“Really, really glad we could,” Vondrelle said.
Olivia stopped and thought for a moment. “But you’re still doing the Vancouver thing, though, right?”
“Yes, yes, I am. Don’t worry. I convinced them to give me a few more hours before I needed to be there. I’ll be flying back out tomorrow night.”
“But you’ll be so tired by then,” Olivia said.
Vondrelle laughed. “And that’s why they invented adjustable seats. So that tired, old broads like me could get some sleep when we needed.”
While everyone sat around drinking wine and telling Christmas stories and waiting for Christmas dinner, Olivia and Alistair stole some time alone. “Did I tell you yet today how much I love you?” Olivia said, clasping her hand around Alistair’s.
“Not only did you tell me, you showed me.”
Long after the gifts were opened and Christmas dinner eaten, Loretta invited Olivia downstairs to the den where the two of them took a seat on the sofa. With everyone else contained upstairs, the downstairs area was quiet.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I already forewarned Alistair I’d be doing this. Told him since he kept you away from me for so long I’d be stealing you off to myself to get to know you a little better.”
“Oh, not at all,” Olivia said. “Dinner was wonderful, by the way. Thanks again for having me.”
“Oh please...I’ve been dying to meet you, but Alistair wouldn’t let me. Something about waiting until the time was right.” Loretta chuckled. “Well I told him, if she’s the right woman, the time is always right.”
“I guess we’ve both been so busy, it’s been hard setting aside the time. Poor Alistair’s been working double duty at work then spending most of his evenings with the house.” said Olivia.
“Oh that boy.” Loretta smiled and shook her head. “Always had it in his head to become a millionaire.”
“He’s good at what he does. He’s got a great mind for business.”
“And so do you he tells me.”
“I suppose...”
“Forget about being modest and speak the truth.” Loretta grinned at her.
Olivia returned a sheepish grin. It was weird actually sitting and talking to Loretta. Until today, she’d only heard about this colorful woman. She was sure there had been a string of women before her who had failed to make the grade and now here she was, sitting next to Loretta, praying she measured up to what the woman wanted for her son. “Well, I do have a penchant for closing business deals that seem to work...I will admit that.”
“Why my son as opposed to all the other men throwing themselves in your direction?” Loretta asked, shifting the topic of conversation suddenly.
Olivia was caught off guard. But the look of curiosity on Loretta’s face allowed her to relax. She was clearly, genuinely interested in the woman who had managed to steal her son’s heart. “You mean aside from the fact that he’s a drop-dead beautiful man?” Olivia laughed.
Loretta gave half-smile. “He favors his father Leonard. Only in looks though. He gets his heart from me.” She put a hand across her heart.
“I see.” Olivia nodded pleasantly, while carefully forming the right answer to Loretta’s question in her head. As confident as she was in everyday life, she’d never been grilled by the mother of any man in her life before. Certainly not Theo’s. “I think it’s because we connect on an intellectual level.” Olivia realized at that moment that she’d never been asked that question before. But her answer was honest and truthful.
“So tell me...what are you looking for...what is it that you really want out of life? Are you just career-focused...do you want to be a mother at all?”
Olivia’s thoughts immediately rewound to the first conversation she’d ever had with Alistair and him telling her his mother wanted grandchildren. “I do want that, yes. I think there’s room for both.” She couldn’t believe the words she’d just uttered. Not because she’d actually said it aloud, but because she actually meant them.
A look of relief washed over Loretta’s face then. She burst into laughter. “Whew! That makes a world of difference.”
Olivia laughed, too. She realized how badly she wanted it all with Alistair. She hadn’t wanted any of those things before with any man before. She’d been content just being Theo’s steady girlfriend, sharing a relationship while sharing separate lives in a sense. She’d bristled at the thought of him ever proposing to her because she’d known in her heart of hearts she would have told him no. Yet months later, here she was, ready for it all. Ready to take the leap toward marriage and motherhood. She hadn’t seen any of this coming. Loretta had opened the floodgates of her desires and she felt the urge to go running upstairs to Alistair and tell him she wanted him for a lifetime and to be his wife. That she wanted his babies. Her breath caught in her throat. She felt a hand on her arm just then.
