The tuxedo-clad waiter appeared then, filling their crystal glasses with ice water. “Have you looked at our wines tonight?” he asked.
Anna knew what they had, and so did Ryan. They’d shared a bottle of Cuvee d’Elme on their last visit. “I’ll have a ginger ale,” Anna said.
“I want a Coke with no ice,” Renée said. “And in the biggest glass you have.”
Ann watched Ryan, the corners of his mouth turned down. “She’ll have a Coke, in whatever size glass it’s served in.” He cast a warning look at Renée, then directed his stare to Patrick. “Tell the man what you want. A Coke?”
“A Coke is good,” Patrick mumbled, repeating what his dad suggested.
“Two Cokes and I’ll have a ginger ale as well,” Ryan told the waiter, his tone dismissive.
Anna waited for Ryan to do or say something, but all he did was give both kids the evil eye. She realized they’d embarrassed him but knew that if he lowered himself to their level, they would delight in his fury. He was furious, too, and Anna could see it in his eyes as his hands strangled the white linen napkin on his lap. Definitely not a good sign.
“How about we start over?” Anna said. “Renée, aren’t you starting high school this year?”
Apparently, Renée’s attitude changed on the turn of a dime. “I am, and I can’t wait. Dad says that Christina is going into ninth grade, too. I really would like to meet her. What school does she go to?”
This is more like it, Anna thought. She glanced at Ryan, seeing some of the tension ease, his death grip on the napkin loosen. “She’s going to Bishop Coerver. She’s been at St. Cecilia’s since second grade. What about you?”
Renée chewed on her lip. “I don’t know yet,” she replied. “We’re in that new school district change.”
Anna hadn’t been to Ryan’s house but she knew where he lived. He’d been hesitant when she’d asked about stopping by one evening when she’d had free time on her hands, telling her the kids weren’t quite ready for another woman to see the home he’d shared with their mother. Thinking this odd, given how long ago his wife had died and the fact Renée had never really known her mother, who had passed away when she was just a baby, she told Ryan it was fine, and she’d stop by another time.
“The school choice,” Ryan explained. “Renée took a while to decide where she wanted to go. She’s going to Lubbock High, her third option. Not too happy about it, but it’s what happens when you aren’t responsible.”
“That’s a tough choice to make when you haven’t been to high school. Maybe you should consider Bishop Coerver?” Anna suggested.
“That’s a private school. Dad can’t afford it. He can barely afford Patrick’s tuition at Tech. I can’t see him shelling out anything for a private school. Right, Dad?” Renée asked.
Ryan looked down, his hands knotting the cloth napkin again. Anna felt incredibly sorry for him. It appeared as though Renée was trying her best to humiliate him. Never having been in this position, she didn’t know what to say.
“Renée, why are you doing this? Is it because I wouldn’t let you get a tattoo? Or another piercing? You’re acting like an idiot, and I don’t like it. You will apologize to Anna for being such a little brat.”
“Ryan!” Anna said, stunned that he would speak to his daughter so crudely, no matter how she was behaving. He was the adult.
“I’m sorry, okay?” she said to her dad. “I still think I’m old enough to get a sleeve tattoo. What do you care? It’s not your body.”
So, Ryan was right. Renée was deliberately trying to embarrass him into agreeing to a tattoo. Relief flooded through her, though she didn’t approve of his name-calling. Though some parents didn’t realize they were cussing, she wasn’t one of them.
The waiter brought their drinks to the table. Grateful for the break in round one, she waited until the waiter left before speaking. “So, what kind of tattoo were you thinking of? I’ve seen some that are true works of art.”
This got Renée’s attention. Easy enough, Anna thought.
“I’m not sure yet. I just know that I want one,” Renée said, finally speaking directly to Anna.
“So maybe you could search for something meaningful to you? Put some real thought into your choice before making a commitment,” Anna suggested, feeling the tension ease.
“I suppose I should since it’s gonna be like a forever thing.” Renée took a drink of her Coke. “Do you have any tattoos, Anna?”
“No, I was always too afraid of the needles, though my dad had a tattoo, a blue marlin. It had a symbolic meaning for him.”
