by Lisa Norato
When Mrs. Young had finished speaking, Vera took the microphone once again. “It’s no secret the man responsible for the creation, motivation, and leadership of this wonderful organization is the Reverend Father Anthony Raposa. Year after year, he continues to inspire us to support this worthy cause with his generous and giving spirit. Let’s have a hand for Father Raposa, who would now like to give a few words of thanks.”
As the priest rose humbly from his seat at their table, Rick reached over and gave Jamie’s fingers a squeeze. “That’s my cue,” he said through the applause. “I’m up after the Father. Wish me luck.”
“Good—” she began when he rose and kissed her lips before following Father Raposa across the dance floor to the stage.
Jamie’s hands formed the motion of clapping without actually making a sound. “Good luck, Rick,” she whispered under her breath. Rick had kissed her. And she’d enjoyed it. For a moment their lips had joined and it had felt wonderful, but what was even more startling — his kiss had awakened something within her. She saw it clearly now. Her heart pounded with the excitement of it. She really did care for Richard Damien. She had been falling for him all along, a little deeper with each teasing remark, each conversation, each project they’d tackled together, and every time they had shared their love and vision for the Victorian. Her lips tingled with a warm sensation that was now spreading throughout her body. Was she in love with him? Oh, yes, it had to be love or how else could one swift kiss wield such power over her.
Her brain, it seemed, couldn’t connect with anything Father Raposa was saying. She couldn’t process his words, couldn’t focus on anything but Rick. He stood just off stage, waiting. Beside him, Vera stood like a regal princess, a little too close Jamie thought, watching the Father give his speech. Without taking her eyes off the priest, Vera reached up to wrap her fingers around Rick’s forearm as though it were the most natural thing in the world for her to hold onto him. Surprised at the touch, Rick turned. Vera leaned closer until their foreheads were nearly touching, whispering words only he could hear.
Jamie tried to read their expressions, but she didn’t have a clear enough view.
Together, they looked like the perfect match. If a couple so obviously well suited had failed to make a relationship work, how could Jamie ever expect to have a chance with Rick?
Father Raposa concluded his speech with a word of thanks and blessing to his volunteers and all the evening’s supporters.
Vera stepped forward to join him at the microphone. She hooked an arm in his and waited to for the applause to subside before announcing, “And now, please help me welcome Richard Damien, who is here tonight representing Rochford Industries, our largest corporate sponsor.
Vera and the priest stepped aside to give Rick the floor. He approached the microphone and thanked Vera for the introduction over more applause, then addressed the crowd with a warm, charming smile. “Anyone connected with St. Agnes’s can tell you the story, but it bears repeating tonight. Reverend Father Anthony Raposa envisioned a food and health center for the underprivileged neighborhood of his parish after watching a television documentary on hunger in America. It was an issue that weighed heavily on his heart. He was already operating a soup kitchen in the church basement and had organized a lunch distribution program. When a former school building was made available to St. Agnes’s, the Food Pantry and Health Center was established and to this day continues to spread hope by clothing and feeding the hungry through a difficult economy.”
He gestured for Father Raposa to step forward so he could address his next remarks directly to the reverend. “Sir Winston Churchill wisely said, ‘We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.’ In that spirit, Rochford Industries would like to do their part in giving. We at Rochford recognize St. Agnes’s tireless efforts to help those in need and would like to further the efforts of the Center with this check for one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.”
Jamie’s heart swelled with pride and respect, as the crowd rose to their feet in applause and she along with them. Rick had told her his involvement with charities was the favorite part of his job. She could understand why. She hoped the reason he seemed to be enjoying himself so much this evening was, in part, due to her.
Photographers swarmed the stage, their cameras flashing. Once they’d gotten what they needed, Vera announced the dance floor was now open. The band started blowing their horns in an old Dean Martin tune, as guests began to rise from their seats to enjoy the music.
Jamie sat at her empty table with a half-eaten slice of cheesecake. She wasn’t one to leave food on her plate, coming from a family who had a deep appreciation for food and who enjoyed their sweets, but for the first time all evening, she was feeling out of place and her appetite waned. Rick had long since left the stage, but before he could make his way back to her, one after another, guests, volunteers, and reporters had approached him to shake hands or engage him in conversation. Jamie had since lost sight of him.
An unexpected tap on the shoulder made Jamie turn in her seat, only to find herself staring up at a smiling Vera.
“I’ve been watching all evening, trying to place the woman Rick was with, but it is you, Jamie. You look so different.” Reaching down, Vera lifted a handful of Jamie’s hair, letting the smooth, silky stands slip through her fingers. “Lovely,” she said, and yet her smile did not quite reach her eyes.
“Hello, Vera.” Jamie stood to face her, but even her four-inch sandals were no match for Vera’s height on top of the woman’s own heels. “It’s good to see you again.” Actually, it was downright uncomfortable, to say the least, but it was the best Jamie could do for the sake of conversation, given she’d been caught off guard. “I was surprised to see you here tonight. Rick said he’d thought you’d already left for your new job in New York.”
