Life's What You Make It: Love's Great Adventure Book 1

by Troutman, Theresa

  Tess and Mrs. Hamilton arrived at the apartment around five o’clock. He answered the door with a broad smile. He was dressed in a gray suit accented with a light blue striped silk tie. “Welcome to my new temporary home,” Sebastian said as he opened the door for his soon-to-be mother-in-law. “I know it doesn’t look like much, but it is home.” He was embarrassed to be seen in this light—embarrassed they had to pick him up because he no longer owned a car. It was hard for him to think of himself as young male adult when he relied so heavily on others.

  Kate smiled, placing her arms around him to give him a hug.

  “I’d give you the tour, but you can stand right here and see everything,” he told her shrugging his shoulders. “Shall we go to dinner?” He felt awkward and wanted to leave quickly.

  They sat in the corner of the local Italian restaurant at a round table. They started with Caesar salad, and selected baked ziti with sausage for their main course. It was served family style. They finished their salads and were waiting on the entrée to be served. Mrs. Hamilton chose this pause in dinner to say what was on her mind. “Sebastian, you’ve had a grueling week. It appears you’ve handled everything well. I just wanted to let you know that if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

  Funny that you should mention that, he thought to himself before he cleared his throat and began. “I couldn’t have gotten through this past week without Tess. Thanks for letting her come with me to London.”

  Mrs. Hamilton gave a melancholy smile. “Losing someone you love so dearly is never easy. I do understand what you’re going through.”

  “I know you do.” He took a deep breath. “I love Tess, and I asked her to marry me. I hope you can support that decision, too.”

  “I was staring at the same decision you are right now when I was eighteen. You know the path I chose, and I don’t regret it for a minute. I trust you both.” She looked back and forth between them. “I know you realize that this commitment is not an easy decision. I think you’re strong enough to deal with the good and the bad.”

  Sebastian let out a sigh of relief. Tess took his hand under the table. “Thank you so much. I think you’re the only mother in America who would be so understanding.”

  “I couldn’t be a hypocrite, you know. I believe you two are meant to be together. I’m very happy for you. Just promise not to make me a grandmother too soon.” It came out as a little more of an order than a light-hearted joke. She raised an eyebrow to soften the comment a bit.

  “Mom! You’re going to have to wait a long time for that,” Tess exclaimed. “We have to graduate college and start to make a living first.”

  “I assure you there will be no children in the near future. Tess will need to win the Pulitzer Prize first,” Sebastian chimed in. “I think she has the timeframe for our life already written down, so I’m powerless to argue.” He gave Tess a crooked grin.

  Tess looked at him and smiled. “Yeah, the Pulitzer.”

  The entrée was brought to the table in the nick of time. It provided a welcome relief from talk of babies. Tess quickly spooned a large portion of the cheesy concoction onto her plate and took a bite. It was their cue to dig in and so they did, nary speaking a word as they enjoyed their dinner. They left room for dessert, of course. The house specialty was homemade tiramisu, and they enjoyed each and every bite of the rich chocolaty decadence. When they finally had their fill of good food and pleasant conversation, Kate drove Sebastian back to the apartment. He thanked her again, kissed Tess on the cheek, and wished them a good evening.

  Tess watched as he walked, alone, back to his front door. Her mother sensed her sadness. “He’s never been alone before, has he?” Tess shook her head. “Go spend the night with him. I’d still like to you stay at home during the school week, but you can spend the weekends with Sebastian.”

  Tess reached over and hugged her mother. “Thank you! You’re amazing.”

  “I’m not going to be like my mother, who forbade me from seeing your dad. I always want to be a part of your life with Sebastian. I’ll pick you up tomorrow night.”

  Tess jumped out of the car and raced to Sebastian’s door. She knocked frantically until he opened it.

  “What are you doing?” he asked with great surprise.

  “I don’t want you to be alone. Mom said I could stay.”

  He picked her up and swung her around her around in a circle. Mrs. Hamilton smiled and slowly pulled away.

