Spring, The Twosies

by Josie Brown

  “Oh…well.” Jillian’s disappointment told in her pursed lips. “So, what do we know about these new folks?”

  “It’s Garrett Mitchell Hartley.” When the name didn’t register with Jillian, Ally added softly, “He’s…my father.”

  “Oh!” Jillian sat down hard on the steps. “How…?”

  “Brady found him. But, to be honest, had he known it was Garrett, he may have kept it from me.”

  Jillian shook her head. “Brady loves you too much to hide something that important from you.” She paused. Finally, she added, “And why would it matter, anyway?”

  “Garrett financed Brady’s first company. Despite its success, apparently, there’s bad blood between them.” She frowned. “He won’t tell me why. He’s now upset that Garrett wants in on Life of Pie, but he left the decision up to me whether to allow Garrett to finance us.”

  Jillian nodded slowly. “Did your meeting go well?”

  Ally laughed sarcastically. “I wouldn’t say that. It was…interesting. We challenged each other. I think he was impressed that I didn’t just fawn over him because I was desperate for his approval, or because of who he turned out to be.” She shook her head. “I was shocked at how much he knew about Life of Pie and Foot Fetish, for that matter. I guess he was curious enough about what happened to me to at least do a little research.”

  “Did you ask Garrett to buy out our agreement with ACM?”

  “No,” Ally replied. “Apparently, Garrett took it upon himself. Brady is mad as hell. He thinks Garrett is trying to win me over. He also thinks that”—she hesitated, almost ashamed of what she was to say next—“that Garrett is competing with him for my affections.”

  Jillian whistled softly. “Brady never struck me as insecure.”

  Ashamed, Ally dropped her head. “He shouldn’t be. Sadly, my reluctance to marry him has given him reason to be. Even before we went into counseling at the first of the year, he suspected that my fear of commitment was grounded in my father’s desertion. Imagine his surprise when the same man who funded him—and whom he now resents—is not only interested in my company, but is also my father.”

  Jillian nodded. “In all honesty, Ally, it worries me, too. From what you’ve just said, it’s hard to say whether Garrett Hartley has your best interests at heart—let alone the best interests of our company’s.”

  Ally frowned. “All I ask of you is that you hear him out and keep an open mind. And I’m not just saying that because he’s my father. I’d never put the success of Life of Pie in jeopardy.”

  “I know that, partner.” Jillian patted her hand. “Our financial wellbeing depends on it—as does our children’s future.” She looked down at her watch. “We’d better go inside!”

  “It should be total chaos, considering that both Lorna and Bettina won’t be there,” Ally opined.

  Jillian giggled. “For the most part, the members are sane adult women. Seriously, how bad can it be?”

  By the time Ally and Jillian walked into the room, conversation had already turned to the business of what to get Bettina and Lorna as gifts.

  They were not surprised to see Mallory at the podium, but Kelly’s presence there surprised them. They listened along with everyone else as she made the suggestion to send flowers to both new moms, and that a stroller be purchased for Bettina with some of the money in the reserve account.

  Mallory seconded the suggestion. “We’ll call it a tribute to her years of service to us, so that she feels special.”

  Kelly nodded as she patted her on the back. “All in favor, raise your hands!”

  All hands went up. Still stymied as to Kelly’s role there, Jillian and Ally’s were the last hands to do so.

  They got their answer when Mallory exclaimed, “Good suggestion, my co-Vice CEM!” Mallory was practically beaming.

  Jillian’s eyes grew large. “What did she mean by that? Since when did they get new titles?”

  Shoshanna tapped her on the shoulder. “You missed the vote. With both Bettina and Lorna out for who knows how long, Kelly suggested that we vote on temporary leadership. She and Mallory are now our co-Vice Chief Executive Moms. Makes sense, don’t you think?”

  Ally waited until Shoshanna turned around before murmuring, “Yikes! I’m glad I won’t be anywhere around Bettina when she hears this news.”

  Jillian nodded. “At least this is one thing she can’t blame on Lorna.”

