“Well, I guess if there is a good time to redeem them, this is it.”
“They’re yours, Sis… I just hope they are worth something. How much money do you actually need? I don’t think Josh gave you an opportunity to get that far.”
“I need one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.”
“No shit?” Jake’s eyes widened, “I’m not sure they’re worth a fraction of that.
“Jake, do you think I’m being an idiot?” She looked him straight in the eye.
He took in a deep contemplative breath, “You are never an idiot. I think Will has had some idiotic moments in his life. His heart has always been in the right place. Where the hell is he anyway?” He stopped himself short and held up a hand, “Nope. I’m not going there right now. He’s got nothing to do with your question. No, Etta, my darling sister, you are never an idiot.” He took her hand and kissed it.
“You know, Will has everything to do with this.” She clutched the envelope close to her chest, “I love him desperately, Jake. I love Jon. He told me he wants a simple life here at home with Jon and me. I know he’s buried with the legalities of Jon’s grandfather… he can’t think about the future right now. I’m doing it for him… for us, I mean.”
“From your lips…” Jake said softly.
“Let’s see what this is worth and go from there,” Etta said, full of hope.
~
Margie assessing the amount of stocks handed to her, she typed and waited, staring at the screen of her computer. She typed and tapped her fingers against the edge of her keyboard, waiting and clicked again. She squinted at the numbers on the stocks and made sure they were accurate, leaning in close to her computer. She took in a careful breath, “Etta, I’m trying to make sure everything I’ve entered is correct before I give you this figure. From the dates and numbers on your stocks, what started out as several thousand shares have split over the last 30 years so many times I stopped counting. Looks like… and I’m hesitant to tell you this until I’ve confirmed it… but it looks like…” Margie wrote the number on a piece of paper and pushed it across the desk into Etta’s uncertain hand.
~
Mim ran water over what was left of the package of cigarettes before shredding them into the trash. Sickened by her lapse in good sense, it had taken her thirty years to quit. She sure as hell wasn’t going back to that old habit now, regardless of how wonderfully intoxicating it felt. She had things to stay healthy for and she smiled widely as she watched Jon on his jumpy horse in the family room.
“Well, little chicken, are you ready for lunch?”
“Yeah,” Jon clapped his hands.
“Good, then we’re going to have a nap.”
Cheese sticks and applesauce were his favorite lunch. Mim was helpless when it came to refusing him anything. With Jon tucked in and sleepy, Mim went to her room to look for the right outfit to meet Jon’s Grandfather, Miles Harper. She had arranged for him to meet here where Jon felt safe at her house. Where Miles could see how happy and settled he was here. She slipped hanger after hanger across the bar in her closet; Suit, too stiff, dresses to fussy, jeans to casual. Finally she pulled out a pale yellow flowing crepe top and a pair of white slacks. Pretty sandals and the right jewelry would make the proper statement; well put together, confident, not overdressed. Mim laid it all out on the bed and studied every detail. She was so nervous about meeting Miles. Miles had the opportunity to rip the whole bottom out of her life. She reached for the phone and dialed Will.
“Hi Mom.” He said out of breath.
“Hi… what’s the situation down there, Will? I’m absolutely paralyzed with fear up here.”
“This is exactly the reason I didn’t want to involve any of you in this until it was a done deal.”
“William! Stop that and just fill me in. What’s happening?” Mim snipped.
“Well, it’s not good… Miles has filed a petition for custody dependent upon his visit inspection of our living arrangements in Nevada City.”
“An inspection?” Mim was livid, “What a pompous ass, is he bringing a team to check all the closets and the corners of the house?”
“My lawyer needs to be present, Mom… Do you mind?”
“Jesus, Will… this is turning out to be much more than I thought. I wanted Miles to meet his grandson. I thought it was the only fair and human thing to do. I assumed that we were dealing with a human being.”
“I’ve never met Miles, Mom. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens on Sunday. I’m playing it safe and want Tony to be there. I promised Etta I would be home for the party on Friday night but I’m not sure I’ll make it.”
