Authors: Cynthia Ellingsen
Forty-one
C
hloe’s parents were due back from Italy any moment. For a welcome home dinner, June had cooked her famous chicken potpie, and with Chloe’s assistance put together a salad, a side of green peas, baby carrots and rolls. As they cooked, June kept humming.
Even though Chloe had given her a Look more than once, they had not discussed the incident in the garden. Her grandmother had tried, but Chloe held up her hand like a stop sign. “Things we do not speak of. Move on.”
In spite of that little incident, Chloe and June still had plenty to discuss. Geoff was coming to dinner that night to meet both her and Chloe’s parents. “This is serious,” June kept saying. Chloe just smiled.
It was so strange to think that it had only been six weeks since she’d been on that silly practice date with Ben. She’d spent so much time with Geoff—meeting him for impromptu study group at his office, grabbing a quick dinner downtown, sleeping over at his place—that she already felt like they’d been together for much longer.
“You think Mom and Dad will like him?” Carefully, Chloe poured olive oil into a container, waiting for June’s answer.
June dropped a handful of garlic croutons into the salad bowl. “Geoff is Rue Gable’s grandson. What’s not to like?”
To be honest, Chloe wasn’t worried whether or not her parents would like Geoff. She was worried about whether or not he’d live up to June’s standards. Based on a few bits and pieces of stories she had heard over the years, June had been extremely reluctant to welcome her father into the family. Although their relationship had eventually improved, Chloe knew that disapproval had hurt her dad. Besides, Chloe knew firsthand how much it hurt to have June disapprove of someone who she loved.
Over the years, June had been more than clear about not wanting Chloe to end up with Ben. Obviously, that was never even going to happen, but still it hurt her that her grandmother refused to recognize all the good qualities in him. It was almost as though Chloe’s devotion to Ben automatically put him on June’s watch-list. She didn’t want to see the same type of thing happen with Geoff.
“I’m serious, Grandma.” Chloe set the dressing dispenser on the counter and pulled her hair off her neck. The kitchen was hot and the stress of the evening was already weighing on her. “I really need you to be nice to him. Even if you don’t like him.”
“My precious girl, you have nothing to worry about,” June said. “I’ll adore him. According to Rue, he likes you very much.”
“I knew it.” Chloe couldn’t help but smile. “I knew the mahjong group simply could not go on without gossiping about our relationship.”
The fine lines around June’s mouth twitched. “It’s what we do best.”
“Good,” Chloe said, suddenly hopeful. If the mahjong group approved, maybe June would, too. “Just don’t say anything weird when you meet him. You can talk to him about Rue and that connection, but don’t put him on the spot about the future or anything like that. And do not,
do not
mention that one night in the garden.”
Wiping her hands on her red gingham apron, June said, “If this young man truly wants to be a member of the family, he is going to have to accept the slings and arrows of true conversation. I am not going to censor myself. I will say whatever pops into my mind, as always.”
“Fine.” Chloe shrugged. “I’ll tell Charley you used to spy on him.”
June turned pink with pleasure. “Go ahead. Charley and I have no secrets.”
Chloe laughed. “Mom’s going to freak out, you know.” She tried to picture her mother’s response to the fact that June was dating. “Have you told her anything yet?”
June let out a sound that might have been a giggle. “We thought about putting on some skit to fool her. Charley would stop by and demand I cut back my maples. Then I would get really angry, pull out a gun and shoot him. With fake bullets and a ketchup packet, of course.” June’s voice got low and dramatic. “He’d fall to the floor gasping for breath. I would cry,
Oh, what have I done?
and start to weep. After kissing him on the lips, pledging to love him if only he would come back to me, he would open his eyes.” June licked her lips in satisfaction, as though imagining the scene play out. Finally, she grinned. “What do you think?”
“I think Mom would think you actually shot him.” Chloe’s voice was dry. “And then she’d citizen’s arrest your ass.”
