Love Me to Death (12 page)

“I don’t mind,” I whisper.

“It’s just hard sometimes. I love being a mom, and I absolutely adore my kids but sometimes I just need a break. I gave up my job, and Jamie doesn’t seem to understand that it’s hard sometimes. He thinks I’m just lying around, playing with the kids all day because, by the time he gets home, he only experiences a fraction of what I do. Every job that I do he could hire someone else for: cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, looking after
his
kids, and the list goes on. So when I ask for just one night off I don’t expect a lecture, I just expect a little bit of understanding!”

Ok, I’ll be honest; my sister does not fall into the category of women that whine all day. She’s actually one of the most laid back and calm people that I have ever met in my life, so I’m pretty sure this outburst goes a little deeper than just needing a night out.

“Lay, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I’m just stressed and tired. I’m sorry. I don’t want to ruin your night. I just needed to vent.”

“You’re not ruining my night. I’m your brother and you can always talk to me.”
No matter how loud and annoying that talk might be.
“Now, I’m pretty sure that I know you way better than you think. So, do you want to cut the crap and tell me what’s really going on?”

She glances at me before stopping at the red light. She takes a deep breath, closes her eyes, and then opens them.

“I’m pregnant.” Whoa.

“Ok. Does Jamie know?”

“No, I found out a couple of days ago. I’ve been preparing myself to tell him but after his behavior today, I’m not even sure I want to.”

“Ah, Sis come on, Jamie’s a good guy and he loves you. He is probably just a little stressed out right now but you know that he adores Alex and Sophie; there is no way that it’s going to be any different with this little one.”

“You think?” she asks nervously as she keeps driving.

“Of course. You just need to sit him down and let him know. He’ll understand why you’re feeling so stressed and he’ll help make things better but you need to communicate, remember?”

“Gosh, when did my little brother get so smart?” She teases.

“I learned from the best.” I smile.

“And I learned from better,” she says and I know that she’s referring to our mother. She’s silent for a moment as if she’s deep in thought. “Do you still miss her?”

“Every day.”

“Yeah, me too. If she was here now she would have made me turn the car around, tell Jamie everything, and then go out to eat afterward.” She laughs.

“Yeah, she was spontaneous like that.” I laugh, too.

“You have her smile, you know,” she says. “Sometimes I just stare at you because I can see her in you. It makes me feel like a piece of her is still here.” I stay silent. “She’s in you, you know, right here,” she says placing her hand over my heart. “You may not think it but she’d be so proud of you. Things may look rough but the truth is you’ve never once given up. Even though we’ve all put pressure on you, you never give up and I hope you never will.”

I smile because those words penetrate deep inside. “Thanks, I just wish Dad would see it that way.”

“He’ll come around one day.”

“It’s been six years.”

“Some people take longer than others. Dad loved Mom more than anything but there was a part of her that he could never understand. That was the part that stood against adversity no matter what the odds, the part that wanted to live life and take risks. She passed that down to you and he struggles with that, Bren, that’s all.”

“So, I’m supposed to sit back and just accept everything he’s done over the years.”

“That’s up to you. Mom found a way to live through it and maybe you’re just missing what she saw in him. The thing that made
her
love him even though there was a part of her he just couldn’t understand.”

We stay silent for the rest of the journey, and I’m left wondering what a beautiful woman like her could ever see in such a cruel man?

“Oh, this place is nice,” Layla says as we walk through the doors of La Vita.

“Yeah, it’s pretty neat.”

“Hello, and welcome to La Vita, is it a table for two?” The lady at the front asks.

“Yes please,” I say trying to see if I can spot Ned and Jackson anywhere.

“Follow me and I’ll take you to your table.”

“Thanks,” Layla says.

“You came at the perfect time because the tables are filling up very quickly,” the dark haired lady tells us.

“That’s good for you guys then … being busy.” Layla smiles.

“Yes, very.”

I’m not participating much as I am desperately trying to find Ned.

“It smells so good in here. I think the baby likes it,” Layla jokes. I smile down at my sister before scanning the room again and then my breath catches. There she is, sitting in the middle of the restaurant, wearing the most beautiful green dress. It’s painted onto every curve of her body and she’s sitting down. I can only imagine how good she must look standing up. Her hair is clipped up and her long neck is on display. Her finger is glistening with the biggest ring I have ever seen. Even from here I can notice the green stones that decorate it. Then she laughs; setting free that beautiful sound I’ve enjoyed over the past few days but on this occasion it is not directed at me. It’s Jackson.
I hate the feeling that gives me.
He is sitting there giggling at whatever she just said. What kind of guy giggles?
I can’t stand him.

“Earth to Brennan,” Layla says interrupting my spying.

“Huh?” I ask when I see the two women staring at me questioningly.

“The lady asked if this table was ok.”

I look at the table and realize that if we sit here I’ll hardly be able to spy on Ned and Jackson, and let’s face it we all know that’s what I came here to do.
I’m a terrible brother.

