“I appreciate that, but it’s not like I’ve got other proposals coming in.” And I wondered if it would make a difference if someone else did propose. Did I want James or a ring? I wanted both.
“Well, if there’s any girl he’d want to marry, it’d be you.”
I smiled, hoping that soon he’d want to marry me. “Thanks for everything. I gotta get to the store before it’s too late.”
“Okay, Marin. Nice talking to you. Let me know how it goes.”
“I will!”
I took the scribbled recipe straight to the store. I bought fresh, ripe tomatoes, garlic, heavy cream, and three types of cheese: cheddar, swiss, and white American, among other items. I even picked up a new rawhide bone for Marvin, which weighed down my canvas shopping bag.
When I got back to James’ house, I organized all the ingredients on the table and began reviewing the recipe. Marvin sat busy on the floor with his new chew. With the ingredients laid out in front of me, I second-guessed my recipe notes. What was I thinking trying to recreate his favorite childhood meal? The only soup I’d ever made was the kind that came in cans or easy mixes. My nerves seemed to jumble over the task, so I called Mrs. Young back for clarification. Twice. She didn’t seem to mind me pestering her. I think she may have found my effort endearing.
I didn’t have much time, so I hurried to smash cloves of garlic and whip tomatoes in the food processor. I set the pot to boil and soon the kitchen was filled with the smell of warm vegetables. The griddle was hot. I placed the buttered bread and cheese and watched the cheddar mix melt between the slices. James would be home any minute and the soup was ready. I put on a new sandwich and let the other cool while I served the soup. I grabbed the hot metal handle and slammed it back on the stove, spilling red liquid all over the floor.
“Ouch! That’s hot!” I yelled. Marvin rushed over and began lapping up the scalding soup. “No,” I scolded the dog and pushed him aside. I grabbed a kitchen towel and had soaked most of the soup up when I smelled something burning. “Shit!” My grilled cheese was smoking and turning black. I moved it off the heat, the smoke alarm blared, and Marvin moved away, shaking with his tail between his legs.
“Dammit!” I waved a towel under the alarm trying to quiet it. Then, James walked in.
“Hey, what’s going on?” he asked, looking puzzled.
“I was trying to make you dinner, but I just made a mess,” I whined, still trying to hush the alarm.
He cringed and glanced around the kitchen. “What were you trying to do?”
Finally, the smoke alarm shut up.
“I was trying to make you tomato soup and grilled cheese like your mom made you when you were a kid.”
“How did you know about that?” he asked.
“I talked to your mom earlier and she shared her recipe. I wanted to do something nice, something that felt like home.”
“Aw, Marin, you are my home.” He pulled me in and I rested my hands on his firm chest.
“I am?” I asked.
“Yeah.”
I gave a half smile, and his eyes met mine. It was strange, no matter how much time had passed, gazing into his eyes was like coming home.
He kissed my forehead. “Okay, you’ve got one good sandwich and some soup left, why don’t we split it?”
I agreed, then cut the one good grilled cheese in half and he grabbed the bowls to serve the soup.
“Careful, that handle’s hot,” I said.
“Thanks.” He covered the handle with a towel and poured what was left in the bowls. “Hey, what’s Marvin got?” he asked.
“I got him a new rawhide at the store.”
“That’s sweet. Thanks.” He kissed the top of my head.
We sat at the table, and I watched James slurp the soup.
“Mmm, it’s good.” His words said good, but his face said bad. I took a bite. Yuck! Bland and tart, I couldn’t have made it worse if I wasn’t trying at all.
“James, this is terrible,” I said.
“It’s not terrible.”
Liar.
I dropped my spoon. “You wanna get take out?”
He hesitated. I could tell he was trying to be polite, but then he lowered his spoon. “Yeah, I’ll drive.”
We ordered from our favorite Chinese place and had a good laugh about my attempt to cook. He told me over and over how much he appreciated the thought, then regaled me with stories from his childhood about coming home from playing sports and sitting down to a hot bowl of soup and a warm sandwich.
I was worried that my attempt to play wife was a big fat failure, but there was no harm done. That night he couldn’t keep his hands off of me, and I could feel him wanting me more as the hours passed. I was no longer concerned about the incident at Rachel and David’s house. We were way past that.
In fact, the next day provided the ideal recovery. Michael and Jennifer were in the city visiting a specialty furniture store and we joined them for dinner afterward. Somehow, everything I went through with James in the beginning set me on a path to get closer to my estranged brother. Before James, I’d go six months before seeing Michael, who only lived forty minutes away. Now, we didn’t go six weeks without a visit. The best part was getting to see my niece and nephew more often. Oh, how I loved those little angels.
We were on our third glass of vino, well, Jennifer and I were each on our third glass. “You look like someone hit you in the mouth.” Jennifer giggled, her lips the color of red Napa grapes.
“And you look like you blew a wine bottle.” She stopped laughing for a moment and the table was silent. A second later, we were all barreled over cackling. I may have been drunk, but I was fully aware of my mission that night.
“No seriously,” I said. “You guys seem so happy. How long has it been now?”
Michael and Jennifer caught their breath from the laughing spelled.
