“Yes.” Steve thought back on his initial meeting with Anita and how unimpressed he’d been but, being with her during and after the crash changed all that, and seemingly him, as well. “I think I want to buy a house.”
Mrs. T paused with chopsticks in hand. “Are you in love, Steve?”
“Maybe.”
Their smiles met. “Then I’ll call a friend tomorrow. She’s one of the best Realtors on the island.”
“Thanks.”
Mrs. T looked down at Dog lying contentedly on the floor by Steve’s chair and asked, “Do you have something appropriate to wear to a wedding?”
Dog didn’t answer, so she said, “I guess that’s a no.”
Steve chuckled and forked up more spaghetti.
Back at his place, he called his mother. First he related the details about the crash. When he finished, he told her that he was thinking of buying a house. She laughed and asked, “Who is she?”
“Who’s who?”
“This woman you’re buying this house for. You forget, I birthed you and, if you’re buying a house, some woman must’ve rocked your world. So spill it. Who is she?”
Amused he complied.
She responded with, “My son the hermit and a high-powered L.A. lawyer. Interesting. Will I like her?”
“I hope so. Her father pledged with Dad at Morehouse.”
“Oh, Lord. That’s all this family needs, more purple and gold. Can’t wait to meet her.”
They spoke for a few minutes longer, and he ended the call with a promise to keep her posted.
Sitting in the silent room afterward, he rubbed Dog’s head and said, “I think you’ll like her, too.”
Dog had no reply.
* * *
Anita was very happy to return to work. When she entered the office, her coworkers wanted to hear about the crash, so she spent a few minutes telling them as much as she thought they needed to know before heading down the hall to Jane’s office to let her know she was back, but her door was closed and the lights were off.
Val was at her desk however, and on it sat a huge vase of gorgeous yellow roses. “Welcome back,” Val said.
“Thanks. Jane coming in late?”
“No. She flew home to Minnesota on the red-eye. Her mom fell down some stairs last night and had to have emergency surgery. Because she’s in her eighties, Jane said the doctors were pretty worried.”
Anita’s heart went out to her. “Has she checked in yet?”
“Not so far, but I’ll let everybody know when she does.”
She hoped the surgery went well. “Who sent you flowers?”
“They’re not mine. They’re for you.”
That caught her by surprise. Hoping they might be from Steve, she dug out the card. It read: So sorry. Greg. Her jaw tightened. “Did I tell you Greg dumped me by text while I was in Hawaii?”
“No!”
“Yes and these are from him.” Anita picked up the vase and promptly dropped them into Val’s wastebasket.
Smiling at Val’s stunned face, Anita said, “I’ll see you at lunch.”
Anita spent the morning working on the remaining items on the Bentley merger and fighting off the memories planted in her heart and mind by Steve Blair and his call. As for Greg, he could kick rocks.
Later that afternoon, her phone rang. The caller ID displayed her mother’s name and Anita dearly wanted to ignore it but picked up. “Hi, Mom. What can I do for you?”
“Greg has come to his senses. Sylvia says he’s changed his mind about marrying that other girl and he wants you back. Isn’t that exciting?”
“No, it isn’t.”
“What do you mean, it isn’t?”
Anita could feel a headache forming. “Greg and I are done, Mom. I’m not marrying him. He sent me flowers this morning and I threw them in the trash.”
“The man made a mistake. He’s admitted it. The least you can do is be gracious.”
“He didn’t even have the guts to dump me face-to-face. I’m not marrying a man like that.”
“Oh, Anita, stop being so dramatic and listen to me. Greg is the best—”
She cut her off. “I’m late for a staff meeting. Tell Aunt Sylvia I’m sorry things didn’t work out. I have to go, Mom.” And she hung up.
The phone rang again. It was Diane calling back. Anita let it ring and walked over to the window and looked down on the street. After being directed to voice mail for the fifth time, her mother finally gave up and Anita walked back to her desk. She took out Steve’s number. She wanted to hear his voice. As it began to ring, she smiled, but then heard a computerized voice say, “The party you are trying to reach has not set up a mailbox. Please try your call at another time.”
“Who doesn’t set up their mailbox!” she yelled. She reminded herself that he was the same man who called looking at the stars going to the movies, which made her smile. She missed him.
For the next few days, Anita threw herself into work and, at night, when she was alone, she thought of and dreamed of Steve: his kisses, his smile, the way he made her enjoy life. She found herself wanting to see the ocean and hear the quiet drumming of waterfalls. Driving home in the dark after yet another long day at work, she longed to see stars in the night sky but in L.A. that was impossible. Steve was correct about the island effects. As the days progressed, she missed him and Kauai more and more.
When Anita came to work that next morning, she noticed the lights on in Jane’s office. “Is she back?” she asked Val.
“Yes, but her mom’s not doing well. Jane said she wanted to see you first thing.”
“About?”