“No, I’m staying with the network in Rhode Island. It’s a long story, but suffice it to say the station was devastated and offered me a substantial promotion as an anchor for the evening news.”
“That’s … great. Congratulations.”
“Rick had wanted me to come with him to this event, but then New York called… .” She sighed. “Well, it was kind of you to step in when I canceled on Rick.”
“It didn’t actually go down like that.”
Standing behind Vera stood Rick’s friend Curtis, shaking his head and wearing a frown as if to say, don’t believe anything she says.
Jamie smiled her thanks.
Vera whirled towards the voice. “Curtis Shepard.” She narrowed her sexy, kohl-lined eyes at his smug expression and goatee-adorned face. “What would you know about it?”
He gave a noncommittal shrug and glanced away. “Jamie, would you care to dance?”
“I would, thank you.” Anything was better than another moment alone with Vera.
The sax player announced the next song, “Brandy,” an oldie her mother had introduced to her. It was a favorite. Jamie especially liked that it was not a slow song. Not that Curtis wasn’t attractive, but it was Rick, and only Rick, she’d been longing to slow dance with this evening.
Curtis escorted her to the dance floor. He made pleasant conversation, asking about her work and sharing architectural details about his own waterfront Colonial in Bristol. Halfway through their dance Jamie spotted Rick standing by the bar. She couldn’t read his expression with the distance between them, but his body language and the way he kept chugging his drink suggested he might be fighting a green streak of envy.
Jamie smiled, moving her body to the music, basking in a boost of self-confidence from all this male attention, until Vera appeared, slinking her way towards Rick in that unmistakable red gown. A few words were exchanged before Vera directed a photographer to take a photo of the two of them. When the photographer moved on, Vera turned her full attention on Rick, driving Jamie crazy with thoughts of what they could be saying to each other.
Curtis took her gently by the arms. Jamie had all but forg
otten him. He directed her to a position where she could no longer see what was happening at the bar.
Jamie felt the heat rise up her neck. “Sorry.” Actually, she wanted to thank the man.
“Don’t let Vera get to you,” he said. “She and Rick worked as a couple once, but Rick has changed.” The music ended and the band moved smoothly into “Always and Forever,” another song from her mom’s era. Curtis took her in his arms for a slow dance. Jamie wondered if Rick was watching.
Curtis continued. “It started with Rick’s decision to buy that Victorian. He’s grown, if you ask me. A house in the suburbs has given him a refuge from the city. It’s forced him to look beyond the fast-paced world he’s lived in for so long — to stop, relax, and breathe — and experience a life beyond work and living to impress.”
Jamie thought about it. “I think you’re right, Curtis.”
Curtis grinned. “Vera, on the other hand, has not changed. She has no reason to. She’s perfectly happy with where she is and where she’s headed. She thought Rick would come along for the ride, but that’s not going to happen. They don’t belong together anymore, and Vera knows this. She doesn’t like it, but hey, change is all a part of life. Rick needs someone more emotionally mature. A woman not so focused on herself. He needs to fall in love the way he has for that old Victorian.”
Jamie smiled up at Curtis, hanging on his every word. Turned out she was enjoying their dance more than she’d expected.
“Mind if I cut in?”
The voice made her jump. “Rick.”
He didn’t look pleased.
Curtis burst out laughing and reluctantly handed her over.
As Jamie stepped into Rick’s arms, he stared deeply into her eyes, one hand moving slowly down her back to pull her close. Much closer than she’d been dancing with Curtis. The exposed skin on her arms tingled.
“I was worried about having to leave you alone for a while, but it doesn’t look like you’ve been missing me,” he said.
She grinned. “I’ve been enjoying myself.”
He grinned back. “I noticed. What were you two talking about?”
Jamie stared thoughtfully. “Rick, how did we ever end up here? Dating, dancing, talking about a second date? I thought you didn’t much care for me at first.”
He pulled their hands in close and smiled. “I could say the same about you.”
“Come on,” she urged.
“Okay, well, the truth is, I was always intrigued by you and the more I got to know you … well, you fascinated me. I kept thinking about you all the time. I trusted you with my house. I respected your opinions. I sought them out. I’ve never really had that with a woman before. Friendship. It feels good.”
His smile melted her heart. A warm feeling enveloped her. Then, like a jealous girlfriend, not that she was his girlfriend, not even close, she had to spoil the moment by asking, “What was Vera saying to you?”
“I recall asking what you were talking to Curtis about first.”
Jamie gave him a look. “What do you think? We hardly know each other. We were making small talk. He saved me from Vera, who, by the way, told me she’s staying in Rhode Island.”
He frowned, nodding. “She told me that, too. She also said she bid on the round of golf because she knows how much I love that course and she was thinking we could go together. I told her it would never happen.”
Before Jamie could process the information and how she felt about it, he quickly changed the subject.
“What are you doing tomorrow night? Forget the golf. I was thinking for our second date, I’d cook you dinner. I was going through my gran’s address book the other day and found an old favorite recipe of hers. What do you say to stuffed cabbage casserole? Oh, and I want to show you my grandparents’ wedding photo. I had it retouched and reframed. You can help me decide where to hang it in the dining room.”
