Waiting for Mr. Darcy (23 page)

“Yes?”

“What about you and Nigel? Any declarations you want to share with the class?”

“No.” Gabby felt a little embarrassed.

“Come on, you can talk to me.”

“He hasn't made any proclamations.”

“How do you feel? Do you love him?”

“Yes, I think I do.”

“Then what's wrong with your tongue? Why can't you go first?”

“Because he's the guy. He's supposed to say it first.”

“Gabby, it's one thing to love Jane Austen's novels, but it's another to live them. There's no rule you can't say it first.”

“Did you say it to Randy first?”

“We're not talking about me.”

“See?”

“I don't count anyway. I was drunk and slept with him the first night we met, so I get an exemption.”

They laughed.

“Seriously, Gabby, when it comes to matters of the heart, there are no rules.” She sipped her water. “Look at Alicia and Nate.”

“Alicia was the only one who didn't see it coming.”

“Speaking of Alicia, I wonder how she and Nathaniel are doing this afternoon.”

“If we know Alicia, and we do, she's probably giving him a hard time about resting.”

“You're right. Still, I think Nathaniel is just the man for the job. He can hold his own.”

“More power to him. That is one stubborn woman,” Gabby said.

“Between him and Harrison, I think they just might have her cornered.” Lauren smiled.

* * *

Arms folded in bed, Alicia looked like a prisoner in her own bedroom.

“You can pout all you want. You're staying put until Friday,” Harrison said as he placed a lunch tray on the night table.

“This isn't fair,” she protested.

“It's for your own good,” Nathaniel said, walking in. “You can get out of bed if we go see the doctor covering for Dr. Stuart.”

“No. I only see Dr. Stuart.”

“I told you she wouldn't budge.”

Nathaniel sat down on the bed. “Why? He's a professional and he's held to the same doctor/patient confidentiality as any other doctor.”

“You don't understand.”

“Try me.”

“I'll be in the kitchen if you need me,” Harrison said as he left the room.

‘'I don't want to take the chance. What if someone sees me going into his office? At least with Dr. Stuart I can go early in the morning before he sees any other patients and get on with my day.”

Nathaniel shook his head. “We don't live in the Dark Ages.”

“Oh, you don't think so?”

“No.”

“Let me tell you, speaking as a full-figured African-American woman, I know it still exists.” She let out a heavy sigh.

“You never struck me as someone who worried about size.”

“That's because I don't worry about it. Other people do.” She paused. “I was lucky enough to be raised by parents who always told me I was beautiful. I will admit it was a little hard to be full-figured at Miss Porter's Boarding School, since most of the girls there would have given up a limb before they gained an ounce.”

“I know the type well.” He shook his head.

“Thankfully I had Lauren, Gabby and the Austen Aristocrats, which made it easier for me. I also had a husband who loved me. All of me.”

“I don't know many people who can say that.”

“Neither do I. Kurt always said I should have been more than just a lifestyle editor, because not only did I love it, I lived it. I looked forward to planning menus, going grocery shopping and entertaining friends and family. Nothing gave me greater pleasure than making a home for him and Kurt Jr.” Her voice caught and she took a moment to catch her breath.

Nathaniel rubbed her hand.

She wiped her eyes. “They were the most wonderful days of my life. After I lost him, I felt like a rudderless boat, just floating there. I didn't know what to do and that's when I decided the best thing I could do was share it with others. I would show people through something as simple as cooking how they could turn their house into the kind of home I had with him. It gave me a purpose and direction.”

“So off you went.”

“With a vengeance. I had a vision of a lifestyle brand from the moment I wrote my first cookbook. As a magazine editor it didn't take much for me to find a publisher, but getting a cooking show was a lot harder. When Lauren pitched me to her production company, they weren't sure because I didn't fit the mold. I wasn't the typical young, perky or thin host viewers were used to seeing. They didn't think I would do well with the target demographic, but I knew I was the real thing and I proved it with one hell of a demo. We were green lighted for only eight episodes and the response to this full-figured woman was beyond what they expected. A year after my first season, I was syndicated. Now, you'd think it would be easy for me to find investors and launch a magazine, but it wasn't. I had to court a lot of people.”

“People like the Three Stooges?”

“Yes,” she groaned. “Still, I put up a good deal of my own money for Archer Omnimedia.”

“You made it happen.”

“I had to. And when the time came, people told me I couldn't take my company public. I did and disproved all the naysayers. Still, I've had to prove I belong as the chief executive of the company
I
started. What man has to do that?”

“I get it. I also get that this is as much about Kurt as it is about you.”

“Does that bother you?”

“Of course it doesn't bother me. What bothers me is at the end of the day, you have to take care of yourself and although I wasn't fortunate enough to meet Kurt, I'm pretty sure he'd agree with me.”

“He thought I was a workaholic, so you're probably right.”

“See. Of course, if you let people know about the MS, you'll relieve some of the stress of keeping this secret.”

His words fell on deaf ears. “You know what, Nathaniel, I'm a grown-up. I don't need you to tell me what to do.”

“I wasn't trying to tell you what to do. I just think you need to slow it down. You can't do everything.”

“What is that supposed to mean? I can't do everything because I have MS, right?”

“Don't put words in my mouth.”

“That's what you meant. You know, I'm not in the market for an owner.”

“What?”

“You heard me.”

“You don't mean that.”

“Of course I do.”

Nathaniel picked up his jacket. “I'm going to leave before I say something I regret.”

“You do that.”

Nathaniel rushed past Harrison. A few seconds later the door slammed.

“What happened up here? I leave you for a little while and all hell breaks loose.”

Alicia wiped her eyes. “Nothing.”

“Those red eyes don't say nothing to me.” He sat on her bed. “Talk to me.”

