“I had no idea,” Tom said. “I mean…well…I guess if he has a driver, he’d have to have some cash in the bank. But I didn’t put two and two together…”
“Well…he’s…his family has…”
However, she could never avoid the eyes of Thomas Kirk. Taking her chin in his hand, he lifted her head to face him. “You’re actually embarrassed that he’s rich, aren’t you?”
“No, not embarrassed,” she tried to explain. “More along the lines of…well…that’s not why I’m dating him.”
“Those of us who know you know better, Princess,” he comforted her. “And the hell with the others. They don’t count.”
“You’re right about that,” she agreed. “Well, now you know Drew’s little secret.”
There were so many more hiding underneath the exterior warmth in Drew’s frightened and frigid core, but Maxine promised him her confidence and she kept it—even with her own father.
“So what’s this Rainbow Room place we’re going to this evening?” Tom chuckled.
“Come on, Pops! You know the Rainbow Room…”
Slinging his arm around her shoulders, he pulled her closer for a hug. “As long as I get the first dance…”
“Of course, my first dance is yours. I wouldn’t have it any other way,” she insisted. “Drew and Adam can duke it out on the sidelines.”
With a sigh that flapped his lips, Tom waved his daughter off. “Drew, I can handle. And Adam—he’s the crazy younger brother who looks like Prince Harry?”
“Eccentric, Daddy,” she corrected him. “And yeah, he looks a little like him. Oh, and he’s a billionaire.”
“What?” Tom nearly choked.
“Serial entrepreneur. Think tech companies.”
“And he wears white socks and sandals in the winter?”
“Come on, Pops! Drew’s waiting downstairs with the car!”
At the foot of the stairs, Ben stood, thumb to his phone, and texted Jeffrey to alert him that they were about to leave. When he finally looked up, he staggered in a mock effort to demonstrate his shock. “Holy shit! Is your neck insured? Because if you get robbed tonight…”
“Robbed?”
“He’s teasing. Ben, tell him you're not serious!”
“Rainbow Room attracts a tough crowd,” Ben said and swiped a kiss across Maxine’s cheek. “The Captain looks lovely.”
He, too, was dressed to the hilt in a navy suit with a gingham oxford shirt to match. Hell, he even pulled out his grandfather’s cufflinks, a simple but scrolled platinum ‘W,” for the occasion.
“And you’re looking rather swanky yourself, Mr. Worthington.”
Holding out his elbow as if to offer her his arm, Ben asked, “Shall we?”
However, Tom stepped between them and took Ben’s arm himself. “Drew might get jealous of you,” he teased. “I’ll be your date…”
“Daddy, he has Jeffrey, my boss.”
“Does he treat you well, Ben? If not, I’ll kick his ass…”
“Tom?” Ben smirked. “I missed you!”
A smile just lingered on her lips as she caught sight of Drew, waiting patiently for them on the steps. Dressed in a fitted Burberry suit in a shade of Merlot, he wore that look of longing in his blue eyes as Maxine treaded closer.
“They just sit around all night, making goo-goo eyes at each other, don’t they?” Tom whispered to Ben. “How do they know anything about each other? They just look at each other and giggle all the time!”
“Quite refreshing for the Captain, isn’t it, Tom?”
With much reluctance, Tom nodded in agreement. There was another man—aside from Ben—who occupied her attention these days. While he adored seeing her so captivated for the first time in her life, Tom also found himself saddened by the notion that she could so easily turn to another for advice and support. In his heart, he knew he’d always come first in her life, but sharing that spotlight—even with a seemingly nice guy like Drew—brought Tom some unrest.
“I swear you get prettier every time I see you…” Drew whispered, his fingers just tracing over the emeralds and diamonds that circled her long, thin neck.
“I have to throw up now…” Ben mocked, making gagging sounds as he bent over the railing in feigned agony.
“You get the backseat with them!” Tom called out as he headed down the steps. “And sit between them, Ben!”
