Chapter 13 Winning Her Over
WINNING HER OVER
“Are you going to tell me about this woman that you are bringing to the wedding later? And where is she now? I thought for sure I’d meet her prior.”
Arik could have full transparency with his grandmother but didn’t have the mental fortitude for the lecture that would ensue. She’d scold him for playing games like his parents.
Not that he felt it was a game.
This was his opportunity.
Time to get to know Natalie. For her to understand where he came from and why he was the way he was.
If they could get past this weekend, then winning her over would be a piece of cake.
All his skeletons would be exposed and no worry she’d think he was some kook with a busted up family and drama causing his eccentric behaviors.
Shit. That was why he acted the way he had.
Sort of.
He escaped the production his father made of things and the spectacle his mother created while she wrote her next script of wrongdoing his father had exhibited.
In his mind, his mother was just as guilty.
“I told you her name is Natalie and we went to college together. We’ve reconnected.”
His grandmother didn’t need to know it’d only been a week. It was still three dates. And he slept with her.
Though sleep was the only thing that happened.
If staring at the ceiling listening to her light breathing and tossing could be considered that.
She appeared as uncomfortable as him, but neither of them had the courage to speak first.
“And now you’re spending some time with her on the island she’s from?”
“Yes,” he said. “She works there, so I can sneak lunch in.”
Once, but it was still the truth. He hoped for more.
“Where is she now?”
“Still at the hotel,” he said. “She didn’t need to come this early. We’ll return an hour before the guests get here. You shouldn’t be doing anything by then. Or now.”
There was a lot of activity in the house. More toward the kitchen and moving in and out of the backyard.
The tents were erected. Space heaters hooked up, lights already hanging and being tested.
Tables were being lined up with chairs that he could see.
There were no less than ten people moving around the backyard when he glanced out there. None were in uniforms so he wondered if they were friends or guests.
“I’m sitting back. Courtney is out there directing everyone, but she’ll be getting ready soon. She wanted it set up just her way.”
“Is Nick here?” he asked.
“No. He’s coming later, but the bridal party and some other family members are taking care of the table and chairs. The tent company set everything else up last night along with the heaters. I’m not sure why Courtney couldn’t have gotten the wedding planner like Nick wanted.”
“No clue and he shouldn’t let you get in the middle of it.”
“It’s my house so I’m going to have some say,” his grandmother said with her arms crossed. “At least she took my recommendation on the florist. They do a lot of the work on the grounds and understand where the best placement is and where not to go.”
“It will be over soon,” he said. “I hope they hired people to clean up and your yard won’t be left like this while wedding members take care of it.”
“I told Nick he had to do that and he did. That was part of my condition on having the wedding here. Courtney’s parents are nice, but they are in over their heads.”
“I know you don’t enjoy having this many people in the house. Why didn’t you just tell Nick no?”
His grandmother sighed. “Because I’ve only got two grandchildren and I couldn’t. I’d tell you yes, so I had to tell him yes.”
“I’d never ask. That’s the difference. I’m sure Uncle Justin is paying for most of this from what you’ve said about Courtney’s parents. It’s only about fifty people. They could have had it at a restaurant.”
“Arik. Don’t be cold. I know you’ve never been exposed to anything sentimental, but that is why Nick wanted it here. You know he was close to your grandfather. He wants to be married on the grounds.”
He sighed. He’d been closer to his grandmother than grandfather. It’s not as if he didn’t get along with his grandfather, but Nick sucked up more. That was how Arik chose to see it.
“It’s his right, but don’t insult me by saying I’m not sentimental. I am.”
His grandmother lifted a sharp eyebrow. She wasn’t ready for the wedding, wearing black pants, a pink silk shirt, her stylish bob always immaculate, black flats on her feet. He didn’t think he’d ever seen her in jeans.
She had sneakers, he’d seen them. And shorts, she wore them in the summer.
But blue jeans. Nope. Not Sophie Crest.
“You say you are, but I’m not convinced.”
“I’m not sure what I need to do to convince you. I come home for holidays to be with you. On Christmas Eve, you and I drank those hot toddy things you always have that no one else will drink. We even watched Miracle on 34th Street. Come on, if that isn’t sentimental, I’m not sure what is.”
