by Moody, Diane
“Well, I was just getting to that.” Gevin laughed. “We’re hoping to tell them privately before the New Year’s party.”
“Good idea. That’ll be a perfect time to make an announcement. Well, I mean, a private announcement. When do you plan to go public with this?”
The smile slowly waned from Marissa’s face. This time it was Gevin who averted his eyes and looked down. “Well, that’s just it, Jason. There’s a little more to it than what we’ve told you so far.”
Jason straightened his shoulders. “Okay. So what is it?”
Gevin glanced at his fiancée. She gave him a look of reassurance. “Go on,” she whispered.
He looked across the room at his cousin. “The thing is—Jason, it’s time.”
The words hung in the air. Jason stared at Gevin. He felt a tremor grip him. Surely he doesn’t mean what I think he means?
His gaze locked on Gevin’s—the knowing look in his cousin’s eyes he didn’t want to see. Jason’s mind refused to accept it. He shook his head, the slight movement screaming what he could not. No! Not yet—not yet.
He forced his thoughts on a desperate detour. A myriad of memories and concerts and appearances flashed through his mind all at once—those that had gone before and those that would never be.
This can’t be happening.
He tried to tune them out, tearing his eyes away from Gevin and looking into the fire. He couldn’t even breathe.
He felt someone take hold of his hand and gently squeeze it, an arm tucking beneath his. Hannah. He released a sigh, thankful for the air in his lungs. Thankful she was there for him. He lowered his eyes but couldn’t bring himself to look at her. He patted his other hand over hers.
Seconds passed. The silence made him nauseated.
“Hannah, how about you and I go find some of that pecan pie Laura made?”
Marissa’s hushed voice startled him. He felt Hannah squeeze his hand then pull away as she stood up. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched them slip out of the room and quietly down the stairs.
Chapter 7
Marissa touched her elbow. “I’m sorry, I just felt like they needed some privacy,” she whispered.
Hannah didn’t know what to say so nodded her reply.
At the bottom of the stairs, Marissa turned to face her. “And I hope you don’t mind if I don’t talk about it right now. This has been like an albatross around our necks, and I’d just rather not get into it. No offense, Hannah.”
“None taken. But I’m just sorry it’s been a problem when it should be the happiest time of your life.”
“Yeah, that part pretty much sucks.”
They entered the expansive kitchen. “Let me get us a couple pieces of that pie,” Hannah said, grateful for the distraction.
“Sounds good. I noticed a cappuccino maker over there on the counter. I’m a pro with these things. You want some?”
“Sounds great.” Hannah opened cabinets until she found the dessert plates then searched for a knife. She cut two small slices of the rich pecan pie then found a chilled bowl of whipped cream in the refrigerator. She dressed each slice with a dollop and set a fork on each plate.
Slowly, little by little, sitting on barstools at the granite kitchen counter, Marissa and Hannah got to know each other. Marissa’s depth of character amazed Hannah. She found her laid back, easy to talk to, and extremely intelligent. Bright and lovely and deeply in love with Gevin Michaels. At the mere mention of his name, her eyes sparkled and conveyed more than her words ever could.
Anxious to change subjects, she pounded Hannah with questions. She seemed especially interested in Hannah’s career plans and her writing. “I’ve got so many people I want to introduce you to. You like to do interviews? Write about people?”
“That’s what I love more than anything, Marissa—”
“Please call me Rissa. All the guys do.”
“Okay, ‘Rissa.’ She acknowledged the term of endearment with a smile.
“JT nicknames everyone he meets. First day I met him, he cut to the chase and I’ve been Rissa ever since.” She wiped a streak of whipped cream from her lip. “But go ahead. What were you saying?”
Hannah sipped the cappuccino, wrapping her hands around the fat mug. “One of my greatest passions is probing people to find out all about them. What makes them tick, what their dreams are, that sort of thing, then put it on paper and communicate it in a way no one else has ever done. Love that.”