Val’s face was blank. “Just go on in, she’s waiting.”
Wondering what the meet might be about and dearly hoping it would be a yes on the partnership, Anita went in. The first thing she noticed was how tired her boss appeared. “Val said you wanted to see me.”
“I do. Have a seat.”
Anita complied. “How’s your mom?”
“Not well. She’s going to need long-term twenty-four hour care.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that.”
“She fell due to a stroke, so I’m going home to take care of her. I love her too much to turn the job over to strangers.”
“I understand.”
“In order to do that though, I’m going to have to dissolve the firm.”
Anita couldn’t hide her surprise.
“I’m sorry, Anita. I know how much you wanted the partnership. That’s the bad news. The good news is this. Do you remember Mike Moran of Moran and Associates?”
“Yes. I worked with him and his group on my very first merger for you.”
“Yes, you did and he sang your praises for months afterward.”
“He was easy to work with and he knew his stuff.”
“I’ve spent the last few days making calls to find other firms to take on some of my better people and Mike wants you to come and work for him. He’s agreed to give you a partnership, if you join his crew.”
Anita was stunned.
“There is a catch however. Eighteen months ago, he moved his main office to Honolulu and I know you had a real bad experience in Hawaii so you might not be too keen on living there.”
“When are you planning on dissolving the firm?”
“Soon as possible.”
“And when would Mr. Moran want me to start?”
Jane handed her a business card with Moran’s logo on it. “Soon as you can. Call him first. He wants to fly you down and talk.”
Anita looked at the card while all kinds of happiness blossomed inside. Was she actually going to be able to return? “Thanks, Jane. I’ll give him a call. How soon do you want us to vacate the office?”
?
??I’d like everyone out by the end of the week. Again, I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize for loving your mother. Go home and do what you need to do. We’ll be fine.”
“Thanks, I appreciate that and I’ve truly enjoyed working with you.”
Anita closed the door quietly behind her exit.
Val said, “So now you know.”
“Yes, I do. She found me another firm, though.”
“Me, too, and it’s in L.A. so I can finish school.”
“That’s wonderful.”
Back in her office, Anita sat down in her chair and tried to determine her true feelings. On the one hand, the prospect of being in Hawaii was like a dream come true but, if it didn’t work out with Moran, she faced starting the climb to partner from the bottom somewhere else. She looked at the card in her hand and picked up the phone to give Moran a call.
The call went well. He agreed to fly her to Honolulu early next week. Now, all she had to do was get in touch with her sky pilot and let him know what was going on.
CHAPTER 11
Anita was extremely happy when she pulled into her condo’s parking space. Hawaii and Steve were on her mind. She couldn’t wait to talk to him and give him the news about the Moran job, but she was brought up short by the sight of Greg Ford sitting on her front porch. Angry that he’d shown up to ruin one of the happiest days of her life, she asked coldly, “What do you want?”
“How are you?”
“What the hell do you want, Greg?”
“Just a chance to talk.”
“You have two minutes.” She glanced at her watch. “Starting now.”
“Uhm. Well. I’m here to eat humble pie.”
“Not necessary.”
He looked visibly relieved. “Your mother said if I give you a few days to cool off you’d come to your senses.”
“You think I said ‘not necessary’ because I’m taking you back?”
He looked wary. “Well, yes.”
“Are you doing crack these days?”
He jumped. “Anita!”
“Go to hell. You didn’t have the balls to tell me to my face.”
“But that’s why I’m here. I’m ashamed of how I treated you and I’d like to apologize.”
“Then do it and go.”
“Will you at least have dinner with me, for old times’ sake?”
“No.”
“Please, Anita. If we can’t resolve this over dinner, I promise to never bother you again.”
“Fine. I’ll be ready in an hour.”
She brushed by him and put her key in the door. When he tried to come in, she told him, “Wait in your car.”
His eyes went wide. She stepped inside and closed the door.
In an hour she was ready. She made a point to put on the slinkiest designer gown in her closet: a midnight-blue number that hugged her curves like the fins of a mermaid. Her makeup and hair were fierce and so was her jewelry. She wanted to show him what he’d thrown away.
When she stepped outside his mouth dropped. “Wow.”
“Where’s your car. Let’s go.”
He tried to make conversation on the way but she was having none of it and by the time they reached Zola’s of all places, he’d gone silent.
“Why here?” she asked.
“Your dad suggested it.”
“My dad?”
“Yes, I talked to him. He’s going to join us.”
Anita stared. What in the world was her father thinking? Was he on Greg’s side after all? Stunned, she waited for the valet to open her door before she stepped out.
Inside the restaurant, she nodded a hello to Mr. Zola who nodded in response, but she noted the very frigid stare he gave Greg as he escorted them to one of the private rooms in the rear of the restaurant. Seated at the table was her mother, Greg’s mother, Sylvia, and the Judas formerly known as her father.
