Break the Rules (The Flanagan Sisters Book 1) (18 page)

“A lemonade, please.
I won’t be able to walk if I get any alcohol into me.”

He sighed
as his grandmother winked at him. He should have known she wouldn’t fall for
his attempt to distract her. He rushed to get the drinks.

When
he arrived back they were laughing together.

“I’ll
have to remember that if Jack ever gives me any kind of trouble,” Bridget said,
as she took the drink he handed her.

“You
haven’t been giving away family secrets, have you, Grandma?” Jack asked, giving
the older woman her gin and tonic.

“Nothing of any value.”
She glanced over his shoulder. “There’s your uncle, Neville. I must go
and talk with him.” She patted his arm and walked away.

“What
were you two talking about?”

“This and that.”

Bridget
smiled as she took a sip of her drink, and her lips on the glass reminded Jack
of what he’d been about to do before the arrival of the newlyweds.

Bridget’s
eyes widened and she took a step back, holding up her free hand. “Don’t.” It
was said with a laugh. “I know what that look means. I’m under orders to
mingle, as I’m sure you are too. Plus I don’t have any more of this lipstick on
me and I have to give a speech later. I don’t want to look like I’ve been
ravished.”

He
took her hand and kissed the back of it. “I’ll make it worth your while.”

“I’m
sure you will.” She kept her hand in his.

“I
hope I’m not interrupting.”

Jack turned
to his mother, letting go of Bridget’s hand. “Mom, this is Tanya’s best friend,
Bridget.
Bridget, my mother, Anna.”

“I’m
thrilled to meet you,” his mother said, giving Bridget a hug. “You look
absolutely gorgeous.”

“Thank
you. The place looks beautiful.”

“Jackson
and his father did most of the work,” Anna said. “Now I want to grab you and
run through the program for this evening. You’re giving a speech, aren’t you?”

Bridget
nodded.

“Great.
I’m going to steal her for a little while,” she said to her son. “Why don’t you
go catch up with your cousins?”

Before
Jack could argue, they had both walked off.

He
was going to have to wait a little longer to get her alone.

* * *

After
Anna had gone through the details of the night, Bridget returned outside to resume
mingling.

She
caught up with Tanya’s immediate family before she was cornered by Trish and
Sally.

“You
look amazing, Bridge!” Sally said.

Bridget
forced a smile to her face. She felt like a fraud. She just wasn’t the slinky
dress, high heels, and daring makeup kind of girl. “Tanya will use any excuse
to get me into a dress.”

“And
every guy here is thankful for it,” Trish told her.

She
rolled her eyes.

“Jack
can’t keep his eyes off you,” Trish assured her, nodding to where Jack was
standing talking to Tanya’s mother.

Bridget
tensed, debating what she should say.

Trish
reached out and put a hand on her arm. “Relax, Bridge. Your secret is safe with
us. We won’t tell anyone, if you don’t want.”

Was there
any point in continuing to deny it? Bridget was torn – she wanted to be open
about her relationship with Jack, but still there was her past. “Please don’t.
I never meant … If people knew, what with Lionel.” She hated the
uncertainty and the quiver in her voice.

“We
understand,” Sally said.

“No
one’s going to hear it from us,” Trish told her. “And one day I hope the truth
comes out about the bastard, Lionel.”

Bridget’s
stomach was in rollercoaster mode and she put a hand there to calm it. Could
she trust them to keep quiet? Maybe she should relax.

Jack’s
father tapped a microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen, if you’d like to find your
seats, dinner is about to be served.”

“I’d
better go,” Bridget said.

The
‘bridal’ table was at the back of the tent. One of the groomsmen pulled out her
chair for her. Bridget thanked him and glanced over at Jack who was sitting at
Hal’s family table. He winked at her and she smiled. She hated that every time
she considered telling anyone her stomach tied itself into knots. But surely
she was safe here. The only people from work had promised to keep the secret.

So
maybe she could have that dance with Jack. And maybe after the speeches they
could sneak away to the garden shed. Her blood heated just thinking about it.

