by P J Gordon
“Yes. You?”
“Mmm hmm. I’m going back to the office to change. Did your cousins get here okay? No problems or anything?”
“No problems at all. They can’t wait to meet you.”
“I just hope they like me,” Manda admitted nervously. She was more than a little anxious about the coming introduction.
Richard moved a little closer and startled her by grasping her hand. He gave it a reassuring squeeze before releasing it again. “They’ll love you, I promise. They’ve heard so much about you they said they feel like they already know you.”
“You know, that’s not as reassuring as you might think,” she told him ruefully.
He chuckled and then changed the subject, no doubt trying to distract Manda from her nervousness. “So, were you shopping for tea? Or were you trying to replace your broken teapot?”
“Looking for a teapot,” Manda sighed, “but they didn’t have anything close.” As they made their way back, Manda shared the story behind the tea set with him. He was a sympathetic audience, and by the time they arrived at her office she had almost forgotten her nervousness.
“If you want to change, I’ll wait for you here,” he offered, indicating the sofa in the creative area. “Then we can walk down together.”
Manda agreed readily, glad for his continued moral support—she could feel the butterflies threatening to return. She retrieved her purse and garment bag and hurried off to the ladies room to change. When she returned a short time later Richard stood and whistled appreciatively.
“You like?” she asked, pirouetting to give him a better look. As she completed the twirl he captured her hand and pulled her close.
“Yes, very much,” he growled playfully. “You look beautiful. I want to kiss you, but I’m afraid I’ll mess up your hair or makeup or something.”
“I think I’ll risk it,” she said with an impish smile. Reaching up on tiptoe, she twined her fingers together behind his neck and tipped her face up in anticipation. He didn’t make her wait, and afterward she didn’t care a bit about her hair or makeup...and the fluttering in her stomach was no longer from nerves.
Richard studied her face as if assessing the damage he’d done, and then nodded with satisfaction. “If anything, you look even more stunning. Pink cheeks become you.”
Manda rolled her eyes and willed herself not to blush even more. Her attempt wasn’t very successful however, and Richard chuckled softly.
“Shall we head down then? It’s about that time,” he prompted. “I can’t wait to introduce you.”
“I’m ready,” she sighed, and held Richard’s hand as they made the short trip to his hotel suite. “You’re all very close, aren’t you?” she asked when they were on the elevator. He always spoke of his cousins very fondly, and had been quite eager for their arrival.
“Very,” he agreed. “Josh and I grew up with them.”
“Did they live nearby?”
“You could say that. We saw them every day.”
The nervous butterflies returned to Manda’s stomach with a vengeance. It felt almost like she was meeting his parents for the first time. She supposed it was as close as she would ever come. Richard squeezed her hand reassuringly, then lifted it to his lips and pressed a kiss to the back of it.
“Relax. You’ll like them, and they’re going to love you.”
Richard was right about Manda liking his two cousins. They were both charming and friendly—very much like Richard and Josh. They greeted her warmly when Richard ushered her into the hotel suite and made the introductions. Sarah had hugged her like an old and dear friend. Daniel’s greeting had been only slightly less exuberant—reminding her very much of Josh’s boyish enthusiasm. He even looked like Josh, though she could see a bit of Richard in him as well. Daniel could have passed for a third brother.
What confused Manda was the resemblance that both Richard and Josh had to Sarah as well, though Sarah and Daniel looked nothing alike. When Richard had first mentioned his cousins, Manda had assumed that they were brother and sister –- an assumption that had been reinforced when Richard told her that he’d grown up with both of them. It would make sense, therefore, for there to be a family resemblance between the brothers and both Sarah and Daniel. What quickly baffled Manda, however, was the relationship between the cousins. Sarah and Daniel were quite obviously a couple...and a rather affectionate one at that. Definitely not brother and sister. Judging by the wedding rings they both wore, they were a married couple. Manda supposed that one of them could be a cousin, and the other someone they had all grown up with, but she couldn’t decide which would be which. They both looked too much like Richard and Josh. She puzzled over it throughout dinner, hoping for a clue to clarify the situation, but when she still didn’t have an answer by dessert, her curiosity overcame her politeness.