The doorbell chimed and June stood up straight. “Well.” She took off her apron, folded it carefully and placed it in the pantry. “This must be your young man.” With the tips of her fingers, she smoothed her wavy blonde hair.
“Grandma.” Chloe had one final moment of panic. Rushing over, she grabbed June’s arm. “Seriously. Be nice to him. Okay?”
“Of course.” June was already making a beeline for the front door. “Nice is my middle name.”
* * *
June gave a secretive little smile. Of
course
she was going to be nice to Rue Gable’s grandson, especially if he was in love with Chloe. There were only two things she wanted in this world: for her daughter and granddaughter to be happy. If Geoff Gable could do that, then June would roll out the red carpet.
Throwing open the door, she stopped in surprise. Geoff had the same sharp nose, high forehead and handsome coloring as Rue. “My goodness,” she said. “You and Rue could be twins.”
Geoff rubbed his five o’clock shadow. “Don’t tell Rue that. She’ll book an appointment to get her face waxed tomorrow.”
June burst out laughing. “Young man, I think I just fell in love with you.”
Linking her arm with his, June led him into the foyer. She watched as his eyes sought out her granddaughter. He rushed over to greet her with a kiss and June’s heart gave a silent cheer.
Dr. Geoff Gable was most certainly The One.
* * *
Kristine and Kevin walked up the sidewalk to June’s brownstone, their hands entwined. Stopping, Kristine stared up at the house with suspicion. It was lit from top to bottom, and through the window she could see June chatting with a man she didn’t recognize.
Their flight back from Italy had arrived early that afternoon. Kristine and Kevin had spent the day in bed wrapped in each other’s arms and drifting in and out of sleep. It had taken three phone calls from June to get them up and on their way. Even though she was excited to see her mother, Kristine was a little too jet-lagged for a welcome home party.
“Should we run?” she asked as they trudged up the front steps.
“Only if she’s serving Italian.” Kevin pushed open the door. “I’m ready for a good old-fashioned burger.”
“I hear our guests,” June cried, sweeping into the foyer. Grabbing Kristine, she practically smothered her with kisses. “Don’t ever leave me like that. Oh! What did you do to your hair?”
“Looks good, huh?” Kevin reached over and ruffled the new do.
Spinning her around in a full circle, June said, “It looks marvelous.” With a conspiring smile, she added, “But of course you look good. You’re
my
daughter.”
Stepping forward, Kevin opened his arms. “Come here, cupcake.” As June squealed, Kevin pulled her into a tight hug. Laughing, she shook a finger at him. “How was Italy? Did you love it?”
Kevin nodded. “I hate to say it, June, but you were right.”
“Oh, pish-posh.” June patted her hair. “It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or right. What matters is that you two were together. Now, follow me.”
Kristine and Kevin trailed behind her, exchanging baffled looks. “Maybe they had to medicate her,” he murmured. “Because you were away.”
In the dining room, the lights were turned down low and the table practically glowed with candles. Chloe stood next to it, a huge smile on her face. Someone who could only be Dr. Gable stood next to her wearing a tweed jacket, button-up shirt and a navy ascot.
Chloe rushed forward and hugged them tight. “Mom and Dad, I want you to meet my
boyfriend
.” Kristine could tell her daughter loved saying that word.
As Geoff kissed her cheek, Kristine noticed that he smelled like spearmint, as though he’d been using breath spray or chewing on mints in preparation for their arrival.
“It’s so nice to meet you,” he said. “Chloe has told me so much about you.”
Kristine smiled. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”
Kevin, on the other hand, eyed him like a bug. “You a Bears fan?” he growled.
“Yes, sir.” Geoff shook his hand. “I’m from Chicago and—”
“Do you have a job?”
“Dad.” Chloe giggled.
Geoff nodded, looking as serious as ever. “I own my own practice. Psychology.”
Kevin smiled, his face splitting into a grin. “Alright. Then you and Chloe might get along.”