“Really?” she piped up, then turned to her dad. “See, it’s not just white trash who get tattoos.”
Patrick laughed.
“Renée, you know what I meant when I said that. I think Anna is right. Maybe you should put a bit of effort in what you’ll be living with for the rest of your life.”
Finally, Anna relaxed. Renée was a belligerent teenager, pissed at her dad. Patrick seemed to enjoy watching them argue. Nothing that couldn’t be worked out with a little bit of patience and common sense.
“Can we go this weekend? To the tattoo parlor?” Renée asked her dad. “Just to get an idea?”
Ryan laughed, the relief showing on his handsome face. “I suppose we could, but I want you to calm down. Let’s enjoy dinner. You wanted to come here to meet Anna. I hope she’ll consider going out with us a second time,” he said, turning to her.
Would she? “Yes, I will. I think we should have dinner at my place. I’ll barbecue Labor Day weekend if you want. We can swim in the pool and make a day of it.”
“You’ve got a swimming pool?” Patrick asked.
Finally, she thought, they’re opening up to me. “Yes, it is hardly ever used. I would love it if you all would come to the house. Christina will be thrilled, as well as Mona and Jeb.” She hadn’t talked too much about her hodgepodge family but felt it was time Ryan and his kids got to know them. They adored kids, especially teenagers. With the diner being so close to the college campus, it was only natural that they’d befriended all the strays who spent hours there. She should know. She had been one of them.
“Aren’t they the couple that takes care of your lawn?” Ryan asked.
Slighted somewhat, she answered, “Jeb does, but they’re like family. They live in the guesthouse most of the time. They have a home of their own in Idalou. I like having them nearby, especially when Mandy isn’t around.”
“Who’s Mandy?” Renée asked.
“She’s my best friend, and she works with me. You’ll get to meet her, too,” Anna said. “She’s the brains behind The Simple Life.”
“Cool. So like, why did you start a YouTube channel? You’re kind of old for that.” Renée looked at her, then backpedaled. “I mean, most YouTubers are kids, younger people.”
Anna laughed. “It’s okay. I do lifestyle videos, cooking, and decorating. Sometimes I do beauty videos, hair and makeup, which is truly not my area of expertise, but it’s fun to break the mold once in a while. Do you have any favorites you watch?”
“I like Jaclyn Hill,” Renée said. “She’s a makeup guru.”
“Yes, I know who you’re talking about. She has quite the following. Christina watches her. She does amazing stuff with makeup.” She smiled at Renée.
The waiter returned to the table and took their orders. Ryan hadn’t said much, but she got the feeling he liked that she was able to carry on a conversation with his daughter. She had only been a baby when her mother died. It was natural that she would open up to a woman. Anna felt bad for her and made a mental note to see if Ryan would allow her to hang out with her and the girls, Christina and Mandy. Mona, too.
Out of the blue, Patrick asked, “How big is your pool?”
Anna took this as a good sign. Maybe he was a swimmer. “It’s pretty big, not quite Olympic-sized, but large enough to get a good workout in, or just float around on a hot day. That’s mostly what we use it for the few time
s we do. Are you a swimmer?” Anna asked.
“Patrick was on the swim team his freshman and sophomore years,” Ryan answered for him.
Perplexed, because Ryan hadn’t mentioned this before, she let it slide. “That’s awesome. You’re welcome to practice in the pool anytime. So, what was your specialty?”
“Two-hundred-yard freestyle and backstroke.”
Anna wanted to ask why he hadn’t competed in his junior and senior years but felt now wasn’t the time. They’d just met, and this could have something to do with the issues Ryan said he had. In all honesty, he seemed normal enough. He didn’t say much, but again, some teenagers didn’t talk to adults about their everyday life unless you pulled it out of them. Maybe he’d gone through some weird antisocial stage and spent a lot of time holed up in his room.
“Patrick, I didn’t realize you still had an interest in swimming,” Ryan said, a surprised look on his face.
“I don’t. Just curious about her pool, that’s all,” he said, dropping his head to stare at his lap.
