"Seriously, you'll have your hands full with that gorgeous Taylor man DNA in him. Tea, I swear, you married the only hot engineer out there." Jenna laughed.
"Speaking of Taylor DNA, is Jack's little brother Baxter going to make it to the party tomorrow?" Aubrey asked loudly. "Once I get full of cake, I would like to load up on some of that eye candy, yum!" Aubrey mused, while Jenna rolled her eyes.
"Gross, Brey, he's a baby," Althea responded.
"He's twenty-three! Yes, maybe a little young for me, but just because I can't afford the jewelry doesn't mean I don't like to look in the window." She leaned back and placed her hand against her heart, releasing a theatrical sigh.
"And no, he can't make it. He's still wrapping up his training at that culinary academy in France. So, we may not see him until Christmas," Althea said quietly.
Just the mention of Christmas still made Althea's heart race and palms sweat. It was ridiculous, but the trees, the Christmas lights, every part of the holiday brought back that horrible night for her.
She would do the best she could when it came around every year for Johnny's sake — getting a small pre-lit tree and setting it up in a back room they only used for the holiday. Luckily the girls and Carol would decorate their houses to look like a Christmas display at a department store to make up for Althea's guilt over depriving him of such a huge part of growing up. At least for a few more years she wouldn't be ready for Christmas. If she was honest she knew she may never be.
Jenna must have noticed that Althea was shutting down after bringing up the holiday because she stroked her hand until Althea was visibly calmer. All the fuss they had to make just added to her shame.
Aubrey caught on to the silence and said, "Aw man, gorgeous and a French trained chef. He is too delicious!" Althea was relieved that the conversation was now back to lighter topics.
"Delicious or not, I'm looking forward to when he can move back and run Viola. Carol deserves to retire. He's got the business training, he's going to be a great chef, we just need him to get here."
"No kidding. And his sexy ass will definitely increase the amount of clientele, female or otherwise. I guess I'll just drool over Doctor Hottie while he chases after you tomorrow. Hopefully he won't talk too much and ruin it for me."
"Wait, Doctor Hottie? Who? Oh no, you didn't invite Curt, did you Jenna? Seriously?"
"Yeah, what's the problem?"
"Stop acting all innocent. He's always asking me out. You know Carol will have a fit."
"He's coming as my friend, just chill," Jenna said.
"Besides, Carol needs to stop butting into your life so much. It's not healthy. David's coming, she doesn't complain about him being around," Aubrey pointed out.
"Because Carol knows he's like a dad to me, Brey," Althea said.
"Maybe for you, but not for him. He doesn't look at you like a dad looks at a daughter. You're so blind woman."
"Gross! Why do you keep saying that about David? He's not like that."
"Ease up ladies, let's not have this fight again, okay? Let's address the important matter that I just can't believe little John Edward Taylor Jr. is five years old!" Jenna exclaimed.
"It's crazy. That's for sure. You know, hearing his full name still throws me off a bit," Althea said. "When Carol suggested naming him after Jack I was against it, but he's so much like his father already, I guess it makes sense they have the same name."
"I didn't know you fought that," Jenna said. "Why?"
It’s just weird to name your son after someone you had sex with, but then I realized that sadly, I wouldn't have that problem."
Aubrey and Jenna glanced at each other uncomfortably for a moment, until Jenna finally cleared her throat and fixed her gaze on Althea. "Glad you brought that up."
"Brought what up?" Althea asked.
"Well, Sister Althea," Jenna continued, "Doctor Curt 'Hottie' Connors asked me how you were doing again and I was thinking maybe you should finally say yes to going out with him."
"Uh, I don't think so. I mean, Curt's okay, I guess, and it makes a lot of sense to have a live in doctor around in case Johnny's inherited my lack of grace."
"You mean your total spasticity," Jenna chuckled.
"Yes, exactly. My spasticity. Doctor Sutherland, could you put that condition in layman's terms please? But it doesn't matter how cute Curt is, I'm just not ready."
