Arnie flipped through the rolling file in his brain, found Miguel, and brought up what he knew.
The guy was young, maybe thirty. His Mexican grandfather was a master carpenter, and he learned a lot from being his grandson sidekick. Stan was right about his remarkable abilities. He was a good choice to run things.
“And guess what? He’s not tied to Southern California.”
Hearing the interest in Stan’s voice, Arnie asked, “What are you thinking?”
“I think this is what I want to do. Now that I’m a grown-up.” He chuckled. “Find, renovate, and flip houses.” Stan met his gaze and added, “Home base for Aloha Designs will be wherever you and Dad end up. Just waiting on you to decide, bro.”
“I told Summer about the Connecticut house.”
“She’d be a great influence on Rose Hill.”
“You wanna live in the cottage?” Arnie made the offer on the fly.
“Are you cereal?” Stan asked, using a quip from their youth.
“Totally Froot Loops, I know, but I figure, why the fuck not? The cottage would be perfect for you. Freestanding, separate, and tucked away behind the manor.”
“You’ll have to put in a basketball hoop.”
“Deal.” He chortled and stuck out his hand.
They shook on it. The spur-of-the-moment, life-changing idea was the right thing to do.
“I better get back inside. I’m trying to find a balance between hovering and giving her space. How do you think I’m doing?”
“Well, she smiled when I said hello.” Stan shrugged. “I didn’t sense a battlefield, and except for the shade she threw your way when you sounded like a cop directing traffic, everything seemed sort of calm. I guess.”
He peered over his shoulder, looking through the patio doors to where Summer and his dad sat on the floor with Ari.
Stan followed his lead, looked at the cozy scene, and said, “Dad’s happier than I’ve ever seen him.”
“Summer has a way with people. She genuinely likes everyone. It’s her superpower.”
“Can I make an unsolicited suggestion?”
“Of course.”
“Get her up to Montecito as quickly as you can. Bend the knee for Granddad and then seal the deal. Put a ring on it and move on.”
“I have an idea,” he admitted in a hushed tone.
“Wanna share?”
“There’s a little more than three weeks until Valentine’s Day. That’s enough time to throw the Wanamaker name and money around to pull off a coastal wedding, right?”
“Is this your way of telling me we aren’t heading back to New York anytime soon?”
They shared a laugh. Stan looked very pleased with the pie-in-the-sky wedding plan.
“I bet Senior will help! He loves to write checks, and doesn’t he know Benjamin Waterston? That guy is worth like a billion dollars. Old Hollywood money and new Hollywood power. His Malibu estate is outrageous. Maybe he’d rent it out for the right price.”
Arnie smiled. With Stan enthusiastically on board, maybe his crazy plan wasn’t so farfetched.
Ned gave a throaty chuckle and winked. “You ask very smart questions. You’ve picked me clean, Summer!”
She shrugged. “I went with human resources management for the business degree I’m working on. To see the whole picture, questions must be asked.”
“Did you find out all you need to know?”
“For now,” she replied. “Do you have any questions for me?”
He answered quickly with a direct question. “Do you love my son? The big, goofy one.”
It was Ari’s tummy time. She was demonstrating her push-up mastery and turned her head to look at Pop Pop.
Summer chuckled. “Even she can’t believe you asked such a silly question.”
“Is it silly?” he asked. “Some will say he put you through hell. He certainly feels the heavy weight of responsibility. I’m jumping ahead in the story, and I’m sorry for the rush, but I need to know how this ends.”
Her answer was honest. “I don’t know how it ends, Ned.”
“But do you love him?”
“I loved him then, I love him now, and I’ll love him with my last breath. That doesn’t mean we get a happy fairy-tale ending.”
“Are you worried about the money?”
She blew out a breath and pursed her lips. “It’s not the money, not really. It’s more. His life is just so damn big, and I don’t know where I fit. The money just amplifies the enormity of it all.”
“Fair enough. You make a valid point. You didn’t know any of this a year ago.”
