“Well, thank you.”
“Okay, I have something else.”
“Nathan, no way. The necklace is enough. I’m going to start to feel self-conscience if I wear anymore jewelry. I have my ginormous wedding ring already and then this necklace. That’s enough.”
“This isn't ginormous or flashy in any way.”
He brings out a golden ring that has both rubies and diamonds embedded within the band. There aren’t any center stones, just a band of red and white. I can tell that this is a newer piece. “It’s so pretty. It looks delicate.”
“It was my mother’s. This was the first piece of jewelry I bought her. When I entered the military, I used almost my entire first paycheck to buy it. I never felt right about buying her something like this with the money I had growing up. It felt like I was using her money to buy her something.”
“Wow, it’s beautiful. I bet she loved it.”
“She never took it off. From the moment, she put it on until the moment they closed her casket she wore it.”
“Why wasn’t she buried with it then if it meant that much to her?”
“She told me that she didn’t want its beauty to be wasted on the dirt of her grave. She wanted its elegance to continue to shine on the finger of the woman who I’m going to spend the rest of my life with.”
“And, that’s me?”
“And that’s you.”
*********
It took us an hour to drive out to Nathan’s family’s estate, well I guess to Natalie’s house. The sun was just beginning to set behind the trees that lined the property. Nathan explained to me on the drive over that the estate was originally forty-seven acres of equestrian property, but over the years they purchased the surrounding land, and it now spreads over one hundred and thirty acres. The house is all original. There are guest houses and other buildings that have either been added or renovated over the past one hundred years.
My father’s ranch has been in the family since before the Civil War. Over the years, it had been handed down to the first born of each family. I’m sure when I was born, and my father’s younger siblings realized that I would be the one to inherit the land, it didn’t sit well with them. I’m not money hungry or power thirsty so when my father passed, I knew what the right thing to do was to allow my uncles and their sons to run everything. It’s still under my control, I just allow them to take care of the day to day operations. What do I know about cattle or oil anyway? It might have been different if my mother didn’t insist my father relocate. Maybe if I had been raised on the ranch and gotten to know what ranching was all about, I might have felt the need to go into business and not health care. Now, I’m a total fish out of water in my own family’s business.
We pull through the iron gates. Both the gates and the stone pillars that hold the gates are adorned with a very bold and unique ‘W’. The drive to the main house isn’t that long. It seems most of the property is on either side or the back of the house. “This is where yous lived Nafin?”
“Yes, Bear.”
“Whens yous was widdle?”
“Yes.”
“You got to run all around here. Did you have doggies when you were little?”
“Yep. I took off running as fast as I could, and my dogs would chase me. They were great playmates.”
“I bet.” Both of the girls continue to stare as we pull around to the side of the house skipping the valet areas altogether. Nathan pushes a button near his visor, and one of the bay doors begin to roll up.
“There wasn’t a need for a garage when the house was first built. As the family started collecting cars, one of my great uncles had the free standing garage built. It actually took the place of the front stables. Once the automotive came along the need for horses dwindled, so the stables are now behind the garage, further down the way.”
We exit the car, and I grab Amanda while Nathan makes sure Addie is out and steady on her crutches. She sure has gotten better over the past few days. The penthouse is so open and spacious she’s been able to practice till she’s just about perfect.
We walk along a walkway that brings us to the side of the house where there are hundreds of staff in white uniforms hustling about. “I’m sure my sister has the tents and everything off to the side of the house. There is a huge garden and piece of flat grass. Our childhood tree house and a conservatory are over that way too. The room is completely constructed out of windows, from the walls to the ceilings. It was my mother’s favorite room. She was able to enjoy the magnificence of her garden any time during the year whether it was snowing or sunny; that room made you feel like you were standing outside. I remember she would sit there for hours while my sister and I would run about on the grass, play in the playhouse, and tree house. Of course, Natalie called it her tree palace while I said it was a fort.”
We enter the side of the house and into a large kitchen. People were busy getting trays of hors d'oeuvres ready while others looked busy cooking the actual dinner. “Wow, I would think that everything would have been cooked off site and then trucked in.”
“No, my mother never did it that way. She welcomed whoever was catering into our home and let them use the facilities. Her events were really the only time it was used. There is a smaller kitchen on the other side of the house that she usually used. My mother wanted everything to be as fresh as possible. Natalie has continued the tradition.”
Nathan stops and asks if anyone had seen the lady of the house and they directed us to the study. We continued through the house, and I couldn’t believe the beauty of it all. There were open beamed rooms with cathedral ceilings. Huge stone fireplaces and hearths seemed to be the center of almost every room. I guess they needed them before they had the convenience of central heating and cooling. “Along there are the stairs that lead to the sleeping quarters. The main bedrooms are all upstairs, plus a few other rooms my mother used for sewing and crafting. There is also a small theater upstairs as well, but the larger theater is just along the back hallway. All the guest rooms are downstairs, and there are a couple of offices and a library downstairs too.”
