Chapter 18
Cooper was awake early, his mind racing with thoughts about Gigi.
If he had to guess, he’d seen the last of her after last night.
He didn’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure out that her showing him the door ten seconds after her second orgasm wasn’t a good sign of things to come. No pun intended.
He had to do something, because he’d meant it when he told her he really liked her.
At first, he’d been dazzled by her, as anyone would be.
But the more he’d gotten to know her, the more he’d liked who she was under the shiny Hollywood veneer.
While replaying every minute they’d spent together, he kept coming back to one obvious idea: Evelyn.
She’d known Gigi since she was a kid and was a surrogate grandmother to her.
If anyone could give him insight into what made Gigi tick, Evelyn probably could.
However, it felt sort of underhanded to seek intel from someone close to her.
The only reason he’d do it was because he felt like they might have something special if he could only figure out the secret handshake.
Maybe Evelyn would refuse to see him or talk to him about Gigi, but he figured he had nothing to lose by trying.
After taking a shower, he got dressed in an NYU T-shirt and shorts and tiptoed out of his bedroom.
Things were quiet in the house, which meant Jared, Lizzie and the baby were getting some much-needed sleep.
He left Jared a note to let him know he’d borrowed the car for a quick errand and would be back shortly.
With Jordan and Gigi shooting the final episodes this week and next, Cooper wasn’t surprised to see that her car was already gone. As he started the Porsche, he prayed this outing in Jared’s car would go better than the last one.
Cooper drove into town and picked up muffins and coffee at the bakery before heading to Eastward Look, hoping Evelyn could be charmed by baked goods.
At Jordan’s party, he’d talked to Evelyn about her gardens at the house, which were her pride and joy.
She’d told him to come by some time to see them, so she wouldn’t be surprised to see him.
As he drove into the long driveway at Eastward Look, he hoped he wasn’t making a huge mistake with this mission. He’d feel things out with Evelyn before he said anything about Gigi.
Evelyn came to the door as he brought the car to a stop in the driveway. Her face lit up with a welcoming smile when she saw him. “This is a nice surprise.”
“I was hoping I could get a tour of your legendary gardens, and I come bearing gifts.”
“I love gifts—and gardens. Come in. I just made some coffee. Can I interest you in a cup?”
“I brought my own along with some fresh-baked muffins.”
“How lovely.”
Cooper took a seat at one of the barstools at the island and took the muffins out of the bag. “This kitchen is gorgeous.”
“Oh, those look yummy,” Evelyn said, cutting the coffee cake muffin in half while Cooper chose the chocolate chip. “My granddaughter Nikki and her fiancé, Riley, did it along with some help from his brother, Finn.”
“They did a great job.”
“They sure did. They’re slowly bringing this old house back to life, and I couldn’t be happier about it.”
“Have you lived here long?”
“I’ve summered here for more than thirty years.”
“It’s a great spot to spend a summer.”
“I couldn’t agree more. The girls loved it so much when they were younger, and I’m thrilled to see them falling in love with the island as adults, too. Although I think they’re more in love with Riley and Mason than they are with the island.”
“The island has its selling points, too.”
“It does. Is your brother enjoying living here year-round?”
“He loves it.”
“I heard about what happened with the baby. How’re they doing?”
“It’s a minute-to-minute thing.” He glanced at her. “Can you keep a secret?”
“I’m known as the vault to my granddaughters, who get annoyed when I won’t tell them things they feel they have a right to know.”
Cooper smiled because how could he not? She was awesome. “Jared and Lizzie have been trying to have a baby for quite some time. Their most recent round of IVF failed shortly before this happened.”
“Oh dear. That makes them the worst possible people to be left with a newborn.”
“Or the best. I suppose it depends on your perspective. But we’re concerned about Lizzie getting attached. And Jared, too. It’s kind of a mess.”
“Sounds like it. What can be done?”
“Jared has an investigator looking for the mother on the mainland, and the police are involved, too.”
“I don’t know whether to hope they find her or that they don’t.”
“Same. It’d be cool if they could somehow keep the baby, but I bet that would be complicated, too.”
“They’d have to find the mother to make that happen. Probably the father, too. I’ll say a little prayer for your brother and his wife to ask for guidance for them in this situation.”
“I’m sure they’d appreciate that. They need all the help they can get.”
