Chapter Nine

They’d driven back to her house this morning in separate cars. During most of the ride home, she’d kept up a steady one-sided conversation with Bo, who sat in the passenger seat content to have his head halfway out the window. Despite all the reminders Brett’s family members were just people who got up every day and showered like her, she couldn’t shake the nervous jitters. The same jitters now had her looking at her reflection in the full-length mirror and thinking about changing her clothes. Again. She’d already put on and taken off three different outfits, not to mention the sundress she’d put on this morning at Brett’s house.

She turned to see a different angle and wished there was someone besides Brett around to ask for a second opinion. He’d insisted she looked great in her first choice. Of course he also told her she looked great dressed in one of his T-shirts, so she didn’t put much stock in his opinion.

“What do you think, Bo?” she asked the dog as he entered the room. He had been in the living room enjoying a treat. If he was here now, he’d finished it and was hoping for another one. Bo jumped on the bed and curled up on the sundress she’d worn home. “I guess you’re telling me not to wear that one.”

She gave the dog a scratch behind the ear and then picked up the lilac sundress she’d tried on before the outfit she wore now. Immediately, she put it back down.

That one might be better. She eyed the red floral dress on her pillow and reached for the zipper on her skirt. The knock on the partially open door stopped her from pulling it down.

“Can I come in?” Brett asked from the hallway.

She’d left him in the living room too. If he was looking for her, he must be getting antsy to leave. He’d seen her naked. She didn’t see any reason to make him wait in the hall while she dressed. “Sure.”

She waited until he came into the room before she picked up one of the dresses from the bed. “Do you think I should wear what I have on or this?” She held up the red floral dress.

“What was wrong with the one you had on when we got here?”

“Nothing. But I thought one of these outfits might be better.” She held the dress up against her body. “So, which one should I go with?” She moved the dress away again so he could see what she had on.

His eyes went from the dress she held to the one Bo was napping on and then to the clothes she wore. “Whatever you’re comfortable in. It’s only my family, Jen. They won’t care.”

She wanted to make a great impression this afternoon. “Whatever you’re comfortable in” wouldn’t cut it today. “You’re not very helpful.” Jen turned back to the mirror. She’d put back on the first dress she’d tried. “Give me two more minutes, and I’ll be ready.”

Brett took the dress she held and tossed it back on the bed. It landed on Bo’s head, but he didn’t seem bothered in the least. He didn’t so much as twitch an ear. “Trust me. You look amazing as is. No need to change. C’mon, let’s go.”

She’d driven through the Barrington area a few times and considered it one of the more beautiful towns in the state. Located along the coast, it attracted many of the wealthier Rhode Island residents. The houses they’d passed so far reinforced the fact Barrington was one of the most affluent areas in Rhode Island.

Elegant and classic were the two words best suited to describe the home they approached as they drove through the open gate and down the driveway. Although larger than some of the mansions she’d passed during a Hollywood sightseeing tour, this mansion didn’t look like it had been designed to catch people’s attention like the ones she’d seen in California.

“It looks like some people are already here,” she said. She checked out the other cars as he parked. She didn’t know the make and model of them all, but many were more in line with what she’d originally expected Brett to drive.

Brett turned off the car. “I’ll do my best to protect you from my cousins and siblings today. If one of them starts to annoy you too much, feel free to walk away or give them a smack on the back of the head. Especially my brother.” He sounded serious, but the tiny smile poking through ruined the moment.

“Oh, knock it off. I’ve seen you with your cousins. You love your family.”

He put his finger against his lips. “Ssh. Let’s keep it our little secret.” Dropping his hand, he leaned across the car and kissed her cheek. “In case my dad or one of my uncles is watching, will you please wait and let me open the door for you today? Dad will rip me a new one if catches me letting you open the car door for yourself.”

With her hand on the door handle, she paused and considered his request. He’d insisted on opening doors for her at Turin and Pirate’s Cove as well as whenever they got into his car. And once he’d complained when she’d gotten out of the car before he even opened his door. Until his statement, she hadn’t realized it was such a big deal to him. “Are you serious?”

Brett nodded and there wasn’t a hint of laughter in his expression. “Dad’s got views on how a gentleman should behave. Opening doors for women is on his list of things every gentleman must do. If they’re together, you’ll never see Mom open a door for herself. He along with my uncles drilled the entire list into me, my brother, and all my male cousins.”

The list sounded old fashioned, but there were worse things to be in the world than old fashioned. If Brett considered it so important, she’d concede on certain occasions. “Since I don’t want you getting in trouble and grounded, I’ll let you do it today.” She couldn’t contain a chuckle as she envisioned Brett’s dad scolding him. “But don’t make a habit of it. When we’re not around your family, I’ll take care of it myself. Understood?”

