Nothing Short of a Miracle (7 page)

“He’s such a loser. He has no idea what he passed up.”

With Mindy and Trish gone for the evening and Nina down for the night, Gabriella made a cup of tea and settled in bed with her laptop to finish her term paper. But the idea of living with the Hempsteads over the holiday, and figuring out how to stay out of their son’s way, kept her awake most of the night. She recalled Mindy’s words—“Are you sure you can handle this?”

Right now she wasn’t sure of anything.

****

Dean Reynolds was in the middle of solving the crime of the century while still trying hard to keep his mind and hands off his ladylove. They had arranged a secret tryst for later that night and it was all Dean could do to keep his mind focused on the situation he’d suddenly found himself in. Pistol in hand, Dean had just opened the imposing, squeaking doors of the old Martin Mansion, ready to pull the trigger if he had to, and…

Nothing! Not a damn thing!

Chad’s mind shut down. With his recent manuscript,
Devils Die Hard
not going very well, his character Dean might just as well go in with a blank loaded in his gun and no back up.
Hell.
Lucinda was going to be lucky if she ever laid eyes on Dean again. Unlike Chad, who had no choice in the matter, he would be on Gabriella Rumsey’s doorstep at ten o’clock Friday morning whether he wanted to be or not—packing her up and moving her in down the hall. Well, hells bells, if nothing else, he could keep an eye on her, see what she was up to. If anything, Gabriella Rumsey was easy on the eyes. He’d notice right off, although once he’d seen she had a baby in tow, he’d put a halt on his feelings.

Chad shut his laptop and let out a long sigh. He’d arranged to meet Dennis at The Landing for a couple of beers, so wouldn’t have gotten very far on his novel tonight, anyway.

Resigned, he changed his clothes, told his father he was leaving, and drove down to the inlet.

The landing was crowded when Chad rushed though the swinging doors—the noise hit him like a sledgehammer. It’d been a while since he’d been here and it hadn’t changed in all the years he and Dennis had been coming. A nostalgic twinge hit in the pit of his stomach.
Damn.
The holidays were definitely getting to him. He was starting to let his emotions get the best of him, and that wouldn’t do.

Spotting Dennis at the bar, Chad headed in his direction.

The bar and grill was fashioned around boating, especially sailing, a popular sport up and down Cayuga Lake. Dark mahogany was everywhere, especially the bar itself—smooth from the constant rubbing of elbows and sliding of glasses, and the necessary washing and polishing with tender loving care. The entire establishment was decorated for the holidays.

Dennis stepped down off the tall bar stool and shook Chad’s hand.

“Folks let you out, did they?” Dennis smiled, just like old times.

“Yes. Mother said to say ‘hi.’” Chad drew even with a bar stool and simply slipped into it, his height not making it necessary to have to step up.

“So, what now? Why the visit home this year?” Dennis asked.

Chad ordered a beer before answering.

“I needed the break. All work and no play. You know how it is. What about you? When was the last time you took a vacation?”

“I haven’t been able to swing it. Your father keeps me busy at the office.”

“Maybe you should think about dating again. It’s been two years since Patti died. Maybe it’s time you moved on with your life?”

Dennis sighed. He took a long swallow of beer before setting the glass down on the coaster. “It’s not easy. You don’t fall out of love just because someone you love dies.” Dennis didn’t speak for a moment. “Besides, look at you. It took you a long time to get over Tanya.”

“Luckily, I wasn’t married to her. And I was the one who broke off the engagement. Although she likes to announce that she was the one who left me hanging. Of course that was after she raked me through the courts to try and clean out my bank account.” Chad drew in a steady breath. “Look, man. I’m sorry about Patti, but you have to get out there again. Start dating.”

“You think I haven’t had a date or two? I’ve tried.” Dennis hunched his shoulders. “What about you? You dating anyone?”

Chad could tell Dennis had just changed the subject by turning the tables. Dennis and Patti had been married five years when she developed a rare form of cancer and within months had died in Dennis’ arms. They’d had the kind of love his mother and father shared—a lasting love. Much different than the kind of relationship between him and Tanya.

“No one serious,” Chad said. “And I don’t have any plans to get serious about anyone any time soon.”

