A Total Mismatch

by Madelaine Grant

“You’ll be too tired to enjoy the evening otherwise,” he insisted.

  “You are one sweet man. I’ll make up the time.”

  “Don’t worry about it. You’ve given the gallery your all for the last six years. You deserve a few hours off.”

  Fortunately, the gallery was fairly quiet during the afternoon after a busy lunch hour crowd. Sam had time to catch up on paperwork and make phone calls in preparation for the next exhibition of paintings. She freshened up a few minutes before Jordan was due to arrive. Staring at herself in the bathroom mirror, she tried to imagine how the evening would go. The more she thought about it, the more worried she became.

  “This is ridiculous,” she fumed, noting the frown on her face. Pasting a smile on, she hurried out. Her relationship with Jordan had nothing to do with the evening ahead. If she could concentrate on that fact, she’d be able to relax and enjoy herself.

  Chapter 29

  From the moment Jordan walked into the gallery Friday evening, he knew Sam wasn’t herself. The overly bright smile didn’t fool him. When they were alone in his car, he turned to her. “What’s wrong? You look like you’re going to a funeral instead of dinner out.”

  “Is it that obvious?” she asked.

  “It sure is.”

  “Well, I’m not looking forward to meeting your sisters, especially Lori, since she’s best friends with Andrea. But I’ll try my best to be cordial. You’re a little too perceptive, you know.”

  “Where you’re concerned, I am.” His hand settled on the back of her neck to soothe the taut muscles. “Don’t be concerned about Lori or my other sisters. I’ve already made up my mind to live my life the way I want, regardless of their opinions. And you’re my choice for a life partner.” He leaned over to give her a brief kiss. “So lighten up and enjoy the evening. The food in this place is marvelous. You’ll see lots of Asian people there. That’s always a good sign.”

  She couldn’t help laughing. “As long as the food’s good, you’re happy.”

  He started the car and headed north to the highway. “Well, what’s more important than good food? I can’t think of anything except good sex.” He sent her a sly grin. “And we have that in plenty. So I’m a happy man. And I want you to be happy, too.”

  It sounded so simple. Why couldn’t she relax and think the way he did? Were men less complicated than women? That seemed to be the case when their basic needs were met.

  The Chinese restaurant he’d chosen was spacious and beautifully decorated with banners on the walls featuring Asian landscapes. Colorful Chinese lanterns graced the tables. They arrived early and were shown to their round table by a waiter.

  “I checked with my sisters this morning to make sure they hadn’t forgotten. They should be here soon.” Jordan glanced at the menu. “We could get several dishes and share. Let’s see what the others want.”

  Sam didn’t care one way or the other about the menu. She only hoped her aunt and uncle would arrive before his sisters. Somehow, having them near would make this meeting less stressful.

  As if on cue, Uncle Jim and Aunt Faith walked in. Sam rose to greet them. “I’m so glad you’re early!” she exclaimed, embracing each in turn.

  “Well, we’re your cheering section,” Uncle Jim said. “We figured you need support here tonight.”

  “You better believe it,” she muttered.

  Jordan was happy to see them. Sam’s demeanor definitely improved once her aunt and uncle arrived.

  When Jordan’s sisters appeared a few minutes later, Sam was able to greet them graciously without any sign of the nervousness she’d struggled with earlier. The three women were well-dressed but had individual styles. Amy was petite with dark hair and eyes similar to Jordan’s. She wore a striking red dress with a white silk shawl around her shoulders. Diane was tall with shoulder-length brown hair and twinkling blue eyes. Her outfit was simpler–a black linen sheath with matching jacket. Lori wore her blonde hair in a stylish pixie cut and was garbed in a light-blue shirtwaist dress with a matching blue cardigan. Her dark eyes were sharp and full of questions as she appraised Sam from head to toe.

  “So we finally get to meet,” Lori intoned, shaking hands. “Jordan’s made such a mystery about you. We were wondering if you had two heads or something.” She laughed, but it sounded forced.

  “We saw your belly dancing ad on TV,” Diane said, smiling at her. “Where did you learn to do that stuff? I wouldn’t mind taking lessons.”

