by Maria Geraci
It wasn’t like his mother to beat around the bush. “Mom, what’s wrong?”
Her eyes went moist. Oh God. Please don’t cry. Not tonight.
“I just feel that somehow I’ve let you down. Is it something you saw when you were little? I don’t remember your father and I ever arguing in front of you kids, but maybe you confused something or—”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about your attitude toward marriage! Obviously, something has turned you off to getting married and I have no idea what it might be other than some childhood trauma or misconception.”
“There’s no childhood trauma. Take Mimi. We were both raised the same and look at her and Zeke.”
“I know. It’s like they’re the poster children for Happily Ever After.”
He grinned “You’re funny, Mom, you know that?”
She smiled sadly. “I just want you to be happy. That’s all. And if being married to your company makes you happy, then I guess I’ll just have to accept that.”
Married to his company? Is that what she thought of him? It’s what Ethan thought, he knew that. It was probably what Sarah thought, too… Says the man who only visits his family in between projects and when it’s convenient for him.
“If it makes you feel any better,” Luke said, “I’ve decided to come home more often.”
“Really?” She sounded so hopeful that it made Luke feel like an ass for being so selfish all these years, because that’s really what it boiled down to. Sarah had shown him that.
“Yes, really. I blew it with Claire, but I still have time with Cameron. And, of course, now there’s going to be a new baby. I want to be here for important days, like today.”
“You don’t know how happy that makes me, and your dad is going to be thrilled.”
He hesitated, because God knew he needed to get Sarah out of his head, but he had to say it. “I know you don’t like Sarah, but she was a big part in helping me see that I need to spend more time here. She’s a good person, Mom. Maybe the best person I’ve ever met.”
“You’re wrong, Luke, I don’t dislike her. Not at all. I just didn’t think she was right for you.”
“Then you don’t know me very well, because she was…she was…” He raked a hand through his hair unable to say the last part out loud. Completely, one-hundred-percent right for me. He tried to fill his lungs with air, but it was like he couldn’t breathe.
His mother’s jaw dropped. “Oh, Luke,” she said softly. “Darling, do you realize what’s going on here?”
The door to the garage burst open. “Powers!” his brother-in-law said. “What are you doing in the dark all alone? Playing with yourself? We’re about to get the show on the road.” Then Zeke noticed that he wasn’t alone. “Oh, sorry, Ann. Didn’t see you there. We’ve been looking for you, too. C’mon, Claire’s about to cut her cake.”
* * *
The living room in his sister’s house was crammed full of people. Claire had cut her going-away cake and afterward there had been speeches. Some of them more flowery than others, including a funny and poignant goodbye from Zeke’s sister, Allie, who toasted her “Claire Bear,” leaving Mimi in tears. Luke had followed it with a simple “Go forth and conquer,” that might not have been as eloquent, but it got the message across.
One portion of the night down, another one to go. Now Luke was about to find out if he was going to have another niece or nephew.
“I hope it’s a boy,” Cameron said.
“Well, I hope it’s a girl,” Claire said, then frowned as if she’d just thought of something. “Now that I’m going off to college, does this mean the baby is going to get my room?”
Zeke and Mimi looked at one another. “The baby is going to stay in our room for the first few months, then we’ll see,” Mimi said diplomatically.
Cameron laughed evilly under his breath. “That so means that the baby is getting your room,” he said to his sister.
Allie made a big production of bringing out the balloon that contained the information they’d all been waiting for, while Zeke and Mimi stood in the middle of the room, grinning at one another like love-struck fools. Champagne was passed around to all the adults and someone turned off the music that had been playing in the background to allow a few moments of quiet.
“Before we pop this sucker and find out whether it’s a boy or a girl,” Zeke said, “I just want to thank all our family and friends who came out tonight to say goodbye to Claire. Sweetheart,” he said, lifting his glass of champagne high in the air, “you’ll always be our first baby. We love you and we couldn’t be more proud of all you’ve accomplished.” Then he turned to Cameron. “And to our son, who makes us proud every day with his kindness and his quiet wit. We know you’re going to be a great help to your mom and me, as well as a terrific older brother.”