“Then you’re prepared for the parade of ‘hopefuls’ to begin?” Dennis stated the obvious. “You’re leaving yourself wide open coming home without a girl on your arm.”

“I know. But I can handle it.” Chad chuckled, glad they were on less serious grounds.

“Good luck. Between your mother and Ethel, I’m damn well not betting on you.” Dennis lifted his long-necked bottle and took a long draw. Chad followed suit.

“That reminds me, you know the woman I told you about when I met you at the gas station the other day? The one with the baby whose car I bumped into?”

“The foot-stomping mother?”

They laughed, took another drink, and quietly contemplated their own musings for a moment.

“Yeah, her,” Chad confirmed. “Her name is Gabriella Rumsey. Imagine my surprise when I walked into my parents’ home and found her sitting there with her baby in my mother’s arms like it was just another everyday afternoon.” Chad proceeded to tell Dennis about the incident that had unfolded. “She already has them wrapped around her little finger. The baby, too. You know how my mother and Ethel are when it comes to babies. All you have to do is put one in front of them, and they’re all over it like melted chocolate!”

“So what’s this Rumsey woman got to do with your mother?”

“I think she’s out for more money from the accident.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Like I said, she was at my parent’s house when I got home earlier today. I walked in on them. My folks decided they need a nursemaid for my mother. They hired her. Invited her to move in with the baby. Can you believe it?”

“Uh-oh. You are so in deep doo-doo. I’m thinking cupid is about to be conjured up.”

“They can conjure all they want, it ain’t gonna happen. There is no way I’m ever going to let a woman get her hands on me or my money again. And if you so much as mention I’m a writer in front of her or any other woman, you’re dead meat.”

Chad recalled with startling clarity how Gabriella Rumsey had thrown his money at his feet, and had refused the position—at first. Probably just a ploy on her part to throw him off guard. No doubt she was after a bigger pay off.

“You know, Hempstead. You’ve become very cynical since you got involved with Tanya. Not everyone is out for your money just because Tanya was a moneygrubber.”

Chad remembered all too well having been hit up by Tanya’s lawyer for a financial settlement to “facilitate their amicable separation.” Hell, they’d only been engaged a few months. He’d been shell-shocked. But he’d given in after a fight. He didn’t want his Bronson B. Brady pseudonym mucked through the tabloids. Giving in had been worth it if for no other reason than he wouldn’t have to spend the rest of his life with Tanya bleeding him dry.

No, sir. Marriage was not on his agenda in the foreseeable future.

Chad rubbed his hand across his eyes and down over his chin. He needed a shave. He needed sleep.

“I don’t need the complication. And I definitely don’t need a baby hanging around. Man, I don’t need to get involved in a family dispute or whatever has this woman being a single mother right now. I’m not even sure she was married. There’s no ring on her finger.”

“Being pretty presumptuous to think she’d want you to get involved with her, don’t you think?”

Chad stared at his friend. Dennis was right. His friend had a way of grounding him when he most needed it. What in the hell was he getting himself so worked up over anyway? So, he had helped someone out of a jam by giving her a few hundred dollars, even though the accident was partly his fault. It didn’t mean she needed saving. Or he needed to be the one doing the saving.

Even if she was one of the most beautiful women he’d run into—literally. Chad smiled. Gabriella was beautiful in a woebegone, waifish sort of way. But yet, she was feisty as all get out.

“Sounds to me as if this woman is getting to you,” Dennis said. “I’d watch out if I were you. You said she was going to be living with your parents? And you?”

“She’s not living
with me
. Besides, I’m immune.” Chad raised his bottle for the bartender to see, and held up his other hand requesting two. One for Dennis.

“By the way, I need your assistance. I have to help Ms. Rumsey move in.”

Dennis whistled softly, then laughed. “This beer’s on me. I wouldn’t miss this event for all the beer in Milwaukee. Where? When? And what time?”

Dennis’ know-it-all smile was asking to be knocked sideways to Sunday. If they weren’t such good friends he just might consider it.

“Ten a.m., and don’t be late, smart ass, or our friendship ends at 10:01.”