“Can I ask you a question? The same one?”
Ned looked surprised. “Does he love you? My god, Summer. I was there when the whole story came out and witnessed his immediate reaction. He was wounded in his soul. He’d been looking for you. Finding out about the baby was more than his heart or conscience could take.”
“I knew he’d come,” she whispered.
“Did you? For real? Or are you just trying to be nice to an old man.”
She snorted. “You are nowhere near old man status, and yes, I mean it. I knew he’d come. Eventually. The crapshoot was whether it happened now or at the end of days.”
“Everything happens for a reason, Summer. Sometimes, we don’t see it when we’re in the thick of it, but the reason is still there.”
“Not all reasons are good, though.” She squeezed his hand. “Losing the love of your life, well, for that there’s never going to be a good enough reason.”
“I’ll amend my statement to include the caveat that some reasons are more difficult and challenging than others.”
Ari cooed and pushed herself up as far as her little arms would allow.
Ned looked her in the eyes. “Child of destiny.” He nodded at the baby. “She’s everything.”
Summer scooted closer and hugged Ned’s arm. She put her head on his shoulder. “I love her so much it’s scary.”
He patted her hands where they wrapped around his arm. “Fight for the family you want, Summer. Fight like the whole world depends on it.”
After a pleasant morning spent with Ari’s doting Pop Pop, her serenity was shattered when the first of several visitors came calling. Summer felt like a royal consort upon a gilded throne—on display as the troops marched by.
Dottie was first. She’d missed out yesterday on meeting Arianne and came through the door ready for baby cuddles. In a hilarious maneuver worthy of the indomitable lady, she came prepared to prove her grandmother credentials with a slide show from her son and his husband. They made a video testimonial with gushing accolades for Dottie’s hands-on grandparenting and shared a slew of happy, smiling photos showing the doting grandmother and her two grandsons.
“I’m available for babysitting. Just give me a call, and I’ll clear my schedule.”
Arnie’s bewilderment earlier over Dottie’s daily email reminded Summer she was standing before a master instigator of shenanigans. Earning the plucky lady’s admiration and respect wouldn’t be easy, but she had a few rascally maneuvers up her sleeve.
“Do you know CPR?” she asked.
Dottie snorted. “Of course.”
“Infant and child CPR? There’s a difference, you know, between the adult protocol and kids.”
A laugh snort threatened to erupt from Summer’s mouth when Dottie pulled out her wallet and produced not one but two Red Cross CPR cards.
“I’m recertified annually for work. Adults,” she pointed out. “The second card is my infant and child certification. Took it three years ago before Harper was born. He’s the oldest. Then I did a recert right before Harry arrived. Maybe eight months ago, give or take.”
Arnie chimed in somewhat snarkily. “Let me see those cards. Is this some bullshit Milo designed?”
Dottie laughed and blew him off. “If I wanted to involve Milo, I’d be standing here with a perfectly believable medical degree, and you know it.”
The comment was o
utrageous, yet Summer knew it came from truth. “I can’t wait to meet this person. Half the time I hear his name, it’s whispered with reverence, and the other half, he comes off like the annoying nerd in charge of the pocket protector after-school club.”
“He’s Mr. Data, Sheldon Cooper, Austin Powers, and Bill Nye run through a blender and then spread on toast. White toast.”
Looking at them with a mischievous expression, Dottie asked, “Either of you see the movie Ocean’s 8? The all-female cast?”
“I have,” she replied while Arnie shook his head.
Dottie waved at Arnie dismissively. “There’s a character named Nine Ball. Played to perfection by Rhianna. She’s a street-savvy hacker. What makes Arnie’s depiction of Milo so funny is his tongue on the floor response to NIGHTWIND’s newest tech hire. Jade and Nine Ball have similar backgrounds. Watching white toast lose his shit over a wickedly talented, gorgeous lady of color is worth the daily work disruptions.”
Summer smirked. “Single mom, right? Maybe she and I can exchange notes.” She gave Arnie a dry look and enjoyed watching him grit his teeth.