“Are you okay, sweetie?” Loretta asked, interrupting her thoughts with a gentle touch.
“Yeah, I’m okay.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Covered in sawdust from head to toe, Alistair paced the freshly laid hardwood floor impatiently. It was half-past one and the delivery still hadn’t yet arrived. He’d taken a day off work to devote time to the Vanier House. They were already almost two weeks past schedule and Alistair was at the point where he just wanted the house finished and on the market. The flipping process had been labour intensive. As much as he’d enjoyed the creative side of things, he was ready to unload this one and get started on another. He took a walk-through, admiring all the hard work he and Trey had put in so far.
He stood in the huge master bedroom upstairs and beamed with pride. Knocking down the wall adjoining the master suite to the tiny little bedroom next to it had proven to be a work of genius. The sprawling room, coupled with the master bath with its Jacuzzi tub and his and hers granite top vanity would make the house saleable in a hot real estate market. Ironically enough, of all the rooms in the house, this was his favorite while Olivia had chosen the gourmet kitchen as her favorite. He supposed it was because she’d had carte blanche in choosing all the kitchen hardware. She insisted it was kitchens that sold houses and he’d told her not to discount the importance of the master suite. Of all the showings he’d done over the years, he’d found that while women went gaga over kitchens, the importance of the master suite was something both men and women had to agree on. That was the place sweet music was made after all, he grinned to himself. He heard the door downstairs close and peeked out the upstairs window hoping to see the delivery truck in the driveway. His hopes were dashed when the only vehicle he saw in the driveway was the used pickup truck he’d purchased for hauling junk and Trey’s beat up car parked against the curb. He made his way out of the room and downstairs where Trey was standing with a vacant look in his eyes.
“Man you know we’re on a tight deadline. Why are you so late getting here?” Alistair questioned him, annoyed that while he toiled tirelessly, Trey had leisurely taken his time arriving.
Going over and sitting on the window ledge, Trey pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pants pocket. “Sorry...” he said, pulling a cigarette out of the pack, lighting it up and taking a puff.
“And what’s with the smoking?” Alistair glanced at the cigarette in his hand. “I haven’t seen you smoke in years. This is hardly the time to be taking up smoking again.”
Trey’s expression suddenly changed. “Look man, will you just lay off me?” he said angrily. “I said I was sorry for getting here late, and now you’re berating me for smoking?” He shook his head, took a long puff of his cigarette, and exhaled.
Alistair knew his baby brother well enough to know something was up. Trey was usually a good spirit. Very rarely did one see his angry side. Going over to Trey’s side of the room, Alistair sat down on the ledge next to him. “So...care to talk about what’s bothering you?”
“There’s nothing to talk about.” Trey flicked ashes into a nearby empty coffee cup.
&nbs
p; “There’s obviously something to talk about. You normally don’t just wander in here late, looking as exhausted and worn as you do right now. I’m all ears, bro. Tell me what’s going on.”
Trey sighed. “Honestly, I don’t know where to start.”
“Just start talking and we’ll go from there,” Alistair said.
“I think she’s itching to bounce.”
“Jazlynn?”
Trey nodded.
Alistair was surprised. Jazlynn and his brother always appeared to be blissfully happy together. “What makes you think that?”
“I came home the other night and found brochures for different fashion schools out of the country. Hit me like a ton of bricks.”
Alistair had always known Jazlynn had a love of fashion. She’d told him early on that she hoped to open her own fashion boutique and start her own line of clothing someday. “Well, I know she’s dreaming of starting her own fashion line one day. I’m sure that’s all this is.”
“Yes. And the best fashion designers go to elite fashion schools.”
“So, have you talked to her about it yet?”