  Monday found them back in school, sitting at the lunch table with Courtney and Jordan. So much had transpired since the last time they eaten lunch together. Sebastian didn’t want to go through three more months of high school before he could move on to his new life with Tess, but he had no other choice.

  “Where did you disappear to? I called your house and your mom said you went away for the week,” Courtney inquired.

  Tess looked at Sebastian, unsure how to answer. He gave a nod as if to say it was okay to tell them. “I was…” she stopped mid-sentence and grappled to find the right words to explain. There was a strange vibe at the table and Jordan and Courtney waited impatiently for her to finish.

  Finally Sebastian stepped in and saved her by saying, “She was with me in England burying my mother, who passed away last week.” It hurt him to say it aloud. The words were a glaring reminder that she was really gone. Tess placed her hand on top of his as a sign of support.

  “Oh God, I didn’t know. I’m sorry,” Courtney apologized. She and Jordan surmised every conceivable notion as to why they disappeared—from being arrested to going on a bender in Atlantic City to eloping in Vegas. The reality had never entered their minds.

  “If one more person says they’re sorry to me, I think I’m going to bloody scream,” he whispered, standing up. “Excuse me. I need to get some air.” He walked toward the double doors and then stepped outside, inhaling the fresh spring air.

  Tess shot Courtney an annoyed glance.

  “I’m sorry!” Courtney blurted. “If I could take it back, I would.”

  Tess stood, snagged her books, and went out of the door after Sebastian.

  Jordan turned to Courtney. “I told you something intense was going on with those two.”

  “His mom just died, Jordan! Tess knows what it’s like to lose a parent, remember?”

  “Yeah, I remember,” Jordan shot back.

  Sebastian was sitting on a bench in the quad. The air was chilly for the end of March, but felt good against his skin. He tried to think of anything but Nanny in an effort to stop himself from breaking down in front of his classmates.

  Tess found Sebastian and sat next to him, placing her arm snugly around his waist to provide some measure of comfort.

  “It seems so pointless to be here, Tess. She’s gone. I’m living in an apartment the size of a shoebox. Yesterday I felt optimistic. Today I don’t know what the hell I’m doing,” he admitted feeling helpless. “And then those two girls…”

  “You don’t get over the shock in a week. I’m sorry to tell you, it’s a long a painful journey,” she sighed. “I should never have suggested we stay in London. We should have come back sooner to let you start adjusting.”

  He turned to face her and took her free hand in his. “No! Don’t apologize. I needed that time with you—to be with you like that. It was the only way I was able to make it through the week,” Sebastian explained. “I feel like a manic depressive. How did you deal with the ups and downs?”

  “I set up a schedule for myself. It gave me consistency and a goal to work toward. It helped keep my mind busy so I didn’t spend so much time thinking about my dad.”

  “We already have a schedule. So what you’re saying is we have to keep doing what we’ve been doing for the past eight months?”

  She smiled. “With some slight variations,” she whispered in his ear, hinting at the prospect of more lovemaking.

  Finally he smiled, too. He couldn’t help it. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “I guess we sh
ould go back inside before we get in trouble. The last thing I need is detention.”

  Chapter 19-Never Tear Us Apart

  Friday arrived at last. It had been a roller coaster week for Sebastian: he was dealing with the highs and lows of his new life. Today he was happy because Tess would be spending the night with him.

  Sebastian busied himself cooking his first dinner for her. He was preparing a simple dish: penne tossed with fresh vegetables, garlic, and olive oil with a focaccia bread he’d purchased at a local bakery. The bistro table was dressed to create a romantic mood with a centerpiece of fragrant red roses and white taper candles in the center. The china, silver, and crystal all gleamed by the candle’s soft glow. Sebastian amazed himself with his ability in the kitchen, thanks mainly to Alice’s tutelage. He simply couldn’t wait to see Tess’ reaction to his efforts.

  It was close to 7:00 p.m. when Tess walked into the apartment. “Hey,” she greeted, placing her overnight bag on the floor. She noticed the romantic dinner table. “What’s all this?” she asked, strolling into the kitchen and coming up behind him.

