Redesigning Happiness

by Nita Brooks

  She waved everyone inside. Jacob was unexpectedly quiet when faced with everyone. He grabbed Yvonne’s hand and watched his new family members enter the home with wide, curious eyes. Once in the living room, Richard proceeded with the introductions.

  He stepped forward and waved Jacob to him. “Jacob, this is your Grandmother Sharon, Uncle Michael, and your sister Nadia.”

  Jacob didn’t let go of Yvonne as he slid his small hand in Richard’s. Yvonne gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. “Hi,” he said in a small, nervous voice.

  “Hey, little man. Nice to meet you,” Michael said in a friendly voice. “You think you can help me and your dad on the grill today?”

  Jacob relaxed and nodded. “Mommy said I can carry out the hamburgers,” Jacob said proudly.

  Michael gave him a thumbs up. “I knew you looked like a man with a plan.”

  Jacob grinned up at Yvonne then back at his uncle. Yvonne let out a long breath. Michael hadn’t been a fan of hers. He’d thought Richard should have stayed with Natalie because of the ties her family’s business brought to theirs. She’d worried he wouldn’t be friendly with Jacob.

  Sharon stepped forward next. Her eyes were bright, and she blinked several times. Yvonne was shocked to see the woman holding back tears.

  “It’s so great to meet you, Jacob,” she said, emotion thick in her voice. “I can’t wait to get to know you better.”

  Jacob nodded and eased a little closer to Richard. “Dad says you make really great cookies.”

  Sharon smiled with pride. “The best, and I brought some for you.”

  Jacob bounced on his feet. Yvonne wasn’t sure how involved Sharon had been in hiding things from Richard. The emotion she barely suppressed made it seem as if she hadn’t known or deeply regretted keeping the secret. She’d give Sharon the chance to prove herself before trusting her. This introduction wouldn’t have had to be delayed for years if Richard’s family hadn’t been so willing to block her out.

  “Nadia?” Richard held out his hand to her.

  Nadia took Richard’s hand. She looked at Jacob with unveiled interest. “I’m Nadia.”

  Yvonne squeezed Jacob’s hand again. He wasn’t a big fan of girls, but he had been interested in the idea of having a sister. “Hey. Do you play t-ball?”

  “I can play anything,” Nadia said with confidence that had to have been inherited from her dad.

  Jacob loved a challenge. “Well, come on then.”

  Nadia looked at her dad who nodded and then the two kids ran out the back door to play.

  “Well, that was easy,” Yvonne said to Richard.

  He slid closer to her. “Things are always easier with kids. It’s us adults who mess everything up.”

  Something in his voice hit her. Regret and yearning. Not obvious, but a subtle undercurrent in his words. “That’s why we’re trying to fix those mistakes.”

  “So, Yvonne,” Michael interrupted. “Long time no see.”

  She jerked her attention from Richard and back to his brother. “Michael, good seeing you again,” Yvonne said politely. Friendly but not necessarily genuine.

  “Especially when we didn’t think we’d see each other again,” Michael said.

  Yvonne’s jaw hardened. “No, I guess we didn’t.”

  Sharon slapped the back of Michael’s head. “Stop being a smarty pants. This situation is already difficult without you making it worse.” She looked at Yvonne apologetically.

  The doorbell rang again. “I’ll get that!” Yvonne hurried back to the door. “Richard, there are drinks in the cooler out back. You all go out and get settled.”

  Valerie was at the door. “Thank God you’re here!” Yvonne said.

  Valerie grinned, held up a six pack of beer and crossed the threshold. “I figured he’d show up early and I’m here for moral support.”

  Yvonne wrapped her arms around her sister. She took the beer when she pulled back. “I owe you for this.”

  “I know. That’s why you’re designing my new office. Mom is coming later. She’s nosey as hell to meet Richard’s family, but coming early would make it look like she approves of this blending. Is Nathan here yet?”

  “He’s coming later. He’s bringing Cassidy, and apparently she won’t be ready until after one.” She tried not to sound annoyed.

  “Really?” Valerie asked, letting her own annoyance show. “He couldn’t come over and be here when you greeted Richard’s family? Some united front.”