“Nathaniel tried to tell me what to do, and you know how much I hate that.”

“He was doing nothing of the sort. He cares about you.”

Alicia looked away.

“You goaded him into a fight so you could send him away, didn't you?”

“I'm sick, Harrison. I've never thought of myself as a sick person before today. How can I burden someone with this? Nathaniel has had his choice of young, healthy women. Why would he choose to be with a woman he knows is sick?”

“He loves you, Alicia. You're not a burden to him.”

“Maybe I'm not one today, but what about tomorrow, next week or next year? Does a healthy man really want to be saddled with a woman with a chronic disease?”

“Nate came into this with his eyes open. Don't forget he's the one who rescued you from the pool.”

“I know. But it's one thing to be a one-time hero. It's another thing to carry the princess around on your back all day. I care about him too much to do that to him.”

“Bull. You're just afraid of what you're feeling.”

“I'm not changing my mind. I can't do this to him. He's better off.”

“What about Gabby's event?”

“I suppose we'll go together, but that will be it.”

Harrison shook his head in disgust. “You know, my dear, I love you like a daughter and sometimes I'd like to put you over my knee.”

“I'm sorry, Harrison.” She flashed him a look with her sad brown eyes.

“That's not fair.”

“I have to do something.”

“Well, if you have to do anything, it's take a nap. Can you do that for me?” Harrison got up.

“Okay.”

When Harrison closed the door, a flood of silent tears streamed down Alicia's face. She did love Nathaniel but she couldn't stand the thought of being the albatross around his neck. She knew it would hurt for a while but she felt it was best to let him go without guilt.

* * *

With Randy busy at the restaurant, Lauren went back to her apartment to relax for the rest of the afternoon. After she put her keys down, she checked her messages as she got out of her clothes.

You have two new messages.

“Lauren, it's Ken. Football season is coming up quickly and I haven't heard from you. Give me a call.”

Lauren shrugged it off. “I'm not calling him.”

The second message played.

“Lauren, you know I'm serious. If you're serious about staying in that apartment, you'll do what I asked you to do.”

“He's got some nerve,” she huffed as she went into her closet.

The phone rang.

Lauren walked out and checked the caller ID just in case it was Ken. It wasn't. It was the restaurant.

“Hello?”

“Hey, honey, how are you?”

“I'm good, thanks. How's it going there?”

“It's chaos as usual, but I do have some news to share.”

“Cool. Can I assume it's good news?”

“It's very good news. The
New York Times
is doing a feature on the restaurant.”

“Oh, that's great news.”

“Thanks. I'm really excited.”

“You should be. It's not easy to get in the pages of the
Times.”

“I know. So how was Alicia's launch?”

“It was great. A lot of people turned out for it.”

“That's good. Maybe one day I'll have my own line of kitchenware.”

“Don't be surprised if it happens. All it takes is a lot of determination and hard work.”

“And you have to know the right people.”

“That's true, too.”

“You know, I'm really looking forward to Friday night.”

“So am I.”

“Not only will I finally meet Alicia and Gabby, I'm going to have the most beautiful woman in the room on my arm.”

“Aww, that's sweet of you to say.” Her voice faded.

“Okay, what's on your mind?”

“Nothing. Don't worry, I'm fine.”

“I'm not buying that for a minute. I know it has to do with Ken.”

She let out a heavy sigh. “He called.”

“Did you speak to him? What does he want now?”

“No, I wasn't here. He left a message about the same thing.”

“Lauren, I know you want to handle this yourself, but the NFL season is fast approaching. He's only going to ramp it up.”

“I know. He left two messages today.”

“Have you thought any more about my offer? I'm serious.”

“I know you are, and I really appreciate it.”

“But you're not going to take me up on it, are you?”

“Probably not.”

“What if I make it a loan?”

“I still wouldn't do it. Listen, sweetie, you don't know how much it means to me that you offered.”

“Okay, I won't pressure you. But I'm not taking it off the table.”

“If you insist,” she laughed.

“I insist. Listen, sweetheart, I've got to run but I will see you Friday night.”

“Okay.”

“I love you.”

“Love you, too.” She hung up.

Lauren stretched out on her bed. She knew Randy was right. With the NFL season fast approaching, the situation with Ken would get worse before it got better, and if she thought he was a pain in the butt before, he'd be a royal pain the longer she made him wait.

“That's it,” she said aloud, smiling.
I love you Randy. You just gave me what I need to get this handled.
She picked up the phone.
Now I'll call Joe.

* * *

With Rosie gone for the day and the big exhibit around the corner, Gabby decompressed with a cup of tea and tuned the world out for a while.

The doorbell interrupted her thoughts.

Who in the world could this be?
She looked at her watch as she got up and pressed the intercom. “Yes?”

“Hi, Gabby, it's me,” Nigel answered.

“Nigel? I'll be right down.”

A moment later she was downstairs and in his arms. They kissed in the foyer.

“Come on up.” She took his hand.

“I wish I could, but I have a car waiting.”

“Oh, okay.”

“I came by to tell you how much I enjoyed meeting your mother.”

“Good. She liked you, too.”

“I'm glad.” A serious look came over his face.

“What's wrong?”

“I had a chance to think while I was away…”

Gabby's heart went into her stomach.

“Maybe I shouldn't show at the exhibit, given our relationship. I know we started dating after you took my painting, but I don't want to blemish your reputation, and if any of the other artists who didn't make it in hear about it, that's just what could happen. I don't want to be responsible for that.”

Gabby was beyond relieved. “Oh.”

“What do you think?”

“Nigel, I really appreciate the gesture. Still, the fact is you're in the show because of your talent. Your painting is amazing and once people see it, they'll know why you're one to watch.”