to take no for an answer, so he hadn’t had time for as much “tidying” around his apartment as he might normally do.
“Mom, what do I specialize in? Sexual health. What do I promote? Sexual health. So what do you think I provide to my patients? Sexual health products.” He gestured toward the box with a flourish. “I just happen to have some at home.”
She raised a skeptical eyebrow.
“Aw, crap!” his father cut in. “You found my stash. I was hoping to surprise you later.”
She gasped and rolled her eyes at her husband. “Don’t you start getting goofy on me now. You get like this every time we go on vacation.”
“Yes, but it has worked for the past thirty-eight years, so something about it must be right.” His dad chuckled, but Ivan caught his you owe me look clear as day.
“Sometimes I wonder,” she muttered as she turned back toward the bathroom with the white box.
His dad disappeared into the kitchen while Ivan schlepped the rest of their bags to the guest room.
“So how are you?” his mother asked as she followed him down the hallway.
“Good! Business couldn’t be better. We’re already looking to expand to Monaco or Casa de Campo at the end of the year maybe and then—”
“No, I mean how are you? Personally.”
Her voice softened, and her meaning was apparent. How was he since he and Jaden broke up? He had no idea how to answer.
Though he felt terrible about it, he’d avoided all talk of Jaden with his parents since it happened. Maybe he was embarrassed by how it ended, or maybe talking through it with them would make it all too real. Keeping it to himself allowed him to cling to the hope that perhaps someday they’d reunite. If he exposed even the slightest hint of her failed infidelity, it might change his family’s view of her. Above all, he was so thankful he hadn’t shared his plans to ask her to marry him. Explaining that night to his family would have brought him to his knees.
It had been bad enough as it was. Ivan still remembered the day he’d told his mother Jaden was not a part of his life any more. Her silence and broken voice over the phone had conveyed her sorrow perfectly. He knew she’d loved Jaden as her own, even after just a short time. When she asked what happened, the only response he could offer that wouldn’t break her heart was, “we just couldn’t make it work.”
He put down the bags and arranged them at the foot of the bed. “Mom, I’m good.”
She crossed her arms and looked at him with kind eyes. “Really?”
Ivan leaned against the door jamb, crossed his arms, and crossed one foot over the other. “Really. Work keeps me focused on the future. There’s all sorts of potential. Yesterdays are to be looked at over your shoulder. If you keep them in front of your face you may miss what the future holds. A smart lady once told me that,” he said with a wink.
“Work is great, but someone once told me money is worthless when compared to life’s pricelessness.”
He shoved his hands in his pockets and leaned forward at the waist. “Yes, and the man who said that is telling you he is okay now.”
“Well, I just can’t help feeling you haven’t been yourself,” she said, still evidently not satisfied. “The last few months you scared me and your—”
Pop! The sound of a sparkling Shiraz being uncorked echoed into the bedroom. Ivan looked over his shoulder around the door frame and then back to his mother. They shared a smile.
“Well, Dad’s found the wine…” Ivan offered. “Shall we?”
His mother stepped toward him, but the smile slipped from her face, and a mother’s worry returned to her expression. “I just don’t understand what could have happened.”
He sighed. How could he reassure her? “You know, I wasn’t okay for a while there. You’re right. And I’m sorry. I know I shut you out. I wasn’t myself. I hated who I was and how I felt. But I am much better now—not perfect, but better. So please, let’s not dwell on this. I want you guys to have some fun while you’re here. It’s been too long since you’ve been down.”
“Nobody needs to be perfect,” she said as she hugged him like only she could.
“Thank you guys for being there even when I wasn’t. Thank you for worrying. But please stop now!” He squeezed her small frame and nuzzled the top of her head with his cheek as they walked back down the hall.
“Are these for me?” his father asked as soon as they reappeared in the front room. One hand held an open bottle of wine with three glasses hanging from his fingers and the other held a full bag of fresh cigars.
