Forever, p.9
Forever, page 9
part #2 of Always & Forever Series
Since that had been Landon’s plan, and currently what he was doing, he’d decided they probably saw eye to eye on things in life. Now all he had to do was get through the next six days, then he’d be back on regular duty, and at the end of being everyone’s bitch inside this clinic.
“You’ll shake us free soon.” The therapist focused back on the clipboard in his hands as Landon dropped the weight.
He was overdoing the workout; he could feel his body’s exhaustion in the way his muscles quivered when he pushed them. He should go enter the stack of purchase orders waiting on him. He’d let three days collect because he hated data entry so much. No one ever had to worry about him straying off course again. Maturity had finally won out.
Chapter 9
“Granddaddy Paulie’s birthday’s tomorrow. I think we should go to the cemetery together,” Robert said, ripping off a piece of the fresh baked Italian bread—a recipe Paulie had mastered years ago—before dipping it into the flavored olive oil La Bella Luna served; another old family recipe he had always loved. He took care to get a good helping of the freshly cracked pepper on his perfectly portioned bite before executing a quick toss in his mouth, hoping no oil dripped on the front on his dress shirt.
Man, he missed eating at La Bella Luna. They served the very best ingredients, freshly prepared just the way he liked. It didn’t matter that the dinner dishes had been cleared and dessert was coming, bread this good should never go to waste.
Robert reached for the linen napkin in his lap, looking up to see every eye at the six-seat table focused on him. He didn’t even have to ask why. His entire family was still treating him with kid gloves, constantly walking on eggshells around him. As far as he was concerned that needed to stop right now.
“Guys, seriously. Let. It. Go. I’m better,” he said, giving each person at the table a pointed stare. His date for the evening, his grandmother, who was also the boldest of the group, looked at him with defiant disbelief. Sophia and Thomas looked cautious. Autumn had a gleam in her eye and a sassy cock to her brow. Rodney, a longtime friend of the family and the owner of La Bella Luna for the last twenty years, sat in as Autumn’s dinner partner. He, at least, looked semi-neutral. Robert decided to go with humor to prove his point and lifted a finger to his twin. “Except you, you need to be overly nice to me for as long as I can get it.”
“Too late,” she said, grinning broadly. “It’s been a hard ten months for me. Being nice to you goes against my moral code.”
“You two, don’t start,” Kennedy reprimanded like she always did. “I’m leaving tomorrow. Have I told you?”
“No, are you going home to New York?” Autumn asked.
“No, dear, I’ve decided to spend some time at the Cape. I’ve started painting.” Kennedy’s announcement effectively took every eye off Robert and landing, instead, on his grandmother. “I seem to do a better job near the turbulent tranquility of the Atlantic.”
“Painting?” Robert asked, not ever remembering a time in his grandmother’s life where she had ever mentioned the desire to be artsy.
“I don’t remember you saying anything about painting,” Autumn added, narrowing her eyes, clearly sharing his confusion over this turn of events.
“Dears, you don’t know everything about me. I bought some pieces from a young artist a friend of mine suggested. He’s so talented. I told him I’d always wanted to learn, and he offered to teach me. I went to Dallas over a few weekends. Now, we work by live video,” she explained.
Thomas reached over, tapping the bottom of Robert’s jaw, reminding him to close his gaping mouth.
“That’s exciting, Kennedy,” Sophia said.
“He’s very nice looking,” Kennedy said, turning to Robert as if she had just conjured a plan in her head. “He’s gay, too. You might know him.”
With all the ricocheting topic changes, Robert forced his lips together to keep from grinning. Whenever his grandmother met another gay man, she either thought they had to know one another, or she immediately tried to hook him up.
“He’s so kind to spend his time teaching an old lady to paint.”
“I want to see what you’ve been working on,” Autumn said.
“Oh, honey, I’m not ready to show anyone,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m not a natural, but this young man’s working out my kinks.”
