Bulls Island (33 page)

“Want a beer?” J.D. asked.

“No, but I think a glass of wine might be the ticket. I think I earned it.”

“Maybe two.”

We walked into the airport’s watering hole, and who was sitting there on a bar stool all alone? None other than Vinny.

He turned and saw us, then turned away. I went straight up to him and stood right in his line of vision.

“Whatcha drinking, Vinny? Can I buy you a bona fide mint julep and a glass of Huge Apology and Forever in Your Debt on the side?”

He looked up and down and then at J.D. Then he looked back to me and smiled. Naturally, he turned to me and naturally he tried as hard as he could to look irresistible.

“Ah, Betts. Where’d you get that hair?”

“Swimming.”

“What’s to be done about Betts McGee?”

“Be my friend, Vinny. Every gal needs a true friend like you.”

“I always was your friend. Always had a soft spot for magnolias, you know.” He turned to J.D. “You must be J. D. Langley.”

“I am indeed.” J.D. stepped forward to shake Vinny’s hand.

I said to Vinny, “My son is J.D.’s boy. Sort of an engagement baby.” Then I turned to J.D. “Vinny and I dated for a while.”

“And the truth will set you free,” J.D. said. “What are you drinking, Vinny?”

Vinny looked long and hard at us and said, “Dinner.”

Who could fault that choice, given the last twenty-four hours?

We talked for a few minutes and finally Vinny said, “So, Betts? Are you coming back to New York?”

“Well, I’ll be in New York for Bruton’s funeral and then I guess
I’m coming back here for a while at least, depending on what happens with the Bulls Island project. What are your plans?”

“Don’t worry about Vinny,” Vinny said. “I got more plans than time.” He looked at his wristwatch. “I gotta go to my gate.”

“Hey, Vinny?” I said. “I owe you.”

“You don’t owe me nothing,” he said. “Just plant one right here.” He pointed to his cheek. I stood on my toes to give him a solid kiss. “Take care of her, J.D. Don’t make me come back down here and start that war all over again!”

“Don’t you worry. I will take excellent care of her.” J.D. shook his hand soundly.

I loved hearing J.D.’s sentiments, however premature they might be. We watched Vinny walk away.

“He’s got some swagger,” J.D. noted.

“Hey, that’s Vinny Braggadocio.”

“And just what does
that
mean?”

“He is one hundred percent Eyetalian good old boy!”

“I think I understand,” J.D. said. “Come on, let’s check Adrian’s flight.”

It had arrived and we went quickly over to the security area where he would be coming out. A few very exciting minutes passed, then I spotted him before he saw us. My heart was in my throat.

“That’s him,” I said to J.D. “That’s him in the blue sweater. The tall lanky one.”

“Oh my God,” J.D. breathed. “That’s my boy.”

Adrian ran up to me, giving me a bear hug. Then he stood back and looked at J.D.

J.D. said, “Son? I’d know you anywhere. Come here!” J.D. was hugging Adrian’s neck so hard I thought it might snap, but then he dropped his hold, choked up with tears, and covered his face with his hands.

“Mom?” Adrian was blushing and thoroughly confused.

“Adrian? I don’t know what to say or how to say this, but…this is your father, J. D. Langley. You’ll probably have a few questions.”

B
ACK AT MY CONDO,
after a lot of rapid conversation, and before the hour grew too late, we called Daddy and Joanie to say we were all right and asked if they could meet us at Sela’s Sunday night for dinner at six. They said yes, of course, and I gave them the facts about the accident, as I knew them, leaving the details about Valerie and Adrian’s arrival for another time. Joanie wanted to know if Cam could come and I said absolutely, yes. I was sure there would be more information about the accident the next day and we finally said good night.

Then J.D. called his parents and got an earful of Valerie’s long sad tale of woe. No one cared about Valerie’s weeping and moaning and that was exactly what made her long tale truly sad. But yes, they said, they would meet us at Sela’s for dinner, too. Six o’clock. And by the way, would they bring Mickey and Rosie? Well, why not, they said, unsure of why but suspecting J.D. had something up his sleeve.

