Chapter 18
Chapter 18
At eleven fifty-five, Gabby’s phone buzzed, startling her. The text from Jason’s mother was short and sweet. I’m here. At the curb out front. Come when you’re ready.
Here we go , she thought to herself.
Sheila wouldn’t have been able to come upstairs. Building security was tight. Although Jason had sweet-talked his way past the cop on duty several weeks ago, Sheila probably didn’t see the need. That meant Gabby hurried downstairs to meet her lunch date. This was better all the way around. No need to invite Sheila to her office for a chummy tête-à-tête that might lead to awkward questions from coworkers.
Jason’s stylish parent was standing beside a dark Secret Service-ish sedan. Like Gabby, she had chosen to wear pants in deference to the colder weather. Her outfit was topped with a thigh-length fur coat. Real, not faux. Gabby winced inwardly. A fur coat in Georgia was only appropriate for a handful of days each winter. It was the most pretentious and unnecessary of all the expensive female adornments in the South.
But as she had reminded herself before, people with money could spend it however they wished.
Sheila hugged her quickly. “I made a reservation at Athena’s. My driver will drop us there and pick us up whenever you say.”
Gabby slid into the back seat and scooted across to the other side. The restaurant was barely a third of a mile away. They could easily have gone on foot. Maybe Sheila didn’t like walking in dress shoes. Or maybe the cold was to blame.
Either way, it was going to be a short trip.
When they entered the restaurant, the ma?tre d’ greeted them warmly and showed them to a cozy table in the back. It was tucked in a corner and surrounded by pots of hibiscus plants staked to narrow wooden trellises.
The waiter took their drink orders, read them the specials, and departed.
Gabby gathered her courage. “Mrs. Brightman... Sheila. I think I know why you wanted to have lunch with me today. And I believe I can put your mind at rest. I’m not after a wedding ring or Jason’s money. We’re having fun together. But nothing more. I promise I’m not a threat to you or your son.”
Sheila leaned back in her chair and smiled. “You’re way off base, my dear. I think you’re wonderful. Particularly for Jason.”
Gabby frowned. “You said at the party that Cate would have been the perfect daughter-in-law. I’m nothing at all like her. So I don’t follow your logic.”
The waiter returned with beverages. Sheila took a sip of her gin and tonic. “I’ve never seen Jason happier, at least not in the last year and a half. It was very hard for his father and me to watch him suffer after the aborted wedding. My son was trapped in a dark pit. There were days I wondered if he would ever find his way out. But recently—” She smiled. “Jason’s almost himself again. I have reason to believe that’s all you, Gabby.”
“Oh, no ma’am,” Gabby said, feeling rattled. “What you’re seeing is probably the fact that he and Cate and Harry have reconciled...made peace between themselves.”
“You’re too modest, dear.”
The lunches arrived about then. Large Italian salads. Small servings of lasagna. As they ate, the conversation was far less personal.
Gabby breathed an inward sigh of relief, but as her small glass of rosé calmed her nerves, one thing became clear. This was a chance to better understand Jason via his mother.
“Tell me about Jason growing up.”
Sheila smiled wistfully. “His father and I were a bad match from the beginning. Both of us too stubborn, both of us spoiled by our families. But when we had Jason, it was as if the angels smiled on us despite our rocky marriage. I know you’ll think I’m biased, but at every age, people have loved Jason. Where some teenage boys go through a moody, rebellious stage, Jason was always a calm, steady rock.”
“I see that in him,” Gabby said quietly.
Sheila went on. “My son was often surrounded by boys and young men who wanted to emulate him or girls and young women who wanted to catch his attention. Even as a child of ten or twelve, he had an uncanny ability to talk with adults as well as his peers. Perhaps that was a result of being an only child. I don’t know.”
“You must be very proud of him.”
“I am,” Sheila said. “It took great courage to call off that wedding. His timing sucked. No one denies that. But he did the right thing.”
“Yes.”
“I can’t explain it,” she said, “but Jason inherited the best of his father and me, yet none of our failings. He deserves to be happy. Did you know that in high school, one of his teammates suffered a terrible injury during a football game? Jason organized a blood drive when it was needed and rounded up more than two hundred volunteers. He was an Eagle Scout. His college fraternity won awards for community service, most of which was driven by Jason. You would have to search far and wide to find anyone who dislikes him.”
“I believe you,” Gabby said. “Which is why he should end up with a woman who can be his equal.”
Sheila frowned. “You work for one of the most prestigious firms in Atlanta. You dress beautifully. You’re poised and sophisticated and successful. I fail to see how you aren’t perfect for him. I’ve heard snippets over the years that you had financial difficulties when you were at UGA. None of us care about that.”