Maybe he did have issues. Animated one minute, sullen the next. Anna wondered if he was depressed. Though she certainly wasn’t an expert, she knew that this, too, wasn’t uncommon with teenagers. She thought of school shooters and felt herself blush. She was labeling a young guy, and that wasn’t her way. She wasn’t going to figure out these two kids in one night, but she certainly knew they would be challenging if she and Ryan were to become more serious than they already were.
Finally, the tension eased up enough. They finished their dinners, and when the waiter returned to ask if they wanted dessert, Ryan spoke for all of them. “No, I think we’ve had enough. Right, kids? Anna?”
“Yes, thank you, I am beyond stuffed.” She’d barely touched her chicken Caesar salad.
“Just bring the bill,” Ryan told the waiter.
Abrupt, but he could be that way sometimes. Anna didn’t care for that side of him. No one was perfect, but she’d always treated service staff with respect. It was a hard and often unrewarding job. Maybe she’d mention this in the future.
She said her good-byes to Patrick and Renée, with a promise to barbecue Labor Day weekend. Ryan gave her a kiss on the cheek and walked her to her car. “I’m sorry the kids were such little shits. It’s been rough on them since their mom died. I hope you’ll give them another chance?”
She smiled. “Of course. Let’s do the barbecue, see how it goes. They’re kids, Ryan. I get that. Remember, I have one, too. And there is something I need to discuss with you,” she added, hoping he’d take the bait and give her a line to start a conversation she’d been dreading.
“We’ll talk later. You’re an angel. Anna,” he said, this time leaning close to her, whispering in her ear, “you know I’m in love with you?”
Shocked, Anna just stood there, a million thoughts racing through her mind.
Chapter 11
Anna drove home almost in a state of shock. She cared for Ryan and knew that he cared for her, too. But to tell her that he was in love with her, at what she thought of as such an inappropriate setting, time, whatever, struck a chord with her, and it was not a pleasant one. While she didn’t expect a fairy tale, she hadn’t imagined he’d confess his feelings for her in the parking lot of a restaurant while his kids waited in the car. But then again, they were both older, and maybe this is how these things worked now, seizing the moment and all.
She remembered Wade proposing to her. It had been so romantic; he’d hired a limousine, taken her to the beach, they’d shared a glass of Dom Pérignon. Then he stooped, pulling her with him, and as they gazed at the stars above them, he’d asked her to share his life. It was perfect. She shouldn’t be comparing Ryan’s declaration of love to Wade’s marriage proposal. They were two different people. And why was she thinking marriage? Ryan hadn’t mentioned it, never even hinted that he was ready for such a lifelong commitment, and she wasn’t either. Though she had to admit that she had thought about it in general terms, especially the past few weeks.
The phrase It’s complicated came to mind. It was. She’d never really thought much about how her life would change if she were ever to remarry, but it would not be a simple step at this stage in life. Mixing two families would require skill and finesse if she and Ryan made it that far.
As she pulled into the drive she saw that the lights in the guesthouse were on. Her bedroom lights were burning brightly, which meant Mandy was waiting up for her. Anna entered the kitchen, where Christina and Mandy sat at the bar, an empty pizza box, soda cans, and an empty box of Twinkies between them.
“Gourmet delights, I see.” She kissed Christina on the head. “Where’s your sidekick?”
“He’s in your bed,” Christina said. “And, yes, I cleaned out the litter box. I saw one online I’d like to get. It cleans itself, sort of. Can we get one?”
Welcome home, Anna thought, and she was so relieved to be with her family that she grinned. “If it makes your job easier, go ahead and order one.” Christina could have asked for the moon right then and there, and she’d do her best to give it to her.
Mandy did not look good. “Are you okay?” Anna asked, “You look like you’re going to barf.” It was something she totally understood. The smell of pepperoni pizza was so intense, she held her breath for a few seconds.
“I’m full of this.” She gestured toward the empty boxes on the counter.
“I see,” she said, slowly releasing her breath. She kicked off her heels and tossed her Chanel bag on the counter.
“Okay, spill it. I want to know details. I’ve spent the last three hours gorging myself, waiting to hear how your evening went.”