"You'll never be ready at this rate," Aubrey huffed.
"Maybe I won't," Althea answered, her chin raised in defiance.
"Don't you want to fall in love again?" Jenna asked carefully.
"No, I don't," Althea answered. "Having a relationship? Loving someone? It’s just wrong after what Jack and I shared." She breathed deeply, steadying her increasing heart rate, and looked Jenna squarely in the eye. "I already had my 'happily ever after,' my 'love of my life.' I don't get another. That's not how it works. There's a reason those terms are so final sounding, it’s because they are."
"That is so depressing! And not true!" Aubrey shrieked.
"It is true! That part of my life is done. My book is written. Now I need to keep picking up the pieces while I raise our son. That's my destiny," Althea responded.
"Fine," Aubrey huffed at her. "Then what about sex?"
"What about it?"
"Why not find somebody to get busy with? You know, someone you won't feel guilty about or risk falling in love with," Aubrey commanded.
"Honey, she's got a point. You need to start living your life," Jenna said softly.
"Start my life? I have a life."
"You have a job that you work at nonstop, a son you spend every possible moment with, and you have us. But honestly, babe, you know you don't have a full life," Aubrey said diffidently.
"Gee, thanks. Come on, I don't even get this. What's the big deal? I mean, why now? It's not like anything's changed."
"Christ, that's the whole point, Tea!" Aubrey said passionately. "It's been almost six years and nothing at all has changed. I think we've been more than patient all this time. We thought it was part of the healing process, that maybe it was a fear of moving on, but now, it's settled — you're in a certified rut missy."
Jenna leaned over and covered Althea's hand, which had only recently been moist from tears and waited until Althea looked into her eyes. "Johnny's birthday and all the dates you keep turning down just cemented it for us. We can't sit back anymore. Think about Jack, you know he wouldn't have wanted you to live like this. He always took care of you and now that's what we're trying to do, and that's why we can't sit back anymore." Althea knew they were trying to be nice but their words felt like red-hot pokers to her heart.
"Point is, Tea, we know you're lonely," Aubrey added.
"Well, of course I'm lonely," she said with a lot of duuuh inflected into her voice. "I'm a widow." Althea couldn't help but wince, "God, I hate that word so much. It seems so old and menopausal, like I should be in one of those clubs with old ladies that wear purple dresses and red hats."
"I thought it was purple hats and red dresses that those ladies wear," Jenna corrected.
"Whatever. Never mind," Althea blurted. "The point is, you guys need to nip this birds and the bees business in the bud." They crossed their arms and huffed at her in response. "Look, I appreciate your concern, I do. But I'm being proactive. I'm even thinking of getting a rescue dog."
"That's nice and all, but it's your vibrator that really needs rescuing," Aubrey responded.
"Aubrey!" Jenna choked out. "Remember when we discussed 'never says'? That was a never say."
"Yes, Jenna," she responded in a singsong voice. "Jeez. Welcome to the no fun zone, party of Jenna," she muttered under her breath.
"Okay," Jenna sighed. "Let's agree that it's at least a 'not now say.'" Jenna looked back to Althea. "How long since you last had sex?" Jenna asked in a soothing voice that belied her great bedside manner.
"You know the answer to that."
"Jenna, come on." Althea thought for a moment. "That dentist Ted and I kissed."
"That lame, closed mouth mess after your one date with him years ago? I'm talking about a real flip your insides over. So hot you need to put your panties in the freezer kind of kiss," Aubrey said.
Althea paused. That sounded pretty nice but she didn't want to admit that to them, "You know the answer to that, too. Besides, I'm okay with my life."
"And 'okay' is not enough. You're a young, hot MILF..." Aubrey began.
"Ugh, please don't ever call me that again. And speaking of the "M" in that ridiculous phrase, Johnny..."
"Johnny is getting bigger, he doesn't need you to sacrifice your whole life for him."
"Bigger? He's five. It's not like he's investing in his 401K."
"You owe it to him to have a life."
"I owe it to Johnny to have sex?"