Her mother gushed. “See, Greg, I knew she’d come. You look stunning, dear.”
“Hello, everyone,” Anita said, sitting on the edge of her chair.
She shot her father a tart look but he simply smiled and raised his champagne flute in a toast. She swore she saw mischief twinkling in his eyes. She turned away and glared at Greg. The smile on his face looked as fake as she knew him to be.
Diane said, “Now that we’re all here. I’d like to propose a toast to the future marriage of Greg and Anita.”
Anita didn’t move.
Her mother said testily, “Anita, you’re supposed to raise your flute.”
“I’m not marrying him, Mom, so move on.”
She saw her father smile.
“Anita, listen to me—”
“Nope. Aunt Sylvia, pardon me for saying this, but your son is a ball-less wonder and I refuse to be married to him. Is that plain enough for everybody. Daddy?”
“Works for me, baby girl.”
Her mother blanched and Sylvia appeared ready to faint.
“Thank you. Now that that’s straight, I’m leaving.” Anita stood. She was absolutely furious with her mother for her machinations.
Her father said, “Hector will call you a car to take you home.”
The anger on her mother’s face was plain, but it was nothing compared to the heartache Anita felt knowing that her mother would never be her champion. “Have a good evening.”
And she walked out.
She found Mr. Zola at the front of the restaurant by the entrance. “My father said you’d call me a car to take me home.”
“Already outside.”
“Thanks.”
He held open the door and pointed. “Car’s over there.”
Seeing Steve Blair dressed in a tux and seated behind the wheel of a sleek black convertible import made her jaw drop.
Mr. Zola smiled. “Have a good evening, Anita.”
Speechless, she walked over, opened the door and got in. “What’re you doing here?” She felt like a giggly teenager.
“Your father invited me to what he said was your surprise birthday party.”
“He lied. My birthday’s in February.”
He laughed. “I’ll remember that in the future. So how are you?”
“Wonderful now. Thanks for rescuing me again.”
“My pleasure.”
A smile warmed her insides.
“So, no party?”
“No, just my mother trying to get me to take Greg back. You look good in that tux, by the way.”
“Thanks. “I thought Greg was going to marry his work buddy.”
“Changed his mind.”
“Of course. Like the dress. Very hot, Counselor.”
“Thanks.” She couldn’t believe they were actually together again. “I told Greg’s mom he was a ball-less wonder.”
Steve snorted. “I like that, too.”
“So did my dad.”
“So, what else have you been doing besides pissing people off? Did you get the partnership?”
“No, in fact Jane’s closing down the agency.”
He turned to her. “What?”
“Yes.” She explained about Jane’s mother.
“So what are you going to do?”
“Move to Hawaii, looks like.”
The surprise on his face made her grin, then she explained that whole scenario, as well.
“Good thing I bought a house.”
Her turn to be surprised. “You bought a house?”
He nodded. “Figured we’d need one.”
“So when can I see it?”
“Whenever you fly down.”
“Can we go now?”
“Jet’s fueled up and waiting at the airport. We
can be home in nothing flat.”
“Give me a few minutes to pack and I’ll be ready.”
“First things first. Hold out your hand. Gotta put a ring on it.” Her reaction made him say teasingly, “Close your mouth, Counselor, and hold out your hand. Unless you don’t want it, of course.”
Anita began to cry and placed her hand over her mouth in wonder and joy.
In a voice that really made her tears flow, he asked, “Will you marry me, Anita Hunt, so we can watch sunsets and eat popcorn?”
She was so moved and so speechless, all she could do was nod.
He took a small black velvet box out of his coat and opened it. He gently took her hand and pushed the sparkler onto the third finger of her left hand. “I figured no sense in getting an engagement ring since I plan to marry you just as soon as we get all the legal stuff out the way.”
Through her happy tears, she stared down at the serious rock on her finger. “This is gorgeous.”
“Trust fund money does come in handy sometimes. Now, do I get my kiss?”
She threw herself at him and lost herself in the arms and kisses of the man she planned to watch sunsets with for the rest of her life.
Someone cleared their throat close by. A hazy Anita looked up to see her smiling father standing next to the car.
“So, you two good here?”
“Yes, Dad.”
“Yes, Mr. Hunt.”
“Then I’m good, too. Call me when you come up for air.”
With that he walked away.
Steve met her shining eyes and slowly traced her mouth. “I think we should leave in the morning.” The finger languidly slid down her throat and toyed with the tops of her breasts peeking up above the neckline of her fancy gown.
Heat claimed her. “Why?”
“Because I want to spend some time taking this hot dress off you, and it’ll probably take most of the night.”
“Then let’s go to my place.”
He kissed her. “Your place have popcorn?”
“Yes, my sky pilot, it does.”
He drove them away from the restaurant. She waved at her father and Mr. Zola standing by the door, then cuddled close to her soon-to-be husband.
He said, “Forgot something.”