by Susan Meier
The video had moved on to shots of Peter and Marsha’s first house, followed by several Christmases with the family, then Marsha pregnant. Her reverent, hopeful voice as she massaged her tummy, speaking to unborn Joshua, cut through Dominic like a knife and tears spilled from his eyes.
“You shouldn’t have done this,” he whispered hoarsely.
Audra said nothing, only squeezed his hand.
With every scene the pain cut deeper. Though Dominic wanted to run away from the memories that were overwhelming, he couldn’t. Suddenly Marsha was in labor, cursing at Peter for taping her. Dominic couldn’t help it. He laughed. “God, she hated that he did this.”
“We didn’t put the whole birth in.” As quickly as Audra said it, the scene changed to a hospital bed and Marsha holding newborn Joshua.
Seeing her, Dominic couldn’t control his tears. Pulling his hand out of Audra’s, he lowered his face to his palm and sobbed. “No two people wanted a baby like they did.”
Audra paused the video. “I easily saw that from the videos.” She laid her hand on Dominic’s shoulder. “I know this is hard for you, but imagine how Joshua will feel when he’s old enough to understand. You don’t have to worry that he won’t know Peter and Marsha. You don’t have to feel you’re replacing them. You only need to love Joshua, to be their eyes and ears and hands. To say the words they would have said but can’t.” She rose from her seat, handing him the remote and several more CDs. “If you watch these with him as he’s growing up, you can fill in the blanks. You can tell him the stories no one else knows.”
She left Dominic alone in the entertainment room with a handful of CDs and a lifetime of memories. He spent the rest of the day there.
Audra wasn’t surprised that she didn’t see Dominic after she’d left him in the entertainment room. She suspected he had watched all the CDs. She knew he’d grieved all over again for the brother he missed so terribly that he couldn’t put it into words. She knew he wasn’t ready for company.
What she didn’t know was whether or not he appreciated what she had done or if he thought she’d overstepped her boundaries.
When he arrived in the nursery on Sunday morning, coffee in hand, the solemn look on his face told her nothing.
“Good morning.”
He cleared his throat. “Good morning.” He handed her a mug of coffee. “Modern technology certainly has changed the way we remember things.”
“You say that as if you’re not sure it’s good.”
“It’s wonderful for Joshua,” he said without hesitation. “But yesterday was hard on me.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry.” He sucked in a breath. “I needed to remember that Peter was just a person. But I also needed to be reminded that I had lots of ways to show Joshua his parents.” He caught her gaze. “Many people aren’t so lucky.”
“No, not everybody has tons of videos and still photos. Your family certainly is camera happy.”
He laughed and Audra relaxed. “Yeah, my mom and Peter were insane with the camera.” He caught her gaze. “But that was good.”
“That was very good,” Audra softly agreed.
He pulled in a breath. “So how’d you find the time to organize all that?”
“I didn’t. Regina, Wedding Belles’ photographer, spent the past few days doing nothing but going over your family’s videos and stills. The stills were apparently easy. It’s the video that took time. She wanted to put in just the right things to instantly get to the heart of who Peter and Marsha were.”
“She did a great job.”
“These videos will be good while Joshua’s in grade school. Then when he’s old enough he can look at all the tapes that Regina didn’t use. It will be like interacting with his parents in different ways and new environments.”
Dominic nodded. “But there’s a bit more to it than showing Joshua Peter’s life.” He pulled in another long draught of air. “I have to thank you for something else.”
She frowned. “Really?”
“Yes. The time you spent here has been as good for me as it has been for Joshua.”
She busied herself with gathering a fresh diaper and clean outfit for the baby. “I only taught you a few baby things.”
“No, it’s more. Audra—”
He paused again and Audra faced him. The expression in his eyes caused her heart to skip a beat. After all the thinking she’d done about her life and turning down casual dates in search of commitment, she felt totally different about him and a possible relationship between them. If he asked her to go out and have fun tonight, she wouldn’t tell him no.
She held her breath.
“You make me feel as if my life is important.”
Not expecting that, she tilted her head in question. “Your life is important.”
“No, I’m saying this badly.” He paced from the crib to the window and back again. “You make me feel as if the things I do, like raising Joshua, matter more than running the company. More than keeping the Manellis wealthy.”
Disappointment rattled through her. Not that she didn’t want him to find his way and be happy. She was thrilled for Joshua that Dominic had made a total turnaround and that he felt so much better about his situation. But she had a tightening in her chest. A premonition she sometimes experienced right before bad news.
Telling herself she was being silly, she said, “That’s wonderful.”
“You’re wonderful.”
The band around her heart squeezed again, but this time it was with hope. He did have feelings for her. She knew it in her soul. Still, she’d turned him down and told him no so many times she knew that the next move might have to be hers.
“You know, being here has changed me too. Being left at the altar made me feel I was a wash as a woman.”
He walked over to her and put his hands on her shoulders. “That’s hardly the case.”
“Well, thanks to you I understand that now.”
Her words drifted away into silence. With Joshua happily occupied in the crib, the quiet and privacy of their situation settled over Audra. They stood only inches apart. He still had his hands on her shoulders. They’d just admitted they liked and helped each other.
