Loving Gigi (22 page)

“I don’t understand.”

“And you won’t until you learn that love is not all roses and poems. It’s beautifully, painfully more complex than that. And love cannot take root in a heart full of anger. I don’t regret a single day I spent with your father. I hope you can one day say the same about whoever you choose.”

With that her mother returned to rolling pasta. Gigi asked Leora about adding oregano to the sauce on the stove and they discussed the recipe she was making as if they hadn’t just gone into and come out of the most honest conversation they’d ever had.

*     *     *

“What do you
think of this stone?” Kane asked as he held up a four-carat, flawless brilliant cut diamond for his father to inspect.

His father studied it through a jeweler’s loupe. “It’s beautiful, even if it’s a bit premature. Shouldn’t you wait until you and Gigi are back together before you buy an engagement ring?”

“You’re the one who says the only good plan is the one you prepare for.”

“Yes,” his father admitted wryly. “But I don’t know if it’s possible to plan when it comes to matters of the heart.”

“What’s the worst thing that happens? She never sees it. Nick made a good point. I should have it if I need it.”

Thom’s eyes widened as he held the diamond out to Kane. “Nick Andrade? He’s giving you relationship advice now?”

Kane paused mid-retrieval. “Said like that, it sounds bad. He’s come a long way, Dad.”

His father made an amused grimace. “You know I’ve always considered the Andrade boys to be my other sons. And Nick actually is one now. He and Rena are perfect for each other, but are you sure he’s qualified to guide you when it comes to relationships?”

Kane picked up another diamond to inspect. “Three years ago I would have said no, but Nick wants Gigi to be happy as much as I do. We’re planning an event that will show Gigi how much they care about her and possibly open the door for me to present this.” Kane held up the stone in the diamond tweezers. “We’re calling it Operation Trust.”

“How does Gio feel about this?”

“You know how he is.”

“You haven’t told him.”

“I will, Dad, but not yet. Our plan has a lot of variables, and Gio wouldn’t handle that well. It’s better to tell him once we have the details cemented.”

His father sat back and folded his arms across his chest. “So, you’re secretly planning for a way to win Gigi’s trust?”

“Exactly.”

“You don’t see the irony of that?”

“Dad, I love Gigi. This was the only acceptable way I could show her. Who knew that getting a woman to marry you was a hundred times more complicated than getting her to sleep with you?”

His father opened his mouth to say something, then shut it with a snap. “Will you promise me something?”

“I’ll take this one,” Kane told the jeweler who had been perfectly still, seemingly trying to blend into the background. “Have your designer call me. This ring needs to be perfect.” Kane turned to his father. “Anything, Dad. You know that.”

“Run this whole plan by your mother before you go forward with it. She may have suggestions on how to tweak it.”

“I think we have everything covered, but it’s not a bad idea to get a woman’s perspective from someone I trust.” Kane stood and stretched. “I’ve got to get back to the office now. How are you handling being retired again?”

“Good. I don’t imagine it will last, though. Sounds like you’ll be preoccupied very soon.”

Kane smiled widely. “I hope so, Dad. I really hope so.”

‡

“A
re we there
yet?” Annelise joked from her place beside Gigi in the chauffeured sedan.

“Not yet,” Gigi said lightly.

“How about now?”

“No.”

“Now?”

Gigi chuckled and threw a napkin at Annelise. “Will you stop? I’m wound up enough without you pushing me over the edge.”

Annelise opened her purse, took out a compact, and checked her makeup. “I don’t see why you’re nervous. You’ve met your uncles before.”

Gigi folded her hands on her lap and hoped she looked more confident than she felt. “Yes, but we didn’t say much. Kiss. Kiss. Nice to meet you. Glad you’re here. That kind of thing.”

“But today we’re going to rough them up until they tell us what you want to know?”

