Текст книги "A Few Broken Rules"
Автор книги: Kate Kane
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Текущая страница: 8 (всего у книги 14 страниц)
Chapter 19
It was 11:00 when the six-member Parker-Bellini contingent arrived at Sunset House. Kimber Kay Kellogg, Kay to her friends, met them at the door and hustled them to the Activity Director’s office where introductions took place. Kay explained that the residents had to register for the family meal so the number of people who would be eating in the activity room would be limited to 50 people. Most residents had only one or two guests who joined them, a child, or grandchild, but some had more. Today there would be 20 residents and their guests. Dinner would be prepared by the kitchen staff and would come out on carts containing trays, which would be removed and served to the diners. Iced tea and coffee would be served separately.
Lane and her family needed to decide who would be taking food from the carts and serving the meals, and who would be responsible for filling drinks. She explained that any resident with special dietary needs would have their name on their tray, and those would come out first.
“I’ll check the names and direct you where they go. Otherwise, some of these folks would try to trick you so they could get a regular meal.”
Kay smiled. It seemed that suddenly every nursing staff member on duty was making an excuse to come into the activity room. Word had spread like wildfire that Gabe Greer was in the house and everyone wanted to get a glimpse of him. Gabe was graciously shaking hands with the ones who were brave enough to approach him and smiling, and waving at the shy ones who only peered into the room.
Kay sent Lane and Ben to the lobby with instructions to direct the families to the activity room. There was a coat rack set up in a corner, and as the family members entered the activity room, Jake, Gabe, and Jess took coats and hung them up. Jamie helped Kay direct the families to tables where their resident was anxiously waiting. Jake almost choked trying to stifle a laugh when he overheard one of the guests whisper to another, “Those two volunteers look just like Gabriel Greer and Jessica Lane.” He thought about saying they were Gabriel Greer and Jessica Lane, but he didn’t know what kind of riot might ensue.
Soon, all of the guests were in the activity room and Lane and Ben had joined the rest of the family. At 11:30, Kay began distributing the special diet meals. Jess, and Jamie were serving drinks, Jess held a carafe of decaf coffee in one hand and regular coffee in the other; Jamie held a pitcher of tea in one hand and a pitcher of water in the other. They made their way from table to table filling glasses and cups while Lane, Ben, Jake, and Gabe delivered the meals Kay handed to them. When the meals had all been served, Kay announced a few minutes of silence to allow the residents and their guests to say grace if they so desired. After the meals were distributed, Ben and Gabe each took a pitcher or carafe and made rounds with Jamie and Jess as Lane and Kay stood to the side ready to assist the diners with whatever they needed. As the residents and their guests finished their meals, the volunteers removed the plates and placed them on the cart. Soon, the kitchen staff delivered another cart filled with plates containing pumpkin or apple pie for dessert. Again, Kay directed the special diets to the right resident.
By 12:30, they’d cleared away all of the dishes and Kay thanked Lane, saying that she and her family could go home if they wanted. Gabe asked what the residents would do for the rest of the day. Kay replied that they were supposed to have carolers coming at 1:00, but that they’d called earlier and cancelled.
He looked at Jess, “What do you think? I can play the piano if you’re up for it.”
Kay looked from Gabe to Lane. “He’s kidding, right? A concert by Gabe Greer would cost more than $100.00 a ticket and that’s just the cheap seats.”
Lane smiled and shook her head. “No, I don’t think he’s kidding.”
Jess looked at Gabe and shrugged. “I’m in. You know, my brothers sing and so do Joey and Pauli.” She smiled. “We might not be Grammy award winners, but even without practice, we should be able to pull off a few Christmas carols.”
She pulled out her phone and started making phone calls as Gabe walked to the piano in the corner of the room.
Ben looked at Lane. “Red, if we’re having a house full of guests for dinner at two, I’d better get home. Are you coming or staying here?”
Lane looked at Jess. “Did you get everyone?”