  “Cassidy needs a ride. Her car is acting up. It’s no big deal.”

  Except it was a big deal. She’d wanted Nathan at her side from the very beginning. She’d even asked him to spend the night to make sure he’d be there. Except he’d gotten back late from Savannah and then his sister needed the ride. Thank goodness for great sisters who came through.

  They went to the back porch. Richard was already at the grill with his brother lighting the coals. His mom had started spreading out the placemats Yvonne had put on the patio table and opened the umbrella. All things Yvonne had planned to do herself. A wave of appreciation went through her. They didn’t have to step in and get things started, but she appreciated that they did.

  “Damn,” Valerie said looking at Richard and Michael. “Nathan better get in here quick, because Richard has already made himself at home in your house.”

  * * *

  Sharon caught Yvonne in the kitchen just as Richard and Michael were putting the ribs and chicken on the grill. She’d been nice. A lot nicer than Yvonne had expected. Valerie had given Yvonne a thumbs up after talking to her. Michael was being okay, as well. If he still didn’t like her, he wasn’t showing it.

  Yvonne went into the kitchen to make tea and lemonade while Valerie talked to Michael about the property she’d sold him a few years before. She was in the middle of texting Nathan to see how much longer he’d be when Sharon came into the kitchen.

  “Jacob is a sweet boy,” Sharon said. “You did a great job with him.”

  “I tried my best. Thankfully, my mom and sister stepped in to help me. Even if that included spoiling him.”

  Her mom was on the way. She’d called Yvonne a few minutes earlier to let her know that, and to find out who was there. As soon as Yvonne said Jacob’s other grandmother was there, she’d practically smelled the burning rubber of her mom’s car tires in her haste to get over here.

  Sharon leaned against the counter near Yvonne. “That’s what family is for, I guess. Try not to hold it against me when I spoil him, too. I always wished I would have had more kids, but after I got pregnant with Michael so quickly after Richard, I felt overwhelmed and didn’t think I’d want more. When they hit the teenage years, I immediately regretted my decision. Now I look forward to lots of grandchildren.”

  Yvonne tried to imagine Jacob as a teenager and had a mini panic attack. Her baby was only six, but those six years had gone by so quickly. She’d blink and another ten will have passed. She hadn’t thought about having more kids while she’d been in the throes of raising Jacob. She knew Nathan wanted kids, and she did too. “I can understand that.”

  “I don’t know why my husband decided to keep you and Jacob hidden from me,” Sharon said in a sad, angry voice.

  Yvonne stopped in the middle of stirring sugar into the lemonade. She’d assumed the entire family had wanted to save Richard from her so that he could marry someone more influential. Seeing the delight, and sadness, on Sharon’s face when she’d first met Jacob had made Yvonne doubt Sharon would have wanted to be kept away.

  “You had no idea?” Yvonne asked.

  Sharon shook her head. One of her hands balled into a fist that she pressed against her abdomen. “I learned a lot of things about my husband after he died. How much he tried to protect us from things. He was a proud man who only thought about legacy and money regardless of how his aim at meeting those goals affected the other members of his family. When Richard told me about Jacob . . . when he accused me of knowing.” Sharon shook her head. “I
never would have kept my son away from his child. Regardless of how I may have felt about that child’s mother.”

  “If your husband knew how much you wanted grandkids maybe telling you would have meant keeping me in Richard’s life. We both know he didn’t want that.”

  Sharon sighed and wiped at the corner of her eye. “I’ll be honest, when I first heard Richard broke things off with Natalie, I thought it was cold feet. Especially, when his dad expressed concerns that he’d moved on too quickly afterwards.”

  “I can’t say I disagree. Richard and I got together too soon after his breakup.” Yvonne tasted the lemonade. The tangy sweetness similar to her thoughts about her past relationship with Richard.

  Sharon pushed away from the counter and shook her head. “I don’t think so. I saw the difference in him after he and Natalie got back together. I look back now and realize he wasn’t happy, but he was doing what he thought was right. I thought he did the right thing. It wasn’t until later that I realized he shouldn’t have married Natalie.”