“Do you have anything a little more central?” I ask, scanning the room. “What about that one?” I ask pointing to a table only five spaces away from Ned’s. I’ll be able to see everything from there.

“Yes, that is not a problem at all, follow me.”

We do.

“Bren, is everything ok, you seem a little distracted?”

“Yeah, everything’s fine, Sis. I’m just a little tired that’s all.”

“If you’re sure?”

“I am,” I say, keeping my eyes on Ned’s table.

“Here we go,” the lady says as she seats us at the table. I peel my eyes away from Ned for a moment to focus on what she is saying. “Here are a couple of menus,” she says, handing us one each. “Would you like to order any drinks while you are deciding what to eat?”

“I’ll have your house white wine please,” I say quickly.

“I’ll have a cranberry juice,” Layla says politely.

“Not a problem, I’ll have your waitress, Michelle, bring them over.”

“Thanks,” we both say.

“Bren?” I have to look away from Ned just as she’s about to say something to Jackson because Layla is calling me
again.

“Yes?”

“Are you sure that everything is ok?”

I’m making this way too obvious.
Come on Brennan you’re an actor, sort yourself out.
“Yeah, sorry. So, how are you feeling now?”

“Much better, thanks. I think that I just needed to let it all out. I’ll talk to Jamie later.”

“I think that would be a great idea,” I say, sneaking a quick look at Ned. Their food has just arrived.

“Aren’t you going to look at the menu?” Layla asks.

“I know what I’m having.”

“Have you been here before?”

“No.”

“Then how do you know that they have what you want?” I don’t know. I just assumed that since it was an Italian restaurant it might have the same dishes as Paradiso.

“Good point,” I say. I pick up the menu and scan my eyes down the list of dishes. I spot the cannelloni first. Yes! It doesn’t take long for me to find bruschetta among their list of appetizers. The descriptions of the dishes are actually in English this time. I take a moment to read them and realize that Ned really does know Italian because her descriptions were pretty perfect.

“Yup, my dishes are here.”

“What are you having?”

“The bruschetta and cannelloni.”

Her eyes scan down the menu. “They sound nice, have you had them before?”

“Yes, at a restaurant called Paradiso.”

“Paradiso, I’ve heard of that place. It’s pretty expensive in there, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” I agree. Ned neglected to tell me that when I offered to pay the bill. It turns out that five thousand dollars can quickly decrease to four thousand when you eat in places like that. “What are you having?” I ask.

“Just lasagna. I don’t want anything that might upset my stomach so I’m playing it safe.” I nod.

Our server, Michelle, comes over with our drinks and then moves on to take our orders.

“So, what can I get for you?

I nod my head at Layla, instructing her to go first.

“I will just have the lasagna.”

“Ok, and you, sir?”

“I will have the bruschetta for starters and cannelloni for my main meal.”

“Good choice, would you like the starter to come out first?”

“No, it can all come out together,” I say.

“Are you sure? I don’t mind waiting,” Layla questions.

“No, no all together will be fine,” I tell Michelle.

“Excellent, I will send the order through for you.”

“Thank you,” Layla whispers.

My eyes find their way to Ned’s table again but she is not there. Jackson is alone. I scan the room but there is no sign of her. Perhaps she went to the restroom.

“So, I was thinking about your car,” Layla says.

“What about it?” I ask with little interest.

“Well, now that you have a job you’ll need it back.”

This catches my attention. “What?”

“Your car, you’re going to need it back,” she says.

“No way, I gave you that car so you could get around easily with Alex and Sophie. I’m hardly going to take it away just as you announce that baby number three is on the way, am I?”

“We can just buy another one, Bren.”

“No, Layla. Jamie has enough responsibilities with the kids and the mortgage, and you’re out of work right now; living in New York isn’t cheap. It’s way easier if you just keep my car. I’m a single guy and it’s a lot easier for me to just pick up a cheap car. I gave you that one because it was reliable. It was Mom’s and it never let her down.”

“Thanks.” She smiles as she grabs my hand and gives it a little squeeze. I smile at her and return the gesture. I can’t believe she thinks that I’d take the car away from her. Mom might have made Layla promise to look out for me but I think it’s time that I start looking out for her. Layla’s heart is too big and I need to protect it. That’s what brothers do even if she is seven years older … I’m still her big brother.

The sound of my phone interrupts my thoughts. I slide it out of my pocket and see a message from Ned. I can’t open it up fast enough.

Ned: Why are you here? And why are you breaking the terms of our contract AGAIN?

Me: I could ask you the same thing and what terms have been broken?

Ned: I SEE the girl and I SEE the wine, Cole!

I look up and our eyes meet. She looks madder than ever. I have to control the smile that is threatening to appear on my face. I watch her for a second more and see how distracted she looks from her conversation with Jackson.
I did that.

Me: Aren’t we observant. But guess what? I SEE the man and I SEE the wine on your table too ;)

Ned: I didn’t sign a contract!

Me: Yet, in order for my contract to work you have to follow the same rules don’t ya think?!

Ned: Go home before you get drunk. Your own home. Alone.