What a Girl Needs (32 page)

We pull up to the hotel, and my mother-in-law is ordering bellmen about in her tightly fitting icy green suit made of shantung silk.

I sigh. “You’d think she’d pick up on the whole California casual thing.” Staring at Elaine, my shame is complete. Once again, I feel my presence is pointless, but I want Kevin to know, just because I’m interchangeable to him, it doesn’t mean I feel that way about him and his family.

“Déjà vu,” Kay says as we let the motor run in the hotel’s parking circle. The bellmen reaches for Elaine’s Louis Vuitton suitcase while Josh grabs his own.

I get out of the car and offer Elaine the front seat.

She waves me off. “I’m exhausted anyway. You sit up front.” She slides into the backseat and looks at the bench seat behind her. “These really are like cardboard, aren’t they? But I suppose that’s necessary to save the environment.”

I look at Kay above the car’s roof. “She means to say thank you for driving her.”

Kay laughs. “It gets lost in translation.”

Josh grins at me and slides in the backseat next to Elaine. His knees are up to his chest. “Josh, you sit in the front. You’re so tall. I should have rented a car.”

He takes my mother-in-law’s hand. “No, today, Elaine and I got a chance to bond. I’ll be fine back here.”

Another twinge of jealousy gnaws at my heart. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. Josh has already proven capable to produce grandchildren. I’m just the second string draft choice who still has yet to prove herself on the field.

We’re not on the road for twenty minutes before Elaine falls into a blissful sleep, which surprises me. Truth be told, I imagined her as sort of a vampire who didn’t require rest.

Josh is nervously tapping his giant feet, and I search for some topic of conversation that doesn’t include me being a home wrecker or Kevin’s second string. And of course, something not as polarizing as
what the heck is wrong with you that you want to marry Emily?
One too many concussions on the field perhaps?

Polite conversation eludes me as I have no understanding of football and something tells me patent law is not his specialty. Josh is buff to the point where his stretchy football jersey is strained to the max around his bicep. He wears a military buzz cut and his eyes, while bright blue, are terribly close together, which throws off the symmetry of his face. He’s a handsome guy, don’t get me wrong, but he’s in a daze, and it shows in his taut neck muscles and jittery big foot.

Josh notices me staring at him—I’m not exactly subtle—I’m riding shotgun and he’s in the backseat behind Kay. He breaks the awkward silence, “I’m sorry about what happened last night.”

I give him credit. He doesn’t ask for more information, but maybe Elaine filled him in on all he needed to know. He’s a southern gentleman after all. Kay hums to herself rather than partake in the conversation. The silence between us is deafening. If only I could go back in time, I’d be more supportive. At least, I like to think that I would. One look at Matt and most likely, I’d give the same heinous opinions.

“You’re the reason I’m here,” Josh says to me.

“Apparently, all of Atlanta is saying the same thing.” I look to my sleeping mother-in-law.

“I don’t want a marriage like yours where my wife is on the other side of the country and I’m home earning money. It’s not how I picture my future.”

“You have that in common,” Kay interjects. “It’s not how Ashley pictured hers either.”

“Betrayal is the worst. I can’t have Emily think I betrayed her. My brother went to find her at your house, but he betrayed me. He scared poor Emily and now she’s run off.”

That’s why she told you she ran off anyway. I suppose we’ll never know the full truth, other than Emily wasn’t getting enough attention for her liking.

Josh’s admission of devotion toward Emily is admirable, but it only serves to remind me that the man I love, the man who promised to love, honor and cherish me, won’t return a blasted phone call and left me to deal with his family drama alone. Worse yet, the knowledge that his true love was Arin, only she rejected him.

Yet here are Elaine and Josh, here for Emily regardless of the games she plays and the stories she tells. They love her unconditionally and I can’t help but covet my sister-in-law for the moment.

“I don’t think it’s ever better to find out you’ve been betrayed by people you trusted.” Josh stares out the window, and the passing headlights flash and highlight the sadness in his eyes. “It ruins your faith in humanity. That’s the real price, and once that gets into your relationship, it’s too late. The end is near.” He clears his throat.

