Unable to contain her joy, Gina booted up the computer and kicked off her shoes as she clicked on some Motown to listen to while she created what she was sure would be a masterpiece.
****
The day was bittersweet. Gina appreciated that William and Monica wanted to throw her a farewell dinner but the thought of leaving the people who she considered family was harder than she ever imagined it would be.
“I can’t believe you opted for a barbecue,” Maggie said, handing Gina a glass of iced tea.
Gina shrugged. “To you a barbecue is no big deal but for me? This is a treat. We never barbecue back home; my mother thinks that it’s uncivilized to eat with your hands.” She burst out laughing and Maggie joined her.
“It’s amazing that you are as normal as you are. Every time you tell me another tale from your life in California, I cringe.”
“You get used to it.” Looking up she saw Emma walking toward her with Lily in her arms. Without hesitation, she scooped the infant up and cuddled her close. “I think I’m going to miss you most of all,” she whispered to Lily and placed a kiss on her tiny head. She missed the look exchanged between the two Montgomery women.
“I know I said it earlier but Lucas and I are just thrilled with the painting you did for Lily. It’s just…spectacular. I can’t even believe that I know someone this talented!”
Gina had done a whimsical painting with teddy bears and butterflies. It wasn’t that she was being original; she was following the small theme she noticed that Emma had started in the nursery. “I’m so glad that you like it; if you want me to change anything or if you’d rather have something else, please tell me. I won’t be offended.”
Emma rolled her eyes. “Please. It’s perfect; absolutely perfect. I know exactly where I want it hung and I already told Lucas that he was taking care of that as soon as we get home tonight.” She reached out and gently stroked her daughter’s head. “Promise me that you’re going to come back and visit. I want you to see where your masterpiece is hanging.”
There was a moment of hesitation on Gina’s part. She had barely come to grips with leaving; would she ever be able to come back? Rather than commit to it outright, she did her best to sound encouraging yet vague. “I would love that.”
“So you’re all packed?” Emma asked and Gina nodded. “Is there anything that you need help with? A ride to the airport?”
“William and Monica are driving me there and I’ll be flying out with Jason and Maggie on the company plane.”
“Well that’s new information,” Emma said with delight. “When did this happen?”
“Maggie called me yesterday; she knew I was procrastinating on booking my flight home and with her and Jason flying out to California anyway, it just made sense.” She smiled at her friends. “It will be nice to travel with some familiar faces.”
“I’m sure.” Emma looked at Maggie, her grin wide. “That was a great idea.”
“Well,” Maggie began, “it was a little selfish on my part. I’m hoping that we’ll have the chance to visit with each other a little more and that Gina can show us around while we’re there. Jason will be in meetings a lot of the time and now I’ll have someone to sight-see with!”
Gina didn’t want to admit that it was a little selfish on her part, as well. With the distraction of Jason and Maggie, she wouldn’t be spending so much time at home being spoon-fed a guilt trip at the hands of her mother.
“It’s just hamburgers and hot dogs for crying out loud!” they heard Lucas yell from behind them. “It doesn’t take three men to man a grill!” The women laughed and watched as Lucas did his best to shoo his father and Jason aside. “Amazingly enough, you don’t seem too anxious to help when I’m grilling steaks.”
“There’s an art to this,” Jason argued. “That’s all I’m saying.” The women turned back around and decided to let the men argue amongst themselves. No one mentioned the fact that there was one Montgomery man missing. Gina wasn’t sure if Mac’s absence was intentional or not or if he was even invited but she wasn’t going to let herself go there. Today she was going to focus on the friends who were here around her and enjoy the day.
“So what are your plans for when you get home?” Emma asked. “Other than sight-seeing with Maggie.”
They all laughed again and Gina knew she was going to miss this; it had been a long time since she just had girlfriends to hang out and have fun with. “I think that I’m going to actually travel a little bit. There are some places that I’ve always wanted to go and now, thanks to my father and his generosity, I’ll be able to take the time off and not have to worry.” She smiled sadly at all she was gaining and at what cost. “I think that I want to go someplace warm and tropical first.”
“Ooh, maybe a cruise?” Maggie suggested.
“No, cruises don’t do it for me; I want to be on the beach and sleep with the sound of the waves crashing on the shore.” She sighed. “I’m thinking Hawaii or Fiji.”
“You can’t go wrong with either of those places,” Emma sighed. “I’ll have to live vicariously through you because I think it’s going to be a long time before Lucas and I can go on a vacation alone together.”
“Yes, but you have this beautiful baby girl to make up for it. I’d trade that for a vacation any day of the week,” Gina replied. “Plus you never know; you’re blessed with wonderful in-laws who, I am sure, would love an opportunity to babysit for you if you and Lucas wanted a little time away.”
“Not to mention a brother and sister-in-law who would gladly help out, too,” Maggie added.
“See?” Gina said with a nod. “Blessed.”
“Don’t I know it,” Emma said and stepped forward as Lily started to fuss. “I think she’s hungry.” She headed back toward the house and Maggie and Gina followed. They all settled in the family room and Monica soon joined them.