“This sure is a big house, Nathan. Didn’t you get lost when you were little?”
“I think I may have a time or two. Come, Auntie Nat should be right around this corner.”
There she was, sitting behind her desk busily writing on some note cards. “Hey, Nat.” She looks up when we enter the room.
“Well hot damn, you make a seriously gorgeous looking family. I’m proud to call you mine. Give your Auntie some loves girls.” She gets up from her desk and wraps her arms around both girls. “How are you guys getting along with this oaf over here?” He flicks her thumb over to Nathan.
“Good.” They both say.
I think they’ve been getting along better than good, better than great. This week the three of them have totally bonded. They are like three peas in a pod. If they aren’t in their playroom, then they are sitting next to Nathan constantly hugging on him and making sure they’re close to him at all times. He had to push me out the door to run my errands alone, just so he could have alone time with his girls. Amanda is now Mandy, and Addie is Adds.
“I have to admit, he is a natural.”
“Thank you, love. So what are you doing in here? Aren’t you supposed to be sweetening up all those deep pockets out there? There looks to be a drone of cars already. Another hit, I’m sure.”
“Yes, I was just writing down some ideas and points that I want to make in my speech tonight. I need all those deep pockets to understand what their money is helping out.”
“I want to donate, Natalie. In fact, I have a check here from Jacobs Cattle and Oil for fifteen thousand dollars. I hope that gets the ball rolling.” I pull the check from my purse.
“You don’t have to do that Laney.”
“Of course I do. This is the first time that I have taken it upon myself to donate anything in my family’s name. This means a lot Natalie, I would like for you to take it.”
“Of course not, I plan on donating fifteen thousand and one tonight.”
Natalie rolls her eyes, “Good lord Nate,”
“What?” He questions her.
“Come on, let’s get outside and see if the party has started.”
The girls and I follow behind Nathan and Natalie. “The house is so gorgeous Natalie.”
“Well, that would all be because of my mother. I haven’t really changed anything about the house since Nate gave it to me. It is quite lonely here all by myself, most of the time I stay in my apartment in the city. This house is just too big for one person.”
“Where does your father live? I figured he would still be here in the family home.”
“My father,” Nathan cuts in, “really stopped living here a couple of years before my mother got sick. Yes, technically this was his home, but he kept himself busy in the city and rarely made the drive out.”
“Let’s not forget Nathan; how he tried to move back in once mother had passed. It seemed that the drive didn’t bother him once mom was gone.”
“It was something else seeing him turn red in the face when I told him he was no longer welcomed in my home. He acted like I cut him off from all the money and never looked back. He spouted so many bullshit logics at me trying to convince me why he belonged in the house. Why the house and all the land was his and not mine.”
“Yes, father didn’t take any of that too well did he?”
“Is he coming tonight?”
“I’m assuming he is. When have you known him to miss something like this? It’s you who normally doesn’t do these hoity-toity type of things.”
“Yes, well I guess we all have to grow up sometime.”
“Not a better time like the present. It’s show time.”
We step out of the house into a mass of people impeccably dressed. The women are all wearing gorgeous gowns, and the men are dressed in very dashing tuxedos. I look over to Nathan, who is dressed in all black. His black tux is over a black shirt and black silk tie. The only color is a red splotch of satin that sits in his breast pocket. I think I may have underdressed for the evening. This is truly my first charity event. My father never dragged me to these things and my mother never offered to take me, even as I become an adult. This has never been my scene.
As we continue to make our way through the crowds, we keep tight hands on the girls who are walking next to us. Natalie walks off to a group of men who are talking amongst themselves. The more people stare at us, the more I begin to feel that maybe this wasn’t such a great idea. I should have stayed home with the girls while Nathan came to support his sister. I have never been good with all this attention, and I’m not certain I ever will be. “You look gorgeous, love. Don’t even start to think you don’t measure up, or you don’t belong. You belong here more than most of these people do.”
“I don’t know Nathan, I think I feel like I’m going to be sick. I don’t want to have to answer any questions about us, or our marriage.”
“Then don’t. Don’t try to be someone you aren’t. Especially because of these people. I could give a rat’s ass what any of these people think. The only people I care about are you, the girls and my sister. Everyone else can take a flying fuck for all I care.”
“The opinions of others are important Nathan, especially when you hold such a powerful name. When will you learn that?” I can feel Nathan tense as he turns around.
“I’ve learned a long time ago father, that I can’t live my life worrying what everyone thinks of me.”
“Perhaps you need to remind yourself who should be important in your life. Then you will realize it’s those people whose opinions matter.” He turns to me. I can feel Amanda grip my hand. “You must be the lady who is stirring up all the hype among the press. The one to finally wrangle my untouchable son. Joseph Riley, a pleasure to meet you.”
