Always and Forever (10 page)

“Ha! I guess I am.”

“Why’d you choose to do that?”

“Because I gravitate toward order. Because I can measure the results. Because the people you meet are fascinating.”

“Sounds perfect for you.” He gave her a shy smile. “You’re quite a woman, Brie.”

“Why, thank
you.”

When Patrick didn’t show up by eleven-thirty, Brie donned an apron. She took orders along with Sophie, helped Liam get the food out and bussed the tables. It had been a while since she’d worked here, but she fell easily into the routine. Her mind whirled with thoughts of Pat and some of the things Gale had said.

An hour later, her husband came through the pub door to the kitchen.
She was heading that way to get an order. As soon as he saw her, he stopped short and slapped a palm on his forehead. “Oh, geez, I forgot.”

“Yeah, obviously.” Holding her temper, Brie looked at him. “Pat, you have blood on your shirt? What was the emergency? I tried to call you, but you didn’t answer.”

“Jamie’s little boy got hurt right outside the pub.”

“Jamie? The waitress?”

He nodded.

“Is her son all right?”

“Yeah, he’s going home later tonight.”

“How did you get involved?”

He explained the situation.

“Makes sense for you to help. I would have, too.”

He moved in closer and ran his hand down her cheek. “I’m sorry about our date. Is it too late to get something now?”

“Yeah. I grabbed food because I have an appointment at two.”

“Then I’ll
stay and work.”

“I’ll see you at home then, later tonight, right?”

“Of course.”

Just as she reached the back door, he called out, “Brie, what did you do this morning?”

Turning, she said, “I met Phillip Carson at his mother’s house to assess the job. It’s all taken care of for Annie to be in charge.”

“Thanks, babe.”

“We’ll talk later.”

“All right. See you then.”

Brie left the pub, feeling let down. She hoped it wasn’t because she’d reassigned the Carson house. Maybe it was because she’d been looking forward to seeing Pat after the discomfort of the morning.

Brie stood by the bedroom window, watching the moonlight glisten off the pool. What a day. Remnants of the tension with Phillip, and her disappointment that Pat had forgotten their
plans for lunch, had stayed with her. She thought about his excuse. Briefly, she wondered if he was attracted to Jamie Ralston. Then she dismissed the thought. His dad had cheated on his mother, and Brie knew how the infidelity had affected Pat. He was into commitment, big time. Besides, they had enough problems in their marriage. No use making some up.

“Hi.” His husky voice came from across
the room. She heard the small lamp in the corner switch on. “Why are you standing there in the dark?”

“I was just thinking.”

“About what?”

“You. Us. Life.”

“Ah.” She could feel his body heat as he came up behind her. He reached around her, and she saw he held a bouquet of red roses. “I think they symbolize jealousy.”

“And love.” She inhaled their sweet scent.

“I forgot
about lunch. And you did something for me, for our marriage that was big. I want you to know I appreciate you. Us.”

“Thank you. These are lovely.” Leaning back into him, she was warmed by his presence. Safe in his arms. “Why are you so late?”

“I went to the hospital to take Jamie and Ben home.”

“This late? Or did you stay with her?”

“No. I dropped them off at her home.” He grasped
her shoulders gently. “Why are you askin’ all this?”

“Maybe your jealousy is contagious.” She hugged the roses to her. “I don’t want to fight, Pat. I did what you asked, what was right for us. Let’s forget about this.”

His mouth went to her neck. “All right.”

Slivers of desire sliced through her. She managed to set the flowers on the table, and when she turned, she kissed him hard.
Her tongue invaded his mouth, fast and insistent.

He was surprised. “Brie, what?”

“Shut up. I want it this way.”

“Hey, I’m all in.”

She pushed him back, and he landed on the bed and laughed.

She climbed on top of him.