The chime of the doorbell rang through the house like wedding bells, startling all of them.
June flushed. “Now, who could that be? Kristine, would you mind getting the door?”
Even though she would have much preferred to pull up a chair and get to know the man who was clearly making her daughter so happy, she headed out to answer it. To her dismay, Charley Montgomery stood on the stoop, clutching a bouquet of yellow roses.
“Kristine.” His blue eyes sparkled. “Do you mind if I come in?”
Charley had always seemed so kind, but inviting him in would not go over well with June. “I’m sorry,” she said. “Let me check with my . . .” Turning, she saw that everyone was standing in the foyer, and June was grinning like a cat with a mouthful of feathers.
Kristine’s mouth dropped open. “Mother . . .” She looked back at Charley, who was smiling, too. “Seriously?” she cried in delight.
Sweeping forward, June announced, “Kristine, I would like you to meet
my
boyfriend. The ultra-handsome, unbelievably charming Charley Montgomery.”
Kristine couldn’t believe it. “That is wonderful! Charley, I . . .” Reaching out, she clasped his hand and squeezed it tight. “I don’t know what happened here. I left the country and everyone went crazy.”
“Not at all,” June said. “You left the country and . . .” She gave a meaningful look in Kevin’s direction. “We all came to our senses.”
Forty-two
W
atching her parents together from her spot at the dinner table, Chloe breathed a sigh of relief. They were finishing each other’s stories, sharing inside jokes and even holding hands. They both seemed happier than they had in ages, especially her mother.
“Attention, please.” June got to her feet, tapping her fork against her wine goblet. The delicate crystal hummed and the various conversations died out around the table. “Can I have your attention, please?”
Charley took June’s hand and kissed it. “You always have our attention, my love.”
Chloe exchanged a quick look with her mother. Kristine mouthed, “Cute.”
“I just wanted to say . . .” June flaunted her sassy smile, her eyes sweeping over the group. “I am delighted to have my family back together in one room. Kristine and Kevin, our lives are not the same without you.”
“Here, here,” Chloe said, raising her wineglass.
“And . . .” June nodded at Charley, who also got to his feet.
“As you know,” Charley said, smoothing down his light blue button-up shirt, “June and I have been seeing each other.”
Geoff raised an eyebrow at Chloe. “Fire ants,” he muttered. She coughed to keep from laughing.
“So, the other day, as we were sitting out in the garden, we got to talking.” She produced a single white rose and held it up. “Kristine, Chloe, do you know what this is?”
Chloe squinted. “It’s from one of your rosebushes, but . . .”
“Nope.” Neatly, June tucked the flower behind her ear. From that angle, Chloe could see that the petals were dried and browned at the edges.
Of course! It was one of the flowers from the wedding where they’d all caught that bouquet. The dried rose was exactly like the pink one hanging on Chloe’s refrigerator. She felt a tiny pang, remembering how Ben had pretended to give it to her at the beginning of their date. Luckily, that memory soon passed.
“This summer, I caught a bouquet at a wedding,” June said. “We
all
caught a bouquet at a wedding. And . . .” Dramatically, she stuck out her weathered hand. A stately diamond ring sparkled from her ring finger. “The bouquet was right!”
“Wait, what?” Chloe could barely process the statement. “
What?
”
She looked at her mother. Kristine’s eyes were wide.
She moved her mouth as though to speak, but nothing came out.
“Congratulations,” Chloe shrieked. She leapt to her feet, jostling the table. Wine danced back and forth in the glasses. “Grandma! Oh, my gosh. I can’t believe it!”
Rushing over to June, Chloe grabbed her hand and studied the ring. It was a simple emerald cut on a platinum band. Completely different from the extravagant one Chloe’s grandfather had given her so many years ago. That ring now sparkled from her grandmother’s right hand.
For some reason, Chloe thought back to the time when she was in undergrad, when June had called her at all hours of the night. She had chalked it up to her grandmother being wild and ridiculous but in her heart, she’d always known the truth. June needed someone. And finally, she’d found him.
