A Slight Change of Plan (31 page)

“Well, that’s good. ’Cause you’re a beautiful woman, Kate. I know that you didn’t think you were pretty enough for him. And back then, maybe you weren’t. But you’ve gotten better-looking with age. Some women do. Your face suits you now. It’s the face you’ve always deserved.”

I was shocked. “Thanks, Mom,” I managed.

“Too bad you’re so flat chested. You get that from your father’s side of the family. His mother looked like a diving board. If you’d been lucky, you’d have taken after me more. If you had a body like mine at your age, you’d have more than just two men knocking on your door.”

“Right. I’ll bring down the burgers in a bit.”

“Well-done. I don’t eat pink meat.”

“I know, Mom.”

Jake came over early Saturday morning, and we drove back up to New York and enjoyed another day on the lake. We spent a long time walking through the log cabin. It was beautiful.

“It’s not quite a cabin in Colorado,” Jake said, “but it’s already built, and it would be an easier commute. I’d keep the town house, of course, but this is perfect for the weekends.”

“Yes.” In my head, I was redecorating. The great room needed brightening up, the master bath was a gut job, and all the antler chandeliers had to go. He was behind me, and he came close, wrapped his arms around me, and brought his head over my shoulder. We stood there for a few minutes. I could feel the pounding of his heart against my back, and the heat of him came through my clothes. His breath was warm against my neck, and he kissed my ear. Thirty years ago, I would have turned to him and drawn him down onto the leather couch, peeling his clothes off slowly before easing myself onto him.

But my head wasn’t ready for that yet, as much as my body might have been. I wasn’t going to make love to Jake, not with Edward crowding in so close in my head. Besides, this was someone else’s house, and leather was cold, uncomfortable, and would have made funny noises against bare skin.

“If you buy this house, we need to get rid of all the leather furniture,” I said.

“Why?”

“I hope I can tell you someday.”

The house was empty when we got home. The potluck was still going strong. I felt a little guilty sending Jake home, knowing he’d be driving back the next morning, but he was sweet and good-natured about the whole thing.

I’d given Mom the remote control for the garage so she could get in and out by herself. I also figured it would be an early warning system, letting me know when she got back. I did not hear the garage open until late, almost eleven. I had been reading in bed, but got up when I heard it and went downstairs.

“Hey, Mom, this is pretty late for you. You must have had a good time.”

She looked tired, and her breath was short. She was in the recliner. She nodded and held up a finger. “Wait.”

I sat, and when she caught her breath, she actually smiled. “It’s nice to be around people again. When I first moved down to Cape May, I knew everybody. But all my friends died off or went to nursing homes. The new people didn’t want to be bothered with a crabby old lady, so most of them left me alone. But the folks here are pretty nice.”

“Mom, I think you’ve probably got more friends here than I do. I know Marie, and a few people from walking the dog and hanging out at the pool, but I would never be asked to help plan a potluck.”

“You’d never want to. You were never that kind of woman. You’ve got sunburn on your cheeks.”

“I know.”

“Got sunburn on your other cheeks?”

“No, Mom. Outdoor sex is not on the agenda at my age.”

“He’s coming to Laura’s?”

“Yes.”

“Good. I’ll see him then.”

“Okay. Good night, Mom.”

Jake was there so early the next morning that he brought down my mother’s tray. I sat at the breakfast bar and waited, my eyes closed, hoping for the best. When he came back up, he was grinning.

“What?”

“She wants me to drive her to the cookout. She says she’s never been in a Mercedes before. And she wants the top down.”

“Do you mind?”

“No. I was going to take my car anyway. I have to head straight back to the city this afternoon. There’s a lot going on next week.”

The front door crashed open and Boone got all excited. Sam was home. He came into the kitchen with his usual bounce, grinning.

“Great car,” he said to Jake, holding out his hand. “I’m Sam.”

Jake shook his hand. “Thanks. Jake Windom.”

Sam nodded and turned to me. “What time?”

“We’ll leave here around noon. I still have potato salad and brownies to make.”

