The conference room broke out into cries of outrage. Jamie’s head spun. They looked to her for answers and she had none. Not a one. She finally faced the dozen employees. She reached into her wallet, pulled out her company American Express card, and held it up. “I have no answers. I don’t know what in the hell just happened here. But I was thinking that we all deserve a day off. Anyone up for lunch at Domaine Chandon?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
The Fourth
Alyssa unloaded her car full of desserts for tomorrow’s Fourth of July party. She’d done her best over the past day to do anything and everything to keep her mind off of what she had to do. But after baking three different fruit pies, a batch of brownies, chocolate chip/macadamia nut cookies, and a strawberry cheesecake, her mind went back to the facts she had to face.
Kat was in the kitchen making potato salad when Alyssa walked in, her arms loaded with bags. “Jeez, girlfriend, what do you have there?”
“I know. I got carried away. There’s a couple more bags in the car.”
“Brian! Come here and help Alyssa.” He didn’t answer.
Alyssa set the bags down. “I can get them. You don’t need to call your son.”
“I don’t think so. He can help. Bri!” Still no answer. Kat walked back into his room where Brian laid flat on his back in bed, listening to his iPod. Kat pulled the earphones away from his ears and his eyes shot open. “Mom! What up? You scared me.”
“Go grab a couple of bags out of Alyssa’s car for me.” He stared at her blankly for a few seconds. He pushed himself off the bed, shoulders slumped, hair in his eyes, and lurked past her. He grunted what sounded like a possible hello to Alyssa. “Say hello, please,” Kat instructed.
“I did,” Brian replied.
Kat walked around in front of him, pushed his shoulders back, and brushed the hair out of his eyes. “Try again. This timer louder with a little enthusiasm.” Alyssa stifled her laughter. “This is good practice for you. And Alyssa is a friend, so she can take it. We’ll call this Etiquette 101. How to say hello to guests. Something you learned at five, but due to the undeveloped frontal lobe, this ‘Hello, how are you?’ thing, must have gotten lost in the dark abyss between Akon and World of Warcraft.”
“I don’t listen to Akon, Mom, and WOW is lame.”
“What is this? He speaketh in full sentences! How blessed are we? Thank God, because it was taking a lot of effort for me to decipher caveman grunts.” Kat put an arm around him.
Brian shook his head. “Hello, Alyssa. How are you?” he said clearly and politely.
“I’m great. Thank you for asking. The bags are in the trunk of my car.”
“I’ve got them. Stay and entertain the peanut gallery,” he said.
“He has your sarcastic wit, I see.” Alyssa walked over to the kitchen island. “May I?” She held up a spoonful of the salad.
“Of course, and, yes, my son is a regular Adam Sandler. What do you think?”
“About the potato salad or the kid?”
“The salad.”
“It’s excellent and the kid is pretty great too. He’s just a teenager.”
“I do know this. If Jeremy hadn’t gone through it first, I’d be pulling my hair out. But he seems to have reached the other side. You know, it’s true that their frontal lobe isn’t fully developed until they’re in their twenties. It does explain a lot.”
Alyssa laughed. “Where is Jeremy?”
“With Christian. They’re in the backyard, digging the hole to bury the pig for tomorrow.”
“That’s huge, isn’t it? That they would do something like that together?”
“Not only that. Yesterday, Christian let the sous chef take over and I managed the restaurant, while the two of them went hunting together for the pig.”
“That’s great, Kat. They’re bonding. That must make you happy.”
“It really does. For so long, I’ve been hoping that somehow, someway, my sons and Christian would bond. I don’t know if it’ll happen between him and Brian because Bri is so busy worshipping his father. I don’t want to be the one to highlight all the shit that he’s done or hasn’t done. I can’t even ask Brian what time his father will be picking him up without getting my head bit off!”
“I think that’s one of those situations where you have to stay totally neutral. It’s a no-win deal. But who knows? I bet you never thought Jeremy and Christian would develop a close relationship.”