Marissa took another bite of pie then jumped from her stool, dancing with head and arms in motion. “Hannah, fasten your seatbelt, girlfriend. Just say the word, and we’ll introduce you to so many people, honey, your head will spin right off.” They laughed, Marissa continuing to rock to some rhythm in her head. “But first I’ve got to ask you something.”
“Ask me what?” Hannah asked, flaking the crust of her pie with her fork.
“You and Jason.” She took her seat again, reaching for her cappuccino. “The thing is, the last time I saw him, there was no one special in his life. Hasn’t been for quite a while now.” Her eyes narrowed as she seemed to wait for answers. “He was dating a little, mostly publicity appearances, but nothing serious.”
She set the mug down and faced Hannah with a curious bright smile. “Then, we come here and find this sweet angel of a girl who has quite clearly stolen the heart of our Jason . . . and then some. And the whole family already loves this angel. And I’ve just got to wonder, what did we miss? When did this happen!? Because I’ve gotta tell you, Hannah, these guys are my life. I love ’em all like they were my own brothers—well, okay, that’s not exactly how I feel about Gevin now.” She chuckled quietly and continued. “So, when all of a sudden, I see something going on with my man Jason, I wonder. Where did this come from? And who is this girl who’s lighting up his eyes again?”
Marissa tented her fingers, resting her chin on them. “Hmm? C’mon, now Hannah. Spill the beans to Auntie Rissa.”
Hannah traced the rim of her mug. “Oh, ‘Auntie Rissa’ is it?” She smiled back at the inquisitive face focused on her. “Geez, I don’t even know what to tell you. This whole thing happened so fast. One minute I’m working at my store, the next thing I know, this kind, wonderful lady invites me to dinner—though I had no idea who she was, whose mother she was—then I’m sharing an intimate holiday evening with them when suddenly my teen idol appears, for crying out loud!” She covered her face with her hands, then raked her fingers through her hair. “I mean, how crazy is that? I still can’t believe any of it. I keep waiting to wake up. Because it’s got to be a dream. Has to be.”
“Well, I’m here to tell you, this is no dream, girlfriend. No, ma’am, no way. And I might as well tell you, I’ve known Jason McKenzie a long time, and—” Marissa paused, cocking her head to one side. “I’m here to tell you, he’s got it for you bad!”
Hannah blew out a troubled sigh, resting her hand on Marissa’s arm. “No, no, Marissa—I mean Rissa—listen to me. It’s not how it looks. Jason is wonderful. He’s sweet, he’s unbelievably normal, all things considered. But I’m not stupid. He’s home on vacation, he’s just being friendly since his parents invited me over and—”
“No way. Huh uh, I don’t buy that for one minute.”
“Be serious, Rissa! You’ve got this all wrong. His parents were so nice to me. I was having this stupid little pity party about spending Christmas alone, and then Laura showed up, and she took me to this beautiful candlelight service, and I met Frank, and . . . I’m not an idiot. It’s just an exaggerated case of their holiday spirit, y’know? It’s Christmas. People go out of their way to share their hearts and homes this time of year. And Jason? Well, maybe he’s enjoying being out of the spotlight for a while and hanging out with someone who’s . . . someone that’s—”
Marissa waved her hand with attitude, letting Hannah know she wasn’t having any of it. “Give it up, girl. Nice try. And if that’s what you want to believe, then believe it. But I’m telling you t
his from someone who knows Jason. He’s different with you. I’ve seen him with other women. I was there when he and Jennifer were tight. This is different.” She drove home her point by tapping her manicured nails on the counter. “You gotta listen to me, honey. I won’t tell you wrong.”
Hannah took a deep breath, then slowly let it out, her heart pounding furiously. “Whoa . . . I don’t know what to say.” She felt a little dizzy. The butterflies stormed back in.
“Well, let me tell you one more thing about Jason.”
“Go on.”
Marissa laced her fingers together then stretched her locked hands high over her head. “Jason McKenzie is one of the most genuine people I’ve ever met in the business. Besides Gevin, of course,” she smiled. “Jason has never been caught up in the garbage of our industry. He loves what he does—don’t get me wrong. But what you see is what you get with him. No pretense, no façade, he’s the real thing. I love him like a brother, and I have from the very beginning. And that’s why I can tell you with complete honesty that he will not lead you on if there’s nothing there. He might be gracious, he might be polite, but he would never take the time to get to know you like this if he wasn’t interested.”