“Yes, Joey and Pauli are both coming. I could use another female voice, but like Ben says, you have a house full of guests coming.”
Kay spoke up, “It’s more of a sing-a-long than a concert. I can sing with them, Lane. You should go home.”
Lane looked at Ben. “I’ll go home with you, but if half the guests are here singing, maybe we should delay our dinner until 2:30.”
Lane waived to Jake, Jamie and Gabe who were repositioning the piano and called, “Break a leg, guys. See you later.”
Joey ended the call and looked at Evie, “You’ll have to excuse us, Evie. We have to go out, but Ben will be home soon.” He looked at Pauli. “Come on, apparently we’ve been drafted to sing Christmas carols at the nursing home.”
Pauli got up and followed Joey toward the garage complaining every step of the way, but Joey turned and held up his hand as if to tell him to stop.
“Like you would have told Jess no.” He shook his head. Thank God, Pauli brought me a change of clothes or I’d be singing in my workout gear. He thought as he took the keys for Pauli’s BMW from the hook and opened the garage door.
Jake called Meg. “Apparently the people scheduled to do Christmas caroling at the nursing home cancelled, and we’ve been drafted to do it, so dinner’s being delayed by half an hour. Ben and Mom are on their way home, and Nana Evie is there, but the caroling goes from one to two, so Jess, Jamie, Gabe, Joey, Pauli and I will be a little late. You and your folks go on over to Mom’s as scheduled and I’ll see you as soon as I can.”
“Okay, I love you.” Meg replied.
Meg knew she should have gone with Jake to serve lunch at Sunset House. They saw each other every night and he had called her as he drove to Sunset House, and yet she couldn’t believe how much she missed him.
Jake walked away from the guys and responded, “I love you too.”
He had planned to wait until New Year’s Eve to propose, but the ring was beginning to burn a hole in his proverbial pocket. Ben had set a high bar on how to do a proposal though, and he’d planned a romantic New Year’s Eve proposal. He just hoped he could hold out that long.
Kay spoke with the nursing staff to let them know that caroling was back on at one o’clock in the activity room. Joey and Pauli arrived and Kay put them, Jake, Jamie, and Gabe to work breaking down the lunch tables and loading them on a cart in the hall while she and Jess set up folding chairs to make room for the other residents. She really hadn’t expected the families to stick around for the caroling, but now, word was out that the servers were in fact Gabe Greer and Jessica Lane, and that they were leading the caroling, no one was going anywhere.
There was an announcement over the PA system advising the residents and nursing staff about the caroling and the room was quickly filling up. Gabe had found a book of Christmas songs in the piano bench and had started warming up, checking to see how badly the old piano was out of tune. He handed the book to Jess.
“Pick out a dozen or so and decide what order you want to do them in. After you’ve decided, I’ll ask Kay if she can make copies so the singers have the lyrics.”
Kay went to the activity director’s office and came back carrying copies of the songs and seven Santa hats. She held them out to her volunteer singers and kept the last one for herself.
Promptly at one o’clock, she stood in front of the crowd, “The Leawood Lyrical Choir had to cancel, but the volunteers who helped serve lunch have offered to stay and do caroling. We have Gabriel Greer on the piano with Jessica Lane and friends singing.” The room erupted into applause as Gabe began playing I’ll be Home for Christmas.
The concert continued with residents singing along to most of the traditional Christmas carols. Gabe encouraged Jess to end the concert with Santa Baby and she reluctantly complied. “Greer, you owe me big time for this!” She whispered before turning to the audience with a smile as she began singing.
Midway through the song, Jess had seen one of the nursing staff standing in the back recording the impromptu concert with her smart phone and had nodded toward Gabe. They both knew the video would hit the internet before they made it home and they knew they were going to have to call their agents and PR people to give them the heads-up.
Gabe, who had closed more than one concert, stood and smiled. “You’ve been an amazing audience. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone, and we hope you all have a very Merry Christmas.”