“Affirmative.”

While she waited for Brett to come around, she checked out the various license plates on the cars. Two were from Rhode Island, but there was also one from New Hampshire and another two from Virginia. Despite the short notice, it looked like plenty of family members had made it to this afternoon’s engagement party.

When he opened the door, Jen accepted the hand he held out. “One of these days you’ll have to tell me what other things are on your dad’s list,” she said.

“A conversation on that topic could take a while. Not to mention it’d be as boring as hell. Maybe one night if we have trouble falling asleep, I’ll share it with you.”

Brett rang the doorbell, and Jen waited for a uniformed employee to answer the door. Wealthy families hired people to handle those types of mundane tasks. At least in the movies they did. The bright smile the woman who answered the door gave Brett suggested she wasn’t an employee but a family member.

“I was so happy when Mark said you might be coming today.” The woman hugged Brett. “Everything was such short notice, and I know how busy you are with the campaign.”

Wrapped in Brett’s arms, the woman looked tiny. Before releasing her, he kissed her cheek and then took Jen’s hand. “Jen, I’d like you to meet Abby, Uncle Mark’s wife.” Brett didn’t give Jen a chance to speak. “Abby, my girlfriend, Jen.”

Twice now he’d referred to her as his girlfriend. Still, hearing the title attached to her sounded odd.

Abby turned her warm smile in Jen’s direction and she couldn’t help but return it. “Welcome. My husband mentioned Brett might be bringing a guest.” Abby gave her a brief hug too. “I’m so glad you could make it as well. Please come in and make yourself at home.”

They managed to make it through the door before the same little boy she’d seen at the block party zipped through the foyer running as fast as his little legs would carry him, which was rather fast considering the boy couldn’t be much more than a year and a half old. Seconds later another boy who looked very close in age came running after him. Neither paused nor acknowledged the adults as they turned a corner, but their giggling could still be heard.

“If those two hellions are here, Jake and Trent are around too,” Brett said, sounding amused.

Abby nodded. “When Garret and Kendrick get together, you never know what kind of mischief they might stir up. If they were a little older, I wouldn’t be surprised to find Jake and Trent tied up in a closet somewhere.”

“Sounds like both little guys are taking after their fathers,” Brett said before glancing in Jen’s direction. “The second blond streak who went through is my cousin Trent’s son. Kendrick is a couple months younger than Jake’s.” He looked back at Abby again. “If they ever need help tying my cousins up, I’m there for them. I’ll have to let them know that.”

Abby flicked Brett’s ear and shook her head. “Don’t you dare, they’d go in search of some rope.”

He’d addressed the woman by her first name rather than using the title aunt although she was married to his uncle. The way they joked with each other hinted at a good relationship though. If she thought of it later, she’d have to ask him why he didn’t call her Aunt Abby. She’d never think to call any of her aunts by their given names. And if she’d ever tried as a child, Mom and Dad would’ve corrected her in a heartbeat.

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Sherbrooke, I’ll make sure he behaves while he’s here today,” Jen said, dismissing the other matter from her thoughts.

“Excellent, someone who can keep you in line, Brett.” The older woman touched Jen’s shoulder. “But please call me Abby.” She glanced back toward Brett again. “Most of the family is out on the east lawn, but we are still waiting for a few people. I’m going to check on lunch, I’ll be outside shortly.” She walked away, leaving Brett and Jen alone.

“We can still retreat. No one but Abby knows we’re here,” Brett said.

“You survived meeting my family yesterday. I’ll manage.” If the rest of his family was as friendly as the few relatives she’d met so far, today would be a breeze.

“Who said I was worried about you? I was thinking about how much I’d rather be alone with you.” He kissed her cheek then took her hand and started walking through the house. Like the exterior, the inside of the home could only be described as classic and elegant.

She tried to act calm, but little things kept giving her away—such as her sweaty palm. He knew his family though. They’d do their best to put her at ease and make her feel welcome. If they had any questions or concerns, they’d speak to him about them in private.

Brett led her down a hallway and out to the east lawn. When he and his cousins had been younger, they’d played hide-and-go-seek in this section of the estate. Back then a large maze of hedges, various flowering bushes, and fountains had occupied the space, making it a perfect place to hide. Following Aunt Donna’s death, Uncle Mark had remarried and his second wife had wiped out the entire area. One of the first things Uncle Mark did once he divorced the woman was have a new garden planted. While not as elaborate as the maze that had been there, it was a nice reminder of Aunt Donna, a woman his uncle had never stopped loving. It was also a popular spot for the family to gather. During Brett’s last visit the previous year, he’d noticed Abby had once again added to the area.