To
her right, Tanya and Hal got to their feet.

“We
want to thank everyone for coming today to help us celebrate our marriage,”
Tanya said. “It’s been a whirlwind romance, and we’re pleased
y’all
were able to make it.”

“There
are going to be a few speeches tonight,” Hal continued. “Just like the award
ceremonies, everyone has a strict time limit and music will play if they go on
for too long.”

People
chuckled.

“So
sit back and enjoy the night.” They raised their glasses and everyone cheered.

The
food was delicious, and between the courses people made their speeches. Both
Tanya’s and Hal’s fathers said a few words, as well as one of the groomsmen,
and then it was Bridget’s turn. She had a glass of champagne in front of her
and she took a small sip. She didn’t want to overdo it.

She
stood carefully, brushed a hand over her dress and swallowed. Her eyes roved
the crowd and she found Jack. Seeing his smile, she relaxed. “I met Tanya on my
first day of school in the United States. I’d just moved from El Salvador,
spoke only a little English, and was terrified about going to this foreign
school. After my mother left, I stood in the playground, not knowing what to do
or where to go, and this beautiful blonde girl came up to me and said, ‘My
name’s Tanya.
Let’s be friends.’”
Bridget paused as
some people in the crowd “
awwed
”. She smiled at the
memory, so clear in her head. Tanya had seemed like an angel to her at the
time.

“And
so it was. We became best friends on that first day and we’ve been friends ever
since. Once Tanya puts her mind to something you better not get in her way,
because she has such determination.” Bridget looked down at Tanya, the years of
friendship warming her heart. “The day after she met Hal she said to me, ‘He’s
the one’ and I knew if Tanya had her heart set on him, he didn’t stand a
chance.”

People
laughed.

“But
it turns out, he was as besotted by her as she was by him, and you won’t find
two better suited people.” Bridget picked up her glass. “So I’d like to make a
toast.
To Tanya and Hal.”

The
crowd echoed her words as they raised their glasses.

* * *

When
the final plates were cleared and the DJ started playing, Bridget got to her
feet to find Jack. Tanya stopped her.

“Thank
you, Bridge,” she said. “I was selfish leaving to move in with Hal and forcing
you to move in with Jack. I’m sorry for the way I behaved. I was only thinking
about myself.” She was absolutely sincere in her apology.

Bridget
could never hold a grudge against Tanya. She hugged her. “No harm so far,” she
said with a smile.

“You’re
not having difficulties at work?”

“There
was one guy who made a fuss, but most believe it’s just a convenience thing.”

“But
it’s not, right?”

Bridget
looked over at Jack who was laughing with his grandmother and her heart gave a
little twist. “No, it’s not.”

* * *

At
Mary Sue’s insistence, Jack had the first dance with her. She bopped around the
dance floor to the latest pop tune, waving her hands and having a great time.
Jack wasn’t the greatest dancer but he managed to keep up with his grandmother
and not embarrass himself completely.

Then
the music slowed so the happy couple could have their first dance. Jack stood
back off the dance floor next to his grandmother as Hal and Tanya danced
together. One by one, other couples joined them. Someone tapped him on the shoulder
and he turned to see Bridget.

Her
hands were clenched together. “May I have this dance?”

Her
smile hit him straight in the chest.
“Absolutely.”

She
took his hand and led him on to the dance floor, before wrapping her arms
around his shoulders. He placed his hands around her waist and they swayed
together.

“So
you decided it was OK for us to be seen together?”

She
nodded. “I’m doing my best. The girls from work don’t care and they promised
not to say anything.”

It was
definitely a step in the right direction and Jack was going to take it. He
didn’t want to spoil the evening by pushing for anything more. He pulled her
closer to him, enjoying the way she fit with his body. This is what he wanted –
to be able to hold her close, and declare in public that she was his and he was
hers.

Jack
ran his hand down her back, enjoying the soft warmth of her skin under his
hands. “You gave a lovely speech.”

“Tanya
may have her flaws, but she is my best friend.”

