About That Kiss (11 page)

“You two are on your own,” Nick said. “Joy and I already have plans.”

Nick’s glance swept Joy’s face. They hadn’t spoken of anything personal or even kidded with each other, though they’d had the opportunity to do so when it was just the two of them returning from East Hampton. But her hand had rested on his shoulder the entire trip back.

“What plans?” Diana asked, taking her coat off.

“To do with the paper,” Joy said, feeling her face flush. She wasn’t ready yet to expose in any way that they were a couple. The realization had only just settled in her mind. For the moment it seemed wonderful to have it a secret just between the two of them.

“Are you going to be working here in the house?” Kevin asked innocently while Diana hung up her coat.

“No…” Joy and Nick spoke over each other.

Joy looked at Nick, and neither was able to control the size of their smiles. He saw that she’d forced her hair behind her ears to keep it from flying in her face outdoors. It was bunched against her neck where he wanted more than anything to bury his mouth.

Diana carefully took her gown from Kevin’s hand. “Joy, you’re not leaving before I try on my gown, are you?”

“Of course not.” Joy brought her smile to Diana and began unbuttoning her coat. She took it off, handing it to Nick as he reached out for it.

Nick watched as Joy went upstairs with Diana. He unzipped his jacket but didn’t take it off. He was counting on the trying-on process not taking too much time. He could barely contain his impatience to be alone with her again—whether or not they made love. What he needed most of all was to hear her say she believed him. He was certain she was finally feeling it.

“Bring me up-to-date on the paper,” Kevin said, putting his coat in the closet.

“Barring anything unforeseen, we’ll have the first issue out middle of next week.” Nick walked along with Kevin to the kitchen.

“You’ve still got the
Greenport News
out there, right?”

Nick nodded his head. “Last issue.”

“Want some coffee?” Kevin asked, having opened the thermos on the kitchen table to see what it contained.

Nick shook his head, remembering then the dishes from breakfast. He was about to take his jacket off and do the dishes when a shrieking scream came from upstairs.

The brothers looked at each other in bewilderment before they both made a mad dash out of the kitchen.

Diana’s bedroom door was closed, which brought Kevin and Nick up short for a moment. At another shriek from inside, Nick pushed open the door.

Diana was sitting plopped on her bed in her wedding gown. It was clear immediately to the brothers that the shrieking had been coming from Diana. Her chest was still heaving.

Kevin rushed to her. “What is it, sweetheart? What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong?” Diana repeated hysterically. “You want to know what’s wrong? Look at me!” Diana jumped to her feet.

“I don’t know how this could have happened,” Joy said, all distressed.

“Do you see now?” Diana raved, looking down at herself. “How can I get married in this? It’s too short!”

“You’ve tried it on a number of times in the store,” Kevin said helplessly, but using a soothing voice. “How did it get to be too short?”

“I don’t know. But I am not getting married looking like…like this!”

Nick saw the lines of accusation that flashed across Joy’s face as she turned to look at him. He swallowed convulsively.

“Joy,” Diana moaned. “When you spoke to Ms. Louella you did make it clear that it was the train I wanted shortened, not the gown…didn’t you?”

The train,
Nick thought. What the hell was the train?

“I took the call from the bridal shop.” Nick stepped forward to take his punishment like a man. “Joy was out getting more paint with Rachel.”

“You!” Diana’s accusation was even more virulent than Joy’s.

“I heard you tell Joy you wanted it shortened three inches. I thought I had it right,” Nick said, growing a little irritated. “Can’t you have material or something put on the bottom?”

“No…I can’t have material or something put on the bottom,” Diana wailed.

“Nick.” Joy’s articulation was tight. “I think we should step out for a minute and let Kevin be alone with Diana.”

Nick made a mental note to himself that after he got himself out of his one, he was going to stay as clear of this damned wedding as he could get. Then he followed Joy out of the room.

“Joy,” Nick began, as she closed the door behind them. “I did not do it on purpose. I’ll pay for a new gown. Give me a break. Okay?”

Joy clasped her arms in front of her chest. “I thought your first question would be are we still going to your place.”

Nick took a breath in through his teeth. “Are you that mad?”

“I’m not mad.” Joy’s obstinate chin came up.