“It’s interesting, isn’t it, how people would look at someone like your brother and assume he doesn’t have a problem in the world.”
“Everyone has problems, even billionaires.”
“That’s the truth.” Evelyn gave him a saucy side-eye. “So did you really come by to see my gardens?”
Cooper laughed. “Among other things. I wanted to talk to you about Gigi, but only if you’re willing. I don’t want to put you in an awkward position.”
“Gigi is very dear to me. She’s my third granddaughter, and I love her very much.”
“She’s becoming very dear to me, too.”
“Is she?” Evelyn seemed intrigued. “I do so love to hear that. Our Gigi needs someone in her corner.”
“She would tell you she doesn’t need anyone in her corner, or anywhere else, for that matter.”
“Yes, she would say that. But it’s only because she’s been on her own for such a long time. You know that, right?”
“She told me about her childhood.”
Evelyn put her hand on Cooper’s arm. “The fact that she told you her story is a huge, huge deal, Cooper. Hearing that makes me feel better about this conversation, because there’s no way she would’ve done that if she didn’t trust you.”
Cooper waited to see if she’d say more.
“Come with me. Let’s take a walk in the garden.”
He got up to follow her out the back door.
On the way out, she grabbed an oversized sun hat. “You must always take good care of your skin and protect it from the sun.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You young people don’t take us seriously when we tell you how you’ll pay later for the foolishness of your youth.”
“I believe you. My mother says the same thing. She bathed me in sunscreen when I was little.”
“Good for her. I did the same with my girls, and they have gorgeous skin as a result.” She hooked her arm through his. “But you’re not here to talk about the sun. You want some insight into our Gigi so you can better understand her.”
“Yes, but I wondered if I could ask you something first.”
“Sure you can. I have a feeling we’re going to be great friends.”
“I’d like it if we were.”
“What’s your question?”
“Do you think it’s possible she thinks she’s unlovable?”
Evelyn’s deep sigh said it all. “I think it’s more than possible. In fact, I’m quite sure that’s the case.”
Hearing his suspicions confirmed made Cooper ache for what Gigi was denying herself.
Evelyn glanced his way. “I have to say I’m surprised at that level of insight from such a young man.”
“My mother would tell you that my special gift has always been the ability to cut through the bullshit and get to the heart of a matter. I think it comes from being the much younger brother to four older siblings. I was forever trying to keep up with them, and I learned early to figure out their pain points.”
“I’ll bet you were one of their biggest pain points.”
Cooper laughed. “I’m sure I was. You become very observant when you’re trying to keep up with a bunch of overachievers.”
As they strolled the grounds at Eastward Look, Evelyn pointed out her prized roses, hydrangeas and lilies, all of which were in full, fragrant bloom.
“Your property is gorgeous.”
“Thank you. It’s my happy place. Always has been since I lost my husband as a young woman and was left with a business to run and children to raise without my love.”
“I’m so sorry you lost him.”
“Thank you. I am, too. I miss him every day.” She used clippers to cut some of the roses and held up a large pink one for Cooper to see. “This is how I see our Gigi, a rose of the first order, but with some thorns that she uses to keep herself safe.”
“That’s an apt description.”
“She would literally do anything for me and my granddaughters. If we asked her to sell everything she had to bail us out of a jam, she’d do it in a red-hot second. But she would never, ever ask us for anything in return.”
“She’s struggling with Nikki and Jordan settling here.”
“I wondered if she would be, especially after Jordan’s news yesterday.”
“She’s thrilled for Jordan.”
“Of course she is, but she’s heartbroken for herself, even if she’d never say so.”
“Yes.”
“What is it that you want, Cooper?”
“I want Gigi.”
“For now or for good?”
“I, um, well…”
Evelyn’s delicate laugh reminded Cooper of the lovely sound wind chimes made. “That’s the crux of the issue, my friend. Our Gigi is far too smart to risk her heart on someone who isn’t sure what he wants.”
“We haven’t known each other that long.”
“No, you haven’t. And yet you’re here looking for insight from one of her closest friends. What does that mean?”
“I’m not sure exactly.”
“I think you need to figure that out before you ask anything of her.”
“Is it possible to know—like, really know—another person is for you when you’re my age?”
“I was twenty-two when I married my husband. I didn’t have a single doubt that we’d be happy together for the rest of our lives—and we were. We had fifteen glorious years together.”
“I’m so sorry, Evelyn.”