  “It’s a long story. I started in my college days,” Sam replied. She immediately liked Diane more than the others. The third sister, Amy, seemed subdued and not as friendly.

  When Sam introduced her aunt and uncle to Jordan’s sisters, she noticed Lori’s reaction when she mentioned their last name and braced herself for the inevitable question.

  “Milburn, that’s not a common name.” Lori took a seat opposite her brother. “Are you related to Andrea Milburn, by any chance?”

  “Yes,” Uncle Jim replied. “I’m Andrea’s uncle. We’re here for her wedding on Sunday.”

  The full import of his words struck all three sisters at the same time.

  “This is amazing,” Diane exclaimed.

  “You’re going to the wedding?” Amy’s eyes were wide with wonder.

  “I can’t believe this,” Lori cried. She glanced from Sam to her brother. “So you’re Andrea’s youngest sister, the one who’s not going to her wedding. Right?”

  Before Sam could reply, Jim Milburn took control of the conversation. In a mild but authoritative tone, he said, “Samantha has good reasons for not attending Andrea’s wedding. Faith and I fully understand the situation. But rather than going into past family history, let’s enjoy getting to know one another. I love all my nieces, but I have to admit Samantha is a particular favorite of ours. We’ve watched her grow into a multi-talented and independent young lady. Not only can she belly dance like a pro, but she’s an accomplished artist and co-owner of an art gallery.” He sent Sam a fond glance before turning to the menu. “Now let’s concentrate on this delicious food. What do you say we pick several dishes and share?” He glanced around the table.

  “Sounds good to me,” Jordan quickly chimed in. He was pleased at the diplomatic way Jim defused the tense atmosphere. He put an arm around the back of Sam’s chair, and every once in a while his fingers gently stroked her shoulder. It was his way of letting her know he was in her corner. His sisters did not have any power over him or his decisions.

  Sam noted the different responses to Uncle Jim’s words. Diane opened her menu and started scanning the entrees. Amy’s expression was puzzled. She kept staring at her brother as if expecting him to offer more information. Lori opened her mouth to say something and then closed it. She did not look happy.

  Faith turned to the three sisters with a pleasant smile. “I think we’ve met before. I believe some of you were bridesmaids at Andrea’s second marriage. Am I right?”

  “Diane and I were in the bridal party,” Lori said. “Amy was living in England at the time, so she couldn’t make it. You and your husband do look familiar.” She paused a moment and then continued. “Andrea and I have been close friends for many years. She’s one of those people I can always count on.” She said this last part in a very definite tone of voice.

  Without missing a beat, Faith replied, “I think it’s great to have friends we’ve known for a long time. It’s also pretty wonderful to make new friends. I’ll look forward to spending time with all of you over this coming weekend.”

  At this point, the waitress arrived to take their order. With Uncle Jim’s direction, they were able to agree on several dishes to share. The rest of the meal passed with Jim and Faith leading the conversation onto safe topics. Jordan kept things moving whenever he could. When Lori started in on any topic that might lead to controversy, he was quick
to turn things around.

  At the end of the meal, when they were saying their farewells, Diane came over to give Sam a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “I’m so happy to finally meet you!” she exclaimed. “I’ll have to get your phone number from Jordan so we can make a date to get together for lunch.”

  Sam was touched by her gesture. “I’d love that.” Would the others follow Diane’s lead?

  Amy shook hands with Sam and seemed conflicted. “I wonder if you’d like to be one of my bridesmaids since Jordan will be in my wedding party.” Her tone was hesitant.

  Sam took a deep breath before answering. “I feel honored by your including me.” If Jordan was going to his sister’s wedding, he’d probably want her along. In spite of her dislike of weddings in general, she wanted to please him. “By the way, congratulations on your engagement and coming marriage.”

  “Thank you. I’ll get your address and phone number from Jordan,” Amy said carefully. “I’ll be sending out invitations in July.”

  Lori came over to shake Sam’s hand. “Well, it’s nice to finally meet you. We haven’t seen much of our brother since you entered his life. I hope you won’t be so possessive of him that we don’t get a chance to interact. He’s a very important part of our family.”

