by Hannah Ford
“I’m coming,” he whispered in her ear.
And she felt that too.
***
Nicole didn’t get back to her apartment until just before five the next morning. She’d slept most of the plane ride back, but it wasn’t truly restful sleep. Her eyes burned, her calves and knees ached, and she wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed for the next seven hours.
The thought of her own warm bed, her soft blanket and pillow, was nearly too much to bear. But the last thing she wanted was a repeat of the other time she’d gone in late to work after a night out with Red.
So she jumped in the shower instead, changed into her work clothes, put on makeup, and brewed herself a cup of extra strong coffee before she left.
She arrived at work by seven and had yet another cup of coffee. She wasn’t really awake, but she was wired enough to fake it now.
Work was brutal. Remi was giving her more and more to do on the cowboy account, which was great, but demanding.
She finished up by seven that evening and left for home. Throughout the day, she’d gotten four or five texts from Red. They were sweet little reminders that he was thinking of her. She smiled each time she got one.
All she could think about on the train ride home was how badly she wanted to go to sleep.
The bed was calling to her, like a lighthouse calling out to a ship on a foggy night.
She trudged up the steps to her apartment, got out her keys, and that’s when she heard voices—voices inside her apartment.
Those voices—she knew them.
“Oh my god,” she whispered. It was her parents, all the way up from Syracuse.
For an instant, she considered running away—literally. Just taking off and going somewhere for the night, avoiding them entirely. What were they doing here, completely unannounced? Whatever it was, she was to done in from the last twenty-four hours to deal with them.
But she had no choice. She couldn’t just run away from this.
She entered her apartment and smiled.
Everyone stared at her.
Danielle, her mother and father. None of them smiled back. And that’s when her stomach sank.
“Nicole,” her mother said, “we need to talk to you.”
“Can I at least get a hug?” Nicole asked, holding out her arms. Her mother and father each hugged her, but she could tell they were troubled. Upset with her.
She glanced at Danielle, and her roommate looked away. She had something to do with this—that much was clear.
“To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?” Nicole said, grinning to hide her rising anger.
“We’re concerned about you,” her father said. He was dressed, as always, in tight blue jeans and a blue linen work shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He was a blue-collar guy who was the head mechanic at Jolson’s Auto Repair on Route 32.
Her mother was an administrative assistant at an office supplies store in Fulton. She always wore her heart on her sleeve, and tonight was no different. The tightness in her lips and jaw were the telltale signs that she was incredibly distraught.
“What are you guys concerned about?” Nicole said. “I don’t know what you’ve heard exactly,” she remarked, glancing at Danielle for emphasis, “but I’m doing fine. Great, actually.”
“Sleeping with your boss isn’t doing fine,” her mother said archly.
Her father grunted his agreement.
“Who said I was sleeping with my boss?”
Danielle sighed. “Look, Nicole, I’m sorry I called your parents. But I didn’t know what else to do. You’ve been sneaking around, lying to me—“
Nicole laughed. “I wonder why.”
“The point is,” Nicole’s mother interrupted, “you’re being taken advantage of by a predatory person. You’re a very young girl, just out of college—“
“I’m twenty-two and old enough to make my own decisions.”
Her father put his hands out. “Now everyone just calm down a little.” As usual, nobody listened to his pleas for calm.
“You might be twenty-two, but we’re still paying for your apartment,” her mother shot back.
Nicole pursed her lips. She’d known that she would regret accepting their help with rent. She’d tried to turn them down before moving here, but inside she’d known that getting started in the city would be too difficult without some financial assistance in the beginning.
“Now listen, Nicky,” her father said, walking toward her. “We’re not mad at you. It’s this James character I want a word with.”
Oh my god. James character.
“His name is Red Jameson,” she said. “You might want to at least know his name before you tar and feather him.”
Her mother shook her head. “Nobody said anything about tarring and feathering.”
“People meet people through work,” Nicole said. “It happens all of the time.”
“Not like this,” her mother said.
“How would you know?” she asked, her anger boiling over. “Through all your exciting years at the office supplies store? Working with the twelve different employees?”
Her mother’s eyes flashed. “Do not speak to me that way. I am your mother.”
“You have no right to barge into my apartment—“
“That we pay for—“
“—And tell me how to live my life. You never even bothered to ask me what was going on. You just listened to my obnoxious roommate.”
“Screw you,” Danielle said, and stormed into her bedroom, slamming the door.
Everyone fell silent for a bit.
Nicole took a breath. “I know you’re worried for me, but I swear I’m fine.”
Her mother was still furious. “Do you truly think this man is going to commit to you? He’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing. I’ve read about him. Article after article reports him with a different young female celebrity on his arm.”
“Half of that stuff is made up,” she muttered.
“And you believe you’re different than the other girls?” Her mother laughed humorlessly. “You’ll be used up and tossed aside like the rest, when he’s grown tired of you. And then you’ll likely be let go from your job, and your reputation will be ruined.”