Gabby didn’t want to open a vein and expose her painful roots. But Sheila needed to know the truth so she could steer her son in another direction. Gabby laid down her fork and folded her hands in her lap.
“It’s more than that, Sheila. My mother was pregnant when her boyfriend was killed. I was born when she was sixteen. The state nearly took me away from her. My mother has battled mental illness for years. We weren’t poor when I was a child. We were destitute. Everything I’ve accomplished in my adult life has been so I could take care of her. You and your family are lovely people, but we have no life experience in common. You need to introduce your son to daughters of your society friends.”
“No,” Jason’s mother said. The word was flat. “I need you to help him focus. He clearly thinks the world of you. He wants you. Use your influence, Gabby. Remind him that with great privilege comes great responsibility. He’s not too old to go back to school. Start a new career.”
“Why can’t he take his time?” Gabby asked. “This house he bought is important to him. Ask him about it. He’ll tell you.”
Sheila scowled. “I don’t care about the house. I want grandchildren. And I want my son to have a good life. A settled life.”
“He plans to travel the world. Take more pictures. He’s not your sweet little boy anymore. He’s a complicated man. Surely you see that.”
Sheila waved a hand at the waiter. “I’ll have another drink,” she said to him. Then she stared at Gabby once more, her eyes narrowed. “You care about my son. Maybe more than you realize. That party at my house this weekend was not somewhere you wanted to be. But for Jason’s sake, you went along as his date. When I criticized his recent behavior, you defended his choices.”
“Well, I—”
Sheila didn’t let her finish. “My son won’t appreciate me interfering in his love life. I get that. So today will be the only time I talk to you about this. Please help Jason find peace and happiness in his life. Be the woman he needs. Give him love, Gabby. That’s something money can’t buy. Believe me. I learned that lesson the hard way.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Gabby muttered. She glanced at her watch. “I don’t mean to cut you off, but I need to get back to the office.”
“Of course, you do. All I’m asking is that you give my son a chance. Give yourself a chance. The two of you could have a wonderful future together. There’s more to life than work and duty. Cut loose. Roll the dice.”
Gabby shook her head slowly. “You don’t know me very well at all, do you?”
“Change isn’t easy. It never is. But I believe it’s possible.”
Jason made the trip to Blossom Branch on Monday, wishing like hell that Gabby was by his side. It didn’t seem right for her to be in Atlanta and not here with him. It was impossible not to remember every detail of their recent visit and all its interesting twists and turns. Being in Blossom Branch with her had rekindled a host of feelings.
When mental images of the two of them in the back seat of his car went straight to his gut and made him burn with frustrated longing, he ground his jaw and resolved to forget about Gabby for the next few hours. He knew it was a futile choice, but a man had to have some pride. Even if he was in deep water and perhaps going down for the third time.
Leah and Lucas met him at the front gate of Camp Willow Pond. “We’re so glad you came,” Leah said when he climbed out of his car.
Lucas nodded. “I think you’re going to be impressed.”
“I’m impressed already. I can tell you’ve done a lot of work here.”
For the next hour, the three of them walked the property. The day was cold and windy, but Leah’s enthusiasm bubbled over as she and Lucas showed him around. Lucas let Leah do most of the talking. He was clearly supportive of his wife’s dream.
Jason was fascinated. “So your first summer was a clear success?”
“It was .” She grinned. “Not to say we didn’t hit a few rocky spots. I’m lucky to have such great people in my life. As you probably know, Cate volunteers at the art museum with underprivileged kids. Her contacts at social services helped us identify prospective campers. Gabby has guided me in finances and planning.”
“Anything new for this summer?” he asked.
Leah nodded. “A few tweaks here and there. The thing is, summer is far too brief. Because we live in Georgia, we theoretically have the option of winter camping, at least on the weekends. So that’s my biggest problem right now,” she said. “We have to decide whether it’s cost-effective to winterize the buildings we already own. Or if not, we could construct new facilities that are insulated correctly and later decide how to fully utilize those spaces in the summertime, too.”
Jason stared out across the property. They were standing on the porch of the owner’s house. It was a modest but nice place, not unlike the one he was renovating. “The possibilities are endless, aren’t they?”
Lucas chuckled. “As long as money is no object.”
Leah slugged his arm playfully. “Be nice. I was a novice all the way around when I started this project. I often get ahead of myself financially, but I’m learning.”
“This is exciting,” Jason said. “I might be able to help if you’re open to having other fingers in the pie.”
“How so?” Leah asked, bouncing on her feet to keep warm.