“I
understand your dedication to her now.
The first friendly
face in a strange country.”

Bridget
nodded. “She was so different with her blonde hair and pale skin – and so
enthusiastic I couldn’t help but be drawn along.” She smiled. “We’ve had our
differences of opinion at times, but we’ll always be friends.”

It
was nice she had someone like
that,
though he wasn’t
convinced Tanya deserved Bridget’s dedication, especially not after the way she
moved out. But he didn’t want to go into that now.

“So
what do I need to know about tomorrow?” He was finally going to the family
lunch at Bridget’s mother’s insistence.

Bridget
groaned. “With everything else that’s been happening
,
I’d forgotten about it. Mama is going to give you the third degree when she
realizes you’re not just my roommate. She knows about the Lionel affair and
she’ll be worried about me. Don’t take it personally.”

Jack’s
stomach clenched. He wasn’t expecting that. “Would it be better to keep our
relationship secret?” He felt like a wimp suggesting it.

She
shook her head. “Mama always knows. Carly will run interference if necessary.”

“We’re
picking Carly up tomorrow?”

“Yeah.
It’s my turn to drive. Don’t worry, it’ll be fine.”

Bridget
didn’t appear to be the least bit concerned about facing her mother, but he was
a bundle of nerves. Is this how Bridget felt when faced with telling the people
at work that they were in a relationship?

If
so, he’d be more empathetic in future.

Chapter 18

Jack’s skin was humming with nerves by the time
they picked Carly up the next morning. He had little idea what to expect from
the day but he’d imagined all manner of horrific encounters. Meeting his
girlfriend’s family had never been a big issue before.

Carly
soothed some of those nerves with her casual greeting as she climbed into the
backseat. She was significantly shorter than Bridget, but had the same brown
hair, though hers was straight. She wore a tailored peach-colored skirt and a
white shirt, looking more like she was going to a board meeting than lunch at
her mother’s house. Was he underdressed in his black jeans and blue shirt?

“So
Jack, how are you enjoying your new job?” Carly asked.

“It’s
got its challenges,” he said. “Bridget has been a great help. She knows the
plant like the back of her hand.”

“She
sure does.”

He wasn’t
sure what to make of that comment. Was Carly annoyed her sister hadn’t got the
job? “What do you do?” he asked.

“I
own a software company.”

That’s
right, he remembered Tanya mentioning it.

“How
do you think Mama’s going to behave today?” Bridget asked.

Carly
laughed. “That depends on how scared Jack looks.”

The
nerves shifted from Jack’s skin to his stomach.

“Does
she know you’re dating?”

That
was a good question. He glanced at Bridget.

“Not
yet.”

“She’ll
figure it out fairly quickly. Then she’ll want Jack’s life story.”

He
took a deep breath. He could deal with that. He was serious about Bridget and
had no secrets. He was sure he could convince Carmen he wasn’t out to take
advantage of her daughter.

Bridget
pulled in to the property. A huge two-story house dominated the drive and was
surrounded by lush tropical plants. To one side there appeared to be some
smaller cottages and an orchard.

“What
does your mother do?” Jack asked. They had never talked much about her family.
He wasn’t sure whether her mother still worked.

“She’s
a foster mother,” Bridget said. She opened the car door to get out, fending off
two dogs; one brown Labrador cross, the other with hints of German
Shepherd
.

“
Mis
niñitas
!”
came
the cry from the house.

Jack
slowly got out of the car as a petite older woman, who looked very much like
Carly, came out to meet them. She flung her arms around Bridget and then Carly.

“Mama,
this is Jack.
Jack, my mother, Carmen.”

He’d
learned basic Spanish in high school. “
Buenos
dias
,
Senora
Flanagan,” he said.
“
Cómo
estás
?”

Her
response in rapid-fire Spanish went completely over his head. “Ah …” He
looked at Bridget for help.

“She
said she is well and welcomes you to her house.” She turned to her mother.
“It’s best if we speak English with Jack.”

Her
mother nodded. “If you wish,” she said with a strong accent. “Come in.”