“I don’t mean to be rude,” she said, broaching the subject timidly, “but how exactly are you all related? I’m afraid I’m kind of confused.”
“Richard didn’t tell you?” Sarah exclaimed in surprise. Daniel and Josh both laughed, reinforcing the resemblance between the two.
“So, they’ve got you a little confused, have they?” Josh teased.
“I apologize,” Richard said with a grimace. “I should have explained before.” He reached for her hand discreetly under the table and squeezed it, stroking the back of it with his thumb. “We’re related to Daniel on our father’s side and Sarah on our mother’s side. That’s how they first met. They’ve been inseparable for as long as I can remember.” He smiled at them affectionately.
“So you see,” Daniel supplied, “we’re both related to the boys here. I know it’s a bit confusing at first. It’s an unusual situation.”
Richard squeezed Manda’s hand again and changed the subject. “So I talked Manda into letting me help with Christmas dinner.” Richard’s prediction was proven correct when Sarah immediately volunteered as well.
“Oh, Manda! I’d love to help too. That is if you don’t mind. It won’t really feel like Christmas if I’m not cooking.”
Richard had warned her that they all had large appetites, and this dinner had given her first-hand evidence of that. Even Sarah was a hearty eater! How did she manage to stay so slim? A supercharged metabolism must run in both sides of the family. Considering all of this, Manda was happy to accept Sarah’s offer, and a discussion of the holiday menu ensued. Sarah volunteered to cook a few of her specialty dishes, and her enthusiasm was such that Manda gladly agreed to give her free reign of her kitchen the next day—though they would have to share it on Sunday since Manda still had her own preparations to make for Monday’s Christmas dinner. Delighted, Sarah declared that she would have to make a trip to the grocery store immediately. Daniel and Josh promptly opted out of that excursion, saying goodnight to Manda and setting off on the short walk back to the hotel.
What followed was the oddest grocery shopping expedition Manda had ever been on. Richard had enlisted Mark and the limo for the evening. Their group had been too large to fit comfortably in his car and he’d been unwilling to make the two women walk from the hotel to the restaurant in their high heels. After getting directions from Manda, Mark delivered them—quite conspicuously—to her favorite supermarket. Thankfully it was late enough that there weren’t many other customers, but the employees and the few customers that were there gaped openly at Richard as he escorted the two women through the store.
During the ride over, Sarah had jotted down the items she would need, and reading the list over her shoulder, Manda guided them through the store as Richard, under Sarah’s direction, gathered the required ingredients into Sarah’s shopping cart. The cart was surprisingly full by the time they arrived at the checkout counter. It wasn’t until she heard Sarah scolding Richard fondly—“Barbecue potato chips? Honestly, Richard!”—that Manda realized he had been sneaking selections of his own into the cart. Richard just gave his cousin a very boyish and unrepentant grin and proceeded to pay for their pur
chases.
Arriving back at Manda’s house, Richard and Mark carried in the bags of groceries and Sarah insisted on helping Manda put away the refrigerated items.
“We can just leave these out if you don’t mind,” Sarah suggested, indicating her other purchases arranged on the counter, “since I’ll be using them first thing in the morning anyway.”
Manda couldn’t help but smile at the other woman’s unrestrained enthusiasm. Sarah then waved her hand toward several bags containing chips, dip, sodas, and a variety of other junk food.
“And I don’t know what Richard plans to do with all of this.” She cast an accusing look in Richard’s direction, trying to remain stern in the face of his playful grin.
“I plan on leaving it right here so I and the other members of my gender can have something to snack on tomorrow. I know how fussy you are about people sneaking samples when you’re cooking. You’d let us all starve!”
“I don’t think any of you are in danger of that,” Sarah contradicted with a laugh.
