Chapter THIRTY
The next day, Melissa waited at the end of her driveway with two small carry-on bags. Ross had hired a limousine to pick her up. The morning was cooler than it had been, an early harbinger, perhaps, for fall. Autumn in New Hampshire was glorious, with a leafy rainbow of colors brightening any scene. But she wasn’t ready for the future. Not until she knew more about her plans.
Pushing her concerns aside, she focused on Ross’s needs. She knew him well enough to know this would be a tough weekend for him. On the baseball diamond, he’d been a man in control, full of fun and talent. But she’d learned he was a much quieter man, a thoughtful one who loved his family.
The limousine driver pulled up and hurried out of the car to open the passenger door for her and to take her bags.
She slid into the backseat and faced Ross.
“Morning,”
he said and leaned forward to kiss her.
“Hi,”
she replied, sounding a little breathy after the way his lips had lingered on hers. “Thank you for making all the arrangements. We’re staying with Jenn, right?”
“Yes, she called to make sure we would. She likes you, Melissa.”
She leaned against the leather seat, “I like her and your entire family. They’re all very easy to be with.”
He lifted her hand into his and squeezed it. “Thanks for coming with me.”
“I’m happy to do this for you,”
she said sincerely, loving being able to support him.
“I’m glad I got the chance to get to know Crystal and Emmett better at dinner last night,”
said Ross. “I see how well you and Crystal could work together. You complement one another.”
“I hope it’ll work out. If not, something else will come along,”
she responded, remembering her new outlook on life at Crystal’s suggestion.
He studied her. “I understand. You can’t let anyone stand in your way. As you have made clear, your career is who you are or who you were meant to be.”
“Yes, and I want other things, too,”
she hastened to say.
But his back was turned to her, and he was looking out the window.
###
The flight to New Jersey was smooth and easy, but seeing Ross grow tense with the memorial service looming was difficult.
Ross had hired another limousine to take them from the airport in Newark to Jenn’s house in Montclair. As the driver made his way through traffic, she realized how practical it was to have a driver.
Jenn greeted both of them with open arms, turning from Ross to Melissa. “It’s such a pleasure to see you again, Melissa, though I wish it were under different circumstances.”
“Thanks. It’s nice of you to have us stay with you,”
she responded.
Jenn walked them inside and into the kitchen. Moments later, Jack showed up. “Sorry. I was on a call.”
He gave his brother a bro-hug and turned to Melissa. “How’s the chef?”
She laughed. “Good, thanks, and you?”
“Busy as usual, but it’s that time of year for me.”
He spoke to Ross. “After the service, there will be a small meeting for us to go over Dad’s will. Nothing unexpected, but necessary, just the same. I think we have a buyer for the house.”
“Really?”
said Ross. “That was quick.”
“It’s a friend of Lanie’s. She’s ready to be on her own again and loves the neighborhood and the idea of living close to her family, who will help with her kids,”
said Jack. “I figure all of us will be willing to make it a fair deal, but we’ll vote on it. It hasn’t been submitted to a real estate agent yet, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“That’ll make it easy,”
said Ross agreeably.
“The service tomorrow is going to be lovely. Addie is terrific about organizing, but then raising her and Dewey’s four kids, she’s had to be on top of things,”
said Jenn.
“We’ve planned a reception right at the church so all the neighbors can easily attend. Heaven knows what we’ll do with all the food they’ve dropped by at the house. We’ll freeze some and give what we can to the church’s pantry.”
“You guys hungry?”
asked Jack. “We can order some of Ross’s favorite pizza for lunch.”
Ross grinned. “I could go for Enzo’s pepperoni pizza.”
“Coming up,”
said Jack.
“Tonight, I thought we’d have Jack grill some steaks,”
said Jenn. She glanced at Melissa. “I’m not promising a gourmet meal for our chef, but I do make a tasty greenleaf salad and lemon-garlic potatoes to accompany the steak.”
Melissa waved away her concern. “No problem. I’m a foodie who’ll enjoy anything you cook.”
“I hope you brought your swimming suit,”
said Jack. “The pool is all ready for us.”
“I did.”
Melissa hadn’t paid much attention to the pool when she’d visited for a quick overnight, but Ross had told her to be sure to pack one.
Jack ordered pizza, and soon after, they sat outside by the pool, eating some of the best pizza Melissa had ever had.
“Okay, time to relax,”
said Jack, standing. “I’m going to change.”
“We won’t be far behind you,”
said Jenn.
Melissa helped Jenn clean up from lunch and went to the room she shared with Ross to change. He’d already put on his swim trunks. Seeing him standing there, observing his broad shoulders and trim waist, the scars on both legs, she couldn’t resist smiling.
He saw her and walked over. “Hey, mermaid,”
he said, wrapping an arm around her.
She nestled against his chest and gazed up at him.
He lowered his lips to hers, and she felt her body melt.
Ross pulled away and said, “Guess I’d better go cool off. I hear the girls. They must be home early from school.”
###
Downstairs, Nan and Kate were in the kitchen eating slices of pizza.
“Hello,”
said Melissa, feeling self-conscious in her bikini. She wasn’t as thin as the teenagers before her.
“You look terrific,” said Nan.
“I hear you’re good at sports,”
said Kate. “Is that how you stay in shape? I’m thinking of going out for track, but I’m not certain.”
“Girls? Are you finishing up here?”
asked Jenn, coming into the room. “Hurry and get changed.”
Jenn gazed at Melissa. “I wish I had your figure. But being on the short side, I will never be as tall or thin as I’d like.”
“You’re lovely,”
said Melissa sincerely. Jenn was beautiful.
When the two of them stepped outside, both men stopped splashing each other like the brothers they were and stared.
“Wow!”
Jack said. “You two are hot. Really hot.”
“Thanks, honey,”
said Jenn, walking to the steps at the shallow end of the pool and dipping a toe in the water.
Nervous and unsure of what to do, Melissa found a place to sit on the pool's edge and lowered herself onto the pool deck.
Ross swam up to her. “I thought mermaids loved to swim.”
“I have to get used to the water first,” she said.
He gently tugged on her leg, and she slipped into the water beside him. Facing him, it seemed natural for them to kiss.
When they pulled apart, Jenn caught Melissa’s attention and gave her a subtle thumbs-up sign. At Melissa’s soft giggle, Ross said, “What's going on between you two?”
Jenn spoke up. “I’m just letting her know I think you two are perfect together.”
Melissa started to say something, held back, and then blurted, “Me too.”
###
That night as she lay in bed with Ross, he faced her. “So, you think we’re perfect together, huh?”
“Yes, I do,”
she answered boldly for her.
“Good. Because I know a game about a sea captain and a mermaid,”
he said, making her laugh as he drew her close.