This was exactly what Jamie did not want. This was why she’d done everything she could to avoid her mother’s matchmaking. She didn’t want to place herself in a position where she was competing with Vera. She wouldn’t do it. No matter what Curtis had said, Vera had him first.
Jamie wouldn’t play the game. She would back away and move on, as she had when she’d lost the sale of the Victorian.
But she found herself saying yes to another date anyway.
Chapter Thirteen
Jamie had offered to bring a bold, fruity red from her grandfather’s wine cellar, thinking it would be the perfect gift for her host, but Rick had insisted he wanted to choose the wine himself. “Just bring yourself,” he’d said.
She’d been raised to do otherwise. This forced her to think outside the norm. What to bring? Not a side dish or something sweet. She wasn’t much of a cook and anything from the restaurant might overshadow his grandmother’s casserole. There was no way she was asking Stella to whip up a dessert.
It was a dilemma. Her gift should be simple, but something that would definitely please Rick. Inspiration came late Saturday morning as she was helping her grandfather clean up what was left of his garden, pulling up the last of his crop and potting herbs to be moved to the kitchen greenhouse window.
Grandpapa braided a dozen of his massive garlic cloves for hanging, the way his own grandfather once taught him, while Jamie filled a small clay pot with a planting of his Italian oregano.
She arrived at the Victorian earlier than expected and brought her tool belt. Rick had asked for her help in hanging his grandparents’ restored wedding portrait, something she figured she could be doing, along with any other hangings or installations or fixes he might need, while he prepared supper.
She pulled into the gravel drive, not thinking anything of the unfamiliar car parked in front. Probably someone visiting a neighbor. She followed the paved walk to his door, proud of the gifts she carried. Rick was going to love them.
There, on the porch they’d decorated together, now sat two lovely red-painted rockers. Charming! Jamie smiled. He’s thought of everything to make this evening special. She pictured the two of them sitting out here, wrapped in warm sweaters with steaming cups of espresso, watching dusk fall behind the rooftops and the colorful elms lining the street.
Spirits high, heart light, she took a seat and rocked, reveling in the romance of it all. More than the glamorous gala they’d attended last night or a round of golf at an exclusive country club, this was her idea of a perfect date.
Excitement grew inside her. There was something magical about this Victorian. She’d felt it the first time she’d walked through its doors. It had brought joy to their lives. Hers. Rick’s. Boo Boo’s. And love. Even love, because Jamie finally felt she’d actually found someone she could imagine spending her life with.
At the sound of the door opening, Jamie smiled and turned in her seat. “Oh, Rick, these rockers are—”
It was not Rick who stepped out onto the porch.
“I thought I heard someone out here. Jamie, what a surprise. I thought you were Rick returning.”
The surprise was all Jamie’s. “He’s not at home?”
Vera shook her head. “I wanted to surprise him with another housewarming gift, since his cat ate my first one. There was no one home when I arrived, so I let myself in with my key.”
Why did Vera have a key to Rick’s house? “Why the gift, Vera? I thought you didn’t approve of this house.”
“Oh, I might be coming around, especially since I’m staying local.”
Jamie didn’t care for the smile on Vera’s face. She was up to something.
“So? What do you think?” When Jamie failed to comprehend, she said emphatically, “The rockers? Aren’t they fabulous? And comfortable, too.”
Jamie immediately rose from her seat and, still holding onto her garlic and parsley, turned to face Vera. Insecurity threatened to seize her. Dazed, embarrassed, confused, she couldn’t quite gather her thoughts.
“I’m going to stick around and wait for Rick to get home,” Vera said when Ja
mie failed to react. “I’m going to offer to help him settle in. I have a knack for interior design. I decorated his condo. Did you know that? I think he may have mentioned it. Anyway, I called him first to tell him I would be stopping by sometime today, and he was fine with it. Did you have plans with him? He must’ve forgotten. I can pass a message on to him for you, if you like.”
I have dinner plans with Rick. He’s cooking for me, in fact. And he’s asked for my help in decorating, so there’s no need for you to stick around, Vera. The words were there, waiting to be voiced, but they stuck in Jamie’s throat.
“Those rockers really do make the porch, don’t they?” Vera strode to the railing and peered into the garden below. “Unfortunately, when the movers delivered them, they knocked over one of the carved pumpkins.” She sighed. “I hope Rick won’t mind, but accidents happen.”
Accident? Jamie didn’t think so. It was the jack-o-lantern carved with her image that lay smashed on the ground. A lump formed in her throat.
Evil woman. Manipulative. Jamie was about to tell Vera to retract her claws. She hadn’t stolen Vera’s man. But suddenly a flash of lemon lime silicone on Vera’s wrist caught her eye. Vera was wearing the sports watch Rick had bought for her. For them. How was that possible? Had Rick given it to Vera instead? When?
Her head swam with doubt and confusion. Had Rick known Vera would be at the fundraiser last night? What had they really been talking about while Jamie was out of earshot? Could he have used her to make Vera jealous?