Everyone murmured their agreement as they raised their glasses.
Then Zeke cleared his throat. “And last but certainly not least, to my beautiful wife, Mimi. I still can’t believe you married me, baby. Eighteen years ago, you took a chance on me, even though the odds were stacked against us. You’ve taught me what it is to be a friend, a husband, a father, but most of all, what it means to be a man. You’re the everything behind this family. I’m humbled that you chose me to be the father of your children. I love you more every day and I can’t thank you enough for this new baby we’re about to have.”
Mimi’s blue eyes were wet with tears. “How am I supposed to top that? I love you, too, you big lug!”
Everyone laughed and took a sip of their champagne, and then someone yelled, “Pop the balloon!”
Allie handed a big black balloon to Zeke and gave Mimi a pin. “Okay, camera’s ready?”
Everyone began clapping and chanting “Pop it! Pop it!”
Mimi smiled and posed for the cameras, like the big ham she was, then dug the pin into the balloon, popping it, instantly releasing scads of blue confetti…followed by an equal number of pink confetti.
The chanting in the room died out.
Mimi turned to Zeke. “Wasn’t someone supposed to put the correct color in the balloon?”
Allie frowned. “I have the envelope that the ultrasound tech gave to Heidi over at the bakery. Let me go open it.” She scurried over to her purse and took out the envelope, read it, started laughing, then handed it to her brother.
Zeke read the paper and Luke wasn’t sure, but he thought his brother-in-law’s face went a little pale. “Um, sweetheart?” he said to Mimi. “Is there something you haven’t told me?”
“What are you talking about, Zeke Grant?” Mimi grabbed the paper from her husband. “Here let me see. We’re having a…twins?”
The room exploded with laughter and shouting and everyone began hugging Mimi and Zeke. His parents looked shocked but happy. They hadn’t expected two new grandbabies, but Luke was certain they were up to the task. Mimi and Zeke just kept looking at each other with awe and happiness.
“Looks like you’re going to be double big brother,” Luke said to Cameron.
His nephew grinned. “Yeah, it’s kind of embarrassing, but it’s pretty cool, too.”
Luke nodded. He was happy for his sister and Zeke. If anyone could make twins work at this point in their lives, it was them. Luke and his brother-in-law hadn’t gotten off to a great start all those years ago when Luke had punched Zeke in the nose after discovering he’d gotten Mimi pregnant. But Zeke had manned up and done the right thing. He’d gone from a high school dropout to working his way straight to the top of the Whispering Bay police force, becoming the youngest chief in the city’s one-hundred-plus-year history.
His brother-in-law was a good guy. A great husband and a great father.
As for Mimi? His baby sister hadn’t gone to Duke or earned a master’s degree or opened her own business, but in all the ways that counted, she was far more successful than Luke. She had a solid marriage and had created a strong family.
She had everything.
And Luke had nothing.
Nothing that mattered anyway. Not if Sarah wasn’t here to share it with him. He realized that now.
“I’m in love with Sarah,” he blurted.
For the second time tonight, the room went quiet.
“What did you say?” Mimi asked.
“I said, I’m in love with Sarah.”
His mother smiled. “I could have told you that five minutes ago. If we hadn’t been interrupted in the garage,” she said, looking meaningfully at Zeke.
“I could have told you that three weeks ago,” Mimi said. “It was so obvious the night of the silent auction. I mean, you couldn’t take your eyes off her the whole night.”
“What are you going to do about it?” Zeke demanded.
“Yeah,” Mimi said. “What are you going to do about it?”
The rest of the room gazed at him with the same question in their eyes.
“What I should have done four days ago.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
“I don’t know, Mom, I’m pretty confused right now.” Sarah picked up her overnight bag and took a couple of steps forward in the line waiting to get off the cruise ship.