Just for sport, Drew made sure that Ben separated him from Maxine, but she leaned over at every stoplight to laugh and pat his knee. Meanwhile, Tom and Lou became fast friends in the front seat, discussing the hockey season. Not even an accident that stalled traffic to a perfect halt could put a damper on their conversation. By the time they’d arrived at Rockefeller Center, Tom and Lou were old buddies, and Ben had quite willingly surrendered his ticket to the Pens versus the Rangers for the following afternoon to Lou.
Maxine wanted Lou to join them that night, but he was quick to give a regretful no. He was actually meeting up with a lady friend at the coffee shop around the corner while he waited for their party to end, so he was quite happy to decline.
Sixty-five floors above the sidewalk they traveled, and Drew clutched her hand the entire way while he rattled on about the building’s history to Tom.
The GE Building—or 30 Rockefeller Plaza—was a gem amongst the skyscrapers of Midtown, with its Art Deco prominence in the skyline. Among the hallowed halls of the building, NBC made its corporate headquarters, Saturday Night Live broadcast its quirky brand of sketch comedy every week from the infamous Studio 8H and Jimmy Fallon headed up The Tonight Show.
The Rainbow Room had literally just reopened after an extensive renovation, but the waiting list was already two months in advance. However, Drew managed to snag a couple of tables for their rather large party on a Saturday night because the owners were fans and were dying to have him sing in their cabaret series. While he had every intention of saying yes to the gig—no performer in his right mind would pass up the chance to perform in such an iconic space—he wanted to bait them just enough to accommodate them on such short notice.
As they hurried off the elevator, Maxine felt as if they’d just stepped back into the 1930’s. She’d read so much about this famed landmark and the celebrities who swept through the room over the years, never thinking she’d be celebrating her own birthday behind those panoramic windows one day. The gleaming parquet floors of the circular dance floor beckoned, with the restaurant’s original chandelier hovering overhead and sparkling like diamonds. The impressive ceiling leafed in silver to mirror the image of the chandelier added just another layer of brilliance to the glamor and gilt of an age gone by.
The sightlines were incomparable, offering views of the city from every side. Curtains, in strands of delicate crystals with their prisms of light bouncing colorfully about the room, lined every window. A brass band featuring a singer that Drew knew from a show he’d done a number of years ago entertained the crowd that Saturday evening.
This was the old New York about which her mother had always romanticized, straight from the black and white films Judy so adored. However, Maxine refused to allow herself a second to wallow in sadness. Her father made this trip just for her birthday, and since his arrival, she could feel Judy’s presence everywhere. Birthdays were to be celebrated, and her mother always loved a good party.
From across the room, she spotted Maggie waving while the maître d’ attempted to show them to their table right next to the windows. Drew had indeed managed to pull off some kind of wonderful that night.
Everyone had already arrived, and they were waiting for the guests of honor. Naturally, Maggie had to grab Maxine first and give her a kiss on the cheek.
For the first time that evening, Maxine had her first glimpse of the ongoing saga brewing between Adam and Jillian. Squinting in the dim light, Maxine attempted to discern the look upon Jillian’s rather flushed face, but she was at a loss. Maxine simply couldn’t tell if she was flattered, frustrated or just flust
ered by Adam’s behavior that evening. However, Maxine did take note that Jillian hadn’t bothered to move from her seat beside him. Perhaps all hope was not yet lost…
However, when Adam caught sight of the Kirks’ entrance, manners—for once—kicked in. He stood to greet them and extended his hand. “Mr. Kirk. You must be the lovely Penelope Anne Merryweather’s father.”
“Actually, it’s Penelope Lynn…” Ben corrected him.
Before Adam could say another word, though, Tom’s eyes traveled to the floor while he offered Drew’s younger brother a hearty shake. “You wore real shoes tonight?”
“You say that as if you’re disappointed,” Adam said, giving Tom’s hand an extra pump. “My father made me wear these fancy feet killers this evening…”
Declan actually kept several brand-new pairs of men’s leather loafers from the store in his closet just for those times when white socks and Birkenstocks weren’t appropriate footwear for Adam. Sometimes he lost the battle, but he always had to prepare accordingly.
“Uh, Tom, I think you should meet the important people in my family,” Drew stepped in, shooting the old evil eye toward his brother. “My parents, Maggie and Declan…”
“Good to meet you, Tom, and welcome to New York!” Declan said. “First time, it is?”