  Sam sensed a warning note in Lori’s voice and wasn’t sure how to reply. To her relief Jordan came to her rescue.

  “Now, Lori,” he said in a teasing tone. “Don’t be jealous of Sam. The fact that I want to spend so much time with her is a good indication for my future happiness. I’ll always want to see my sisters. I’ll just include Sam in our plans.”

  Although Lori didn’t look particularly pleased by his reply, she did not pursue the subject.

  Outside the restaurant, the three sisters climbed into Diane’s car. They waved goodbye, and then they were off.

  Sam breathed a sigh of relief. The ordeal was over, and it hadn’t been as bad as she imagined. Knowing the reason for that, she turned to her aunt and uncle. “Thank you so much for your support tonight. I can’t tell you how much it means to me.” She embraced each of them in turn. “We’ll definitely visit you this summer. It’s at the top of our list.”

  “Good,” Uncle Jim said. Then he sauntered over to converse with Jordan for a few moments while Sam chatted with her aunt.

  “Geoff and Andrew are sorry to miss this get-together,” Aunt Faith said. “Geoff has been seeing a young woman in California for several months. She recently relocated to New York City for a better job. That’s one of the reasons he was eager to attend Andrea’s wedding. She fixed Andrew up with one of her close girlfriends. The four of them have been busy taking in all the sights of the city.” She smiled indulgently.

  “I’m happy they’re enjoying themselves. New York has so much to offer. I remember when I was old enough to travel into the city on my own. It was like the whole world opened up to me,” Sam confided with a nostalgic expression. “Those were fun times.”

  Jim and Jordan were deep in conversation while the women were talking.

  “I’m glad Samantha has found someone like you,” Jim said. “I approve of her choice. Her early marriage to that football jock was a disaster. It’s taken years for her to get over it.” He shook his head ruefully. “Between you and me, her parents are cold potatoes. I mean, I love my brother, but his mind is either on business or he’s busy soothing his wife, who tends to be a perfectionist. My sister-in-law is not an easy woman to deal with. She tends to find fault with everyone except her darling daughter Andrea. Karen, the other daughter, comes in a distant second. Samantha never had a chance in that family. Fortunately, my mother took an interest in her welfare. The two of them were very close.”

  “I sensed Sam didn’t get along with her family, but I wasn’t sure of the reasons. I’ve known Warren and Charlotte Milburn for years. Our families vacationed in Camden, Maine, together when we were very young. Sam must have been a toddler at the time. I remember thinking that Charlotte was a strong-minded woman and that Warren always catered to her. Andrea’s pretty much a copy of her mother. I keep wondering why Ben is remarrying her. But that’s none of my business,” Jordan said.

  Jim nodded in agreement. “Faith and I couldn’t understand his reasons either. Whatever, I’m glad Andrea came to her senses. Ben is a great guy. I only hope she realizes his value now.”

  When Jim and Faith were ready to leave, Sam gave each relative an enormous hug. “Thank you so much. I know you’ll be busy all weekend, so I don’t expect to hear from you. Have a safe trip back. I’ll be in touch soon. We’ll make a definite date for a visit.”

  It was difficult to see them go. Sam choked up, and her eyes grew teary when they were out of sight. “They are the best people.”

  “I quite agree,” Jordan said soothingly. He took her into his arms. “Now let’s concentrate on the rest of this weekend and make some plans.”

  ~ ~ ~

  While driving her sisters to their separate apartments, Diane said, “I can see why Jordan’s infatuated with Sam. She’s beautiful and sexy. I like her much better than Lara Jensen.”

  “Well, I do not,” Lori said firmly. “Lara is a wonderful person. She never monopolized Jordan the way this woman does. I can’t see them having a future together. If you ask me, it will last a few months and then he’ll come to his senses.”

  “What do you think, Amy?” Diane asked.

  Amy was sitting in the back seat. “I’m not sure,” she hedged. “She seems nice, but I don’t know her well enough to comment.”