“You waste no time, do you?” Ivan released his mother and reached for the wine bottle and glasses. “Yes, they’re for you.”
“Nice. Now, what’d I miss?” He looked from Ivan to his wife and back.
“Nada,” Ivan said, giving his head a definitive shake. “Let’s get this poured and you toked up.” He put his arms around his parents’ shoulders and led them to the balcony.
“Ahhh!” his father said approvingly as they stepped outside. “The view’s been upgraded. And it wasn’t bad before!”
Tipping the bottle toward the three glasses, Ivan chuckled as they explored the balcony, studying all the different angles. He passed each of them a glass and offered a toast: “To family, the nonfiction aspect of a fictitious world.”
“Salud!”
They clinked their glasses together with a smile, and Ivan almost felt comfortable in their presence. But he could still feel his mother’s lingering gaze.
“So what do you want to do while you guys are here?”
“Just relax and talk. It’s been forever, so we’re happy just to see you.” His mother offered her usual response. Ivan smiled, but felt the slightest touch of dread.
“Well, sure, we can talk,” his dad said. “But I also want to go down there and get some sun.”
Ivan laughed when he identified where his father was pointing. The pool deck below was dotted with lounge chairs, which were inhabited by what could easily be the Victoria’s Secret Angels.
“John!” his mother scolded.
“Is it like that every day?”
“Give or take.”
“Also, let’s look for a condo in this building,” he added, waggling his eyebrows at his wife.
“I’m happy you’re here. I’ve missed you both,” Ivan said. He smiled, but his father was too busy fumbling with wineglass in one hand a lighter and cigar in the other. He grabbed the lighter and sparked a flame for him. “Well, maybe one of you more than the other.”
“Smart ass.” His dad punctuated his opinion with a cloud of sweet-smelling smoke.
“You guys hungry?”
“Starving,” Marie responded, finishing her wine in one gulp.
“Okay, let’s go grab a bite.”
“Not me,” his father replied. “I can eat in Pennsylvania. I’m getting some sun.”
Ivan joined his mother in eyeing him suspiciously.
“On the beach, okay?!”
“Riiiiiiiiiight.” Ivan shook his head as he too finished his wine and led his mother back inside. “But don’t wear a thong or anything that might embarrass me too much.”
“Shh! Don’t giv
e him any ideas,” his mother warned.
She disappeared into the guest bedroom to get ready while Ivan searched for a towel for his father. He chose the most colorful, flashy one he could find and couldn’t help but snicker as he handed it to him.
“Really? Do I get a purse with this?”
Ivan laughed and turned toward his bedroom, but he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. When he faced his father, all traces of joking had left his face. “You okay, son?”
Both of them? How am I going to do this? Ivan wondered. But then he reminded himself how lucky he was that they cared so much. Thank God for such a beautiful family.
“Yeah, I am, big guy. Thank you.”
His father nodded, swirled the towel around his shoulders, and wrapped Ivan in a dual Rusilko bear hug, for which neither person had the upper hand.
Ivan took his mother to eat at a local spot with a great little patio. It was no Lincoln Road, but the food was good, and it was a nice day to eat outside. Miami Beach people watching might have been a bit much for his poor mother anyway.
“So tell me about Meadville,” he said after their food had arrived. “Anything new?”
“It’s pretty much the same way you left it.”
“And PJ and Elise?”
“They’re just curious as to what’s happened to their brother for the last little bit.”
Dropping his fork, he looked at his plate for a moment before facing his mother. She was not giving up on this. It was his habit, albeit a bad one, to go off the grid when he was overwhelmed. When it was because of his schedule or work, he was pretty good about calling and checking in, but this mess with Jaden had him really checked out. He’d managed his friends easily enough—a laugh and a quick conversation could shake most of them off. Except for damned Micky. But his mother was a different story.
