Jade
OUR DISCUSSION CAME to a halt as Blaze and I heard my neighbor’s car pull into the driveway. Tommy had a friend with him. His friend was not only attractive, he was someone to my surprise I recognized. It was Daniel Rosso. It had been several years, almost three to be exact, since I had seen Daniel. Seeing him now reminded me of how kind he had been to our family when my brother passed away. He felt our grief, but more importantly, he understood what haunted Jimmy.
His knowledge and understanding comforted me and helped me to move forward. I don’t know if I had ever really healed from Jimmy’s death, but Daniel helped me to place it somewhere in my heart, where it was protected. A place that allowed me to continue to live.
“Is that Daniel from the Center with your neighbor? You never mentioned that Tommy knew Daniel?” Blaze asked.
As I watched Tommy carefully assist Daniel from the car, my heart melted. That moment between Tommy and Daniel made me see that Tommy might just be the perfect person to care for and buy my parent’s old beach house.
“Jade, were you even listening to me?” Blaze questioned with a hint of persistence in her tone.
“Yes, I heard you the first time. And to answer your questions, yes, that’s Daniel from the Center and no, I didn’t know they were friends.”
“Well, at least you know how Aunt Viv was able to get the house rented without you knowing about it until now,” Blaze said.
I smirked. “Yeah, one less thing to talk with her about before dinner.”
Our conversation was interrupted by the buzz of Blaze’s phone. That meant Reece needed her. She answered with a sigh of frustration as she excused herself to appease her lover. I noticed that Daniel was sitting alone on the deck next door. He didn’t see me when they drove up and he hadn’t noticed me now, so I decided to go to him and say hello. It had been awhile since we saw each other, and after Jimmy’s funeral we had lost touch. I always liked Daniel and I felt bad that we didn’t stay connected; now I would see if that could be fixed. I walked up the stairs to the deck that Daniel was on. He turned his wheelchair slightly to see who was behind him.
He smiled warmly at me. “Jade, good to see you.”
“Hi Daniel, it’s so nice to see you too,” I stated, as I walked over and leaned down to hug him.
His arms embraced me firmly. All of those memories flooded my body and my tears escaped me.
“Hey, what’s with the tears? You're going to ruin my reputation. I never make the ladies cry.”
I stood up, wiped my eyes, and chuckled at his response to my emotions. “I don’t know why I’m crying. I’m happy to see you I guess.”
“Well, as long as they’re happy tears.” He grinned.
I nodded. “Yes, they’re happy tears. How are you?”
“I’m good. How are you? Are you still making those delicious desserts?”
“Wow, you remembered?”
“Of course, how could I forget?”
When I took them to Jimmy, I took them to everyone.
“Yeah, he always did share them with you, didn’t he?”
“Yes, he certainly did.”
“Since you brought it up, I’m now the proud owner of Summertime Sweets right here on LBI, and soon to be the owner of a newer, larger building.” I boasted teasingly to Daniel. He always loved the pastries I brought to him and Jimmy. I think sometimes he ate more than Jimmy did. That small memory made me smile.
“That’s fantastic! I’m so glad you followed through with your plans. I remember you had talked about it when you came to visit Jimmy at the Center. It’s nice to see that your dreams have come true.”
“Thank you. Are you staying for a while? You’ll have to come and see the place in person while you're here,” I said. I was excited to see Daniel. It felt great to talk with him again. For some odd reason, it made me feel like Jimmy was close by.
“I’d love to. I’ll ask Tommy to bring me by sometime this weekend.”
“I’ll make sure to have a care package ready to take home with you. Are you still at the Center or have you moved?” I was curious if Daniel left the Center.
“No, I haven’t moved. I’m teaching art therapy there now. I have my own condo on the compound,” Daniel explained.