“Don’t hold back.” Nick pushed a hand through his hair.

“All right. I’m mad. I’m mad…I’m mad at myself,” Joy sputtered. “I guess I can’t hold you accountable because I’m stupid. When you get down to it, I’ve been stupid since I met you.”

“What does that mean?” Nick asked, although he thought he might be better off not asking.

“I’ll tell you what it means,” Joy retorted. “This morning you had me believing I could trust you—that you really were over Diana…that you weren’t trying
to ruin the wedding to give yourself more time for a second chance. Have you ever heard anything as stupid as that?”

“Joy,” Nick begged.

Joy waved a silencing hand in the air. “Give me one of your credit cards. If I have to take Diana to every bridal shop on Long Island, she’s going to get another gown. And you’re paying for it.”

Nick took out his wallet and removed his gold card. “I don’t care what it costs. Whatever. Could you just hear me out for a second?”

“No!” Joy grabbed the card and walked back into Diana’s bedroom. Nick stayed in the hallway, but he wasn’t alone for long.

“Let’s take this outside,” Kevin said tersely, coming out of Diana’s bedroom.

Nick let out an exasperated breath. “Kevin, this isn’t your style.”

“Well, I’ve got a new style.” Kevin tossed this statement over his shoulder angrily as he went down the stairs, Nick trailing behind him.

Kevin yanked open the front door and stepped out.

Nick stayed put. “Get back in here, Kevin. I’m not going outside with you unless you put your coat on. You sure as hell won’t be getting married with pneumonia.”

That brought Kevin back inside for his coat.

“I know how you’re feeling,” Nick said, when they were both outside. “You need to blow off steam. Go ahead, blow off steam with me. I know how bad this looks. But I’m telling you the truth, Kevin. I did not deliberately try to mess up Diana’s gown. Dammit! I can’t wait for the two of you to get married.”

Kevin threw a punch.

Nick sidestepped it. “Kevin, think it through. Have I made a single pass at Diana?”

“Are you saying you think she’d let you get away with anything if you tried?” Kevin balled his hand into a fist again.

Nick let out an explosive breath. “Did I stop speaking English?”

Joy and Diana came out of the house.

“Where are you going, sweetheart?” Kevin asked, as Diana and Joy walked by the two of them.

“We’re going to House of Brides,” Diana said, sniffling.

“Do you want me to drive you?” Kevin asked.

Diana shook her head. “I want to be with just my sister right now. Joy is going to drive.”

“Go ahead and punch me now,” Nick said under his breath to Kevin. “Hurry up, before they drive off.”

Joy and Diana saw Kevin punch Nick in the jaw. Joy’s heart jumped and her breathing ceased. Joy put her hand to the door, set to rush out of the car.

Diana got a firm hold of Joy’s arm. “Joy, if you go to him, I’ll never speak to you again.”

Joy watched Nick steady himself. It didn’t seem that he was hurt.

“Feel better now?” Nick asked Kevin as Joy backed out of the driveway.

Kevin’s response was another punch. Not seeing this one coming, Nick took it once more on his jaw.

“Kevin, I’m not going to hit you back. But I’m not going to stand here and be a punching bag for you, either. You’ve made your point about the gown. I’m sure it made Diana feel better.”

“That wasn’t for the gown,” Kevin answered, brandishing a fist in the air again.

This time Nick sidestepped out of the way, then got a grip on both of Kevin’s wrists. “What was it for?” Nick asked.

“That was for being with Diana.” Kevin pulled against Nick’s grip.

“I never made love to Diana. That is what you’re talking about, isn’t it?”

“That’s what I’m talking about.” Kevin stopped trying to pull out of Nick’s hold.

“Did Diana tell you we made love?” Nick asked, annoyed and aggravated that Diana was playing that kind of game.

“You don’t think I’d speak to Diana about the two of you,” Kevin snapped. “It’s hard enough thinking about her making a comparison.”

“There’s nothing to compare.” Nick relaxed, finally understanding. “We
never
made love. Honest to God. She’d read this article in some woman’s magazine about relationships growing stronger without sex.”

“You’re kidding?” A faint smile started across Kevin’s mouth.

“I kid you not.” Nick grinned, letting go of Kevin’s wrists. “I guess that article bit the dust.”