“Grandma, this is so perfect,” Chloe said. “
He’s
perfect!”
Charley bowed his head. Suddenly, it struck her—this man was going to be her
grandfather.
She’d never had a grandfather, because Eugene died before she was born and Kevin’s father left his family when he was little. At the age of twenty-five, she would finally have a grandfather.
Kristine put a hand on her mother’s shoulder. Chloe stepped aside as she hugged June tight. “This is such good news,” she whispered. “Dad would have wanted this for you.”
“Well, I think this is bizarre.” Geoff’s voice rang through the room and Chloe turned to him, surprised.
“Bizarre?” she echoed. It wasn’t bizarre that her grandmother was getting married. It was wonderful. “What do you mean?”
Geoff’s handsome face creased in a smile. “The last thing I expected tonight was for your grandmother to announce her engagement. It’s actually rather odd.”
Chloe watched her father eyeing Geoff, as though reevaluating him altogether. Kristine’s forehead was wrinkled and even Charley looked a little perplexed. June was the only one at the table still smiling, as though waiting for a punch line.
Blushing furiously, Chloe walked over to him and murmured, “Geoff, seriously. I think you’ve probably had too much to . . .”
“I haven’t had too much to drink. I just have something to say.” Tugging at his ascot, Geoff took in a deep breath. “Chloe, we’ve only known each other for a few months but I feel like I’ve known you forever. I love you. Your warmth, your humor and your ability to put me in my place with one word.”
Love?
Geoff actually said
love
? Chloe’s mouth dropped open.
“I didn’t expect to do this here in front of everyone.” Geoff gave an apologetic look to Kevin. “I’d rather planned to talk to your parents first and do this the old-fashioned way. But given your grandmother’s announcement I have to admit I’m a bit swept up. Chloe . . .”
Right there on the green Oriental rug in the dining room, the rug Chloe had played on since she was a little girl, Geoff got down on one knee. “From the moment we met,” he said, reaching for her hand, “I have thought of nothing but spending the rest of my life with you. Chloe, will you marry me?”
To her complete and utter shock, Dr. Geoff Gable IV reached into his tailored jacket pocket and produced a light blue box. Snapping it open, he revealed a shiny diamond ring. Apparently, a diamond ring meant for her.
Chloe had never been so surprised in her life. A hundred different memories ran through her head. The moment she’d first seen Geoff speaking on stage, that time in Tiny Tumblers when he’d first said he liked her, and, for some odd reason, the moment Chloe’s and Ben’s eyes met after they’d kissed.
“You barely know me,” Chloe whispered, gripping the edge of the oak table. “This is crazy.”
Geoff smiled. “I’m a psychologist. I think I’ve earned the right to do something a little crazy.”
June clapped her hands in delight. “Ha!”
“Imagine our future together.” Getting to his feet, Geoff stepped forward and closed the small gap between them. “Can you see it?”
A series of abrupt images skipped through Chloe’s head. Sharing a practice with Geoff, discussing their work late into the night, Mary Beth running up and hugging her legs . . . Actually, she could see it. Chloe sucked in her breath. She could see it very clearly.
Looking around the room, Chloe took in the sight of her family. Her mother’s lips were pressed tightly together and both Kevin and Charley seemed impressed. June’s eyes were wide with delight.
Don’t be foolish
, her expression seemed to say.
Say
yes!
“Yes.” Chloe’s voice sounded disembodied. “Yes,” she said again, louder. “I would love to marry you.”
As Geoff leapt to his feet and pulled her close, Chloe felt removed, as though the moment was happening to someone else. Then there was chaos. Hoots and hollers and hugs and kisses. Her father was shaking Geoff’s hand, Charley was clapping Geoff on the back and June had unearthed a camera from somewhere and was taking pictures. Her mother was the only one standing off to the side, looking pale and confused.