Daniel’s statement reminded me of the fact that I wasn’t a very considerate person. Daniel was still at the Center and I had only seen him two times since Jimmy’s death. Today would make three. I can’t even remember why we lost touch. He and Jimmy had become great friends while Jimmy was there. Why hadn’t I kept in contact with Daniel? He was always so kind to me. I decided that today gave me a chance to apologize and get reacquainted with him. I hoped he would forgive me.
I looked down to collect my thoughts and get up enough nerve to give a proper apology that was a long time overdue.
“Daniel, that's great that you’re teaching and living on your own.” I hesitated and turned to get strength from the surf.
Chicken.
Daniel, sensing my hesitation said, “Jade, please don’t feel bad.”
I couldn't face him. It really hit me that I essentially moved on without a word to Daniel when Jimmy died.
“Jade, please look at me. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
That got my attention.
I turned to face Daniel slowly, baffled and surprised that he knew what I was thinking.
“How did you know?” That was all I could assemble.
He smiled a knowing smile. “After Jimmy died, I had a feeling that I wouldn’t hear from you. Viv told me that you, naturally, took it very hard, but she said that there was tension between you and your parents, and Damien, too. I knew you had a great deal on your plate. I called Viv to get updates on you. She told me you opened the dessert shoppe, but I must confess I haven’t talked to her for a while. In the last year, a lot has changed in my life as well, so I was busy dealing with that.”
I knelt in front of him and took his hands. I stared at him with a heart filled with thankfulness. He was so gracious to understand and to not hold it against me. Not everyone in my life was that understanding, except for Viv and Blaze.
My parents were the least understanding, and they said that I needed to move on. They continuously chanted that Jimmy wouldn’t want me to live the way I was living. I wasn’t living any differently than I had when he was alive. I was completely productive. I left my job as pastry chef at one of Reece’s places in the city and took my savings and the money Jimmy left for me and opened up Summertime Sweets. I bought the house that was available next to my parent’s beach home and slowly made it my own. I had also been in the process of planning my wedding with Damien. He was the one person that came to mind who I thought would have understood the most, but he was even less understanding than my parents. After a year of mourning and changing my career, I guess he had enough of my so-called defiance. When things didn’t go Damien’s way, he fucked one of my close friends.
Hmmm… he was more like Reece than I realized.
My negatives thoughts were washed away by the squeeze and jiggle of my hands. I looked at Daniel as he gave me a playful wink. He knew what I was thinking about. I knew that I would never let Daniel’s friendship drift away from me again.
“I am sorry I wasn’t a very good friend to you, but I promise right here and now that I will never let our friendship slip away again.” I smiled warmly with the hope that he believed me.
Daniel smiled back and leaned forward. “I’m going to hold you to it.”
We both laughed and turned toward the house, as the sliding door opened to display Tommy with a tray of drinks. I stood up immediately, excited to greet him.
Jade, you are far too old to be a school girl. Get a grip.
I surprised myself that my emotions heightened each time I saw Tommy. I definitely had to get them under control. I didn't want him to get the wrong idea or think I was available. I mean although I was single, I wasn’t looking for a long-term, complicated relationship with any man. I just wanted to be free to have fun. Jimmy would have been proud of me, no strings.
“Can I help you with anything?” I asked as I saw him struggle with the door and the tray. He couldn’t close the door as easily as he opened it. The truth was that door always jammed. It was nearly impossible to close it without this certain trick to loosen it up.
“Could you take this?”
I nodded and took the tray with the drinks and placed them on the patio table. I turned to see Tommy as he pulled on the door with sheer frustration. I giggled as I watched him struggle the way Jimmy had every time he closed that door. Tommy stopped what he was doing when he heard me laugh. He turned towards me and grinned before he walked over to me and leaned in close.
“Okay, smartypants, what’s so funny?” He teased.
“You.”
“Me?…Me?” he asked once and then again, but this time he directed it to Daniel, who had his hand over his mouth. Probably to screen the chuckle that was trying to escape.
“If you know so much, then you fix it.” Although Tommy seemed amused, he challenged me to fix the door.
