“First, the brides will expect it. Second, it’s a vacation. Why not have a vacation?” asked Parker.
“I don’t take vacations,” responded Gabe in all seriousness.
“Which is why you should take one,” affirmed Parker. He stood, putting a hand on Gabe’s shoulder. “Big brother, you are a workaholic. Take at least one week for the honeymoon. Go someplace nice. Don’t bring any work with you.”
“What would I do if I didn’t bring any work?” asked Gabe, thinking the idea over.
“Explore, relax, enjoy your wife,” suggested Parker with a bit of sarcasm. “Maybe be less than a robot. You need a better work-life balance or you’re going to end up being like Nate, pushing a heart attack before you’re fifty.”
“Dad worked until his seventies,” defended Gabe. “He still does to an extent.”
“Dad isn’t exactly the best role model,” observed Parker dryly.
Gabe paused. Parker was more right about their father than he possibly knew. Gabe made a decision. “Fine. I’ll plan a honeymoon. Where are you going?”
“Oh no!” chuckled Parker. “You find your own place. Something Britney would like.”
He would do it, Gabe resolved. He would call up Tara and find out where Britney might want to go. It didn’t really matter to him where they went for their honeymoon. He would prefer something which provided decent security and a comfortable living space. Hopefully not a resort. Gabe didn’t want to be around other people.
He could do this, Gabe reasoned. He would call Tara from the office during his lunch break. Afterward, he would dump the matter into a capable travel agent’s hands with a few stipulations and have it all taken care of.
“I told him we were getting a dog,” Britney sighed as she sipped her coffee. She was sitting in a cozy armchair in Tara’s office as her friend tried to redesign a layout at her desk.
“A dog? Do you even want a dog?” Tara paused, looking up from her paperwork, red pen in hand.
“Not really but it was easier to argue about a dog then about buying a house,” shrugged Britney. “Or about me moving into his condo. I don’t get it. We agreed it would be the sensible thing to do. I would take the spare bedroom until the wedding and the realtor could show my condo at any time to potential buyers. It is a win-win situation.”
“He probably feels like everything is happening a little fast,” mentioned Tara. “Gabe needs to be guided gently into things. He’s skittish. He also likes to think things are his idea.”
“Yes, but it just takes so long for him to come around,” complained Britney. She admired her engagement ring a moment, a fissure of happiness working its way through her body. It was a lovely ring.
“Then figure out a way to make him think the house is his idea,” shrugged Tara. “All men can be manipulated. You just need to finesse him a little.”
“Do you manipulate Rex?” asked Britney sweetly. “I’m sure he wouldn’t appreciate it.”
“On rare occasions,” admitted Tara. “Mostly he and I compromise so I don’t have to manipulate him. Rex and I understand each other.”
“I have tried quoting scientific studies, since Gabe is so logical. I have been compromising on the house and school for our future child. I even held back on putting some of my stuff out because I could see the pained expression on his face every time I clutter up his precious condo,” sighed Britney. “I want a house where it is new and fresh for both of us. Where there will be space to put our things. Then perhaps he won’t be so territorial. We need to get out of the condo. It’s going to be a point of contention if we stay there. Plus, it’s too small to raise a child there.”
“He agreed to go house hunting, right?” questioned Tara. She put down her pen and leaned back in her chair, conceding she wasn’t about to get any work done as long as Britney was fixated on this subject.
“Only because I said if he didn’t, I would choose for both of us and he would have to live in it for the next five years,” pointed out Britney.
Tara winced. “Gabe doesn’t take well to ultimatums.”
“He looked like he was going to be ill but in the end he agreed,” shrugged Britney. “I guess he doesn’t trust me to pick a home we will both like.”
“A house is a big decision. He needs to be part of the process,” gently advised Tara.
“Which is why I had to bully him into it,” nodded Britney.
Tara noticed the intercom light on her phone light up. Pressing the button, she answered. “Yes Madeline?”
“Mr. Gabriel Ramesly is on line one,” replied Madeline.
“Thank you,” calmly responded Tara. She raised an eyebrow at Britney before picking up the receiver and putting it to her ear so Britney could only hear her side of the conversation. “Tara Hudson.”
Britney made a face at her.