He stood and motioned toward his fellow singers. Everyone held hands and bowed. They walked toward the doors, Gabe and Jess stopping to shake a few hands as they left.
As they walked into the parking lot, Jamie said he’d catch a ride with Jake leaving Jess and Gabe in the rental SUV sandwiched between Jake’s Silverado and the Bellini twins in Pauli’s BMW in the parade toward the Bellini’s house.
Jess had paired her phone to the blue tooth in Gabe’s rented SUV earlier and was surprised when it rang. She clicked to answer, and was assaulted by a barrage of Italian curse words, peppered with words she understood. She’d learned Italian using Rosetta Stone and it wasn’t big on curse words.
As soon as she realized Joey had butt dialed her, she muted her phone.
“Who the hell does that punk ass think he is anyway?” Gabe quickly translated.
“Gabe Greer, Jessica Lane and friends, my ass. Volunteering to sing at the home, what’s he going for anyway sainthood?” Gabe continued translating.
Jess slapped her right hand into her left. “Gabe. Basta!”
He was stunned as he looked at her. “And exactly when did you learn Italian?”
“Would you stop already? I’m trying to listen here.” She replied.
“And why the (something) did she bring him home for Thanksgiving? Who the (something) is he to her anyway?” Joey said.
“I learned 2 years ago using Rosetta Stone. It’s not big on the curse words, so there are some things I’m missing in translation.”
Joey was driving Pauli’s BMW and they were right behind Gabe and Jess. Gabe was looking in the rearview mirror watching Joey throw his tantrum. It took all of the will power Jess had not to turn around and look at him, but she knew if she did, he’d wonder why she was looking at him, and that he’d finally figure out he’d butt dialed her.
Gabe smiled, “The word you’re not getting is fuck. Pull down the vanity mirror so you can catch the whole show.”
Jess pulled down the mirror. “What has gotten into him anyway?”
Gabe looked at her. “He thinks there’s something going on between us and he’s jealous. I told you when I saw that trumpet charm he left for you that it was for the archangel Gabriel who blew the trumpet to call all of the angels and that it was Joey’s way of marking his territory.”
Jess looked at him. “Okay, fine, I get that, but Gabe, you and I are just friends.”
Gabe shook his head. “He doesn’t know that.”
“But Gabe, you’re gay.”
Gabe flashed his eyes at her, “I can’t believe you just said that out loud.”
Hell, he couldn’t believe she thought it. A few weeks ago, she’d walked in on him and a friend. They were actually writing lyrics to a new song, and they’d stopped the minute they realized she was in the room; but Jess had jumped to the conclusion that they were gay and in love and she had told Gabe she’d keep his secret. He knew he needed to set the record straight; they had a long overseas flight in a couple of days and a long time together in a villa after that. He’d find the right time.
She laughed. “And I thought he was just being distant. Oh, and speaking of secrets, only Joey knows I speak Italian and I’d like to keep it that way. I keep your secret; you keep mine. Deal?”
Joey’s voice came over the blue tooth again, “What the hell does a guy need to do to get her attention anyway?”
“Well, I was buying her shoes.” Pauli replied
“I am not buying her any damn shoes!”
Gabe looked at Jess. “What, the whole family buys you shoes?”
Jess narrowed her eyes at him, “If that were true Joey would be buying me shoes. We have a long flight Monday, I’ll tell you all about the shoe buying, who, what, when and why, then.”
Gabe had pulled into the driveway and before Jess could get out of the car, Joey appeared at her door. He tapped on the window.
“I’ll leave you to it.” Gabe said as he pressed the unlock button and opened his door. He got out of the SUV and walked to the house without turning back.