This was one challenge I knew I would win.
I looked at both Tommy and Daniel. Daniel’s smile was playful but curious. Tommy’s grin was more of presumed satisfaction that I wouldn’t be able to release the door from its current state of damage. Boy, was he in for a surprise. I walked over and stood in the doorway, my feet straddled the threshold so that I could get a firm grip on the door as I jarred it out of its current position. I lifted it up slightly from the handle and yanked hard. There was a loud crack and then the door slid forward. I moved outside and closed it slowly with the tips of my fingers gently on the handle and pushed it shut. I turned and lifted my chin, as I walked back to my new neighbor and my old friend with a delighted, satisfied look on my face. I was completely pleased by how my tiny maneuver made the door respond.
“I guess she showed you,” Daniel said just to hassle Tommy, all in good fun, of course.
Tommy turned to Daniel, who appeared to be holding back his laughter. I laughed because of Daniel. When Tommy caught a glimpse of me from the corner of his eye and saw that I was amused, he turned his full attention to me.
“So are you going to tell us how you did that?” he asked.
“I’ll think about it.”
“Fine, don’t tell me. I’ll just knock on your door anytime I have trouble with it in the future,” he said, as he stood in front of me and waited to hear my response.
“You know where I live.”
Just as Tommy was about to respond, Blaze came racing up the stairs as if she was on fire. This couldn’t be good. Blaze ignored everyone and pulled me to her.
“He’s here.” She was out of breath and out of sorts.
“Here, as in his house, here?” I asked, but I had a feeling that is not at all what Blaze meant.
“No, here, as in your front doorstep, and here, as in Viv’s house for dinner.” She panicked as she spoke about Reece.
“Wait, you're telling me he’s at Viv’s?” I began to panic right along with Blaze.
She nodded frantically with a cryptic smile on her face.
“Shit!” It was all I could say.
“Shit is right. What do we do, now?” She looked to me for some sort of epiphany, which wasn’t about to happen, because I didn't have a clue on how to handle Reece Montgomery. I knew what he was like, and when he set his sights on something. In this case, that something being Blaze. He wouldn’t let anyone or anything, not even his health, stand in his way.
“If he’s at Viv’s, then does that mean Damien is there too?” I raised my voice slightly and looked away from Blaze to Tommy and Daniel. They didn’t say anything and tried to appear nonchalant, as not to show that they were listening. Not that they could help it, Blaze vividly exposed the situation when she made her grand entrance onto Tommy’s deck. I didn’t give Blaze a chance to answer. I felt I owed Tommy and Daniel, an apology for our behavior, and I felt it would be a good time to introduce Blaze to the both of them. I was almost positive that Blaze had met Daniel before, though.
“Tommy, Daniel, I apologize for all of this craziness. Some of us shouldn’t have brought their problems here.” I cleared my throat and cocked my head to indicate to Blaze it was her cue to apologize for her abrupt entrance and that it would be a good time for her to introduce herself.
She stopped in her tracks, paused, then recovered. She stiffly raised her hand and awkwardly said hello. “Hi, I’m Blaze, sorry for my obnoxious intrusion.”
Tommy immediately came forward to welcome her. He took her hand, which for some strange reason made me uneasy. He was being kind and I was being ridiculous. He was a single man and I was a single woman with no expectations because I didn’t want anything serious. There was no reason for me to feel this way. I just met him. This was insane. I chalked it up to being overtired and overstressed from the past week, with all the drama created by Reece and Blaze, not to mention my surprise about my parent’s house being rented out without Viv advising me on it beforehand.
“Blaze, I’m Tommy Conte. Good to meet you. I assume you know Daniel already,” Tommy said as he turned in Daniel’s direction.
“Yes, hi Daniel, it’s been awhile. How are you?” Blaze said with a smile that could make the sun melt.
“I’m good, Blaze. I’d ask you how you are, but by the sound of things I think I already have my answer.” Daniel remembered Blaze.