“Ten years in a couple of weeks,” Michael said with a smile.
“What’s your secret?” I asked.
Jennifer cupped her hands around her mouth. “He’s really good at oral sex,” she whispered, sotto voce.
“Jenn!” Michael blurted, while we chuckled wildly.
“Oh, my God,” I said. “I’m not sure how I feel about that answer.”
“It must run in the family,” James lifted his glass to toast Jennifer. I swatted James on the shoulder and tried to contain my flushing cheeks. Luckily, Michael didn’t seem too disturbed by his remark.
“But seriously, we take time out for ourselves. Go on short getaways a few times a year, have an adventure. You have to. Otherwise . . .” Jennifer simulated an erection going flaccid with her finger and made a sad little noise implying its death. Michael pulled her hand down and seemed to hold it hostage in his. Sometimes, drunk girls can’t be trusted.
“Which reminds us,” Michael said. “We have a favor to ask you guys.” It sounded serious and allowed us to sober up for a moment. “We’re leaving for a long weekend at the end of the month for our anniversary, and we were hoping you two could watch the kids. Mom and Dad will be in Phoenix, otherwise, we’d just have them do it. What do you think?”
“Yeah, that’s no problem,” I said.
“It’d be easier if you could stay in Berkeley for the weekend,” Jennifer said.
Good, my apartment was too small for two young kids to run around in.
“That sounds like fun,” James said before sipping his red wine. “Mind if we bring Marvin?”
“I don’t see why not,” Michael agreed. “But no boozing.”
I gave my brother a thumbs up and winked. It was perfect! Step Four: Mother Material, here I come.
CHAPTER TEN
Surprise from Thailand
They say that youth is wasted on the young. While I believed that was true, I also thought nap time was wasted on the young. For some reason, every weekday between two-thirty and three o’clock my nap alarm went off. Today was no different.
The smell of fresh coffee beans pe
rmeated down the hall. Andy was already there, pouring sugar in his freshly made cup.
“Bless you, you’re an angel,” I said, taking a cup from the cabinet and basking in the warm scent of caffeine goodness that he just brewed.
“Thanks. No one’s ever called me that before.”
No surprise there. I snickered.
“Let me ask you something.” He had my attention. “It seems like ever since that fucking Fifty Shadows of My Repressed Sexual Abuse book came out, all my clients are into sadomasochism.”
“You’re terrible with titles,” I said, sipping caramel-colored liquid.
“Are your clients into it too?”
“Maybe a small percentage. I’m sure you’re just lucky. I figured you’d be titillated by that kind of talk.”
“I would be if all my patients were Victoria’s Secret models.”
Typical Andy.
“So how’s project ring-way?” he asked.
I shot him a wry expression. “I can’t tell if that’s a clever pun or another one of your terrible titles.”
“Let’s go with clever pun.”
“It’s going well,” I said cautiously. He already knew too much.
“Good, does that mean we can all get a drink tonight?”
Aw, did Andy miss us? It was cute, but no go.
“After the engagement. You’re welcome to help. You know, encourage James to go ring shopping or book a romantic getaway to Paris.”
“No way. You’re on your own, kid.”
“Fine. I’ll see you later then.”
Andy gestured a farewell with his coffee mug. The exchange reminded me about asking Katie for a double date. Katie was the founder and third partner in our practice. We didn’t get together socially very often, but she and her husband were the ideal couple. He was the supportive spouse, and she was the thoughtful wife.
Her door was open. “Come in,” she said, when she saw me hovering outside her office.
“Hey, do you have plans this weekend?” I asked.
“I’m not sure, why?”
“I thought you and Ray could join us out for dinner.”
She didn’t answer. Instead, she stared at me as if she might be trying to come up with a believable excuse. “Can you shut the door?” she asked finally. She only ever asked for the door to be shut if she had something really, really private to say. I had the feeling she was about to reprimand me for something, and I quickly tried to pinpoint what I could’ve done.
“Ray and I are separated,” she said.
What? I covered my mouth, leaving only my raised eyebrows and wide eyes.
“No,” I whispered.
“I’m not public about it, so if you can keep it to yourself, I’d really appreciate it.”
I lowered my body into the closest chair without breaking my shocked gaze on her. “What happened?”
“We just grew apart.” Katie shrugged.
“Grew apart?” I couldn’t believe it. Of all the couples I knew, I would’ve never expected those two to grow apart and separate. It was madness!
“Yeah, it happens.”
“I know it happens, but not to you and Ray.”
Katie cracked a half smile. “You really are a romantic, Marin. It’s one of your strengths in this profession, but it’s also one of your weaknesses.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Sometimes you can’t wrap everything up in a neat bow. Sometimes you’re just disappointed.”
When I left her office, I was just that—disappointed. I thought about all the events and conversations I’d had since my birthday. It was as if the universe purposefully put obstacles in my way, hoping that I would give up. Maybe it was my residual karma after the way I treated James in the beginning. Would I ever live that down or would it haunt me forever? Then again, there was still the possibility that I was cursed.
I needed reassurance. Ginger would definitely tell me that it would be fine and I was so close. Telly would tell me that I should forget it, dump James, and go out with her tonight. And Holly . . . well, she’d tell me something thoughtful, something real.
