“Oh...”
“Would you feel okay with me talking to her about it?”
“Sure,” she assures me. “All I ask is that you don’t make any final decisions without me.”
“Of course I wouldn’t do that. It’s yours.”
“Ours,” she corrects me.
“No, this one’s yours... you’ll make the decision, and you’ll get the profit from selling it. I imagine you’ll get a pretty penny for it.”
“How much do you think it’ll go for?” she asks.
“I would imagine... in that location... I bet you’ll get at least nine something… probably more.”
“Nine hundred thousand something?”
I laugh. “Have you ever priced out apartments in Manhattan, Em?”
“Not anywhere near the loft. I knew I could never afford anything off 5th Avenue.”
“That’s obvious. Nine million something... at least.”
She is silent for a few minutes. “Nine million?”
“Mmm-hmmm.”
“I wouldn’t even know what to do with that kind of money.”
“I can help you with that, too.”
She giggles to herself, then asks, “Will I be richer than you?”
I laugh back at her. “Emi, honey, if we’re getting married, there is something you should know about me... I’ve got a couple hundred million in investments.”
“Shut up,” she mutters.
“And the awesome part of this is that, when we do get married, you’ll have that, too.”
“Maybe we should sign a pre-nup?” she asks.
“Absolutely not, Emi.”
“But...”
“First and foremost, I know we are going to last. I love you and I know you love me. Secondly,” I add, “there’s no way a single man like me can spend that much money in a lifetime.”
“Well, then,” Emi says, “we’ll just add the loft money to what you already have. Maybe you can teach me about investments or charities or something.”
“Of course, I’d be happy to.”
“Maybe we could set up a foundation or a scholarship in Nate’s name... since it was his loft. We could do something to memorialize him.”
“I think that’s a great idea. We can talk to Donna about that, too.”
“Okay,” she says, and I can tell she’s smiling by the tone of her voice. “Hey, do you want your present?”
“I have to say, if it involves any sort of physical activity, I may have to wait a night. I don’t think I can move.”
“None whatsoever,” she says. “Here.” She sets down a turquoise box on her stomach, seemingly the same box I had given her earlier today. I hold the box between my fingers as she pulls the ribbon off of it. She lifts the lid for me as I watch, my head still resting on her chest.
“What is it?” I ask her.
“Well,” she whispers softly. “You told me earlier that I have your heart... and I do. I’m wearing the heart with the ring,” she tells me. I glance up at the jewelry around her neck to confirm what she has just told me.
“Yes?” I answer.
She pulls a silver keychain from the box and dangles it in front of me. The “e” charm that I had given to her earlier hangs from it. “You gave me your heart, but I’m giving you... me. All of me.”
I hold the keepsake over her stomach.
“I was going to say something about having the key to my heart, but I realize how incredibly cheesy that sounds.”
“Yes, Em, it does. But it’s sweet, anyway. Thank you. I love it.”
“I love you, Jack.”
“I love you, too.” She leans to meet my lips and kisses me, softly.
“Happy early birthday.”
“Thank you, Poppet.” I lay my head back down and close my eyes, sleep coming easily as I finally feel like things are moving ahead in the right direction.
CHAPTER 10
“Thanks for meeting me, Donna.”
“It’s my pleasure, Jackson, but I apologize, I won’t be able to have dinner tonight. Something came up, so I thought we could just do this over a drink,” Nate’s mother says to me at the French restaurant where she suggested we meet. “How are you doing?”
“I’m great. Emi and I just got back from a trip to Texas.”
“Any special occasion?” she asks.
“Actually, yes. We went to visit my brother and his fiancée... to get a little information about adoption.”
“Adoption, of course,” she says with a sad smile. “I am so sorry, Jackson. It broke her heart, and mine.”
“It’s alright,” I tell her, squeezing her hand once and letting it go, straightening my tie and swallowing hard to compose myself. “We’ll have children. As many as she wants.”
“She’ll be a great mother,” Donna says with an assured smile. “Speaking of which, where is Emily?”
“She was supposed to meet us, but she had some last-minute revisions on a project. She says she’s sorry she can’t make it... but in all honesty, I’m not.”
“I’m sorry?” she asks.
“I wanted to talk to you about something, and I want it to be a surprise to her.”
“Oh,” she smiles, then laughs to herself. “You’re really good together.” I smile back, thanking her. “Is it about the loft?”
“Not exactly, but I would like to discuss a few things with you about that. She is planning to move in with me over the next few weeks, so we would like to put her apartment on the market.”
“Okay,” she says, breathing in deeply before sighing heavily, still putting on a brave smile. “I don’t know why this saddens me,” she adds. “I rarely spent any time there. I have no real attachment to it. I just... I guess I just knew how much he loved that place.”
“Well, Emi isn’t entirely comfortable with selling it. She feels a little bit like it still isn’t hers to sell,” I inform Donna.
“Legally, it is, though,” Donna assures me. “She owns the deed. I signed it over to her, and I knew she wouldn’t stay forever.”
“Oh, I know. Still... it doesn’t sit right with her, making money off of it.”