He touched her back gently. “I’ll leave you ladies to it.” He kissed her cheek and melted into the woodwork.
When it was time to introduce Dottie to Arianne, Summer made a point to acknowledge her importance.
“Sweetie, say hello to Nana Dottie.” She smiled, and murmured, “I hope that’s okay.”
It was all kinds of touching when Dottie gasped slightly and touched the spot over her heart. Summer understood and nodded.
Ari stared. Nobody spoke while she decided whether to accept Nana Dottie. A froth of baby bubbles and a soft, “Coo,” settled the matter.
She gently transferred the baby from her arms to Dottie’s and took a step back.
“Aren’t you a sweetie?” Dottie exclaimed to Ari’s grinning delight.
Tilting her head, Dottie motioned to her Michael Kors bag. “There’s a gift for her in there. Why don’t you unwrap it?”
Excited when she spied a Tiffany jewelry box, Summer was stunned when she cracked the lid and found a stunning rose gold necklace.
“It’s pink opal,” Dottie told her. “A rare stone. I knew this was for Arianne. Opal is her birthstone.”
Emotion clogged her throat, making it hard for her to swallow. The circlet of diamonds was a dead giveaway it wasn’t cheap, and she wished Arnie was with her. He’d know how to handle the expensive gesture.
She choked up. Dottie touched her arm. “Your first Tiffany?”
Summer nodded.
“There’s a lot more where that came from.”
“What do you mean?” She bit her lip anxiously.
“Summer, has anyone explained Arnie’s background?”
She shrugged. “You mean the Wanamaker thing? Yeah.”
“Oh, honey. It’s so much more than that.”
“What? How?”
Dottie smiled at Ari, and said, “Okay, girls. Listen up. Here’s the four-one-one. Yes, the Wanamaker family is up to their nose hairs in money, but Summer, didn’t you know Lianne had her own fortune?”
Summer turned a hard glare on the men yukking it up outside on the terrace. She smacked her head, and muttered, “Are you serious?”
“Yep. I’ll spell it out as much as I can. By all accounts, Lianne Donaldson led a normal life and grew up in suburbia. But appearances are deceiving. Though she thought of Paul Donaldson as her father, she was actually the lovechild of Brooklyn Patterson, Texas oil tycoon. When he died unexpectedly in a plane crash and his will was read, Lianne’s existence was revealed. At the end of the day, she inherited a third of his oil empire. All of it passed to Arnie, and I’m told there’s a considerable jewelry collection.”
“I’m going to kill that man,” she snarled. Throwing her hands up to register her annoyed displeasure, she barked, “What else don’t I know?”
“He’s afraid of squirrels.”
She blinked. “What?”
“Yeah. The big lug is terrified of the bushy-tailed rodents. He thinks they hate him and throw acorn shells whenever he’s around.”
“Get outta here,” she hooted.
Arnie heard Summer’s merry laughter and turned to see what she and Dottie were up to. They were standing right inside the French doors to the living room.
“She’s telling her my most embarrassing secrets,” he muttered.
His father snicker-laughed. “Count on it.”
The phone in his pocket vibrated. He took it out and read the message.
“Oh, fuck. King is on his way.” He looked at Summer again. “I’m not sure how many more people she can take.”
“It’s better to face this stuff head-on.”
His father was right, but he couldn’t stop worrying.
It took less than twenty minutes for King to arrive. He gave Summer a heads-up and made it clear to Dottie he wanted her to stay close to run interference just in case.
He met King at the door. They shook hands, exchanged a couple of snarky quips, and then it was time.
“Come on. Meet the family,” he said with a sweeping wave. “They’re in the living room.”
King grinned. “You sound nervous.”
“I’m essentially fucked if you two don’t hit it off.” He raised one brow. “You’re not known for your social skills.”
“Be nice. I put on real clothes and everything, you fucker.”
“Did the wife pick out your clothes?”
Sniggering, King murmured, “Picked and approved via selfie.”