The night didn’t end until almost two in the morning, with J.D. on the sofa bed, Adrian in the guest room, and me staring at the ceiling in my room for hours. I didn’t care that I couldn’t sleep. I really didn’t want to sleep, as I was struggling to remember every detail for a memoir I planned to write someday. Surely this story was worth a book?

Morning finally came, and the day that ensued was a logistical nightmare. First, we had to get the county coroner to sign off on Ben Bruton’s certificate of death in order to release his body to Carol. The entire incident was still under investigation as a crime scene and his body was technically evidence. But given the strength
of the fact that no crime had been committed and Ben’s high-profile stature, the judge was very agreeable and signed the necessary papers.

Then there was the sorrowful task of putting him on the plane. J.D., Ed, Adrian, and I all met at the airport. Doug Traum brought in the largest plane the company had at its disposal, but it barely had room for Ben’s casket. We all hugged and kissed Carol, and J.D. and I offered to take the ride with her, knowing how horrible it would be for her to be on that plane with her husband’s remains. But she was resolute in her refusal, saying that with Traum, Pinkham, and McGrath at her side she would be fine.

“He looked so peaceful, you know? He was so good,” she said. “I’m okay. Really I am.”

“As soon as the arrangements are made, please let us know,” I said.

“Depend on it,” Traum said. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”

I knew he meant that he was thinking about the project and wavering about a decision to pull out. I would call him first thing.

After that horrible task was done, we were all feeling the blues.

“I’ve got to get back to work,” Ed said.

“Right,” J.D. said. “Well, I guess I’ll follow Betts and Adrian to the phone store.”

“Drowned my phone,” I told Adrian.

“It’s okay. It was for a worthy cause,” Adrian said.

“I love this kid!” J.D. declared.

After I had a new cell in my hands and we were back at the condo, J.D. made an announcement.

“I’m leaving home,” he said. “I’m moving in here.”

“When I go back to school, you can have my room,” Adrian said innocently.

“And you’re going back on Tuesday, probably with me,” I said. “And, J.D., I think you moving in here is something we might want to, I don’t know, discuss?”

“I’m giving Rosie and Mickey my house.”

“Well, that’s very generous of you, but what about Valerie?”

“I’ll move all her stuff to the caretaker’s cottage and give her a cash settlement. Listen, whatever, I’ll work that out.”

“J.D.? Good. You work that out. But, no. You’re not moving in here. I’ll find you a condo nearby or something downtown, but we’re not living together until everything is settled. It’s too much. Besides, who said I was staying? This condo is on loan.”

“Oh,” he said, “okay.” He looked at the floor and then back to me. “Right. Well then, can I stay for a night or two?”

“Yes, on the couch.” I looked at Adrian and giggled. “He’s really forceful, isn’t he?”

“You two are so weird! What’s the rest of my family like?”

“The rest of the family? You know those dioramas at the Museum of Natural History with the cavemen?” I said. “Dragging their women around by their hair?”

“Well, that’s a gross exaggeration,” J.D. put in, “but when you throw us all in one room, an anthropologist can have a field day. You’ll see. Especially my mother.”

“Especially my
sister,
your aunt Joanie. I’d better call Sela and warn her.”

“Good idea. So, Adrian, want to drive out to the plantation with me to get some clothes and things? Plus I gotta get Goober and Peanut.”

“Dogs?”

“Not just dogs. They’re my best friends.”

“Can I go, Mom?”

“Why not? It’s your ancestral home, too. Sort of. I’ll see you two at Sela’s? Six o’clock. Don’t be late, okay?”

“Deal.” J.D. nodded. “Can I have a key?”

“Adrian can have a key. You may not have a key.”

I got an extra key from the drawer and threw it to Adrian.

“Don’t let him make a copy,” I told him.

“Right,” Adrian said, and smiled.

I watched them walk down the steps toward J.D.’s truck and they looked like a “junior” and “senior” if ever there was a picture of one. My heart was so filled with an undeserved happiness. I wanted one more date with a crying towel, but I shook my head and denied myself the indulgence.