“You’re right. Part of me believes it has to do with Amber. It might sound strange but I think she has sort of cemented us together. Jeremy is nuts about her, loves tossing her around and teasing her, and Christian appreciates him playing big brother to his daughter.”
“Funny how a kid can do that. It’s kind of the same with me.”
Brian came in and set down the desserts. Kat looked at the three bags and back at Alyssa. “How many people do you think we’re having? Looks to me like you have enough here for a regular bake sale.”
“I needed a distraction.”
“Am I done now?” Brian asked.
“Yes. Why don’t you go outside with Grandma and Amber and help with the decorations in the back.”
“Do I have to?” He grimaced. “Nanny V goes on and on about some of the weirdest stuff. The other day I had to hear all about how living in the now keeps us centered, and how we should enjoy the now because it’s all we have. I don’t even know what she meant by the now.”
“She means the present, and, yes, you do have to go help.”
“Mom…”
“Five bucks. Do it for five bucks.”
“Ten,” he said.
“Seven,” she replied.
“Okay.”
Brian went out the French doors. Kat turned to Alyssa, “Chapter thirteen in the parenting handbook states that bribery, although not always the best parenting method, is very effective, especially in a time crunch.”
Alyssa laughed.
“I’m guessing you need to talk. What’s so heavy on your mind that you had to turn all Betty-Crocker-on-steroids on me?”
Alyssa plunked down at Kat’s kitchen table. “It’s heavy.”
“What isn’t heavy?”
“Right. You know how you were saying that Amber is kind of like the glue around here for the family? Well, Ian has become the glue for my heart. And when I found out I wasn’t a match for the bone marrow, I knew I had to do something. I had to look into every possibility. I called the father. Actually, Darren, who is Ian’s uncle, did it for me.”
“What did Darren say?”
“Darren told him that he had a child with a woman eighteen years ago and then explained the medical situation.”
“What did the guy do?”
“There’s more to it.”
“What do you mean?”
Alyssa closed her eyes for a second. “Ian’s father date-raped me.”
“Alyssa!”
“He did and I told Darren this. He was the first person that I ever told. Darren didn’t let on that he knew, though, when he made the call.”
“That must have been so difficult for him. And for you.”
“It was. But I think that the father handled it the only way he could.”
“What happened?”
“It took Darren some convincing on his part, but he got him to agree to be tested. Of course, the father is demanding a paternity test. Darren told him that they’d pay for that and they could go from there after the results came back.”
“And did they?”
“It was rushed through and it came back positive. I was a virgin when it happened, so no surprise there.”
“I can’t even imagine what you’ve been through and how you’ve dealt with this all of these years by yourself.”
“It hasn’t been easy, but it’s helped to have friends like you.”
“All the same, you should have told me, told us, we could have been there for you.”
“I couldn’t. I was ashamed, and I t
hought if I buried it deep enough that I could leave it there and forget about it. I was wrong. The father’s blood tests came back and he wasn’t a match. But the doctors are saying that Ian’s best chance is if he has any siblings, and he does, Kat. James—the father—has six other children.”
Kat reached for Alyssa’s hand. “What are you going to do?”
She sighed heavily. “I’m going to go to New Orleans and confront him. He has to have his kids tested. He has to see if one of them is a match.”
“How do you think he’ll respond?”
Alyssa looked down. “I can’t even think about that right now. All I can think about is helping Ian get well.”
“Ian’s family knows everything?”
“Darren obviously knows, and Charlie has been told that we called the father. It was Charlie who phoned me today and said that he wasn’t a match. I told him I’d be in contact with the father to ask him to have his other children tested. I’m flying out the day after tomorrow.”
Kat squeezed her hand. “I’m going with you.”
“No. No. You have your family and your restaurant. You can’t go.”
“My mother is here. She can help with the kids and I’ve only been working at the restaurant part time anyway these days. You’ve done so much alone, Alyssa. Let me be there for you. Please.”