Hannah scrunched her face. “But then why would Frank warn me that his son could be ‘quite the heartbreaker’—I think that’s how he put it.”
Marissa smiled, her teeth gleaming against her lips. “Girl, that’s what everybody says about Jason. It’s because he’s so nice, sure, but it’s also because every girl this side of Moscow has decided he should marry her! Doesn’t matter what age, they still think he’s theirs. He’s broken hearts all over the planet, and most of them are girls he’s never met and never will. So chill. Just a generic, fatherly thing. Don’t give it another thought.”
Gradually, the smile faded from Marissa’s face and her movements ceased. She looked up at Hannah. “I think they’ve talked long enough. C’mon. Let’s go check it out.”
Hannah pressed her eyes shut briefly, then followed her new friend up the stairs. They found Gevin and Jason sitting face to face, still in intense conversation. When the girls appeared on the stairs, they both leaned back, seeming to welcome the interruption. Marissa threw her a knowing wink. She knew these guys. There was no question in Hannah’s mind she could read their hearts. Marissa walked over to the music system and loaded it with several selections.
A Motown melody filled the loft as Marissa turned, her body feeling the rhythm. Her long brown arms reached in the air as she moved to the familiar love song
“Anybody wanna dance?”
Gevin moved to her, pulling her into his arms then moving in rhythm with her. Hannah reached for Jason’s shoulder, gently massaging it. “You okay?”
He brandished a tired smile. “I’m in shock, actually.” He shook his head, tousling his hair and blowing out a long sigh. “But right now, we need a break. C’mere.” He took her hand, leading her into a dance of their own. “I love this song.” He sang the words as they moved together. In spite of the tension of the last hour, she melted at the sound of it. Especially when he got to the part about my girl . . .
First one song, then another and another. They laughed, they occasionally traded partners, they tried a few line dances from way back when, and they forgot their worries. For the moment, anyway.
Kenny G filled the room again and she was in Jason’s arms. She rolled the cameras in her mind, wanting to seal this moment in her memory forever. This embrace. The made-up words he sang against her hair, words that touched her heart. They swayed gently to the sad melody of that amazing saxophone. Jason’s voice caught and he sang no more. He held her, still moving to the music.
“Hannah,” he whispered. “Stay close this week. Please?”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, feeling the dampness of his eyes against her skin. “There’s no place I’d rather be.”
Chapter 8
The early morning sun sent a cheery glow through the kitchen’s bay window, bouncing off the snow-covered landscape outdoors. Breakfast aromas filled the air as Hannah continued.
“So he’s backing me up in this corner. Nobody’s around, right? I’m scared to death but I wasn’t about to let him know that. He’s a defensive tackle. I stand no chance against this big ape. I figure he’s got, oh maybe 150 pounds on me. My knees are Jell-O!”
She stood at the stove over a sizzling omelet sharing the story with Frank, Laura, and Marissa who all sat at the kitchen table over mugs of hot coffee. Dressed in gray sweats Jason had loaned her with her hair swept up on top of her head, she felt surprisingly relaxed and at home talking to these people.
“He’s so close I can smell the bratwurst he had for lunch. He’s saying, ‘oh baby, oh baby, you know you gotta have me . . . I’ll make all your dreams come true.’ I thought I was going to hurl right there on his size 14 Nikes!”
She tossed some shredded cheese and bacon bits into the omelet then folded it, never missing a word. “And all of a sudden I remember the PE whistle in my pocket. He’s moving in, got his hands up against the wall so I’m literally pinned like a prisoner, right? He leans his fat head down and starts whispering in my ear, ‘c’mon baby, you ‘n me, let’s try a little play action pass of our own.’”
The groans of her small audience urged her on. Hannah grew more animated, waving her spatula in the air to punctuate every word. “I slowly reach down in my pocket, grab my whistle, and before he can say another word, I’m blasting that thing!”
