Good for Now (Book One of The Now Series) (9 page)

Chapter 22

Julie

The doorbell rings, my stomach drops. Kevin rushes up the steps, and I am left with mascara rushing down my cheeks.

Shoot, think fast. I pull up my underwear, pat down my dress and holler, "I'll be right there", then rush to the bathroom, wash my face, pull my hair in a bun, apply some lipstick, looking some what presentable. I smile as I look in the mirror, counting to ten. This usually does the trick, I am now transformed to the, I am a happy girl.

I take a deep breath, thinking stay by your man. I walk to the stained glass section of the door, Dad is all smiles, talking to his girlfriend Samantha. She has become more bearable lately, though I don't like her completely. Maybe because she’s competition; not for my dad’s affections but Kevin’s.

I caught Kevin checking her when she first came over with my dad. I have become so good at seeing things he thinks I don’t see. I even saw him wink at her once. When I confronted this, his defense was, that he was trying to make her feel better, because she was like a mummy. I hardy thought so, I let the whole thing go, some battles aren’t worth fighting for and some are. This particular one wasn’t, but I still remember it.

I open the door to see him and his beauty queen wearing matching smiles. I’ll admit they do look good together.

Smile.

Smile.

"Hello, how is my daughter?"

"Good," I say, widening my smile, feeling the corners of my mouth shaking. So far so good, no mention of my puffy eyes.

"You look great," Sam says.

"Thank you, you look great yourself."

"Thanks to your Dad, we have been exercising more."

Dad chuckles, and I know what he is thinking. It means he has been getting laid more often. Suddenly I have an image of my mother, was she like me? Did she have a hard time enjoying sex? Did she see it as something wrong?

"Where is the to be groom?" Dad asks, looking around the place.

"He'll be right down."

Then he turns to look at Sam, "My future son-in-law is an upcoming lawyer."

"Hello, Mr. White," Kevin calls from the steps as he walks down.

Everyone turns to look at him. He is a vision of awe, looking like the promised child, dressed in Nantucket Reds, his favorite pair of shorts and a simple white t-shirt.

"Hi, Kevin, or should I say son-in-law?"

Kevin smiles, looking at me, "Soon I will be."

He leads us to the living room, where everyone sits. "What would you like to drink Mr. White? And Sam, how about you?"

I can't help but see the twinkle in his eyes when he says her name. Sam blushes looking at him, trying not to let my father see she is partially smitten by a younger man.

"My usual Kevin, and how about you Sam?" He asks as he turns to her, his way of showing he can take care of his girlfriend perfectly fine.

"A glass of white wine, that's if you have any."

"Yes, we do. I love white wine especially with fish."

I feel delirious, is he outwardly flirting with Sam? Is he fucking kicking me? I glance at my father, he seems to take humor in it all. Pig, he can be just like Kevin. Or am I just being too serious like my mother?

"Before you get the drinks, can you get the cheese platter from the refrigerator?" I ask Kevin.

His eyes finally look at me, then he smiles," Sure, I'll be right back."

We watch Kevin leave, I feel all eyes on me.

"Dear, are you OK?" Dad asks.

"Yes, I am fine. Just thinking, you know how I like to do that."

"Yes, you do. Well you know you can always talk to me."

"Sam, did you know when Julie was a little girl, she had this imaginary friend who helped her learn math."

"Really?"

"I'm not sure if it was imaginary, I think I was just teaching myself in an unique way."

"I'd say so, but I thought it was genius, how your math improved. Even your mother was over the moon with how your skills improved. Have you visited your mother lately?"

"No," I say and then the tears start streaming down.

"Honey, I am sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

"No, it is OK. I'm not crying just about her, anyway I don't want Kevin walking back to see me crying. Can we talk about something else?"

Sam nervously smiles, "Sure, now how about using more of that law degree of yours? I happen to know they are hiring at the district attorney office, you would be perfect."

"I'll have to look into that, maybe a job will do me good after all, Kevin is so busy with getting clients. I might as well use my law degree," I say, realizing I went to law school for a purpose.

I loved law, but for some reason I was leaving it to sidelines. Was it that I didn't want to compete with Kevin or that I always wanted to be available for him?