“I cannot believe that they are still out there fighting about how to grill a hot dog; this isn’t brain surgery,” Monica said, laying her head back on the sofa. “My children are grown men who still act like children.” There was a comfortable silence as Emma settled in to nurse Lily. “So Gina, are you all packed and ready to go home?”
“I’m packed; not sure that I’m ready,” she admitted. “Actually, I have to meet with the realtor for dad’s house later this afternoon but that was the last bit of business that I have to deal with in person. After that, it’s all stuff I can do over the phone or by mail.”
“What time do you have to meet them?” Emma asked. “Do we need to rush the men along?”
“No; I’m not meeting Robin until around five.” She looked over at Maggie. “I was hoping that you’d take the ride with me. I’d rather not do this alone; I’m afraid I’ll get overwhelmed. I need someone with me to keep me on task.”
“I am just the girl to do it!” Maggie assured her as she reached out and squeezed Gina’s hand. “We’ll eat and help clean up and then head over to the house and by the time we get back it will be time for dessert.” She turned to Emma. “Please tell me that you brought something with chocolate with you?”
“Don’t I always?”
****
The drive over to Arthur’s house was filled with conversation and Gina was happy for the distraction. Once they pulled in the driveway and she saw the “For Sale” sign, a wave of sadness washed over her.
“Oh my gosh!” Maggie said in awe. “This is your father’s house?”
Gina nodded. “That’s why we’re here, remember?”
They climbed out of the car and Maggie stood, mouth gaping, looking at the modern Tudor-style home. She walked from one end of the front of the house to the other while Gina greeted her realtor, Robin. Gina called out to Maggie. “We’re heading inside; are you coming?” Maggie nodded anxiously and followed them through the front door.
“As you know,” Robin began, we’ll be going through and taking pictures of the entire house and property to put up on the website. I know that you worked hard to c
lear out all of your father’s personal belongings and anything that you didn’t want and I cannot thank you enough for being so efficient.”
“There was no point in putting it off,” Gina said, trying her best to remember that this was a good thing that she was doing.
“We’ll do probably about two dozen photos of the outside and focus on the architecture: steeply pitched gables, large stone chimney, tall narrow windows arranged in pairs, decorative half-timbering against stucco surface…then we’ll go in to great detail on the property itself. It really is spectacular with the acreage and the pond in the back.”
Maggie cleared her throat. “Um…what, what is the acreage?”
“You’re looking at about seven acres total. The view out the back is just breathtaking and you can see it all through the massive windows and glass doors that Arthur had custom made for the entire rear of the house. And what makes it even more appealing is that there are no homes behind you on the other side of the pond. That’s a wildlife preserve and it will never be built on. Whoever buys this property is going to love the privacy.”
Robin turned her attention back to Gina but noticed that Maggie was lingering at the foot of the stairs. “You can go up,” she suggested. “There are five bedrooms upstairs but the master is down here on the first floor.”
Before Gina could stop her, Maggie excused herself and ran up the stairs. She smiled and looked at Robin. “I knew she’d love this place; that’s why I brought her along. If you play your cards right, this could be the easiest commission you’ve ever made.”
An hour later they were climbing back into the car. “You didn’t need me here with you at all,” Maggie said suspiciously. “You wanted me to see that house.”
Gina couldn’t deny it. “Well, I knew what you were looking for and I think it would be perfect for you and Jason! I’m right, aren’t I?”
“Of course you’re right. Jason’s been here before and he’s always loved the house. He’s probably on the phone with Robin now getting everything together to make an offer.”
“Whatever you offer, I’ll accept,” Gina said.
“One dollar!” Maggie teased.
Gina laughed. “And I’d take it.”
Maggie smacked her on the arm. “Don’t be ridiculous. This house is your future; you want to travel and be independent. This house is going to make that possible.”
“And I think that my father would be very pleased to know that the house is staying in the family.” True, Arthur Micelli had probably hoped that his daughter would live in the house that he had purchased in hopes of her coming back to live with him, but Gina didn’t want a house that was marred by such sad memories. She knew that Jason and Maggie would make the house their own and fill it with love and children and laughter.
And that made Gina happy. Which is what Arthur had wanted all along.
Chapter Thirteen
Mac was miserable. It was a Sunday and he was at the office when he should have been with his family saying goodbye to Gina. What did it say about him that he blatantly blew her off in favor of work after all that they had shared? Hell, take the physical part of their relationship out of the equation and she was still a dear friend of the family.
He despised himself right now.
There didn’t need to be anyone there to tell him that he was a coward because he already knew it. Gina had been right when she had told him off. Perfect Mackenzie who likes everything neat, tidy and orderly. Great; look where that had gotten him. Sure, everything around him certainly was neat and tidy; hell, he was even dressed in dress slacks and a button down shirt when it was a Sunday and no one was in the office! For years all of this had made him happy. At least he thought that he was happy.
But he wasn’t happy.
Not one damn bit.