Kevin’s smile grew, which was answer enough.

“You know something,” Nick said, ruminating. “I didn’t push the issue all that much. I think my libido was telling me something my brain hadn’t figured out. I’d bet you anything, now, that it was the same for Diana.”

“Have you straightened things out with Joy?” Kevin asked.

Nick groaned. “This wedding gown fiasco took the cake as far as she’s concerned. It kills me, but I can see how she’d think I’ve been trying to put a hatchet to your wedding plans. First there’s Eddie and the painting. Then the shellfish. And now the gown…Oh, and let’s not forget I asked Diana to go out with me because I wanted to tag along when Eddie asked Joy to go to Gillie’s.”

“You do seem to have racked them up. What you’ve got is a credibility problem.”

Nick nodded his head. “I’m also freezing. Can we go inside?”

“Yes.” Kevin smiled sheepishly. “I’m sorry I hit you.”

Nick grinned. “Consider it justice for all the times I got you when we were kids.”

“I can try talking to Joy, if you want,” Kevin said when they were inside.

“How about running off with Diana to Vegas tonight? I’ll pay for the tickets.”

“Sorry. She’s got her heart set on this wedding.” Kevin hung up his coat, then gave his watch a glance. “The game’s going on. How about we watch some football?”

“Yeah, why not…”

The game was in halftime when Diana and Joy returned from House of Brides.

There was a big smile on Diana’s face as she burst into the TV room with her coat still on. She was carrying
a wedding gown in a House of Brides plastic bag. Joy followed her into the room slowly.

“Ms. Louella got a shipment in on Friday that she hadn’t even unpacked,” Diana excitedly told Kevin. “We went through it together and there it was. If I had seen this gown first, it would have been the one I would have picked. And the best part is, it didn’t need any alterations. Nothing…”

Nick got the import of Diana’s chatter, though he was only taking in every other word. The better part of his absorption was on Joy. Her hair was ruffled just the way he’d come to expect it to look after catching the wind. She wasn’t looking at him, but her expressive features no longer seemed as tense.

“Do you want to come to my bedroom and see it?” Diana said, beckoning Kevin with her eyes.

“Are you going to try it on for me?” Kevin asked, moving toward her.

“No,” Diana admonished. “I’ve already told you that’s bad luck.”

Left behind, Joy put her hand in the pocket of her jeans and brought out Nick’s credit card and charge slip and held it out to him. “They let me sign your name. I told Ms. Louella that she could reach you at the paper if the bank gave her a problem.”

Nick got up from the armchair where he’d been sitting to take the card and slip from her. She wasn’t coming forward. But she did look at him when he got near enough.

“Did Kevin hurt you?” Joy asked, trying to sound unconcerned.

Nick shook his head.

“I guess Kevin’s decided to believe you.”

Nick nodded. “So…ah…Diana seems happy.”

“What’s your point?” Joy asked archly.

“I don’t have one.” Nick’s voice lowered to a coarse whisper. “Not a new one. Just the one I’ve been making to you all along.”

Joy thought about walking out of the room. She thought about leaving the paper. She thought about him suing her. Could a judge force her to work out her contract?

“Are you watching the game?” she asked.

“Yeah,” Nick shrugged. “Do you like football?”

“Yes,” Joy answered briefly.

Nick waited several breaths. “Will you watch the game with me?”

“Okay.” You’re pitiful, Joy! You are truly pitiful.

Nick took a seat on the couch and Joy sat at the other end. She’d left a space—too large a space to suit Nick. He couldn’t have reached her with his arm out. Still, there was less space between them now than when she’d left to go back to the bridal shop.

But Nick didn’t know if he’d ever be able to eliminate the space that kept her heart apart from his.

J
oy was just parking her car after a long day at work when Nick pulled in behind her. Previously she’d gone to work with him in his car, but not these past two days. It was two days since he’d ruined Diana’s first wedding gown—two days since she’d been driving herself to work—two days of nothing but business between them.

Nick caught up with Joy as she started to walk to the front of the house. They were both surprised to see Kevin’s car parked on the curb.