"Now that is the spirit, I'll forward you the info, plus I have heard from your father's office others say how you should join the firm."

"Thanks Sam, maybe one day."

Kevin walks in with our drinks, looking star-eyed.

"Here we go," he walks to Sam first, gives her a glass a wine, then hands my dad his cranberry vodka.

"Thank you, son."

"Oh, now I know why Julie is giving me that look, I forgot the cheese platter, I'll be right back."

I realize more and more Kevin will be who he is, but maybe just maybe he'll change. I sit back on the chair, feeling weak like blood has been drained from my veins. Looking down at my hands, I see my engagement ring. I wonder how he managed to pick it out of the millions out there, was it the cheapest? Was it another girls choice? I cringe thinking how he may have gotten a discount.

Kevin walks in with the cheese platter, and another glass of wine for me. I thought he had forgotten, but he didn't.

"Here you go Julie, instead of bringing you a refill I got you a fresh glass of wine. Did you tell your father about the change of plans?"

I shook my head, "Why don't you? I have something in my eye. I'll be right back...start without me."

I smile, getting up taking my wine glass, and walk to the kitchen. I know my weaknesses and I am not going to engage in a cry fest in front of my father and his girlfriend. Kevin's cell phone is on the kitchen counter, I glance at it. There is a voicemail and a text message. I swipe the text message, it reads "You are such a darling." Who describes anyone as darling anymore, unless you are over the age of fifty. It must be the murderess.

Kevin walks in the kitchen, what are you doing?

"I just thought it would be best if I wasn't in the room. You know how I get," I say.

"Come here, it’s OK, your father isn't mad at you or me. He understands, now you have to do the same."

Kevin, reaches over and grabs my hand, "You know you look beautiful on top of the world," he says as he licks his top lip. “Maybe we should get this party going so we can be alone."

I follow Kevin out of the kitchen to the living room, Dad and Sam are talking.

“Kevin told us about the change of plans, and I will vouch for Kevin on this one. Getting married in the mist of a trial is not the best time, especially when its a murder case.”

I am humbled by his sensitivity.

“I've represented a few of these type cases in my lifetime, and believe it or not, I have debated if they are worth it because they are quiet tiresome; it drains every last bit of you.” He takes a sip of his drink, still looking at me.

“You just don't want Kevin there physically, but emotionally. Having murder floating in your mind doesn't make you feel good.”

I take a sip of wine, trying to hold back the tears. My father is right. I would hate looking back at the pictures remembering our wedding was during a murder trial, yet I was still angry inside. Why was I always getting the rare end of a deal? I felt tears forming in the corner of my eyes. Stop being a baby, I think, yet I don’t feel like I am.

"Oh, come here
darling
, I know it upsets you, but think of it as a way to get a bigger and better wedding. As soon as an innocent verdict is read, five million dollars will be wired in my account," Kevin boasts, like the case will be a shoe in.

"Really? Who is the alleged murderer?" Sam asks.

"Audrey Kemp," Kevin says.

"Which one? There are three that I know of, and I've heard there are a few mistresses floating around," Sam asks. "Is she the younger one?" Sam asks.

I wasn't quite following the conversation, how could there be three Mrs. Kemp's. One had to be the actual Mrs. and the other's exes.

"Actually it is his second."

"Oh, the young one."

"This is confusing, what do you mean second?"

"Rumor is, Mr. Kemp had a hard time keeping his dick in his pants. The longest marriage he ever had was a year, yet he kept going back to his exes."

"That is true, my client was not one of them. He knew her legs were not opened for him, maybe that is the reason why he attacked her,” Kevin says.

So she is the younger of the exes, how nice for Kevin’s eyes.

"Anyway, good luck with the case Kevin. If there is anyone who can handle the case, it is you," Sam says. "So, Julie maybe it is time to work on that resume.”

I shake my head, taking a deep breath. Sam was actually growing on me.

"Anyone like a freshen up?” Kevin asks.

"I would," my Dad says.

Kevin gets up and walks to the kitchen. There is a silence in the room until he disappears.

"Listen honey, I know you are upset. Life often throws us curves, what I am trying to say is don’t take everything to heart like your mother.”