“Are you saying you’re not sure if you want to buy this food truck?” Mom asked.
I’m saying I’m not sure what I want, period.
She’d come up with the food truck idea almost three years ago, and had been scrimping and saving ever since. But now that she had the money, she wasn’t sure she wanted it anymore.
“I love the concept of it, but maybe it’s time for me to settle down.”
“Can’t you settle down in one place and still buy the truck?”
“Maybe.” It was what Luke had suggested.
They took a few steps forward. It was Monday and only nine am but it was already almost ninety degrees and sweltering. Not that she minded. She was used to the late summer Florida heat. She’d just spent time with her mom, catching up with each other’s lives and relaxing by the pool. They’d gone shopping in Nassau and snorkeling in the ocean, and last night everyone at their table had sung Happy Birthday to her a day early.
She’d had a wonderful summer. She now had the money to buy her food truck. And she’d just spent a quality weekend with her mom, all of which should have made her happy. But Sarah had never been more miserable in her life.
She wished she could pick up the phone and dial Luke. Claire’s going-away party was a few nights ago. Did the party go as planned, and what were Mimi and Zeke having? A boy or a girl? She wondered how the Alaskan deal was going, and if Luke had had a chance to talk to Cameron about the soccer team.
It couldn’t hurt to call and find out, could it? Just a simple phone call between friends.
Except they really weren’t friends anymore. She’d seen the hurt look on his face when she’d rejected his offer to continue their relationship. If she wasn’t going to accept him on his terms, then it would be cruel to give him false hope. No. A clean, clear cut. That was the best way.
They came to the end of the line, gave their papers to the purser, and followed the crowd to pick up the rest of their luggage. Thirty minutes later, they were in the parking lot, heading toward her car, when she spotted Luke. He had flowers in one hand and a dry cleaning bag in the other. Sarah froze.
“You must be Olivia,” Luke said. He shuffled the dry cleaning bag around to shake hands with her mother. “I’m Luke, Sarah’s friend.”
“Well, hello, Luke.” Mom eyed him with extreme interest because, really, it wasn’t every day that a man who looked like a Greek god was just waiting by your car. “My daughter has told me nothing about you. I can only surmise that means one of two things. Either you’re someone she has absolutely no interest in, in which case it’s a little creepy that you’re here waiting for her with flowers. Or you’re the man who’s made her all mopey on this cruise and the flowers are some kind of apology.”
Sarah jumped into action. “Mom—”
“I can see where Sarah gets her refreshing candor,” Luke said, appearing unruffled by her mother, which was saying a lot because Olivia Jamison could certainly dish out the heat when she wanted to, like right now. Luke handed Sarah the flowers—daisies, which were her favorite. Had she told him? Or had he guessed? She couldn’t remember. “Happy birthday, Sarah.”
“Thank you, Luke.” Which sounded so lame when what she really wanted was to throw herself into his arms…
Then he handed her the dry cleaning bag. She knew what was in it, of course, she just didn’t understand why he was giving it to her. “I thought Mimi was going to give this back to Lauren.”
“Don’t be mad at Mimi, I never gave her the dry cleaning ticket. I picked it up myself.”
“Oh, Luke, you have no clue how much this dress costs. Lauren told me to keep it, but there’s absolutely no way I can do that.”
“I knew you’d say that. Lauren did, too, but she really wants you to have it. If it makes you feel any better, I know exactly how much this dress cost because I made a donation in the same amount to Lauren’s favorite Alzheimer’s charity in her name.”
“You did? Why would you do that?”
He smiled down at her and the skin around his blue eyes crinkled, making him look even more handsome, as if that was possible. “Don’t you know?” he asked.
Mom looked between the two of them. “So, you’re not someone my daughter has no interest in. I can see that clearly. Which means you must be someone who’s broken her heart.”
