Authors: Mariah Stewart
“Her work, his work—he’s been traveling a lot but she said they expected that would taper off by the fall, so I’m thinking within the next few months there might be some sort of announcement.”
“You like him?” Jesse’s face showed his concern.
“I really do. From what I’ve seen, he’s a great guy with a great sense of humor, and he seems totally over the moon about Mom. And frankly, that’s what I care most about.”
“Me too.” Jesse nodded. “Well, good. I want her to be happy.”
“So do I.” Sophie leaned back against the seat. “So are you ready for your big day?”
“Couldn’t be more ready.”
“I think it’s so cool that you asked Pop to be your best man.”
“He
is
my best man. I couldn’t think of anyone else I wanted to have standing next to me when Brooke and I get married. And he’s so tickled that he’ll get to walk down the aisle with Dallas MacGregor after the
ceremony.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “I think the old man’s got a crush.”
“What man in his right mind wouldn’t?” She could imagine her elderly grandfather offering his arm to the gorgeous film star who’d more than once been voted the most beautiful woman in the world. “She’s Brooke’s matron of honor, right?”
“Actually, she’s the only attendant. Brooke wanted to keep the ceremony small since she was married before. Didn’t want the big hoopla again.”
“Did you?” She rested an elbow on his desk. “Want the big hoopla?”
“Nah. I just want to marry Brooke. We were trying for small, but between the two of us, it feels as if we know everyone in town, and everyone seemed to assume they’d be invited.” He shrugged. “When you can’t decide who to cut, you either cut everyone and just have your family, or you don’t cut anyone. So we invited family and just our closest friends to the church, and everyone else to the reception. But we’re keeping things simple, more like a big party than a fancy reception. It’ll be fun.”
“I’m glad you invited our sibs. I’m thinking less and less of them as half and more and more just as our brother and sisters.”
“Me too. I’ve gotten to know Nick over the past year, and I was amazed to find how much alike we are.” He hesitated. “I invited Delia, too. Do you think Mom will mind?”
“That you invited Dad’s first wife?” She shook her head. “Mom is so over Dad, Jesse.
Totally
over Dad.”
“I thought she’d be okay. I just wanted your opinion.”
“What about Dad?” she asked. “Did you invite him?”
“I thought about it.” Jesse ran a hand through his hair. “I went back and forth, should I or shouldn’t I?”
“And you decided …?”
“Not to invite him. It wasn’t an easy decision, and I feel like a jerk for not calling him. I mean, he
is
our father, Soph.”
“True, but what’s your relationship with him?”
“Pretty much nonexistent,” he conceded. “Which doesn’t make me happy, but he is who he is, and I have a hard time dealing with that.”
“Did you discuss this with Brooke?”
“Of course. She said I should do whatever made me most comfortable.”
“And she’s right. Dad’s a loose cannon. We all know that. I think if you want to have a relationship with him at all …”
“I don’t know if I do.”
“Well, you need to decide that. And if you do, you should try to lay the groundwork at some time other than at your wedding.” She bit her bottom lip, thinking of the havoc their father’s presence could create. “There are other people to consider, Jess. It’s not just us. There’s Mom, and there’s Delia and her kids. Mom’s moved past it all and I suspect Delia has as well—Zoey said her mother was seriously considering marrying a man she’s been dating for years now—but still. Let’s face it. Dad dumped them both and moved on to marry someone else.” She paused. “Actually, he’d dumped Delia and married Mom. That could get sticky.”
“I thought about that.”
“And then there’s Pop. He hasn’t spoken to Dad in I don’t know how long. I don’t think he’d appreciate being forced to deal with his wayward son in front of the entire town, when he hasn’t been able to deal with him in private. And Uncle Mike …” Sophie shook her head. “It just gets more and more complicated.”
Brother and sister sat in silence. Finally, Sophie said, “I think you did the right thing, Jess. Your wedding day isn’t the day to try to reconnect with him, if that’s what you want to do. If you wanted him at the wedding, you should have reached out a long time ago, and everyone should have been made aware that he was going to attend.” She reached across the desk and tapped his arm gently. “I think that door has closed for now, but that’s just my opinion. All that being said, it’s your wedding so you should do what you want, either way, but I do think this is one of those times when you have to consider other people’s feelings. It’s just too touchy a situation.”