Was he reading my mind? Could he be right? Did I have a trust complex like my mother?

“In the mean time, support Kevin in his dreams.”

I felt like a teenage girl, unable to handle my emotions.

If there is one thing I wish I could say without ruining the evening, is that your mother was lacking in this department. So I will only say it once, support him."

I take a deep breath and crack a smile. Was I wrong about my father? Was my mother the irrational one?

"What you father is trying to say, is support him if he is true to his word. If not, all bets should be off. If you know what I mean.”

"That is exactly what I was saying, thank you Sam. Now I know why I love you. You complete me.”

What sweets words from my father’s mouth. I know if my mother were to have heard them she would have been devastated. My parents had to be in love or why did they get married. I wonder if she writes about when they first met in one of her journals.

“Thanks, both of you. I feel better. I do. I just wish I wasn’t so overdramatic.”

“It’s OK, I have my moments too. Don’t I?” Sam says, looking at my father.

“Yes, she does, and when she does, it is because I was part to blame, because I was probably a jerk.”

“This has been a real eyeopener night.”

“You deserve the best, and maybe the best is not now,” Sam says.

Chapter 22

Julie

Kevin walks back in with a fresh drink for dad, "Here you go."

"Thank you Kevin, how long do you think the trial will last?"

“A month or longer."

"I see."

"I'm thinking, Julie and I can marry next year and have a Nantucket summer wedding.”

Dad cracks a smile, "Good, I'd like for this trial to be over, before starting wedding plans again.”

“Good advice.”

“And I think it is best if Julie works for me while you are busy with the trial. I think it is time she put her law degree in good use.”

Kevin smiles, taking another sip of his drink.

I feel a slight tension in the room.

"I'll call everyone and let them know about the wedding being delayed," I say.

Dad stares at Kevin and smiles.

"Great, now lets have a toast for a happy and healthy year."

"Yes, to a happy and healthy year," Kevin adds.

Dad leans over to Sam and kisses her on the cheek. Seeing him happy makes me happy. My mother was just as beautiful as Sam but there was an unhappiness to her. Was it there before she married dad?

"Oh, the conversation I was going to have with you two, will have to wait. Now that the wedding is postponed so is my offer."

"Offer?" Kevin questions.

"Yes, now that you have the Kemp case, you can afford to buy a house I was going to buy for you two.”

Kevin’s face drops, not believing what he just heard.

“Yes, I had a deposit on a house for you two, it was going to be my gift, but I think I am going to buy it for Sam and I.”

He turns to look at Sam, her face in disbelief.

“What in the world,” she says.

“Sam, I was going to hold off, but I can’t.”

“What is it Joe?”

“Will you not be my girlfriend anymore and be my wife?”

“Are you asking me to marry you?”

“Yes, and I wished I had asked you earlier.”

Tears stream down my cheeks and I am forever changed by my father’s words and actions, and I realize this is what real love is about. It is about wanting to be with the person at that second, always and forever.

“What a night?” I say.

“Yes, I think your father had too much to drink, that is what I think. I don’t think he will remember what he did in the morning.”

“That is a mean thing to say.”

“No, it isn’t. You even said, he suffers from memory lost.”

“Are you serious? I said that jokingly. He’s as smart as they come, even with his age.”

“Well, I think you father is a jerk. He could have still given us the house. This place is getting crammed.”

Kevin is in true asshole mode.

“Well, once you win the case, we will. Until then we are here to stay.” I say.

Feeling myself get worked up again. What is going on here? I feel there is resentment in Kevin.

I am no where near ready to feel on top of the world again, hoping Kevin doesn’t try to have sex with me. Instead he goes to the computer.

"Are you coming to bed?" I ask, even though I don’t want him to.

"I'm going to be up for a while," he says. "I need to make sure I win this case, the pressure is on."

I think, welcome to the world of law. I watch Kevin surf the web, first he’s reading the Miami Herald, then on some message board where he is typing away.

A few hours later I wake-up to see Kevin on the computer, once I am able to focus my eyes, I see he is staring at naked pictures of women.

I close my eyes to see my mother, she is just looking at me with tears in her eyes. Saying “don’t do what I did.”