****

When Chad arrived early Friday morning, Gabriella had Nina dressed, fed, sleeping, and her boxes packed, stacked, and waiting.

“This is my brother-in-law, Sean,” Chad introduced the tall lanky young man who had just stepped from his truck. “And this is Dennis, a friend of the family. He offered to help.”

“Define offered,” Dennis said, grinning. He extended his hand out to greet Gabriella. “Glad to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you too. Thanks for offering to help.”

Chad ignored them. As he walked toward the apartment complex, he motioned for the others to follow as if he’d been there a hundred times.

“Good morning to you, too,” Gabriella mumbled under her breath as he passed her.

“It will be once we get this over with,” Chad mumbled.

“What? No coffee this morning?” Dennis asked, close on Chad’s heels.

“It’ll take more than one cup of coffee to make this right,” Chad snarled.

Sean stepped between them and extended his hand to Gabriella in welcome.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. Don’t let this old grump bother you none, he tends to be like this when he comes home for a visit. He gets a big dose of ‘family’ and it doesn’t sit well. He won’t be here very long, and I suspect he’ll be out of the house or stuck in his room working as much as possible once the folks start their holiday parties.”

“It’s good of you to help Mr. Hempstead. Other than the crib, stroller, and a few other baby gadgets, there isn’t much to move. My stuff is all boxed up waiting.”

“
Chad
,” the surly man spit out between clenched teeth. “
The name is Chad
. Mr. Hempstead happens to be my father.” He’d already picked up a box from the front porch and was carrying it back to the truck.

The surprised look on Dennis’ face was comical. Sean grinned and shook his head. Chad ignored them and put the box in the back of the truck and returned to collect another one.

“The two of you going to stand there all day or are you going to help? Get a move on. These boxes aren’t going to move themselves.”

“Don’t mind him,” Dennis grinned. “He had a late night and hasn’t recuperated yet. I think it’ll take a gallon of coffee to put him in a good mood this morning.”

Gabriella thought he was acting like a spoiled brat. She wasn’t surprised his mother had referred to him as Junior once. She’d seen the gritted teeth and the wince he’d tried to hide. The best thing to do was to ignore his attitude. She led the others inside where the rest of the boxes were lined up against the wall.

“That everything? Want to do a double check and make sure we have it all?” Dennis asked. He shut the tailgate on the back of his truck, while Chad tossed the dolly up into the back of Sean’s already full truck-bed.

The whole process had gone more smoothly than anticipated. Despite the cold weather, the snow had held off and the winter sun warmed everything as it sparkled off the snow.

“I’m all set. There are a few personal items I’ll put in the back of my car, along with Nina. Thanks so much for your help. Dennis, it was nice meeting you. Sean, thanks for your help. I’ll see you at the Hempstead’s.” she said.

Sean got in his truck, waved, and took off down the street.

“No problem,” Dennis said. “I noticed there’s no ring on your finger. Does this mean the father is not in the picture?”

Gabriella was taken aback by Dennis’s forwardness. He was a handsome man with his sandy blonde hair and his dimpled cheeks, but she simply wasn’t interested. Although she liked him, already, she didn’t want to encourage him. “No. No father,” she said, offering no other information.

“Any chance he’ll show up unannounced?”

“No.”

“Good. Anytime you need anything—a shoulder to cry on, moving out of the Hempstead’s, dinner—just give a call.”

Dennis’ kindness and his flirtation was a balm to her bruised ego after her breakup with Charles, but she wasn’t ready to jump into a relationship anytime soon.

“Thanks. I think I’ll be okay.” Although, help with the moving out part could prove useful if Chad’s temper didn’t improve. A man with a pickup truck would come in handy.

“Maybe we could do dinner sometime,” he said “How about next week after you get settled?”

Gabriella hesitated. “I don’t think so, Dennis. But, thanks.”

“Dinner isn’t a commitment, you know. Besides it’ll give you a chance to get away from Chad for a couple of hours.”

“I’ll consider it. Right now I have too much going on. Perhaps once things settle down.”

“You got it. I’ll check back with you in a few days.”

He shook her hand as if they had just finished closing a deal, except he hung on to her hand a bit longer than a deal called for.