Today a large white tent had been set up just past the row of rosebushes. The sides of it were pulled open, and he could see the round tables inside. At the moment, no one was using the tent. Instead his various family members we seated on the padded patio furniture and benches situated inside the garden.

“Now this is a flower garden,” Jen said softly as he pulled the French doors closed behind them.

He’d never cared much for flowers, but he knew she liked them. To someone who enjoyed gardening, this part of the estate as well as the greenhouse would be an absolute paradise. “Take your time and look around. We can check out the greenhouse too.”

Across the garden, he saw his dad and mom exchange words. Then they both stood and started toward them.

“Maybe later. Your parents are headed this way,” she answered as she took a step closer to him. “You look a lot like your mom. But you probably already know that.”

It wasn’t the first time someone had told him the same thing. He considered it a plus. His dad resembled his two older brothers. They all had the trademark Sherbrooke blue eyes and dirty-blond hair, although they all were sporting a fair amount of gray these days, especially Uncle Warren, the eldest of the bunch. Many of Brett’s cousins had inherited those same features, and it made flying under the media’s radar difficult and at times all-out impossible. He’d always had a much easier time of it thanks to the fact he’d inherited his looks from his mom’s family. His younger brother hadn’t been so lucky. Curt took after their dad, although his hair was a few shades darker. His younger sister was a nice mix of both parents.

Brett didn’t know when he’d started doing it but whenever both his parents were around, he always greeted his mom first. So, when his parents reached them, he stepped forward and hugged her before even casting a glance toward Dad.

“I hoped to see you today,” Mom said, returning his hug. “Your dad told me not to get my hopes up because you’re busy with the campaign.” She released him and looked at Jen before meeting his eyes again, her question quite obvious. Mom wanted to know who this was and why he’d never mentioned Jen before if she was important enough to bring to a family-only party.

He put an arm around Jen and looked at his parents. “You already know this, Jen, but these are my parents. Mom, Dad, my girlfriend, Jen.”

His dad’s eyebrow inched up the slightest amount. In fact, if he hadn’t been watching for a reaction, Brett would’ve missed it. Dad was wondering why Brett hadn’t mentioned Jen during any of their recent calls or meetings. He was also wondering how she might affect Brett’s campaign. Mom gave him a look that said “we’ll talk later” and then she smiled at Jen.

“It’s wonderful to meet you,” Mom said as she moved in to give Jen a hug. “I look forward to hearing how you and my son met. But first I’ll introduce you to everyone.”

Brett got the hint. Dad wanted a private word with him and he wouldn’t wait. “Thanks, Mom.” He squeezed Jen’s hand. “Go ahead. I have a few campaign updates to discuss with Dad. I’ll be right over.”

He watched Mom lead Jen toward the rest of the family. He couldn’t see her face, but he knew she’d be chatting away with Jen as if they’d always known each other. She was like that with everyone she came in contact with regardless of whether it was the barista making her latte or the governor’s wife. When the two women reached the rest of the family, Brett turned his eyes back toward Dad and waited for his questions.

“I didn’t expect you to arrive today with a date,” Dad said. “How long have you known Jen?”

“Closing in on two years. I know her brother, Keith, too.”

Both eyebrows went up this time. “I see. Does she realize the time constraints this campaign will put on you? Or how a win will affect your life?”

They hadn’t sat down and actually discussed it, but she seemed to understand. And since they’d been seeing each other, she’d never made any demands on him. “Affirmative.” He hated to lie but for now it was what Dad needed to hear.

Dad nodded slightly and looked toward where Jen stood with Mom. “You never mentioned her to your mom or me. Any particular reason?”

While Brett realized his father loved him, he didn’t always understand the decisions he made. If it been up to him, Brett would’ve attended Harvard or Yale and then joined Sherbrooke Enterprises or perhaps the financial world like his younger brother had after college. He’d been quite vocal about Brett’s decision to attend West Point and not follow the typical path of a Sherbrooke. Falling for a woman while exchanging letters and text messages would be one of those things Dad wouldn’t understand. And if it hadn’t happened to him, he wouldn’t either.

“I just wasn’t ready.” It was a simple answer and one that wouldn’t involve admitting that although they’d known each other a long time, they’d only met face-to-face this month.

Dad clapped him on the shoulder. “Well, if you brought her with you today, she must be important to you. I look forward to getting to know her better.”

