Inky

by J. B. Hartnett

  “She quit.”

  “She what?”

  “Apparently…”

  She hesitated. “Don’t hold out on me now! What?” I demanded.

  “They got a place in West Hollywood. She landed some kind of awesome job and Evan is filling in for some band. Their regular bassist is having surgery on his shoulder or some crap.”

  “Wow. That was quick.”

  Yeah, I was a total hypocrite.

  “Well, the wheels will fall off that one. Mark my words, Inky. Mark. My. Words.”

  “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe they’ll live happily ever after. Who knows? Does Rusty need me?”

  “He said there’s always a place for you if you want. But he wanted me to tell you to go live your dream. You don’t belong there anymore, Ink. Look around. This is where you belong.”

  “What? Here? Seriously?” I asked flatly.

  “Yeah, I have my own theories. Cole called me, you know.”

  “He said he did but I didn’t ask him to elaborate. I thought it had to do with delivering the painting and getting you here for a girly day.”

  “Well, that happened too but there was more.”

  “Okay….”

  “He wants you to move in with him.” I almost spat my bite of enchilada back on the plate.

  “I’ve known him for five minutes.”

  “Five minutes or not, the guy is head over heels in love with you.” I know she was going to pry whatever details she could out of me. I just wasn’t sure how to explain everything without Cole looking like a nut job.

  She wiped her mouth and gave me her death stare. “You’re holding back. You said you’d tell me when you can and I can’t wait. I have to know. What the fuck is it, Ink?”

  “We both have baggage. It won’t change how I feel. I know that now. Yesterday…”

  “When you had lunch with him and his mom?” She interjected.

  “Yeah…damn it! I don’t want to start crying and this is gonna do it.”

  “So cry. Feel whatever you need to feel and get it the fuck out of you. It’s all poison my friend. No one is gonna think less of you. That I can guarantee.”

  “I’ll just try to get through it.” I took a deep breath and dove right in.

  “Anyway, I was telling his mom about the painting in there without really telling her about it, you know? I didn’t want to get into all the Joe and psycho-mom stuff. So, I skipped all that and thanked her and explained that because of the song she sang her son and he sang it to me, it totally helped me cope when I came face to face with Joe again. When I finished the story, she and…”

  Nope, couldn’t hold the tears back anymore. Aimes took my hand and held it. “They were holding my hands like you are now, just looking at me all concerned and I freaked. I had no idea what to do with that emotion so I tried to leave but I couldn’t. I just sat there and had another mother fucking anxiety attack in the middle of Sunday fucking brunch. But she sang to me, Aimes. She sang to me to help me come out of it. She did for me what a mother does for her child. I couldn’t walk away now if I tried. He’s in my heart. And she…she…”

  “Is gonna be the best freakin’ mother-in-law that ever lived. Come here.” She rounded the table and held me close, brushing my hair back, soothing me like she always does, like she always has. “Listen to me. This is intense but I think this is exactly what you needed. Don’t be scared, well, try not to be scared. I know it’s no use telling you to feel a certain way. That doesn’t work for anybody. Just take each day as it comes. Does he freak out like you do?”

  “He gets dark. I guess he used to get them like I do but now he just kind of checks out for a few minutes. The mood kinda stays for a while but he’s learned to cope. But, Aimes…his wrists.”

  “Say no more. I get it. Don’t tell me anything else. It doesn’t matter because it’s his pain.” She continued when she knew she had my full attention. “Those are his leaves, Ink.”

  “How’s that psychology degree going anyway?” I smiled through blurry eyes.

  She laughed heartily. “Actually, I’m finishing at Irvine. I can start seeing patients next year. Can you believe that?”

  “And Gus? What’s he gonna do?” She let me go and sat back down as she explained.

  “He landed a great job at J.F.F., the aviation place? Something to do with jets, I don’t know. Ask me a question about Freud? I’m your gal. Ask me about aeronautics, I have no idea.”