He moaned when her splayed legs came in contact with his very hard erection. She was naked beneath her nightgown. “Ah, Patrick, I can always count on you.”
Undoing his shorts, she massaged him, and with each stroke, her own excitement grew. Only minutes later, she went up on her knees and took him into her. Started to move. Fast, faster, really fast. Soon, he burst inside her, his rough thrusts bringing her over the edge.

It was only after she’d collapsed on him that she realized they hadn’t even gotten undressed.

Neither of them cared.

From where he sat in the passenger seat of the car, Sinead watched his mother closely. She wore plain black cropped pants and a white T-shirt. Man, you’d never know she was almost forty.
He remembered a time when he’d had to punch out some friends because they said she was hot. Better than how she looked, though, she seemed relaxed today, happy, as they drove out to her client’s house in Long Island. Maybe this was the right time to tell her about Laurie.

“You’re in a good mood today.”

“I am.” She glanced at him. “Is it that unusual?”

“Not sure. You and Dad both are
hard to read.”

“We are?”

He shifted in his seat. In some ways he didn’t want to know the answer to the question he was going to ask. “Are you guys happy together?”

“Me and Dad? Of course.” When he was silent, she asked, “Why, honey?”

He played with the Yankee ball cap in his hand. “There’s tension between you a lot. Where does it come from?”

“I didn’t know you sensed it.”

One thing he liked about his mother was she never lied, didn’t deny stuff he knew was true.

She stopped for a red light and they watched people parade in front of the car at the pedestrian crosswalk. “I think it comes from getting together so young. We never had a chance to spread our wings, alone, so to speak.”

“Dad did. He was twenty-seven when you got married.” She didn’t say anything.
“You didn’t, though, I guess.”

“I suppose.”

Familiar guilt rose within him. “You had me too young.” His voice was hoarse.

She frowned. “Don’t say that as if our situation then was your fault.”

“But it’s true, isn’t it?”

“What’s true is I was too young to be a mother or get married. And my whole life changed because of you.” She put on the blinker and swerved off the main road
into a grocery store parking lot. Sun beat on the front windshield as she stopped. Facing him, she grasped his hand in hers. She was such a dynamo that he never remembered how small boned she was. “Look at me, Sinead.”

He did. She was smiling, a real genuine smile. “Don’t ever think I’d trade you for any other thing in the world.”

“I don’t, Mom. I know you guys love us all. I just wish
you could have had me later. And you do, too. It’s okay to say so.” He winced a bit, but he went on, “You told me once you had to say things out loud even if they were negative.”

“You’re right. Just remember, this is why Dad and I thought you and Laurie were getting too serious, too soon.”

Shit. He guessed this wasn’t the right time after all.

They arrived at the Forbes
Estate, just as Annie pulled up behind them. Brie stopped at the iron gate, pressed a buzzer, then the two steel sides creaked as they parted. She drove down a winding path. Sinead’s mouth fell open as the three-story, stone-faced building rose up before him. “Wow, it’s a mansion.”

“Filled with years of accumulated stuff.” She grabbed his hand because she felt bad about the questions he’d
asked earlier. “Are we okay, honey? On what we talked about?”

“Yep.”

“Good.” A pause. “Thanks for coming and helping.”

“I’m on your dime.”

She laughed. “I know.”

Annie knocked on the window. “Hey, you two, you coming out?”

Brie opened the door, slid from the car, and Sinead exited the other side. The sun was obscured by all the trees around, but it was very warm and there
was no breeze back here.

“Hey, Sinead.” Annie tousled his hair. She’d known him for a long time and he was friends with her boys. “You’re up early.”

He hugged Brie close. “Anything to help out Mom.”

“Now, why can’t my son say that?”

The three of them were talking about Annie’s boys when the front door opened. Instead of his nephew, Harlan, Dr. Forbes appeared in his wheelchair.
He had a lap blanket over it. “Oh, hello. I didn’t expect…so many of you.”

The trio walked up the ten steps to the porch and into the house. “This is my son, Sinead. Sinead, Dr. Forbes.”

Sinead extended his hand. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

“You, too.” He transferred his gaze to Annie. “Ms. Cummings.”