Leaning back in his chair with his hands folded behind his head Mac thought about the things that did make him happy.
A gypsy with wide, expressive green eyes.
A petite and curvy woman who danced to the Jackson Five and sang into wooden spoons.
An artist who painted with abandon while wearing cowboy hats.
A woman who loved him that he didn’t deserve.
Running a weary hand over his face he reached for his phone. It was almost nine o’clock on Sunday night and he was sure that everyone had left his parents’ house. His first thought was to call Lucas but with a baby in the house now, Mac was afraid that he’d wake her up. He pressed Jason’s name on his phone and waited.
“You missed one hell of a barbecue,” Jason said by way of greeting. “Don’t ever let Lucas offer to grill hamburgers and hot dogs; apparently there is a right way and a wrong way to grill them and he got it all wrong.”
“Sorry I missed it,” Mac said even though he wasn’t. “Do you have time to talk?”
“Yeah, sure,” Jason said and then whispered something to Maggie. “What’s up?”
“I messed up.”
“No kidding”
“What am I supposed to do? Gina’s ticked off at me; she probably wouldn’t answer the phone if I called her. I blew off the barbecue so you know that mom and dad are going to get on me for that one on top of everything else.”
“I bought a house today,” Jason said, interrupting Mac’s rant.
“Excuse me?”
“Today. Maggie and I bought a house today.”
Mac pinched the bridge of his nose and counted to ten. “What exactly does this have to do with anything?”
“I’m not sure; I’m just stoked about the whole thing and thought you might need a distraction from all of the ranting and kicking yourself.”
“I’m not kicking myself,” Mac grumbled. “Much.”
Jason laughed. “Bro, you are totally kicking yourself right now and you totally should. You messed up in a big way and then, after you did all that, you heaped more on top of it. I’m telling you, it was epic.”
Now Mac was getting angry. “You know, I called you because I thought you could help me but if all you’re going to do is be a jackass…”
“No, no, no…that title, big brother, belongs solely to you.”
“Never freaking mind,” Mac snapped and was about to hang up when he heard Jason yell out.
“Okay, you want me to help you? Then you have to listen. Get out of your own damn head for a little while and maybe you can learn something from me. Okay?”
Mac inhaled sharply. “Okay.”
“Good. So Maggie and I bought this house…”
“Are we back to that again?”
“Aren’t you supposed to be listening?”
“Fine but this better have a point.”
“It does,” Jason assured him. “So we bought this house today. She actually toured it and called me and the next thing I know I’m on the phone with the realtor talking offers and contracts. Now, why would I buy a house that I haven’t seen?”
“Because you’re stupid?”
“Ha, funny. Good to see that there is still a little sense of humor left in you. But no. I bought the house because I trust Maggie. She toured it, she talked to the realtor and it was exactly what we both wanted. We have been looking at houses for months and before that we talked about what we wanted in a house for months. When she saw this place, she knew it was the one.”
“Okay, so now you have a house. I’m still not seeing how this relates to me.”
Jason sighed. “Sometimes you are so thick headed that it’s painful, you know that right? Anyway, there are several ways that this applies to you. First off, there’s trust. Maggie and I trust one another. Some guys would have been pretty ticked off if their wife went off and made an offer on a house without discussing it with them first. I mean, I have to live in the house too, and although she didn’t do it completely without me and I had the final say, I knew that in her mind it was a done deal.”
“Trust,” Mac repeated. “No, that’s not an issue. I trust Gina.”
“Do you? Because it seems to me like yo
u don’t.”
“How could you even say that?”
“You don’t trust her to fit into your world. In your mind she’s going to change and morph into some kind of woman who all of a sudden will realize that you’re a completely annoying control freak and decide to leave. Well, news flash, brother; she’s known you most of her life and knows that you’re a control freak and she still loves you! And, in all of the time the two of you were together, did she once ask you to change?”
“Well, no but…”
“Of course she didn’t,” Jason barreled on. “Okay so trust is number one. Next is communication. Maggie and I had talked about what we wanted in a house and where we wanted to live and sometimes we agreed and sometimes we didn’t but the bottom line is, we talked.”
“Gina and I talked all the damn time!” Mac snapped. “God, I love talking to her; we would sit and talk for hours.”
“Yeah, yeah, you talk but do you actually listen? Do you talk about real things or just generalizations? From what you’ve told me, and that’s not much, it seems to me like you decided from the get-go that this was a short-term relationship and then somewhere along the way, that changed. Did you talk to her about it?”
“Well, no, but she didn’t talk to me about it either!”
“Man are you stupid,” Jason said with disgust. “Do you even hear yourself? Be a man, dammit! So because she didn’t say anything, you couldn’t say anything? You know what that leaves? A whole lot of silence.”
“Fine; I should have told Gina how I felt but the last time we were together I tried talking to her but she wouldn’t listen!”
“Mac, you are my brother and I love you. You are a gifted businessman and you know how to talk to clients and put their minds at ease but on a personal level, you are a mess.”
Stay With Me (The Montgomery Brothers) Page 14