“Nonnie, you’re amazing,” Robert said, finishing off the last bite of the bread, knowing he’d be taking a closer look at the artist in the very near future. “Tell us what’s going on with you, Autumn. You said you had news.”
His sister took a hearty gulp of the ice water. Reality sank in before she ever said a word. She hadn’t had anything more than water to drink this entire evening even though the wine flowed freely with the rest of them. Autumn loved her wine, always had. Robert sat back in his seat, a little bowled over at the prospect of what this might mean. His gaze held hers. He smiled a small smile. Her shoulders squared. At the same time, the waiter came forward, placing slices of his father’s signature tiramisu dessert on the table.
She didn’t wait for the waiter to leave before blurting, “I’m pregnant.”
“Autumn!” With spoon in hand, Sophia jumped up to wrap both arms around her, which led to a round of congratulatory hugs from all of them.
“There’s more—a lot more. Sit, eat your desserts, I’ll be quick.” With the genuine happiness of the family, it was hard to think in terms of a lot more news. “Cam and I have decided to marry. Not a big ceremony, something quick at the courthouse—”
“Absolutely not. I agree with small and intimate, but not dingy,” Kennedy said, her first bite of tiramisu halted in midair. Since that was her favorite of all the handmade desserts, Robert knew she meant business.
“Nonnie, we don’t have a lot of time. We’re moving permanently to Minnesota. I’m making Minneapolis my home office and leaving the DC office to Sebastian.”
Robert nodded, surprised. Autumn loved the hustle and bustle of DC. She never showed much interest in moving back to their childhood home. The DC law firm had started as a partnership between Autumn and their father shortly after she finished law school. Sebastian had been with them from the beginning, so he could more than handle running the office, but that didn’t change the fact that Robert was just stunned.
“There’s one last thing. I’ve decided to run for Dad’s former senate seat.” This time the smile on her face was as genuine and sure as he’d ever seen. The same burst of enthusiasm had the members of the table standing again. Robert stayed back, watching his family make a big deal about her choices. He couldn’t be prouder of Autumn. She was made for the political world. His father had been grooming her since she was a little girl. She’d do great. He was more than certain she would make a difference in this world, just as his father had before her.
“Oh, there’s more,” she said as they all took their seats again.
“Oh, honey, I’m not sure I can take more,” his grandmother said, the spoon back in her hand.
“This is the easy part. Well, easy for you, harder on me. Cam and I would like to have a large family.” Her face flushed with what he could only see as happiness, and she lifted her glass of ice water, taking a long drink.
“Oh, honey,” Kennedy said. The wonderment in Autumn’s expression seemed to hold Kennedy spellbound. “You’ll be an excellent mother.”
“Autumn, these are big changes,” Sophia said.
“I wanted to wait until we were all together to tell everyone.” Possibly the relief of venting her secrets had Autumn lifting her spoon and taking a hearty bite of the dessert. The bliss of the taste had her looking at Robert, giving him a wink he interpreted to mean their daddy had been on his A-game when he’d created that recipe.
“When’s your due date?” Thomas asked.
“You’re not going to believe this, but it’s December seventh. Dad’s birthday.” She beamed as if she couldn’t have planned it better. “I’ll need help finding an OBGYN around here,” she said to Sophia, which was right up her alley as a gynecologist.
“Absolutely. I know someone perfect; I’ll get us in next week,” she nodded happily, fitting herself into Autumn’s good news.
“What does Cam think about all this?” Robert asked. He’d known Cam for many years. He would have never paired his lively sister with the quiet, focused physician, but clearly opposites attracted. They were perfect together.
“He doesn’t say a lot.” That got a round of laughter as a huge understatement. “But he’s excited and on board with everything. I’ve tried really hard not to bulldoze all this over him.” That got another round of laughter because Autumn was a force when she wanted something. Good thing Cam seemed ready to strap in for the ride.
“What about his DC practice?” Robert asked.