When he looked at Brie, his expression warmed.
Hmm.
She wondered if he had a crush
on her. “Sinead’s going to help us carry out the boxes we’ve already packed from the sitting room of your wife’s suite. Did you get a chance to look at what we’ve decided to give away?”

His hand trembled on the arm of the chair. This must be so hard for him. She reached out and touched his bony shoulder.

“Yes. There are two boxes labeled SAVE. You’re free to do whatever you want with the
rest.”

She nodded. When she tried to draw back, he grasped her hand. “I was hoping you’d have tea with me before you start.”

“Go ahead.” Annie’s eyes twinkled. “We can do this part by ourselves and start moving some of the furniture.”

Why not? The poor man was going through an emotional upheaval. “I’d like that.” They entered the parlor, which again had the heavy drapes drawn, throwing
it into shadows. But she could see a beautiful silver tea set, which had to be worth a fortune. “You sit there, dear. In Francesca’s chair.”

Brie sighed. For a minute, she thought about Pat and how she didn’t want to live without him, even though their relationship was tumultuous.

He maneuvered the chair slowly into his usual spot. “Will you pour, please?”

Brie did. The scent of citrus
wafted up to her.

From behind, she heard, “That was Francesca’s favorite blend. It comes from England.”

Before she could respond, Harlan spoke again. “I didn’t hear the bell. Jonathan, you should have called me.”

Obviously fond of his nephew, he smiled. “I was amiss. Would you like to join us?”

“Of course.” He pulled up a chair and sat close to Brie. He’d invaded her personal space,
but she ignored it. Losing Francesca was hard for him, too.

“I think it’s sweet that you still drink her tea.”

Harlan exchanged glances with Dr. Forbes, then asked her, “So, have you decided what to do with the things from Francesca’s room?”

“Annie found a local high school that wants the gowns for their musicals.”

Dr. Forbes smiled broadly. “Ah, Francesca would have loved that.
We went to many plays on Broadway. She adored the theater.”

“I don’t go much anymore. My parents used to take me when I was younger, and in college. But the only shows I’ve seen lately are
The Lion King
and
Beauty and the Beast
, geared toward children
.
”

Pat had never gone with them. Maybe that was something they should do together, dinner out and the theater, alone.

The older man’s
gaze was soft as it rested on her. “You should be spoiled, Gabriella. If I were still able to attend, I’d escort you myself.”

“How nice of you to say that.”

A phone buzzed. Harlan looked at his cell and said, “I have to take this. Will you excuse me?”

“Yes, of course.” Dr. Forbes winked. “I’ll have Gabriella to myself then.”

They made chitchat until, from the doorway, she heard
Annie say, “Brie, we’ve got the boxes packed, and Sinead’s carried them to the van. Want to get started on the bedroom part of the suite?”

“Already?” Dr. Forbes’s tone was so regretful, she almost thought she should stay with him. But she couldn’t really. She stood. “Thank you for the tea, Dr. Forbes.”

“Jonathan.”

“Jonathan. I’d better go earn my keep.”

Brie left the sad man, feeling
some of his melancholy descend on her. But it also made her vow to live her life fully and not let stupid stuff get in the way.

In the late afternoon a few days later, Brie dressed in a simple denim skirt and camisole top in deference to the end-of-June heat. She’d just headed downstairs when the doorbell rang. Isabella was still napping and Kathleen and Sean were in the pool—with
Sinead supervising—so she answered the ring.

“Oh!”

Her father’s brows rose. “Well, hello to you, too.”

She forced herself to smile at her parents. “Sorry! This is just a surprise. Come on in.” She glanced back at the house. It was messy from the kids, and she hadn’t had time to pick it up. Irene had taken a dinner hour, and this was the interim clutter.

Leading them down the hall,
through the kitchen and to the porch, where they had a clear view of the pool, her mother gazed out at the backyard. “Should they be out there alone? You have a girl, don’t you, who could supervise.”