Vortex (SAI Book 1) (33 page)

***

“So, we’re all set?” Joel asked.

“Yes, Ronnie and Mama are in on the plan. Gerald has taken over and has things completely organized.”

“I have everything on my end taken care of. So, if we’re lucky, this will go off without a hitch.”

“I’d say that we deserve some luck after the last couple of months,” Vivi remarked.

Pressing his hand against her stomach, he winked. “I’d say we’ve had double luck.”

“You’re right, of course.”

Glancing over, he noticed that she seemed lost in thought. “Everything okay?”

“I’m sorry that your mama couldn’t make the trip. We should go see her next month so that I have a chance to get to know her. I want her to know that her baby boy is in good hands.”

“I think that’s a great idea. And as far as the baby boy part goes…”

“Oh, stop, it doesn’t matter how grown up you are or how much you’ve accomplished. She still sees you as her youngest, and I’m sure that she worries about you.”

With a shrug, he turned on to the highway that would take them to Coral Gables. “You may be right.”

“I know I’m right. Maybe after the sale on the house closes, we can see if she’s up to traveling. It would be nice for her to come out and have a nice long visit. We could get to know one another, and she could tell me all the embarrassing stories from your youth.”

“That sounds like fun.” Smirking, he took her hand. “Once we own the two homes, we’re going to be just like the Bedfords. Why is it that you women require a compound?”

“I plan on filling our house up with children, and the four bedrooms are not going to be enough. Add to that family that comes to visit, well…it just makes sense.”

“The wise thing for me to do would be to agree, and go along with your plans…right?”

“Absolutely. That single quiet life you had is just a distant memory. Peace and quietude are not something that you should ever plan on experiencing again. Welcome, Joel McDade, to your new life.” Smiling broadly, she laughed.

He remembered an empty feeling he’d had months ago when he sat in his office. It was before Ronnie had come in asking for help. Well, his life was sure as hell not empty now. It was full, right along with his heart. And the woman sitting next to him was solely responsible for the change. Silently, he congratulated himself for figuring out that she was the answer. 

***

The Mother’s Day lunch was in full swing by the time they arrived. The DuMond clan was there in full force, along with two of Joel’s sisters, Ben and Ruby, and Scott. Nobody really understood why Scott was at Ronnie and Chase’s house more than his own. But that was the way it was. Apparently, even full-grown men who made more money than God needed a family. Scott had chosen Ronnie and Chase as his.

It took time and effort to move around the crowd, and Joel was enjoying himself. If someone would’ve asked him months ago if this was what he was interested in, he would have laughed. But being part of this big, loud, crazy Southern family was just what he needed.

A scream filled the air, and Ben and Joel went on high alert. Until they saw Dane escorting Trinity into the backyard. Ruby, Vivi, and Trinity cried, hugged, and generally made a lot of noise. Nodding with satisfaction, Joel tipped his chin at Dane. He’d asked him to fly over and grab Trinity for the party today. There was no way Vivi would be happy unless her girls were here to celebrate. It seemed that the picture was complete. Vivi had never seemed happier, and that was something that he never wanted to change.

Dane strode up and clapped him on the back. “Mission accomplished.”

“I can always count on you.”

Smirking, Dane rocked back on his heels. “Doesn’t even need to be said. The rest of the team will be here in about an hour. No one wanted to miss seeing the lone wolf make his declaration.”

“I just bought a second house because the one we have isn’t big enough, according to Vivi. The wolf has a pack now, and I plan on making it as big as I can.”

They both looked at Vivi and then at one another. “Seems like you’re off to a good start.”

“Seems like it,” Joel responded. “Oh, God, here come Nana and Lolly.” Turning slightly, he noticed that Dane had disappeared like smoke. “Hello, ladies…”

Vivi sat with her friends on the other side of the lawn and caught up. The last couple of weeks had been crazy, and Trinity had not been fully informed. “The woman is dead,” Vivi stated flatly.

“Wow,” Trinity replied.

“Exactly. Joel is an excellent shot, and he wasn’t taking any chances. He told me that if someone raises a gun in the direction of his family, there is no way they’re going to survive.”

Ronnie strolled up and joined the group. “I agree with him. That woman had too many chances, and how dare she take a shot at my sweet sister and the babies she’s carrying? I swear, it makes me madder than a hornet.”

