Chapter TWENTY-FIVE
Ross drove Melissa to Jack’s house, a newly constructed, two-story contemporary home on Wayside Place in Montclair. Inside, Jenn showed Melissa to a lovely guest suite on the second floor. “I know you won’t be staying here long, but hopefully, being here will give you a decent night’s rest,”
Jenn said.
“It’s beautiful,”
said Melissa. “Where are the girls?”
“Brace yourself,”
teased Jenn. “The two of them will be here soon. Their school runs late. They adore Uncle Ross, so I know they’ll come right home. Nan is driving now, and Kate will soon be. It’s a mother’s nightmare worrying about them, but as Jack tells me, I must let them go.”
“I can only imagine,”
said Melissa.
Jenn studied her. “How long have you known Ross? You just started dating?”
“Ross has been in town for almost two years,”
Melissa said. “We got to know each other as neighbors and are now together.”
“Really? I’ve never seen Ross like this. And though we’ve met other women he’s dated, I don’t think he’d have you here now if he didn’t consider your relationship to be serious.”
“Lanie said he’s had lots of women,”
Melissa said, still conflicted.
Jenn shook her head. “Lanie will never get over losing Ross, even though it was her choice. The truth is, Ross has dated a lot but never seriously. And as for Lanie, they’re friends and will never be more than that. The fact that Ross is even nice to her shows what a kind person he is.”
Melissa wanted to hear more about Ross, but he walked into the room and effectively ended the conversation.
“Jack said to come down to the kitchen. The bar is open, and we all need to toast Dad,”
said Ross.
Melissa followed Ross downstairs and entered a stunning kitchen. She liked the layout, the indoor grill, and the entertainment area attached to the kitchen, which held white cabinets and all the latest equipment.
Jack, a tall, handsome man, always seemed in charge. He motioned for them to gather around as he opened a bottle of champagne. He then poured the bubbling white wine into each tulip glass and handed them out.
He raised his glass and said, “I promised Dad we’d celebrate his life with a toast after he was gone. He didn’t want to be remembered as he was at the end of his life but as the father we all loved and honored. So, here’s to Dad!”
“Hear! Hear!”
said Ross, and Melissa whispered, “To you, John.”
Jenn caught her eye and smiled as if she understood that Melissa was too shy to say it aloud.
The arrival of Nan and Kate ended what might have become maudlin talk.
“There you are,”
said Jenn. “Uncle Ross is here with a special friend, Melissa Hendrickson. We’re just toasting Grandpa John’s life as he asked us to do.”
Nan was a stunning sixteen-year-old with blue eyes like her father. She went to him. “I’m sorry, Dad. I loved Grandpa John so much.”
Kate clung to her mother, her shoulders shaking as she cried softly. “I hate cancer.”
“We all do,”
said Ross.
Kate turned to him. “It’s all so sad.”
Ross rubbed Kate’s back. Shorter than her sister and with blond hair, she looked more like her mother.
Nan came over to Ross, and he opened his arms to her. When they pulled apart, Nan turned to her mother. “Can Kate and I toast Grandpa too?”
Jenn exchanged a glance with Jack. “Yes, just this once. We want to remember the good times with Grandpa John and celebrate that we knew him.”
“I want you girls to meet Melissa Hendrickson,”
said Ross.
“Your special friend,”
said Nan, holding out a hand to her.
A bit awed by the teen’s composure, Melissa shook her hand and then did the same with Kate, who greeted her with a friendly smile.
“It’s very nice to meet you. Uncle Ross hasn’t brought a girlfriend around for a long time,”
said Kate. She stopped talking when her mother cleared her throat in warning.
Once again, everyone lifted their glasses, and Jack said, “Here’s to Grandpa John, Dad, the husband to our dear mother and grandmother. He was a fine man.”
Everyone clicked glasses and then swallowed the wine.
Kate coughed from the bubbles and burst out laughing. “That’s delicious.”
“Grandpa would’ve been happy with beer, but this is a very sweet gesture,”
said Jenn, giving Jack a nod of approval.
Though she didn’t have much experience with gatherings like this, Melissa liked the openness of this family.
After the toast, Jack said, “I’ve ordered food from China Dragon.”
“Yay!”
said Kate, clapping her hands. “We haven’t had that in a long time.”
“Not with all those calories,”
said Nan, giving her sister a reproving look.
“Let’s use this time to celebrate without worrying about other things,”
Jenn said quietly, and the girls grew silent.