“I don’t want to repeat my father’s mistakes. He died alone,” Josh says brusquely. “After a string of women young enough to be his daughter got tired of playing nursemaid, he was by himself in a care home. Once the money ran out, so did all the women. If you ask me, that’s what ultimately killed him, the lack of attention. For a guy used to having an entourage, reality was rough. He wasn’t equipped to deal with the truth.”

My interest is piqued by Josh’s admission. “How long ago did your father pass away?”

“He left my mom and me by the time I was ten, but he called first when I got picked up for the NFL, then again when I was Rookie of the Year. I don’t think he wanted cash at that point. Think he wanted to lay claim to his genetic prodigy and let me know I’d be nothing without him. It wasn’t long after, he passed. A few weeks ago.”

“Did you take his call?” Kay asks him.

“Not then. I went to see him before he died, so I could make my peace. Emily said I should and I didn’t want to let her think less of me.”

This makes me turn around completely in my seat. “Emily thought you should go to him?”

“She didn’t want me to have regrets, thought it would be better to have a clear conscience, and to do it for God, not myself.”

Josh, and his apparent depth, makes me question everything I’ve ever known about my sister-in-law. Why on earth would she hesitate in marrying this guy? Kay glances at me, and even in the dusky light, I can tell she’s thinking the same thing. Emily takes
shallow
to a new level. Even if she is playing her mother’s 1860 game of letting a man chase her, putting Josh through this game, especially with his history, seems unbearably cruel. Even for Emily. She may be a moron, but she’s not cruel.

“How long until we get there?” Josh asks, as he taps the armrest incessantly. “I’m getting nervous.”

“About ten minutes now,” Kay says.

Josh taps me on the shoulder with something, and I turn to see a gray velvet box. “Do you think she’ll say yes?”

I grasp the box, open it, and an enormous diamond flashes brightly in the shadows of the passing headlights. I yank at the sun visor to open it and illuminate the ring. It’s a stunning emerald cut diamond, flanked by smaller emerald cut diamonds cascading down in stair-step fashion, as far as the eye can see until it disappears into the cushioning of the box.

“How much do football players make?” I lift up the ring for Kay to peek.

Josh laughs. “It’s a short career. You have to look at it that way. For now, I make enough.”

“Holy cow!” Kay says, grasping the box from me. “It’s enormous! Is she planning to wear it or rebuild the Egyptian pyramids with it?”

“It was the biggest in the store. That’s why I bought it. I knew no one else would have a bigger one. I don’t want anyone thinking I’m marrying her because she’s pregnant—but I know what the news rags will say.”

My mouth is still agape. “Seriously, I think if you asked her brother to marry you, he would probably say yes to this ring. And he’s already married!”

“Ashley!” Kay yells at me, but I notice something in Kay’s expression and that she glances at her own left hand. There is recognition in her eyes. It’s not the miniscule size of her diamond that upsets Kay. She couldn’t care less about such trivial things.

Josh chuckles. “No, it’s exactly the result I was hoping for. I knew if I could impress Ashley, Emily would be equally inspired. She thinks the world of your opinion, Ashley.”

I guffaw. “Sure she does.”

Josh glances over at Elaine and ensures she’s asleep. “Emily is always bragging how smart you are and that she wishes she had your brains.”

Lot of good they’ve done me.

“I think you’ve got the wrong sister-in-law. Is Kevin hiding another brother?” Kay asks.

I smirk at Kay and put the ring back in its box and hand it to Josh. “She’d be crazy to say anything but
yes
, Josh. And I’d say that if you brought a ring from a gumball machine.”

Like someone else we know did.
I smile at Kay.

It’s nearly ten when we arrive at Fish and Clara’s mansion. As we wind up the long drive, I can’t help but wonder if I’ve done damage to my parents’ lifelong friendship with the long-suffering Bowmans. Nothing like introducing the Ashley brand of crazy to scare normals off in quick fashion. They’ve had a decade’s worth in two short days.

Kevin’s family is wearing, like obnoxious toys that drain batteries and suck them dry. Growing up “normal” if you can call anyone’s upbringing that, it never occurred to me how utterly dysfunctional seemingly successful people might be. I assumed they joined non-profit boards and organized charity balls because they had so much to share—not because their own lives might be void of genuine meaning and real connection. Kevin’s world has turned mine upside down.

I step out of the car, press the keypad code and great iron gates sweep across the asphalt and reach for the vineyards.

Elaine stirs awake. “We’re here?”

