Chapter Seventeen
“Thank you for lunch, Mama. And the mani-pedi.” Jessica lounged in the oversized spa-chair and blew on her wet nails. Her hands looked much better after the pampering, and the lunch at her favorite French bistro near her neighborhood—divine.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it, dear. We don’t often get to spend one-on-one time together anymore.” Mrs. Southers looked on as the nail technician applied a top coat to her coral-colored nails that matched her lipstick.
It had been a few weeks since her mother had walked in to see Tim in Jessica’s house, the anticipation of a stern talking-to at the forefront of her mind. Her mother made small talk during lunch and at the nail place but never mentioned the incident, until now.
“I’ve heard some rumors—”
“Here we go,” Jessica interrupted.
“Jessica Lynn, I heard your gardener’s truck has been parked in front of your house every night for the past couple of weeks. You need to know what people are saying about you.”
Jessica turned to her mother abruptly. “Why, Mama? Why should I care what people are sayin’ about me? They’ve been talking behind my back ever since Stephen started up with that no-good tramp from work. Everybody knew what he was up to but me! Do you think anyone let me know when he was a hound dog in my own home when I wasn’t around? You think I trust anyone anymore? Do you think I care?”
“Keep your voice down,” Mrs. Southers shushed.
Jessica pouted like a chastised child, the mother-daughter day ruined, as expected. “Mama, I know what you’re getting at. But you need to trust me for once in your life, okay?” She shifted in her seat and pleaded. “Mama, my friend Tim is a very good guy. Ipromiseyou.”
“Jessica, you have no idea what you’re doin’. I know Stephen disappointed you with the divorce—”
“Disappointed me?” she interrupted again, her voice high-pitched with Southern fury. “Stephen has nothing to do with this. You just don’t like the fact that I’ve moved on and I’ve made friends with someone you disapprove of.”
Mrs. Southers offered the nail tech an uncomfortable, pinched smile before responding through gritted teeth. “I did not teach my only daughter to talk to me this way in public. You are embarrassin’ me in front of these nice workers.”
Jessica sighed. “I’m sorry, Mama. But I’m gonna stick up for myself. I haven’t done anything wrong.”
The two women took a break from the heated conversation, each one retreating into their thoughts. Jessica had hired Mr. Hernandez’s daughter, Luanna, to sit for the entire day and evening so she could help the decorating committee with last-minute preparations in the grand ballroom for the charity Gala and get ready for the night ahead. Tim had been instrumental in helping her find a trustworthy, kind sitter she could count on so they could spend more one-on-one time together doing things like the memorable hike. The plus side was the girls took to Luanna immediately, the twenty-year-old showering them with her undivided attention. She was a regular addition to the Kaufman girls’ schedule, and Jessica was grateful.
It had been a busy couple of weeks with her daughters starting Vacation Bible School at one of the local churches while Jessica and Elizabeth spent time mapping out the elaborate festivities for the annual Gala. Their budget was massive, and they had carte blanche of all the top-notch vendors who queried for the event. Of course, Jessica also spent every available minute with the new man in her life. Having lunch with her mom was a last-minute addition to her packed schedule.
Tim would come over every morning after Luanna picked up the girls to take them to the church, their love trysts sinful and decadent. He would go off to work and they would reconvene in the evenings, her daughters coveting the special pasta and grilled dinners he would make for them. The past few weeks had been heavenly, and Jessica nervously wondered when the ball was going to drop. Stephen was gloriously absent, and she hadn’t heard a peep from him in weeks, although she had heard through the neighborhood grapevine that he had asked Traci to marry him. Perhaps that could account for his noticeable absence. With Stephen out of her life, things were going way too well, and she was unbelievably happy, which left her slightly on edge.
Tim’s massive wealth still left her reeling, the high-tech house with its elaborate alarm systems and iron gates on acres and acres of land a stark contrast to where she lived. As impressive as it was, Jessica couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sadness, knowing Tim had been living a lonely life of solitude for the past two years in the empty rooms. His loneliness carried over into his living space as there were no pictures or art on the walls. The house only had a few pieces of necessary, expensive furniture and an elaborate entertainment system in it. Tim chalked it up to never being at home except to sleep. Most of his time he spent outdoors or in his state-of-the-art home gym where he worked out incessantly. No matter how much money the man had, it couldn’t buy back his once-thriving career. When he told her the night before how happy she made him, all was right in the world. She hoped her bubble of contentment wasn’t about to burst.
“I’m taking him to the Gala tonight,” she whispered confidently to her mother.
“Oh,Jessica,” she hissed, shaking her head. The look of contempt on her mother’s wrinkled face caused Jessica’s stomach to fall. She hated disappointing her mother. And what would her father think about this? If they only knew who Tim really was, things would be much different. But he wasn’t ready to reveal his true identity. Not yet.
“You’re gonna have to trust me, Mama. That’s all I’m asking.” Standing, she swiftly gave her mother a peck on the cheek before she ran out the door. “I’m late for the setup. I’ll see you tonight!”
***
Tim ran full throttle through the woods, traversing the well-worn path on his property with intensity. He was anxious. The country club Gala was hours away, and his freshly dry-cleaned tux hung dramatically in his walk-in closet. When Jessica had asked him to be her date, he didn’t hesitate, happily accepting her offer. But as the event drew closer, he wasn’t so sure it was a good idea anymore.
Theirs was a whirlwind romance, the two of them coming together after life-altering events in each of their worlds. The ink was barely dry on Jessica’s divorce papers before he had claimed her for his own, and now she wanted to bring him out in the open as her date at the Gala fundraiser. How would her neighbors feel about seeing him there on her arm? After all, many were Mr. Hernandez’s clients. They would recognize him immediately. Her parents were going to be there too. The cherry on top was her ex-husband and his new fiancé would be in attendance, parading around like a couple of entitled assholes. Jessica explained that Stephen Kaufman was still on the board of the country club and had made the comment, “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” It was a shame the stupid prick would always be involved in Jessica’s life, the deadbeat dad only calling to see his kids one time since Tim had been seeing her. Between the family, the ex and the neighbors, it was sure to be an interesting evening.
Sweat poured from his half-naked body as he pushed himself harder, the rocky incline unforgiving on his expensive athletic shoes. The sunlight became fractured throughout the dense understory of the trees, yet intentional with its touch of light on the natural vegetation of the plants. The evergreen forest gently subdued the intense heat of the summer sun, and he was grateful for the shady respite during his run. There wasn’t a soul around for miles, just him and his labored breathing and the crunch of leaves and twigs under his feet. He was due at the club in an hour as part of the Hernandez Landscape team assembled to work on the grounds, making them as perfect as possible for the big event. His workout would have to be cut short if he was to make it on time.
The club was a buzz of activity by the time he pulled up to the main entrance, Martin Hernandez and the team already in full work mode, wearing the familiar landscape uniforms. Tim couldn’t help but smile, knowing Martin was in total command, navigating the busy workday ahead. A couple of guys were replanting massive containers with colorful pink and red begonias, the planters standing regally near the drive-under columns of the fancy club. Another guy was on a stand-up mower, trimming the perfect Bermuda grass, the steady rumble of the machine resonating through the air.
“Hola! Tim!” Martin yelled, getting Tim’s attention.
He trotted over to the small man. “Hey. How’s it going? Where do you want me?”
Mr. Hernandez motioned with his head toward a panel van. “Mrs. McDonald is assembling the flower arrangements with her team. Can you take the buckets of flowers to the back patio and help out? She was asking for you.” The man’s chocolate eyes twinkled.
“Sure thing.”
