Saving Forever - Part 2 (10 page)

“I’m not sure.” She smiled and winked at him. “You tired?”

He missed the wink or the obvious hint. “I’m wiped.” He walked by her and pressed his lips against the top of her hair. “I’ll see you in the morning. We’ll go for a boat ride if you want.”

“Sure. I’m up for whatever.” She had figured he had family stuff to take care of since the service for his father was scheduled for the day after. “If there’s anything…” She glanced behind her and let her sentence trail off. Elijah had already disappeared out of the kitchen. She finished her sandwich and headed back upstairs. Elijah’s lights were already out so she found her iPad and checked her emails until she fell asleep.

It was just after nine when Charity headed back down to the kitchen to make a coffee. She had changed into a simple pink and black striped sundress – classy but completely comfortable. The minute she stepped through the kitchen door, she wished she could turn around and race back upstairs. Margaret sat at the counter where Elijah and Charity had eaten the sandwiches last night. No traces of the plates or food were visible. Charity hoped Margaret had not had to clean up their mess.

“Good morning,” she said
, forcing a smile. Why did this woman’s mere presence make her uncomfortable?

“Gd’day.” She held her mug and continued to read the newspaper. She wore designer pyjamas and a matching robe. “Where’s Elijah?”

“I think he’s still sleeping. The door to his room was shut when I walked by.” She made a point to let Margaret know they had slept in separate rooms. Without any offer of assistance from Margaret, Charity found the mug cupboard and poured herself a cup of coffee from the already made pot. She added some milk and a bit of sugar. “Margaret?” She sat across from Elijah’s mother. Her coming with Elijah had been a mistake. She should have followed her gut instincts but it was too late to regret it now. For some reason, she needed to be here. She just didn’t know why yet.

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry.”

Margaret looked up from her paper with a wary face. “What did you do?”

“Pardon?” Charity shook her head. “Oh. No. I haven’t done anything. I just wanted to say I’m sorry about your husband’s passing.”

“Why? Did you know him?”

“No. I—”

“Then why are you sorry?”

Seriously? Did the woman have any ounce of niceness inside of her? Charity exhaled slowly. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine.” She thought of her mother and the hollow spot in her heart that never seemed to want to heal, even after all the time that had passed. She couldn’t imagine losing a spouse. She nearly laughed out loud at another thought. If this woman was anything like her father – which didn’t seem too far off the mark at the moment – then she’d be fine.

Margaret looked over her reading glasses at Charity. “I don’t know why my son took you along. The two of you apparently barely know each other. I don’t know if you are gold digging or some kind of trophy he plans to show off
. I don’t really care. Either way, it’s not going to work.”

Charity blinked in surprise. “I’m not some kind of trophy. Nor is money an issue to me. I came because a friend asked me to.” She understood why Elijah had been hesitant to return home. “I’m sorry if you feel this way, but you’re mistaken. Those are not my intensions.” She sighed. She wanted to like this woman but it felt next to impossible. She had dealt with clients similar and always found a way to make it work.
Maybe…
An idea began to form in her mind. “Margaret, part of my job is designing galas and events. Is there anything I can do to help with tomorrow?”

“Besides stay away?” Margaret waved her hand. “I’m joking.”

Charity didn’t know whether to believe her or not. “I would love to help. What are your plans for tomorrow? Elijah mentioned you are part of the yacht club. Are you holding a party afterwards there?”

Margaret’s face lit up at the mention of the yacht club. Charity had obviously said the magic words. “I thought about doing it there but the clubhouse is too small. I decided to do it here.”

“Well the place is definitely big enough.”

“Has Elijah showed you the entertaining quarters? One of the wings John had built has guestrooms on the upper floor and a large banquet room. I didn’t want to do anything to
o lavish. It is, after all, a funeral. So I kept the décor as is and just ordered simple dark blue accents. John loved navy blue.”

She went on to explain in minute detail what catering she had ordered. Charity poured a second cup of coffee and listened to the woman talk. She asked the right questions to keep the conversation going.

Margaret tapped the counter with a perfectly manicured nail. “I believe I’ve misjudged you.”

She took that as the best apology she would get. “Have you thought of doing some kind of special action? When my mother passed, we released fifty-five white doves to signify each year of her life.”

Margaret began to pace. “Wonderful idea. No one in the club has ever done that. Now what would be something large and significant?”

Charity had chosen white doves for their purity and freedom to represent her mother’s life. The thought of significance and being showy had never crossed her mind. She nearly laughed out loud.
To each her own.
 

“What about hot air balloons?” Margaret snapped her fingers. “Take everyone up in the air in a ride. Have maybe twenty or thirty ready?”

Charity hid her smile. “As much as I’d love to have a ride in a hot air balloon, I’m not sure you could get that many here by tomorrow. You would need drivers and I’m not sure if you need a licence to have that many at once. What about something a little easier? It doesn’t have to be something for each year of his life, that’s just what I did. Is there anything John was passionate about?”

Margaret slapped the counter. “He loved the damn wildlife. So annoying. He constantly sent money to these groups who knew he would give it. I just tossed some brochures out yesterday. I’m going to dig them out of the recycling
bin and go through them.”

She’s one hard woman.
Charity didn’t know what to make of Elijah’s mom. If the woman tried to talk to the endangered groups the way she thought of them, Margaret wasn’t going to get anywhere. “Why don’t I call for you?” she suggested. “It might come off better if it sounds like you’ve hired someone to do the research. Is there an amount in mind I could suggest as a donation to put towards it? Let me call around and see what might be able to be done by tomorrow. It’s a small chance it’ll work, but you never know.”