  “But he did,” Yvonne said, hardening her heart against the feelings his mother’s words stirred up. She tried not to be mad about Richard going back to Natalie anymore. Of course, he’d tried to do the right thing. The second he’d said Natalie was pregnant she’d known she’d lost him forever. She’d been the one to fan the flames of hope that he’d answer her calls and come back to her after learning she was pregnant. When that hope burned out, the scar tissue ran deep.

  “I don’t think he would have married her if he’d known about you,” Sharon said.

  “If he’d wanted to know he could have. But none of that matters. He knows now. Jacob is thrilled and that’s all that matters to me.”

  “Richard is thrilled, too,” Sharon said. “Jacob is ninety percent of that, but I think there’s a little bit of excitement about you, too.”

  Her heart was not beating faster. She did not care. “Well, we’re both trying to make things work. For Jacob’s sake.”

  Sharon nodded and smiled, but that didn’t hide the disappointment in her eyes. “I just want my son to be happy. So, where is this fiancé of yours?”

  Yvonne heard the front door opening, followed by Nathan calling. “Hello!”

  “That’s him now,” she said cheerily. She excused herself and hurried to the front of the house.

  Nathan and Cassidy met her halfway, bags of groceries in their hands. “Hey, what’s all this?”

  Nathan leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Just a few things for the cookout.”

  “What kind of things?” Yvonne took a few bags from Cassidy who thanked her.

  “Burgers, hot dogs, steaks, and ribs,” Nathan answered as they made their way into the kitchen.

  Sharon stepped out of the way as they entered and put down the items Nathan brought. When all the bags were down Nathan glanced at Sharon, then at Yvonne curiously.

  “Nathan, this is Richard’s mom Sharon.” She walked over and wrapped an arm around Nathan’s waist. “Sharon, this is the fiancé you’ve been asking about, and his sister, Cassidy.”

  Sharon and Nathan shook hands. “I hope you have a lot more people coming because that is a lot of food.”

  “Plenty of to-go plates,” Yvonne said.

  Nathan gave her a curious glance. “I told you I had the meat.”

  “I know, but I wanted to get started early. I knew you were in Savannah yesterday and didn’t want you to worry. Richard and his brother Michael are already grilling chicken.”

  Nathan’s body went rigid beneath her arms. “Richard is on the grill?”

  She slid her arm away from him. What was he upset about? Did he expect her to just wait for him to finally arrive with Cassidy hours after she planned to start cooking?

  “Yes, Valerie is out there with them, too. Mom is on the way.”

  Nathan grunted. “Nice.” He smiled, but there wasn’t a hint of happiness in his eyes.

  The sound of a beer can being opened interrupted whatever Yvonne would have said. They all turned to Cassidy, who lifted the can in her hand.

  “Here’s to a day of fun and family,” she took a long sip. “I’m going out to say hello.” She strolled out of the kitchen and onto the back porch.

  Sharon’s brows drew together. “I think I’ll join her.”

  “What’s up with Cassidy?” Yvonne asked when they were alone.

  Nathan ran a hand through his hair. “The guy I warned her about turned out to be just as much of an asshole as I told her he would be. She’s already tipsy.”

  “Already?” Yvonne looked at the clock. Yep, it was only two.

  “I’ve got to keep an eye on her. I guess it’s a good thing Richard is already handling the grill for me.”

  “He’s not handling the grill for you. He’s helping me out. He got here early.”

  “With his entire family.” Nathan said sarcastically.

  “I told you his family was coming,” she shot back. “Why are you upset?”

  Nathan shook his head. “It’s nothing... Cassidy put me in a mood.” He came over and kissed her forehead. “Forget it. I’ll play nice.” He looked out of the window and frowned. “Starting by keeping your ex’s brother off my sister.”

  Nathan spun away and rushed out of the house. Yvonne looked out the window. Michael and Cassidy were talking. Cassidy was running her hand over Michael’s shirt. Yvonne slapped a hand to her forehead. Why the hell had she thought a big family cookout was a good idea?

  Chapter 20

  Her mom had been right. Yvonne hated to admit it, but about an hour after everyone arrived she realized that dumping everyone together in the hopes that things would work themselves out may not have been the best plan. Not because anyone was outright rude or anything, but the tension between Richard and Nathan was obvious and palpable.

