Greater Than Rubies, a Novella inspired by the Jewel Trilogy (10 page)

“Did you find everything, Maxi?” Robin asked, coming in behind her.

“I think so. If you’ll put the coffee on, I’ll set this out on the table.”

Maxine carried the large platter through the kitchen door and into the dining room. She arranged the platter on the end of the long, long table but left the plastic wrap on it. When she went back into the kitchen, Robin was just pressing the button to start the coffee machine.

“I’m going to go ask Tony where to find plates and such,” Robin said. “I don’t know if he wanted to use real things or if he had paper plates somewhere.”

“I’ll get these salads into something other than deli containers.” Maxine started opening cupboard doors. “Assuming I don’t get lost in this massive edifice searching for bowls.”

The door shut on Robin’s laugh. Maxine kept searching. She finally opened a door and found a walk-in supply closet filled with serving platters, serving dishes, and serving bowls. Drawers revealed silverware – real silver – with a “V” engraved on the handles. On the shelf, she discovered two small glass bowls that would perfectly present the deli salads.

When Maxine went back into the kitchen, she stopped short upon seeing Barry at the sink, filling a cup with hot water. “Hi there, big guy,” she greeted, hoping her lipstick was still on straight. She hadn’t checked it since she left for church that morning.

“Hi, yourself,” Barry said, giving her a quick glance. “Glad to see you in church this morning. I was worried the weather would keep everyone away.”

She wore a plum colored knee-length skirt that perfectly matched her three-inch plum colored heels. She liked the fact that she still had to look up at him even with her three-inch boost. At her height, she considered it a rare treat to stand shorter than a man. “The streets were clear by the time I headed out. I brought Robin’s new car. This way, I can take Sarah back to her car at the hospital and drive Robin home.”

Barry nodded. “Sounds like a good plan. Is there anything I can help you with in here. Maxine?”

She raised an eyebrow. “On, no. I think I got it under control. And, it’s Maxi, please. I’ve always hated Maxine. Thankfully, only Robin still sometimes calls me that.” Although, she really liked hearing Barry “The Bear” say it.

Barry raised an eyebrow in his incredibly handsome face and what she could only call a teasing and somewhat mischievous grin appeared there. “Why have you always hated your name, Maxine?”

“It just doesn’t suit me. I look more like a ‘Stands with a Fist’ than a Maxine.”

Barry didn’t even grin at her teasing tone. He opened a tea bag, steeped it into hot water, and set his cup out on the counter. Then put his hands in his pockets and leaned against the sink. Using a tone that teachers use when they are hopeful their students already know the answer, he asked, “You know where the name Maxine comes from?”

“Of course,” Maxi nodded. “My drug addicted mother’s addled brain.”

Barry shook his head. “Emperor Maximus …”

“Ooh.” Maxi interrupted. “Emperor! So feminine!”

Barry smiled a little bit at her silliness. “He stood over eight feet tall. It’s from his name that we get the word maximum. And the term maximal. And the name Maxine.” With a half grin and a teasing tone meant to hook her heart, he announced, “Your name basically means you’re … the most.”

Maxine cocked her head and slitted her eyes. “Really? No kidding?”

With an exaggerated motion that really turned out to look quite large considering his stature, Barry crossed his heart with his finger. For the moment, she managed to ignore the wedding ring on his left hand. “Hope to die if it’s a lie.”

She looked at him as if she remained unconvinced. “How did you know that?”

Barry’s grin transformed into a smug smile, “I went to law school, Maxine. I know things.”

She threw her head back and laughed. “I see. Apparently they taught you humility, there, too.”

“Humility? Oh, absolutely.” Barry nodded and sipped his tea.

The door opened and Robin came in. “Hi, Barry,” she said, going to the refrigerator. “I didn’t see Jacqui this morning.”

His lips thinned. “She is not really a regular church attendee. She usually has other plans.”

Robin’s hands paused. “Oh. Okay. Sorry to bring it up.”

“No need to apologize. It is what it is.” He lifted his cup as if in a toast. “Ladies. Thank you for putting out lunch. Tony said he wants to make this a regular Sunday thing now that he will have a family here.”

“I think that’s awesome,” Maxine said, “provided he allows me to find a television with a game on it.”

Barry put his hand to his heart. “I will ensure that I, I mean you, have access to televised sports.” He laughed. “See what I must sacrifice for my friends?”

Robin looked between the two of them. “I’m sure Tony won’t mind you turning on the television. I bet Derrick would join you in watching, too.”

“I’ll go see what I can do.” Barry left the room and Maxine went back to scooping potato salad into a bowl.

“What’s going on, Maxine?” Robin grabbed a spoon and emptied the cole slaw into the bowl.

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t be coy. I know you.”

Maxine tossed the empty container into the sink. “I’m not meaning to flirt. He’s just so handsome and so –”

“Married?”

Maxine sighed. “You’re right.” She picked up her bowl. “I know you’re right. I’ll let up.”

Robin put a hand on Maxine’s arm, “Was he flirting back?”

Maxine looked as if she could answer differently. Instead, she answered honestly. “Not even a little bit.”

Before Robin could chide her any further, Maxine pushed through the kitchen door and set the salad next to the tray of sandwiches.

OBIN
spun around and Maxine catcalled at her. “Gorgeous, sister.”

Sarah sat on her knees backwards on the couch, propping her elbow on the back of the couch and resting her chin in her hand. “You look wonderful!”

