by Pat Amsden
Nathan rolled his eyes. “The locals have to eat something Mom. It’s not exactly Survivor.”
“Nathan!” her Dad said.
“I can see I’m out-voted,” her Mother said with a tight smile. “I’ll just let the staff know there’ll be – you’re coming for dinner dear? And Brad?” Her brow arched in surprise when she shook her head. “Oh, well, twenty – twenty-five, give or take.”
Elena gave a small gasp.
“Nathan brought a couple of friends and your sister Suzanne’s coming over with her husband Mark. Your artist friends will be here – and Mary. And then we’ve got
Aunt Margaret and Aunt Lulu coming over along with some of your cousins. A few of my friends decided it might be fun…” her voice trailed off as she saw the look of horror on Elena’s. “It’s going to be fun darling. Honestly.”
It was going to be a zoo. She smiled at her mother. “I’m sure it will be.”
“Can I have a sneak prevue of Elena’s,” her Dad asked.
“I’d love it,” Elena said.
“I’ll just make sure the bags get upstairs and be right down.”
“Greg…”
“Darling – I’ve only got one suitcase of stuff. Leave it and I’ll be back in an hour. That will give you time to get organized and relax a little.”
Her mother relented. “Oh, OK.”
It was not until they got outside the hotel that Elena felt herself relax. “How can you live like that? She exclaimed horrified. “It’s like being in the middle of a, a road show, a zoo!”
“It’s not as bad as it seems. It just takes a little while to get organized.” He gave her a huge smile. “And your mother’s an expert.”
“But don’t you just want to be alone sometimes!”
He shrugged. “Sometimes. But it’s all family. The more the merrier. I figure when I’m old and grey there’ll be enough time to sit back and relax.”
“I guess.” She looked her dad over. He was wearing jeans and a polo shirt. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in jeans.”
He grinned. “It feels good to get out of a suit.”
She could see Elena’s from where they were. “I can’t wait until you see it,” she said, squeezing his arm.
“Will Brad be there?”
“I don’t think so,” she said, not elaborating.
“But he’s still on the project?”
“Definitely. I can call him anytime. And he’ll be here tomorrow.”
“Mm. He’s not coming for dinner then?”
“I never asked him.”
“OK, any idea what his new project is?”
“He never said anything to me about it.”
She was aware her dad was scrutinizing her and wanting more details. Too bad. She was a grown-up now.
“Elena’s!” she said, coming to a stop in front of the gallery/coffee shop.
“Very nice,” her Dad said approvingly. “Good location.”
She felt a rush of pride as she opened the door and ushered him in. “Isn’t it gorgeous!”
He stood, surveying it slowly, eyes travelling from the seating area of the café to the display cases and fancy coffee makers on into the gallery. “I like the coffee area,” he said finally. “Do I get a personal tour of the gallery?”
“Of course,” she said, taking his arm and leading the way.
“See. The pictures are all mine. Forest, beach, flowers. And then I’ve got some of Bente’s work and some of Race’s,” she said, pointing to one of the fairies and an iridescent ball of Race’s.
He shook his head in wonder moving slowly around the gallery, pausing before each picture. “I always knew you were talented – but this?”
“You like it?”
“Was there ever any question?”
“But if you didn’t know me. If I was a total stranger?”
“It’s beautiful. You’re an incredibly talented woman Elena.”
“Oh dad! You wouldn’t believe how much that means to me.”
“But you know how I feel about you,” he said seemingly puzzled.
“I know you think my pictures are all right. But you’re my dad”
“And I always will be. But even if I’d never met you before I’d still think you were an incredibly talented woman,” he said grinning.
Upstairs she could hear workmen hammering. Grant had promised her it would be ready by opening but it still sounded like they had a lot to do. She wondered if he would mind if they did a quick tour but then decided not too. Her dad would probably start asking her questions about why she wanted to live in Elena’s as well as work there. Maybe when it was finished. She looked over at the tables.
Irene had brought the flowers over and they looked wonderful. She’d put a larger bouquet of Irish bells and riotous daisies in a huge vase up on the counter area. On it a simple card said ‘Congratulations on the opening of Elena’s.’
“So that’s it,” she said. “Tomorrow we’re having a grand opening from 12 – 5 with free coffee and bakery treats for everyone.”
“I’m impressed,” Greg said honestly. “How are you fixed for money?”
“What?”
“This is costing a lot. If you need something to tide you over …”
“Dad! I’ve got financing in place.”
“You should’ve come to me. No one’s going to give you a better deal than I would.”
Elena’s lips set in a stubborn line. “This is my project! REMEMBER! Mine.”
“OK,” her dad said and she could see he was hurt.
“Dad, I know you’d help me. But I’m a grown up now. It’s time for me to stand on my own two feet. And Brad helped me set it up.”
He sighed. “OK. But you have to know I’m here for you.”
“Always dad.”
“And Brad wouldn’t set you up in anything too outrageous,” he said.
“Mmm.”
“He’d come to me if there weren’t any decent options.”