Ruby and Trinity sat back, because once Ronnie got a good mad going, she never really let it go. It was something that, given the right circumstances, could live on for years. “Ronnie, I want you to let it go. You have wonderful blessings coming into your life, and that is where your energy needs to be.”

“Oh, it will be.” Hugging her sister, she kissed her head. “I sent out letters last week to half of my client list, telling them that I would no longer be their financial advisor. Anyone who wasn’t married or in a long-term relationship got cut.”

“Are you sure, Ronnie?” Vivi asked.

“I’m as sure as sugar. My priorities have changed, and I can only reasonably handle around a hundred clients. I picked my favorites and got rid of the rest.”

Vivi glanced over and noticed Scott talking with Chase, Joel, Dane, and her brothers. “How did that quarterback make the list?”

Shrugging, Vivi smiled at her husband. “Chase has almost adopted Scott. I couldn’t get rid of him if I wanted to. He’s like a lonely puppy looking for a home. I swear, sometimes I wonder if he has any friends other than us.”

Ruby studied the group and laughed. “A lonely puppy that has a hundred-million-dollar contract, with over half of it guaranteed. I see his picture in the paper with a different model every week.”

“When he’s not at a charity function, his sad and sorry butt is parked in my kitchen. He’s campaigning to be a godparent.”

“He’s not my favorite piece of pie,” Vivi said. “When I was here last week enjoying Gerald’s delicious fried chicken, he came in and made a comment about how much I was eating.”

“Tell them how that turned out,” Ronnie replied.

“I told him that my boyfriend could kill in a hundred ways and that it was up to me how much suffering he would experience when it happened. It was just lucky timing that Joel happened to walk in right after that. When I asked Joel to kill him, he agreed immediately. Unfortunately, the fact that he decided to eat before he did it sort of took away the sting. But I think I made my message clear, nonetheless. At least I hope I did.”

“Anyway…that’s the latest,” Ronnie remarked. “Viv, let’s go into the house for a minute and then we can have dessert.”

Vivi rose and took her sister’s arm, and they walked into the house. “Let’s get you ready, sweet sister.”

“I guess I’m going through with this.”

“Might as well. After all, he’s saved your life a couple of times, given you the thing you wanted most in the world, he loves you beyond measure, and he doesn’t seem to mind your strange sense of humor.”

With a shrug, she moved up the stairs. “Well, since you put it that way, I guess I will.”

***

Chase stood in front of the group gathered on the lawn, with his wife’s hand in his. “Ronnie and I would like to make an announcement.” Waiting for everyone to quiet down, he kissed his wife’s cheek. When he was confident that everyone could hear, he cleared his throat. “It seems that we’ve gotten lucky. We have come to an agreement with some nice folks in Mississippi, and next week, we’re going to become the parents of twins.” The crowd erupted in cheers, and Chase waited until it died down a little. “Raise your glass, and let’s toast to the imminent arrival of Connor Lincoln Bedford and Vanessa May Bedford.” Hugging his wife, he gazed down at her with love. “This is just the beginning, Ronnie.”

“I know, you big, sweet man.” Wiping tears from her eyes, she hugged him tightly. “Thank God I had the good sense to fall in love with you.”

“You got that right.” Kissing her head, he lifted his eyes and saw Joel standing quietly. Whistling loudly, he got the crowd’s attention. “I want you all to turn around, because Joel has something that he wants to say.”

The group turned toward the house, and under a rose arch stood Joel. “We’re not done celebrating today. The woman of my heart has agreed to take me on. So we decided that we would tie the knot today, since you were all nice enough to gather in one place.”

Music floated from the speakers, and Vivi stood quietly at the back of the crowd. With a small bouquet in her hands, she beamed at the people gathered. “Daddy, come on over and walk your oldest daughter down the aisle.”

Papa DuMond looked around, dazed, and then pulled himself together. “It would be my honor.” Making his way quickly toward her, he took her hand. Looking down into his daughter’s eyes, he waited. “Are you sure, baby?”

“I sure am, Daddy. He’s as good a man as there is, and he seems to love me.”

“All right. If you’re sure. I can run us out of here before anyone would know what’s going on. You just say the word.”