“He’s sold his half. That’s why he went back suddenly,” she explained with a wave of her fork as she dug in for another bite.
“One month from now, everyone mark your calendars. We’ll have a wedding on the balcony of my summer home,” Kennedy announced, placing her spoon on the small plate, lifting a hand to the waiter to clear her dishes. “It’ll be a lovely affair with the view of the Atlantic as the backdrop. I wanted your father to marry there. The St. Croix is stunning, but nothing compares to the Atlantic.”
“Nonnie, don’t go to the trouble,” Autumn started.
“Of course, I’ll go to the trouble.” She turned toward Robert at the same moment the waiter tried to sneak between them to clear her plate, causing his grandmother to give an irritated huff and shoo him away. “Call my driver, dear. There’s much to be done.”
Autumn rolled her eyes, sitting back in her seat. “Nonnie.” She looked hard at her grandmother who was standing, ignoring her wishes completely while pointing down to her purse, silently instructing Robert to hand it to her.
“However this plays out, we’ll make sure we’re free. My vote is a summer trip to the Cape sounds amazing,” Sophia said, placing her napkin on the table beside her plate, turning to Thomas. “Are you ready?”
“Whenever you are,” her husband replied.
“Just let her do it,” Robert urged Autumn when she looked like she was digging in her heels, preparing her protest.
“I’m thinking an afternoon wedding…”
Autumn’s protest didn’t matter. Kennedy was already in preparation mode. Robert rose to walk her out when Sophia stopped him.
“We’ll follow her out.” Sophia looked over at Rodney who was getting to his feet too. “Put this on our tab?”
“Tonight’s on me,” Rodney said, gathering some of the remaining dishes off the table. “I needed the Adamses back home. It’s been a great night.”
“Thank you, Rodney. I always liked you,” Kennedy said, turning away from the table, and with slow, sure steps, she started for the front doors, leaving them all behind.
“I got her,” Rodney said, putting the dishes back on the table. “Mrs. Adams, hold on.” He was once a young, twenty-something bartender who had been with La Bella Luna since the beginning. Rodney had to be in his mid-sixties by now. His steps were a little slower getting to Kennedy, but he extended an arm, which she took, and they walked toward the front doors.
“Honey, we’re so happy for you. I love this new direction.” Sophia hugged Autumn tightly. “I’ll be in touch. I’m glad we did this tonight.” Sophia’s attention turned to Robert. She stepped around Autumn, giving him a quick, loving hug then rearing back, keeping him in the circle of her arms. “Now it’s your turn to find someone. What about that airman you were reading to?”
“Why do you even know about that?” Robert asked, throwing a hand and an accusatory expression Autumn’s direction. Sophia shot him a sheepish glance and let him go. “We’re family. She should tell me these things. I understand you two aren’t talking right now. My advice to you is to just take a chance. See what’s there. Life’s too short and you’re certainly not getting any younger.”
Both his hands went to his heart. Her arrow couldn’t have taken better aim. “Oh Lord, now I’m old? You’re doing wonders for my ego.” That got the desired laughter and earned him a kiss on his cheek before he and Autumn were left at the table alone. Autumn wasted no time reaching for his untouched dessert then plopping down in Kennedy’s abandoned chair.
“Sit with me,” she said, motioning with her fork then digging into her second piece of tiramisu before her bottom fully settled into the seat. “I’ve started craving this. It’s so good. I ordered several slices last week. I’m going to gain a million pounds.”
“Well, don’t do that,” Robert teased, reaching for his glass of melted ice water. “Keep it under forty pounds. I should say less, but you only live once.”
“Right? That’s what I say.” She took another heaping bite, rolling her eyes as if heaven had actually landed in her mouth. “You know, I told Cam I wanted lots of children because I want them to have a big family. I don’t ever want my children to feel as lonely as we feel right now—or I feel, I don’t want to put feelings on you that you might not have.”