Alyssa nodded. “Thank you.”
***
The Fourth of July party was in full swing and Kat was beside herself. She’d had no choice but to invite her father. He’d called and asked what their plans were, and she’d invited him. What else could she have done? She’d warned him about her mom.
He insisted it would be fine, saying, “That chapter of my life is closed, and I think your mother and I can be perfectly cordial toward one another.”
Hopefully that would be the case because Kat had watched her mother eye her father nervously for the last hour. He’d stayed on one side of the pool, drinking his Tom Collins and chatting with Danielle and Mark. Shannon had come along with them, too, looking huge and uncomfortable. And Cassie had surprised all of them by showing up on her own. Kat noticed that her dad looked a little extra spiffy. He’d worn a Tommy Bahama shirt that Kat and the family had given him on his birthday, a pair of khaki shorts (with the shirt tucked in no less and a belt—not typical for her dad), and instead of his usual socks and tennis shoes, he had on flip-flops, which even Kat had to admit gave him a bit of an edge on the coolness factor. Plus if she didn’t know better, Kat could’ve sworn he may have used some Grecian Formula because his normally almost-all-silver head of hair looked less silver today.
Kat’s mother sat at the other end of the pool at another table, drinking strawberry daiquiris and chatting with Jamie, who had brought Maddie and Dorothy. Dorothy thought that she was at Lucille Ball’s house and she kept referring to Kat as “Lucy,” even though Danielle was the redhead.
“Lucy, darling, would you bring me one of those wonderful drinks this nice lady is having.” Dorothy pointed to Kat’s mother.
Venus winked at her and stood up. “I think I’ll make my way over and say hello to your father.”
“Mom, do you think that’s a good idea?”
“Yes, I do. Go get this lovely woman a drink, Kitty.”
Kat eyed Jamie. Maddie and Amber were splashing around in the pool having a great time. “Mom, stay right here and we’ll be back with your drink,” Jamie said.
Christian walked by with a beer in hand. “What do you think? A half-hour and I’ll have the guys help me dig out the pig?”
“Perfect.” Kat patted him on the shoulder. “Can you keep watch for a sec? Jamie is going to help me in the kitchen.” She nodded her head toward Dorothy.
“Love to,” he replied.
“Rock, darling, did you bring your partner today?” Dorothy asked, as Christian sat down next to her.
Christian almost spit out his beer. “Not today, Love.”
Jamie and Kat laughed all the way back to the kitchen. A minute later, Danielle joined them. Alyssa had stopped by briefly, having to run to catch a plane to L.A. to spend the holiday with Ian and his family. She and Kat would meet in New Orleans the next evening.
“What’s the powwow all about?” Danielle asked.
“My mother is going over to talk to my father. This could end the party right here,” Kat said. “I need to make up some more daiquiris. Dorothy wants one.”
Danielle peeked outside. “Your father is shaking her hand.”
“That’s civil,” Kat replied.
“I’d say so,” Jamie said.
Kat went to the fridge and sliced some more cheese, and placed it on a plate with crackers and salami. “Maybe I’m freaking out over nothing.”
“I think so,” Danielle said, as she started another pitcher of daiquiris.
“I’m sure she’ll bore him with some kind of technique that teaches him how to achieve his dreams.” Kat turned to Danielle, trying to forget that her divorced parents were having a conversation that could easily turn into a fight. “I like Mark.”
“Me too,” Jamie said.
“Good, because so do I. He’s great. I mean, he is really great. We’re having fun together and I haven’t felt so comfortable with a man ever. Not even after twenty-one years with Al.”
“He could be the one,” Jamie said.
“Slow down. Way down. We’re hanging out, taking it slow. Don’t be rushing me to the altar.” Then she smiled. “But if things keep going this way, who knows?” She shrugged. “Speaking of men, where is Tyler? We were hoping you’d bring him.”
“The ranch is having a hoedown. He wanted to come with me and meet everyone, but he’s in charge there. I’ll probably stop by the ranch when I leave here, but it’s hard with Dorothy.” She frowned.