“Yeah, again, I’m sorry about all of this,” She said as she waved her hands aimlessly in the air. She was about to explain further, but Tommy’s introduction finally hit her.
“Wait…” She reached for Tommy’s upper arm in a flirtatious move. I would have reached for her throat if I could.
What the hell was wrong with me! No expectations, Jade, remember?
With her hand still curled around Tommy’s bicep, she questioned him further. “You said, Tommy Conte?”
Tommy nodded with a quirky smile on his face. Where was she going with this? I think everyone was intrigued.
“The photographer?” she continued.
Tommy nodded again in response to her question.
“I love your work. My company has used your services several times to acquire photographs for staging many of our properties in New York City.” She explained her presumptive action to his introduction.
“Thank you, I really appreciate the compliment.” Tommy was sincere. I had no idea he was a photographer. I wondered what else I would learn about Tommy as Blaze continued to grill him.
“What a small world; I assume by the work that needs to be done on Jade’s childhood home, you aren’t currently taking on any photography work?”
“You’re right. I’m taking a leave of absence for the time being, but my parents and my business partner have it all handled. My partner took a break for a while after having her children, so now it’s my turn.” Tommy’s business partner was a woman? Why should this surprise me?
“And you know Daniel. The world has gotten even smaller.” Now Blaze was fishing. I needed to put a stop to this and fast, yet I hesitated. I didn’t want Tommy nor Daniel to be put off by her questions, yet I learned a great deal in the past few minutes.
“Yes, Daniel’s brother is married to my childhood friend and business partner,” Tommy said, and I was surprised by that, too. Daniel never mentioned he had a brother in all the time I’d known him.
“I thought you were an only child?” Now, I was the one being nosy.
Both Daniel and Tommy grinned at each other as if they had some secret that only the two of them knew about.
“No, I’m not an only child, but I hadn’t gotten to know my brother until recently, so it was something I’ve never talked about.”
“I want to apologize on behalf of Blaze and myself,” I said to Daniel. “We should have never pried.”
He laughed and Tommy smiled, while Blaze sulked. She obviously felt like I was being ridiculous for my apology, but his personal life was not our business, especially since I hadn’t kept in close contact with him for the past few years.
“Believe me, Jade, it’s okay, but it’s a long story and not one that I can really talk about without going into enormous detail, and also one we don’t have time for right now, but I’d love to tell you about it, so why don’t we all have dinner one night soon and I’ll explain everything.” He grinned.
“We’re having dinner tonight,” Blaze interrupted.
“Blaze,” I snapped, and she closed her mouth tight.
Daniel let out a huge laugh. “I don’t think tonight would be a good idea. Let’s take one drama at a time, shall we?” He was referring to Blaze and her issues with Reece.
“So, while we are on the subject, and if you don’t mind me asking, what is all the drama you ladies are dealing with at the moment?” Tommy jumped in.
“Blaze is having boyfriend problems.”
“Thanks for making it sound so juvenile,” Blaze said, directing to me.
“That’s because it is.” I justifiably smirked, but I looked at Tommy; he was already staring at me. I looked down. Strangely, my shyness when I was around him hadn’t dissipated after our original introduction.
Just as Blaze was about to explain what had happened in the last few days, a familiar voice called out her name from my garden. It was Reece. He’d probably tried the bell and when neither of us answered, he decided to walk around back and intrude. Or maybe, knowing Reece, he just barged in and didn’t ring my bell at all. Anyhow, there he was, fully recuperated by his standards and calling out for Blaze.
Blaze made her apologies and headed down the stairs of Tommy’s deck to cross over onto my patio. It was only a matter of time for Reece to come and look for Blaze. He probably got an earful from Aunt Viv and decided that he would make an excuse to go find her. Tommy, Daniel, and I approached the side of the deck to watch as Blaze went to Reece. He had a huge bouquet of red roses and a bottle of champagne. She jumped into his awaiting arms.