Gigi chuckled, then sobered and looked out the car window. “I didn’t know it was possible to admire someone and still be ashamed of them. I feel like the worst daughter on the planet. I tell myself it’s not my place to judge my mother’s decisions. I remind myself how much she’s done for me, and I want to be okay with what she did, who she chose to be with. But as soon as I started to get serious about Kane, I felt this wall go up inside me. I’d rather be alone, than become my mother. My mother says I’ll never be happy while I’m holding on to my anger. And she’s right. More than anything, I want to put it aside, but I don’t know how. I’m hoping my uncles know something that will help.”

Annelise reached out and took one of Gigi’s hands in hers. “That’s a lot of pressure to put on one conversation.”

Gigi met her friend’s eyes. “Don’t make me start second guessing myself. I’m already asking myself if this is a good idea. I’m getting along with my brothers. I’m reasonably well adjusted. Things aren’t great, but they’re good enough. Maybe I should leave it at that.”

Giving Gigi’s hand a supportive squeeze, Annelise said, “We’ve come too far to chicken out now. You need to stop thinking you’re the little girl this family didn’t know existed. When you talk to your uncles, be the strong, independent woman I started a business with. When you set your mind to something, you make it happen. This is no different. If you want answers, don’t leave until you get them.”

Gigi nodded. “You’re right. Although lately I’ve begun to doubt even the business side of myself. Did I tell you I contacted six places I’d heard had my mother’s items and not one of them would negotiate a price with me? Four said they had already sold them but wouldn’t disclose to whom. And the remaining two wouldn’t answer my calls. I’m zero for ten, and it’s becoming discouraging. You’d think having money would open doors for me, but it hasn’t.”

Their car slowed at a large gate, then pulled through and up a long driveway. An impressive mansion sat atop a small hill in the middle of acres of manicured grass. There was more than one gym set. Children’s toy vehicles were scattered around the lawn. The door of the home flew open as the car came to a stop at the bottom of the stone steps.

Still tall and well built for his age, Alessandro rushed down the stairs to open the door for Gigi. His petite auburn-haired wife, Elise, was smiling as she followed him.

As soon as Gigi stepped out of the car, she was swept from her feet into a bone-crushing hug. Her uncle swung her around as if she were a child.

“Gigi, your phone call made my day. I can’t tell you how happy hearing from you makes me.”

From beside him, Elise said, “Alessandro, put poor Gigi down. She’s still getting to know us.”

He did, and Gigi adjusted her clothing, saying politely, “It’s okay. I’m happy to see you, too, Uncle Alessandro.” She stepped forward and gave Elise a kiss on the cheek. “You, too, Aunt Elise. Your home is beautiful.”

Gigi turned around to introduce Annelise and laughed when she saw that Alessandro was giving her an equally boisterous greeting. “Annelise, meet Uncle Alessandro. Uncle Alessandro, this is my best friend in the whole world, Annelise Douglas.”

Alessandro set Annelise back onto her feet and brought his wife closer to meet her. “We’ve heard a lot about you, Annelise.”

Still laughing from being swung around, Annelise asked, “You have?”

Elise offered her hand to Gigi’s friend. “You’ve been the topic of dinner conversations. Everyone who has met you adores you. Thank you for being so good to our Gigi.”

From beside her, Alessandro added, “Just hug them both, Elise. You know you want to.”

Elise looked at her husband and then back at Gigi and Annelise. “He’s right. I do, but I know it takes time to be comfortable around new people, even if they’re related to you.”

There was such warmth emanating from her aunt and uncle that Gigi gave in to an impulse. She wrapped her arms around her aunt and gave her a long, tight hug.

When Gigi released her, Annelise did the same then joked, “I’m not even a hugger normally.”

Elise wiped happy tears from around her eyes. “I’m sorry, it’s just so good to have you here. We’ve waited so long.” She collected herself and started up the steps. “Come, you didn’t come all this way to spend the day in the driveway. We have a wonderful brunch planned. Richard is cooking today. He’s making my grandmother’s sauce with Alessandro’s mother’s meatballs. And a fruit crostata for dessert. You’ll each go home five pounds heavier, but it’s heaven.”

In a slight panic, Annelise whispered to Gigi, “I didn’t know we were eating here. You know I can’t do carbs. How do I not offend them?”