  “He doesn’t want to go back to Texas?”

  “No. But he’s taking me to meet the parents in a few weeks and then the end of next month, we’ll get hitched. Hopefully I won’t be showing by then.” She nonchalantly took a sip of the iced tea while her words sank in.

  “What!” The tears were back, hard and fast. Happy ones. “You waited all this time to tell me?”

  “I wanted to end on a happy note.” She smiled.

  “Wait, I’m not trying to put a damper on things but is this a shotgun type of situation?”

  “No. He asked me how I would feel about marrying him. He wanted to know if I’d thought about a future with him. He was kind of like, ‘say the word and I’ll put on a ring on that pretty little finger of yours’…love that accent. I said we should move in together since he was only recently divorced but then you know, I was late and here we are.”

  “And here we are. How fast this has all happened? Are you staying in the house?”

  “We contacted the owners to buy it. Everything is so cheap at the moment and I didn’t know this but Gus does all right. He’s an only child, his parents have a cattle farm and you know, everyone eats beef, so basically cows are paying for it. They accepted the offer. I love that place. It’s perfect for a family. But this doesn’t mean you’re going anywhere.” She quickly added. “I mean it, Ink. We both want you there, forever if you want. Even if we have to start adding rooms or put a double wide in the driveway.”

  “Your Saturn hardly fits in the driveway.”

  “We’ll figure something out. But the baby will be in our room for a while anyway. Don’t feel pressured to move until you’re ready.” God Bless her. She was always thinking of me, and so hopeful and positive.

  “You’re gonna be a wonderful Mommy. Have you told your parents?”

  “We’ll tell them at the wedding so zip it.”

  “My lips are sealed.”

  ***

  When she left, I went back to clean up the remnants of lunch. I was surprised when someone knocked on the door again. Even more surprised when I opened it to see Cole’s mom standing there.

  “Trish. Please, come in. How weird. I’m sure you have a key, don’t you?”

  “I do, but when I called Cole, he said I should give you fair warning. He said he tried to call you but you didn’t answer.”

  “Oh, my phone’s upstairs. Can I get you anything?” I turned to lead us inside the kitchen.

  “Really, I won’t keep you. I just wanted to make sure you were okay, you know, after yesterday…have you been crying? Your eyes look red.”

  “Oh, well, my best friend just left. She’s getting married and having a baby. In that order. There’s been a lot of change in the last few months. It’s kind of…overwhelming.”

  “Here.” She took a pen and a small note pad from her designer handbag. I thought it was Louis Vuitton since there was a large L and V but I was completely in the dark when it came to high fashion. “I know, call me old fashioned but I still like to carry a pen and paper. Here’s my number. If you’re not with Cole and you need me, you call. I don’t care what time it is. Do you understand?”

  “Really, Trish, that’s wonderful but I don’t want to bother you. This isn’t something that happens to me... ” she cut me off.

  “Anything is possible. You could run out of gas, you could need a ride to the airport, anything. You call me.” Her eyes became warm and she looked out the window above the sink. “I always wanted a girl, you know. I wanted a sibling for Cole. Richard just stopped talking
to me one day. It was almost as if Cole and I were part of his staff.” Her statement shocked me. “Oh, I’m sorry, Anika. I can see your surprise. I play the role of dutiful wife in public but even now, we barely speak or see each other outside of company events.”

  “Really, you don’t have to explain anything to me.” I was happy she shared but careful not to comment. After all, Richard Carlyle was still her husband.

  She walked through the open doors onto the deck and sat at the table. I joined her, suddenly feeling self-conscious I hadn’t brought the iced-tea out with me.

  “Do you know what Cole wanted to do when he was growing up?” She asked with the certainty that I had no idea. I shook my head to confirm my ignorance.

