"I am so glad we stepped back into our traditional roles. When you took over again as HOH, our lives began to turn around. I agreed you were completely in charge, so I have no right to challenge your decisions. You always make decisions based on what is best for both of us, not only yourself. I know you will do anything to keep our kids and me safe and protected.
"I have been so much happier in the last six months. Coming here was the right decision. You not telling me earlier about your inheritance was also the right decision. Our marriage is stronger than ever and I am a better person. You allowed me the time to find myself."
"Jenny, you were always there. You were overshadowed by your mother. I never realized exactly how strong of a hold she had on you until we moved to Waterbury. If I had seen it before then, I wouldn't have allowed the move. I have to accept blame for such a bad decision. I was not fulfilling my duty as HOH. Are we okay now?"
"Of course, we are okay. I am thrilled this happened for you. I can't believe your grandfather knew about you and still left you all alone to fend for yourself." Jenny smiled. "I do want a few changes though."
"Uh, oh," Josh groaned.
Jenny waggled her eyebrows at him. She giggled to tease him for a moment, and then she straightened. "This is serious."
"Okay."
"I am opening my own checking account." At his frown, she squeezed his hand. "I was financially responsible when I was only twenty before we married. I was poor and struggling, yet I had a checking account. I balanced the darn thing and lived on what I earned because I didn't have any choice." She laughed. "There was never more than two hundred dollars in my account, but I tracked every penny of it. I did not like doing it, but I did it anyway. You know I hate dealing with numbers. When we first got married, you took over the finances since you are stronger in math. You told me how much we had to spend and I stayed within budget because we had nothing to fall back on.
"We complain about my mother being spoiled, but you spoiled me, Josh. As our income grew, you allowed me to spend without taking any responsibility.
"The point is, I need to be responsible and accountable for money. I am responsible when it comes to the house and the kids and you. It is okay for you to continue to hold me accountable for the household budget. You love your financial sheets and your programs.
"However, I need to handle my own bank account. With my art selling at top dollar, I want to open a checking account and be solely responsible for it. If I go broke, I go broke. I won't be able to blame anyone except myself. I don't want you coming to my rescue, either. It begins and ends with me."
He listened, frowned, and asked, "My turn?"
She nodded yes.
"Can I remind you to balance your checking account?"
She nodded yes again.
"Can I set up spreadsheets to make it easier? It will be a business and you have to treat it as such. Can I review your numbers occasionally?"
Jenny frowned.
"Come on, Jen, it's me or an accountant," Josh coached. "You are so right-brained dominant, you could model for the type. You are creative, nurturing and loving, but you are not analytical. You not only hate math, you are lousy at it."
"Those old theories have been debunked for years," protested Jenny.
"I have the proof sitting in front of me."
"Damn those brain-study tests we took in college. It is not fair that you use a balance of right and left!"
"Hey, those studies paid for two semesters of college," Josh said. "They were worth it."
Jenny gave a sigh. "Okay, but only until I get the hang of it. Don't roll your eyes in disbelief, I intend to follow through. I have to set a good example for our daughter after all."
He grinned. "Now, setting a good example for Emmie is a great motivator. Are we okay with everything else?"
Jenny laughed. "I'm not stupid! What could be wrong with fifty-seven million dollars?"
"A lot, if you think we will spend it willy-nilly," Josh cautioned. "This," he said wagging a finger in the air indicating their surroundings, "this is way bigger than what we will ever need. If your art takes off, you should think about taking over Mila's area for a studio."
"Where is Mila going?" Jenny demanded indignantly.
"I thought she could come over here after we move into the main house. She would have more space."
"Oh, that does work out well," agreed Jenny falling back into his arms. "Wow, fifty-seven million dollars."
"Wow," Josh repeated. "It does take some getting used to. I will still keep you on a household budget until I am sure you can handle it, no more lost receipts, or large purchases without prior discussion. We had the rule earlier and I am reinstating it. No getting the big head and thinking you need cooks, and nannies, and maids."