  Diane started laughing. “You’re trying to be diplomatic, Amy. Which isn’t like you. You usually have strong opinions about everything. Maybe you want to appease us by not completely agreeing with either one of us.”

  “I’d rather not discuss this, if you don’t mind. Jordan seems happy with her, so who are we to judge?”

  “You’re right on that count,” Diane said, deciding to let the topic rest.

  Lori wasn’t finished with the subject. “Did I tell you the real reason Samantha isn’t going to Andrea’s wedding?” She glanced at Diane, and then over her shoulder at Amy. “It seems Andrea made a comment about the house Samantha lives in, which was not very complimentary, and she stood up and yelled at Andrea in front of the whole restaurant. Can you believe it?”

  “What did Andrea say?” Amy asked.

  “Well, it was something to the effect that Samantha lived in a hovel and that the whole family couldn’t wait until she married someone who would rescue her. Andrea told me she was only in her house one time and wouldn’t go into that neighborhood again. Her sister bought a run-down brownstone in an awful section. The whole house needed to be gutted. Andrea was only telling her sister the truth.”

  “I can’t imagine Jordan visiting her if the place is that awful,” Amy said. “He’s so particular about everything.”

  “Maybe it isn’t as terrible as Andrea makes it out to be,” Diane chimed in. “She might’ve seen it at a bad moment. Sometimes my place can look like a disaster when I haven’t been home to take care of it in a while.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous!” Lori exclaimed. “You live in a beautiful area, and your apartment is very elegant. I’ve never seen it the way you describe. No, I think Samantha is probably thin-skinned and resents anyone telling her what to do. Our brother will find out the hard way that she isn’t the one for him. I’m sure of it.”

  “Well, we’ll just have to see.” Diane pulled up in front of Lori’s building. “I’ll call you in the morning, so we can coordinate going to the rehearsal dinner.”

  “Sure thing.” Lori exited the car while Amy moved into the seat she’d vacated. “By the way, I can’t wait to call Andrea and tell her all about our meeting tonight. She won’t believe my brother’s involved with her strange sister.”

  “Do you think that
’s wise?” Diane inquired. “Andrea will be busy with last-minute details for her wedding. This could be upsetting for her. Why not wait until after the wedding?”

  “I don’t think that’s necessary,” Lori retorted. “Now I understand why Jordan isn’t going to the wedding. He’d rather spend time with his girlfriend, and since she’s not going, he decided to do the same. I, for one, think he should have fulfilled his obligation. Pulling out at the last minute was very rude.”

  Diane didn’t bother answering and waved goodbye as Lori turned to enter her apartment building.

  Amy said nothing and, as if by mutual consent, neither sister made any more comments about the evening’s events.

  Chapter 30

  It was shortly after nine p.m. when Jordan pulled up to Sam’s brownstone. He turned to her with a serious expression. “I forgot to ask what flavors of ice cream you’ve got in the freezer. The desserts at Chinese restaurants are pretty skimpy.”

  “They gave us a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a fortune cookie,” she retorted. “That should be enough.”

  “Are you kidding? It barely made a dent.”

  “Okay, okay. I’ve your favorites, butter pecan and chocolate fudge.”

  He breathed a sigh of contentment. “That’ll do it.” Then he exited the car and opened her door. “Let’s discuss our weekend while we’re enjoying those sundaes.”

  When Sam entered her home, the phone was ringing, and her two cats were meowing loudly. She hurried into the kitchen to listen to the answering machine. At the sound of Uncle’s Jim’s voice, she picked up the phone.

  “Uncle Jim, I didn’t expect to hear from you so soon. Is everything all right?”

  “No, it’s not, and that’s why I’m calling. Here’s the situation. Your parents wanted to have Sarah and Mort Whitlock over for dinner. As you know, Sarah is your Mom’s favorite cousin, and they came into town a day early. Rather than go to a restaurant, Karen asked everyone over to her house for a catered dinner. There were eight people–your parents, Sarah and Mort, Karen, Jack, Andrea, and Ben. Although Karen had used this catering company before, it was a last-minute decision, and I think they may have used something that was spoiled. Anyway, your mother and Karen became violently ill and are in the hospital.”