  “It’s my meager attempt at domestication and saving money. Do you approve?”

  “I’ll let you know after I taste it,” she playfully replied, kissing him on the cheek.

  Sebastian turned off the stove. Escorting Tess to the table, he pulled out a chair for her and she sat. Within moments, he placed a basket holding cut pieces of bread and a large, colorful bowl of steaming hot pasta on the table. After being sure that Tess had her Diet Coke in hand, he poured himself a glass of red wine. He sat down across from her and waited for her response.

  “You made this?” she asked with surprise, looking up from the fragrant bowl in front of her after tasting the pasta.

  “Yes,” Sebastian replied cautiously, assuming the worst. “Is it that bad?”

  “No! It’s really good,” she quickly complimented, digging in for another bite.

  “Alice showed me how to make it.”

  Changing the subject, Tess asked, “Have you called Sigourney yet?”

  He slowly shook his head. He was hesitant to call her: he didn’t know how much Lily had told Sigourney.

  “You should call her, Sebastian. Just because you choose not to have a relationship with Lily doesn’t mean you can’t still have one with your sister.”

  He sighed aloud. He knew she was right.

  “Call her, then you can visit her tomorrow,” Tess continued.

  “But I was going to spend the day with you.”

  “Well, I have to spend the morning at school prepping the final proof for the yearbook, remember?”

  “I forgot,” he replied dejectedly. Sebastian watched as she sat back and grinned at him. He threw his arms up in the air. “Fine, you win! I’ll call her after dinner.”

  Before he had time to deal with his nerves, Sebastian found himself in front of Sigourney’s Park Avenue brownstone late in the morning on Saturday. Tess’ car idled softly as he willed himself to shut off the ignition. He exited out of the car and climbed the stone stairs with trepidation, each step slower than the last, still unsure if visiting her was the right thing to do.

  He eased the door open to the delicate sound of a piano concerto. Sebastian tossed Tess’ keys on the antique vestibule table and walked through the heavy wooden doors into the sitting room. Sigourney stopped playing and turned toward the door. She jumped off her padded piano bench and rushed over to hug him. “What the hell did you do to make Mummy disown you?”

  “It’s good to see you, too,” he remarked sarcastically. Sebastian ambled to the drink trolley and poured himself a glass of fifteen-year-old single malt scotch. Moving to the sofa, he sat, inhaled his scotch deeply, took a sip, crossed his legs, and then looked back up at her.

  “Will you please talk to me, Sebastian?” she asked in her kindest voice. “You wouldn’t tell me anything on the phone last night.”

  He craved a cigarette, but Tess had finally persuaded him to quit. He took another sip of scotch; it felt good going down. The cigarette craving hadn’t gone away, but the scotch soothed his nerves. “Nanny died a few weeks ago.”

  “What? Mummy didn’t say anything about that! What happened?” she demanded.

  Sebastian shook his head in sadness. It still didn’t make sense to him—how was he going to explain it to his sister? He decided to just dig in and get through it without pausing. “She passed away in her sleep. She wanted her ashes scattered in the rose garden at the castle. I took her home and Lily showed up.”

  Sigourney tried to process what she had just heard, but was too shocked. “You didn’t tell Mummy that Nanny passed away?”

  Sebastian sensed the discomfort and turned his attention to his nearly empty scotch glass. “I did tell her.”

  “Then why did she disown you?”

  “She walked in on Tess and me. We were making love in my bedroom.”

  Sigourney’s hand flew over her mouth. A smile crept onto Sebastian’s face.

  “I take it Lily left that part out when she phoned you?”

  “Poor Tess,” she replied. Sigourney thought for a long moment. “What were you doing having sex with Tess if you went home to bury Nanny?” she blurted loudly.

  “Don’t say it like that,” he shot back.

  “Like what?”