“I think you’re right. That’s pretty much how I feel, too. If I wanted to …” He paused. “How do you feel about him? Do you think you’ll ever contact him? You know, try to establish some sort of relationship?”
“I don’t know. I guess at some point I might. Probably not on my wedding day, though.” She smiled. “And on the subject of weddings, what all is going on this week before yours? Is there anything I can do to help? Anything you want me to do?”
“No, but thanks. Only prewedding event is the rehearsal dinner on Friday night. I’ve already moved most of my stuff over to Brooke’s place. Not moving in till after the wedding, though. We both think it sets a better example for Logan. I left most of the furniture
in the house, by the way. I didn’t know what you had or what you were bringing or what you’d need. I figured we’d work it out when you got here. Anything you don’t want, I can move out.”
“I didn’t bring any furniture with me, so I’m grateful for whatever leftovers you can spare. I imagine at some point I’ll bring the stuff I left in Mom’s basement, but for now, I just want to get settled into my new job.”
“Which one?” Jesse leaned his chair all the way back.
“What?” Her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
“I asked which of your new jobs you wanted to get settled into.”
They stared at each other for a long while.
“Sophie, this is a small town,” he said softly. “Things get around.”
“Like what things?” She squirmed.
“You’re really going to make me say it? That I know you’re buying the property on River Road?”
“How did you know? And I haven’t technically bought it. We haven’t closed yet. And does Pop know?”
“Ham Forbes, the Realtor handling the sale, is a client. He was in the other day on another matter and happened to ask me who Sophie Enright was in relation to me. And I don’t think Pop’s heard it yet. At least, he hasn’t mentioned it to me, and I feel pretty sure he would if he knew. I did ask the Realtor to keep it under his hat until after settlement.”
Sophie fell silent. Jesse added, “Is this,” he asked, waving a hand around the room, “just a sham? An excuse to come to St. Dennis?”
“You’re asking me if I’m going to work for you for real?” When he nodded, she said, “Of course I am. I wouldn’t do that to you, Jess. I will help you as much as I can for as long as I can. And frankly, I’m a little put out that you’d even ask me that.”
“Yeah, well, I was a little put out that you’d go ahead and buy that place without even mentioning it to me.”
“I’m sorry. I should have told you. I kept thinking about it and thinking about how I would do things—what sort of food I’d have, how I’d budget, the menus—and all of a sudden, it was for sale, and I could buy it, and I had to decide quickly, so I went for it. It happened really fast, and I was so tied up trying to get my cases organized at the office. Things just moved very quickly. My head is still spinning. I planned on telling you when I got here.”
“Who told you that it was for sale?”
Sophie shifted uneasily in her seat. “I’d rather not say.”
Jesse laughed out loud. “Don’t worry,” he whispered. “Violet’s secret is safe with me.”
“She told you?”
“No, but you just did. I figured it had to be her. Who else is there?”
“She doesn’t want anyone to know she was involved, Jess.”
“You mean, she doesn’t want Pop to know she’s involved,” he corrected her. “But Soph, you need to tell him before someone else—like Ham Forbes—tells him. He’ll feel blindsided.” He left out
like I did
, but she heard the words all the same.
“I know that you think this is folly on my part. But
it’s something I’ve always wanted.” When he started to speak, she held up a hand, then continued. “Let me finish, please. I think I can make this work. It’s going to be a while before I’ll be able to open for business, I realize that, and longer still before I can even think about working on that second-floor apartment, so I’m grateful to be able to sublet your place. I’m going to be working over there in the mornings—painting and whatever I can do on my own—but I’ll be here in the office in the afternoons. I’m hoping that by the time the restaurant is up and running, I will have passed the Maryland bar and I’ll be able to take on more responsibility for you. In the meantime, I’ll write your appeals and I’ll do as much of your research as you need me to do. I can interview clients and I can do a lot of the legwork for you.”
“And once the restaurant is opened?”
“Same deal. I’ll work there till two or so, then come in here and do whatever you need me to do. At least, for as long as I can. This year for sure. We’ll see what next year brings.”
“I don’t see how you’ll be able to pull it all off. You’re talking about two full-time jobs, Soph. And what do you know about running a restaurant?”
“I can do it. You’ll see. I spent some time while I was home picking Shelby’s brain, and she gave me some excellent advice. And I have a plan. It’s going to work.”