“I thought Kevin said he was definitely going to have to work through the night all this week to get hi calendar squared away,” Joy commented in the polite, professional voice she’d been using with Nick. She was holding the first edition of the
East End Journal.
She’d brought it home to show off. With the exception
of her excitement over the paper, she’d hated every minute of the past two days.

“That’s what I heard him say,” Nick responded, opening the front door for Joy to step in. It was five days away from the wedding. He was counting the hours…the minutes.

Joy and Nick hung their coats in the closet, then proceeded to the kitchen. He let her get ahead of him just to watch her walk. If he couldn’t touch her, he could at least enjoy her with his eyes.

“I wonder where everyone is,” Joy said as they found themselves in an empty kitchen.

“They’ve got to be somewhere.” Nick shrugged.

Joy put the
East End Journal
down on the kitchen table and went back to the front hall, Nick right behind her.

“Mom?” Joy called from the bottom of the stairs.

“Diana’s bedroom,” her mother called down.

Joy and Nick took the wide stairs together.

Emily Mackey met them in the upstairs hallway.

“Is something wrong?” Joy asked, an alarmed palm to her chest. Her mother looked very upset.

“Your sister has called off the wedding.” The older woman wrung her hands. “I’ve talked to her till I’m blue in the face. Kevin is talking to her now, but she doesn’t seem to be listening. I haven’t even made dinner. The two of you must be starving. I’ll get dinner started. That’s what I’ll do. Poor Kevin…I’m sure he hasn’t had dinner.”

Joy watched her mother hurry off. Then she looked at Nick with her stomach winding into a zillion knots.

Nick looked back at Joy with his gut fiercely clenched.

Together they looked at Diana’s closed bedroom door.

“I’m not going to just stand here,” Nick said tautly, after moments of fractured silence.

“What do you suggest we do?” Her voice wasn’t any less strained than his.

Wordlessly Nick rapped on the closed bedroom door.

“Come in.” It was Kevin who answered, his voice distraught.

Joy stepped in behind Nick and saw Kevin and Diana sitting side by side on Diana’s bed. Kevin had his arms around Diana’s compressed shoulders and her head was down.

Diana lifted her head slowly. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. “Joy…” she said in a voice broken by sobs.

“I’m here, Diana.” Joy’s heart went achingly out to her sister.

Nick put a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Let Joy talk to Diana alone.”

Beleaguered, Kevin pulled himself up from the bed.

Nick ushered Kevin out of the room, pulling the door shut behind them.

Kevin stared at the closed door as he stood in the hallway with Nick.

“What happened?” Nick asked compassionately.

“I don’t know.” Kevin pressed his hand to his eyes. “She wouldn’t tell me. She said she just didn’t want to get married.”

“Let me take you out for a drink,” Nick said, trying to do something to help.

“I need to get out,” Kevin told him, agonized. “But alone. I want to be alone.”

Nick was scared; he’d never seen his brother this upset. “I don’t want you driving. Take a walk. Okay?”

“Leave me be, Nick.” Kevin turned toward the stairs.

Nick quickly moved in front of his brother. “You’re not going anywhere unless you give me your keys. Don’t make me knock you around.”

“You want the keys…” Kevin yanked them out of his pocket. “Here’s the keys.” He threw them down.

Nick moved aside and Kevin walked to the stairs.

“Do you think you can talk now?” Joy asked gently, as Diana’s sobs turned to soundless spasms. She was rocking Diana in her arms, having taken Kevin’s place at Diana’s side.

“How…how does anyone kn-know if they’re going t-to be in love for a li-lifetime?”

Joy grabbed a handful of tissues from a box on the bed. She tenderly wiped Diana’s face.

“You just know,” Joy said, her throat clogged with emotion.

“I don’t know,” Diana babbled, mindlessly. “Sometimes I think it’s all just a bunch of words. He says he loves me. I say that I love him. How do I know he’s going to stay in love with me? How do I know he’s really in love with me now? He could just
think
he’s in love with me.”

Joy’s voice quavered as she whispered, “When someone loves you, you just know it with your heart.” It was a truth that had eluded Joy until she’d said it.
She hadn’t let herself listen to Nick with her heart. She’d thought she knew everything. She’d thought she had it all figured out.