“Yes,” I say.

“Thank heavens,” she says with a thick southern drawl. “I was beginning to think you were shuttling me back to Atlanta.”

Don’t think the idea hadn’t crossed my mind.

Josh’s jaw is set as we pull into the covered breezeway. He looks as if he’s joining up for active duty, which in some ways, marrying into this family, that’s exactly what he’s doing. The porch lights come on and all around us the centuries’ old oak trees light up to share their magnificence.

Clara is at the door beside Emily. I turn to see Josh’s expression light at the sight of his future bride. Emily isn’t surprised at all by the sight of Josh and by his own sly smile, he’s aware of this.

Elaine seems utterly clueless as though she’s rescuing her misguided daughter. She doesn’t greet Clara, the kind woman who has housed her runaway daughter for nothing. “Enough of these games, Emily. You’re getting married and I’ll have no excuses.”

“Doesn’t he have to ask me first?” Emily smiles coquettishly at Josh.

Elaine taps her Tory Burch flats toward Josh. “I assume you’re here to ask my daughter to marry you.”

“In due time. There has to be some romance to the moment.”

“This doesn’t require romance. You ruined that opportunity when you took advantage of my daughter’s innocence.”

Josh drops his chin to his chest and his regret staggers off of him like a rattlesnake shedding its skin. Emily approaches him, but pulls away when Elaine glares at her.

Josh is doing everything he can to not sweep Emily up in his arms, and she’s battling the same desires. There’s a sizzling chemistry between them that’s like a live wire connecting them—though they’re feet from each other.

Clara takes matters into her own hands and approaches Elaine. “Welcome to wine country.”

“I don’t drink, dear,” Elaine says, and I die just a little.
Seriously? Since when doesn’t she drink? I’ve seen her do a pretty good number on a bottle of Scotch when her son announced our wedding
. Scotch. Not some fizzy, light wine!

“Please come in the house. Is everyone planning to stay? I’ll need to get a few more beds ready.”

I screw up my face. “I think so,” I answer sheepishly. “I’m never going to be able to make this up to you, am I?”

Clara slings her arm over my shoulder. “You’ll always be welcome. No matter what.” She looks me straight in the eye and I know she means it.

I make the proper introductions.

“Elaine, it’s a pleasure.” Clara reaches out her hands. “I’ve been enjoying my time with your daughter. She’s going to make such a wonderful mother. You must be over the moon about your first grandchild.”

“Well, you know. My son married Ashley,” Elaine lowers her voice conspiratorially. “We’re not sure if she can have children, so I’m grateful I’ll have at least one grandchild.”

Uh, standing right here!

“Ashley can’t be ready to have babies already,” Clara says. “She only just got married. She wants to enjoy her husband, I’d imagine. Plus,” Clara grasps Elaine’s wrist for effect. “Your son works so much. Surely, Ashley doesn’t want to mother alone—like she’s vacationing.”

Can I just state that my mother has awesome taste in friends? Or is that too anti-Christian on my part, to revel in a little aimed comeback. Even without the southern drawl, Clara can give shade as dark as Elaine can cast.

“Emily, why don’t you get your things together?” Elaine says. “I see no reason to infringe on this good woman’s hospitality any longer. Josh assures me he’s ready to do the right thing.”

Josh takes the hit for Emily without commentary and I find myself wishing I wasn’t so competent. Kevin will never need to care for me in that manner. I simply don’t need rescuing, which is why he must have sent me to find the answers that would extricate him from being responsible for me. He needs his freedom to work and I feel oblivious for not noticing the signs before
. Me, the girl who claims to be too smart for her own good.

Clara grasps Kay about the waist and pulls her close. “I won’t hear of your leaving this late. Poor Kay must be utterly exhausted making that trip again.”

Kay whimpers slightly, loving Clara’s motherly attentions. “I am worn out,” Kay admits. “I don’t think I could drive another mile today unless it’s over a cliff.”

“Well, we can’t have that, can we?” Clara asks. “You’re not a long haul trucker, you’re an engineer for heaven’s sake.”

Clara is just all goodness and light. My whole life, I’ve wanted to be like her and Kay. Selfless. Hospitable. The kind of person where warmth, and hosting impromptu dinner parties, comes naturally, and having overnight guests is as simple as turning down the bed.