“Good idea.” Margaret walked outside and came back a moment later with three pamphlets. “Try these ones first. I can find more if you need them. I don’t care what the cost will be – the bigger the better. It’s all about the show. I’m going to get dressed. I have a hair appointment in half an hour. Hopefully Elijah’s up by the time I get back. We have an appointment
with the lawyers after lunch.”

When she left, Charity took a moment to absorb the silence. The woman was nothing like Charity imagined she would be. How someone like Elijah came from that woman… Charity stopped the thought before she finished. It was not her place to judge. Now on her own, she looked over the brochures and concentrated on them. The kiwi bird pamphlet seemed the most promising.  She wrote down some information and used the phone on the kitchen wall to call.

An hour later she hung up and danced around the room. A few spins and some jazz moves, finishing with a fist pump.

“Do you do that every morning?” Elijah asked from the doorway. He wore golf sh
orts and a polo top, his tattoo neatly showing as he crossed his arms over his chest.

“I believe I’ve just scored the big one.” She twirled by him and kissed him on the mouth. “Coffee?”

“Sure. What are you talking about?”

“I’ve had a very successful morning.” She began ticking off her fingers. “Got your mother to like me; found something your dad was passionate about; and for the party at the house tomorrow, twenty-five young kiwis are going to be released into the wild.” She looked over the notes she’s scribbled on a notepad. “The small Rowi, Okarito kiwi, are considered nationally critical. They are in a fragile state of existence and need islands off the mainland to reside. Rapt Bach is the perfect location. The Conservation of New Zealand was more than happy to have part of your father’s legacy associated with their release. Apparently he was one of their largest contributors and will be sadly missed. They’re going to personally deliver the baby birds tomorrow afternoon.”

Elijah’s eyebrow rose. “My mother agreed to this?”

“She wanted to do something and I offered to help out. She basically was up for anything that would be done
on a big scale. Twenty-five of the rare endangered kiwis are coming here. That’s huge! Your father would be proud and your mother’s going to be made up with the show of it.” She did a celebratory jig. “I did go—od, I did go—od.”

Elijah wrapped his strong arms around her and hugged. “I knew there was a reason I asked you to come with me.”

“Oh! Your mom mentioned you need to go with her to see the lawyers this afternoon.”

He jerked his back in surprise. “What
the hell?”

“When? She never told me.”

“It’s not like we’ve really seen her.” It seemed strange to not have seen her yesterday afternoon. Would she want to spend time with her son? “Was she at Albert and Mia’s last night, too?”

Elijah scoffed. “She wouldn’t
hang
with the hired help. That’s not her style. She could have bloomin’ sent me an email or told me before we flew out here.” He shook his head, clearly annoyed. “What time?”

“This afternoon
, sometime.” She shrugged and gave him an apologetic look. “She didn’t say a time. She had a hair appointment and then said you and her needed to go to the lawyers.” She didn’t bother to add that his mom had added that she didn’t think he’d be up in time.

He huffed in frustration. “I’ll call the lawyer and find out what time. She can meet us there.”

Charity shook her head. “I’m not going.”

“The firm’s in
Auckland! I’ve got to take the ferry to get there. I’m not sitting here waiting for her to get back and then wait to see the damn lawyer! You and I can take the ferry. I’ll show you some sites and drop you off at some shops while I meet with him.”

She understood his frustration. She felt the same way too many times with her own father. However, this wasn’t her fault and it felt like he was blaming her. “Why don’t you just call her and ask what time?”

His eyes narrowed and he stared at her.

“Then go from there. It’s not worth the stress.”

His face softened. “I guess I should have thought of that.” He reached for her arm and held her elbow. His fingers lightly trailed down her forearm, creating goosebumps in their wake. “No one’s here right now. Feel like heading up to my room? The evening of your gala-thing in Atlanta, I kinda planned on spending the night figuring out your body.” He kissed her bare shoulder. “I wouldn’t mind doing that now for a few hours.”

She swallowed and tilted her head to the side when his lips found their way against her neck. She didn’t trust her voice. Just before her eyes closed, she noticed the figure of a person through her long lashes. A man walking passed the kitchen and peered through the window before continuing past. “S-Someone’s here,” she whispered.

A muffled knock followed by the chimes of the doorbell separated Elijah from Charity.

Elijah went to answer it while Charity waited in the kitchen. He came back a few minutes later. He laughed when he saw her face. “Don’t look so worried. The guy wasn’t coming to rob the place.” His hand came by his mouth to pretend that if anyone was watching, they couldn’t see. “Robbers don’t usually ring the doorbell.”

She swatted his shoulder. “With the size of this house, I bet even robbers are polite.”

“
Well, we’re lucky this time then. It was just someone my mom hired to set up some gazebo tent for tomorrow.” He reached for her hand, his skin warm and perfectly smooth against hers. “Let’s go upstairs,” he whispered.

She let him lead her through the grand room and their bare feet silently padded up the stairs. Her hand tingled inside his as thoughts raced through her head. Should he phone his mother first? Would that ruin the mood? What time did he need to leave for the lawyer appointment? W
as he wearing boxers or briefs? Sex. That word alone sent her trembling. She wanted very much to be in bed with him.

He pulled her into his room, closing the door in such a way that Charity ended up with her back against its wood and her hand still in his. You couldn’t miss the fire burning in his eyes. He walked backward and pulled her to the middle of the massive room.

The browns in the room matched perfectly with the leather and dark, high backboard bed. The ceiling fan with large fan-like blades turned at a pace that seemed to want to tempt them as well.

She slowly brought his hand to her lips and kissed his palm, breathing in his smell. Clean soap, musky cologne and some other scent that was his alone. His finger trailed lightly over her lower lip, sliding down from her lip to her chest. He leaned in
to brush his lips where his finger had just been.