“Mom, really, now I’m okay. I was a bit twisted for a while after Jaden and I split—well, a long while to be honest, but I got through it. Not the way I wanted to, but I did.”
“Got through, or are getting through?” She looked at him with a furrowed brow.
“Getting. But almost there.”
Why was she so insistent about this? She usually gave him his space once it was apparent he didn’t want to discuss something.
“Well, I just remember how you were after Irena, and we really thought Jaden…Well, we’ve just been worried. We don’t like seeing our son like that.”
Ah. Now he understood the concern and the “random” request to come visit. This wasn’t the first surprise trip John and Marie had made to Miami Beach, and it probably wouldn’t be the last. If he’d just pulled it together enough to call or to answer their calls, he wouldn’t now have to submit to his mother’s in-person questions and more than that, he wouldn’t have to see the worry and concern on her face now. His father had likely snuck his way over to the pool beauties by now, but his mother truly needed some reassurance that he was okay.
“Mom, please be assured that I am on the upswing. I love that you two came down, and it means the world to me, but you don’t have to be concerned.” He smiled at her across the table, praying his words and his eyes conveyed sincerity and confidence to ease her mind.
“Okay, well, know that we love you, and you can count on us for anything.”
“I do. Believe me, I do.”
“So do you see Jaden anymore? Or talk to her? She just was a great girl…”
Unsure how to proceed, he shoveled in a bite of fish and took a sip of wine to give himself time to think. He made a great display of chewing. “Yeah, I saw her just the other day, and I think we’re okay. She’s doing very well with her career, and I’m happy for her. We’re moving forward as friends.”
As he spoke he was a bit surprised to realize he did want to be her friend. Despite the pain, he missed her presence in his life.
His mother smiled back at him and finally started to work on her chicken Marsala.
“I saw Irena the other day too,” he added and watched her stop eating mid-bite. He stuffed in another mouthful to buy some time.
“And…” his mother pressed.
And what? he thought to himself. Why the hell did I bring that up?
“Ah, she’s doing well, as I’m sure you know from all the magazines. She’s about to start a new movie.”
“And?”
“And what?”
“Where did you see her? What happened that led you to see her?”
“Nothing. Just coincidence, I suppose. She was scouting locations. It was nice though.”
His mother was quiet another moment, as if waiting to see if he would say more, but when he didn’t she finally sighed and spoke. “Okay, well, please tell both of them we all say hello, and we wish them the world.”
“Will do, boss.” He smiled, hoping this topic had been closed.
Then his mother smiled at him a bit strangely. “You know, sometimes no matter how much you think you’re giving or doing to make a relationship work, unless you’re speaking the same language, it doesn’t matter.” She narrowed her eyes. “And I’m not talking English here, kid.”
Despite his desire to be done with this conversation, Ivan was now intrigued. “Then what are you talking about?”
“Maybe Irena never heard ‘I love you’ when you said it to her,” his mother said. “Maybe she only heard it when you gave her something pretty or showered her with gifts?”
“You think?” Ivan asked, just before he took a long, thoughtful draw on his wine.
“And maybe Jaden only heard it when you spent time with her?”
“Are you going all psychoanalyst on me now?”
“I think maybe someone should, don’t you?” she said with a laugh.
“Ha, ha. Very funny.” He lobbed a carefree wink and a smile across the table at her, but his mind churned around her words. Ugh. Why was she stirring all this up again? “Excuse me for a second. I need to hit the head.”
He stood and made his way to the restroom, his head swimming a bit. His mother’s insights were good—a little too good, if he was being honest—but he’d already walked through the fire. He was on the other side of the pain where Jaden was concerned now, and rehashing it wasn’t going to make it better. Telling his mother all the nasty details wasn’t going to make her feel better either. He decided that if he had any hope of surviving the weekend, he was going to have to keep them entertained and avoid any more of these conversations. Of course that would mean he’d have to take some time away from the spa, but if he couldn’t take time out for his family and to enjoy life a little, what was he working so hard for?