Now?
Their gazes caught and clung. He dipped his head and kissed her, pressing his lips to hers softly, hesitantly, kissing her with such emotion and tenderness that everything inside her stilled. He couldn’t hide the intensity of his feelings for her. He knew her now. This wasn’t about attraction or chemistry. This kiss was about genuine emotion.
They broke apart slowly. Their eyes met again.
Audra could barely breathe. Her last breath was stuck in her chest. Her blood virtually sang through her veins. But Dominic didn’t say anything. He only stared at her.
Finally she realized that maybe words weren’t necessary. They’d already told each other how they felt. He’d kissed her. If she were really part of his life, she wouldn’t be thrown by a kiss. The situation would continue on normally.
“Do you want to help with Joshua’s morning routine?”
He took a breath. “Sure. I’ll dress him myself again.”
He walked Joshua to the dressing table and Audra gathered his clothes.
He rolled the baby onto the changing table and leaned in so his face was close. “Hey, there, Joshua. You like this, don’t you?”
The baby cooed and laughed, slapping Dominic’s cheeks with his chubby fingers.
Dominic caught the baby’s hands and kissed each palm. “Behave.”
The baby laughed.
Audra’s heart swelled again. They were so cute together, so perfect and now it seemed as if she might fit into the picture, too.
Occupied with the baby, Dominic said, “I’m sorry that I keep getting distracted from something I want to tell you.”
Audra laughed and teasingly said, “Sorry?”
“Yeah. Every time I get distracted, I delay your stay here.” He peered over hi
s shoulder at her. “I’ve been trying to say that I’m very grateful for your help. I know this really put you out—put a strain on your already busy schedule.”
“Hey, don’t forget you paid me well, and helped the Wedding Belles keep a promise.”
He laughed. “You think we’re even?”
“Yes.”
“That may be true, but I’m not going to hold you to the entire one-month deal.”
“You’re not?”
Finished dressing Joshua, Dominic lifted the baby from the changing table. “No. There aren’t words enough to thank you. So I think letting you out of the deal early is the best way to show my gratitude.”
Holding the baby, he walked over and stood in front of her. “We owe this to you,” he said, indicating the peace and comfort between him and his little boy. “We’ll never forget you.”
With that he turned and began walking to the door. “You’re free to go.”
Audra stood frozen. Just when she was ready to stay—or date him—certainly not expecting to go—she was free.
She packed in less than an hour and went looking for Dominic but was told he and the baby were out in the yard again. Beaming, Mary Greene hugged her daughter, told her she was proud of her, thanked her and then also just sort of dismissed her.
Audra had never felt so awkward. Had she only been a servant to him? An employee?
She took a long breath, glancing around the huge, silent foyer at the luxury, and knew the truth. She had only been an employee to him. And this Cinderella had to get back to the real world.
Swallowing hard, she lifted her suitcase and walked out. No fanfare. No emotion. Just silence.
Returning from a business lunch on Monday afternoon, with his driver’s attention on the back road they’d taken to Mark Makin’s residence, Dominic relaxed on his seat. Though he wished they wouldn’t, his thoughts drifted to Audra.
The CDs she’d had made filled a hole Dominic hadn’t known how to cope with. But the gesture itself told him more about Audra than he could have ever learned in a thousand dates. She saw through all his facades to the heart of his problem. Though she couldn’t fix it, she had found a solution. Dominic hadn’t felt this good in years.
And he’d had to let her go.
That didn’t seem right. Fair. Something. Until he thought of the situation from Audra’s perspective. He couldn’t offer her anything permanent. Until his own life settled down a bit he couldn’t even think about finding his own Mabel Fortune. So from time to time he’d miss Audra. But he’d have to deal with it.
He took a breath and glanced out of the window at the beautiful landscape, realizing why Mark had built his estate this far out in the country and why he worked from his home office. The peace and tranquility of the area seemed to seep into Donminic’s soul.
The road wound through farmland, occasionally disturbed by a small town, until the ratio of small towns to farms shifted. On the edge of the final town before Dominic’s driver would have eased onto the highway into Boston, an enormous sign announced Gina’s Italian Restaurant.
Normally the sign wouldn’t have caught his attention, but taking in the scenery as he had been, he couldn’t miss it. Just then he saw a car like Audra’s in the parking lot. It wasn’t the only gray car of that make he’d ever seen with a bright-red bumper sticker, but if the bumper sticker said Wedding Belles, then he pretty much figured Audra was in the restaurant.
On impulse, he leaned forward, tapped Jimmy’s shoulder and said, “Pull in there.”
As Jimmy maneuvered around the lot, he said, “Drive by that car. See if you can read the bumper sticker.”
Jimmy laughed. “The bumper sticker?”
“It should say something about wedding planners—”
Jimmy’s eyes narrowed as he looked ahead at the car Dominic thought was Audra’s. “No wedding planners… Wedding Belles…”
“That’s it,” Dominic said with a laugh. “Drop me off at the door. I won’t be long.” He just wanted to say hello. Really. Just say hello and see her. Just for a minute.
