One Sure Thing (Mamma Lou Matchmaker Series) (32 page)

Raymond nodded his head in complete agreement but remained silent and pensive.

Crescent Island would always be his second home. He was raised here and, like Tony, would always call it home. Wistfully Raymond’s thoughts went to Hope. She would love this place and also call it her home someday.

It had been just two days but already it seemed like a lifetime. The connection of Hope’s absence in his life, the emptiness he felt, and the desire to bring her home to Crescent, instantly brought a brooding scowl to his face.

Tony looked over to Raymond. "I know that look," he simply stated. Raymond responded by kneeling down and picking up a smooth stone. He rolled it around in the palm of his hand for a few moments than looked out across the Bay to the bright red sun setting in the west. Tony smiled patiently.

Raymond was a tortured and troubled man. He tossed the stone and watched it skip across the stilled water until it finally sank deep, mirroring the depths of his own sorrow. He watched as the rippled circles expand until they grew reaching out to the outer banks then disappeared into the lapping water on the sandy beach. He shook his head as if to surrender to the weighted emotions within his heart.

“Married life must appeal to you and the news of your pending fatherhood is wonderful. I couldn’t be happier for you.”

“Thanks man. It was a big surprise when Madison told me. I just hope I can be half the father our fathers are.”

Raymond nodded his head in agreement. “I must say cuz, I’ve never seen you look so deliriously happy.”

Tony turned to watch the sun sparkle around Madison as she walked to the gardens with Kennedy and Mamma Lou. She was as beautiful now as she had been the first moment he’d laid eyes on her. “I truly am. Madison is still the most incredible woman I’ve ever met. I can’t imagine my life without her.”

“Well, you almost had to.”

Tony thought back to the time leading up to their relationship. He was a fool and because of his arrogance, had almost missed out on the precious thing in his life. “I still can’t believe what a fool I was.”

“I can,” Raymond joked as Tony swung at him playfully.

“All because I refused Mamma Lou’s matchmaking.” Tony shook his head at the near missed possibility. “I don’t know what I would have done if Madison turned me down.”

“You would have persisted until she accepted you proposal.”

Tony nodded. That’s exactly what he would have done. “So, what’s Mamma Lou been up to with you? Has she been driving you crazy.”

“No, not me.” Tony’s brow rose.

“That’s odd. I thought surely you were next in her sights.”

“Mamma Lou met a woman when she was in the hospital. She was her ER physician. Dr. Hope Adams. I think she’s been concentrating on matching her up.”

“Really.”

“Yeah, really.” Tony’s brow rose at hearing Raymond’s disturbed tone.

“You don’t sound all that pleased with Mamma Lou’s latest quest. I would think you’d be ecstatic that she’s concentrating on someone else and not trying to hook you up with someone.” Tony looked at Raymond. His expression betrayed his troubled thoughts.

Raymond scratched at his head roughly. The annoyance of hearing the words did little to assuage his feelings. On one hand Mamma Lou wasn’t after him to marry any longer, but, on the other hand, she was after Hope to marry. “The thing is Hope is an incredible woman. She’s a brilliant doctor, compassionate, caring, and attentive. She’s funny, graceful, and classy, in a down to earth kind of way. She’s patient, and generous, and she cries when a young man dies in her arms. And,” Raymond smiled remember his time with Hope, “she’s got a laugh that could brighten up Purgatory.”

“She sounds like the perfect woman.”

Raymond laughed openly, “She’s far from perfect. She’s also stubborn, persistent, pig-headed, and won’t listen to a word I say without at least fifteen minutes of heated debate.”

“So she doesn’t take any of your crap. Sounds like she’s got you pegged already.”

Raymond looked at his cousin in warning then shook his head smiling. “In a New York minute.”

“So why hasn’t Mamma Lou tried to match you up with her.”

“I told her that I wasn’t interested, so she’s been pulling every available bachelor out of her bag out to meet her. She pinpointed her focus on Dennis for a while, but he was more interested in Hope’s sister Faith. So, she talked Madison’s brother, J.T., into coming to New York to meet her.

“Did he meet her?”

“No, I called him and asked him to cancel.”

“Oh really, and why was that?”

“I don’t know.”

“Yes you do.”

“Yeah, I do. Sometime, somewhere, somehow, I changed my mind. Okay? Are you happy?”

Tony nodded his head. I think the question is, are you happy?”

“No,” Raymond said.

“So, do something about it, tell her.”

Raymond shrugged and looked out into the Chesapeake Bay. The crystal water sparkled like fine jewels tossed across the water’s surface. Raymond bent down, picked up another small smooth stone and tossed it as far as he could. The stone hopped, skipped across the surface a few times before plopping in with a splash. Raymond stared out at the troubled water. “How did you know that Madison was the only woman for you?”

