The Jewel Box (26 page)

I didn’t sleep much that night and when a ringing phone woke me around seven in the morning, I was still groggy.

“Let’s do lunch,” Gloria trilled into the phone. “My treat. Noon today at Brennan’s?”

My sleep deprivation made me recall my sweet friend, Katie, and how much she adored Brennan’s. Kat often dined there, especially after a great money making week at the club. I also recalled Brennan’s delicious food and ambiance didn’t come cheap. “See you there, Gloria.”

Looking stylish as always with her perfectly coiffed hair, Gloria hugged and complimented me, even though I’d hurriedly applied makeup and my dress wasn’t nearly as dazzling as her expensive pantsuit. She made more than average income as a travel agent, but her eye-catching presentation lent Gloria the appearance of a woman of high social status.

Gloria was uncharacteristically quiet during lunch, offering pleasantries to the waiters and such, while letting me talk about Nikki. But when the main entrée plates were removed, she took over the conversation. “Cherie, I shouldn’t tell you this, but Gabe’s marriage is crumbling. It’s just awful.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Not a total lie. I felt bad for Luke.

“Well, it’s inevitable.” She stuck her fork into her chocolate dessert. “It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. And I think it’ll be very soon.”

“Oh,” was all I could say as I forked strawberries from my fruit cup.

“I don’t mean to seem pushy, but I think you should move to Clear Lake City when your lease expires. Be there for Gabe when his marriage falls apart.”

Gloria knew I relished the idea of living on a lake. “I’ve always dreamed of being near the water and watching boats go by, but daydreaming never has paid my bills.”

“NASA and high-tech businesses are thriving. Employment won’t be a problem.”

“I’ll think about it.” I was enchanted by Clear Lake’s sunset views and small town feel.

“Just do it.” Gloria said. “There’s a delightful future in store for you with Gabe, so make yourself available as soon as possible.” Cupid in her plum pantsuit was being pushy.

But saying things I wanted to hear. Gloria insisted on covering the tab, and her attitude was so upbeat I figured she’d recently sold a mega travel package.

“These men go wild when it comes to being romantic.” Patrice called from Venice, Italy after a whirlwind international business trip ended in a brief vacation.

“So I’ve heard. Licking the face to show appreciation, etcetera.”

“Not exactly, but overly affection men irritate me as much as guys who want to tie me up and spank me.”

“There’s a happy medium somewhere,” I said. “Nothing personal against black stiletto boots, leather corsets, spiked collars and cracking whips—when appropriately applied, but I’ll take face licking over sadomasochism any day.”

“You’ve always appreciated nice guys who were a tad aloof, Cherie. Which brings me to ask. . .have you heard anything about your old flame, lately?”

“Funny you should ask. I had lunch with Gloria recently. She says my old flame is miserably married and soon to be divorced.”

“Just be cautious when dealing with that woman. They’re announcing my train departure—gotta dash. We’ll talk more later.
Arrivederci
, for now.”

I had always trusted Patrice’s judgment and appreciated her intuition, but the harsh timber of her voice when she said “that woman” took me aback. Maybe she was overly tired. Jet-lagged, train drained, or suffering skin irritation from those Italian face lickers.

17

Cupid Gloria called so often I thought she was trying to get a telephone solicitor license. Lightly veiled with trivia, she regurgitated details about Gabriel’s disintegrating marriage and the wonderful life awaiting us once we reunited. Used car salesmen had nothing on Gloria.

Shortly after Gloria numbed my ear one night, her son called. “If I worked my hands in wood, would you still love me?” Gabriel sang into the phone.

“I doubt your wife would appreciate you singing those lyrics to me.”

“Soon to be ex-wife. We talked about the one thing we both agree on and that’s divorce. Hell, I almost creamed my jeans when she said she’d be out of here in a few weeks.”

“Okay trash mouth,” I blurted, my heart pounding with mixed emotions, “But please tell me this wasn’t negative fallout from my visit to Kemah and the T-shirt episode.”

“Heavens, no. Victoria never even noticed my coming home bare-chested. It was just bound to happen. When two people would rather swallow fish hooks and yank out vital organs instead of spending time together, it’s best to end things. Besides, she’s dating some banker already.”

“Sorry to hear this, Gabriel.” Again, not a total lie.

“Well I’m glad. Now he can pay for her outrageous spending.”

“Just keep things cordial for Luke’s sake.”

“That’s what I’ve been trying to do. And I’ll keep doing whatever it takes to make sure my son isn’t hurt.” He paused. “Hey, I heard it through the grapevine you might move near Pearland in a few weeks. Let me know
if you need a mover. I know a guy who does a good job and it’ll only cost you a couple of Budweisers.”

“Didn’t I fall for that line about ten years ago?”

“Can’t blame a poor ole carpenter for trying.”

I hung up, my heart dancing in my throat.

I gave notice to my landlord. Notice to Randall would follow—once I summoned enough courage. Removing the six carat diamond ring was a start. He wasn’t returning to Texas for two weeks. I had time to prepare. My natural instinct was to return the ring via courier, vanish without forwarding info, and let it go at that. Randall was smart enough to figure out the details. But during my last visit to my therapist (last, being my decision—not hers) we had discussed conquering my “exit: stage left” tendency by confronting uncomfortable situations head-on. I vowed to try as I told her goodbye. But I am a natural born runner.

My engagement ring indentation was still visible when Gloria called. “Cherie, I have dreadful news. Victoria’s going to live with Gabe longer than expected, possibly post divorce. It’s difficult to explain.”

Yet Gloria gets designated as spokesperson? Where the hell was Gabriel?