“You’ve got it all figured out,” Nicole said, already exhausted. Her mother was notoriously tireless when it came to these things. She would never cede any ground.
Her dad, always the peacekeeper, stepped in. “We just want you to reconsider this affair.”
“I love him.”
Her parents exchanged a particularly worried look.
“I know you think that you love him,” her father started.
“But you’re too young and inexperienced to even begin to know what the word means,” her mother finished.
“I’m not going to stop seeing him,” Nicole said.
“Then you’ll continue this insanity on your own dime,” her mother replied. Her lips were white. “And I mean it. I’ve already taken everything out of the checking account.”
“I have my own money in there, too!” Nicole said. A lot of it, in fact. Well over two thousand dollars she’d saved throughout college.
Her mother shrugged. “Be that as it may—“
Nicole’s voice raised another notch. “What does that mean? You think stealing from your daughter is a good example of business ethics?”
“Don’t be silly.”
“Fine. Do what you want,” Nicole told her. “But I’m not changing my mind. And I’d like you both to leave now. Please.”
“Nicky,” her dad said, his voice horribly sad.
“No, dad. I’m tired. I don’t want to talk anymore.”
They didn’t hug goodbye. Her mother left first. Her father came back and grabbed Nicole’s hand lightly. “We just want what’s best for you,” he said. “Don’t be so hard on her.”
“She thinks she can just steamroll me.”
“I know she’s not always delicate, but she loves you.”
“I know that.”
He smiled and left.
***
The next morning she awoke before her alarm was set to go off. She’d been tired enough last night to fall almost immediately asleep, despite the whole drama with her mom and dad.
But now, bleary eyed and semi-conscious, her stomach was in knots. The fact was, she couldn’t afford to live in this apartment without their assistance. Assistance? They were paying her entire rent.
It was only a few months after graduation and they’d told her she had somewhere around eight to twelve months grace period before she would be expected to pay her own way completely.
But that was gone, now. Unless she tucked her tail between her legs and promised to end things with Red, which wasn’t going to happen.
Of course, if she couldn’t stay in the city anyway, Nicole supposed she’d have to break things off with him. Where would she go?
Perhaps to stay with her good friend Eliza, who had a place outside of Ithaca where Nicole could crash for awhile.
She texted Red before even getting out from under the covers.
We need to talk ASAP.
Surprisingly he responded almost immediately.
Meet me in thirty minutes at Norma’s at Le Parker Meridien, West 57th. I’ll pay for your cab fare.
Nicole had heard of Norma’s, a swanky upscale breakfast spot that was supposed to have the best pancakes in the universe.
She sent Red a response in the affirmative, got out of bed and hopped in the shower.
Twenty minutes later, they were sitting down at one of the small two person tables in Norma’s fancy breakfast nook. The entire restaurant was located in the lobby of the Parker Meridien Hotel. Everyone was very chic, and there were a lot of rich tourists. Foreigners with their kids all dressed up like they’d just stepped out of a Carter’s catalog.
Red looked fabulous and impeccable, as always. He was wearing a silvery-gray suit, with a dark purple and black striped tie. His hair was rich and full, his eyes handsome and dark, and he sported a sexy five-o’clock shadow without looking tired.
Nicole had thrown on a black Polo waist-belt dress and silver colored high heels. Her hair was draped over one shoulder and she’d taken her Prada purse along, considering where they were eating.
“So, what did you need to talk to me about?” Red asked, after they’d ordered coffee from their flamboyant waiter.
Nicole sighed. “I told you, you shouldn’t have gone to my apartment.”
His expression grew concerned. “What did she do?”
“Called my parents, freaked them out about you.”
He laughed at this. “Who am I, Saddam Hussein?”
“My parents aren’t sophisticated,” she said, as the waiter brought over two mugs of dark coffee and the pot with them.
Red glanced at him. “Thanks very much,” he muttered, distracted. He held the cream toward her. “Would you like some?”
“Yes, just a splash, thanks.”
He poured cream into her mug, which she found endearing, then just about the same amount in his own. “So your parents are worried. It happens.”
“It’s not that simple,” she said, a little frustrated that he didn’t seem to get how serious this really was. But then again, why would he? Red Jameson was a billionaire who was far removed from needing his parents to help him make rent every month.
“So explain to me what the problem is. Nicole. Look at me.”
She met his gaze, and he reassured her with a kind look. His large hand reached out and covered hers.
“I’m an intern in New York City,” she said. “Think about it.”
She saw his expression change as he realized what she meant. “They’re threatening you?”
“They’re not just threatening. My mother follows through on her threats. She’s already taken every dime out of my checking account, some of which wasn’t hers to take.”
“She can do that?”
“It’s a joint account,” Nicole said, ashamed to even say it. She felt like such a child.
“Then you have absolutely no money left.”
