The Legacy Collection Box Set

by Ruth Cardello

  “Marie—” Jeisa stood and started to say something but Marie interrupted her.

  “No, I’m sorry. I came here to apologize for interfering and there I go, butting into your business again. Lil says I’m as bad as Abby, and I’m not entirely sure that’s a compliment.”

  Jeisa took one of Marie’s hands in hers and said, “I don’t know how I got lucky enough to get on the list of people you care about, Marie, but I am grateful that I did. Even when I don’t agree with what you’re saying.”

  Marie squeezed Jeisa’s hand lightly, then picked up her purse from the couch. “Would you do me a favor?”

  Jeisa doubted there was a person on the planet who could refuse Mrs. Duhamel when she put on her sweet old-lady expression and used that unassuming tone. “I’ll try.”

  “Go outside for a walk today. The answers you’re looking for won’t be found on your couch.”

  “They’re on the trail behind my house?” Jeisa joked.

  Marie went to the door, then stopped. “No, but sunshine is. All that fresh air will hopefully remind you that you’re young and healthy with a world of opportunities before you. Whether it works out with Jeremy or not, life is too short and too precious to waste. It’s just a shame that we often don’t realize that until it’s too late.”

  Jeisa rushed forward. “Marie, are you okay?”

  Marie adjusted the purse on her shoulder. “I’m fine, dear. Sometimes I just miss what I used to have. I try not to think about it, but even I get lonely.” When Jeisa would have said more, Marie said, “It’s not a topic I want to discuss further. Just remember that nothing is forever. Not the confusion you feel today, not your time on this planet. Don’t make excuses for not living the life you want. If you want to make a difference by getting involved in a movement, don’t wait for a perfect time or the perfect situation, just do it. Love like you’re on borrowed time. If you wait for the perfect family, friend, or relationship—you’ll spend your life waiting instead of living. I spoke to the president of WIT and he said he’d find a spot for you on the water project whenever you’re ready. But, before you do that, call your father. Oh, and when Jeremy comes to pick you up—get in that limo.”

  Jeisa threw her arms around Marie and let the hug say what she couldn’t express. Mrs. Duhamel returned the hug and then said, “Okay, enough of that. I need to get back to the office. Dominic and Jake left for New York last night. I like to peek in now and then to make sure everything is going smoothly in their absence.”

  I’m sure you do. Jeisa smiled at the thought.

  While Jeisa showered and changed into a jogging outfit, she thought about what Marie had said. Jeisa didn’t often think about her own mortality or that of others, but Marie was right. Life was fragile. Her own mother had passed away unexpectedly, suffering from a fatal illness that claimed her life within days.

  No wonder Dad worries so much.

  He has loved and lost.

  Just like Marie said, some men never come back from that.

  I have to call him.

  No more putting it off. He deserves to know the truth.

  When he didn’t answer her first ring, Jeisa called his house and spoke to the maid. Sonia had been with her family for as long as she could remember and was a very good judge of her father’s moods. If anyone knew where her father was and if this was the best time to talk to him, it would be her.

  Sonia answered, “Jeisa, where have you been? Your father has been trying to call you for days. He flew out last night to go find you in Boston.”

  Oh, my God. “Dad’s coming here?”

  In rapid Portuguese, Sonia said, “If ‘here’ is the home of Reese David, then yes. He should already be there.”

  Please. Please. Please. Do not let him find Reese before I do. “I have to go, Sonia. I’ll call him right now.”

  Barely breathing, she dialed her father’s phone and paced while it rang. Pick up. Pick up.

  “Jeisa?” her father’s voice boomed through the phone.

  “Dad! Where are you?” Jeisa asked in Portuguese.

  Romario’s answer boomed through the phone in their native language. “Where am I? Where are you? I’m at some imbecile’s house and he’s trying to tell me that he doesn’t know you. He says he doesn’t have a wife or children and that I must be confused about where you work.”

  Jeisa sat down on a chair as her legs gave way beneath her. It didn’t matter that her father dressed in the finest clothing and spoke multiple languages, he’d fought his way to the top of the Brazilian government and would fight just as ruthlessly for his daughter’s honor. “Can you put him on the phone for a minute?”