“What make you think he didn’t want to?”
Her dad was beginning to look alarmed. “If he’s set you up with some loan shark!”
“Dad…besides I thought you kept in touch with him.”
“On my projects. Until he quit. He wouldn’t give me any information on you or Elena’s,” he said grumpily. “Something about client confidentiality.”
She felt a huge sense of relief. “That’s just the way it should be,” she said playfully.
“Doesn’t mean I have to like it,” her dad said.
“Oh come on. Do you really think I’d let anyone talk me into something like that?” She looked at him. “I am your daughter you know.”
“I know,” he said and she could feel his pride in her. “Are you going to give me any details on it?”
“Nope,” she said firmly. “Just that it’s a good deal. As long as Elena’s does half the business I’ve projected for it I’m on easy street.”
“Well, it looks to me like you’ve got a winner here.” He held up his hands. “I know I had my doubts but this looks like a first-class business you’ve set up. You’ve got the location and you’ve got the traffic.”
She smiled at him and touched his nose with her finger. “See, like father, like daughter.”
“Is there anything that still needs to be done before you open tomorrow.”
“I’ll have to come down tonight and start the ices.”
“OK then. I guess I should get back to the hotel.”
“I’ll come up at 6:00 for the dinner.”
“Make that ten to six or your mother will drive me nuts.”
“OK.”
She watched him walk away, a smile on her face. He was right. Family was important. There was more than enough time to sit on the sidelines and relax. For now there were things to do, people to see and she was lucky enough to be able to.
She turned and headed up the stairs to where Grant and a couple of workmen were putting the finishing touch on her loft living area. She
gasped!
It was so much better than anything she could’ve hoped for. It extended half-way over the café/gallery area giving her a living area 600 sq feet in size. The floors were made of the same cork material the rest of Elena’s had and the walls were a lighter shade of the green the gallery had been done in. There was a small area with cupboards to store some dishes and cutlery in but no dishwasher, stove or fridge. In their place was a bar fridge/cooler and toaster oven and hot plate along with a state of the art coffee machine. A bar area complete with stools gave way to a living room/sleeping area. She’d already ordered in a large couch/fold out bed. A couple of large comfortable chairs and a travel trunk/coffee table rounded out the furniture in the small room. Some small florals she’d done and had decided against hanging in the gallery decorated the walls.
Along side the far wall stood a small desk complete with a laptop computer and a comfortable chair. When she looked out she looked out over a million dollar view of the marina and Chemainus harbour.
She turned around to look at Grant, eyes wide with astonishment. “I never expected anything like this! This is brilliant.”
“Don’t thank me,” he said. “Brad did a lot of the planning.”
“Brad?”
“He figured you could change things around once Elena’s got going and you had a bit more time but he wanted you to be comfortable right from the start. And you’d already ordered the sofa bed and furniture. It was just a matter of figuring out the layout.”
“It was a lot more than than,” she declared with tears in her eyes. “Really I’d have been perfectly happy if you’d just managed to get Elena’s up and running. This – this is so amazing.”
Grant and the workmen just grinned at her. “We do our best.”
“Well your best is pretty amazing. Really. I can’t thank you enough for this.”
“You already have,” he said simply. “Oh, I’ll show you the blinds too.”
“Blinds.”
“You don’t really want to wake up and face Chemainus in your pajamas everyday,” he said laughing. “Even though you’re above street level.” He pressed a button and sleek blinds that ran the length of her loft area from floor to ceiling snaked out of the wall and ran across the room effectively acting as a wall blocking her off from the rest of Elena’s. He turned on some lights and the area was bathed in a soft, glowing light.
“You also don’t want people coming into the gallery/café and looking up into your living area.”
She grimaced. “Ugh. It would be like being on display 24-7.”
“Exactly.”
She stood surveying Elena’s. Her dream was becoming a reality. And then what? Where did Brad come into all this? She’d worry about it later she decided twirling around. For now … This was her dream!
She was still walking on clouds when she arrived back at the Sea Side, feeling on top of the world, to find her mother waiting for her.
“Darling, you’re late,” her mother exclaimed, hurrying towards her.
“I’m not,” she protested. “I’m early.”
“But I was hoping we’d have a chance to talk before everyone else arrived,” her mother said.
“About what?” Elena said, looking around wildly for other family members.
“Everything,” her mother said, taking her by the arm. “I never see you anymore. You’re always so busy with your art and now your gallery.”
“We talk,” Elena said defensively.
“Not the way I’d like,” her mother said.
Elena rolled her eyes mentally. “Well, we’re together now.”
“Yes and I’m just dying to find out how you’re doing – I mean really,” her mother said leading her to a table set up for twenty or so over-looking the water.
“I’m fine,” she said. “I’m just really busy with this opening.”
“Is there anyone special in your life?”
“No,” Elena said shortly.
“But what about this Brad? He’s gorgeous.”
“It’s business mom.”
“Nothing’s ever just business,” her mother said knowingly.