Jenny laughed. "The big head? Where did you learn such an expression?"
"Local charm, I guess," Josh admitted.
Jenny stretched out to put her feet on the coffee table and gave him a sidelong look. "Is our 'mystery boss' still making the final decisions?"
"Yes, you can bet a sore bottom on it," Josh teased.
"Including the decorating?" Jenny insisted. "It was supposed to be my part of this job."
"Ouch," Josh laughed and kissed her. "I know I have already lost that battle!"
* * *
"Are you sure you don't want to leave the kids here with me?" Mila asked as she helped Jenny with last minute packing.
Jenny shook her head. "Josh and his friends—partners now—want all the families together. I think it's a good idea. I only know Paula, Brice's wife. They were like us, married before they were out of college. We didn't know each other very well then, but we liked each other. I haven't met Bill and Matt's wives yet. You can come with us."
"No, thanks," Mila laughed. "This is your deal, two adults and two kids in a hotel room for three days is not my idea of fun. I plan to enjoy quiet time with my Little Kevin."
"What about Big Kevin?" Jenny teased.
Mila smiled. "He will be around, I'm sure. He has a few jobs to finish so he can close out his books for this year. I also want to work on straightening out the books in the library. Whoever was in there rummaging through them messed with my system."
"Please be careful," Jenny exclaimed. "I know Kevin changed the locks, but be extra careful. I wish we could catch whoever is doing this."
"I'll be careful," Mila promised. "My guard dog will be here watching over me. I do not mean Buddy, either. Josh has already told me Kevin is staying in your house."
"He could stay with you and make it cozier," Jenny teased.
"Not yet," Mila said.
* * *
"It was a beautiful drive, but I wouldn't want to make it every day," Jenny exclaimed flopping on the bed.
Emmie climbed onto the bed beside her. "Sleepy, Mommy?"
"No, baby, getting my second wind," Jenny promised as Josh dropped Adam to his feet and rolled a large suitcase into the hotel room. "You drove the entire trip. I will get the rest of the luggage."
"Sit," Josh said. "You wrangled the kids for two hours. We have plenty of time for kid naps and adult rest before we meet for dinner at Brice's place." He went back out the door for another load.
* * *
"Please, do not desert me with the wives," Jenny said as they rang the doorbell.
Josh grimaced. "I might have to, tonight is our last chance to make any changes before the big presentation tomorrow."
"If you haven't worked out every single detail by now, it is too late," Jenny scolded.
"No promises. We are the guests."
Several hours later as the four wives sat together, they laughed.
"This is so typical," Melanie Gabriel complained. "They do every time. They wander off to talk business and strand us with the kids."
"You don't have a kid, yet," Paula Haroldson said, looking at her friend's large stomach. "It won't be long, though."
"It's already overcooked," Melanie exclaimed. "I thought firs
t babies were early. What happened to that rule?"
"There are no rules when it comes to babies," Jenny said. "My first was late, my second was early. They come when they feel like it."
"Mine were planned," Diane Johnson chimed in, "C-sections." She stood. "I'm going to drag them back here."
"Oh, let me do it," Melanie laughed, "Watch."
As Diane returned to the sofa, Melanie leaned back in her chair and very quietly squeaked, "Bill," as she made a high-pitched whimper.
Two seconds later, Bill Gabriel dashed through the door. "Mel, are you okay?"
"Of course. I'm so glad you decided to join us."
"I thought I heard you moan," Bill exclaimed inspecting her with frantic eyes.
"Did you?" Melanie said sweetly. "I'm fine, honey. If I were in labor, I wouldn't moan, I would scream." She patted the sofa beside her. "Come, sit."
Bill sat down beside his very pregnant wife still watching her stomach as if it would explode at any moment. Meanwhile, the other three men joined them in the living room for conversation.
* * *
Josh handed Jenny a credit card. "Do not go crazy."