“Well, I wouldn’t want anything for it, if that’s what she’s worried about. He would have wanted her to have it.”
“I think she had something else in mind. She was thinking of setting up a foundation or scholarship in Nate’s name with some of the money.”
A smile grows on her face, the corners of her lips reaching her eyes, becoming moist with tears. “I would love that... but of course it’s not necessary.”
“Of course,” I assure her. “But actually, I have something else in mind.”
“Okay. What are you thinking?”
After explaining my ideas with Donna, she offered any assistance she could provide. She was sure that Emi would love what we were planning. Confident with the arrangement that we’d made, and wondering how I would keep it all a secret, I walk into the house.
“Emi?” I call out. I peek into the dark office to look for her before going upstairs to the bedroom, the room she has chosen to use as her temporary workspace when she’s here. That room is dark, as well, and she is not sitting, legs curled under her body working on her computer, like she so often has been the past few days. Strangely, the stuffed dog from the fair has found a new home in the middle of my bed. “Poppet?” I glance at the patio and start to leave the room before something in the yard catches my attention.
A dog. A real dog. A small furry white, black and brown dog. Squeals erupt as our nieces and nephews scurry in the grass, trying to catch it. Quickly I head downstairs to see what is going on.
Food is arranged in the kitchen as I pass through. Lots of it.
A chorus of “happy birthday” greetings meet me when I open the door to the backyard. Everyone local is here: Kelly, Thomas, their kids; Chris, Anna and Eli; Jen and Clara, and Jen’s boyfriend Brian; and of course, Emi, sitting in the wooden swing across the lawn in a short, white dress and pink heels. As she w
alks toward me, the puppy follows her up the steps on the deck.
“Some freelance job,” I joke with her. “I’m starting to wonder if you really are a graphic designer or just a pathological liar.”
“Oh, Donna was in on it... you made it too easy,” she laughs, throwing her arms around my neck. I pick her up to kiss her, then set her down gently. My nieces and nephews shower me with hugs next.
“Uncle Jacks?” Andrew asks, jumping up and down. I kneel down to meet with him on his level. “Did you see your birthday present?”
“No, what is it?”
“Ruby!” he shouts. Madeleine carries the squirming dog to me.
“And we made her a dog house,” Jackie adds, pointing to a colorful, pink wooden house in the corner of the patio. “We painted it and everything!”
“I tried to put a bow on her,” Emi says, “but she would have none of that. I think she’s a little bit of a free spirit.”
“A dog?” I ask.
“Is that bad?” she returns.
“Not at all,” I laugh. “It’s a fox terrier...”
“It is,” she smiles. “I remember you saying you loved yours when you were a kid.”
“I did. Let me see her,” I say, reaching my arm out. Madeleine carefully places the puppy in my hands. “Ruby, you say?”
“That’s what we’ve been calling her,” Emi says. “I guess you can name her anything you want.”
“Well, why Ruby?”
“She just seems a little fiery, that’s all.”
“I think Ruby’s perfect.” I stand, holding the dog between us.
“Since it’s going to take awhile before we’ll have children, I thought it would be nice to have a dog.”
“It’s a wonderful idea.”
“And so I can help you take care of it, I’ll be moving in officially tomorrow. They’ve all agreed to help,” she says, motioning to our siblings. “And I’ve been packing all week... and it hasn’t been easy,” she adds, waving her cast at me.
“Now, that’s the best birthday present.” I put the dog down and all the children resume their game of chase, the dog easily outrunning all of them. “Thank you, Emi.”
“You’re welcome.” I pull her close to kiss her, brushing her lips with mine before they press deeper. As my hand holds on to her neck, my thumb resting just below her ear, I can feel her pulse quicken. I love the effect I have on her. “How did your meeting with Donna go?” she asks quietly when we finally separate.
I smile broadly, remembering our conversation. “It was great. We’re putting the loft on the market this week. She knows an agent who can help.”
“Why that smile?” she asks.
“I’m just excited about you moving in, Em.” It’s not a lie, it’s just another reason to be happy. “Just makes this all feel more... real... We just need to pick a date now.”
“I have an idea for that, too.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, we can talk about it later. Right now, everyone’s starving and ready to eat.”
After fixing our plates and sitting down, I notice Jen and Chris go back into my house. “We forgot drinks. What would you like?”
“Water’s fine,” she answers. I follow Emi’s siblings into the kitchen.
“Hey, can I talk to you two for a second?”
“Of course, Jacks,” Jen says.
“I have an idea for a place to get married... but I want it to be a surprise to Emi... do you think there’s any possibility that we could make that happen?”
“Depends. Where is it?”
I describe the place in detail– my vision of it anyway– and tell them why I would like it to remain a surprise, why it’s necessary for the time being. Jen, emotional like her sister, wipes away the tears that begin to form in the corners of her eyes. Chris’s expression shows his consent. They exchange a glance with one another before nodding to each other, then to me. We quickly brainstorm on how I can convince Emi to allow me to be in charge of the venue... and we all hope she has enough trust in us to handle this.