Trey took a long drag of his cigarette. “What is there to talk about? She purposely left the brochures out where she knew I’d find them. I’d say that’s proof enough.”
“Okay, so let’s say she does plan to go to fashion school. I’m sure the two of you could work something out.”
“Like what? Me follow her around, hanging off her arm like a fashion accessory while she jets off Paris and Milan? Don’t think so. I’m not about to give up my manhood to become some woman’s boy toy.”
“Oh come on. You’d be more than her boy toy. The two of you love each other after all.”
“Not so sure anymore.”
“Well I don’t think you can be sure about any of this until you guys talk about it.”
“It’s on her to talk about it. She’s the one leaving little clues around the house to tell me she wants out of the relationship.
“What did I just say to you? I said talk about it. Then you’ll know for sure,” Alistair said again. “Many promising relationships have been ruined because of misunderstandings.”
“Shit,” Trey said, angrily squishing his cigarette onto the side of the coffee cup, butting it out. “I should have listened to you months ago when you told me she was too young to know what she wanted out of life yet. I could have saved myself from going through this shit.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Olivia met Bertram in his office promptly at ten o’clock, quietly sipping her tea while she waited on him to finish a phone call. Lately, she’d been feeling lethargic and supposed it was due to racing back and forth between meeting clients then back to the office then rushing home at night to prepare hot meals to take over to Alistair and Trey while they worked all hours into the night trying to finish the flip. In the meantime, Jazlynn had been putting in extra hours at the boutique, so much so, Trey mentioned he barely even saw her. Olivia had questioned Jazlynn’s intense work schedule, curious as to why she was in need of the extra money when she and Trey were sharing the bills. Jazlynn said she was trying to establish her own nest egg and didn’t want to rely on a man—had said she had plans. When Jazlynn told her what those plans were Olivia was surprised.
“So you’re still wanting to go to fashion school?” she’d asked. “I thought you’d abandoned the idea?”
“I didn’t abandon it. Just put it on the back burner.”
“Okay...so why right now?”
“Why not right now?”
“I’m just wondering. Well anyway, like I said before, there’s a good fashion design program at the college. And I think it would be go...“
“Local?” Jazlynn laughed. “Oh God no. I’ve got my sights set on one of the big fashion schools...maybe even overseas.”
Olivia was taken aback. “Wow. So what do you plan to tell Trey?”
“What is there to tell him? This is my dream. And I’m sure not going to give it up for a man.”
“Don’t know Jazlynn...perhaps you should have thought of this, or at least told him that before moving in with him.”
“It’s not the end of the world. It’s not like we bought a house together or anything. It’s just an apartment for God sakes.”
“This is not about an apartment,” Olivia said firmly. “It’s about the relationship. One that I thought you were supposedly all gung-ho for.”
“If Aunt Von can fulfill her dreams without a man holding her back then so can I.”
“Aunt Von doesn’t have a man holding her back because she’s a widow. She didn’t throw a man to the curb to get where she is right now.”
“Well we talked when she was home for Christmas and she told me to follow my heart, so that’s what I plan to do.”
“I’m sure she thought you were including Trey somewhere in those plans.”
“Well whatever she meant. I had an epiphany. You’re not the only one who can have them around here.”
Despite the maturity she thought she’d seen in Jazlynn over the past several months, it was clear that she was just a flighty little girl who still had a lot to learn. “Whether you like it or not, you should have been smart enough to think this out this before moving in with Trey.”
“Please enlighten me to the part where I’m bound to Trey. We’re not married, remember? At least we weren’t the last time I checked.”
Poor Trey, Olivia thought as she eased back against the leather chair and rested her head on the headrest. She took a sip of green tea. He was bound to be devastated. He was deeply in love with Jazlynn according to Alistair.
Bertram hung up the phone with a click. “Sorry about that. So how are things, Ms. Putnam?”
“Pretty good.”
“How’s the house flipping business coming along?”