“You know I don’t like to share the stage . . .” June rushed forward, hastily filling a champagne flute. “But for this, I will. To two weddings!”
“To two weddings,” Chloe breathed. Suddenly, a burst of cold sweat covered her body. They were getting married.
Getting married!
Chloe couldn’t wait to tell Sally and all of her friends. Except Ben. She had a sneaking suspicion that he would not see the romance in all this. Not one bit.
Kevin cleared his throat. “I have something I’d like to say.” The celebration stilled and he smiled at Chloe. “I, too, am a very happy man. In Italy, your mother and I—”
“Kevin,”
Kristine said, her voice sharp.
Chloe knew that tone. It meant,
Drop it right
now.
“Honey, it’s not taking away from their thunder. It’s just adding a little lightning.” Looking around the room, he grinned. “While we were in Rome, Kristine and I decided . . .” He lifted her right hand. A new diamond ring sparkled from her finger. “We decided to renew our vows.”
“Oh, my gosh,” Chloe cried.
“Really?”
“While you two plan your weddings”—Kevin kissed Kristine’s forehead with a loud smack—“this beautiful lady is going to be plotting out our vow renewal ceremony.”
“Love is in the air,” Charley sang.
“And I thought
I
was the only one with news,” June cried.
“Wait!” Chloe cried. A wild idea had just hit her. “Mom, Grandma . . . since we’re all getting married, what if we did it together?”
For probably the fifth time that night, everyone in the room fell silent.
“Absolutely not.” Kristine shook her head so hard her new haircut swung back and forth. “I’m sorry, but I want your wedding to be about you, not about us.”
“A wedding’s about love,” Chloe said. “And I love you two more than anything.”
“That’s true.” Geoff put his hand on her back. “I see nothing better than all of us celebrating together.”
If there had been a flicker of doubt in Chloe’s mind about saying yes to Geoff’s proposal, that statement sealed the deal. Taking his hand, she held on tight. “I love you,” she said for the first time ever in her life.
Geoff smiled, squeezing her hand. “I love you, too.”
“Love is a wonderful thing and a very compelling reason, but . . .” June looked vaguely distressed. “There is one tiny problem. It simply might not work to share a wedding.”
“Why not?” Chloe demanded.
“You see . . .” June’s hands fluttered and her eyes met Charley’s. He flashed a perfect, gleaming white smile. “Our time line’s a little different than yours. We would like to have a shotgun wedding.”
“Are you pregnant?” Chloe gasped. Off her mother’s look, she held up her hands. “Look, nothing would surprise me with her.”
June beamed. “Of course not. It’s just that . . . well . . .”
“We’re old,” Charley said. “We could drop over dead at any moment. Why waste time?”
June and Charley looked at each other and cracked up. They laughed so hard that they had to grab on to each other to stay upright. “Well, it’s the
truth
,” June said once she realized everyone was staring at them in horror.
“It’s not funny,” Kristine said.
Chloe nodded. The thought was not funny at all.
“Oh, but it is.” June waved her hand. “It’s like the sixties all over again. Back then we lived every day like the world could end because of the war. But this time . . .” She giggled, poking her fiancé. “We have to do it that way because we’re
old.
”
Once again, Charley and June laughed like loons.
Kevin finally chuckled, too. “What?” he said. “They make a good point.”
“Life is short,” Geoff agreed. “I’d walk down the aisle with this girl tomorrow.”
Chloe’s heart danced. “Tomorrow?” She beamed. “Really?”
He nodded. “Really.”
“I just don’t know,” Kristine hedged. “A triple wedding?”
“Come on, Kris,” Kevin said, squeezing her hand. “You’ll love this. Come on.”
“Yes, Kristine,” June echoed. “I’m the bride and I want you to do it.”
“
I’m
the bride,” Chloe said, “and I command you to do it!”
Kristine gave a tight smile. “Then it’s decided. I guess we’d better start hunting for a church.”