Jack
followed the women through the house to the kitchen out back. A rich tomato
aroma filled the air and he sniffed with appreciation. Three girls stood at a
long wooden bench, chopping vegetables. One had strawberry blonde hair and
lightly tanned skin, and was in her mid-twenties. The other two were younger,
perhaps mid-teens, and were obviously of Hispanic descent.

“Zita,
this is Jack,” Bridget said.

The
strawberry blonde looked up and grinned.
“
Hola
!”
She left the bench and came to hug him. “Welcome.”

Jack
blinked back his surprise as he hugged her back. Zita was Bridget’s younger
sister, but he was expecting her to look like Carly and Bridget.

The
other two girls kept their eyes down on what they were doing.

“This
is Teresa, and Elena,” Zita introduced them.

“Howdy,”
he said.

Both
girls’ eyes widened and they looked at each other and giggled. They must be the
foster kids Bridget mentioned.

“How was
the party last night?” Zita asked her sister.

“Lovely.
Tanya and Hal are really happy.”

“Do
you think it will last?”

Jack
glanced at Zita. The question wasn’t malicious, merely curious. He was
interested in Bridget’s answer.

She
was quiet for a moment. “Yes, I think it will. It may have happened quickly but
when Tanya makes up her mind, she sticks with it.”

Jack
was pleased. He loved his brother and would hate for him to be hurt.

Carmen
harrumphed. “She is the reason you had no roommate and that you had to ask your
jefe
to move in with you.”

Jack
didn’t know what a
jefe
was and he wasn’t sure what to say.

Carly
rolled her eyes. “Mama, let’s talk about this after lunch.”

Carmen
frowned but nodded.

Bridget
led Jack into the dining room while Carmen called out something in Spanish. A
moment later four more teenaged girls came into the room, all chatting to each
other. Zita made the introductions and when everyone had started serving
themselves and talking he leaned over and asked Bridget quietly, “How many children
does your mother foster?”

“It
varies. At the moment she has six. Zita helps her out.”

He
wanted to ask more questions, but it seemed rude to ask in front of the girls.
He wasn’t sure how sensitive they were about the situation. The conversation
around the table proceeded in Spanish. Carmen clapped her hands together. “We
have a guest. This is a good chance for you to practice your English, girls. No
Spanish for the rest of the day.”

A
couple of the girls grimaced, but dutifully began speaking in halting English
as they talked about a television show. Jack stayed silent, content to listen.
He sympathized with the girls struggling to express their opinions in a
language that was foreign to them. He wouldn’t be even half that articulate if
he’d had to remember much more of his high-school Spanish.

“So
Jack, you’re the new safety manager at Dionysus,” Carmen said.

Immediately
alert, he nodded.
“Yes, ma’am.”

“Are
you enjoying it?”

“It’s
certainly a challenge,” he said. “Bridget had a lot to contend with when she
was in the role and she’s been a real asset to me since I started.”

“She’s
not just a pretty face.”

He
wasn’t touching that comment.

“You
were living with your brother?” Carmen asked. “That’s why you needed somewhere
else to stay?”

“That’s
right. Hal and I met Tanya and Bridget when we were out one night recently.”

Immediately
Carmen’s expression turned speculative. “You’re that Jack?” She raised her
eyebrows at her daughter.

Bridget
winced and nodded. What had she told her mother?

“That’s
interesting,” said Carmen.

Jack
stayed silent and was relieved when the meal was over. He helped carry the
dishes to the kitchen and offered to clean up.

“No,
you are our guest,” Carmen said shooing him out of the kitchen. “Bridget can
show you the garden.”

He followed
Bridget out of the back door and stopped, staring at the food oasis. Everywhere
he looked there were fruit trees, or vegetable patches filled with ripening
produce. “Wow.”

Bridget
grinned at him. “Mama loves to garden.”

“I’ll
say.”

She
led him down the steps. “When we lived in El Salvador we went through periods
when food was scarce. This is her way of ensuring it never happens again.”