“You okay, J?” Danielle asked.
She bit her lower lip. “I quit my job.”
“What?” Kat asked.
Danielle looked at her.
She told them all about Evan’s restructuring nightmare. “I can’t work for someone like that. Not in good conscience. I can’t. So, I quit.”
“What are you going to do?” Kat asked.
She shrugged. “I don’t know, actually. I also put the house up for sale.”
Danielle hugged her. “It’ll be okay.”
Jamie pulled away. “It has to be. Right? Sunday, I’m taking Dorothy over to that Vineyard Escape. I hear it’s a great retirement community, but I have to go and talk to my brother-in-law again. He’s such a cheapskate but I know I can’t afford a retirement community. Sure, I can get another job, but Maddie and I are going to have to downsize quite a bit.”
“I might have a temporary job for you,” Danielle said.
“I don’t need a handout, but thank you.”
“No, I’m serious. The Harvest Festival is sneaking up a little too quick for comfort. I’m supposed to have people lined up to do a television spot for a commercial. I’m terrible in front of the camera, and you know so much about wine.”
“You’re a winemaker,” Jamie replied.
“I know but what I mean is that you have knowledge not just about wines, but about foods, and beauty treatments, and all sorts of interesting things. You could help me write the spot and if you star in it, there’s a thousand dollars in it for you. I know it’s not much, but it’ll help with moving costs, I’m sure.”
“You should do it, J,” Kat said. “You’re super photogenic. Do it! You never know what might come out of it.”
“You’d be helping me out,” Danielle pleaded.
“Fine. Yes. The money will help with the move. I’ve actually already had an offer on the house.”
They finished making the pitcher of daiquiris and took one back to Dorothy.
“Good timing, ladies. I have to go dig out a pig.” Christian kissed Dorothy on the cheek.
“Always the gentleman. Such a shame you’re gay,” Dorothy said.
“It really is.” Kat winked at him. She glanced
over to see what was going on between her parents. Her mother was polishing off her drink and her dad was now in the pool laughing. Kat sighed, relieved.
Christian was getting Brian and Jeremy out of the pool to help with the pig, and Mark got up to join them. The women followed, curious to see the action. What action it was! Men, heaving and hoeing, grunting and slaving away. The women went to work, putting out the side dishes, plating the shredded pork onto platters, and setting everything up buffet style.
Food, fun, friends on the Fourth. Nothing better.
Jamie wanted to leave so that she could make a quick stop to see Tyler, but Maddie and Amber had been having so much fun that neither one wanted the other to go.
“Can Amber spend the night, Mommy?” Maddie asked.
Kat frowned, knowing then that she wouldn’t see Amber for a few days. She would be leaving for New Orleans in the morning and Amber’s mom would be picking her up and still have her even after Kat returned.
“I think that’s a great idea,” Christian said.
“Thank you, Daddy.” Amber threw her arms around Christian and then Kat. “Thank you Mommy Kat.” Her heart melted yet again.
She put some things together for Amber and sent her off. She hated to see her go, even if it was with Jamie. It was the same feeling she’d had for years every time the Sperm Donor would pick up the boys—a combination of fear and a slight sense of loneliness.
Some of the guests had left already and Kat scanned the area for her mom and dad and Jeremy, but couldn’t find them. Christian took her hand. “I get you all to myself tonight.”
She smiled, thinking all she wanted to do was climb into her bed and get some sleep. After putting on a big party, and now having to still finish packing, the last thing she had on her mind was romance.
The sun started to set, so everyone climbed up to the top of the hill behind the house to watch the fireworks. Kat and Christian sat with Danielle and Mark.
“Was Cassie in the movie room with the other kids?” Kat asked.
“I don’t know. Come to think of it, the last I saw her, she was back in the pool swimming after dinner.”
“So was Jer,” Christian said.
Danielle and Kat eyed each other.
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