Melissa had heard many horrible stories about teenagers but was impressed by the girls’ behavior.
While they waited for dinner to be delivered, the girls went to their rooms, and Melissa settled on the outdoor porch with the other adults. The screened-in porch was as stunning as the rest of the house, with an outdoor kitchen, fireplace, and comfortable seating. The landscaped backyard was lush and held a small fountain that tumbled water into a koi pond.
“This is lovely,”
Melissa said, “I have a big backyard, but it’s mostly a vegetable and herb garden.”
“Which is appropriate for you,”
said Ross, smiling at her before turning to Jenn. “Melissa is a fantastic chef. At the restaurant her family owned, the food was always served fresh and delicious. Unfortunately, the restaurant burned down.”
“What will you do now that the restaurant is gone?”
Jack asked her.
“I’m still trying to figure that out,”
said Melissa. “I spent years learning about food and earning a reputation as an excellent chef. I don’t want to walk away from that.”
Jack shrugged. “That’s understandable. But aren’t you helping Ross with his project?”
“I’m encouraging him and trying to help in any way I can, but I need to do things for myself,”
Melissa said.
Ross caught her attention and winked. He knew she needed her independence.
Their dinner arrived, and Melissa became lost in choosing what she wanted for her meal. She took small servings of everything so she could go back for more. Jack had ordered enough food for a crowd double their size.
They sat at a long, pine table in the kitchen dining area. Melissa took a bite of the House Special Chicken, closed her eyes, and savored the taste of chicken strips and fresh vegetables in a spicy sauce.
“Delicious, huh?”
said Ross, grinning at her.
She opened her eyes and let out a soft laugh. “A fantastic blend of tastes. It’s wonderful to have authentic food like this.”
“One thing about living in this area is that we’re exposed to many different foods,”
said Jenn. “You’ll have to visit for a foodie weekend.”
“I’d like that,”
said Melissa, realizing how pleasant it was to be included in the family.
“You two can stay here when you return for Dad’s service,”
said Jack.
“Of course,”
said Jenn with a warmth that touched Melissa. Was this what it would be like to be a permanent part of Ross’s family?
After dinner, Jenn told the girls, “Go ahead and spend some time with your father and Uncle Ross. Melissa and I will do the dishes. It’ll be nice for the four of you to spend some time talking about Grandpa John.”
“I’m going to write a poem about him,” said Nan.
“That would be lovely, sweetheart,”
said Jenn. “We all have so many things to remember about him.”
“What about Grandma Betty? Do you think they’re together again?”
asked Kate.
Jenn smiled. “I’d like to think so.”
The girls left the room with the men, leaving Melissa with Jenn.
“What was Ross’s mother like?”
Melissa asked her.
Jenn stared into space and turned to her. “Betty was not your average wife and mother. She was gentle but tough and could wrestle life with four active boys. She attended everyone’s sports games, encouraged Dennis with his love of plants, and commanded the boys’ respect. She was quite an athlete herself. She was built a lot like you.”
“She sounds like an outstanding mother,”
Melissa said.
“All the Roberts men adored her. John, most of all. She was very kind to me. I’m Jack’s second wife, and I was eager for her to see I wouldn’t hurt him like his first wife did.”
Jenn said quietly, “His first wife was a troubled woman. Thank goodness they had no children. That’s all I’ll say about her.”
“And Betty supported you,”
said Melissa, wishing she’d known Ross’s mother. She and John had raised four wonderful men.
“You’re different from anyone else Ross has ever dated,”
said Jenn. “You’re unlike some who were after Ross’s money and status.”
Melissa straightened. “I don’t need either. I have my own.”
Jenn’s eyes widened, and then she burst out laughing. “Yes! That’s what I’m talking about. You’re different, all right, and I love it. I think we could become real friends. And Lisa and Addie are easy to get to know. You’ll like them.”
Melissa took it all in, both excited and nervous about the idea.
Ross walked into the kitchen, glanced from Melissa to Jenn, and said, “What’s going on?”
Melissa shrugged. “I’m just learning about your family.”
“You’ve done a fabulous job finding Melissa,”
said Jenn.
Ross beamed at them both.
###
Later, lying in bed with Ross, Melissa said, “I’m happy I got to meet your father. Jenn tells me your mother was a wonderful woman.”
“The best,”
said Ross. “I’ve been lucky my whole life. Growing up, I had great parents and some super opportunities. I’d wish the same for any children I might have.”
Melissa didn’t say anything, just let that thought settle.