“My parents are well-connected with the nonprofit community in Atlanta. They enjoy supporting various charities, hosting fundraisers, strong-arming their friends into giving. Because of all that, they know a ton of the right people. There might be grants available to you that you haven’t come across yet. Is it okay if I do some digging?”
Leah beamed. “That would be awesome. Thank you, Jason.”
Lucas nodded. “Anything you can do would be great. The kids we met this past summer came from all kinds of tough situations. Makes your heart hurt. Leah and I are determined—more than ever—to make Camp Willow Pond a long-term success.” He smiled. “I’m going to spot-check a couple of things before we leave. I’ll be right back.”
When he was gone, Leah touched Jason’s arm. Her brown-eyed gaze was concerned. “How are things with you and Gabby? Maybe you don’t want to talk about it, but I really want to know.”
He shrugged. “Let’s just say that your brilliant and beautiful friend can be a frustrating woman at times.”
“That’s very true. But I think she likes you. Seriously, I mean.”
“I’m not so sure.” He kicked at the porch railing. “Every time I feel we’re making progress, she pushes me away. Says we’re too different .”
Leah nodded. “I understand why she thinks that.”
“You do?” He frowned.
“At times, Cate and I felt the difference keenly when we were in college. Gabby was academically confident but so socially awkward as an eighteen-year-old. We remembered her vaguely from elementary school. But at UGA—as she began to trust Cate and me—she gave us snippets of what her childhood was like.”
He sighed. “She’s shared things with me, too.”
Leah beamed. “Well, that’s a good sign.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t think so. In my case, it’s been her attempt to push me away. She says she enjoys having sex with me. But that’s as far as we’re going, apparently. Gabby has no intention of building anything significant with me.”
“Oh, Jason. I’m so sorry.”
He scowled. “The worst part is, I have no idea what I’m supposed to do in this situation. Give up? Walk away? Or be patient and hope she’ll surrender to my charm and persistence one day?”
His attempt at humor fell flat, even to his own ears.
“Never mind,” he said. “Here comes Lucas. Please don’t tell Gabby we talked about her. She’s so private. I get that. She’s probably had to be over the years.”
“Yes,” Leah said. “But Cate and I have worried that all those secrets and feelings she holds inside might harm her. You’ve made a powerful connection. If she trusts you with her body, maybe the rest will follow.”
“I don’t know,” he said. “That was my hope in the beginning. Now I’m not at all sure she wants me in her life.”
Grimes & Hancock always closed their offices during the week between Christmas and New Year’s. It made sense. Clients were otherwise occupied during that time.
The only downside was the frenzy of work in the days leading up to the break. Gabby knew she would be putting in ten-hour days and eating lunch at her desk. That was one reason she had been willing to meet up with Sheila on Monday. She knew the remainder of the week would lurch into fast motion.
Monday night she debated calling Jason. He was probably curious about what his mother had to say. Who could blame him? Parents were notoriously unpredictable when it came to their children.
Before she could act on that impulse, Jason texted her...
How was lunch with my mom? Did you survive???
Gabby grinned. She wants grandchildren.
This time, there were no text dots. Her phone rang. Jason’s name showed up on her screen. Her heart sped up predictably. But she took a deep breath and answered.
“Hi, Jason.”
“Grandchildren? Really?”
“What can I say? You’re her only kid. She has big plans for you.”
“Great,” he muttered. “What did you say to that?”
“I told her we were just having fun and that she needed to introduce you to her friends’ daughters.”
A long silence ensued on his end. Finally he spoke, his tone sharp. “I don’t need you pimping me out on the social circuit, Gabby.”
“Sorry,” she muttered. “I was only trying to distract her. Besides, I stood up for you. I told her you wanted to continue traveling the world and taking pictures. And that she should let you be you.”
“I see.”
“What’s wrong with that?” She wasn’t willing to tell him everything his mother said. It was embarrassing to know that Sheila believed Gabby had special influence with Jason. She didn’t. Not at all.
“Nothing, I suppose. But I never actually said I was going to travel the world. At least not like I have the last year and a half.”
“Oh. I just assumed you would. For your photography.”
“I’ll take some trips. When the time is right. But the whole reason I’m redoing this house I bought is because I want to settle down. I need to have a home base. A place where I feel grounded.”
“Breaking up with Cate changed your whole life, didn’t it?”
Another long space of quiet. His voice was low when he finally spoke. “Cate and I were too young when we made the decision to get married. Not that age is everything. But we were still figuring out who we were as individuals. When the wedding didn’t happen, I was forced to decide what I want from life.”
“And have you?” she asked.
He chuckled. “I’m working on it.”
“You’re lucky to have choices, Jason.”