  When Nathan commented on how “helpful” Richard was being by working the grill, Richard had offered to give up the spot if it would make Nathan feel better. Which resulted in Nathan telling Richard to keep at it instead of looking as if he were uncomfortable with Richard on the grill.

  Nathan was also being more touchy-feely with Yvonne. He held her hand constantly. From one end of the yard to the other. If they were in each other’s vicinity, Nathan had her hand in his. She was pretty sure her fingers would shrivel up like prunes from the sweat the constant clasping created.

  When Nathan wasn’t trying to show that he and Yvonne were a couple, he watched and frowned at Cassidy. Yvonne wasn’t sure if Cassidy was genuinely attracted to Michael, or if she was coming on to him because of her recent breakup and to get a rise out of her brother. Whatever her reasons were, it was working. Michael’s interest was definitely sparked if the flirty gleam in his eye meant anything, and Nathan’s face turned red with anger every time he spotted the two of them together.

  He needed a distraction, and Yvonne did not want her cookout ruined by him and Cassidy eventually fighting in front of everyone.

  Yvonne tugged on Nathan’s hand. He pulled his attention away from where Cassidy and Michael played Cornhole with Nadia and Jacob. Michael was partnered with Nadia and Cassidy with Jacob and their trash talking was punctuated with a lot of sly touches, long looks, and flirty smiles.

  “Valerie is starting a game of cards.” She pointed to where her sister sat on the patio with Richard and Sharon. Valerie held up the deck and waved them over. “Want to play?”

  Nathan’s hold on her tightened slightly. “What are they playing?”

  “Let’s go find out.” She pulled on his hand.

  He hesitated a second before following. He glanced over his shoulder at Cassidy and Michael again. Yvonne couldn’t stop herself from rolling her eyes.

  “Hey, will you give it a rest already,” she said.

  Nathan stopped and faced her. “Give what a rest?”

  “Stop hovering over Cassidy and judging everything she’s doing. You’re acting more like a jealous boyfriend than a concerned brother.”

 
His head jerked back. His face flushed, and he shook his head. “Sorry, it’s just.” He sighed. “She’s been drinking, and I know she’s upset. I don’t want her falling into bed with Richard’s brother because she’s in a low place.”

  He said Richard’s brother as if Cassidy would be falling in bed with a troll. While she wouldn’t have considered hooking Cassidy up with Michael, as it would be too close to home to have Nathan’s sister dating her ex’s brother, she wouldn’t have discouraged her either. Michael may not have liked her much back then, but as far as she knew he wasn’t a complete asshole.

  “Cassidy is an adult and can make her own decisions. We’ll both watch and if it looks like she’s had too much to drink you can take her home. For now, it’s just harmless flirting. Can we please move on, so you can relax and help me get through this afternoon?”

  Nathan relaxed and cupped her cheek in his hand. “Yes. I’m sorry.” He smiled and kissed her quickly.

  He glanced over his shoulder again as they continued toward Valerie. Yvonne pretended not to notice. She’d known he was old-fashioned and conservative in his values back when they’d gone on their first date. She couldn’t act surprised now when his sister was popping beer cans every half hour and flirting with the brother of the man he felt threatened by.

  No, Nathan was not threatened by Richard. Where had that thought come from? He didn’t trust Richard, that was different. She met Richard’s eye as they approached. He kept his expression neutral, but she recognized the question in his eye. The what’s-up-with-your-man question. She looked away before he read her answer—he’s being overprotective and stupid—in her own gaze.

  “You guys ready to lose at spades?” Valerie asked.

  Richard laughed and tugged on the front of his shirt. “Oh, you’re already talking trash. I see it runs in the family.”

  Yvonne pulled her hand from Nathan’s and held it to her chest. “I know you’re not talking about me because I don’t talk trash, I speak the truth.”

  “Okay!” Valerie held up her hand, and Yvonne gave her a high five.

  Richard waved his hand back and forth in front of his neck. “Nah, don’t even come at me with that. Sit down and take this beating.”