Like normal, they were so in sync with one another. She nailed how the world had gotten much smaller since their parents had died. Robert put the glass down and reached out, patting her thigh. “I’m sorry I haven’t been around more.”
“It’s not that.” She held the full fork midair. “I realized I took us for granted. We were a really great family. They gave us so much love and everything felt complete. I loved our life. I miss my family; I miss it all so much. It’s not been the same since Granddaddy Paulie left, but we were young, and Daddy tried hard to make sure our lives were full. I don’t want what I feel right now for my children or yours if you have any.”
“I don’t see children in my future. Hell, I can’t even find anyone who wants to go out with me,” Robert said with a huff, sitting back in the seat, crossing one leg over the other.
“You can find a date anytime you want one.” She again moved the fork back and forth to her mouth. He wished what she said was true. “I wanted you to bring that airman home with you. He looked so…” She dreamily looked away as the fork paused again halfway to her mouth. “Dreamy. He looked dreamy, like the pictures of the soldiers in the movie Grease. Remember them? He has that strong jaw and full lips.”
“When did you see him?” he asked, knowing there’d not been a single time he’d shared anything more than Landon’s name with her.
“A guy helps my brother out of the worst funk I’ve ever seen, of course I’m going to search for him,” she said in a tone indicating he might be the dumbest person on the planet. Even with his need to keep Landon to himself, tucked away in that private place where no one could mess with the memory, he decided Autumn had a point. If the tables were turned, he’d want to thank the person who helped Autumn.
“Yeah, he’s nice looking,” he grudgingly admitted, intentionally understating the beauty that was Landon. In fact, the man might be the most gorgeous guy he’d ever seen.
“Better than that.” Autumn sat back, taking a deep breath. She looked down at the almost empty plate before pushing it away as if it no longer held power over her and turned her full attention to Robert. “So why didn’t you make a move?”
“I wasn’t thinking about that at the time.” Which was a very honest answer. How could he hit on the very man to whom he had cried? A man with intimate knowledge of exactly how weak he’d been. He absently rubbed at the twinge of pain that scraped across his heart.
“Are you thinking about him now?” she asked, lifting an eyebrow.
“No… I don’t know. Yeah, I guess. Doesn’t matter though. He’s not interested,” Robert said, grabbing his fork then reaching for the dessert plate, taking the bite Autumn left behind. Landon stressed him out, totally pushed him to dysfunctional eating.
“Why do you say that?”
“He has all my contact information and has made zero moves, which is outlined in the first chapter of the he’s-not-into-you playbook. I’ve thought back over the time we shared; he never gave me the interested vibe. He was just kind when I needed it the most.” Again, another very honest answer on a subject he didn’t want to talk about.
“So, you’re thinking about him.” She looked thoughtful before she asked, “How’s he doing with his rehab?”
“I hear really well. He should be released to full duty soon, get back to his life,” Robert explained. Robert had continued to pull strings after Landon had arrived back in the States. He’d gotten him the best care money and connections could provide. From the latest reports, it seemed to be working well for Landon.
“You’re checking up on him?” Her brows lifted in question and a slight smirk curled the corners of her lips. Of course, she’d be leading him, trying to get him to whatever point she wanted to make. She did things like that all the time, making him say way more than he was comfortable confessing.
“Autumn, just stop. That ship’s sailed. Focus on this wedding you’re apparently having.” Luckily, for him, that instantly changed the subject.
“Ugh, Nonnie’s so frustrating. How can I get her to understand the word no?”
He laughed straight out loud. How many times had they had this very discussion over the course of their lives? The problem, Autumn and his grandmother were cut from the same cloth. Neither of them would ever back down. “You can’t. Besides, she needs this diversion. Just go with it.”
“So, what’re you doing now?” Autumn asked, then let out a nice long yawn. “Unemployment seems to suit you. Is medicine still out of the question?”
“Most likely, at least for now,” he said, lifting a hand to gain the waiter’s attention as he reached for his wallet. The waiter came to the table, and Robert handed him his credit card.