“Yes, sir.”
He couldn’t imagine why she’d have lunch this late…or at a restaurant so far out of town. But here she was and he couldn’t resist stopping.
He stepped out of his car and walked to the door. When he pushed it open, darkness greeted him. As his eyes adjusted, he saw neon lights advertising different brands of beer above a dimly lit wood bar, but the only light in the rest of the room came from candles on the center of tables covered with red-and-white checked tablecloths.
It was close to two o’clock in the afternoon. Lunch was over and dinnertime wasn’t for a few hours, but the bar was packed. And the clientele didn’t look the best in the world. Denim, leather vests and jackets, biker chains and boots dominated the room.
A roar of laughter erupted from the area beyond the bar, and Dominic saw three or four guys playing pool.
Ignoring that, he scanned the restaurant section, looking for Audra. It took a few scans before he found her, sitting at the last table in the corner of the otherwise empty dining room. Alone.
Alone? She’d come to an out-of-town restaurant alone? A restaurant that had this kind of crowd?
A short, bald man approached. A huge red apron covered his white shirt and black trousers. “Can I help you, sir?”
“Uh…” He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been to a restaurant were the maître d’ didn’t know his name. Or the last time he’d gone to a restaurant without a reservation. Worse, he hadn’t come here for food.
He pointed to the far corner where Audra sat. “Do you know that woman back there?”
He followed Dominic’s line of vision and smiled. “Audra.”
“Audra Greene?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
“Can I sit with her?”
He laughed. “I’d say that’s up to her.” He grabbed a menu and led Dominic through the maze of tables, stopping at Audra’s. Up close Dominic could see her laptop open at the place beside hers. Though there was a salad in front of her, her gaze was on the papers to her right.
As they approached, she glanced up. “Dominic?”
“Hey.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I saw your car as I was driving by. Bumper sticker gives you away.”
She winced. “I guess.”
“A little advertising never hurt anyone.” He pointed at the empty place. “Mind if I sit?”
She scrambled to gather her papers, but he stopped her. “Don’t worry about it. I just want a cup of coffee—”
He turned to the man in the apron as he said that, and the man scurried away. Sitting on the chair across from her, he said, “What’s up?”
She took a breath. “I’m working.”
“This is Wedding Belles’ office?”
“No, we’re in a brownstone.” She took another breath. “Julie does the bookkeeping for Wedding Belles and there really isn’t enough other work for a full-time accountant, so I have additional clients on the side.”
He glanced around. “Places like this?”
She tilted her head in question. “Gina’s is a very popular restaurant.”
“I can see it’s popular, but I don’t see anybody eating.” His gaze paused meaningfully on the men playing pool.
“This used to be a biker bar. Every once in a while a group wanders in, expecting a different atmosphere.”
He laughed.
She finally smiled. “Really, they’re harmless. After a time or two of trying to shoot pool in a place that’s playing Dean Martin’s Italian love songs, they pretty much don’t come back.”
When the waiter returned with Dominic’s coffee, Audra said, “Bring Mr. Manelli a plate of manicotti. Put it on my bill.”
“Sure.”
The waiter scampered away again.
“I’ve had lunch.”
She shrugged. “So, you’ll only have a bite to sample it. Then you’ll understand why I think th
is restaurant is going to be Boston’s next big thing.”
“And you’ll be the accountant for Boston’s next big thing?”
She smiled. “Yeah. Nothing wrong with that. I like upstarts. People at the beginning of something big. Dreaming and then making those dreams come true.”
He’d never heard that kind of excitement in her voice. “You like what you do?”
“Of course, I do.” She toyed with her fork, then looked him in the eye. “Before I met David, I had a dream of someday becoming a CEO. Of running something really important. I think I forgot that.”
“Oh?”
She took a breath. “Yeah. I was sort of trying to tell you this the other day in the nursery, but—”
“But I kissed you, then asked you to leave.”
She nodded.
He sat back on his chair. “Huh.”
Audra said nothing. That was as close as she would allow herself to come to telling him that she’d accept a date if he offered.
He looked around again, brought his gaze back to hers and said, “How does this fit into that plan?”
She laughed. “It’s a very long road to get to the office on the top floor. So I’m creating my own. I’ve already started my own accounting firm.” She shrugged. “Who knows? With enough clients like this—clients who expand—pretty soon I might be able to hire help.”
She motioned in a circle. “Gina and Tony are already looking at a second location for Gina’s in the city. They can do that because they built up a rental property business, long before they opened Gina’s. Not just so they’d have capital to invest, but also to have money to live on.” She smiled at him. “Someday, when you’re looking for an investor, you may just be coming to them.”
He glanced around. Audra’s heart was in her throat. She couldn’t be more plain if she spelled it out on a blackboard, yet he didn’t seem to be getting it.
The waiter returned with the manicotti. “This is Tony, by the way. Tony, this is Dominic Manelli.”
Dominic rose to shake his hand. “A pleasure to meet you.”
“You, too.” Tony bobbed his head. “Taste Gina’s manicotti. See if that doesn’t make you weep and thank your Maker.”