“For your sake, I hope it does.” He added, “I just hope it doesn’t kill you.”
“It won’t.”
“If you want my advice, you should call Cam O’Connor to take a look at the place, give you an
idea what it’s going to cost to fix it up. He’s the best contractor in the area, and he’s one of the most honest people I know.”
“I’ll call him. Maybe I’ll even get him in there next week. I don’t have any idea what it’s going to cost to fix the place up.”
“Maybe you should have called him before you came to an agreement with the owner.”
“We had the property appraised and inspected. The structure is sound, the wiring and plumbing were updated about twelve years ago, and the roof’s good.”
“Still …” Jesse shrugged. “A pig in a poke, and all that.”
“Are you angry with me for not telling you sooner?”
“Not angry. I just don’t understand why you didn’t.”
“You so obviously disapproved of the idea, and I was so happy to finally have a chance to do something I’ve thought about doing for so long that I …”
“Didn’t want anyone raining on your parade?” Jesse finished the thought for her.
“Something like that.”
“I get it—and I’m sorry. I should have been more open-minded. I still don’t know if it’s the right thing for you to do, but it’s your life and you have to do what you think will make you happiest.”
“I’m glad we agree on that much. But I’m confident I can make this work.” She smiled slowly. “Unless of course I start thinking too much about how much work and how much money this is going to take. Otherwise, I’m good.”
“Good. Now, when can you start? We’re still backed up. The new paralegal lasted exactly four weeks, then quit because she missed her fiancé in Hoboken.” He
stood. “We set you up in the little back office, just as you requested. Let’s see if you approve.” He held the door for her, and both went into the hallway.
“Oh, I love it!” she exclaimed as she stepped into the room that would serve as her new office. “It’s perfect. I love the color of the walls.”
“As much as I’d like to take the credit, I cannot tell a lie. Violet did all this. She said she had some ideas of what you might like, so I told her to do whatever.”
“Where is she? I noticed she wasn’t in the reception area when I came in.”
“She took the afternoon off. Said she had some personal business to tend to.”
“I can’t wait to thank her.” Sophie smiled as she took it all in: the palest of green on the walls, the shiny cherry desk and the dark green leather chair, the paintings. “That’s Pop, right? The portrait on the left?”
“I thought so, too, but Violet told me it’s actually Curtis’s father. He died long before we came along.” Jesse stood in front of the painting. “I was going to put some different paintings in here. You know, like, flowers or something, but Violet said no, you’d want these.”
“I do want these.” She glanced at the three paintings in the office, then pointed to the one that hung on the inside wall. “Is that Pop’s house?”
“Yeah. He brought that one over after I told him you were joining the firm.” Jesse stood in front of the landscape. “I think these are the gardens that Jason is re-creating.”
She stepped closer to the painting for a better look.
The gardens depicted were lush and glorious, a riot of color and symmetry.
“I can’t imagine that the back of Pop’s place ever looked like that. Even harder to imagine that it could look that way again.”
“Jason’s really good. I saw his sketches. If you’re nice to him, I bet he’ll let you see them, too.”
“I’ll ask nicely.” She stepped around behind the desk. “Computer?”
“You can use the one I bought for our now-you-see-her, now-you-don’t paralegal. She barely used it.”
“That’s fine.” Sophie sat in the chair. It was a little big for her, but it would do. “This is great, Jess. I’m looking forward to getting started.”
“Me too.” The phone in the reception area rang. “You can start right now by answering that phone …”
Jesse’s right. I need to tell Pop what I’m doing before he hears it from someone else
. Sophie sat in her car, her fingers drumming on the steering wheel. She sighed. No time like the present.
She’d stayed at the office later than she’d planned, and she was still feeling road-weary from the long drive from Ohio, but the longer she waited, the more difficult it would be. She glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror and made a face. She looked every bit as beat as she felt, as if she wore every mile she’d driven that day. Makeup might have helped, but she doubted her grandfather would mind, nor would he care that she was wearing the same clothes she’d donned early that morning, clothes that were dusty from unpacking some boxes of files that Jesse had dragged down from the second floor, and whoops—a
cobweb she must have picked up in the process of looking through them for a client’s will. She parked out front and practiced her opening line while walking to the front door.