“Cool. Need help?”

“Oh, how sweet.” I looked at Jake.

“I could use an hour or two at my computer,” he said. “If it’s okay.”

“Jake, you were always a major distraction in the kitchen. Sam here can at least boil potatoes and knows how to cut things.”

Jake gave me a quick kiss and went off into the den. Sam brought his duffel bag upstairs, and when he came back down, we boiled potatoes, chopped celery and hard-boiled eggs, and baked two batches of brownies from scratch. He talked nonstop. He’d had a great time in Long Island, and mentioned someone named Vin six times before I realized Vin was Vincenza, a young woman who had apparently made a big impression on my son.

“Who is she again?”

“Tim’s sister’s roommate. She’s down on Wall Street. Usually I find those businesspeople pretty boring, but she was pretty cool. Big online gamer, you know?”

“No. I haven’t a clue. Your grandmother wants to go over with Jake, so it will just be you and me. Got your swimsuit?”

“Yep. Jake seems nice.”

“You didn’t even talk to him.”

“Yeah, but what a great car.”

“And that makes him nice?”

Sam shrugged. “I’ll put this stuff in the car.”

Jake followed me to Laura’s. My sister lived in an old farmhouse with an in-ground pool and a yard big enough for the boys to play regulation soccer, which they did pretty much every day. Luckily, the weather was perfect: hot, but no humidity, and a breeze. That meant Mom could sit out on the screened porch and not have to huddle in the air-conditioned house.

Jake helped her around to the back of the house. I looked for any visible signs of harassment, but he was all smiles. So was she.

“What did you talk about?” I asked.

“Alfred Hitchcock.”

“What?”

“She’s a fan. So am I.”

“That’s it?”

He shrugged. “What were you expecting?”

Anything but Alfred Hitchcock.

Laura had been told she could walk on her ankle again, and had been to physical therapy a few times, so she was getting around pretty well. She gave Jake a big hug and introduced him to everyone. Jeff and Gabe were already there; so was Bobby’s sister and her husband and three boys. Devon had his arm draped around a pretty little girl named Brianne who looked twelve years old. Wade was in the pool with his cousins. Sam changed into his suit and joined them. I went into the house to help Laura, leaving Jake talking wine versus beer with Bobby and Gabe.

Jeff followed me into the kitchen. “Jake spend the night?” he asked.

“No.”

“Why not?” He looked indignant.

“Really, Jeff? Sam went crazy because I was having sex, and you’re acting bent out of shape because I’m not.” I cleared my throat. “It’s getting complicated.”

“How is it getting complicated? I thought this guy was the one, with a capital O.”

“I’ve been spending some time with somebody else.”

Laura looked up. “What? Wait a minute. A few weeks ago you told me you and Jake were starting all over. Where did another man come from?”

“England. Phil’s dad.”

“Awkward,” Jeff muttered.

“No, it’s not. Each of them knows about the other, and let’s face it, I’m not sixteen. I’m not going ‘steady.’ I’m a grown woman who’s examining all her options.”

“You make it sound perfectly civilized,” Jeff said.

“It is. We’re all grown-ups here.” I looked around. “It’s fine.”

Laura was pouring homemade marinade over chicken. “Kate, I hope it all works out for you; I really do.”

“Me too,” said Jeff. “But I’m rooting for Jake. Nothing against Edward—Regan says he’s a perfectly nice man—but if we’re looking to add value to the family, Jake is a better bet. He doesn’t have any kids of his own, does he? He really needs a family to leave all that money to.”

“Jeff, don’t be crude,” I scolded.

Regan came in and gave me a kiss. “Jeff is always crude. Who was he talking about this time?”

“Jake,” I said. “He’s out back.”

Regan looked out the window. “The tall guy? And Gram’s here? How did that go over?”

“They bonded over Alfred Hitchcock,” I told her. “Who knew?”

“Mom, didn’t you go out with Edward a few times?”

“Yes, I did. But we didn’t sign any vows of undying loyalty, so I’m still seeing Jake as well.”