“Oh, Honey… what’s left for you to do down there? It’s so important to celebrate this milestone for Paige and Jake.”
“I’ve only got one thing on my mind, Mom. That’s not allowing anyone or anything take Jon from us now. I can’t lose him twice.”
Mim took a breath that shuttered her whole body, “I know...” She didn’t want him to know she was crying.
“Okay, Mom, I gotta run… Tony’s waiting.”
In her life, Mim had left the husband who’d cheated her out of a happily ever after with his immaturity and infidelity. She’d moved across the country with her infant son, intimately experienced the grief and sadness of losing her lifelong friend, Henrietta, and then taken the surviving children into her life as her own. Celebrated as a celebrity with her books and art, she’d traveled the world once she’d felt her adult children were doing well. But she never felt as alone and as helpless as she did in that very moment. She’d never really had a shoulder to cry on. Being strong independent and totally “Mim” had always felt like a good thing, until now.
She longed for the touch of someone who was there for her and only her. She missed the boat on having a life partner by raising her kids and not allowing anyone to interfere. Her children had been through enough in their young lives. She was completely dedicated to them. What had she taught Will by never allowing a man to get close to her… never showing any of them how to nurture a healthy relationship? Having been so focused on providing a perfect life with no drama, she had given him no example of love between a man and woman. She’d taught Will to be a fierce parent but never taught him how to be partner. Poor Etta would be the guinea pig of Will’s inexperience. Mim blamed herself for the breakdown, having been too selfish to share her children with anyone. She wrapped her arms around her middle and sobbed her heart out. What had she done?
CHAPTER 24
Paige stood back from the twenty foot long dinner table in her dining room. Twenty two high backed cream brocade chairs, various height sterling candles sticks with dangling leaded crystals shimmering and shiny reflected the feelings ready to burst from her chest. Rose and wisteria bouquets towered thirty inches from the table top draping down to create romantic drama. She couldn’t wait to share it with all of those who had a hand in the creation of her life in Nevada City. Paige couldn’t take her eyes off of the beautiful tablescape. Appreciatively, she tilted her head when she turned the dimmer on the chandelier down to the lowest setting. Little thrills of anticipation ran over her bare arms when she heard Jake come in the kitchen door.
“Paige?” He yelled out.
“I’m in the dining room.” She pushed through the swinging door to the kitchen.
“Oh my…” Jake whispered when he kissed her cheek.
“Wait until you see the dining room!” Paige said proudly.
“Anything sparkles more than you and I might not be able to take it!”
“Too much?” Like a little girl, she twirled in her new dress covered in pale blue sparkles on the hem and neckline. Her hair was swept up into rhinestone clips, her strappy silver diva shoes tapped out happily when she walked. She shined all over like a new diamond.
“Too beautiful.”
“Come on, I want you to be the first to see it.” Her hand slipped into his and then she noticed he was wearing a tuxedo. She slid her fingers d
own his silky lapel, “Rented or owned?”
“Owned…Occupational hazard of the job.” Jake nudged toward the dining room, “Show me this masterpiece of entertaining.”
Paige pushed on the swinging door and stood back for Jake to see it all. He said nothing, but walked in, putting his hands into his pockets.
“Well?” Paige widened her eyes at him, “Is it too much?”
“Amazing… it’s going to impossible for me to wait.” He said, “So I’m going to duck out and I’ll be right back, I forgot something.” Before Paige could form a pout, Jake was gone.
In the kitchen, Addy was going over the final touches for dinner with the chef. Charlie, a round red headed woman had come in from Auburn so Addy could enjoy the celebration with her friends
“It smells amazing in here.” Paige commented to the women gathered around her kitchen work island.
“Charlie is the best!” Addy said, “You let us have artistic license and look what happened… Chateaubriand, this amazing rice salad, and look at these vegetables. It’s a work of art. Charlie’s been working since early this morning and guess what’s for dessert Paige… It’s tiramisu.”
Paige peeked inside the pink bakery boxes, imagining the delight. “It’s perfect.” Paige flashed them a super charged appreciative smile.