He’d been watching that movie with his grandmother on Christmas Eve since he was a kid. He hated it. Could recite it word for word, but sucked it up for her.
“You’re right. I’ll give you that one. Tell me more about Natalie. Do you have time for a cup of coffee?”
“Do you really want to go in the kitchen around everyone to get it?”
“No. You’re going to do it for me. Grab a few of those biscotti I like while you’re at it.”
“Sure,” he said. His grandmother took a seat in the formal living room at the front of the house away from the action while he ventured toward the back.
People were moving around. He noticed the bride from her picture on the save the date card. “Who are you?”
He wouldn’t snap back in the same tone. He’d give her a break due to the stressful situation.
“Arik,” he said. “This is my grandmother’s house.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry. I’m Courtney. The bride. I’m trying not to let strangers into your grandmother’s house and it’s hard to keep track.”
“I appreciate that,” he said. “She’s not some young little filly that should wrangle up the herds for this.”
He stared the bride down, her face flushed, but he didn’t care. If he was forced to come in here amidst this chaos, he was going to make his opinion known.
It wasn’t just his position as the grandson, but the one who was the wealthiest in the family that he was positive Courtney was aware of.
“I’m trying,” Courtney said. “It’s a little nuts, but I’ve got it under control. I told Sophie to relax. The caterers will be here soon and then I’ll start getting ready. My parents will deal with the rest.”
“Got it,” he said. He went about getting their coffee ready, snagged the package of treats his grandmother liked, then walked back to the front of the house.
“Did you meet the bride?”
“I did,” he said, setting the coffee down. “After she verbally chopped my neck to find out who I was.”
His grandmother laughed. “She’s nervous. I understand, but it comes out as rudeness.”
“She backed down fast enough.”
“I don’t need to know why. Back to Natalie.”
“I didn’t want her to witness this mess and I knew you’d want to talk to me privately.”
“It’s not as if you’re going to give me what I want. You never do.”
He sipped his coffee. His grandmother’s eyes were laughing.
“I give you more than most. She’s very sweet.
Politically correct. She is the Director of Customer Relations at The Bond Retreat and used to dealing with rich uppity people whose noses get out of joint when their toilet paper isn’t folded in a triangle. ”
His grandmother snorted. “She should be able to handle your parents well. And maybe could have pulled this circus under control.”
“She’s not here to work anymore than you are. And thankfully she’ll only have to deal with Dad.”
“And Brandi. Don’t forget the bimbo.”
“Grandma,” he said. “Have you met her to know that for sure?”
“I don’t have to meet her to have an opinion of someone who dates a man who is older than her father. That no one lasts longer than six months at least lessens the worry he’s being taken advantage of.”
He coughed into his coffee. “No one takes advantage of Dad.”
“Your mother got the most.”
“Because it’s her job to nail people’s asses to the wall. Sorry, but after what he did to her, she deserved it. What they’ve done after, that’s all on them. She’s an equal opportunity instigator.”
“Yes, she is. I’m sure she’s reached out, knowing you’re here.”
“She did. She called me before I left yesterday. When I told her I didn’t have time to see her before the wedding today she hung up on me. She got in that I could visit at Easter.”
“Are you going to?”
“Nope. The only peaceful family holidays I’ve had in the past several decades have been with you. I’m old enough to not need to have a ham with my mother and her new boyfriend.”
“She only wants to show you off.”
He lifted his coffee in agreement. “There you go.”
“Easter is next weekend. Will you come back?”
“Sorry. I’m not planning on it. I thought you were going on a cruise anyway with some of your friends.”
“I am,” his grandmother said. “I wanted to make sure you weren’t left on your own with either of your parents.”
He grinned. “I’ve got Natalie. Don’t worry there. She won’t be subjected to them that close together either.”
“If you think I don’t know that you probably twisted her arm to come here and be by your side, you’re fooling yourself.”
He knew that would come up. “Of course I did. But she did it because she likes me. She doesn’t want me to be hurt or upset.”
His grandmother rolled her eyes. “Now you’re yanking me along. Finish your coffee, get your suit and go back to your girlfriend. Bring her here ninety minutes before guests arrive. I want enough time to properly get to know her.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, smirking. That went exactly as he had hoped it would.