She sipped the coffee. It really was the best coffee she’d ever tasted, though she could barely appreciate it under the circumstances. “I have some cash that I keep under my mattress for emergencies.”
“And how long will that last?”
“Maybe five or six days if I stretch every penny. I’m finished in New York unless I stop seeing you.”
Red’s expression darkened. “That’s ridiculous. What do they even know about me? They’ve never met me.”
She had to smile at his indignant reaction. “They know you’re my boss—well, you’re everyone’s boss. You run the entire company and I’m just an intern.”
“I suppose there’s an imbalance of power there,” he allowed reluctantly.
“And they know you’re older than me.”
“A ten year age difference isn’t exactly mind-blowing these days.”
“Also, my mother did some sort of web search and saw all the ladies the tabloids have you associated with. It’s quite a list.”
“Christ.” He sat back in his seat, somewhat taken aback. “I guess it looks pretty bad from that angle.”
“Pretty much from every angle.” She smiled at him.
“Not funny.”
“I’m sorry. I just—“ Her eyes teared up. “I don’t want to leave the city. Or you.”
“And you don’t have to.”
She sniffled. The waiter came back and asked for their breakfast order, oblivious to the crying girl at the table. Red ordered for both of them, of course. Eggs Benedict for him and the stuffed French toast for her. She was happy with his choice.
After the waiter left, she managed to get herself together. “I think I’ll go stay with my friend in Ithaca. It’s not that far from here.” She looked at him, trying to discern whether the move meant the end for them in his mind.
He shook his head. “No way. I’m not going to lose you. I want to meet your parents.”
***
“My house is a little different from the mansions and luxury apartments you’re used to,” she said to Red as they neared her parents’ neighborhood just outside of Syracuse.
“I didn’t grow up wealthy,” he said. “I probably had less money than you growing up. In fact, I know I did.”
“Still, you’ve gotten used to the good life.”
“I can rub elbows with the commoners too,” he joked. He was definitely taking it seriously though. He’d dressed down completely, wearing loose fitting jeans, work boots, and a light gray sweater that he could have bought at Target (but probably had purchased for $300 at Burberry).
It was strange to be back home, especially under these circumstances, with someone like Red as her date.
Everything looked so small now, so desperately in need of upkeep and repairs. All of the houses looked the same—ranches side by side with just a little bit of lawn, sometimes a chain link fence separating them. Old used cars in the driveways. Roofs needed new shingles and chimneys had bricks falling off them. Cars were up on blocks in the middle of lawns.
But Red didn’t care, or so he claimed. He had his game face on.
She’d warned him that her parents—particularly her mother—would refuse to like him no matter how charming or gracious he was today. In fact, the only reason her parents had agreed to host this little cookout was because of Nicole’s dad.
He very rarely put his foot down about anything, but when he did, her mother listened. And he’d insisted that they at least meet Red before hating him officially.
So now it was a cool Sunday afternoon and they were parking in front of her parents’ house. At least their home looked neat and well tended. Dad always took care of the lawn; he enjoyed it. The backyard was big enough to have a grill on the deck and a badminton net too.
There were others here already. Why they’d insisted on inviting other people, she could only guess. Nicole had been
angry when they told her there would be neighbors and cousins and the like. This was supposed to be a chance for Red and her parents to get to know one another, and now it would be difficult for them to really talk.
She could see people around back, sitting in lawn chairs, smoking cigars, drinking beer, talking and laughing. Some old classic rock station was playing on dad’s radio.
This was a familiar scene, and Nicole had to admit it brought back mostly good memories from her childhood.
“Here we go,” she said, and Red grabbed her hand and they walked to the backyard together.
Everyone stopped and stared. It was worse than she’d feared.
Luckily, The Beatles were still blaring from the radio, so it wasn’t total silence. And then her Uncle Joe was waddling over with his hand outstretched. “Hey, I’m Joe,” he said in his thick New York accent. “You must be the rich guy everyone’s blabbing about.”
This broke the ice, and everyone started to laugh, including Red. “I guess that’s me. Nice to meet you.”
Someone handed him a beer. People crowded around, introducing themselves, asking ridiculous questions about who he knew, had he ever met Jack Nicholson, what was LeBron like in person?
Red handled it all in style, charming the crowd with humorous encounters he’d had over the years.
But her mother and father just hung back and watched. Finally, after some of the hyperactivity among the partygoers died down, Nicole’s dad came up and said, “I’m Bud, Nicole’s father.”
Red had met his gaze and the two of them shook hands firmly. Something seemed to pass unspoken between them, but Nicole couldn’t be sure just what. It was a guy thing, one of those subtle male body language communications that women would never understand.
Maybe it was just her dad’s way of asserting himself, but Red seemed to purposely become less imposing, less dominating, not wanting to offend her dad or make him feel small.
And then mom was there, her arms folded. “Hello, I’m Barb.”
“Hi Barb, very pleased to meet you,” Red said.