Diana dropped her head. “I can’t get married feeling like this. Maybe we don’t belong together. Maybe I’m not supposed to marry him. Maybe I’m supposed to marry someone else. If I’d married Nick, then Kevin and I wouldn’t be together now. Maybe I was supposed to marry Nick.”

“You don’t mean that,” Joy said painfully. For all her thrilling heart’s conclusion, it was Diana’s last words that stuck in Joy’s head. “You love Kevin and Kevin loves you.”

“I feel like I can’t breathe,” Diana rasped. “Like there’s not enough air…”

“I’ll open a window.” Joy rushed to her feet.

Diana flung herself up. “No…I think I want to go outside.”

“I’ll go with you,” Joy said, her thoughts returning entirely to her sister and the misery she was experiencing.

“Is Kevin still here?” Diana asked woodenly. “I don’t want to see Kevin. And I don’t want to talk to Mom. I don’t want to talk to anyone. I want to be by myself and think.”

“I’ll go see where Kevin is,” Joy said, crossing the room to the door. When she opened it she saw Nick leaning against the hall wall.

“Is Kevin still here?” Joy asked, her eyes stinging the minute she saw him.

“No.” Nick shook his head.

Joy swallowed hard. “Diana is coming out of her bedroom. She doesn’t want to see anyone. She wants to be alone.”

“I’ll make myself scarce,” Nick said, turning to go into his bedroom. But as soon as Joy went back into Diana’s room, Nick changed his mind and went into Joy’s.

Joy ran her hand softly down Diana’s arm. “Kevin left and Mom is downstairs in the kitchen. Are you sure you don’t want me to go outside with you?”

“I’m sure.” Diana blew her nose into a fistful of tissues.

Joy walked back out to the hall with Diana. She watched from the top of the stairs as her sister left the house, then Joy went into her own bedroom.

Nick was waiting for Joy just inside the door. He put an arm around her waist, pulling her to him, wanting to comfort her, wanting her to comfort him so he could get through his worry about Kevin.

Joy jerked away from him.

“I need you, Joy,” Nick whispered.

“Diana needs you,” Joy answered hoarsely, then left him to go back into Diana’s bedroom. She’d had intentions of closing the door, but he’d followed right on her heels.

Nick closed the door—with a kick of his foot. “You’re going to hear me out, Joy. I’ve had enough of this,” he said loudly.

“You’d better listen to what I have to say first,” she replied just as firmly.

They stood angrily facing each other in a clash of wills.

“Listen?” Nick roared, not caring how high she’d raised her obstinate chin. “I’m through listening.”

“Well, you’re going to want to hear this,” Joy stormed. “Diana thinks that maybe she should be marrying you.”

“Yeah, well…I don’t give a damn what Diana thinks. I’m not in love with Diana. I’m in love with you. And I’m going to marry you…if I have to drag you kicking and screaming down the aisle. In fact, the hell with any aisle. Vegas is faster. And we’re going on the first plane I can get us on. Now you can pack a bag or not…”

Nick stopped short then, but only because she hadn’t said anything to refute him.

“What if I want a wedding?” Joy asked, winding her arms around his neck. It was exactly the way she’d explained it to Diana. When it was love, you just knew it—with your heart. And when he picked you above anyone else…

It was a second before Nick regained the power of speech. “Baby, if you just said yes to me, you can have anything you want.”

Joy put a teasing mouth almost against his. “What took you so long?”

“I was busy running around in circles,” Nick countered, then he put that smart, sassy mouth of hers to much better use.

“I love you, Nick,” Joy uttered, breaking away from the kiss, basking in the most wonderful moment of her life, her heart all-knowing and settled.

“I love you,” Nick murmured, kissing her neck, then gazing playfully into her eyes. “I should be mad at you for putting me through the wringer.”

“Are
you mad?” She was at her impish best while she asked it.

“No, but I am mad about you.” Nick grinned. “Are you going to trust everything I say to you from now on?”

“Yes,” Joy answered, raining kisses of apology on his chin, on his nose, on his mouth.

“I’ll keep proving it to you, anyway,” Nick told her. “I’m glad Diana gave me the chance to prove it to you now.”

“Oh, God! Diana,” Joy moaned.

“Kevin…” Nick issued his own troubled sigh. “He’s outside walking around.”