  Timidly, Sally raised her hand. “Do we really need to get Lorna a gift too, considering that she just had a big shower?”

  “Well, definitely one for Bettina. No one held a shower for her,” Mallory snickered.

  Kimberley turned bright red. Still, she kept her mouth shut.

  Upon hearing Mallory’s jibe, Jillian frowned. “When Matt picked up Lily and Dante yesterday from my house, he mentioned that Kelly somehow sabotaged a surprise baby shower Kimberley was throwing for Bettina, which was to take place on the same day as Lorna’s. For some reason, Eleanor was under the impression that we were the culprits.”

  “I wouldn’t put anything past Kelly. She’s always scheming.” Ally shuddered. “Still, why would Kimberley take on the task of hosting a shower for Bettina? They’ve never been particularly close.”

  “I’ve got no idea,” Jillian replied. “And yet, I believe it. Eleanor is usually warm and forthcoming. If what Matt says is true, it might explain why she was cold as ice to me at Lorna’s shower, and why she hustled Bettina out even before we cut the cake.” Jillian’s eyes flashed angrily. “I’ve got half a mind to put her on the spot, here and now.”

  “No. Wait,” Ally cautioned. “Let’s corner Kimberley after the meeting. If she knows something, she’ll talk—especially if it made her look like a fool.”

  “Which is something she can do all by herself,” Jillian murmured.

  They didn’t have to wait long.

  As the room emptied out, Ally pulled her stroller on one side of Kimberley’s. Jillian flanked her on the other side. Kimberley’s wary sidelong gaze volleyed back and forth between the two of them. Finally, she asked bluntly, “Okay, what do you want?”

  “We wanted to tell you that we wished you’d invited us to Bettina’s shower.”

  “What shower? There was none.” Kelly’s voice came from behind them.

  “Bettina’s mother was under the assumption that there was,” Ally declared. Turning back to Kimberley, she asked, “Was there?”

  Kimberley blanched. She dared not make Kelly out to be a liar—especially now that her nemesis had an even stronger position in the club. “No, it was just a tea, for Bettina, her mother, and myself,” Kimberley insisted.

  “No one else was invited?” Jillian prodded.

  “Let me put it this way: no one else showed up.” She hurried out of the room and down the hall.

  Kelly shrugged. “I guess Bettina isn’t as popular as her sister-in-law. No surprise there. What’s that saying? Oh yes: ‘you reap what you sow.’ Her actions may finally be catching up with her.”

  As she glided past them, it occurred to both Ally and Jillian that Kelly might be right.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Same day, 4:40 p.m.

  “I’m glad you were willing to join me on this little shopping spree,” Garrett murmured as he held the necklace he’d just purchased for Zelda next to Ally’s collarbone: white gold, with pavé diamonds set in the Montblanc emblem. “You’re an excellent model.”

  Ally laughed at that. “I’m nowhere near your wife’s coloring—or size, for that matter.”

  The Wolford shop girl hovering nearby giggled. “From what I can tell, you’re no more than a size two!”

  They’d walked into every one of the posh shops on San Francisco’s celebrated Maiden Lane.

  Garrett’s eyes swept over Ally appraisingly. He nodded to the lady. “If you’re right, I’ll buy that dress for her.” He pointed to a dark blue body-hugging crewneck sleeveless dress that boasted a narrow slit that circled from just above the bre
ast to the middle back shoulder of the dress.

  Ally shook her head. “Garrett, no. We’re shopping for Zelda, not me!”

  He waved her away. “You’ve been a big help. It’s my way of saying thanks. It would mean a lot to me.” He turned to examine a sheer tulle shirt.

  Ally wondered if that were true. But before he threw that or anything else at the clerk, she headed for the dressing room.

  * * *

  6:42 p.m.

  As the lights of the Bay Bridge sparkled behind him, Garrett lifted his glass of Piper-Heidsieck Rare Brut Rosé to Ally. “You look stunning,” he exclaimed. “I’m pleased that you took my advice to wear it now.” He leaned in conspiratorially. “I’m also glad you said yes to my dinner invitation.”