It had been days since I last talked to her, and it seemed as if her voicemail was the only thing answering her phone. When I still hadn’t heard back from her, I got worried and moved my last appointment so I could pay her a visit at work.
EcoWorld, whose green logo featured the planet Earth in place of the first ‘o,’ and who was known for their worldwide green and ecofriendly initiatives, took up the entire building. Theirs was one of those hip offices with glass walls and long high-top tables instead of cubicles. Not to mention that it was bustling with energy, as if everyone inside was trying to save the world against a ticking time bomb.
As I made my way over to Holly’s desk, I ran into Corrine. She didn’t seem as preoccupied and hurried as the others.
“Hey, Marin. What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I was looking for Holly. Do you know where I can find her?” I asked.
“At home would be my guess.”
“Home? She left already?”
“No, she’s been out for a few days. She’s taking some time off. Didn’t she tell you?” Corrine sounded surprised.
“No, I hope she’s okay.” Now I was really worried.
“Oh, I think she’s fine.”
I was about to thank her and catch another cab to Holly’s when Corrine asked me about James.
“Things are really good. We’re in the process of finding a new place,” I told her.
“Yeah, I remember. I was thinking about you the other day.”
“What about?”
“I was thinking about all the happily unmarried couples like Goldie and Kurt and even Oprah and Stedman. It’s unconventional, but it works.”
“Those are celebrities, though,” I said.
Had I given up on marriage with James, I might have indulged her parallel, but it hadn’t come to that, and I believed it never would.
“So?”
“So, the rules are different for them. Their lives are totally different. I appreciate the thought, but my proposal’s still coming.”
“That’s good. Keep the faith, girl!”
“You too, and thanks for the info.”
“Tell Holly I said ‘hi.’”
I agreed and maneuvered my way out of the madness that was EcoWorld.
Twenty minutes later, I knocked on Holly’s door. No answer. I tried again. Still no answer, but this time, I heard muffled sounds from inside and knew she was home. I used the spare key she’d given me to let myself in. No sign of her. I walked toward the bedroom. As I got closer, I heard her whimpering cry.
Oh no, what had happened?
I pushed the bedroom door open and the next thing I knew I was watching my naked friend grinding on top of a tanned, small-framed man whose moans sounded like Holly’s.
“Oh, my God!” I yelled and covered my eyes.
“Marin?” Holly called out, confused.
“Sorry,” I said. “I didn’t know you were busy. I’ll call you later.” With my hands obstructing my sight, I turned to leave and felt the door hit my nose. “Shit!”
“Are you okay?” Holly asked between the sounds of them rustling around to get dressed.
“Don’t worry about me. Carry on.” It wasn’t the first time I’d walked in on Holly having sex, but since we were no longer roommates, I thought those days were behind me. I rushed to let myself out and scrub my brain of the memory, but Holly was after me.
“Wait,” she called.
I turned to see that she had managed to put on a small T-shirt that she stretched down to cover her lady parts.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I came to talk to you about this whole James thing. I had no idea that you were seeing someone. Who is that?”
Holly hesitated, and the guy tiptoed out into the living room wearing only a pair of pants. His bare chest was narrow. He didn’t look a day over nin
eteen.
“Hi, I am Noom,” he said in a thick Thai accent and approached with his hand extended.
Wow, he looked really young for his age. Good genes, I guess.
I gave him a crooked smile. “You didn’t wash your hands just now, did you?”
Noom cocked his head and Holly pushed his arm down.
“Noom came to the states to be with me.”
I glanced at her, then at him, and back and forth a few times, trying to figure out how the two of them were a physical, mental, and emotional match. Everything about the last few minutes took me by surprise, and I didn’t know what to say or how to say it.
“Okay, then. Nice to meet you, Noom. Holly, I’ll catch up with you later.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Miss Independent
My heart was still pounding when I got outside and my hands shook slightly, making it difficult to dial Telly.
“I need to meet you for a drink,” I said as soon as she picked up the phone.
“Now?” she asked.
“Yes, this is an emergency. I’ll meet you at Fly in fifteen minutes.”
By the time Telly arrived, ten minutes late by the way, I’d already had two shots.
“Okay, I’m here. What’s the emergency?” Telly rambled, strapping her purse to the back of the bar seat.
“Have you talked to Holly lately?” I asked.
“No, why?”
“Well, I hadn’t either. So I went over to her apartment just now to check on her and when I walked in I saw something.”
Telly’s expression transitioned from irritated to intrigued. “What?”
“She was having sex.” I cringed.
“Uh-huh . . .”
“With Noom!”
Telly gasped. “No way! Are you sure it was him.”
“Yes, it was traumatizing.”
“It’s about time Holly got laid,” Telly told me before ordering the bartender to pour her a whiskey neat, whatever that meant.
“You’re missing the point,” I urged on.
“Which is?”
“Noom is here in the states. That was the whole reason they could never make it work to begin with. What if he’s here to stay? What if they’re back together for real? What if he takes her back to Thailand for good?”
The Commitment Test (The Marin Test Series Book 2) Page 8
