Something to Talk About (31 page)

“Good night, Mom and Dad, I love you,” he threw over his shoulder.

“We love you too, baby. Good night and God bless,” Benita said fondly.

“Alone at last, Peaches. Can I get out of this thing now? I can’t stand being in the bed with you with clothes on. I have to be able to feel every bit of you,” he confessed.

Benita gave the sultry giggle that always stirred her husband’s blood and agreed they had
on
way too many clothes. “Just check on the children and make sure the door is closed and you may have your way with me without a single stitch on, I promise.”

Clay stood
up,
preparing to make sure the children were all set
tl
ed. “I take it that call was about meeting with John. So he’s okay with this? I mean, he’s willing to talk about it, at least, right?”

Benita nodded and reached up to him for a kiss. “It’s a beginning at least. I can’t ask for more than that.”

***

Alicia and Adam slept surprisingly well, considering the emotional depths they had plumbed the night before. They awoke refreshed and happy to be in each other’s arms. Adam looked down at Alicia and smiled. “This is why you need to move in, Allie. It would solve all our problems.” He grinned.

“What problems? I didn’t know we had any problems,” she said with a smile.

“Any time I wake up without you in my arms, it’s a problem. I say we solve it permanently by sharing the same abode. What do you say?”

“I say not without benefit of clergy, that’s what I say. When no man can put us asunder, then we can live together. Until then, no way,” she said firmly.

Adam surprised her by whipping the sheet off their heated bodies in one swift
modon
. “Okay then, get up. We’ve got a ring to buy and a wedding to plan, because I can’t put up with this much longer. Get up, woman, let’s hit it!”

They had a wonderful morning together. First on the agenda was grocery shopping, which they accomplished by going to the Nino
Salvaggio
on Orchard Lake Road. It was a huge gourmet store with the most amazing produce in Michigan and lots of it. There was a butcher counter, a cheese shop, a bakery, a deli, and every kind of imported staple imaginable, all grouped by nation of origin. After eating breakfast at the counter of the restaurant area, they were ready to tackle some serious shopping. Alicia took her time in the produce section because she hated to miss anything.

“Adam, what in the world is that? They have things in here that look like they came from other planets,” she said happily.

After the groceries were purchased and stowed away at the loft, they ventured back out, this time to replace Alicia’s clothes, although
they weren’t actually ruined.

“
They’re okay, Adam; they were just wet I wasn’t completely serious, you know, I was just giving you a hard time. You don’t have to buy me a new outfit
,
” she protested.

“Yes, but I want to,” he said reasonably. “I want to buy you something intimate and personal and extremely sexy, so just accept graciously.”

“Only if I can buy you something,” she insisted.

“We’ll see,” was all he’d say.

Hours later, Alicia surveyed the results of his noncommittal “we’ll see.” The sight of so many things just for her was positively embarrassing, but at the same time, totally endearing. Adam had gone nuts in the mall. One thing that Nordstrom’s specialized in was capable sales staff who
catered to the customers’ every whim and they were more than thrilled to assist the tall, devastatingly handsome man outfit his blushing companion. Adam had bought her a beautiful black silk sundress with a full circle skirt with incredible ivory gardenias all over it. It had a tight bodice and a halter neck and with it he bought a sexy pair of black
peep
-toe shoes with ivory flowers on the sides.

He also selected a fabulous pair of high-
waisted
,
wide
-
legged pants in a silk and linen blend that had deep cuffs and looked like something Kathryn Hepburn would have worn in an old movie. To complement this was a delicate ivory silk blouse with a matching camisole. The blouse with its wide lace portrait collar was sheer with tiny
pindots
and deep cuffs trimmed in the same Belgian lace as the collar. It buttoned with tiny pearl drop buttons and it was ethereal and sexy at the same time. He also insisted on buying a magnificent skirt made by the same designer as the blouse, a full skirt that came to mid-calf with deep pockets and was made entirely of the same Belgian lace as the blouse. He selected a pair of delicate ivory T-strapped shoes with princess heels to go with this confection.

She begged him to stop but he wasn’t satisfied until he’d gotten several sets of underwear and a couple of truly scandalous nightgowns. Now she surveyed the bags from Neiman’s and Nordstrom’s and Ma
cy’s
and wondered what she’d gotten into. There was also a bag from
Sephora
where he had personally selected a Philosophy fragrance for her to wear. Since he’d also picked out the fragrance she wore now, Sugar Blossom, it was easy for him to pick another. She sniffed her wrist and sighed. The scent was perfect for her. Adam was smiling at the dazed expression on her face.

“You know me too well, I think. Adam,
thank
you from the bottom of my heart, but don’t ever d
o this again. This is too much!
”

Adam was touched and amused by the picture of Alicia surrounded by the evidence of his indulgence. She looked adorably flushed and happy despite her protests.

“You’re not one to talk, Allie. You got me pretty good in the end,” he reminded her.

She brightened immediately, agreeing with him. “Yes, I did! Can we set it up now?”

She had managed to get a sweet form of revenge on Adam by buying him a magnificent telescope, something she knew for a fact he’d always wanted but never got around to purchasing. That, with a couple of beautiful books on astronomy, was her gift to him, although Adam had told her she’d already given him the most precious thing in the world.

“Allie, you’ve given me your heart, I don’t need anything else. Except maybe a few babies, that would be nice.”