“Oh no…clearly, she doesn’t want a serious relationship with him, not at all,” I stated, snidely. Both men turned their heads and looked at me, but said nothing. They knew exactly what I meant.
I decided to head back to my house to get the desserts for later. I told Tommy and Daniel that I would meet them over there in about an hour. I was initially relieved to see that Reece was alone. I thought that meant he took it upon himself to get a ride down here with his driver or a car service, but when I cleared Tommy’s stairs and headed to mine I could see that Damien was in the car. He must have surmised that it would not be the best idea to wait inside of my house.
Unfortunately, Damien saw me too and awkwardly waved. I stood still for a moment. I didn’t know whether I should pretend he didn’t exist or if I should address him. I decided I had better deal with him now while he was alone. I imagined that if he was back here on the East Coast, Courtney wasn’t too far behind. I walked over to the convertible that I had assumed he’d rented. I didn’t know of Reece or Damien owning one. Reece rarely drove his car. He had a full-time driver and Damien always drove a four-wheel drive vehicle, like me, so that he could get easily on and off the beach.
As soon as he saw that I would talk with him, he got out of the car to meet me half way. He came close, to kiss my cheek. I was surprised that my skin didn’t crawl like it had in the past when I met him. Now was not the time to negatively reminisce. Now was the time to find out how long he planned to be here, and what he was doing about keeping his father on a short leash.
“Thank you for calling me the other night,” he said after his hello kiss.
“It’s fine. Actually, your dad made me call you. He said you wouldn’t have answered if it was him.”
Damien chuckled. “Yeah, he’s right. We only talk when there’s a concern with the business.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Although I had no reason to feel bad for Damien, I knew that Reece was his only family and family was very important to me. Regardless of the ill feelings between us, I hated to see that he and his dad were still not repairing their relationship.
“You know how he is. He won’t stop with his demands on how my life should be.”
“You mean who should be in your life,” I remarked.
“Yeah, he just won’t let us go,” Damien said with an exhausted sigh. Reece never liked Courtney, and he certainly didn’t approve of how his son and Courtney became a couple. He voiced his opinion on the subject every chance he got. That was the main reason why Damien moved to Napa Valley. That, and the fact that with everything that happened between us, he felt it necessary to distance himself. Although he still helped run his dad’s business out there. I was glad when he left. It made a very complicated and heartbreaking situation slightly easier for me.
I smirked. “He pulled that same garbage with me at the hospital.”
“How did you get him to stop?” he asked.
“I threatened not to call you.” I smiled.
Damien laughed. “You always had a way with him.”
“Well, I don’t know about that,” I said, modestly.
“Trust me… you do,” he whispered.
I had to admit that when I saw Damien just now, I thought I would have had a flood of emotions, from hate to sadness, even maybe some small attraction. Yet, it wasn’t like that at all. I didn’t feel anything, good or bad. I wondered if I was still numb. Whatever it was that I was feeling, I hoped it held up until Damien left. My thoughts were broken when Reece decided to join the conversation.
“Well, well, well, I knew I would find you two together,” the voice of doom echoed, as he came up from behind us.
“It’s not what your mind thinks it is,” I said, turning to acknowledge his error in judgment.
“Then what is it, Jade? Do enlighten me. You two belong together, and once you both realize it, life as we know it will finally get back to normal.”
“Why don’t you worry about your own love life, old man, instead of sticking your nose in where it doesn’t belong,” Damien injected with some visible resentment.
“Ignore him, Jade. You and Damien will be back together sooner rather than later, if I have anything to say about it,” Reece persisted.
“I’m going to tell you this for the last time. Damien and I will never be together again. And for your information, you don’t have a say in this matter. This is my life, and no one gets to have a say in it, but me. Who I decide to be with in the future is my business and mine alone. Do I make myself clear?”
Reece didn’t answer me. He addressed his son.
“I can't believe you gave Jade up so easily for that bitch you are warming your sheets with.”