“Just the opposite,” Luke said, keeping his gaze on Sarah. “It’s my heart that got broken.”
Mom glanced at Sarah. “Really?”
“No, I mean…really?” she asked Luke.
“Yes, really,” he said quietly. “I know it’s a lot to take in, me coming here today and dropping all this on you, but I can’t leave for Atlanta without telling you how I feel. You were right to walk out on me the other day. What I proposed was selfish as hell and it’s not even what I want. I don’t want a part-time relationship. I want us to be together all the time.”
“Luke—”
“Please, don’t say no right now. Let me finish. I don’t want you to be at my house, waiting for me to get back from wherever I’ve been working. I’m giving the Alaska contract to another engineer in the firm. He’s single and he’s more than experienced and ready to take over if we open a Northwest office. I’m going to sell my condo and move to Whispering Bay and open up a Florida branch of Powers and Doyle. Take on smaller, local projects. It’s what Ethan has been doing for a while now so he can make more time with Julie. And that’s what I want, too. More time with my family.”
“Oh, Luke, that’s great,” she said softly. She could feel her eyes tear up. No crying, she chided herself. “I’m sure your mom is really happy.”
“She is.”
“Oh my God, I almost forgot! What are Mimi and Zeke having?”
He grinned. “A boy. And a girl.”
“What? No! Twins?”
They both laughed, and it felt so right, standing here in the parking lot next to him, talking about his family. About his life.
After a few seconds, he sobered. “Back to what I was trying to tell you. I want you to buy that food truck, and I still want you to think of the beach house as yours. I was going to bring you a set of keys, but then I realized you must still have your set. Sarah, it’s not you who’ll be at the house waiting for me to come back from a job. It’s me who’ll be there waiting for you because I love you. By the way, you’re the only woman I’ve ever said that to.” Then he bent down to kiss her on the cheek and walked away.
* * *
“Well, that was certainly something,” Mom said. After Luke’s grand announcement, they’d driven back to the house in near silence.
Sarah was still in a daze. Luke loved her. And if she hadn’t been such a complete idiot, she would have told him that she loved him too. Because she certainly felt it. But there was somethin
g holding her back and she had a sneaking suspicion she knew exactly what it was. She needed advice from the one person who’d always been there for her.
“Mom, have you ever been in love?” After all these years of being not only mother and daughter, but also best friends, it was the first time she’d ever directly asked her mom that question. Mom had dated, Sarah knew that. She’d even met a couple of her mother’s boyfriends, but there had never been anyone special. At least, not anyone that Sarah had been aware of.
Mom sat down on the couch and sighed. For the first time in her life, she looked old enough to be Sarah’s mother. “Oh, honey, that’s such a complicated question.”
“Not really, mom. Either you have or you haven’t.”
“Are you asking this because you’re still confused about your feelings for Luke?”
“No. I think I’m pretty much on top of that situation. I love him, Mom.”
Olivia Jamison nodded. “I could see that. I’m happy for you, honey. I really am. And to answer your question, of course I’ve been in love. More than once. I loved your father, you know.”
Sarah shook her head. “I didn’t know that,” she said softly.
“Well, it’s not something I’m terribly proud of,” she said, laughing. Then she smiled sadly. “I loved Robert and I think he loved me, too, but I got pregnant with you before our relationship had gotten to the level where we both felt comfortable saying it. I didn’t want him to think that just because I was pregnant I expected anything from him, so instead of telling him how I really felt, I went all I-can-do-this-on-my-own on him. I never really gave him a chance, you see. And that’s my fault.”
“Oh, Mom.” The tears were streaming down her face now.
“It’s all right,” Mom said. “I’m happy where my life is right now. And he is, too. But, honey, don’t make the same mistake I did. When people come into your life, don’t let your pride turn them away. Invite them in.” She reached out and wiped the tears from Sarah’s face and hugged her. And in that instant, Sarah knew exactly what she had to do.
