Taking Over (9 page)

“What
the hell is wrong with you?” Jake took a step towards Gina.

“Nothing.
There is also
nothing wrong with Lydia.” She sipped her coffee. “She's quite capable of
talking for herself.”

“She's
right.” Lydia tugged on his arm. “It's fine.”

“I'm
tired of her stomping all over everyone when she wakes up on the wrong side of
the bed.”

“You
don't know shit about me.” Gina cocked back her head. Not wanting any of them
to know she'd found her someone, but that he could never love her like Jake
clearly loved Lydia. “I woke up just fine this morning.”

“That's
enough, Gina.” Marcus stepped around Jake. “Everyone back to work.” He stared
her down.
“Except you.”

Once
Lydia tugged Jake out of the room, everyone else followed.

“Thanks
for getting the monkeys off my back, honey.” She put the spoon she used to stir
her coffee in the dishwasher.

“Why
do you do that?”

“I
didn't do anything. It's not my fault Lydia can't stand up for herself.” She
sipped her coffee.

“She
shouldn't have to defend herself to you.”

“No,
but she needs to think better of herself.” She placed her mug on the counter
and crossed her arms.

“I
could say the same to you.”

“I'm
not broken.” She charged towards him. “You don't need to fix me!” She shoved
him,
then
clutched his shirt in both hands. “Do you
hear me? I'm not broken.” She shoved against his chest again.

“I'm
in your corner.” He wrapped her in his arms. “Don't push me away.”

“Don't
you see?” She bit her lip. “You'll do it all on your own. It's okay. I'm used
to it.” She tore out of his grip. “I'm a hard girl to love.”

“Tell
me about it.” He picked up her cup and set it out of her reach.

“Don't
be cruel.”

“You
can't shut me out. Remember what I said. I'm not going anywhere.” He lifted her
chin. “I was talking with Rob before I came in here.”

Tears
filled her vision.

“You
did well.”

“Don't
tell me you're proud of me.”

“I
wouldn't think of it.” He kissed her cheek. “Finish your work, we'll relax
tonight, and we'll head north first thing in the morning.”

“Okay.”
She didn't have the strength to fight him. They may be a pipe dream, but
tomorrow would be a lot easier with him by her side. A lot of things would be
easier with him by her side. An empty ache rolled in her belly. Without her
permission, she'd begun to rely on him.

Chapter Nine

Saturday morning came all too soon. He
left Gina still sleeping and hoped when she woke that she'd read at least one
of the notes he'd left her. Keller wanted to utilize Club Blind that night and
asked him to come make a couple of security changes before they headed to Lake
Geneva. The changes had been simple and even sparked a couple of creative
ideas. Marcus planned to talk to Rob about creating a simple app, making it
easier for the Masters to use the club in different ways.

He
ran up the stairs towards the main part of the club, hoping to find Keller for
a quick goodbye. He needed to get back to Gina. The repeated checks on his phone
gave him no sense of security and he didn't trust her not to leave without him He
opened the main door and found a small group gathered around the bar.

“So,
I'm not the only one who got called in this morning,” Marcus said.

“Where
did you come from?” Lydia blew her nose into a tissue.

“Keller
called me in. Did you guys get called in too?” He eventually saw that Jake and
Simon were busy behind the bar. He stopped close to Lydia. “What happened?”

“Marcus.”
Keller came up behind him. “Is Gina still at home?”

“She
was asleep when I left. Why?”

“Her
mom died this morning.”

“Shit.”
His thoughts went to the delicate woman lying in her pretty room. He hoped her
gentle soul was at peace and far from pain. The thought gave him some comfort.
He took a deep breath, taken aback by the emotions and thoughts swirling around
him.

“I
think it would be best if she heard the news from you,” Keller said.

“I'd
prefer it that way.” Marcus crossed his arms and rubbed at the ache in his
chest. It didn't matter that he'd just reconnected with her mom. He pulled out
his phone, knowing he needed to tell his own parents the news.

“Dale
just called me and I can't get a hold of Gina.” Keller crossed his arms. “He's
coming down with a letter from her mom.”

“Poor woman.
She must have
been a saint.” Jake wiped down the bar.

“She
was an amazing woman.” Marcus needed to move. The last thing Gina needed was to
hear about her mom from Dale.

“I
imagine that's what it took to have unconditional love for her daughter.” Simon
set several different colored wrist cuffs on the bar.

“That's
quite enough.” Marcus barked at Simon.