Chapter 20
Shortly after Lane and Ben got home, the dinner guests began descending. Dante and Teadora arrived bringing traditional Italian antipasti including Bruschetta, Prosciutto e melone, and Crostino. Soon Uncle Vinnie and his wife Elena came bringing traditional desserts Cassata siciliana and cannolo siciliano. The Kellys soon arrived bringing two each of pumpkin, apple, and cherry pies along with a cheesecake. Meg carried a bag containing whipping cream (un-whipped) and ice cream. Uncle Sal arrived and sent Ben to retrieve a case of wine recently arrived from the family vineyard in Palermo. Tony who had called earlier asking if he could bring a date showed up with Ben’s ex-girlfriend Liza Conrad and some Italian breads.
Lane had pulled out the tablecloth and napkins from the butler’s pantry and arranged the table before they’d gone to Sunset House. She’d written beautiful calligraphy place cards for each place. Ben had pulled a table from the basement and draped it with a tablecloth to use as a buffet. As the guests arrived with their contributions, they placed their offerings of appetizers on the buffet where plates and silverware waited. They put desserts on the kitchen table.
As the guests mingled, Lane and Ben did introductions for people who hadn’t met at their wedding reception last month. Everyone was encouraged to taste the antipasti and appetizers. Ben opened and poured the wine.
Ben spoke quietly to his father and uncles, asking them to join him briefly in his office. He closed the door and asked them to sit. As usual, their conversation was entirely in Italian. He placed the paternity test on his desk.
“It’s a long story, but the Bambino is my son. My biological son. I can answer questions later, but Lane and I just found out yesterday and we told Jamie. Jess figured it out and last month and had DNA tests done. Lane and I have talked and figured out the ‘what and how of things’, we were surprised, but thrilled. I don’t know what Mama’s going to say, but at least Lane and I are married now.”
At first, his statement stunned the audience who were silent as the news sank in.
“I wanted to tell you all because Jamie could say something about it today. He talked about being a Bellini in front of Joey this morning.” Ben looked to his father, “I’ll talk to Mama, but any insight you could give me, is appreciated.”
Dante shook his head. “So it happened after her husband left her and when you were in college in Omaha?” He knew there was no other explanation.
“Yes. As I said, it’s a long story. We spent one night together and the next morning, she disappeared. I spent a week in an unsuccessful attempt to find her.”
Sal and Vinnie looked at him in confused disbelief, they had met her when she was four years old and hadn’t seen her again until a few months ago and yet they had recognized her immediately.
“May I assume there was alcohol involved?” Sal asked.
Ben ran his hands through his hair. “A lot of it, and she gave me a false name and her hair was cut very short and it was blonde. I really had no idea the woman I spent years trying to get out of my system was the same woman I finally fell in love with. But none of that matters because through the grace of God I did find her again and we are finally married.”
There was a knock at the door and Jamie stuck his head in. “Mom said you all disappeared. I figured this is where I’d find you.” He looked at his father, “Mr. Tanner and Daniela are here, and Mom says that you should come carve the turkeys.”
Dante Bellini looked at Jamie, his first grandchild and walked to embrace him, “Mio nipote.” He kissed Jamie on each cheek.
Jamie looked at him.
“My grandson.” Dante repeated, this time in English as he hugged Jamie.
Jamie was a little confused, he’d heard Uncle Sal and Uncle Vinnie call Ben nipote, but he wasn’t their grandson. Now that he knew he was a Bellini, he really was going to have to learn Italian.
Ben walked over and put his arm around Jamie’s shoulders. “It’s a word used sort of generically for nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. You’ll figure things out.”
Yeah, or I’ll actually order the Italian Rosetta Stone Mom keeps talking about. Jamie thought.
Dante Bellini turned to look at his son and in English said, “In my experience with your mother, the truth usually works best. Just take her aside and tell her. Better she hears it from you, and soon.”
They walked out of Ben’s office heading toward the kitchen where Ben carved both turkeys as Lane handed platters and bowls to Jake, Jamie, Jess, and Gabe to carry to the buffet table. On the dining table were bottles of wine, pitchers of water and iced tea. It was an Italian thing, and coffee they’d have coffee with dessert. It wouldn’t be the Keurig single cup coffee either, Ben would fire up the cappuccino machine, and real Italian coffee would be served.
