by Claire Adams
I grimaced and held my tongue. Of course, I knew it was a wonderful company.
Another handful of guests arrived, and I stood by mom’s side as we welcomed them, each face a disappointment as I looked for my best friend. Appetizers would be ready within the hour, and it wouldn’t be surprising for Ron to show up at the very last minute. Had he known what this was truly about, he would have been the first one.
Ron’s own mother had been absent in his life for the past 10 years, starting after his father passed, and my mom had taken it upon herself to treat him like a son. His mother had been my dad’s best friend, and in a way, Ron shared just a few traits of dad. His laugh, the way he was the life of the party, his inappropriate humor. Mom recognized them, and sometimes I caught her staring in his direction with a sad, soft smile.
Maybe she saw dad in both of us, and that’s why she was always happy when Ron and I were together. In a way, it was keeping dad alive as well.
The clock struck five, and the butler announced appetizers. I had arranged for a top tier restaurant to recreate their most popular dishes in my kitchen, and the hired workers would be arranging the appetizers on a giant, oak dinner table that I purchased hours after mom first suggested this dinner. Before my dinner table was for a quaint family of five, and as mom continued listing the guests she would invite, I realized that I was going to need an upgrade.
I hadn’t realized how empty my house was until mom hired a cleaner and a decorator. The cleaner had the easiest job; the decorator hadn’t known what to do. There were whole rooms on the first floor that were entirely empty, and the entertainment room had only a computer nudged into the corner. Two of the upstairs bedrooms were furnished, one mine and the other a guest room in case Ron was ever to inebriated to drive, and I had only two televisions. We purchased several more and turned on several games for the guests to enjoy.
In fact, the only useful part of the house that wasn’t new was the giant bar with the marble top and oak cabinets built into a wall between the kitchen and dining room. It had enough room for a dozen to sit at, and enough space to store at least a year’s worth of alcohol. I designed it myself.
Beef cuts smothered in bacon jam nestled in a bed of fried potatoes were arranged on the dinner table, and the guests began to enjoy themselves with a glass plate in one hand and a drink in the other. I had a glass of imported bourbon in mine as mom excused herself from the group she was speaking with and greeted Ron at the door.
I finished my appetizer and met him halfway when I realized he brought along a woman. In fact, he had brought a beautiful woman.
She was tall and lean, with soft brown hair braided down the middle of her back. There was a tint of red in her hair beneath the light, and she wore a tight black dress that clung to her curves in all the right spots. I bit my lip as my eyes ran over her body, all too aware that it had been ages since I’ve bedded a woman, much less a woman like her. She must have been a model, and I was trying to remember if Ron had ever mentioned meeting a beautiful woman when she turned as Ron gestured toward me, and then I saw her eyes.
Bright green eyes stared at me, surrounded by long, thick eyelashes and high cheekbones that tightened as she smiled. Her lips were heart shaped, with a red shade that complimented her tanned skin. I recognized her the moment I saw those eyes. Madeline, Ron’s baby cousin.
“Your mom said she wanted some air before dinner,” Ron said as he led his cousin into the dining room. He picked up an appetizer, and each accepted a glass of wine from one of the workers. Madeline offered him a dazzling smile, and the worker nearly tripped over his shoes as he walked away.
“I’ll check on her. I’m glad you could make it,” I said and turned toward Madeline. “How long has it been since we’ve seen each other? Years?”
She tilted her head in thought. “Six, Ron and I decided.”
Six years. She had been 19, just going into college, when I had last seen her. But she hadn’t been this beautiful, or else I would have remembered to check up on her. In fact, she had always been Ron’s weird younger cousin, with a head too big for her body and a voice to manly for a girl.
“Well, I hope you enjoy the evening, Madeline,” I said.
“Speaking of that, what’s this about?” Ron asked. “You’ve never had such a fancy party before. I didn’t even think you knew how to throw a party.”