“You
can't be defending her. I mean she gives us all grief. Didn't she cheat on your
best friend?”

“Actually,
that's not what happened.” Rob came through the main door. “What's going on?”

“Thanks
for coming in you guys.” Keller shook Rob's hand. “We'll get started in a bit.
We've had some unexpected news. Your ex-mother-in-law died this morning.”

“Damn.”
Rob reached into his pockets. “I just found out about the cancer yesterday.
Gina hoped she'd have more time.”

“This
is getting surreal.” Jake looked back and forth between them.

“Rob,
do you mind filling them in?” Marcus checked his watch. He hoped Gina had slept
in.

“Not at all.
But, if Gina
asks, I'm telling her it was your idea.”

“I'd
appreciate it, actually.” He was done playing her games. He was done with folks
getting down on her for things she hadn't done. “I'm going back to Gina's.”

“I'll
walk you out.” Keller matched his quick stride to the door. “Let me know once
you've talked to her.”

“Okay.”

“Let
me know if we can do anything.”

“Okay.”
He rubbed is empty stomach. “Can you get Charlie to send over some food?”

“Absolutely.”
He stepped
closer. “Don't let her push you away.”

“Not
going to happen.”

“Good.”
Keller smiled like a proud poppa. “I can send reinforcements, if you need.”

“I
can't imagine Dale's visit today will go easy. Wish we could keep him away.”

“She'll
need to deal with him, but there might be a way to delay his visit.” He pulled
out his phone. “Let me make a phone call.”

****

By
the time Marcus got back to Gina's, his nerves were tightly wound. It took him
three tries to get the key in the lock. Once inside the foyer, he heard the
shower turn off and he ran up the stairs, glad he'd gotten back in time.

She
came out of the bathroom, a towel around her torso and she rubbed another
against her head. Her long locks stood out against the stark white towels.

“There
you are. I'll be ready in a few minutes. I want to head out before traffic gets
too terrible.” She walked into her closet.

“Gina.”
He followed her, stopping at the closet door.

“Did
you get coffee on your way back?” She rolled her shoulders. “I'm dragging
today.”

“Gina.”
He worked at keeping his breathing even. Pressure built at the backs of his
eyes. He didn't know how to tell her.

“Are
you ready?” She tossed the towels and leaned on the small chaise at the end of
the closet. The hot pink lace panties she slid up her long legs matched her
pedicure. She sat, fiddling with the matching bra.

“I've
never been ready.” He walked to her, kneeling at her feet. “I'm sorry it's
taken me so long to face my feelings. I shouldn't have hid them from you.” He
rubbed her foot. “I'm sorry, Gina.”

“What
happened?” She stopped dressing and looked at him.

“She's
gone.”

“When?”
She took a deep
shaky breath.

“This morning.”

“Where's
my phone?” She licked her lips and looked around the room.

“What
can I do?”

“I
should call Andrew.” She stood up and leaned on him heavily. “He has all the
plans we laid out. I'm sure he's already started.”

“Your
phone is on the table by the window, but take
a
second.” He steadied her.

She
stepped around him, right to her phone. “I have a missed call from Dale.”

“He
told Keller he had something for you, but Keller is trying to delay him.”

“Here?
He wants to come here? That would be great actually.”

“What?”
He cocked his
head,
sure he hadn't heard her right.

“I
only have a few more reasons to deal with him. I'd like to get them over with.”
She played with her phone a bit more and then held it to her ear. “Andrew.” She
walked back into her closet.

He
sat on her bed and listened to her chat through a lengthy list. Not once did
she stop to wipe at her eyes or blow her nose. By the time she came back out,
the call was over and she was dressed.

Immaculate.

“How
are you doing this?”

“She
deserves to have a nice funeral. It will be here, though. Mom wanted her
service at the same place where Dad's was. Andrew has already called them. The
service will be Monday. They're bringing her body down today. I have a list of
things I need to do. He'll call me back in a couple of hours with a progress
report.” She grabbed her purse. “Will you go with me when I go see her later?”

“Of course.”
He came up
behind her and rubbed her shoulders. She jumped, but relaxed a bit. “Oh, honey,
it's okay to cry.” He pressed his body to hers and hugged her from behind.

She
rested her head against his shoulder. He squeezed her tighter. Silent sobs
filled the room. It took some time, but eventually she turned in his arms and
buried her face in his chest. Sometime later they sat on the couch at the end
of her room. Sun peeked through the curtains, showing off that a new day had
started.