As Tom nodded with a grin, Maggie grabbed him for a quick hug. “Welcome, Tom. And may I just tell you…you raised an extraordinary daughter in Maxine. She always brings the sunshine with her.”
Tom almost felt as if he’d waited his entire life just to hear that compliment, and he wished that Judy were there to share his pride and joy. But there were more glowing words of praise for his only child…from Jillian…from Jeffrey. Maxine worked hard—coming in early and staying late when necessary. She never complained. She loved her job. She always put in the extra time to make sure that everything she did was just right. They adored her, and that sentiment extended to all of her other co-workers.
Such a warmth exuded from their corner of the restaurant. Everyone was there to celebrate with Ben and Maxine, and an air of congeniality quickly spread throughout every conversation.
Maggie gently seated everyone, having considered the setting long before anyone had even arrived that night. Maxine took the head at one side, and Ben took the other. She’d placed Drew to Maxine’s right and purposely invited Tom to sit to his daughter’s left, allowing him the chance to chat with Declan.
Ben managed at the opposite end, playing arbiter between Jillian and Adam. Over the years, ever since she’d become Drew’s publicist, Adam tried desperately to convince Jillian that one single date was all he needed to impress her enough to possibly see him again. However, Jillian wasn’t so quick to fall for his attempts to woo. Drew, himself, had even refused to get involved in their occasional tête à têtes. Distance was his greatest tool in navigating through that shitstorm.
While Tom thoroughly enjoyed his conversation with Declan, he remained ever mindful of the birthday kids. He had to laugh that Maxine seemed to be focusing less on Drew and directing her attentions to everyone else at the table for the sake of being polite. Meanwhile, he also tried to keep an eye and an ear open as to what was happening with Ben and Jeffrey. He cared about that kid, and Tom wanted to make sure that he was happy, too.
Just as they were all finishing up dinner, Adam slipped his credit card to the waiter and insisted that no one else pay a dime toward their check. He also noted that the tab should continue to run throughout the duration of their party.
Oblivious, Maxine reached out and clutched her father’s fingers while patting Drew’s leg with the other. “I’ll be back in a bit, Mack. I have a fine gentleman here to whom I promised a dance.”
“When he’s finished with you,” Drew began, “and if he deems me worthy, I’ll sign on for your next available foxtrot.”
Maxine couldn’t remember the last time she’d hit the dance floor with Tom. Perhaps they’d taken a spin at her cousin’s fire hall wedding a couple of years ago. Before that, Maxine was certain the last time she’d danced with her dad was at the Father-Daughter shindig when she was in eighth grade. He owed her a few, she reckoned.
As “You’re the Cream in My Coffee” enlivened the post-dinner crowd, Maxine and Tom laughed their way to the center of the action, right beneath the chandelier, and just improvised. Neither Maxine nor her father had any rhythm, and she wasn’t quite sure as to whom was leading whom. But one song carried them on into the next, and she was having far too much fun to abandon her Daddy anytime soon.
Somewhere in between the third and fourth songs, Tom relinquished her to the strapping, curly-haired gentleman with the longing blue eyes who waited patiently on the sidelines for his cue. The Gershwin Brothers’ old familiar “Embraceable You” drifted melodiously from the small stage. As Drew whirled and twirled Maxine about, Jillian actually grabbed Tom for the next dance. They were all on a mission to make him feel welcome.
When they returned to the table, Maxine’s giddy spirit left her suddenly, and she nearly scuffed her shoe as she stopped just short of tripping over herself and Drew.
Hovered around Ben, Mike and Mandy played the dutiful parents, exchanging pleasantries with everyone—including Jeffrey, albeit through visibly gritted teeth.
They’d actually shown up!
Maxine’s heart fluttered with joy and she almost erupted in a round of applause. So troubled by Ben’s sadness that afternoon, she’d slipped outside while he was napping and gave Mandy a call. In her effort, if not struggle, to encourage his parents to engage in his life, Maxine begged Mandy ever so sweetly to please stop by that evening for at least a drink.