Gigi started to answer, but her aunt stopped and turned. “Annelise, you eat what you want to. I’ll make sure there is salad, too. But, you are a stunning woman, don’t starve yourself into a size your body doesn’t want to be. Real men like a little padding, don’t they, Alessandro?”

“You are more beautiful every year we’re together, Elise,” Alessandro said, giving his wife a sexy smile and a wink.

Gigi looked at Annelise to gauge her reaction to the open flirtation from the older couple, and they both started laughing. They weren’t mocking Alessandro and his wife; it was joyful laughter that came from witnessing something beautiful and fun.
That’s what I want. What I need as much as any zing.

Elise sent Alessandro ahead of them to make sure the parlor was set with finger sandwiches and drinks. When he was out of earshot, she adjusted her loose curls and said, “The day you get engaged, Gigi, I’ll give you the talk my mother gave me.” Annelise rounded her eyes comically and Elise added, “You, too, Annelise. Every woman should learn from the generation before. The young think they invented love and sex, but you would not be here if that were true, yes?”

Gigi chuckled again. Even though she had held back a hug until she was sure her niece would be comfortable, Elise didn’t hold her opinions back.

With a mischievous glint in her eyes, Annelise said, “I’d love some tips.”

Elise led the way through the large foyer. “Not until you’re engaged, Annelise. We don’t waste family secrets on lovers whose names you won’t remember later. Use a condom. Be safe. We’ll talk when you’ve found the man you intend to spend the rest of your life with.”

Annelise’s jaw dropped open, and she whispered again, “I think she’s serious.” When Elise glanced over her shoulder, Annelise giggled like a guilty child. “And her hearing is exceptional.”

Gigi nodded with a smile. “That won’t be for a while, Aunt Elise.”

Elise stopped at the entry to the parlor. “You never know, Gigi. Love has a way of surprising all of us.”

Gigi didn’t have time to reflect on Elise’s comment. Uncle Victor and his wife, Katrine, were in the parlor and stood and came over as soon as they spotted Gigi. They each hugged her. When Gigi introduced Annelise to them there was just the briefest of awkward moments as if they were sizing each other up.

Annelise threw out her arms and gave each of them a hearty embrace that put smiles on their faces. She mouthed to Gigi, “When in Rome.” And Gigi couldn’t suppress the huge smile that spread across her face.

Gigi looked around. Although she was happy about it, she was also surprised to see that her uncles and aunts were the only others in the room. During the month she’d been in the States she’d realized inviting one Andrade often meant ten. Inviting ten meant fifty. Anything called a family gathering was well over a hundred. “Is it just us today?”

“Sit. Sit,” Alessandro said then addressed her question after everyone was seated. “We told the family to come this afternoon. When you called it sounded as if you wanted to talk. That can be difficult once the house fills up.

Katrine leaned over toward Annelise. “Do you like to cook?”

Annelise made a face and said cautiously, “In theory.”

Elise nodded and also stood as if saying she agreed with what Katrine was doing. “You have to meet Richard. My son-in-law is arguably the best chef in North America. In five minutes of watching him you will learn more than you would in a year of cooking classes.”

With a straight face, Annelise asked, “Am I allowed to? Are you sure I shouldn’t wait until I’m engaged? What if I use what I learn to feed men I won’t remember?”

Katrine cocked her head at her in confusion.

Elise cackled and linked arms with Annelise. “You’re funny. I like that. And you’re still single? Katrine, what about Tino’s son? Did he break up with his girlfriend? He’s her age.”

Katrine and Elise flanked Annelise as they walked out of the room. “I can’t see her with Tino. How about Sal’s boy? He doesn’t speak English, but that has its benefits, too. Love doesn’t require translation.”

Annelise glanced back at Gigi one final time. She was laughing, but she mouthed, “Help me.”

Gigi put up her hands in an apologetic gesture that showed she didn’t know how. Once they were alone, Gigi turned back toward her uncles. For the first few minutes she fielded simple questions with ease. They discussed the private plane she’d used to fly over. Although they didn’t seem to like that she and Annelise had checked into a hotel, they didn’t push her to change her mind and stay with family.