~ * ~
The next night, feeling exhausted after we spent the day moving all of Emi’s boxes to my place and cleaning up her loft, I struggle to get the puppy to abandon her playtime in the backyard.
“Come, Ruby... Come... Come on, Ruby,” I urge the puppy to come in the house. “I’m tired,” I try to reason with the dog. Ruby just rolls in the grass, belly up.
“It’s really nice out here,” Emi says as she comes out the back door carrying a blanket. She flicks on the lights, a string of lanterns still hanging from last night’s party, illuminating the yard with soft, colorful radiance. “I think Ruby might have the right idea. Come on.”
I take the comforter from her hands and spread it out below one of the large trees in the back yard. Emi sets down her iPod and a small speaker, pressing the play button. We both lie down on the blanket, looking up at the sky where only the brightest of stars are visible from the city. I pull Emi’s head onto my shoulder as I put my arm around her. Ruby is struck with a sudden burst of energy and jumps on my stomach, her little tail wagging quickly.
“Sure, now you want to come to me,” I comment, rubbing her behind the ears. Emi rolls to her side and strokes the dog’s back.
“You think she’s jealous of me?” Emi asks.
“She should be.”
“Well, you never scratch me behind the ears like that,” she adds. I move Ruby to the side and lean up, pulling Emi’s face toward mine to kiss me as I gently massage behind her ear with my thumb.
“Sure I do,” I mumble into her mouth. Ruby hops in between us, nuzzling her head under my arm, separating us. Emi giggles and wrestles with the puppy. “So cute,” I comment, watching them play.
“I know she is,” Emi says. “I knew you’d love her.”
“I was talking about you,” I tell her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “But I really do like both of my presents... Ruby and you... Things are really starting to feel... official.”
“Speaking of official... let’s talk about a date.”
“You talk about a date, I’ll talk about a location. How’s that?”
“You have an idea for a place? Oooo, do tell!”
“No, you first. It’ll all hinge on your date.”
“Okay,” she begins as Ruby wriggles free of Emi’s grasp and saunters to her dog house where she sniffs around. “I want to do it relatively soon.”
“That makes two of us... but how soon are you thinking?”
“January first.” I roll over on my side and study her eyes as she gazes into the stars.
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. I mean, if New Year’s Eve always brings sadness... and I think it’s safe to say it will always be tainted by what happened... it would be nice to know that it’s immediately followed by happiness the next day, you know? It would be, like, a fresh start, every year.”
“Isn’t that what January first is all about anyway?”
“But we’d have something to really celebrate. Do you not like that date?” she asks, finally looking at me, her eyes unsure.
“I think we could do January first,” I tell her, “if you’re sure about it. I think that gives me enough time...”
“What, to mentally prepare? I thought you were gung-ho about this already.” She props herself up on her elbow, mirroring my position.
“Oh, no, I’m ready. Enough time to get the venue...”
“Oh, yes, now what were you thinking? A church with our families? On a beach in Tenerife? Or maybe back in Vail?”
“None of the above. Not a church, but here, in Manhattan, for sure. Close by. With our families.”
“Okay, but is there a specific location?”
“Yes, there is a specific location.”
“Care to enlighten me?”
“No.” I lean in to kiss her, smiling.
“No?” she asks, surprised.
“Nope,” I tell her. “Do you trust me, Emi
?”
“Of course I do... but trust you with what?”
“I have an idea for the venue... and I really think you’ll like it... but I want it to be a surprise... because it’s part of your gift...”
“My gift?”
“You know, a wedding gift.”
“Oh, like this house was for Caroline?”
“Great correlation, Em,” I tell her as I roll onto my back, only slightly annoyed with her reference to my ex-fiancée that caused so much turbulence just last week. “Can we just never, ever talk about her again?”
“Of course, I’m sorry,” she smiles, then leans in to kiss me. “But I don’t want to move, Jack. You know that, right? I love this house. It’s ours... right?”
“We aren’t moving. I’m relieved you like the house because I’ve become quite attached to it... and I’m not lugging around your insane amount of belongings again anytime soon... but what about the venue? Would you trust me to handle that part of the ceremony?”
“I don’t know,” Emi says. “What about, like, decorations and stuff? Or what if I hate it?” She sits up and crosses her legs, scratching my chest lightly with her fingernails.
“You can pick any decorations... maybe work with Anna... I know she can keep a secret.” As for her second question... I just can’t imagine that she would hate it. Be a little apprehensive, maybe, but I know she’d like it... eventually... “And I talked to Chris and Jen today, and they like the idea.”
“They know the place?”
“No... but I’ll show it to them if that will ease your mind. It needs a little work right now.”
“A little work? How much ‘a little work?’” she asks.
“We have time, Emi, and I know plenty of people who can get it done,” I assure her. “That’s nothing you would need to worry about.”
“It would be inside, though, right, because you know the weather could be really bad...”
“Yes, Emi. You should know by now that I’m nothing if not sensible. I’ve considered everything. We could probably even get there in a blizzard, if we had to.”