“Me, too, Mom. Did you like Ryan’s kids?” Christina asked, cutting straight to the point.
“I’m going to make myself a cup of peppermint tea first,” Anna said, wanting something soothing to settle her stomach. As soon as she finished, she pulled out a chair and joined Mandy and Christina at the bar, their favorite place in the kitchen.
“Ryan’s kids are totally unique,” she said. “You would love Renée’s hot pink hair.” She smiled when she saw Christina’s reaction.
“To die for, I bet!” she said.
“No. Before you ask, you are not coloring your hair.”
“Pink hair, huh?” Mandy singsonged. “All or partial?”
“All, but it’s short.”
“How about the son?” Mandy asked.
Anna found herself on the defensive for Ryan’s children. They’d had a rough life, she suspected. She wanted Mandy to back off but didn’t want to go into details in front of her daughter.
“Patrick was a swimmer for a couple of years in high school. He’s tall, like Ryan, lean.” On the thin side; she saw why Ryan had been concerned. But he didn’t appear sickly at all. “I think he’s shy, but he’s a nice kid.”
“And the girl? Was she nice?” Christina asked.
“Renée likes to test her dad, but all in all, they’re normal kids.”
“That’s it? Just normal kids? No tattoos, strange body piercings?” Mandy was questioning Anna as if she were a suspect in a crime.
Anna took a deep breath. “Renée has a few piercings.”
“Cool! Where?” Christina asked. “Not that I want one, because I know you won’t allow it, except for my ears.”
“Her nose and eyebrows are pierced.” At least that’s all that was visible. “Other than that, she’s just a regular thirteen-year-old girl.”
“Most thirteen-year-olds don’t have their nose and eyebrows pierced. At least none that I’ve seen around Bishop Coerver,” Mandy said.
“It’s not allowed. If you have any, you can’t wear rings in them unless it’s your ears. Which is totally stupid if you want my opinion.”
“When you’re old enough, you can get as many body piercings as you want; until then, we’ll stick to your ears,” Anna explained, not wanting her daughter to get any ideas. Personally, she wasn’t a huge fan, but kids will be kids.
“I’ve invited them over for a barbecue and pool party Labor Day weekend. You will both get a chance to meet them and form your own opinions.”
“Then dinner went smoothly?” Mandy asked.
“We had a few bumps. Renée is angry at Ryan because he won’t let her get a tattoo. She was . . . defiant at dinner. I told her about my dad’s tattoo, which seemed to clear the air. Ryan is going to take her ‘tattoo shopping’ to see what she likes. I explained that it was a lifelong commitment, so she had to be really sure of what she wanted. And no, you’re not getting a tattoo, either.” Anna smiled at her daughter.
“I never said I wanted one. Besides, I don’t like needles. I’ll be just fine with plain skin.”
Mandy raised her brows. “Plain skin?”
“Free of tattoos. At least not yet. I might feel different when I’m eighteen.”
“I don’t think your aversion to needles is one of those things that suddenly changes when you become a legal adult. But when you are an adult, you can choose for yourself. Right now, since I’m your adult person, it’s time for you to hoof it upstairs and call it a night. It’s late, and I am tired.”
“I can take a hint. ’Night, Mandy, I’ll see you later. ’Night, Mom.” Christina hugged Mandy and gave her mom a kiss.
“’Night, sweetie,” she said.
As soon as Christina was out of earshot, Mandy started in. “All right, tell me what you really think. Are the kids weird, or what?”
“Mandy! That’s mean.” She remembered her earlier thought about school shooters and forgave her friend’s minor indiscretion.
“Well, are they? Just because you have the hots for the dad doesn’t mean his kids are . . . lovable. I can tell by the look on your face that something happened. You don’t want to tell me, that’s fine.”
“It’s not that, really. Yes, the kids aren’t as friendly as Christina, which I kind of expected. Ryan said he’d had ‘issues’ with Patrick in the past. Didn’t say exactly what they were except that he’d been to several therapists, though they never diagnosed him with a physical or mental disorder. He told me that when we were on the cruise, that night at dinner.”
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