“You go, Mom. You’re really taking this whole dating thing to heart, aren’t you?” Regan said.

“Don’t be fresh. Listen, did you order a cake?”

“From Swiss Chalet in Morristown.”

“And what about music for the church?”

Regan gave me a look. “Mom. It’s covered. We have only one possible disaster looming.”

“What?”

Phil answered. “My mother is coming into town two weeks before the wedding. She’s staying at the Westin. The Governor Morris.”

“That’s where Edward is staying,” I said.

Laura finished chewing a bit of melon from Regan’s salad. “That’s bad?”

Regan rolled her eyes as Phil nodded. “Very,” he said. “You don’t know my mother very well, but she can be a total raving bitch. And she hasn’t spoken to my father in twenty years.”

Jeff sighed happily. “I so love a little drama at weddings.”

Regan stuck her tongue out at him. “Well, if this gets too dramatic, Phil and I will just cancel.”

“No, you will not,” I said sternly.

Laura shook her head. “Why did your parents divorce, Phil?”

He shrugged. “Because my mother is a total raving bitch?”

“No, really,” Laura chided.

“No,” I said. “Really.”

“Mom,” Regan said. “You bait her.”

“
Moi?
Never.”

“Wait till she finds out that you and Edward are, were, well, whatever,” Regan said, looking a little worried.

“Oh my. I hadn’t thought of that. Well, we just won’t mention it, will we?” I said, glaring around the room. “Like, ever.”

Jake came in the back door. “Bobby sent me in to break up the kitchen party and move everyone outside.”

Laura laughed. “Good idea.”

“Jake,” I said, “this is my daughter, Regan, and her husband-to-be, Phil.”

Jake shook hands. “Good to meet you both. Kate has been filling me in on the wedding details.”

“I’m sure she has,” Regan said. “And I’m sure she’s been very open and honest about her feelings about the situation.”

“What are you talking about? Your mother has always been reserved in her opinions. Unless you mean how she mentioned about having to slash her list of guests, and how you’re only having a buffet instead of a six-course sit-down meal, and the whole ‘She’s not even having a real band’ rant?”

Regan laughed. “That’s Mom.”

Jake grinned. “She’s actually slowed down. In her prime, she was completely terrifying.”

Regan nodded. “She still can be. But these days, she tries to use her powers for good.”

“Enough,” I said loudly. “We can dissect my personality outside. Leaving Bobby out there with my mother is cruel and unusual.”

Jake reached out and patted my cheek. “Only to you, Kate.”

Laura handed everyone a dish to carry out, and we trailed out of the kitchen. Jeff, coming up behind me, whispered in my ear.

“Meryl is pregnant.”

“Meryl? The wonderful woman in Maine who’s going to be carrying my grandchild?” I set a bowl of pickles on a table and hugged him. “I’m so happy. Okay, we need to keep our fingers crossed and think good thoughts.”

“She says she feels good. It’s only a few weeks, but it’s a great start.”

“Let me know when I can start planning the shower. I’m thinking we could get a room at Rod’s Ranch House. Would your friends come out from the city? We’ll do a Saturday luncheon.”

“Do you have a guest list for this, too?”

I looked skyward. “Maybe.”

He kissed me on the cheek. “Knock yourself out, Mom. And I’m happy that you’re happy.”

We ate under a striped tent that had been staked in the middle of the yard. Jake had been hovering over the grill with Bobby, but after the table had been loaded down, he sat between me and my mother, his plate piled high, an icy bottle of water at hand.

“No beer?” I asked.

He shook his head. “Nope. Driving. I never drink and drive anymore. God spared me too many times during my misspent youth; I’m not pushing my luck now.”

“Luckily,” I said, “most of our favorite haunts back then were in walking distance.”

Regan looked over and shook her head. “Mom, one or two glasses of wine, well, that’s okay, but anything more than
that and you’re a little embarrassing. I can’t imagine you going out drinking.”

Jake threw back his head and laughed. “You should have seen her trying tequila for the first time.” He grinned at me.