“I don’t know how to throw a party; that’s why you hire people who do,” I said. I considered telling him the truth, just to ease the shock a little, but I knew that was mom’s place, not mine. “You’ll find out soon.”
“Apparently, the gossip here is saying that you’re getting married,” Madeline said. She smiled at me. “I have a talent for listening to gossip wherever I am. It’s a useful trait in the entertainment business.”
“Definitely no marriage here,” I said and excused myself. I had to make sure mom was okay. A small hand touched my shoulder, and I turned to find Madeline’s face inches from my suit.
“It’s Maddie, by the way,” she said. “Last people to call me Madeline were my high school teachers.”
“Maddie, then,” I said. “Excuse me, Maddie; enjoy the party.” I watched as she walked toward a group of chattering men. Maddie had grown since I last saw her.
I found mom sitting on the steps outside the house. The guests had all arrived, and soon dinner would be served, and then the truth revealed. I sat beside her and tried my best not to think about it, but it was the only thing my mind had room for. She grabbed my hand.
“How are you feeling?” I asked, my voice strained.
“A little heat flash,” she said. “The important question, though, is how are you? I know this is the last thing you wanted to do.”
I wasn’t sure if she was talking about the party or planning my own mother’s death.
“I’m fine,” I lied. “If you’re uncomfortable, we can postpone, you know.”
“Absolutely not,” she said. “I’m already beyond happy that so many showed up. Everyone is having a good time, so you can relax and at least enjoy yourself a little bit, couldn’t you?”
I made sure her shawl was wrapped properly around her as the wind bit at our skin. How could she ever expect me to enjoy myself?
“I’ll try,” I promised.
“So you won’t be too much of a grump?” She smiled and squeezed my hand. “There are plenty of beautiful women in there, you know.”
“So I’ve noticed,” I said almost absentmindedly. “Have you taken all of your medicine for the day?”
“It’s almost six, of course, I took my medicine,” she snapped. “Gavin, I know what I’m doing. I’ve been doing this for two years.”
I paused; had it really been two years already? It felt as if it was yesterday that the Dr. Marxx had given us the first diagnosis. Life had sped up significantly afterward, from selling the company to finding Dr. Lemonis to building her house. A huge part of me felt that this was going to be our regular life, for years to come. But it seemed it would be ending in just six months’ time. Two years had flown by quickly; would the six months be gone just like that as well?
“Gavin,” she whispered, her voice soft. “I have only one wish before my time is up.”
“A wish?” I faced her. “Anything, Mom. Just name it, and it’s yours.” I expected a vacation to her favorite mouse-themed theme park, or maybe a trip to an island. She had always wanted to go snorkeling. Even a trip to Europe would have been special for her; she had an obsession with medieval castles and their haunted histories. Speaking of haunts, maybe she wanted to go ghost hunting at the country’s most haunted hospitals. With mom, her wish could have been anything.
“Find a wife,” she said. “Before I pass, I want to see you happy with a wife.”
I felt as if the wind had punched me in the face. “A wife? Why?” I asked.
“You’re so lonely; it’s obvious. The only friend you have is Ron, and something tells me that’s mutually platonic.”
I groaned. “Please no more jokes about our friendship,” I begged.
“Which is why I want you to settle down. I can’t leave you by yourself without knowing you’ll be taken care of,” she said.
“I can take care of myself, mom,” I argued. “I have everything I could ever need.”
“You need love,” she said. “What your father and I had, it was everything. I wouldn’t change a single thing between us. He completed me, and I know there’s a girl out there who would complete you.”
“I can’t just find a woman and marry her. I’m not even dating, and there’s no one I’m remotely interested in,” I said. “It’s impossible.”
She smiled at me. “Nothing is impossible,” she said. “I need you to promise me that you’ll find someone.”
I shook my head and looked at the sky. This was a promise I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep. But she was serious, and it tore my heart to see her worry about me when she had so many other things to be concerned with.
“I promise,” I muttered.