Manda had invited Josh and Daniel to accompany Sarah and Richard the next day, knowing the cousins would want to spend as much time together as possible during their visit. She’d invited Mikey as well, but he was busy.
Sarah gave Manda a quick hug. “Thank you, Manda. We’ll get out of your hair. Daniel will be wondering what’s keeping us.” She grinned up at Richard affectionately. “I’ll wait for you in the car while you say your goodnights. Don’t be too long.”
Richard walked his cousin to the door and Manda trailed after them. She was surprised to see that he was blushing. She didn’t think she’d ever seen him embarrassed before.
“So, did you like them?” he asked, pulling her into his arms as soon as Mark closed the car door behind Sarah.
“Yes, very much,” Manda assured him, twining her fingers together behind his neck. “They remind me a lot of you and Josh.”
“I’m glad,” he remarked distractedly. His right hand trailed through her hair in an appreciative caress as he lowered his lips to hers in a long, lingering kiss. He seemed determined not to hurry, as if in defiance of Sarah’s teasing. Manda had begun to forget when and where she was by the time the kiss ended, and she sighed softly when he stepped away from her.
“That should hold me over until morning,” he said with a soft laugh, “and I’ll bring breakfast, so you can sleep in. Now, of course, I’ll go back to the hotel and they’ll ask me all sorts of questions about you and then tell me how much they like you.”
“I hope so,” Manda said fervently.
“I know so,” Richard asserted, raising her fingers to his lips for a parting kiss as he backed out of the door. “I will see you in the morning. Sweet dreams.”
“Good night,” Manda said. She waved toward the car where she was sure Sarah was watching, though she couldn’t see her through the darkly tinted glass. She closed and locked the door firmly, knowing that Richard wouldn’t leave until she did, and then watched the car disappear into the night. As she climbed the stairs to her bedroom she realized with a smile that the butterflies that had plagued her for the last month were gone.
The next two days were filled with laughter and affectionate teasing. Manda’s kitchen and family room were livelier than they had ever been. The four cousins were as close as any family Manda had ever seen and made no attempt to hide their affection for each other—or for Manda. They included her into their circle without hesitation, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. When Richard lingered behind on Saturday evening to say goodnight to her after the others had filed out to the car, he gave her a report on developments the previous night.
“They adore you. I knew they would. In fact, they warned me that if I were ever foolish enough to let you get away they would keep you and send me packing.”
Manda laughed. “I don’t believe that for a minute. They adore you and Josh. I don’t think they’ll disown you anytime in the near future.”
“Well, just to be on the safe side, I’ll try not to give them any reason.” Richard’s follow-up goodnight kiss was almost as long as the one the night before, and as Manda once more climbed the stairs for the evening, she was unaware of the dreamy smile she wore.
It was snowing when the Raines family—plus Mikey—arrived bright and early on Sunday morning. Mikey provided breakfast for the group—as a thank you to Manda for including him in her holiday celebration, he explained. While Josh and Daniel helped Mikey unpack the food and set the table, and Richard was hanging up coats, Sarah slid a slim MP3 player out of her pocket.
“I noticed you have in input on your stereo so I brought something I thought you’d like to listen to,” she said, handing the device to Manda.
“Sure. What is it?” Manda asked, taking the player to the stereo in the family room.
“It’s a Christmas present I got a few years back. You’ll have to tell me if you like it.” Sarah’s grinning anticipation piqued Manda’s curiosity. She plugged the player in and fiddled with the controls, adjusting the volume when the music began. She exclaimed in delight when she recognized the voices.
“Oh! It’s Richard and Josh!”
“They made it for me for Christmas one year. It’s all of my favorite Christmas songs. I think it’s my favorite Christmas present ever.” She smiled fondly toward Richard and Josh. Richard had joined the other men in their breakfast preparations.
“They got tired of her asking them to sing them for her over and over,” Daniel announced dryly.
Sarah grinned and shrugged. It was a gesture uncannily like one Manda had seen Richard make many times. “I love to hear them sing. As much as I love this recording, it’s not the same as hearing them sing in person, right in front of you. I’m right, aren’t I Manda?” She looked to Manda for support, but Manda just shrugged.