"We are shopping at baby boutiques for gifts for Melanie," Jenny countered. "We don't need anything for Adam, although I might be tempted to buy something for Little Kevin. We don't know Melanie too well. Our gift should not be extravagant. Besides, we will have all the kids with us so it will be a quick excursion before we head to Melanie's place. Call me as soon as your presentation is over."
"It may be hours. These things tend to run long, but as soon as I can, I will call," Josh pulled at his tie, and Jenny reached over to straighten it, again.
"If you give it your best, you will get the contract," Jenny said firmly.
"Right," Josh said, loosening his tie and taking a deep breath. "Okay, let's get the kids in the car so you can drop me off."
* * *
Josh, Brice, Bill, and Matt assembled in the conference room of their brand new offices. They had set up their computers and tested the new Apple TV 3 System repeatedly. They had decided to ditch a projector altogether and opted instead for an HDTV coupled with an Apple TV 3. With this setup, they were able to present wirelessly to an 110" wall-mounted flat screen. Anyone could walk in and mirror their devices, including audio, directly to the TV screen from anywhere in the room. Neat sets of printed presentation materials waited at the center of the conference table. The four men were sure of their designs and their specialties, but they were nervous.
Bill Whiting, Joe Turner, and three additional men arrived ten minutes early. The recently hired part-time Office Manager, Karen Moore, escorted the visitors into the conference room where the men introduced themselves and shortly dispensed with small talk. It was show time. Josh took the lead. It was his design and, although Brice knew them well, this was Josh's coup.
"Gentlemen…."
* * *
Mila bundled Little Kevin into his car-seat carrier, covered him with a blanket, and brought him to the main house where she went directly to the library. Although she was busy taking care of the baby much of the time, there were still too many empty hours to fill. She was used to working long, hard days. She read, she organized her housing area, and even went online to check out employment possibilities, although she was months away from making any decisions about what she would do with the rest of her life. She was bored.
When Jenny and the kids were around, she had more to occupy her time. She wished she were creative so she could lose herself in a project, but she was not. She did not paint, do crafty things, sew, bake, or any of a gazillion other things. She had tried, but she simply was not so inclined. Her work had always kept her busy before. She was thinking about taking classes at the local college the next semester.
She put Little Kevin down, made sure he was warm and went to work organizing the library. This she could do. She was a born detail person, which is why engineering suited her.
When she repacked and taped all the boxes on the first level, she considered the second tier. It was almost time for Little Kevin's mid-morning nursing, so she checked on him first, but he was sleeping quietly. Sleeping was all he did except for short moments when he stayed awake long enough for her to coax him to coo at her. He was a perfect baby.
She gathered several empty boxes and began climbing the spiral steps. She would come down the moment Little Kevin made a peep. She was on the third tread from the top when suddenly the metal stairway broke away from the wall with an earsplitting screech. Mila screamed as she dropped several steps. She grabbed for a railing, anything solid, as the metal staircase shrieked again and swayed away from the second-story walkway.
She froze in place as the empty boxes slid past her to the floor, followed by a piece of the railing from above. When the spiral staircase stopped moving, Mila was dangling by her hands with the lower half of her body unsupported by anything. She gripped the railing tighter as the staircase swayed slightly, again. She was ten or twelve feet from the floor. Ordinarily, she would have taken the chance of letting go and dropping to the floor. Unfortunately, she was hanging directly over a table where Jenny had collected vases, metal urns, and wrought-iron fireplace tools she thought they could reuse. The piece of railing had somehow missed the table when it fell, but the arrangement presented a dangerous field of spears below her.
Little Kevin began mewing.
Mila tightened her grip with one hand to hold her entire weight while slowly moving her other hand to her shirt pocket for her phone. Every shift of weight caused the stairway to sway. She flipped open her phone, pressed two buttons, and waited for an answer.
"Yeah," Kevin's voice was snappish and annoyed.
"I need you," Mila breathed as Little Kevin gave a loud cry and she felt her milk release in response.
"Mila?"