Frank’s roaring laughter bounced around the kitchen walls as Marissa doubled over with laughter.
“And it’s so shrill and so loud, he’s holding his ears and screaming at me—‘Stop it! Stop it!’ like some big ’ol sissy boy. But I just kept blowing and blowing, louder and louder ’til I thought for sure he was gonna cry for his mama.” She scooped the omelet out of the frying pan and flipped it onto a plate, dropped the spatula, and turned to face them again. “And then?” She paused for effect.
“Then what?” Laura begged.
“I jerked my knee up in his nether lands.”
“Oh no you did not!” Marissa yelled.
Hannah howled. “Oh, I most definitely did!”
Laura stopped laughing just long enough to add, “Oh, honey, that was very brave!”
Frank whimpered, cowering a little, the way men do when they hear tales of such strategic “targets,” but his laughter never dissipated.
“He’s lying there, all curled up in the fetal position, just moaning and groaning and carrying on like a big ol‘ baby. So I straightened my clothes, stood up all straight and said, ‘Tommy Joe, you ever come near me again, I’ll make sure you sing soprano for the rest of your sorry life. You got that?’”
“Oooo, Hannah! You are my hero!”
“Thank you, Rissa. I’ll have you know, all he did was nod his pitiful head and drag himself out of there. But I can tell you one thing, that was the last time he ever said a word to me. He sees me coming in the hall and he bee-lines the other way. Does my heart good! Did my daddy teach this girl a thing or two or what?”
“I believe he did at that,” Frank chuckled. “Good for you, setting him straight. Just remind me to walk on the other side of the room when you’re coming my way!”
“Oh please, as if I’d ever have cause to set you straight?” Hannah passed a plate with the steaming omelet to Marissa. “Laura, what would you like on your omelet?”
“Just some of those bell peppers and cheese with a few sprinkles of bacon. Thank you, Hannah.” She lifted her mug. “Marissa’s looks yummy. I’m not sure I can wait.” She quickly forked a small bite off Marissa’s plate, barely escaping the playful swat in return.
Marissa moved her plate away from Laura. “Mama Mac, you keep your fork off my plate or I’ll be showin’ you a play action of my own. I’m just sayin’ . . .” She flashed her a huge, mischievous grin.
Raising a brow, Laura feigned innocence as she continued to enjoy h
er stolen mouthful of cheesy omelet. When she followed it with a sip of coffee, she started to laugh, her coffee going down the wrong pipe. Her coughs echoed across the room.
Frank patted her on the back amidst the laughter. “You okay, sweetheart?”
“What’s all the racket?”
Hannah turned to find Jason coming through the patio door. He pulled off his stocking cap and stomped the snow off his feet. She laughed out loud at the sight of him.
“What?” he asked, confused.
“Bad hair day, Jason?” Marissa teased. His hair stood straight up with static electricity making him look like a werewolf in an old black and white movie. Jason ducked for a peek in the mirror by the back door before attempting to pat it into place. He walked back into the kitchen. “Very funny. Glad you all had a nice guffaw at my expense.”
Laura coughed once more, then asked, “Jason, what is all that noise coming out of your backpack?”
“Oh—Baby!” He turned around to reveal the tiny puppy’s snout popping out of a pocket in his backpack. She yelped again in protest. “Okay, okay! I’ll get you out!”
He lifted the backpack off his shoulders and flipped it to pull the puppy out. “Baby and I took a long walk. Didn’t we, Baby girl?” he cooed, rubbing noses with the miniature dog. “I thought she’d be more comfortable in here where it’s all nice and warm. Have you looked outside? Do you believe all that snow?”
Frank stood beside his son. “It’s incredible, isn’t it? I can’t remember the last time we had this much snow. Good thing you don’t have to leave anytime soon.”
Jason smiled at Hannah. “What am I smelling? Hannah? You’re cooking? No way.”
“Excuse me, but just because I appear to be a sponge around here doesn’t mean I can’t cook.”
He walked up behind her. “Good morning, Hannah.”