~
Etta primped in front of the mirror. Her peaches and cream dress flowed like a whisper around her legs as she moved about her dressing room looking for the lost earring. She hadn’t seen Will in over a week. He’d called one time since he arrived in San Francisco. He sounded harried and emotionally disconnected from her. Rationalizing the situation was getting harder as she whirled on with the renovation. She’d signed off on the architects’ renderings, hired the contractor and they would have the okay on her building permit Monday. Soon there would be holes in her wall and the non-stop noise and excitement of change. Change in every area.
She couldn’t wait to have Will and Jon Jon with her all the time. To Etta it felt like standing at the starting gate of her life in three feet of mud with no jockey. Determined to finish the project, she envision it to the finish line. She looked at the wall in her bedroom which would be gone in less than a week; the color of butter cream frosting would coat her dining room with warm welcoming and lead down the hall where the children would have their rooms.
She did it again, Children, indicating more than one. She imagined a little girl as well; it was easy to imagine having seen the shoes. Hard conceiving a child when the daddy was never here in her bed… he would be. She could feel it. In the meantime, the sweetness of home would be created for the family of her dreams with the only true love she’d ever had in her heart.
Finding the earring under the edge of her dresser, she slipped the sparkly vintage button to her ear and smiled at the final result. Seeing Will was going to feel electric. She had so much to tell him about; the house remodel, the stocks… She was keeping the artist cottage a secret for now. She’d surprise him with that as a wedding present. She heard Mim holler into the screen door and come in.
“Precious girl!” Mim reached up to touch the scarf in Etta’s hair. Etta immediately noticed the exhaustion in Mim’s face.
“Is everything okay?” Etta asked quickly, “Have you seen Will yet?”
“I’m fine, Darlin’, you and I have a lot going on.” Mim winked in slow motion and moved toward the chair in the bedroom to sit, “I couldn’t get Will on his Cell phone. He’s probably in a dead zone.”
“Yeah, me either…” Etta sighed, “Jon was doing ok with the sitter?”
“He was playing ball when I left… wearing him out is a good thing right before bedtime. He loves Tammy. She’ll have him in bed by eight dreaming about puppies, his new favorite thing.”
“OH!” Etta turned quickly to face Mim, “I can’t believe I haven’t told you!” She walked close to Mim and sat on the edge of the bed, “Do you remember when you thought it would be best for Jake to take the house and for me to hold onto the TI stocks when Mom and Dad died?”
“That seems like a million years ago.” Mim waved the air as if to fan away the painful memory.
“Well, turns out it was the best advice I could have. I went to the bank yesterday, because I have a project I want to fund and guess what those stocks are worth Just guess!” Etta stood boldly.
“I have no idea, Honey…” Mim looked away for a moment. “I can’t imagine…”
“Eight hundred and thirty thousand” Etta stated, “Dollars!”
Mim stood up, shaking out her brown skirt then she pulled her glittering velvet wrap around herself, “Well, how fabulous! Shall we?” Arm in arm, flashing like stars in a moonless sky, they walked next door.
Half way to Paige’s mansion Mim patted Etta’s hand, “Do you know how happy your parent’s would be right now? Just knowing what they have given to you?”
“I miss them so much …” Etta swallowed a lump, “But they did gift me with you…” Etta put her head against Mim’s shoulder, “Thank you.”
Paige greeted the women in the foyer, kissing each one on the cheek.
“It looks like the Rockefellers are coming for dinner!” Mim went directly into the dining room to get a look at the beautiful table setting leaving Etta and Paige alone.
“I thought you’d be walking in with Will…” Paige whispered, “Have you heard from him?”
“Not in days.” Etta said.
“Are you sure…” Paige stopped short. It was a night to celebrate the independence of her mansion, not to talk about the emotional investments Etta was making into a relationship that hadn’t had a chance to gel yet.
“He’ll be here, Paige. I know what I’m doing.” Etta said softly reading her friend perfectly.