Robin ran her hand down the side of the red dress. It crisscrossed over the front and tied together at the hip. It fell to her knees, and she wore a pair of two-inch red heels Maxine had talked her into buying. She had to keep herself from tugging at the bodice, worried that the dress’s design revealed too much cleavage.

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s too much,” she said, turning to go back to her room. “I have a sweater dress I bought for Sundays.”

A knock sounded at the door and Maxine rushed to answer it. “Don’t you dare,” she said. “You leave that on. Besides, he’s here, now.”

Robin heard Tony speak. “Hello, Maxine.
Buon san Valentino
.”

Maxine laughed and opened the door wider. “If you just said Happy Valentine’s Day, then the same to you. Welcome back from the sunshine state.”

Tony stepped into view. “Thank you. I thought I would have to drag Derrick back –” He stopped speaking when he saw Robin. His eyes widened and his mouth gaped open.

Robin took a step back and tugged at the dress. “I should probably put on a different dress,” she said nervously.

“No!” All three people said at the same time.

The look on Tony’s face made Robin’s breath catch. She wasn’t sure he was even breathing. She could see the pulse racing at his neck. He looked nearly angry, but that wasn’t right. Just really intense. Very, very intense. After a heartbeat or two, Tony stepped toward her and took her hand. “No, please.” he said more gently. “You look amazing.
Magnifico
. I am so proud that you will be my wife.” He brushed at his black sleeve. “I am also glad I told Maxine I was wearing a tuxedo so that she would know how to advise you to dress.”

Robin laughed and gathered her black shawl. “You know us too well.”

Maxine held up her hand. “Have fun kids. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

The door shut on Sarah saying, “Maxi!”

“I missed you. I’m glad you’re home.” Robin hooked her arm through Tony’s. “I’ve never been out on Valentine’s Day before, though I’ve worked plenty.”

Tony put his hand on top of hers on his arm as they walked down the stairs to the parking lot. His limousine driver stood ready and opened the door as they approached, closing it quickly behind them. Robin settled back next to Tony against the soft leather seats. He rarely used the limo, and she was curious about what the evening would bring.

“Margaret got the final list of guests’ names to Stephanie yesterday,” Tony said as the car pulled into the late afternoon traffic.

“I know. They have both been texting me like mad. I have an appointment with Stephanie a week from Wednesday to look at flowers and place settings for the tables.”

Tony linked his fingers with hers. “Have you selected your wedding dress yet?”

Robin sighed, mind whirling with details. “That’s next Tuesday. I looked through magazines with Maxi and Sarah for hours and hours. We found four possibilities and sent them to the dress shop. I go try them on in a week. Whenever we get that dress figured out, Maxi said we’ll be able to get their dresses. I guess there’s something stylistic about that. Or something.”

Tony laughed and brought her hand up to his lips, kissing the back of it. “Is it so terrible?”

She leaned forward and put her hand on his cheek. “No. Knowing how much you’ll love it is making it bearable. But it’s new territory and I’m well beyond out of my comfort zone.”

“Just think about how easy planning a dinner party will be after this,” he said. She opened her mouth to protest, but he covered her mouth with his own, drowning out the sound. Robin quit thinking about wedding colors and details and design and styles and just lost herself in the feel of him, the smell, the taste. Her head spun and her heart beat a frantic rhythm as the car shot through the streets of the city.

She barely felt them slowing down and stopping until Tony lifted his head. The inside of the car felt hot, and she fanned her face as she put a hand to the intricate “updo” Maxine had twisted out of her hair, making sure all strands were in place. The car started forward again, and she looked out the window and saw that they’d pulled into a small airport not far from Logan.

The car stopped next to Tony’s Gulfstream. A pilot stood next to the open door and waved as they got out of the car. Tony took Robin’s hand and walked toward the stairs leading into the jet. “Good afternoon, Jeremy,” he said, shaking the pilot’s hand.

“Mr. Viscolli. Happy Valentine’s Day, Miss Bartlett. We have clear skies all night long.”

“Wonderful.” Tony gestured to the stairs. “After you,
cara
.”

Curious now about where they might be going, Robin precariously climbed the stairs in her high heels. She ducked her head as she entered the cabin, remembering the white leather couch, white leather chairs, and the shiny mahogany tables from her trip to Florida at Christmas.

Choosing a chair next to a window for takeoff, she sat and buckled up. The only other time she’d flown anywhere in her life had been her recent trip to and from Florida in this same aircraft. Knowing how much Tony traveled, she knew she had better get used to it. But the thought of the little jet thousands of feet in the air made her stomach do a small flip.

Tony sat next to her and put a hand on her knee. “Relax,” he said, “Jeremy is the best there is.”

“You would have the best,” she smiled, trying and failing to relax. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

He raised an eyebrow. “I told you. Dinner.”

“Dinner requires an airplane?”

“For Valentine’s Day? I should think so.” He reached a hand into his jacket pocket as the plane taxied away, pulling out a long thin box wrapped in a red ribbon. “For you, my love. Because you have stolen my heart.”

“Tony” Robin said, pleased and annoyed at the same time. She took the box and slipped off the ribbon. When she opened the lid, she gasped. Suspended from a silver chain was a heart framed out in diamonds. That heart was stacked on top of and slightly over top of a heart crusted with about a hundred small perfectly cut rubies. As she lifted it out of the box, she saw a card inside with a Bible verse written on it. It said:
Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain.” Proverbs 31:10-11