Some things were better left unspoken, and Ben didn’t need to know who facilitated his parents’ visit. Maxine was certain they’d never tell him, lest they reveal their own negligence in their son’s life. This was a very small step, but a grand leap as far as Maxine was concerned. Slowly, she hoped, the Worthingtons were on the road to acceptance.
“Well, if it isn’t the other Birthday Twin,” Mike said through those damn gritted teeth. Sometimes, his attempts at humor just made her squirm. Even Tom, who knew the Worthingtons quite well through the friendship of their children, had greeted them, then moved on to chat with Declan. “How are you, Max?”
“Oh, Maxine!” Mandy pecked one cheek sloppily, then the other. Maxine could smell the alcohol on her breath. Seems like Ben’s mother was doing a lot of drinking lately. “Happy…Happy…”
After making her perfunctory introduction to Drew, whom Mandy insisted she’d met before, Maxine was quick to pull Jeffrey into their conversation. She had no intentions of making anyone feel uncomfortable. She wanted the Worthingtons to engage with the object of her son’s most recent affections and enjoy his birthday with him.
Those awkward moments, though, didn’t last long as the waiters rolled out not one but two birthday cakes, both lit up with twenty-two candles each. Maxine’s birthday confection turned out magnificently. The triple-layer, double-fudge cake in pink with black polka dots featured a band lining each deck that resembled a choker with a candy charm simulating diamond pendants. Maxine adored that Drew decidedly threw in that little private innuendo into the design. Ben’s cake featured an enormous bust of one sugary Lady Gaga herself, which quickly became the hit of the entire party. Ben and Adam, naturally, fought over Gaga’s breasts.
As she blew out her candles, Maxine made her second wish of the day—and that was for peace. They'd weathered so many storms in just a matter of weeks, and now was the time to find some sense of normalcy. The rough times were far from over, but she had to remain optimistic for everyone, including her father and Ben. All the while, not a person sitting around that table would deny that the best times for Maxine Kirk were definitely yet to be.
Ben’s parents stayed through the cutting of the cake, but before they had the chance to slip out, he grabbed his mother for a dance.
As she watched them hit the floor, Maxine felt those fa
miliar arms wrap around her, and she snuggled closer. “Thank you for making this weekend so wonderful, Daddy…”
“Well, it looks like Ben’s finally having a nice one, too.”
“Yes, he is!” she agreed, then turned and took her father’s hands in hers. “What do you say we blow this Popsicle stand?”
“Leave?” Tom asked. “You can’t just ditch your own birthday party! I taught you better, Maxine Elizabeth….”
“Things are breaking up,” she said. “We’ll wait, then once everyone has bid their good-nights, I have something in mind for my dear old Dad here…”
“Don’t you want to spend the rest of the night with Drew?”
“He’s here in New York, and you…are not!” she insisted. “I’m going to be greedy here and take some time for you, Pops.”
“I raised a pretty good kid, didn’t I?” he laughed and mussed her hair with the palm of his hand just like he used to do when she was a little girl.
Maxine let on to no one that she had other plans or was in any sort of rush to leave. She even dared to step into a conversation between Jillian and Adam as he tried diligently to convince the object of his greatest desires to join him for a few moves. The dynamic between them brought Maxine a rush of perplexity. Perhaps the entrepreneur in him loved a real challenge—even in relationships. Somewhat reluctantly, Jillian agreed to be his dance partner, but only after Ben and Jeffrey said they’d join them.
However, Maxine was on a mission and couldn’t stick around the dance floor all night. As she found her father ensconced between Drew and Maggie, she tugged at his jacket sleeve.
“They’re trying to tell me what a wonderful young woman you are,” Tom teased. “And I’m attempting to convince them that you’re really just a spoiled brat beneath it all…”
“Oh, I’ll give you the spoiled brat,” Drew chimed in. “But she’s rather fun to indulge.”
“Well, I just love having her around,” Maggie said. “It’s rather nice when you’re surrounded by a bunch of boisterous men all the time…”
“I couldn’t agree more, Maggie!” That was true. Both she and Maggie were indeed inundated by a magnitude of testosterone.
WRAPPED: The Manhattan Bound Series, Book Two Page 30