  Of course he wouldn’t. He’d never done a single thing she’d asked him to. You’d have to value your daughter’s opinion for that.

  “Where are you?” her father demanded.

  “I’m safe, Dad. I don’t work for Reese and I never have. I don’t live there. I have a great apartment in uptown Boston. Just let me talk to him for two seconds to remind him how he knows me. I can clear this misunderstanding up.”

  With a bit of a growl, her father handed the phone over to Reese. Jeisa didn’t waste time with a greeting. In English she said hastily, “You need to tell my father that it was a big misunderstanding and that you are sorry. I would start groveling now. You might even want to cry. Trust me.”

  “I am not going to apologize to a man who just broke my door down. I’m calling the police.”

  They’d never get there in time. “I have two words for you to consider before you do that—political immunity. He’s going to get off, even if he kills you. And if you live, do you want the news to find out why he came after you? Because I’ll gladly tell them.” She let her threat sink in.

  After a moment, Reese swore under his breath and started to apologize to Romario. Her father took the phone back. “Tell me you didn’t date this man. He’s a sniveling idiot.”

  Although Reese deserved the punishment her father likely wanted to give him, Jeisa couldn’t let that happen. She knew what bad press could cost her father’s career. Having a reputation for being tough on issues is not the same thing as being arrested for breaking into a man’s home and beating him to death. The American newspapers would have a field day with the story if she didn’t do something fast. “Dad, I never even went to his house. I’ve been working in an office building as an image consultant since my second week here. Honestly, I talked to that guy once on the phone when I first arrived and decided not to work for him. I wouldn’t even recognize him in a lineup.”

  Her father was quiet for several long moments. From what Jeisa heard in the background, it sounded like he’d left Reese’s house and had gotten back into a car. “So you’ve been lying to me for months?” The calm in his voice revealed the depth of his anger.

  “Yes,” Jeisa said lamely, knowing that she’d waited too long to tell the truth. “I didn’t want to disappoint you.”

  “And this isn’t disappointing? Pack your bags, you’re coming home.”

  Jeisa took a deep breath. Not this time. “No, Dad. I’m not.”

  “You don’t have a choice,” he grated.

  For the first time Jeisa saw that she did. She really did. Marie was right—how was her father ever going to see her as an adult if she continued to act like a child? It was time to take a stand, not against her father, but for herself. “Dad, I’m sorry I worried you. I’m sorry that I lied to you, but I’m not going home.” She gave him her address. “I have a life here now and if you’ll listen to me, I’ll tell you about it.”

  For the next thirty minutes, over the sound of the GPS directing her father closer and closer to her home, Jeisa told her father about the job she had taken at Corisi Enterprises and how that had led to working with Jeremy as his image consultant. She left off the part where she was quitting and they had dated. There would be time to explain that part once he’d calmed down.

  Her father didn’t sound happy, but he didn’t interrupt her as sh
e’d worried he would. He must have heard something in her voice when she mentioned Jeremy, because he said, “Just tell me that this Jeremy is nothing like the whimpering American I just met.”

  Jeisa remembered how Jeremy had stood up to the professional boxer during what he still called his first lesson. Jeremy didn’t whimper. “No, I think you’d actually like him.”

  “I’ll tell you what I think after I meet him.”

  “Meet him?” Jeisa asked, her voice going up an octave in distress.

  “I want to see this life you’ve made for yourself and I’m going to. Is there anything else you want to tell me about this Jeremy?”

  “No,” Jeisa hedged, as she often had in the past. She instantly regretted doing so, but old habits were hard to break. With her father, the less she said the better.

  “Then first we are going to sit down and talk about the importance of honesty in a family. After that, you are going to introduce me to this man you say you work for.”

  He doesn’t believe me, and really I can’t blame him. “Dad, this isn’t a good time for that. Tomorrow is an American holiday, Thanksgiving. We were going down to New York to celebrate it with some coworkers and friends, but I’ll tell him I can’t go.”