  “He loved to do two things: read books and draw.” So, my Cole wasn’t just an admirer of art. “He loved the beach and surfing but there was no way I could have let him become a pro-surfer. I’m supportive but there’s a limit to my powers over his father. I tried to encourage him into journalism, something with which he could have an actual career as a writer but he really just enjoyed reading, not writing. He has a natural talent with art though. He can look at something and create its likeness onto paper very accurately. But, he also has his father’s head for business, a hell of a gambler with a sixth sense of how things will pan out.’

  “Trish, is there a reason you’re telling me this?”

  “There’s an event this weekend. I want him to go. I think you being with him gives him the strength he needs to be around his father. It would be good for his business. He’s doing very well with Trinity and Olaf and the boys have helped him with advice. I asked his father to let him have this, away from his control.”

  “I don’t want to put Cole in a situation that’s going to upset him. I was around your husband for all of five minutes and I wanted to hit him in the face. Hard.”

  She laughed. “Richard is loud, overbearing, brash, harsh…you name it. Cole is gentle, soft spoken, sensitive. His dad thinks he’s a wimp but we both know that’s not the case. He chooses not to stoop to Richard’s level but if the situation calls for it, you wouldn’t want to get on Cole’s bad side. They are very much alike, Anika. And they both know it.” My legs were shaking furiously under the table I’d just sat at with Aimes. “Dear, you’re giving the San Andreas a run for its money over there, what’s going on?”

  I took a deep breath, trying to buy myself some time while I gathered my thoughts. “He loves me.”

  “I know he does.”

  “I mean, warts and crazy and all…he loves me.” She smiled. I think at that point it was pretty clear to her that I was only half listening.

  “He told me about you, that very first day he saw you at that bar. He said he was rude to the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen but she was taken. He was too late.”

  “Yeah, that didn’t work out.”

  “Well, I’d hoped you weren’t dating my son and someone else.”

  “I’m scared.” I wasn’t sure why I was telling his mom this but something about her made me feel very at ease. I supposed that’s where Cole got it from.

  “I think you two will be just fine. Warts and all. Anyway, I came here to ask you if you would go to the event and also if I could take you shopping for the event. I take great pleasure in spending Richard’s money.”

  “Cole actually had his assistant bring a few things over the other night. I’m sure something in there will be fine. Do you want to take a look?”

  “You’re a hard sell, aren’t you, dear? It’s a black and white ball. You’ll need an evening gown. There’s a local designer who I know that would love to dress you. It would be great exposure for her. Up and coming artist Anika Redding wears local designer Tia Patton on the arm of hotelier Cole Carlyle. It won’t cost a thing. I’m taking you for hair and shoes though. That, I insist on.”

  “Does Cole know about this? I should’ve asked that first. I don’t want to blind side him.”

  “Of course. He seemed to feel that you would be the one that needed the convincing.”

  “He seems to know me better than I know myself.”

  She laughed as she gathered her beautiful leather purse and took her keys out. “Are you busy tomorrow? I can pick you up and get you fitted and all that.”

  “Sure.” And just like that. I was in a whole new world.

  Chapter 29

  The following week was a whirlwind of dress fittings, shopping with Trish and easing into my new life with Cole. I hadn’t officially moved in but I still hadn’t spent a night at my place either. I wanted to give Aimes and Gus some time to themselves too but I had no intention of living there again. If for some reason I had to leave Cole’s, I would find my own place. Maybe it wasn’t the smartest thing to not have a backup plan but I felt like making that plan would mean I expected us to fail as a couple. I didn’t. I was absolutely certain this is where I was meant to be. I still had the odd pang of doubt, wondering when he would change his mind and tell me he was wrong. It was all moving too fast but he didn’t nor did I think he would. That was just my own crazy-pants insecurity trying to creep in.

  We also decided to have time every day when we talked, no holds barred, about anything and everything. Whether it was something stupid like squeezing the toothpaste tube in the middle (a pet peeve of mine) or not kissing him goodbye (a pet peeve of his) we made sure to find a solution.

  When Saturday morning arrived, my phone began to chirp. I picked it up to see a message from Trish.