“Victoria has to upgrade her credit rating enough to buy a house.”

“What happened to her so-called banker fiancé?”

“He’s knee high in divorce proceedings. Cherie, Gabe’s decision is because of Luke.”

“Well, wish them well, Gloria.” I hung up.

After a week of not hearing from Gabriel, my vacillating about ending things with Randall came to a screeching halt. I agreed to move to freezing Utah and make wedding plans. I resigned from the law firm, but did not tell Gloria. Having witnessed her knack for convincing people to see things her way, I avoided the talented debater.

Nikki had mixed feelings. She loved Texas and didn’t want to leave friends she acquired over thirteen years, but Randall’s lavishing of gifts likely swayed her vote to head west.

The packing crew was wrapping our belongings when I finally answered my non-stop ringing phone. “Cherie, please hang tight,” said mouthpiece Gloria. “Gabriel’s working on a plan for you two to be together.”

I wasn’t buying her rhetoric this time. “Do
not
drain that tank,” I wailed at the packer, who apparently couldn’t read. “It stays with our neighbor.”

“I’m getting a cat when we get to Utah,” Nikki told him. “My first ever ‘hands on’ pet.”

“What on earth is going on over there?”

“We’re moving to Utah so Randall can add another notch to my wedding ring finger. Beats the hell out of hanging around Texas while Victoria and Gabriel play house.”

“Cherie, don’t be foolish.”

“Gloria, these guys are trying to empty Nikki’s aquarium despite the ‘Do Not Pack’ sign hanging on it. I really can’t chat.”

“Oh, Cherie,” she coaxed. “Please believe what I’m saying and don’t do this. You love Gabriel and you know he loves you. His daughters were in town the past week, so he needs more time to sort this out.”

Damn mover kept dipping fishy water. Realizing he couldn’t speak English, I tried hand gestures. “Gloria, you’re right. I do love Gabriel, but I don’t appreciate his not calling to offer a personal explanation. Besides, I don’t want to be the home wrecker of his second marriage.”

“Don’t do this, Cherie. Gabriel’s trying to arrange things so you can be together.”

“Nikki, please get him away from that fish tank.” I yelled. “Sorry, Gloria, I can’t handle this emotional tug. Distance will be best for me. Gabriel’s doing what’s best for him so please allow me the same privilege. I can’t be in this state without going mad thinking of them together.”

“But it’s for Luke,” Gloria protested.

“That doesn’t make it any easier. And like I said, if Gabriel isn’t man enough to tell me his reasons, he’s not the man I once knew.”

“Cherie, he’s crumbling inside and just trying to keep things together.”

“Wish him the best. Now, I must go. Love you Gloria.”

“We love you too Cherie.” She was crying. I felt sad, but knew I couldn’t handle the torment of Gabriel being with Victoria for any reason.

Nikki employed sophomoric sign language to successfully stop the packer from draining her aquarium. It was promised to our neighbor since
fish couldn’t endure the trip and Nikki had found the breed of cat she wanted. I was a dog person, but having never allowed furry pets in our home, I accepted Nikki’s choice.

I was supervising movers when the phone rang again. I heard Nikki explaining to Gabriel how we were packing for Utah and she’d be getting a room twice the size of any she’d ever had. With their special closeness, sharing her excitement was only normal. “It’s Gabriel, Mom.” She handed me the phone, totally oblivious to the emotional turmoil he and I were experiencing.

“You’re alive!” I snapped. “Guess I can put my black veil back in the wardrobe box.”

“Cherie, please don’t do this. I’m sorry I haven’t called, but I tend to clam up and try to internally correct things before discussing with anyone.”

“So, I’m just ‘anyone’ now?”

“No.” His voice was loud, but quavering. “You’re the woman I love. I just have to make things right for Luke. It’s not going as smoothly as I’d hoped. And now I’m in a state of shock that you’d so easily run away.”

“Let’s not talk about shock, okay? Forgive me Gabriel, but I have to go oversee packers before they put Nikki in a box.” I didn’t wait for his response. Click.

After the packers left, I sat on the sofa holding back tears while Nikki talked endlessly about decorating her new room. The phone rang just as she switched subjects onto possible cat names.

“Gabriel just left my house and he’s an emotional wreck.” Gloria sniffled. “Cherie, you must realize his being with her for even one day more is all about Luke.”

“I understand Gloria. But I have emotions too.”

“Would it help if I told you Victoria has a boyfriend?”

“According to Gabriel,” I said. “But I don’t know anything for certain these days.”

“Please don’t run off to Utah. We’ll work out these details as a family.”

“This house has already been leased.”

“Cherie, we’re a strong family who’ll get through this. Everything’s going to work out for you two.”

“Really?” I wanted to believe her, but another part of me was screaming to get the hell away. Besides, Nikki was excited about a big bedroom, and I had disappointed her too many times in her young life.

“Yes, really. I’m not sure how it’ll be handled, but believe Gabriel when he said he wasn’t about to let you run off.”

I looked around at all the boxes. Poor Nikki. Uprooted again.

“And I know you and Gabriel will soon be married,” she insisted.

“Oh, Gloria.” I sighed. “Will you please ask Gabriel to call me? I hung up on him earlier but think I can speak calmly to him now.”

“Of course I will, you needn’t ask. We all love you, Cherie. And we love Nikki, too.”

Gabriel never called. After waiting two hours I called Gloria to see if she had relayed my message.

“It’s very late and Gabe’s confused. You being packed and ready to rush to Utah, then unwilling to listen to him was a hurtful blow, Cherie.”

“Well, the hurt is mutual. Doesn’t he know my hearing from
you
about him living with Victoria was what generated this move?”