There was another screech of metal, she screamed and grabbed for the railing with both hands. Her phone hit the floor and shattered. The spiral stairwell finally stopped swaying and settled again. Barely breathing, Mila saw the leaning stairway had caught on the metal post above her where the section of railing had fallen. Somehow, in her last leap for the railing, her foot had gained purchase and she had a tentative hold.
She barely dared breathe. If the stairway did not move again, she could hold on, but for how long? Kevin was in full crying mode, her milk was gushing, and she could not move.
* * *
Kevin was supervising the last of the kitchen project for his arrogant pain-in-the-ass client. It was only ten in the morning and Kevin already wanted to put his fist through a wall. He had finally thrown the client out of the room when the man began shouting at Kevin's deaf cousins. Kevin had told him his cousins were deaf from the beginning, he had to speak only with Kevin. This time Kevin informed his client Wayne and Lee were deaf, not stupid, and shouting at them was rude and unnecessary. He warned the egotistical asshole to get out and stay out, or they were walking off the job after they ripped out every piece of work they had installed in his kitchen.
"You can't speak to me this way, I'll sue!"
"Try it, asshole," Kevin growled. "I'll sue you for violating the ADA. For your information, it is the Americans with Disabilities Act, which protects people with disabilities from assholes like you. Go ahead and tangle with me. I will make sure no one within a hundred-mile radius finishes your house. Hell, extend it to two-hundred miles. Now, take your know-it-all attitude and stay out of our way if you want this kitchen finished. Otherwise, we walk!"
The man stormed off with his wife screaming at him to let the crew finish their work.
"Let's do this, so we can get out of here," Kevin said speaking and signing simultaneously, his normal way of communicating with his men. Another hour or so and they would be done. He glanced angrily toward the doorway where his client had disappeared. He bet dollars to donuts the asshole planned to delay the last payment on the job or take Kevin to court.
His phone rang. He barely heard Mila's faint vo
ice over the whine of a saw, but he heard her scream.
"Joe! Call the police and everybody else. Get them up to the Grayson place! Now!" He ran to his truck, gunned the engine, and had the truck moving before the door swung closed. As he spun out of the ritzy housing development, he tried Mila's cell, but there was no answer.
Response to his cousin's request for support was fast, but Kevin still passed the Deputy's car and nearly caught the fire truck before it turned off onto the long lane. He was on their tail, as they all careened to a stop in front of the house. There was no sign of smoke. Kevin leaped onto the deck, unlocking Mila's door and shouting, but there was no an answer. He ran to unlock the door at the main house.
"Mila!" he shouted. He heard the cry of the baby and ran to the library followed by four firefighters and a deputy.
"Mila!"
"Don't touch the stairs," Mila warned a firefighter who came close. "Any change in weight and it may come down completely. Get my baby out of here, please."
"Extension ladders are propped against the back of the house. We'll need at least two. Through the kitchen to the left," Kevin ordered. Two of the firefighters ran to obey.
"It's okay, Mila. We'll get you down. Are you hurt?"
Mila exhaled noisily, it was clear she was trying not to sob. "No, get Little Kevin, please."
Kevin motioned to the two other firefighters. "Move that stuff from under her, but be careful and don't bump into the stairway! Kevin walked over to lift the baby out of his carrier seat and hand him to a surprised young Deputy Dolan. "Walk and jiggle him over there out of the way."
Kevin scrutinized the precariously leaning staircase before turning to the firefighters. "We need rope. We have to stabilize the stairwell before we can move her. Otherwise, it might come crashing down on everyone." He pointed to various sections of the room. "We have to tie it off from here to here, and from there to there."
The two firefighters returned with the extension ladders, and Mila watched from her dangling perch as Kevin directed them. They carefully tied and lashed ropes to the leaning structure until it was steady enough for one of the firefighters to climb a ladder and pry Mila's stiff fingers from the railings. He balanced her carefully and lowered her to another firefighter. They all stopped moving and held their breath when the stairway gave a sudden lurch straining against the ropes, but it held in place. The second firefighter lowered Mila to Kevin's outstretched arms.
Broken Vows (Domestic Discipline Romance) Page 27