She
took a tissue from the end table. “
I fucking
hate
cancer.” She blew her nose. He rubbed her back and worked his way through his
own stormy emotions.

****

The last couple of days were a blur.
Thankfully she'd had plenty of help, most of it coming from her mother. The
woman had literally thought of everything. Between Andrew ensuring each step on
the list was executed to perfection and Marcus ensuring she was never alone, the
funeral had been beautiful that morning. Even her stepsister could be credited
with successfully keeping Dale away from her throughout the services. She still
hadn't talked to him or Leslie, actually.

Gina
sipped her wine and leaned against her kitchen counter. She hadn't expected so
many to take her up on her offer of coming to her place for refreshments and a
few eats. She also hadn't expected for Mistress Charlie to provide a spread
quite so expansive. Every day since her mom died, she’d sent more food.

Almost
everyone had left her place, now, except for the cleaning crew. Marcus must
have asked them to stay until everything was taken care of. Anne and Lydia were
putting dishes away while Jane was dividing food.

“Please
don't put all of that in my freezer.” Everything Charlie had brought over was
delicious and she'd tasted almost everything, but she didn't need another
reminder she'd lost her mom. She had enough reminders that the best parts of
her life were over.

“If
you don't eat it, you'll just have to invite us over for dinner.” Jane set an
empty casserole dish by the sink and grabbed another.

“That
sounds like a threat to me,” Gina said.

“Funny.”
Lydia and Anne were actually laughing.

“My
girlfriend lost her father-in-law to cancer back in 2013. I think that was the
year. Anyways, her stuffed freezer was very helpful.” Lydia held up a clean
baking dish. “Where does this go?”

Gina
set down her glass and held out her hand. “Is there a rule against me helping?”

“Okay.”
She handed her the dish.

They
continued to talk around her. Gina kept out of the discussion, trying
unsuccessfully to tune them out. Each one talked about members of their
families or close friends they'd lost to cancer. It seemed the dreaded disease
had a liking for uncles, aunts, and cousins. It had touched them all. They even
made plans to walk in a mini marathon to raise money for research that fall.

“You'll
walk with us, right, Gina?”

“You
don't have to include me.” She looked at each of them, searching for a sign of
relief. After finding none, she got a sense something was overhead, calling to
her. Something powerful embraced her from above and she looked to the ceiling.

Let them in,
sweetheart.

She
heard nothing, but it was her mother’s voice filling her from within. Unbearable
pressure seized her chest. She bent over and leaned on the counter. A ball
seemed to force its way from her heart, up into her throat. She coughed when
the tears won their battle and took over. She shook her hands, trying to regain
some control over her body.

“Find Marcus.”
Anne came up
behind her. “Hold on. Lydia will find him.” She could hear a rattling in Anne's
voice.

“I'm
here.” His warmth enveloped her and some of the strain began to subside.
“Deep breaths.”

She
leaned into him, working to match his even breathing.

“That's
better.” He rubbed her back. “This one got you fast. That's it. Slow down your
breathing.”

She
licked her lips and squeezed her eyes shut, turning to cling to him. Tears
tumbled down her cheeks. As the tension drifted away, she looked around the
quiet room. Everyone tried to look busy.

“Why
are people less likely to cry when adults die?” She looked up at him, not sure
if she was more annoyed with how much she enjoyed him comforting her or that
she was the only one upset.

“What
are you talking about?” He brushed her hair from her forehead.

“Everyone
cries when kids die. It's heartbreaking.” She looked around her apartment,
disgusted by the lack of tears in the room. “But I don't understand why
everyone doesn't cry when adults die. All death is sad.” She rubbed her thumb
against her fist and rocked a little. “It hurts.”

“Everyone
deals with loss different because we are affected on different levels.” Anne
reached out a hand to Lydia, who accepted her embrace. “Just like how
differently we connect to people.”

“Which
begs the question, why you’re all here?” She stepped away from Marcus. “I was
terrible to all of you.”

“Not
me.” Jane came closer. “You tested me. You dared me to go after what I truly
wanted.”

“Let's
not pull any punches.” Lydia looked to Jake, who was just outside of the
kitchen. She reached for him and he came to her side. “You can be a bitch, but it’s
clearly not all you are. We just wish you'd share with us the rest of you.”

Gina
looked around the room. “Huh.”

Anne
took hold of her hand. “We may not have known your mom, but we know you. We
know how you loved her.”