Alicia sighed with happiness at his sweet declaration. She was so light and airy with elation she didn’t think anything could bring her down. She and Adam were happily engrossed in setting up the telescope of the roof garden when he made another declaration that warmed her heart.
“Baby, I think it’s time we got the ball rolling on the wedding. I think we should make an announcement to your parents and to my family, don’t you?”

Her heart caught in her throat for several seconds before she answered yes. “That sounds like a wonderful idea, Adam. I’ll call them and see if they’re free tomorrow.”

Adam grinned. “I already did and they are. We’re going to have breakfast over there tomorrow.”

***

The next morning was a study in the fine art of delicately balanced domestic chaos as Benita and Renee were getting breakfast for the family. The twins were chasing each other through the house in their Spider-man underwear, Trey was teaching himself to juggle with apples, and Isabella and
Katerina
were getting a bath from their father with close supervision by Renee’s
inquisitive Yorkies, Patti and Chaka
, who thought all babies were their personal responsibility. Meanwhile, Andrew was trying to get ready to leave the house aided by his identical triplet daughters, Benita, Ceylon, and Stephanie, who were all trying to help him, slowing his progress considerably. The most composed person in the group was Andie, Renee and Andrew’s oldest daughter. She was trying to get his attention while he was trying to get his keys from one of the triplets.

“Daddy, Gran
d
daddy is here,” she said calmly.

“What? Hey, don’t play with that, sweetheart, that’s Daddy’s Palm Pilot, he needs that,” he admonished Ceylon gen
tl
y.

“Granddaddy came to visit, Daddy, and he brought some ladies with him.
Lots of them.”
Andie leaned against her father’s desk and observed him with her big golden eyes, so much like her mother’s.

“Granddaddy did what, honey?
With whom?
Did you tell your mommy, sweetheart?”

Andie sighed deeply and left the room to go to the kitchen with the terriers hot on her heels. They’d decided Clay was capable of giving a bath and left to find other entertainment. Her mother and her aunt Benita were deep in conversation as they prepared breakfast. It didn’t look too promising, but Andie tried again.

“Mommy, Granddaddy came to visit and he brought some ladies with him.
Lots of ladies.
Can I have an orange?”

“May
I have an orange and no, you may not, we’re just about to have breakfast, honey, it’ll spoil your appetite,” Renee said automatically,
then
realized what her daughter had said.

“Granddaddy did what? Where is he, baby?”

“In the living room,” Andie replied.

Renee and Benita looked at each other with surprised eyes and of one accord they moved through the dining room and into the living room, where
an
most unexpected sight greeted them. There, like a potentate surrounded by loving subjects, sat Big Benny, with his forbearing wife, Martha, and four women who could only be
Emmaline
, Reba, Daphne, and Dahlia. As Benita and Renee stood there with their mouths hanging open, Big Benny looked up with his most familiar grin and Patti and Chaka skittered in to see what was going on.

“What are the chances of us getting some breakfast? We left mighty early this morning and we could all use a bite.”

This last remark was punctuated with a sharp bark from Dusty,
Emmaline’s
schnauzer, who wasn’t a huge fan of auto travel even if it was in a luxury limousine like the one Benny had procured for the trip. He also didn’t like the looks of those sassy
pint-sized
dogs and was raring for an opportunity to teach them a few things.

Renee recovered first and graciously said that breakfast was in preparation and asked if anyone would like something to drink in the meantime. Benita finally found her tongue and introduced herself to each aunt, giving them each a big hug. The need for further conversation was negated as the children made their way into the living room. Like all children, they always sensed where the action was and wanted to be in the thick of it
.
Soon Andrew and then Clay joined the happy crowd and everything was hugs and kisses and exclamations of joy until Andrew had to excuse
himself
.

“I have surgery this morning so I’ve got to go. I’ll see you all this afternoon though,” he said as he waved goodbye to everyone and kissed his wife soundly.

Aunt
Emmaline
was concerned. “He’s having surgery? But he looks so healthy!” she said sadly.

“Oh no, Aunt
Emmaline
, he’s not having surgery, he’s performing it. Andrew is a reconstructive surgeon,” Renee explained.

Aunt
Emmaline
smiled in relief. “That’s wonderful, dear, I was concerned about him.” She took another sip of tea and looked around the huge dining room table, smiling at the beautiful children who were, for the most part, behaving beautifully. “I can’t tell you how happy this makes me, to see my nephew’s family. You’re all just lovely, so very lovely.” She sighed.

Benita followed her gaze around the table. “Oh, Aunt
Emmaline
, you haven’t seen anything yet! Just wait until the whole
family
is here together,” she said with a smile. Then she turned to her father and her smile transformed to a look of total frustration. “Daddy, how in the world did this come about? Couldn’t you have let anyone know you were going to do this?”

Big Benny was perfectl
y happy with Isabella on one knee and
Katerina
on the other. He looked up with an expression of perfect innocence on his face and said simply, “No.”

He shifted the babies so he could reach for a piece of bacon, which got him an ugly look from Martha. “Touch it and you’ll snatch back a nub, Ben. You may have some more fruit and another piece of dry toast if you like, but you’ve had your allotment of nitrates and sodium for the day.”

Big Benny tried to
look hurt but failed miserably;
he was having too much fun. “Well, daughter, I had a talk with Martha and we decided it was high time I introduced her to our kinfolk.
So I hired a car and we went on up to Lake County for a visit
.
It didn’t make sense to prolong the process, so we invited them to come back with us. And we got on the road this morning and here we are. The rest of the family will be here soon,” he added casually. “That is, if I can find Adam. He’s not answering his phone or he has it turned off or something.”