  “Cheap and tawdry, like my only concern was shagging.” He took another sip of his scotch, emptying the glass. He glanced in it forlornly and looked back up at his stunned sister. “You weren’t there when I found Nanny dead. You have no idea what kind of grief it caused or how intense the experience was.” Sebastian placed his glass on the nearby side table as he stood up to stretch his legs and collect his thoughts. “Tess was there for me through the whole thing. She lost her dad when she was fourteen years old. She understood the pain I was going through. It just happened. I didn’t plan it,” he explained.

  Sigourney let a minute pass as she digested the information. “So Mummy gave you the ultimatum—the family or Tess. You chose Tess.” Sigourney looked at him with amazement. “Bravo, Sebastian. You truly do love her. But what will you do now? How will you live?”

  Sebastian walked toward the floor-length windows. Pushing the curtains away, he peered outside. The Chevette sat quietly, looking very out of place parked in this exclusive neighborhood. Maybe he could persuade Tess to trade it in for something a little more suitable when he got back home. “Nanny had a will and left me some money.”

  “Well, I’m glad you’re not destitute,” she stated with relief. “What about university? What about your education?”

  “I’m going to NYU. There was enough money to pay for that.”

  Sigourney cheered up instantly. “You’ll be in the city so I can see you more often!”

  “Yes, but I really prefer you keep that information to yourself. I’ve made a clean break from Lily. This is my life, and what I do with it is none of her damned business,” Sebastian warned her, sitting back down. “Can you keep your mouth shut?”

  Sigourney nodded in agreement. “You know that I’d ask you to stay here, but I’d be in a heap of trouble if she found out. I’m sorry.”

  “No need to apologize. I’m going to be just fine. What exactly did she tell you, if you don’t know any of this?” he inquired.

  “She just rang me and said I wasn’t to talk to you or give you any money. She said you were no longer a part of this family—full stop.”

  “Well, I suppose you just broke one of those rules.”

  “What Mummy doesn’t know won’t hurt her. She’s in Japan. There’s no chance she’ll happen to pop by,” Sigourney reassured him.

  He leaned in and gave his sister a long hug. “Thank you. I would miss you if I couldn’t see you anymore.”

  “Me too. You seem truly happy. Is there anything I can do to help you?”

  Sebastian sat back and pondered her request. “Actually, there is. Take a walk with me down Fifth Avenue.”

  “What are we sho
pping for?”

  “A ring,” he simply replied.

  “You’re going to ask Tess to marry you?” Sigourney burst with excitement.

  “I already asked her and she said yes, but it was spur-of-the-moment and I didn’t have a ring.”

  “Sebastian, how dare you not plan and make it special for Tess,” she admonished. “A proposal should be over-the-top and memorable!”

  “The proposal was perfect and Tess said yes because it wasn’t over-the-top. It was from the heart.”

  “I expect to hear every detail of this while I guide you through Tiffany’s.”

  They walked down Fifth Avenue enjoying the bright sun and the gentle April breeze. Sebastian looked dapper in his navy Armani suit and silk tie. Sigourney had dressed in a brown Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress. They looked more like Wall Street employees than casual shoppers. She laced her arm through Sebastian’s as they sauntered down the avenue, and he described his time spent in London with Tess and recounted the marriage proposal in full detail, much to his sister’s delight.

  A uniformed doorman opened the door as they approached and entered Tiffany & Company. They browsed the aisles of display cases, politely refusing numerous attempts at assistance. “What do you think?” Sigourney prodded, pointing here and there, eyeing up the beautiful diamonds sparkling under the lights.

  Sebastian frowned. “I’m not sure.”

  “Do you have any idea what type of ring you’re looking for?”

  “I’ll know it when I see it.” He looked away from the final case and at his sister. “Let’s go to Cartier.”

  They walked a few blocks further down Fifth Avenue until they reached their new destination. Again they perused the glass cases in search of the perfect ring. Sebastian had spied a case holding three rows of glittering engagement rings. That’s where he found it—second row, third from the left. It was as if it had called to him. “I’d like to see that one,” he informed the hovering saleswoman, pointing to his choice.