  I’ll be by to pick you up at noon. Tell my son you two have to come up for air some time. Xo

  “Check this out.” I handed him the phone.

  “She could be so much worse you know.” He chuckled.

  “Are you kidding? I think she’s great. At least she calls first. I mean, she has a key and the alarm code. If she wanted to, she could walk right in and God knows what she’d find.”

  “I don’t think she’d make that mistake twice, do you?”

  I don’t know how, but I’d almost forgotten Trish had stopped by unannounced to find Cole and me naked, swimming in his pool. Things were just beginning to heat up so I was grateful, and I’m sure she was too, that she didn’t arrive any later.

  “No. I guess you’re right. What are you gonna do today?”

  “Well, first I’m going to make love to my beautiful girlfriend.”

  “Is that right?” I said teasing.

  “Yep. Then I’m going to make us both a cup of coffee and some toast.”

  “Wow, you have a hectic day planned, don’t you?”

  “It’s going to be lonely without you. That’s for sure.” His lips just touched mine.

  “Well, me, your mom and the limo will be here at six, she said. Where are we going again?”

  “The Drago Estate. I can’t stand this guy, Giuseppe Drago. Neither can my mom. She says he’s one the biggest womanizers she’s ever met. His wife is stunning. Not like you of course” (nice save) “but she’s one of those women that, for the life of me, after hearing about her husband’s philandering ways, you meet and can’t understand why any man would stray.”

  “You never know what goes on behind closed doors I suppose.”

  “That’s true. His son is in his late forties. He’s gone back and forth between the US and Sicily. He lived there for ten years apparently and just moved back to become more ‘involved’ (he air quoted) in his father’s business. They hold a charity event every year. The Estate is beautiful; it’s like being transported to Italy. You’ll love it, I think. I’m going because Olaf and the boys are going. Anywhere they go, my mom seems to think I should be also. It’s good for the business, the auction raises a lot of money. I’m sure we’ll be leaving with a year’s supply of wine or a week at someone’s Villa in Tuscany or something.”

  “I just like seeing you in a tux.”

  “Do you now? Not out of it?” He began to kiss my fingers one by one.

  “That too. I think you’ll like the dress I’m w
earing.” It was becoming more difficult to keep my composure as his kisses moved from my hand up my arm.

  “I think I’ll like you better out of it.” I could feel him smiling on my neck. He was enjoying making me crazy.

  “You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”

  “Of course I am. I have to give you up for an entire six hours.” He said, “I need something to tide me over.”

  “You know what they say about absence and all.” I decided to retaliate. “In fact, I better go hop in the shower.” I sprang from the bed, too quickly for his outstretched arm to grab me, and ran to the bathroom, “I may need some help with those hard to reach places.” I shouted, not realizing he was right behind me.

  “I’m only too happy to help, lover.”

  His voice deep and sexy, all playing and joking aside, I would have been happy to stay there all day.

  ***

  Trish had been fantastic about easing me into her world. I noticed she was careful not to overwhelm me with fussing. My hair and makeup were done at her home in Newport. When I say home, I mean mansion. I mean, the place was ridiculous. It’s beautiful but it’s just too much for two people or even twenty. A woman, who I couldn’t quite determine the age of but I guessed was in her forties, had transformed me from zero to hero in approximately three hours. I suddenly realized I hadn’t asked how I was getting my dress. I assumed Trish would take care of everything but I still should’ve asked.

  “You’re doing that personal earthquake thing again, dear. What seems to be the trouble?” She smiled.

  “Uh…I was just wondering where the dress is? I should’ve asked, you know, yesterday.”

  “Time, Darla?” She asked.

  “Three fifty-eight.” The woman replied.

  “Your answer should be walking in the door any minute.”

  With a breeze and energy that could power the entire suburb, Anthony strode into the room. “Hello, beautiful ladies!” I was so happy to see him. “How’re you holding up, Anika? The big bad rich man hasn’t scared you away with all his fabulousness, has he?”