“I’ve brought in Hardy to make the drinks!” Paige said, “You better be the first to have your crystal filled with the Goddess juice.”
Betty arrived on Jake’s arm wearing a silver ball gown that Paige was sure vintage 1950’s. The netting skirt had tiny crystals sewn into the folds of material. The bodice was scrunched and off the shoulder. Her wrap was an amazing burned out velvet of purple. The white cotton candy hair do was perfection with a tiny tiara. Betty looked like a royalty coming to court.
“I feel like I should bow to the queen. Betty, you’re a vision.” Paige kissed her cheek and grabbed her hand.
“Jake drove me in the Bentley,” Betty’s eye glistened like a three year old.
“I see that… He’s a very chivalrous date!” Paige said sliding a sweet look to Jake who still had hold of Betty.
Della appeared covered in a hot pink cocktail dress which accentuated her voluptuous curves. She sashayed into the foyer and shrugged out of her black faux fur wrap which Patti caught as if the move had been practiced a hundred times. Patti was decked out in monochromatic black with a hot pink rose fully bloomed on his lapel. His blond hair combed back slick against his head created a model handsome look. Paige was mystified by her friends’ ability to rise to a black tie affair with only days of notice.
“Della, you look delicious!” Paige stated.
“Well, how often do we get the opportunity to play dress up as adults? I relish an event that allows princess jewels and high heels!” She blinked her long eyelashes and shrugged her shoulders in delight. Della’s eyes were lined Egyptian style. She was a knock-out!
The buzz of glitzy guests created the glowing ambiance of a real cultural black tie event. Everyone had arrived by seven thirty and the dinner bell was chimed at eight. Etta never got far from the front door expecting Will to walk in any moment. He didn’t.
Once the guests were seated, Paige stood at the head of the table with Jake and made a toast,
“Looking around at your faces in the candlelight and crystal I am surrounded by the inexhaustible beauty, tenacity and sheer determination of precious friends. It was our intention to let you know how cherished each one of you are… how important you’ve been… how thankful we are that you
have opened your lives and your history and welcomed me home. As this journey begins, I express my deepest gratitude to you all… The mansion is safe!” Paige raised her glass but was interrupted by Jake.
Looking flushed, he cleared his throat, “well, hard to follow that statement but I think I can.” Jake looked at the faces all intent on what he was about to say, “Paige has only been here a short time, but seems like she’s always been here as one of us. I recognized her the moment that I met her as the love of my life. It took considerably longer for her to let me entertain the thought in her presence.” The crowd smiled remembering, “Tonight seemed like the perfect night…” He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a jewelry box. A whisper of gasps circled the room. “This is the ring my father held in his hands on the day he asked my mother to marry him. It is the most precious thing I have to offer you as a token of my love. Paige, will you marry me?”
Her hands shaking, tears welling, as she reached for him and held him tightly… there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
“Paige…” Jake whispered in her ear, “Is that a yes?”
“YES!” she exclaimed, jumping up and down with excitement. The crowd applauded. He slipped his mother’s ring onto her finger as the presence of love surrounded her, healing the past and promising her the future she’d been denied for more than a hundred and fifty years.
Etta smiled brightly and looked at the door, again. Her tears were for Paige and Jake, she couldn’t have been happier for them. She wrapped her arms around Paige and welcomed her to the family. When she realized her tears were not going to stop, she quietly slipped out the back door.
Etta honestly believed Will was going to come busting through the door, tux tails flying behind him, looking dashing and handsome and just as in love with her as Jake was with Paige. She’d seen it in her mind like a movie. Prince charming comes in at the last minute and sweeps her into his arms. She wasn’t going to give up on that movie yet. After all, she didn’t know what it was like to be a parent. She didn’t know what that kind of love felt like. From everything she’d read, a parent could perform impossible feats of bravery: lift a car off of their child or heal them with a prayer and a touch. Will was worth waiting it out for. She stood up, fluffed her skirt, wiped her eyes and went back inside to celebrate love.
Broad Street Goddesses Page 20