"No, you owe it to him not to give up on having anything for yourself. You and Jack broke records for marathon sex, I'm sure. And now you act like you'll never be a sexual creature ever again. I mean yesterday you wore mom jeans and a visor!"
"They weren't mom jeans," Althea huffed. "They were capris," she corrected.
"With the highest waist seen on anyone not fishing for lobster in Maine. Face it, they are gateway pants," Aubrey said.
"But I love those pants," she mumbled.
"They're like a dick vaccine, those pants!" Aubrey exclaimed.
"What's with the new fixations on my lady bits getting action? Is this like a sex-ervention or something?" Althea joked.
"Exactly! So glad you're finally getting it," Aubrey responded.
"Jenna, help me out here." As the most sensible of the three friends, Althea was sure she would take her side.
"Sorry, girl. I think Aubrey's right on this one. How about we start with one night. Baby steps."
"A hot one night stand," Aubrey added. "Like back in college."
"Uh, I don't know if my limited sexual experience in college before meeting Jack really qualifies, guys," Althea grimaced.
"Okay, then like Aubrey in college," Jenna responded with a smirk.
"Shut it, bitch!" Aubrey countered, but she was clearly laughing. "Come on Tea, baby, it'll be fun. We already cleared it with Carol to come over soon and take Johnny for you so you can have a girls’ night with us. We will dress you up as sexy as can be and take you out for a night of fun. If you meet a hottie to sweat up the sheets with for one night, awesome. If not, no biggie. I'll pay for the ice cream and lend you my favorite pajamas. No risk, no strings. You can't possibly feel like you're somehow tainting your love for Jack."
"What about my mom? She gets in tomorrow morning, I should focus on that."
"I can't think of anyone who would be more excited about you getting laid than Vivian."
Althea knew Aubrey was right on that point. Her mother, Doctor Vivian DuBois, lived by two mantras: "Never regret what you do, only what you don't do," and "It's better to ask for forgiveness than permission."
Vivian had adored Jack as much as anyone from the very beginning, but she also worried about Althea constantly, thinking that her apparent refusal to start a new romantic endeavor was detrimental to her health.
Her mother may be right. If anyone would know it was her. A flamboyant and brilliant behavioral scientist with an alphabet of letters after her name and a slate of paid speaking appearances so full they would make Oprah Winfrey reach for a Red Bull. She specialized in human relationships and no one knew more about life from the intellectual or passionate points of view than she did. Althea often wondered if she found it a personal failing that her own daughter had remained single for so long after losing her husband.
"Okay, but I was planning to maybe make more treats for the party. You know how Carol is about her crazy Pittsburgh cookie tables. How about next week?"
"Uh-uh, no more excuses," Jenna interrupted and raised her hand to stop her protestations. "Doctor's orders. I prescribe dressing you up like the sex kitten you are and taking you out on the town. No complaints, no second opinions."
Althea looked down at the candle in front of her. She wanted to be indignant with them, but the fact was, they were right.
How had she ended up here? She still felt like a child and yet she was a thirty -year-old woman with a child of her own, with nothing changing in her life year by year, except for the number of the candle on a cake.
She took a breath and said, "Okay."
"What?" The girls squealed in excitement.
"Are you serious, Tea? That's awesome!" Aubrey exclaimed.
"One request before I go to my sexecution?"
"Yes, prisoner," Jenna intoned seriously.
"Can we drink margaritas in lieu of my final meal?"
"Of course. We aren't animals," Aubrey said with a smirk. "C'mon, Jenna will blend the hooch while I gussy you up!"
"Well, I guess I can't argue with that. After you," Althea said, dramatically holding her arm out toward the bedroom.
CHAPTER TWO
Nicholas Griffen Tate rubbed his face and gritted his teeth as he drank his Macallan Gold Scotch on a stool at the crowded downtown Pittsburgh bar two blocks away from the glamorous Fairmont Hotel, which would be his home for the next two weeks.
