Chapter 85 Reed
REED
“Are you flying out of LaGuardia or JFK this time, Mr. Rivers?” Tony, my driver, says, as Georgina and I settle into his backseat.
“Teterboro, actually. We’re flying private today.”
“Yes, sir.” Tony pulls away from the curb. “Did you have a good visit with your mother today?”
I look at Georgina and smile. “We had a wonderful visit. My mother wouldn’t let Georgina leave until she promised to come back with me next time. Or without me. Either way.”
Tony’s eyes crinkle in the rearview mirror with his smile. “You’re heading back to LA now?”
“No, we’re stopping in Boston first. LA, after that.”
“Oh, I love Boston. Make sure you walk the Freedom Trail, if you’ve never done that. Do you need a restaurant suggestion? My cousin lives in Boston.”
“No, I’ve got it covered. It’s Georgina’s birthday tomorrow, so I’m taking her and her stepsister out to an extra special lunch.”
“Ooh. Nice.” Tony’s dark eyes shift to Georgina in the rearview mirror. “Happy birthday, Miss Ricci.”
“Thank you. I’m excited I get to see my stepsister.” She tugs on my sleeve and mouths, Thank you.
“Your stepsister lives in Boston?”
“She’s a student at Berklee. The music college?”
“Oh, yeah. That’s a good one. She must be talented.”
“Oh, she is.” Georgina flashes me a salty look that makes me chuckle, before adding, “My stepsister is a singer-songwriter, and she just got hired to play at a popular coffee house near campus. She beat out lots of other talented people for the job.”
“Good for her.”
“Tomorrow evening, Reed and I are going to watch her perform there.”
“Sounds like a great birthday to me.”
“Doesn’t it? It’s been a great birthday week. The best, ever. Tomorrow will be the icing on the cake.”
“So, you met Reed’s mother today and he’s meeting your stepsister tomorrow? This sounds serious, Mr. Rivers.”
“That, it is, Tony. That, it is.”
“Reed has already met my stepsister,” Georgina says. “But he’s never seen her perform, so that will be particularly exciting.”
“What about your parents, Miss Ricci? Has Reed met them? If so, I’m assuming your father grilled Reed about his intentions, and then threatened to break his legs if he breaks your heart.”
Georgina chuckles. “Reed hasn’t met my dad yet, no. But that’s exactly what he’d do. How’d you know that?”
Tony shrugs. “You’re Ricci. I’m Borelli. I’ve got three daughters of my own, so I know how Italian fathers think. My daughters are still young, but if they brought home a suave guy like Mr. Rivers, I’d let the guy have it. No offense, Mr. Rivers.”
“None taken. I’ve been called far worse things in my life than ‘suave.’”
Georgina says, “I’ve brought home exactly one boyfriend in my life. And my father went so freaking Italian on that guy, I’ve never had the stomach to bring anyone home again.”
Tony chuckles. “Sounds like your father is a good egg.”
“The best. He was right to dislike that guy I brought home, by the way. He turned out to be a first-class jerk.”
“Daddy always knows best.”
Tony’s eyes in his rearview mirror shift to me, and I flash him a look that says, “Wrap it up.”
“Well, I’ll leave you two alone now,” Tony says. “Would you like some air? Music?”
“Music,” I reply. “Something mellow, not too loud.”
“You got it, Mr. Rivers.”
Soft, soothing music begins playing and Georgina sinks back into the leather seat. “Whew. I was more nervous about meeting your mom than I let on. I’m so glad it went well.”
“Let’s do it, Georgie.”
She glances at Tony and mouths, “Here?”
I chuckle, realizing she thinks I want to have sex. “No, sweetheart. Take me to meet your father.”
Georgina makes the exact face I’d expect her to make if I’d just now asked her to shave my balls.
“Why is that such a ridiculous request?” I say, laughing at her expression. “We said we’re not going to hide our relationship anymore. And you said yourself you don’t care what anyone thinks.”
“My father isn’t ‘anyone.’ I care very much what he thinks.”
“Aw, come on. I brought you to meet my mother, and I was scared to death to do that. And look how fantastically that turned out.”
“That’s different.”
“Why?”
“Because your mother would never think I’m your boss. Because I haven’t paid off your student loans, and your mother’s condo, or paid for your mother’s expensive medicine.”
“Well, I’m not your boss. So, that’s not an issue.”
“My father won’t understand that.”