“I’m going to freshen up; I’ll meet you inside.” She patted my hand and stood, a little wobbly but otherwise fine. She returned inside as I leaned forward and rested my elbows on my knees. What on earth had I just promised?
I stood moments after and turned toward my house. A shadow in the corner of the entrance caught my eye, and I realized Maddie was standing in the corner of the doorway, in perfect earshot of our conversation.
“I couldn’t find the restroom,” she said. I didn’t have to wonder if she used her eavesdropping talent on us; her startled, pale face said it all.
Chapter Six
Maddie
Gavin remained neutral as I followed him toward the other side of the house. We passed plenty of guests lounging about the mansion as they spoke of the stock market, racing horses, and sports events. Ron mentioned the guests were close family and friends of Gavin’s family, but it didn’t seem as if he paid attention to any of them. In fact, the only people I’d seen him speak with were his mother and Ron.
“Your house is lovely,” I said. Gavin’s head nodded as he somewhat acknowledged my words. I wasn’t lying; his house truly was incredible. Tall ceilings that were decorated with diamond chandeliers and marble corners, with furniture that seemed too expensive to sit on and Greek statues that gave the mansion a sort of old architecture vibe. I wanted to explore it all, from the countless numbers of doors that led to more giant rooms, and up the grand staircase and across an indoor bridge toward the rest of the mansion.
Though it did seem empty, I realized as Gavin showed me a washroom tucked in the corner. The other two restrooms in the foyer had been occupied, but I was surprised to learn that there had been another two in the back of the house.
His house lacked a personal touch. No pictures of happy family moments, nothing to show even a glimpse into the mind of the man who owned such a huge mansion. It was obvious he hired a decorator, but even he seemed uncomfortable as he stared at the wall decor.
“I’m sorry about your mother,” I said. Gavin gestured toward the open door of the restroom.
“It’s fine,” he said and turned. He was much taller than I remembered, and I barely remembered him at all, but I recognized the same bright blue eyes that had always seemed to grab my attention. His hair was still dark, but now there was gray peppered throughout his short hair, and he was much, much more muscular than he had been when I was leaving for college. “Dinner will be ready soon.” He left almost in a hurry, leaving me alone on the other side of the house. I couldn’t stop thinking about his eyes, even as I stepped into the restroom and took care of business.
His mother was dying. Poor Mona, I had met her maybe twice in my life through Ron, and she had always been such a sweet woman. A dedicated mother, I remembered. Once, when I was still in high school, I was at Ron’s house waiting for my mother to pick me up when Mona and Gavin had stopped by to pick up one of his suits. She had taken one look at me and made a joke about my side of the family being blessed with good genetics while Ron had been stuck with a pre-maturely balding head. Gavin had agreed, and me, being the self-conscious teenager that I was, had blushed profusely and stumbled over words of gratitude. I mentioned my dreams of being a model, and Mona promised to attend my first show.
How long did she have? Would she still be alive for my first movie role? I shook my head as I washed my hands in the sink. It would be a long time before I got any type of role in a movie, and she had made it sound like her time was short. This must have been what the dinner was for, to tell everyone the truth at the same time. It seemed that Ron didn’t even know.
Poor Gavin, I thought. His house already made him seem lonely, and now he was losing his mother? No wonder she wanted him to find a wife. And of course, he wanted to make her happy, but what was he going to do? Then again, a man with his looks and money wouldn’t have any problem finding a woman to marry him.
I left the washroom just as the rest of the guests were sitting for dinner. Some were already eating, and I found my spot beside Ron. Gavin was on his other side, with Mona at the end of the table. She seemed lively enough as she smiled and laughed with the guest on her other side. I wondered if she was able to stop thinking about her death long enough to enjoy the company of the room. I hoped she was able to, at least.
“The asshole could barely look me in the eye,” Ron was saying to Gavin. “He had his tail between his legs and ran in the damn puddle as he tried hiding. Fuck, it’s been so long since I’ve had to raise a puppy.”