Patting her father’s arm, she stared at the man at the other end of the yard. “I’m sure, Daddy. He’s going to take good care of my heart.”

“All right, sweet girl. That’s good enough for me.”

As they made their way through the center of the crowd, Vivi admired the handsome man standing at the other end. He stood next to the retired judge who was going to perform the ceremony. When they stopped in front of Mama, Vivi gave her a kiss.

“Your mama knew about this all along.”

“Of course, Daddy. Do you think that I would get married without Mama having a hand in it?”

“No, of course not.”

They stood in front of Joel, and Vivi turned to her father. “Thanks, Daddy, for showing me what a good man is. I knew exactly what to look for because of you.”

“I love you, Viv, and I’m thankful for the happiness you’ve found.” He put his hand out to Joel, and they shook. “You take care of my precious daughter.”

Tipping his head in acknowledgment, he responded, “It will be my honor, sir.”

Vivi and Joel took one another’s hands and took a few steps toward the judge. Facing the man, they said the words that would bind them for the rest of their lives.

Nana Boo and Aunt Lolly stood together, admiring the couple. “Well, Lolly, it seems that our conversations with Joel worked.”

Lolly nodded solemnly. “I agree. Our words of wisdom had the effect that we hoped they would.” Glancing around the crowd, she studied the single men. “I think there are quite a few men here who could benefit from our years of experience.”

Nana followed her sister’s gaze and patted her arm. “I think we should get started right after the cake is cut.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

December

He ran up the stairs, burst into the room, and yelled for Vivi. “What in the hell are you doing? This isn’t something that we can be late to.”

Vivi walked slowly out of the bathroom and smiled serenely. “The party doesn’t start until I get there, and I’m not meeting my children without looking my best. I had to shower, do my hair, and put on my makeup.” Smoothing down her caftan, she beamed. “How do I look?”

“Amazingly, blindingly beautiful. Can we go now?”

Glancing around the room, she made sure that she hadn’t forgotten anything. “Sure.”

Joel guided her slowly out of the room like one would, say, do for a small ship in a tight harbor. And that was what Vivi pretty much was at this point. Make no mistake, she kept her vow of eating as much as she wanted. So with two babies in her belly along with countless quarts of ice cream, she resembled a yacht more than she cared to admit.

“Have the contractions changed?”

“No, they’re still forty-five minutes apart. I have a ton of time.” Moving down the steps at a snail’s pace, she hoped she was going to use most of it just getting out of the house. “I can’t wait to meet them.”

Stopping briefly at the door, he gave her a kiss. “Me too, honey.”

Bending over slightly, Vivi squeezed Joel’s hand with more strength than he knew she possessed. Breathing slowly in and out, she braced herself as the contraction rolled through her. “That was a good one. Check your watch and let’s see when the next one is.”

Glancing up, she noticed that he was sweating and had a slightly wild-eyed look. She released his hand and winked. “This is going to be a piece of cake. Speaking of cake, I’d like one after I give birth.”

“Sure, honey. Whatever you want.” They walked out of the house, and Joel made her sit on the bench while he set the alarm. Running back to the car, he opened the door and climbed in, and drove down the driveway. Vivi rested on the bench and wondered how long it was going to take him to realize that he’d forgotten something.

Stretching her feet out in front of her, she admired her pedicure. She had gotten one yesterday and had chosen a lovely raspberry color. It was the perfect complement to her gold flip-flops and caftan. The screech of tires echoed as Joel roared back down the driveway.

He threw the car door open and jogged over to her. Being a smart woman, she didn’t say anything and held his hand as he helped her get up. After she was settled, he glanced around, and she was pretty sure that he was double-checking to see if there was anything else that he needed to take to the hospital.

Apparently satisfied, he slowly drove down the driveway and out to the street. “I don’t know how you can be so calm about all this,” he remarked.

Fluffing her hair, she checked her lipstick in the mirror. “This is the easiest thing we’ve done in the last nine months. Giving birth is easy-peasy lemon squeezy.” When she looked at him, she realized that he didn’t think that was true at all. “Compared to having my clinic being threatened by two gangs, then having it blown up, and after that having someone take a run at me in a car, also having my house being shot up and Molotov cocktails being thrown through the front window, this is a dream.”