“Laney Richards, Mr. Riley, Laney Richards-Whitmore.” I extend my hand for him to shake, but before his father can reach for it, Nathan takes it and intertwines his fingers in mine.
“Yes, I see. Aren’t you missing a name in there?”
“Well, I no longer use my maiden name, sir. I don’t see why spouting that I’m a Jacobs helps me be a better person, mother or wife.”
“I was talking about the Riley name. If you have married my son, then my surname should be included in the long list of last names you have accumulated.” He is a piece of work.
“There’s no need for that father, as there is no need for me to carry it anymore. Whitmore is more than suitable.”
“Yes, well you have always found a way to discredit me as your father. Why would I think you would allow my name to carry on into your marriage?” His eyes rake over my body. “Now I know what all the hype is though. You are ravishing, simply gorgeous.” He gives me a wink while Nathan bring his arm protectively around me bring, me closer to him. “And I see that you have already adorned her with the family’s jewelry.”
“My mother’s jewelry.”
“Yes, well nice choice. The tassel of that necklace sits perfectly between her glorious breasts.
“Are yous Nafin’s daddy?” Amanda asks.
He looks down at Amanda, “Yes I am, and who might you be?”
“Her name’s Amanda and I’m Adele. Does that mean you’re our grandpa?”
“I guess it does, yes. You ladies are very pretty. You take right after your mother in the looks department don’t you?”
“Don’t father. You aren’t their family. I may not have a choice in the matter, but they sure as hell do.” I put my hand on Nathan’s arm hoping to calm him a bit.
“But we don’t have a grandpa, Nathan.” Adele sounds hurt.
“I know pretty lady, but sometimes it’s better not to have one at all than to have one that isn’t worth anything. This one will only disappoint you, and I don’t want you to ever be disappointed.”
“Oh Joseph, there you are.” Her voice was deep with a slight rasp to it. By the feel of Nathan’s fingers digging into my shoulder, I didn’t have to guess who it was. Looking over to her I didn’t miss the hatred that shown brightly in her eyes.
I should have guessed they would have been here together. My father lives to torment me. You would think by now I would have learned my lesson and thrown his ass out on the streets as soon as the first shovel of dirt was thrown on my mother’s grave. But as much as I loath him, and as much as he has hurt me, and as much pain he has caused my sister, it’s the love my mother had for him that keeps him living the life he is accustomed to. If she had ever once conveyed to me any disdain she had towards him, then he would have been long many years ago, but she never did. She made excuses for him. She blamed his upbringing, the lack of love his parents showed him. She would always tell me that if he were loved as a child then he would have loved as an adult. You can’t do something you have no knowledge of. I call bullshit. He knows how to love power and money, so his lack of love towards his family is something that I can’t comprehend.
I know I’m probably hurting Laney because I can’t bring myself to loosen my grip on her. I’m afraid if I do, then she’ll disappear. “Oh Nathan, I didn’t see you there.” Diane stares at me completely ignoring my wife and girls.
“I find that hard to believe Diane. You’re internally built to seek out money, and since I’m the wealthiest man in the room, I’m sure your gold digging senses were in overdrive.”
“Your lack of personality completely makes something that is so amazing to look at, totally rotten, do you know that?”
“Ah, well since I rather you didn’t look at me, I’ll just keep up my winning personality when it pertains to you. Come on love, let’s find you better company.”
I go to pick up Addie so we can make better time when I feel a hand on my shoulder. “Love, did you say? So you call her love as well. I shou
ld be hurt, Nathan. I thought that was my pet name you gave me. Better to give her a pet name rather than try to remember her actual given name. That’s understandable though seeing as you have only known each other for like two seconds.”
“Please don’t cause a scene and make yourself look more pitiful than you already have. There was never a time that I called you love or any other pet name. Our relationship was far from the point in which pet names were used. Maybe you were thinking of my father.”
Ignoring my words she turns to Laney. “So you’re the one who took what was mine then. Nice to meet you in person. Laney is it? You know what they say, the camera adds ten pounds. Unfortunately this time it seems the camera’s caught you right on point. Sad really, to let yourself go. I mean being a mother doesn’t mean you have to completely stop trying.”
“Aw, and you must be Diane. I can tell by my husband’s description. What was it that you said Nathan? Desperate, pancaked makeup, on too-Botox skin; oh yes, and who insists on using dollar store bleach for her hair. It seems he was spot on. Now I’m more than convinced the horror stories he also told me were accurate. I was kinda giving you the benefit of the doubt. I don’t think I have ever met anyone so desperate.”
“Coming from someone who forgets I had him first.”
“You along with every other woman in New York. You see Diane, I know of my husband’s less than stellar years. But really, it must have been unfortunate for you when you got the news that this gorgeous man and all of his money was out of your reach for good. It was probably even more unfortunate knowing that you were only left with an older, saggier version of Nathan while I get to keep the real deal.”
“You forget Laney,”
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