“And I can’t fathom your father will have a problem with me taking care of you, and someone you love dearly, to the best of my abilities. Plus, you really shouldn’t care what he thinks, Georgina. In the end, all that matters is what we think. What we feel.”
“Yes. That’s true, in relation to everyone in the world, except my father.”
“Are you planning to see him for your birthday when we get back?”
“On Saturday. I’m going to his house for dinner and cake.”
“Then I’m coming with you.”
She winces.
“Stop being a coward. We’re doing this. We’re both open books now, remember? We’ve got nothing to hide.”
“From each other.”
I laugh. “Come on, Ricci. Put your big girl panties on. Stop being a wimp.”
“He’s going to grill you, exactly like Tony said. He won’t be happy with anything except you saying I’m the great love of your life.”
“Great. Then, we’ve got nothing to worry about.”
Georgina makes that face I love. The one where she opens her mouth all the way, like she can’t believe what she’s heard.
“Is that a yes?” I say.
She flashes me a million-dollar smile. “Okay, let’s do it. But don’t you dare tell him I’ve moved in with you. He still thinks I’m living at the hotel. Let’s not give the poor man a stroke.”
Tony’s eyes crinkle in the rearview mirror at that.
“Don’t worry.” I touch Georgina’s thigh. “I thought today would be a disaster, and it was the best day of my life.”
Georgina bites her lip. “It was?”
“Yup. Thank you for pushing me to do it. You were right. It was beautiful. Freeing.”
She takes my hand. “What’d I tell you? The truth shall set you free.”
We rhapsodize about today’s visit for a bit. But after a while, Georgina says she’s tired, and I open my arm to her and let her crumple against me for a nap. After a few minutes, when I’m sure she’s out like a light, I pull out my phone and tap out a text to Josh and Henn.
Me: Georgie and I just finished visiting my mother. It went fantastically well. Tomorrow, we’re visiting her stepsister in Boston. Saturday, I’m going to dinner at her father’s condo in LA.
Henn: HOLY SHIT!
Josh: Whoa. Mutual meeting of the parents? This is a first for you, right?
Me: Yep.
Josh: Damn, dude. This is as serious as you’ve ever been with someone, isn’t it?
Me: I just told her she’s the great love of my life. And saying it felt good, not scary.
Henn: I have no words.
Me: Josh, send me your brother’s phone number, por favor. I want to ask him a question.
Josh: You can’t ask me?
Henn: Or me? I’m the smart one, remember?
Me: You’re not the right guys to answer this particular question.
Josh: Well, now I’m intrigued.
Henn: Ditto.
Me: Don’t read too much into this, but I want to ask Jonas what made him decide to propose to Sarah, as opposed to continuing to shack up with her.
Henn: HOLY FUCK! You’re thinking of proposing to Georgina?
Josh: Henn, no. Don’t be stupid. He’s obviously thinking of proposing to Sarah.
Henn: I knew it! When we talked and you said she’s breakfast-worthy, I said you sounded like I did after meeting Hannah. I’m a genius.
Me: Calm down, Peter. I’m simply gathering information, out of curiosity.
Josh: Last time I checked, Henn and I are every bit as married as my brother. We can tell you why we proposed.
Me: But Jonas’ situation is the closest to mine.
Henn’s always known he’d get married and have kids one day.
And you, Josh, only proposed after knocking Kat up.
Yes, it turned out great for you, but you didn’t put a ring on it out of the blue, like Jonas did.
I want to talk to a dude who wasn’t always planning to get married, same as me, and also didn’t knock his girlfriend up.
Josh: I didn’t ask Kat to marry me because she was preggers. I was perfectly fine with having a baby momma. I only proposed when I realized I wanted Kat to be my wife.
Henn: And I didn’t ask Hannah to marry me because I had some thumping need to marry just anyone. I only asked Hannah because I knew, for sure, she was The One.
Me: I’m not questioning your undying love for your wives, fellas. I just want to know what makes a guy who’s never been interested in marriage, like me, suddenly do an about-face and pop the question.
Henn: I’m answering it, whether you like it or not. I knew it was time to pop the question when “girlfriend” wasn’t nearly enough.
Josh: Perfect way to explain it. That’s how I felt, too. Girlfriend/baby momma wasn’t enough. Even fiancée kind of bummed me out after the novelty wore off. I couldn’t wait to call her my wife. Mrs. Faraday.
Henn: Same. Mrs. Hennessy. Couldn’t wait.