  “I’m glad you asked. I was curious to see if the view from Waterbar lives up to its reputation. It does,” she murmured as she tipped her glass toward his—

  Too much so. Her eyes opened wide as it splashed across the tablecloth. “Oh, my God! So sorry!” Her embarrassment wasn’t just based on the fact that it was the last pour, but that this was a seven-hundred-dollar bottle of wine as well.

  Garrett shrugged. The second he raised his hand, the sommelier appeared. “Another, please,” he commanded her.

  As she hurried off, Ally murmured, “A third bottle? No, no, no, not necessary. I’m tipsy enough as it is.”

  “Good. Then maybe you’ll be open to a suggestion.”

  “What would that be?”

  “Turns out that there’s a fly in the ointment of our collaboration.” He turned slightly so that he too could enjoy the view that surrounded them. “I think that Brady is trying to quell the deal.”

  She tried to focus on him, but what she had already drunk made that difficult. “In what way?”

  “He pretty much told me to deal only with him. I couldn’t understand why, since I usually meet with all partners to go over their duties, capabilities, and all marketing analyses. I was under the impression that you’re the person who handles that kind of stuff.”

  “I am,” she assured him. “Maybe he just misunderstood what you were requesting.”

  Garrett shook his head. “I wish that were the case. But he then brought up the same issue he had with me in the past. I told him I wouldn’t go there; that he’d have to deal with his own insecurities about the mistakes he made when he was young and dumb.” He rolled his eyes. “You don’t seem to hold onto any baggage, thank goodness.”

  “No. I don’t have much baggage,” she murmured. Only you.

  He took a sip of wine. “Bottom line is, if he’s going to play the spoiler, I’ll take my marbles to another game.”

  “But with Acworth, Collins, and Markham off the table, that will leave us with no venture capital at all,” Ally exclaimed.

  Garrett opened his hands wide. “You’re right. Granted, I’ll owe you a kill fee, but it’ll be nothing like the amount I had planned to invest—or that you will be paid—if I stay to play.”

  “How much are we talking?”

  Garrett grinned, but shook his head. “You’re too dear to me. I don’t want to break your heart.”

  “I’m being serious.” Ally wasn’t smiling, as her head was beginning to spin.

  From the pocket of the Brioni jacket he wore over a white button-down shirt and jeans, he took out a pen and small pad. On it, he wrote a figure. He folded it, then handed it to her.

  $100 million

  Unicorn funding.

  Suddenly, she felt like throwing up.

  Ally shrugged, but made herself smile and feign interest in his excited chatter about some of the deals he’d just closed.

  When their meal arrived, she knew it would be difficult to hold her food down so she only nibbled. Maybe that was stupid, because he insisted on a few toasts, including one to Ally, one to Zoe, and one to Life of Pie’s ongoing success.

  By the time he had his driver drop her off at the home she shared with Brady—really, Brady’s home—her head was spinning.

  When Garrett said goodbye, he kissed her on the cheek.

  She waited until his car drove away before wiping her cheek clean of him.

  The house was dark.

  When Ally stepped on a toy truck that had been left in the middle of the hallway, she cursed under her breath: “Dammit, Brady!”

  He was in the bed, but the light was out. Even before she had a chance to turn it on, he said, “You didn’t mention you weren’t coming home for dinner. We waited for you.”

  “Sorry,” she declared a bit too loudly. “And you didn’t mention that you’d asked Garrett to deal only with you. Is it true?”

  Brady sat up in the bed. “Yes,” he admitted.

  “Why?”

  “So that he doesn’t pit you against—”

  “Against you. I get it, Brady. Despite his very generous funding of your company, somehow you felt dominated by him—”

  “Jesus! Is that what he told you?” Brady exclaimed.

  “Let’s just say he intimated that your management styles clashed.”

  “And from that, you got that I felt ‘dominated?’” He snorted. “I can’t wait to hear what you call it when he does it to you—that is, if you can get Jillian to go along with the notion of accepting his offer.”