He snagged the phone from his pocket to check for anything pressing since he’d silenced it at the beginning of lunch. No business, amazingly, but a text from AVOID:
Hi, Ivan. I see your parents are in town.
Please give them my best.
And a text from Irena, who was still labeled Mami:
Hi Papi. Tell John and Marie hello and that I miss them
very much. Looking forward to seeing you soon. ; )
“How the hell?” Ivan wondered aloud. It was as if two ghosts had been sitting at the table with him. Then he realized. Facebook. Gets me every time. The sound of splashing on the floor alerted him that his concentration had wandered too far. “Fuck.” He tucked his phone away and finished with the necessary business of taking a proper piss.
Nevertheless, he remained a bit in awe that both the loves he’d had in his life were in the same town, on same message stream, and of the same mind-set. It also seemed strange that his phone setting for Jaden was tied to the dark time when he hadn’t wanted to hear from her, yet Irena’s was still his affectionate name for her, which conjured up their happiest times. Perhaps both contact settings needed a change, but he couldn’t bring himself to do anything with either of them. His mind was completely scrambled as he zipped up and washed his hands. He looked into the mirror and shook his head at who he saw. Ay, ay, ay.
Chapter 25<
br />
“Drive”
IT TURNED OUT THAT THE FIRST FEW WEEKS Jaden had in Miami—the ones where she couldn’t quite get herself into vacation mode yet—were the only vacation she was really going to get. After Kevin got things rolling with the event she hosted, she’d been nearly nonstop on the wine and food events circuit. Three—no, four—in the last month had slammed her back into the tilted, celebrity version of reality. She got to cook a little and do some fan events, but the press junkets—with their endless talking about nothing and constant dodging of questions about her personal life—left her drained. Was this really the career and “success” she’d worked so hard to achieve?
She’d been almost completely at a loss when she reached out to Geoff. Thank God for him. They’d scheduled a meeting to plan the movie dinner, but Jaden soon found herself at Bianca in most of her spare moments. She met with staff in and out of the kitchen to prep for the event, but she also just observed. Watching Geoff manage the restaurant with such passion and precision inspired her. She’d forgotten what it was like to be part of a small, well-trained, professional environment where everybody has your back and everybody has pride in the “family.” Her time back there, back in a more natural orbit, made it easier for her to filter the now and focus on the future. She’d come to love networking with the non-celebrity chefs on the food and wine events circuit, and she was beginning to see where she might want to end up once again.
However, at the moment, her now and her future had ganged up on her in a furious assault of nerves. She’d been running around her apartment in various stages of dressed and undressed for the last half hour, but now she stood in nothing but her panties staring into her closet. An anxious rush blazed up from her stomach—a physical manifestation of her impending, highly publicized return to Bianca. Her brain was busy processing and reviewing the complicated Menu of Seduction she’d created, which kept her from being able to focus properly on what to wear…
If anyone thought One Hot Kitchen maven Jaden Thorne had lost her creative edge when she went Hollywood, they were sorely mistaken. She could still carve out one hot, sexy menu. Appetizers would include lobster, avocado, and mango salad, tomato basil soup, burrata bruschetta with grilled figs, and chargrilled oysters with Roquefort cheese and red-wine vinaigrette. For the entrée, guests would have a choice of honey-roasted hens with pomegranates, grilled tuna (of course), or grilled asparagus with lemon and honey-ginger carrots. And for dessert, nutmeg donuts, strawberry-rhubarb ice cream with honey-hazelnut biscotti, and dark chocolate chili truffles. She’d approved a signature pomegranate martini and left it to the sommelier to sort out the wine pairings. It was a feast of sex on a plate, in a bowl, or swimming in a crystal glass for a full five courses. If these diners didn’t get lucky tonight, well, that just wasn’t her fault.
The Winemaker's Dinner: Dessert (The Winemaker's Feast) Page 13