“Well, this is,” Elena said stubbornly. She was not going to tell her mother anything else, give her any idea that they had ever kissed.
Her mother sighed as they sat down at her table. “If you were only more like Suzanne.”
Oh God, not the sainted Suzanne. She ordered a martini from the waitress and contemplated ordering a double. “Besides I’m still young.”
“Not that young,” her mother said sharply.
“Most people wait longer now,” Elena, said, noting in relief that her father was making his way across the room.
“Not always. Maria’s daughter just got married. And Kathleen’s.”
“So I have to be just like them?”
“That’s not what I meant darling.”
“Have I missed anything?” her dad said, giving her Mother a light kiss on the cheek as he sat down, joining them.
“Nothing important,” Elena said firmly.
“I was just pointing out that we were married by the time I was Elena’s age,” her mother said.
“There’s lots of time for that,” her Dad said heartily. “Let her have some fun. Besides getting a new business going takes a lot of time and energy.”
“I just don’t want her spending all her time working and not having any fun.”
“She’s over the worst of it now,” her dad said. “Once she’s got it up and running she’ll be able to ease off. Maybe we can all go on a trip together.”
Her mother brightened noticeably. “That might be just the thing. Maybe the Caribbean or Brazil.”
“I’m not committing to anything,” Elena said hurriedly. “Right now I just want to concentrate on the business.”
“You sound just like your father,” her mother pouted.
Thank God other members of the family were arriving. Suzanne and Mark were walking in now with her brother Nathan and his friends. She jumped up to meet them excited to see them again after so long. Talk turned to Mark’s latest business venture and Suzanne’s latest shopping acquisitions on Robson Street. Carefully not mentioned was Nathan’s recent decision to drop out of college. She’d have to try and get Nathan on his own for at least a few minutes this weekend and find out what was going on with him.
She loved her family. Just in small doses.
She looked up to find Mary coming in along with Bente and Jim who had Meghan and Star in tow. The baby was nowhere in sight. She greeted them with joy.
“I’m so glad to see you all! Mary I want you to meet my family.” She introduced them all slowly. “You’ve already met Bente and Jim. Let me introduce Star and Meghan.”
Star lit up with all the attention. “I’m so happy to meet you all,” she said in her most grown-up voice.”
“And we’re so happy to meet you,” her mother exclaimed. “You’re part of the family.”
She looked confused. “But you’re not my mother or …”
“She means because Elena’s your godmother Bente said hurriedly.”
Star’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. “That’s right!” She turned in confusion to Elena. “Does that mean she’s my God-Grandmother?”
“I guess it could,” Elena said laughing.
Star looked at her Mother more closely. “OK, but I still like my real Grandmother better.”
“That’s OK,” her Mother said laughing.
“Can I sit next to Elena?” Star asked.
“I think there’s already someone else sitting there,” her Mother said gently.
“Where. I don’t see anyone?”
“Because there isn’t anyone,” Elena said happily. “I’d be honoured to have you sit next to me.”
Her dad looked upset.
“Is there something wrong?”
“No. No. It’s just that I bumped into Brad earlier and I invited him. I thought maybe he could sit there.”
“It
doesn’t look like he’s here so that’s not a problem,” she said lightly even as she felt her heart lurch.
“I guess not,” her dad said. He gave Star a big smile.
She talked to her Aunt Margaret and Angie who she hadn’t seen since high-school and was shocked to find her youngest cousin Mara was now finished high-school herself and living on her own. Hours later she said her good-byes to the last remaining guest and made her way down to Elena’s for one last look. Plus, it gave her a chance to set up the ice-machines and make sure everything was ready for tomorrow.
Tomorrow!
There was a light up in her apartment. Assuming it was Grant and his crew putting some last minutes touches to it she made her way upstairs.
“Brad!”
He looked up, surprised. “I thought you’d be out for dinner.”
“But – what?” The bed-sofa had been turned out and a beautiful duvet and pillow set put on. A beautiful scent of vanilla and orange filled the room. But somehow she only had eyes for Brad. He looked tired, she thought.
“I sent Grant home,” he said simply. “I wanted to finish it myself.”
“You shouldn’t have. You could’ve come to dinner.”
He just shook his head. “That’s for you and your family.”
“In case you haven’t noticed it my family’s crazy about you,” she said wryly.
He stood up before her, his eyes searching hers. “But are you?”
“I,” she felt her breath catch in her throat as she turned from him. “You know I am,” she said.
“So what’s the problem?”
She turned to him, eyes full of fear and apprehension. “I’m not ready for this! I’m just trying to get Elena’s going. I don’t have time to think about – us,” she said.
He stepped closer, putting his hand on her chin and tipping it towards his. He kissed her lightly so that it took every ounce of her willpower not to throw her arms around him and show him just how she felt about him.
“I’m not asking for anything you can’t give,” Brad said, stepping back out of the danger zone. “I’ll wait.”
“I’m not ready for a relationship right now,” she said helplessly.
“I understand,“ he said lightly. “Like I said I won’t ask for anything you’re not ready to give.”