Without waiting, Kingsley Maddison strode into the living room and proceeded to charm the crap out of Summer.
As far as first meetings go, this one was a complete success. Somewhere along the line, King grew a personality. He made a fuss over the baby, kidded around with Summer, got into a debate with Dottie about disposable diapers, and beat Stan at one-handed thumb wrestling.
His friend and boss also came bearing tacky New York City gifts he’d grabbed at the airport. A coffee cup for Summer and a bib for Ari. Summer reacted as if he’d given her the keys to a Bentley.
Through everything, Arnie stayed close. Close enough to keep tabs on how Summer was doing. He felt the first cracks appear late afternoon. Dottie cornered him in the kitchen and asked what he was going to do about it. She sensed something too.
“I’m going to throw everyone out.”
“Advice?”
He eagerly nodded. “Please.”
“Don’t ask her how she’s doing. Just assume she needs you and then be there.”
“Got it. Thanks.”
37
“Reed, it’s all so weird,” she told her brother in a fast phone call. “I have whiplash.”
“If it means anything, I like the guy,” he admitted. “It took balls for him to call me.”
“Did you threaten him?”
“Don’t you know it,” he replied with a snort. “Told him he’s a dead man if you or my niece get hurt.”
“How did he react?”
“To be honest, twerp, he freaked out a little. I don’t think he’s used to being called out.”
“Hmph.” She wished she’d listened in on their conversation.
“I think he took me seriously, too.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Let’s just say he or his pals sent an emissary. I don’t get a lot of two star Major Generals dropping by my fucking house for no reason.”
Summer struggled to wrap her mind around what Reed was trying to say. “Are you saying he … wait, what?”
Reed chortled. “I know how you feel. Gave me a slight heart attack when an SUV and security escort pulled up out front. In a nutshell, the Major General offered a platinum endorsement of your boyfriend’s business, offered to pull back a corner of the curtain, and rather bluntly spelled out his personal connection to some dude named King. Navy SEAL with a legendary status.”
“Kingsley Maddison,” she told him. “I had the hono
r. He’s nothing like I expected.”
Reed laughed. “How so?”
“It was the tattoos,” she admitted with a quick giggle. “I have no idea what was going on under his sweater, but I could see enough on one side of his neck and a forearm when he pushed his sleeve up to give me some pause. The word fierce kept flashing in my brain. He comes off rather scary, so I’m glad he’s on my side. He didn’t strike me as someone you wanted to piss off.”
“Yes, well, he’s the brain behind this NIGHTWIND thing. Or one of them. I’m not gonna lie, Summer. The four-one-one on those guys came as a huge relief. They’ll keep you and Arianne safe.”
She sighed, and Reed immediately jumped. “What’s wrong?”
“My daughter is an heiress.”
Silence.
She lifted the phone from her ear and looked at it to make sure they were still connected.
“Reed?”
She felt the whoosh even through the phone. Her brother was having deep, secret thoughts. Thoughts he wasn’t about to share. Not with her.
Finally, he murmured, “Explain.”
“You already know about the Wanamakers. It turns out, there’s more.”
“How in the world is more even possible?”
She groaned. “I know, right? It turns out, Arnie’s deceased mother was the secret, illegitimate offspring of a Texas oil tycoon. Her estate went to him.”
“Well, shit. I didn’t see that coming.”
“Yeah. Same.” She cleared her throat. “Money is no longer an issue.”
“I got that when you said he put you up at The Peninsula Hotel. It’s a pretty ritzy place.”
“Surreal.” And she meant it, too. Here she was, at just twenty-five years old, dropped smack dab in the middle of a total lifestyle change. Her couponing skills felt superfluous at the moment.
“We’re off to Montecito tomorrow. More meet the family activity.”
He sniggered. “What about you and the baby daddy? Did you guys kiss and make up or no?”
“Shit, Reed. His name is Arnie, not baby daddy.”
Finding Summer (Nightwind Book 3) Page 66