“I didn’t, at least not for a while.” Tony bent down and picked up a stone and mirrored Raymond’s actions. “I didn’t want to admit it to myself. But, I guess I always knew.”

“Can you get any more cryptic?”

Tony smiled at the remark. “Love is cryptic.”

“Oh this keeps getting better.”

Tony laughed. “You’re attracted to her, that’s obvious. The question is will she hold your interest. You know, when it comes to women, you don’t have the greatest attention span.”

Raymond smiled thinking of his last evening with Hope. “She is well worth the effort. I can’t stop thinking about her. Sometimes she drives me crazy. Other times,” he paused for reflection, “I can’t imagine my life without her."

Tony smiled knowingly, "that sounds about right." He smiled remembering his early rocky relationship with Madison. They’d had a tumultuous beginning but now he was in heaven. He looked over to see Madison waving at him. He waved back with a smile as wide and broad as the state of Texas. "But it’s worth it in the long run."

Raymond looked over to Tony understanding the smile on his face. "It’s not the same like with you and Madison, Hope despises me."

"You think Madison didn’t detest me.” Tony laughed openly. “They all say that, they don’t mean it"

Raymond laughed, "believe me, this one means it. She hates everything I am and everything I stand for the money, the prestige, everything."

"So you gotta ask yourself, is she worth it?"

Raymond looked back out over the bay. A slow easy smile spread across his face that matched Tony’s exactly. Tony began laughing, "I take that as a yes," Tony said.

"Hell yes."

"So, what are you doing here, go get her."

"How?" Raymond asked.

"Surely this can’t be the great and powerful Dr. Raymond Gates, healer of the sick, defender of the weak, champion to the underdog. Man, I thought you could leap tall buildings with a single bound and was able to bend every woman to your will."

"As I said before, not this one. She’s different."

"So you be different. Be everything she wants in a man."

Raymond looked over to his cousin, "you mean change who I am?" The bitter taste of disdain soured his mouth.

“No, of course not. Just let her see the real you. The you that we see every day.”

“Easier said than done.”

"How badly do you want to be with her?"

“Badly enough to propose marriage.”

Tony smiled accepting the news with a hearty slap on Raymond’s back and an exuberant handshake and bear-like hug. “That’s great man. So she’s really the one. When are you going to pop the question?”

“Don’t congratulate me yet. I already asked her to marry me.”

“You what?”

“You heard me, I proposed.”

Tony grabbed Raymond and whooped loudly. “That’s fantastic.”

“It would have been, if she’d have accepted.”

“She didn’t accept?”

Raymond looked out over the water and shook his head. The once troubled surface had now stilled to its original facade. Raymond smiled reflecting on the turbulent relationship. Although his calm demeanor portrayed his control, inwardly he toiled. “It’s over.”

“Maybe not.”

Raymond half smiled. “The funny thing is that Mamma Lou once said once I find hope, I should make sure to never lose it. Looks like I did. For once in my life I found the perfect woman for me and I lost her.”

“You know what, I’ve always found that hope is never very far from our hearts and that when you need it it’s always there.”

The two men remained silent each pondering distant thoughts.

“I need to get back.”

“To Haven House?”

“Eventually. But, I need to stop at the apartment first. I promised Kennedy I’d give her a ride since she’s staying at J.T.’s place.”

“That’s right. I forgot you two were neighbors.”

“Yeah, he’s on the next floor up. Kennedy’s staying at his place for a few days. She has a meeting at the Metropolitan tomorrow.”

“How’s the new building look?”

“It’s coming along nicely. Are you and Madison still coming to the opening?”

“We wouldn’t miss it. Kennedy plans to come as well. Also, J.T. said that he might stop by. He’s still in Europe working on some new software deal. He’s supposed to be back in the states by then.”

“That man had better learn to relax.”

“He said it’s on his schedule. Since he’s right in New York, he promised Madison to find the time to stop by.”

“Great. The more the merrier.” Raymond said then took one last look around. He held out his hand to shake then the two grabbed each other in a brotherly embrace.

“Drive carefully,” Tony said.

Raymond nodded and walked back up the winding path to the house. “Mamma Lou!” He called out as soon as he reached the sliding glass door off the veranda. He looked around the large open styled kitchen. “Mamma Lou! Mamma Lou!” He called out louder.

“Boy, if you don’t stop that yelling in my house, I’m going to put you over my knee and take a switch to you.”

Taken off guard, Raymond burst with laughter. His day had instantly just brightened. The sternness of her expression increased his laughter. After a minute or two of more laughter, Raymond finally calmed down.

He looked into the sweet serenity of his grandmother’s eyes. There he found the strength of century old valiance. The same determination that drove those first freed men and woman to call Crescent Island their home was the same fortitude that flowed through his veins. He was a descendent of their dauntless intrepidness and their strength.

“Hope and I…” he began until she interrupted.