Our anger erupted, causing footsteps to pound the stairs and stop short in front of us.
“What the hell happened? I can hear you guys from upstairs,” Blaze asked, breathlessly.
“Your boyfriend is what happened.”
Oops!
“Boyfriend? What the hell are you talking about?” They hadn’t talked to Damien yet. I thought they had because Damien drove Reece all the way down here, and yet, instead of going to their home, they were at mine. I assumed he knew, but I guess my assumption was wrong. Both Blaze and Reece fell silent. I guess if I was the one who opened my big mouth, then I should be the one to elaborate on the situation.
“Damien, your dad and Blaze are sleeping together. They have been for months.” There, I said it. I didn’t want to be the one to tell him, but he had to be told. Now it was up to Reece to put it all into perspective for Damien.
Damien stepped in front of me to confront both Blaze and Reece.
“When were you both going to tell me?” Damien was eerily calm.
“We hadn’t said anything to you before, because we weren’t sure where all of this was headed.” Reece approached Damien with caution.
“Do both of you know where this relationship is headed now?” he asked.
“Don’t be condescending.” Reece seriously advised his son to back off.
Blaze cut in before Damien could respond. “Maybe now, outside in front of Jade’s neighbors, isn’t really a good time or place to have this discussion. Not to mention the fact that Reece, you are supposed to be recovering from a heart attack, or did you forget?”
“No darling, I didn’t forget. I just want my son to understand that I don’t appreciate his tone.” Reece’s words became tight as he spoke to Blaze, yet his statement wasn’t directed at Blaze. It was directed at his son.
“You’re telling me that you don’t appreciate the way I speak to you? You must be joking. What about the way you have spoken to me for the last few years?” His son asked, but that wasn’t truly a question. They were more like comparisons. In some ways, Damien and Reece were mirror images of each other and, in other ways, they were complete opposites.
“I want what’s best for you, Damien. Even if you can’t see that. I’ve been trying to show you what a mistake it was for you to leave Jade…”
I needed to stop this now.
“Reece, that’s enough!” I yelled to the point that I not only had complete silence but their undivided attention, as well.
I softly spoke to him with the hope that he would understand what I was about to tell him.
“Listen to me. For once, Reece, just listen to me. What happened between me and Damien was years ago, but now it’s over. We had so much good and then it all went bad. It wasn’t completely Damien’s fault. I was to blame as well. I let Jimmy’s death consume me back then. It took me away from Damien more and more every day. And when that happened, he looked elsewhere for his happiness. And because of that, I’m sorry to say I can never trust Damien again. I don’t blame him anymore for what happened, but I’m not now, nor will I ever be, in a place in my life where I want to revisit the past with him again. I know you hoped we would be together, but that will never happen. For the last time, please understand and respect my feelings.”
I went to let go, but Reece pulled me forward to him. He let go of my hands and placed his arms around me. Then he held me at arm’s length to assess me further.
“Okay, you both have my word, no more meddling in your future. Jade, I’m sorry. I just want what’s best for you and Damien.”
Although Reece sounded sincere enough, I decided to reserve my judgment until he proved that he would not involve himself in my life, or even Damien’s life, as he has in the past. If he proved that he was done playing matchmaker, then maybe I would believe him completely.
All of us at once realized it was getting late and that it was time for Blaze, Reece, and myself to head over to Aunt Viv’s for dinner. Damien explained that Viv extended the dinner invitation to him. He said he would cancel if it were to be too uncomfortable for me, but I told him that it was fine. Blaze thought I lost my mind, and Reece showed a small hint of enjoyment when he found out that Damien was going to join us. I had a strange feeling that Reece was not at all finished with his plan to get me and Damien back together, but unfortunately for him, I had a plan of my own.
I went upstairs to get the desserts, leaving Tommy’s box home for now. Perhaps once dinner ended, I could walk out with Tommy to let him know that I had some sweets from the shoppe for him.