“Milo?” I forced myself into their conversation. “Don’t blame your lack of training on him. It takes the average puppy like a year to be fully potty trained.”
“Then you take him,” Ron said. “I already offered him to Gavin, but he refused, even though this house is big enough for like 10 Great Danes.”
“You complain about him all the time, but we both know that you couldn’t handle spending a single night away from that dog,” Gavin said. “You love him.”
“He does,” I said. “I’ve caught them snuggling on the couch a couple of times.”
“Milo doesn’t like his crate,” Ron said. “What am I supposed to do? Force him in there?”
“That’s exactly what you’re supposed to do,” Gavin said. “Our puppy growing up hated his crate until my dad started feeding him in there, then he never wanted to leave it.”
I watched as Gavin seemed to relax the more he spoke with Ron. His eyes still flickered over to his mother, and I recognized looks of concern pass between their faces, but he seemed less stressed than he had on the patio. Either that, or he was an amazing liar.
“Either way I’m not getting a dog,” Gavin said. “Maybe a cat, but there’s no way in hell I could clean after a dog in this house. It’s too damn big.”
“That I agree with,” Ron said.
I picked at my dinner, roast beef with vegetables and a buttered garlic roll, as I watched Mona in the corner of my eyes. She seemed fragile with thinned hair and sunken cheeks, but she didn’t actually look like she was dying. My uncle passed from cancer when I was little, and I remembered just how terrible he looked in his final months. Mona seemed to have the energy of a woman in her prime, not the clock of death ticking in her head.
Mona glanced at me and smiled brightly, and I felt an instant guilt. She didn’t seem to mind her fate, so why was I spending so much time on it?
“Everyone,” Mona stood and received the entire room’s attention immediately. “I’m so grateful that you all could make it.”
I glanced at Gavin. His hands were in fists on the table, one clutching a fork and the other a knife, I realized that he hadn’t taken a single bite of his food, while Ron was already on a third plate.
“I know for some it’s been a long time since we’ve shared an evening,” Mona was saying. Several guests nodded. “I’m so sorry we couldn’t enjoy more. And for those who I’ve seen often, I’m still glad that you’ve set aside an entire night just for
this. It truly means so much to me.”
There were a few murmurs through the table, just guests wondering what the point of her speech would be. My trained ears caught words on people’s tongues. Gavin, marriage, bride, heir, money and father were among them. It seemed the popular theory was that Mona would announce Gavin’s engagement. Ron knew better, and he leaned forward in his seat and listened to Mona.
“I have some news I wanted to share with everyone,” she continued. “Some unfortunate news that has changed a lot in our life.”
Gavin shifted in his seat and pulled at his collar. I wanted to touch his shoulder, offer some sort of comfort, but I kept my hands on my lap and waited for the inevitable.
“Most of you know that I’ve been battling cancer for quite some time now,” Mona said. “But it doesn’t seem like I’ll be winning this one. The doctor has given me six months at best.”
The room grew so quiet that we could have heard a pin drop. Ron sucked in a breath and glanced at Gavin, who kept his eyes trained on his mother. A few quiet murmurs echoed in the silence, but everyone waited for Mona to continue.
“I wanted everyone here to hear it from me first,” she continued after a pregnant pause. “Thank you so much for your support; I’ll never forget any of you.”
She sat down and grabbed Gavin’s hand. Not a single person spoke as dessert was served, a dark chocolate cake with pistachio ice cream and toasted hazelnuts. Mona was the first to bite into the cake, followed by Gavin, and then the rest of us.
“I know what we need,” Ron said to the room. He raised his empty wine glass. “A refill. I think we’re all going to need a refill.”
Several guests chuckled as they wiped tears from the corner of their eyes. Mona smiled at Ron and gestured at one of the workers.
“More wine for everyone,” she said in a loud voice. “Make sure no one has an empty glass today. Let’s celebrate life, not mourn death!”