“I
can understand that. You said she misses it a lot.”

Bridget
nodded. “She misses her family and the country, but I’m not sure she will ever
go back, even if it is safe. My father died there.”

“How
did he die?”

“Mama
never gave us the details. He went to work one day and never came home.”

“I’m
so sorry.” He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly. When he let go
she gave him a small smile.

“It
is what it is.”

He
changed the subject. “So you mentioned me to your mother after we first met?”

“Yeah.
I
told her I’d met a nice man. I’m fairly certain she’s connected the dots and
knows
we’re not just colleagues.”

“I’d
say so. Should I expect a grilling?”

Bridget
smiled.
“Probably.”

He’d
have to allay Carmen’s concerns. He could do that. They walked down the path
toward a greenhouse. “Your mom has a lot of foster kids. Do Hispanic families
struggle with moving to the US?”

Bridget
frowned. “The girls are all refugees. They’ve come to the States without
their families.”

Jack
took a step back. “But they’re so young. Why would they do that?”

“The
situation in many parts of Central America – Guatemala, El Salvador, and
Honduras – is not good. Gangs rule the streets and if you don’t join them you
can be killed. Many of the girls who flee have been raped or were going to be
forced into marriage. They figure it is better to take their chances with the
people smugglers and the US.”

Jack
had been out of touch with what was going on in the US while he was living in
Australia and had no idea things were so bad.

“The
detention centers are often full,” Bridget continued. “Mama takes girls while
authorities are searching for family they may already have here, or girls who
have been granted refugee status and have nowhere else to go. She and Zita
teach them English, home school them until their education is at a level where
they can go to school here, and support them until they are ready to move out.”

They
walked along the path until they came to the little cottages Jack had noticed
on the drive in.

“Some
of the older foster kids live here,” Bridget explained. “They’ve graduated high
school and are studying at college or doing an apprenticeship. It gives them a
little bit of independence, but Mama is still close by if they need a hand.”

Jack
shook his head. “What an incredible thing to do,” he said.
“Though
it must be difficult.
It sounds like those girls have been traumatized.”

She
nodded. “Both Mama and Zita have had training in counseling.”

“Who
pays for it all? Do they get help from the government?”

“No.
Carly pays for it all. She bought this whole property and set up a
not-for-profit organization.”

That
software company of hers was obviously doing well. This was something the
family all cared dearly about.
“Were you refugees?”
Jack asked.

Bridget
shook her head. “Mama and Papa had applied to immigrate before Papa died. The
acceptance came through the week after the funeral.”

“How tragic.”
He couldn’t remember what age she’d said she was at the time. “You were
young, weren’t you?”

“I
was five, and my whole world revolved around our little farm that Mama tended, and
the little village where we lived. Houston was a huge culture shock.”

“I
can imagine.”

Bridget
smiled. “I want you to taste some
jocote
.” She
entered the large greenhouse, grabbed a little step ladder from the path, and
put it next to one of the trees bearing small red fruit that Jack had never
seen before. She picked a couple and handed him one. “I tend to peel them, but
you don’t have to.” She showed him what she meant and then popped the orange
flesh into her mouth, closing her eyes in satisfaction.

He
did as Bridget had demonstrated and the flavor exploded in his mouth as he bit
into it. It was a cross between a strawberry and a mango and absolutely
delicious. “Wow, that’s amazing.”

“Isn’t
it just?”

He
ate the rest of it and was going to ask for another one when he was distracted
by Bridget licking the juice off her fingers. Heat shot straight to his groin.
“Let me help you with that.” He took her fingers in his and slowly sucked them.

Her
eyes went dark and her mouth opened a little, her tongue touching her top lip.
It was all Jack needed to lose control. He pulled her toward him and crushed
his mouth to hers. She tasted like the fruit, sweet and juicy. She moaned, and
he forgot where he was as he deepened the kiss.

“
Dios
mío
!”

The
shriek shot through his senses like a bullet and he and Bridget sprang apart.
Her mother stood at the doorway, her hand on her chest, her eyes wide.