His mom wanted him to stay with her, but he couldn't do it. Even now that his father was dead and buried all these years, it still hurt to be in that house — the whole street for that matter. If a zip code could be filled with regret and lost opportunities, for Griffen, that was it.
"Need another?" Griffen looked up quickly at the nattily dressed bartender.
"Yeah, a double sounds good."
"Gaht it. Comin' right up." Griffen smirked bitterly into his glass as he emptied it and shook the perfectly square ice cube against the sides.
He hadn't heard the Pittsburgh dialect in years, but it was as distinct as they come. The years away were disappearing for him with each extended vowel he heard.
"Hey, you look familiar," the bartender added as he started to fill a fresh tumbler. "Have you been in 'ere before?"
"No, I, uh, grew up here, but I'm thirty-one, man, I doubt you know me from then."
"Nah, that's naht it. Sorry, but it's gonna bug me all night." Someone elbowed him behind the bar and whispered in his ear. "Oh man, I didn't realize — you're Griffen Tate, the writer! I heard you were from da Burgh, but this is crazy. Though, it looks like you probably don't want any attention, right?"
"No. No, I don't want attention, just the drink."
"Gaht it," the bartender said as he switched out the glasses. "Man, that's so cool though. I love those Cade Jackson movies," he whispered across the bar, his young hands gripping the edge.
"Thanks. You know they were books, too, right?"
"Oh yeah, I read 'em. I just love watching all that stuff blow up for real in the movies."
Griffen winced. Of course this kid would like his Cade Jackson stories. Young males with a love of booze and a desire to live like they were in a video game were his target audience. He nodded at the grinning bartender in thanks for the second round, hoping that getting drunk would take the edge off his shitty mood, and then hating himself for sounding just like his dad.
He sighed, feeling weary down to his bones. It wasn't too long of a drive down from New York, but for him it had felt like an eternity. He'd been filled with dread each mile that he drove closer to his hometown and all that it meant to him.
Everyone raves about the view coming out of Fort Pitt Tunnel into the heart of the city. You emerge from the belly of an ancient mountain to see each of the three rivers and all of the triangular shaped modern downtown area laid out in front of you, as though you're trapped in some enormous snow globe. Yet, for him it had felt like a slow march into a past he'd been running from for longer than he cared to admit.
Christ, man, just drink your
scotch and turn down the self-loathing a notch already, will you, he told himself.
Being back here was doing a number on his head. He ran his hand through his wavy dark hair and squeezed for a second. He shook his head, letting his hair flop across his forehead and his hand fall back to his glass. Griffen wasn't a drink snob, but he'd felt like getting from zero to wasted as quickly as possible, and a glass full of the throat burning hooch had seemed like an effective way to start.
Ten years.
That's how long he'd stayed away and it would have been longer if it were up to him.
Forever seemed like a good length of time.
Griffen jerked when his phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out with a grimace. Kevin Stevens texting again: Glad you made it in all right. The key to your office for the next 2 weeks is with the provost. Thanks again kid!
Griffen snorted. He definitely wasn't a kid anymore, but he couldn't complain. Coming from Professor Stevens the term felt like a badge of honor, an endearment. Even though his mind was reeling from the rush of old memories that being back in Pittsburgh brought to him, Griffen hadn't hesitated to agree to fill in for a couple weeks to cover the start of Stevens' investigative journalism and non-fiction writing courses at the University of Pittsburgh while he finished recovering from his double bypass surgery. In fact, he felt grateful for the opportunity to help him out. Stevens and his high school football coach had been the only relationships Griffen had ever experienced that resembled what someone would have with a good father.
Stevens' heart attack had hit Griffen so much harder than his own bastard of a dad's death. He was still handsome and fit at fifty; no one had seen it coming and it made Griffen feel like an ass that he hadn't visited him during all this time. He owed him the world. He knew that the least, seriously, the least, he could do was swallow the painful discomfort of being back in the Steel City and all the rotten memories that came with it — if only for a couple weeks.
Three Rivers (A Gateway to Love Novel) Page 3