Joy’s fingers dug into Nick’s shoulder. “Diana’s outside walking around. Do you think they might have run into each other?”

“I think we should go out and see.” Nick took Joy’s hand.

“How far could they have gone?” Joy asked anxiously, after they’d spent more than a half hour walking all the way to Main Street, looking into a nearby bar, a coffee shop, a luncheonette, then going back to the house.

“I don’t think either of them would walk all that far,” Nick said, leading her up the driveway.

Joy squeezed Nick’s hand. “I’m getting very worried. Should we walk through the woods behind the house?”

“You can stop worrying,” Nick said with a chuckle as he glanced inside Kevin’s car. Using a hand, Nick turned Joy’s head in the direction his eyes had gone.

Joy saw for herself what had brought on Nick’s chuckle.

Diana and Kevin were locked in each other’s arms as they sat in the back seat, kissing hungrily.

Nick knocked on the window. He had to knock more than once before Diana and Kevin drew apart.

Kevin opened the car door with a grin on his face. “We’re okay.”

“We’re getting married,” Diana said, her smile as wide as Kevin’s as they both got out of the car.

“I’ll put on more hamburgers,” Emily Mackey said a while later, as she happily bounced to her feet. “And more potatoes.”

“Mom,” Diana said with a contented smile, “I couldn’t eat another mouthful.”

“I’m stuffed.” Joy put a hand to her stomach.

“Nothing more for me,” Kevin said, one arm around Diana’s shoulders, which was the way he’d eaten his meal.

“I couldn’t get another thing down,” Nick agreed.

Emily sniffled. “My little girl is getting married,” she said, as if she was just realizing it.

Nick winked at Joy. Neither had said anything yet about their relationship, leaving the limelight to Diana and Kevin.

“Your other little girl is getting married, too,” Nick said casually.

Emily Mackey looked baffled.

“Me, Mom.” Joy laughingly pointed to herself. “I’m marrying him.” She pointed to Nick.

In a flurry of commotion, everyone spoke at once.

“My baby!” Emily Mackey exclaimed over and over again.

“I had my money on you,” Kevin said, slapping Nick’s back.

“When?” Diana asked.

“Soon,” Joy answered.

“We could get married together,” Diana said, bursting with enthusiasm.

“I like that idea,” Nick offered.

“Diana, it’s
your
wedding,” Joy said, shaking her head. “It’s
your
special day.”

Diana smiled. “You’ve had as much to do with putting this wedding together as I have. And we’d never forget each other’s anniversary. And there’s an extra wedding gown upstairs. And we’re sisters. And Kevin and Nick are brothers. And the same people that are coming to my wedding would come to yours. Just think how thrilled Uncle Paul will be to walk both his favorite nieces down the aisle.”

“The staff from the paper will show up,” Nick said, taking up where Diana left off. “I’ll make it an order. And we’ll call anyone else we want here. I’ll want my friend Teddy for my best man. I happen to know he has a tux in his closet. I borrowed it once.”

“I wouldn’t have to buy a second mother-of-the-bride dress,” Emily Mackey added, smiling with tears of happiness in her eyes.

Kevin said, “There’s no reason you won’t be able to get your blood test quickly. The license won’t be a problem, I have connections.” He paused a moment. “We might need more food.”

“We’ll get pizzas if we have to,” Nick kidded. “Some with anchovies.”

“My two babies…” Emily Mackey blew her nose into a napkin.

“What can I say?” Joy put her hands up in the air.

“It better be yes,” Nick said eloquently, his eyes smiling into Joy’s eyes.

“Yes,” Joy said loudly. “Yes, yes, yes.”

“Oh, Diana,” Joy breathed. “You’ve never looked more beautiful.”

“Look at you,” Diana said admiringly, as the two stood in front of the full-length mirror in Joy’s bedroom—both clad in their wedding gowns.

Joy smiled. “I thought I was going to have to put some socks in the top, but Mom took it in.”

“And the length is just right,” Diana said, laughing. “I wouldn’t be surprised now if Nick had designs all along of getting you into this gown. Kevin told me how hard Nick had been working to get you to believe he loved you.”

Joy grinned. “I can tell you for sure he has designs about getting me out of this gown.”