By the time they joined the rest of the group, Jen was already seated next to his cousin Allison and chatting away with the other women gathered. Since Allison was there, her new fiancé must be too, however at the moment he wasn’t with the group. His cousins Jake and Trent weren’t there either, although they couldn’t be far since their wives were out here. Curt was there though, along with his girlfriend, Taylor. When he’d gone to pick up the key to Curt’s house in Newport, he’d told his brother about Jen, so at least he wouldn’t get any questions from him or Jake today. The rest of his cousins would corner him at some point before the day was out and grill him.

“I can’t believe you’ve been back a few weeks and haven’t stopped by or at least called us,” Aunt Marilyn said when she spotted him.

Dad’s only sister, Aunt Marilyn, had always been his favorite aunt, although he’d never tell anyone else that because he adored Aunt Elizabeth and had loved spending time with Aunt Donna before she passed away. Aunt Marilyn though had always been the most laid-back of the group. He didn’t know how she’d turned out like that. All three of her brothers, as well as Brett’s grandparents, were all so uptight and proper. Somehow Aunt Marilyn had managed to follow her own path.

“This campaign has taken over my life, Aunt Marilyn. I’ll try to visit soon,” he said as he mentally ran through his upcoming schedule. “I’m not sure when, but sometime in the next few weeks.”

“Only if you have the time. Don’t go out of your way to visit, but a phone call now and then would be wonderful,” she said.

“That I can definitely do,” Brett answered.

***

He spent the next few hours catching up with his family and then enjoying a long, leisurely lunch. However, when the woman began discussing color schemes and floral arrangements best suited for a spring wedding, he along with the other male members of the family split. Now Brett, his cousins, and Rock, Allison’s fiancé, were seated in the library enjoying drinks and conversations that didn’t involve whether Allison’s bridal bouquet should contain roses or not. The older male members of the family and Rock’s father had hidden themselves in Uncle Mark’s office until the debate over the best color for bridesmaid dresses ended. With so many women present and sharing their ideas, Brett knew all the men would be in hiding for a decent amount of time.

“Are you positive you want to join this family?” Brett asked. “There’s still time to run. Once you say ‘I do’ you’re stuck. There will be no turning back.”

A United States Marine, Rock was stationed in Quantico, Virginia, and Brett had gotten to know his cousin’s fiancé well. Since he already considered Rock part of the family, he had no qualms about giving the man a hard time like he would anyone else seated around them.

“It’s already too late. If I tried to run away, Allison would track me down,” Rock answered with a grim expression. An expression Brett knew was all an act. The guy adored Allison.

“Yeah, and if she didn’t, I would. And don’t forget it,” Derek said. Although he and Allison were twins and only minutes apart, Derek had always played the role of protective older brother. It drove Allison crazy. Brett figured it was part of why Derek insisted on doing it.

“Allison doesn’t need our help, and we all know it,” Trent said before looking at Rock, who was not only his sister’s fiancé but also his wife’s older brother. “But we’d still step in if the need ever came up. Which we know it won’t.”

Sometimes he felt sorry for Allison. His cousin had four brothers and all of them, even Alec who was younger than Allison, had always kept a watchful eye over her. Especially after their mom passed away. “Welcome to the family, Rock.” Brett raised his glass in a toast before he took a sip.

“So, when’s your trip to the altar going to be?” Trent asked, finally giving Allison’s fiancé a break and looking at Brett.

“Yeah, we’re going to have to add your name to the pool,” Jake said.

“My money is still on Scott,” Derek said, referring to their cousin who hadn’t made it to the party. “He and Paige will get married first.” Derek smiled as if he knew something everyone else didn’t.

Brett looked across to his brother. “I’m guessing they already added your name, little brother.”

Curt only shrugged. “First I’m hearing of this,” he said, and looked at their smiling cousin. “What do you know the rest of us don’t, Derek?”

“Scott planned to propose this weekend. Unless Paige realized she could do better, they should be engaged as of now,” Derek answered.

“Looks like you two are way behind in the running,” Trent said.

Jake put his glass down on a side table. “I don’t know, Trent. They’ve both introduced their girlfriends to the family. They might not be as far behind Scott in the race to the altar as you think.”

Trent seemed to consider Jake’s words, and Brett waited to hear what words of wisdom he’d spit out next. Trent didn’t keep him waiting long.

“Excellent point, Jake. I believe you’re right. With all these weddings coming up, maybe I should buy another tuxedo in case they plan back-to-back ceremonies.” Trent looked over at Alec, his youngest brother and the only single man in the room. “Maybe you can get in on this too. We can have one large wedding and save everyone a lot of time.”

“Allison would never go for it. And for now I’m happy being single,” Alec said. “I’ll leave the serious relationship stuff to you old guys.”

Brett had been happy single too. Over the past couple weeks though, he’d realized what he’d been missing by being alone. And he had no plans to give up what he’d found.