“I know that.” He cleared his throat. “Any word on when you and I can get together before Christmas?”
She wanted so badly to see him that she nearly told him to come over on the spot. “Not really,” she said. “I’m spending ten hours a day at the office. We close at two on Friday, but I’ll be heading down to my mom’s house for Christmas Eve.”
“I miss you, Gabriella.”
The ragged statement made her heart clench. And somehow, because he so often called her Gabby , as she had requested, the longer version of her name sounded intimate. The deep masculine timbre made her thighs clench and her heart race.
It was all up to her. All she had to do was say yes , and Jason would be in her bed tonight. Holding her. Making love to her.
“I miss you, too,” she said.
“I have a feeling there’s a but in there somewhere.” His reply held resignation. That resignation made her feel guilty.
“I go to bed early on work nights. My job is stressful. I need my sleep to keep up with the workload.” She could have told him about her conversation with Bradley, but she didn’t. It was too complicated, and her feelings too unsettled. Because her willpower was dwindling, she gripped the phone and did the smart thing. “I need to go now. Good night, Jason.”
“Do you remember that I have a Christmas present for you?”
“I have one for you too,” she said. Technically, the gift wasn’t in her possession yet. But she had tracked it down. “We’ll have time after the twenty-fifth if not before.”
“I don’t like that at all,” he grumbled. “Christmas is a time for magic, and you’re the magic in my life, Gabby. I’ll be sad if I can’t see you.”
“Good night, Jason...”
Jason ended the call with a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. If he had to run the odds at this very moment, he’d have to admit that his relationship with Gabby had a less than fifty-fifty chance of succeeding. Why was he doing this to himself?
There were at least a dozen women in Atlanta who might welcome a phone call from him—even knowing what he had done to Cate. Was it time to cut his losses? If Gabby really cared about him, wouldn’t she have softened by now?
Yes, she’d had a sucky childhood and adolescence. And no, he hadn’t. But was that reason enough to throw away a potentially good relationship? He had some thinking to do. Some long and hard thinking, along with a healthy dose of self-reflection. Fortunately, sweaty, dirty labor offered plenty of opportunity for that.
The week was wide-open. No commitments of any kind.
He had assumed, perhaps, that he would be spending the nights in Gabby Nolan’s bed. Now he knew how arrogant and deluded his suppositions had been. She had shored up the walls between the two of them.
As he walked around the block in the dark, trying to convince himself he could sleep without her, he faced a hard truth.
Breaking up with Cate had nearly broken him .
Would Gabby finish the job?
Surely he wasn’t a masochist. Was he destined to choose women who were all wrong for him? Why couldn’t loving someone be easy?
Part of his trouble now was how successfully he had isolated himself for the last year and a half. Some of his friends had reached out to him after the wedding imploded. But first he had left the country. Then, when he returned, he hadn’t answered calls or texts.
His emotions had been raw.
Embarrassment. Guilt. Depression.
All the negativity and heartbreak had seemed better handled in private.
Most of those dark, self-destructive feelings were in the past. He had now reached a time when he wanted to hang out with the guys, drink a beer, and maybe (one-on-one) admit that he was floundering. Several of his college buddies had married. Surely they would have words of wisdom to share.
In years past, Harry would have been the main person Jason talked to about his complicated love life. But despite all the positive steps Jason had made with his best friend and his ex-fiancée, it was still weird. Which meant that Jason felt isolated and alone.
It was his own fault. He had made the choices that brought him to this complicated point in his life. Now he had to be the one to find a way through.
For better or worse, Christmas felt like a line in the sand. He wasn’t going to let the day pass without facing Gabby. He felt in his gut that it was important.
The confrontation could go several ways. He’d like to think he had a shot at a holiday-worthy rom-com happily-ever-after. A guy could hope.
Unfortunately, the part of him that had battled a few hard knocks knew that Gabby wasn’t likely to be a pushover when it came to romance. She was the most pragmatic, steely-edged woman he had ever met.
She’d spent a lifetime developing her defenses. Her heart was undeniably wide and deep. But she reserved her softer emotions for the people in her life who needed help.
When Gabby looked at Jason, she saw nothing but his privileged upbringing and his cushy financial spreadsheet.
Seducing her wasn’t enough. Nor was the undeniable connection they shared in bed. He knew she wanted him. But what about respect?
He wasn’t at all sure he had earned that. Not from his wide circle of friends. Not from Cate and Harry. And most importantly, not from the woman who made him believe in hope and redemption and miracles.
It was only days until Christmas. He would bide his time.
Maybe between now and then, he could decide whether he and Gabby were a perfect match or another painful mistake.