“I don’t know. I’ve never heard them sing like that before,” Manda confessed. “I liked their concert though.”
“Richard’s never sung for you?” Sarah rolled her eyes in exasperation. “Good grief, Richard! Didn’t your father teach you how to woo a girl any better than that?”
Josh and Mikey both laughed out loud, but Daniel just arched his eyebrows and called everyone to breakfast. Manda was only half listening to the conversation as they gathered around the table. Most of her attention was on the music from the MP3 player. It was very different from the music she’d heard the brothers play before, but it was heartbreakingly beautiful and she was entranced.
When they were all seated Sarah continued her light-hearted scolding. “You sing beautifully. It’s absolutely heartless of you not to share that with Manda.”
“She never asked!” Richard protested with a wink to Manda.
“Of course she didn’t! She’s much too thoughtful for that, but that doesn’t mean she wouldn’t love it!”
Richard put down his fork and threw up his hands in grinning surrender. “Okay! I’ll bring my guitar tomorrow and sing for Manda.” He elbowed Josh. “Josh will too, won’t you Josh?”
Josh, caught with his mouth full, just nodded. Richard turned to his right, where Manda sat, and captured her butter knife-wielding left hand.
“I hope you can forgive my ill-treatment of you,” he pleaded melodramatically. ”I was unaware that I had deprived you of all of the joy and beauty you are entitled to.” He lifted Manda’s hand to his lips and kissed it, smearing butter from her knife onto his sleeve in the process.
Trying hard not to laugh, Manda tried to look martyred. “Well, I just assumed you couldn’t really sing at all—that it was all just sound booth tricks.”
“Hey!” Josh protested and Sarah giggled. Richard scowled at Manda, then scooped a dab of butter off of her knife with his finger and smeared it onto the end of her nose.
“Hey!” Manda laughingly exclaimed, echoing Josh.
“That is for your lack of faith,” Richard declared, grinning, then promptly repented and wiped her nose clean with his napkin.
For the rest
of the day Richard stayed busy helping Manda in the kitchen, and they didn’t have a moment alone together until it was once again time to say goodnight. It was then, as he held her encircled in his arms, that he apologized sincerely.
“I’m sorry for not asking before, sweetie. I didn’t even think about singing for you. Josh is really more of the singer. I’m the songwriter. But would you like me to sing for you?”
“I would love that,” Manda admitted. She didn’t feel it necessary to mention that she had, in fact, fantasized about it.
“Then it will be my honor,” he said quietly, “and I don’t mean tomorrow. Josh and I will sing for everyone tomorrow if you’d like, but the next time we’re alone I’ll sing you one of the songs I’ve written about you.”
“About me?” Manda gasped softly, wide-eyed with wonder.
“Of course, about you. You occupy my every thought, asleep and awake. What else would I write about?”
Overcome by emotion and blinking away tears, Manda was speechless, so Richard filled the silent moment with a kiss. When she was finally able to speak again, she did so with an unsteady laugh.
“I don’t care what Sarah says. I think your father did an excellent job of teaching you how to win a girl’s heart.”
Richard glanced toward the car outside and smiled. “He would be glad to hear I’m not totally hopeless.” He brushed her hair away from her face. “This is the first chance I’ve had to really talk to you all day, so I haven’t had a chance to tell you, but Josh and I have to leave for New York the day after tomorrow. Mikey just finalized the arrangements yesterday.”
Manda’s heart plummeted into her stomach. They were leaving? For good? She must not have hidden her dismay as well as she thought she had, because whatever he saw on her face made Richard rush to explain.
“We’ll only be gone a week. I didn’t want to go, but Jen thought it was important that we do this to stir up some buzz about the foundation. We’ll do the rounds on the morning shows and then we’ll wrap up with a New Year’s Eve performance.”
Manda exhaled in a sigh that was part relieved and part wistful. “I know duty calls, but I’ll miss you.”