  “No, don’t. I’ll go with you. Sounds like the perfect way for me to get to know the people in this new life you say you have made for yourself.”

  Yes, perfect.

  That’s what Thanksgiving was becoming—a perfect disaster.

  Chapter Ten

  Jeremy absently checked the pocket of his black tuxedo for the ring boxes as the limo navigated the busy streets of Boston. Rings. Check. He’d purchased his own private helicopter, which was now fueled and waiting for them at the Corisi building, a much closer option than the airport. Transportation. Check.

  Normally he wouldn’t have made his mother, Therese, travel alone, but he had special plans for this short trip—plans he’d confessed to his mother when she’d sounded hurt that he wanted to travel alone with Jeisa. “Mom, we need privacy because I’m going to ask her to marry me.”

  After praising the powers above, she’d exclaimed, “You plan to propose on a helicopter? Jeremy, a girl hopefully only gets one proposal. That doesn’t sound very romantic. How are you going to get down on one knee if you’re strapped in with headphones?”

  He explained his choice. “Don’t worry, this is a luxury copter. It’s as nice and soundproof on the inside as any vehicle. It’ll be filled with roses. I even ordered champagne so we can celebrate. Trust me, it’ll be perfect.”

  His mother let out a joyful laugh. “I’m going to have grandchildren!”

  “Easy, Mom. She has to say yes first.”

  “What sane woman would say no to you, Jeremy?”

  More than you’d think, he thought, but only one mattered.

  His mother gushed, “I should come over and take a picture of you and Jeisa that morning. You never went to a prom. I don’t have any pictures like that.”

  “Mom, stop.”

  As quickly as she had started laughing, she started crying. “You gave up so much for me and your dad. I want you to be happy.”

  The weight of her sorrow tore at him, as it always had. He reassured her just as he’d done a thousand times before when they’d talked themselves into an uncomfortable place. “I am happy, Mom. And you are going to make the world’s best grandmother.”

  Sniffing, Therese said, “No matter what Jeisa says, I want you to know how proud I am of you. You are an amazing man and I hope she sees that.”

  It had been a relief to end that phone call, even though her words had warmed his heart. “Bye, Mom. I’ll see you at the Andrades’. Try not to cry all over Jeisa when we make our announcement.”

  “I can’t promise anything,” his mother had said, laughing.

  Stepping out of the limo in front of Jeisa’s building, Jeremy looked up to the floor her apartment was on. He took a deep, fortifying breath and stepped toward the entrance. Tim opened it for him.

  “Good morning, Mr. Kater,” Tim said in a rush.

  “Jeremy,” he corrected him.

  Tim nodded and followed him inside. “Jeremy, before you go upstairs there is something I have to tell you.”

  Jeremy stopped just inside the foyer. “Did she instruct you to call the police or something if I showed up?”

  Shaking his head, Tim said, “Worse. Her father is upstairs.”

  That wiped the smile off Jeremy’s face. “Her father?” Why would Jeisa call her father? Because she meant it when she said she didn’t want to see me again?

  No, she’s upset with me, but she loves me. Why wouldn’t she tell me her father was here?

  Maybe she would have if I had called her.

  Damn, I knew I shouldn’t have left our last words hang between us until now. I wanted to play it cool like Dominic would have, but I should have put my pride aside and called her.

  Jeremy sought some answers from Tim. “What is he like?”

  Tim whistled. “Huge. Dressed like he lives in suits. And not happy.”

  “You should buzz her apartment this time.”

  Jeisa answered her intercom.

  Tim said, “Mr. Kater is here to see you.”

  “Send him up,” she said breathlessly.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Tim said and clicked the intercom off. “Good luck.”

  Jeremy straightened his shoulders and braced himself. “How bad could he be?”

  Tim gave him a pat on the shoulder and said, “Dads are tricky, Jeremy. They are programmed to not like the man their daughter chooses. It’ll be like walking through a minefield with two people watching to see if you can navigate it. They know where the explosives are, but they won’t tell you. When dealing with potential in-laws, all you can do is step lightly and pray. Trust me, the less you say the better.”