Olivia laughed. “I have the dubious honor of keeping my hands clean while watching from the sidelines and offering critiques when necessary. Seriously though, it’s coming along nicely. My guy’s been putting in some crazy hours to get it ready for the market.”
“Well I’m glad to hear it.” Bertram cleared his throat, moving papers aside on his desk until he found what he was looking for. “I have an assignment for you. This one involves some travel.”
In the past Olivia would have been giddy with excitement over traveling out of town to lend her legal expertise to one of the bigger cases. But that part of her had changed. She had other things to tend to. For one, a man who loved her dearly and with whom she’d started a new company with. The thought of leaving him for a week and traveling out of town was almost too much to bear. Olivia shifted in her seat. “What’s it all about?”
“Two large conglomerates have decided to merge and you were the first associate I...”
Just then Olivia’s secretary opened the door. “There’s a phone call for you at your desk, Miss Putnam.”
“Can you take a message and tell them I will get back to them as soon as my meeting is finished?”
“Actually, they said it’s urgent. Someone named Christine Evans.”
Upon hearing the name, Olivia bolted from her chair. Christine calling her at work could only mean one thing. Simone was in labor. “It’s my friend Simone,” she said to Bertram. “You know the pregnant one? Her mother must be calling me to tell me she’s in labor.”
Bertram’s brow furrowed for a moment. He relaxed his face. He nodded. “Yes, yes. I remember you telling me about her. Don't worry about this right now...we'll get back to this later. Just hurry up and go be there for your friend."
“Thanks a million Bertram. Appreciate it,” Olivia said, turning and heading for the door, feeling a little lightheaded as she did. Simone was finally having her babies! Olivia was flush with excitement at the idea of two beautiful infants bringing joy to Simone’s life. She flew into her office, grabbing the receiver up off her desk. “Hi, Christine...is this what I think it is? Is Simone in labor?” Olivia smiled into the mouthpiece.
“What about Jamal?” Olivia asked. There was a slight panic in her voice. “What happened?”
Christine sniffled on the other end of the phone. “He’d been drinking—and driving. His car ran over an embankment and...he was killed.”
Simone was inconsolable. Hours after the funeral she was still sobbing uncontrollably. A large group of people had formed at the Parker residence afterward. Dressed in a black maternity dress, Simone was surrounded by close family members. With Olivia and Christine on either side of her trying to comfort her, she tried to speak. “I did this to him...it’s my fault...”
“Oh, sweetie...no...that’s not true,” Christine consoled her daughter. “You loved him...he was everything to you.”
“You’ll get through this because you’re strong,” Olivia said, rubbing Simone’s back. “Can I get you something to drink...warm milk, maybe?”
Simone glanced over at her with tear-stained, bloodshot eyes, giving her a nod. Olivia got up immediately and went to the kitchen to heat up some milk.
She was busy pouring milk into a mug when Alistair came into the kitchen. He came over to her, wrapping his arms around her, holding her tightly. Olivia felt the beat of his heart. Suddenly his body began to shake with emotion and he was overcome. “He was my closest friend and now he’s gone,” his voice quivered.
She consoled him as best she could. This big, strong man she loved was so fragile and needed her so much that her heart ached for him. Not saying anything, she stroked the back of his head as he sobbed against her.
“I need to go...I need to be alone right now,” he murmured.
“You don’t want to stay here?”
“Liv, I have to get out of here,” Alistair said firmly, his eyes glistening with tears. “Just tell Simone I had to leave.”
“But...” she said, opening her mouth to speak but changed her mind, deciding against questioning him further. He was devastated. He needed her, but her friend needed her, too. “Okay, then...I’ll tell her for you...” She suddenly felt overwhelmed. A sharp wave of nausea passed through her stomach. She’d barely had a balanced meal the past few days. Being so busy spending time at Simone’s she hadn’t taken the time. She’d eaten cereal and toast for breakfast that morning, but that was all she’d eaten for the day.
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