In the first place, it was rather miraculous that neither J.D. nor Adrian had screamed his head off at me for keeping him in the dark about the other’s existence…but maybe my day of reckoning was yet to come.

Move in with me? There were other looming monsters to be slain first. Louisa, for one. I couldn’t wait to see the look on Louisa Langley’s face when she saw Adrian. I knew Big Jim would adore him, but Louisa was another matter. Daddy would love Adrian, too. Perhaps Adrian was just what Daddy needed to take a new interest in life. And Joanie? Well, she was a crackpot. Who knew how she would react?

But J. D. Langley was not moving in with me. Period. Well, maybe comma. But I was determined to take any and all steps related to deciding my future slowly. Very slowly.

I wasn’t prepared to decide my entire future on the turn of a tide. Too much had happened in too short a time, and each incident that had occurred and each decision needed careful consideration. And as far as I knew, I still had a job in New York and a home as well.

Yes, Adrian deserved a father and a family. But I was holding back until we all adjusted to the new realities.

I called Sela.

“You’re my first call on my new phone,” I said.

“Girl? How? Are? You? Doing?”

“Oh, Sela, Sela! It’s been one helluva twenty-four hours, hasn’t it?”

“Ed said you’re bringing the whole gene pool for dinner? I’m closing the door to the public. It’s a private party tonight, but you’re going to have to eat a lot of pigs in blankets, you know.”

“Sela? Adrian’s here.”

“No. Way. For real?”

“I’m getting dressed and coming straight over. I’ll help you set up.”

“I’d better do inventory on the bar. Gonna be a big night. Sandi’s here, by the way, with one of Ed’s hunkier specimens. They’re folding napkins. Her coat’s shiny.”

“Sela? You are so bad!”

It wasn’t long before I arrived at O’Farrell’s, Sela and I were caught up, and everyone began to drift into the restaurant.

J.D. took me aside before we all sat down and said, “Listen, Doug Traum called as soon as they landed at Teterboro. Carol Bruton feels very strongly that she wants Bulls Island to go forward, especially since it was Ben’s last project. Traum is putting up two million in Ben’s honor to build a park in his name and another million to dedicate the dock to Smitty. And here I thought the guy was a big blowhard…”

“See? You never know. That’s wonderful!”

I kept Adrian by my side as each person was introduced to him.

Joanie said to me in a whisper, “I knew it, you know,” referring to the existence of my son.

I said, “I know, Joanie. Remember?”

Then she turned to Adrian and blew my mind. “Well, you certainly are a handsome young man, Adrian. Welcome to the family! Daddy and I can’t wait to get to know you!”

Wait a minute, I thought. Was that
Joanie
? Who kidnapped my sister and replaced her with a nice person? Then I had an epiphany. Joanie was sleeping with Cam! Sex had caused a personality change!

Daddy was an angel to Adrian.

“Oh, my dear boy! Look at you! You are the spitting image of your father, but you have your grandmother’s dimples! What a joy it is to know you! What a joy!”

“Now don’t hog my grandson, Vaughn! Let’s let your paternal
grandfather look at you!” Big Jim held Adrian’s chin up to the light. “Ah, yes, he’s a Langley all right. Look at that patrician profile!”

Then came the aria of Sweet Louisa the Diva from the sidelines.

“I demand a DNA test before I will even consider changing my will,” she said.

“Oh, come on, Mother!” J.D. said. “All’s well that ends—”

“I’ll be the judge of that,” she sniffed.

I was so stunned by her rudeness that I wanted to slap her. But Adrian surprised us all by saying, “Suits me.”

“It does?” I said.

“Heck, yeah. What do I care? Don’t you think I’d like to be sure, too?”

Big Jim stepped forward and took Louisa by the arm, and for the first time in his entire existence and for everyone to hear, he said, “Louisa? Why don’t you learn to shut your arrogant damn mouth? Step away from my grandson. You poison his air.”