  Jeremy nodded. “Thanks, Tim. I’ll keep that in mind. She did say I could go up, though, so I’m feeling optimistic about this. She might have had time to rethink her last words to me. Hell, maybe her father is here because he wants to meet the man who has made his daughter so happy.”

  “I love your sense of humor, Jeremy.”

  Jeremy headed for the stairs grumbling to himself. I wasn’t joking.

  When Jeisa saw Jeremy’s formal attire she was glad she’d chosen a floor-length gown and encouraged her father to wear a tuxedo. The Andrades were casual in their manner with each other, but they loved to dress to impress and Thanksgiving would likely be no different. Although their event began in the afternoon, they would dress for the late hours the party would stretch into. Jeremy waited at the door to be invited in, and Jeisa was thankful for his uncommon discomfort.

  This may work. All I have to do to avert this crisis is to convince two men that today is not a good idea.

  “Mr. Kater, thank you for offering me a ride down to New York, but as you can see my father is here for a visit.” When Jeremy looked confused by her formal greeting, Jeisa instantly felt sorry for keeping him in the dark about her father’s visit. I should have called him last night and told him that my father is here. But I didn’t know what to say. Why do I always believe that if I pretend something is not happening, it will go away?

  Jeremy met her eyes for a minute and seemed to come to a decision. He looked past her. “Mr. Borreto, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” He held out his hand to her father. Her father shook his hand with what looked like a punishing grip that Jeremy smiled through.

  “So, you’re the man my daughter currently works for.”

  When Jeremy glanced at her over his shoulder, Jeisa pleaded with him silently to go along with it. Turning back to her father, he said, “Technically she works with me.” Jeisa held her breath. “Corisi Enterprises hired her, but she’s been helping me with a recent project.”

  “I see,” her father said coldly. “And this project involves taking her to New York today?”

  “Today isn’t about work. It’s Thanksgiving, a da
y when most Americans gather with family and friends.”

  “Will your family be there?”

  “My mother will be. My father is no longer with us.”

  Jeisa’s father ceased his interrogation long enough to say, “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “Thank you.”

  Jeisa went to stand beside Jeremy. “My father’s visit was a little unexpected.” Or I would have told you, her tone implied. “I don’t expect you to have room for him in your car.”

  Jeremy shrugged. “I came over in a limo and the helicopter seats six.”

  Hopefully not the limo. Jeisa remembered their last ride too vividly. She didn’t think she could sit across from her father and not die of mortification if it was.

  “Sounds like you live an expensive lifestyle,” Romario said, his tone insinuating that it was one he didn’t approve of.

  Jeremy met the man’s eyes. “Both are practical choices. One lets me get work done while I sit in traffic and the other will allow us to fly over the holiday highway congestion. We can be down in New York in a little over an hour.”

  Does Jeremy not see how badly this could go? “I don’t think we should . . .”

  Speaking over her as he often did, Romario said, “I hope my presence isn’t an inconvenience.”

  Jeisa wanted to kick Jeremy when he replied, “Absolutely not, sir. I’m happy to meet you.”

  When Jeisa’s father said nothing in response, Jeisa tried to bring the exchange to a conclusion. “Dad, now that you’ve met Mr. Kater, don’t you think it’s a better idea if we call off the trip? The Andrade family kindly invited me to join them for the day, but I didn’t ask if I could bring a guest.”

  Romario directed his question at Jeremy. “What do you think, Mr. Kater? Will it be a problem?”

  Back me up here, Jeremy. All you have to say is yes.

  After a bit of a pause, Jeremy said, “The Andrade gathering is a huge event. I’m sure they would love to meet you. They adore Jeisa.”

  “It’s settled then,” her father said with finality.

  Jeisa silently led the way out the door and into the hallway. The elevator ride was equally quiet and awkward. In the foyer, Jeremy shot Tim a thumbs-up as they passed. Jeisa heard her father make a guttural sound behind her and realized that she wasn’t the only one who’d witnessed what Jeremy had done.