  “For a hundred million dollars, I think she’ll say yes.”

  “Trust me, it’ll cost you more than you think.” Without another word, he turned over on his side.

  He stayed that way the entire night.

  The first thing she did the next morning was to call Jillian.

  When Ally mentioned the one hundred million-dollar offer, her partner literally squealed in her ear. Even when she calmed down, Jillian exclaimed, “I can pay off the house! The girls can go to college! We won’t be financially stretched when Caleb quits his job—”

  Ally had her answer. And yet, Brady’s warning would not go out of her head:

  It will cost you more than you think.

  She vowed to prove him wrong.

  * * *

  11:59 p.m.

  The email to all PHM&T members went out right before midnight. It was addressed by Mallory. As always, its highlight was the minutes of the Top Moms meeting.

  When Bettina read the part where she’d be given the additional gift of a stroller as well as the flowers Lorna would also receive, she smiled.

  It’s about damned time they recognized my immense contributions to the club, she thought smugly.

  The next paragraphs, however, had her fuming:

  A vote was taken to create two new management roles: that of Co-Vice Chief Executive Moms. The function of these positions is to gap any temporary absences of our current Co-Chief Executive Moms, Bettina Connaught Cross and Lorna Connaught.

  We wish both of them speedy recoveries and many days of bliss as they nurture the new additions to their families in these crucial first months!

  “Months? Why, I’ve only been out for one meeting,” Bettina retorted.

  Apparently, even a mere day was too long to be gone from the club before all chaos broke loose!

  Immediately, she dialed Lorna’s cell phone.

  It rang for a long time before Lorna’s sleepy voice muttered, “Who…what is it?”

  “Have you read it—the email of the Top Moms meeting today?”

  Lorna retorted, “I haven’t opened any emails since I gave birth to twins yesterday. I assume you heard about that?”

  “Yes. Congratulations—albeit, as always, your timing leaves a lot to be desired. Couldn’t you let my little Nathaniel have a birthday all to himself?” A mortifying thought just occurred to her. “Oh, my! What if Mother insists that we spend every year celebrating the three children’s birthdays together?”

  Lorna sighed mightily. “There are worse things in life. Really, Bettina, is this why you called me—to chastise me about going into labor? Quite frankly, if anyone should have held off for a few more days, it’s you, since you had the later due date—�
�

  “Cut the finger-pointing. We have a much bigger issue! For some reason, the club felt the need to elevate Mallory—and that odious Kelly—to top management positions. They now have the titles of co-Vice Chief Executive Moms! You know what this means, don’t you?”

  “Hmmm, let me think. Perhaps the members realize that a club with a hundred families may need more than two people to run it? That’s a novel thought!”

  “Your sarcasm isn’t appreciated,” Bettina barked. “It’s a power play, you ninny! Kelly is—”

  “Kelly is what? Getting under your skin? That is between you and her, Bettina. Leave the rest of us out of it. Frankly, I look forward to someone picking up the slack—your slack, to be exact.”

  She clicked off.

  Bettina knew Lorna was right. Had any other member taken as many absences, Bettina would have tossed her out on her ear.

  Well, no more. Meetings regarding the BFZ app would have to take place only on Tuesdays or Thursdays.

  The club was her domain. Always had been, and always would be.

  She’d make sure Kelly and her new lap dog, Mallory, got this message.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Monday, 1 March

  The PHM&T attendance to an assembly showcasing a group of traveling musicians was so packed that at first, they didn’t see her:

  Jade.

  That is, Lorna, Ally, and Jillian didn’t recognize Jade until she was almost right beside them. Her blond hair, once long and flowing, was now chopped short in a sleek bob. The glasses also threw them off. She’d never worn any before.

  She laughed as they gasped in unison.

  When they squealed together, her laugh was the loudest of all.

  In their group hug, she was the last to let go.

  When she did, it was to take a good look inside Lorna’s new triple stroller. In their infant carriers, little Nick and Nora slept, swaddled in their blankets. In the toddler seat, Dante protectively clutched two tiny twin dolls in his lap.