I look down at Georgina, at the top of her dark head.
She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
The great love of my life, like I implied a moment ago.
But, at least for now, I’ve got no problem calling her my girlfriend.
In fact, when I introduced Georgina as my girlfriend to Tony, and then Oscar, the orderly, and then to my mother, I felt nothing but buzzed and excited each time.
But before I’ve answered my friend’s latest texts, my phone buzzes with one from Henn.
Henn: I wanted to propose to Hannah after knowing her for a week. I only waited out of fear of rejection. But, really, the minute I saw her, I thought, Hello, Wife.
Again, I look down at Georgina against my shoulder. I didn’t think, “Hello, Wife,” when I saw her in that lecture hall. I thought, Oooh, I want to fuck that one.
Me: See? That’s exactly why you’re not helpful to me, Peter. What sane man sees a woman and thinks, “Hello, wife”? Back me up, Faraday. What did you think when you first saw Kat?
Josh: I thought, “OH, GOD, I WANT TO FUCK HER!”
I chuckle. Josh and I have always shared a brain.
Me: So, Josh, how’d you get from that to “I want to call her Mrs. Faraday?”
Josh: It’s too much to explain in a text. Can you talk?
I gently lift Georgina’s chin to make sure she’s fast asleep, and when it’s clear her head is dead weight in my hand, I tap out a text, telling my friends I’ll call them both, on a three-way call.
The call connects. My friends express shock and excitement that I’ve opened this line of discussion.
And, again, I tell them to pipe the fuck down.
“There’s no need for you to call Jonas,” Josh says, referencing his fraternal twin.
“I know exactly what he’d tell you, because he’s already said it to me.
It was back when Jonas had just proposed to Sarah, after a month or two of dating, and he was hell-bent on having the wedding right away.
So, I was like, ‘Dude, what’s your rush?
And why do you need the piece of paper at all?
Do you think it makes your love official?
’ And Jonas looked at me, all intense—you know how he is when he flashes those serial killer eyes—and he goes, ‘Josh, I’m not marrying Sarah because I think I need a piece of paper to make our love official.
I’m marrying her because I want to be there for her, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health—and I want to let her know that’s my eternal promise to her, in the most irrevocable and sacred way known to mankind. ’ Or something crazy like that.”
I chuckle. “And that made you want to propose to Kat?”
“No. At first, I was like, ‘Well, okay, dude, you do you. That’s not how I feel about Kat, so I guess that’s further proof I’m not the marrying kind.
’ And then, I saw Kat standing there at Jonas and Sarah’s wedding, looking so damned beautiful, and I just..
. I don’t know. Out of nowhere, it hit me like a ton of bricks.
I suddenly felt exactly the way Jonas had described it to me.
Plus, the thought of Kat marrying someone else made me fucking homicidal. ”
“I feel like that didn’t improve at all on my succinct, but powerful, answer from before,” Henn says. “Deep thoughts, by Peter Hennessy: ‘You know it’s time to pop the question when the word “girlfriend” simply isn’t enough.’”
“Yeah, I admit that’s pretty damned good,” Josh says. “So, do you still want Jonas’ number?”
“No, I think I’ve got what I need.”
“What does that mean?” Henn says. “Is the word ‘girlfriend’ not nearly enough?”
I look down at Georgina sleeping next to me. “No, it’s enough. At least, for now. Like I said, I was just curious. Gathering information. Don’t read too much into it, boys.”
My eyes meet Tony’s in the rearview mirror. He looks away quickly, but not before broadcasting his sincerely held belief that I’m full of shit.
“Of course, we won’t read into it,” Henn says sarcastically. “Why would we think there’s any correlation between you introducing Georgina to your mother, and her introducing you to her father, and you wondering how you’ll know if it’s time to put a ring on it?”
“I gotta go, guys,” I say, my cheeks flashing with heat. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“Let us know the minute ‘girlfriend’ isn’t enough!” Henn says.
But I don’t reply. In fact, I disconnect the call, without saying goodbye. And when I see Tony’s eyes in the rearview mirror again, I quickly look out the window at a car in the adjacent lane of the expressway.
What the hell am I doing? Georgina is way too young to want the fairytale.
I’m sure she wouldn’t even want an engagement ring, if I offered her one.
Not at her age. I kiss the top of Georgina’s head and pull her into me.
For fuck’s sake, I admitted this woman is the “great love of my life” today.
If that’s not enough, then I don’t know what is.