Ben’s mother was going to have the seat to his left. So, before everyone went into the dining room, he approached her in the hearth room. She was talking to Evie Parker. Ben knew that Lane had spoken to Evie earlier, telling her about Jamie’s parentage, shortly after they’d gotten back from Sunset House.
“Can I steal my mother for just a minute?” He asked Evie as he put his mother’s hand in the crook of his elbow.
And, in Italian, he began his confession, “Mama, Jamie Parker is really my son. My biological son. We just found out yesterday.”
Teadora Bellini looked at her son. “Ah, that.” She patted his cheek. “It’s about time you figured it out.”
Ben was dumbfounded as he looked at his mother. He’d expected yelling and maybe crying.
She smiled and patted his arm. “I’ve been looking into the eyes of the Bellini men for forty years; you think I couldn’t recognize them when I saw them in my grandson? Now let’s not keep your guests waiting.”
For God’s sake, were Lane and I the last two people on the face of the earth to know the truth? He turned and walked his mother back to where Evie stood. Ben released his mother and took Evie’s hand. “Shall we go?”
Ben escorted Evie Parker into the dining room followed by his parents. Everyone found their place card and took their seats. Ben at the one end of the table and Lane at the other took the hands of the person seated next to them and while Thursday was usually Jake’s day to say grace, since it was Thanksgiving, it was the head of the household’s responsibility. Everyone bent his or her heads and Ben began.
“Most gracious heavenly Father, we come before you today to give thanks for the bounty before us and for the family and friends who are here to share it with us. We ask you to bless this food and our family and friends, both those who are here with us and those who cannot be here today. In Jesus name we pray.”
Everyone said, “Amen.”
He had debated over saying something about Jamie being his son. Almost everyone knew anyway, but after seeing Tony’s date, he had decided the less said in her presence the better. What was Tony thinking anyway, bringing her here for Thanksgiving? He had meant to talk to Tony in September after Liza had told him she’d been seeing Tony off and on for some time. But, between the trial he had going on in September and the month long break he and Lane had taken, until he found out she was pregnant and rushed her to the altar in early October, Liza and Tony had been the last things on his mind. Still he looked to the end of the table at his wife, hoping Liza’s presence wasn’t making Lane feel uncomfortable. She hadn’t said anything, but then he knew she wouldn’t. She was too gracious a hostess to say or do anything that would make a guest feel anything but welcome in their home.
“Please, help yourselves.” Ben said gesturing toward the buffet table. Everyone got up and formed a line at the buffet table.
Ben and Lane waited so they were at the end of the line. He pulled her into the hall and put his arms around her.
“I love you,” he said before kissing her.
She laughed. “I love you. Why are we out here when he have guests in there?” she asked, as she inclined her head toward the dining room.
“I wanted to tell you I talked to Mama. She said she’d been looking at the eyes of Bellini men for 40 years and it was time we figured it out.” He kissed her again, “And I wanted to be sure Liza isn’t making you uncomfortable.”
Lane reached up and held his face in her hands. “It’ll take more than one ex-girlfriend to make me uncomfortable in my own home.” She took his left hand and ran her finger over his wedding ring. “I have the real thing, she has the facsimile.” She brushed a quick kiss on his lips before turning around and pulling him back into the dining room with her.
Jess was sandwiched between Joey and Gabe at the dining table and in the buffet line. Why did her mother keep doing this to her? She shook her head. Joey had hustled to her car door when they got back from Sunset House. He’d discovered he’d butt dialed her and was fishing to see if she’d actually heard anything he’d said. The call had ended as soon as Gabe had turned the ignition off, and her phone had been safely in her purse the whole time making it easy for her to feign innocence. They’d have a talk about it all right, but not when the house was full of friends and family for Thanksgiving dinner.
After observing little Abbey Kelly point at something on the buffet table and asking “What’s that?” quickly followed by Jake’s response of “It’s really good, you can try some of mine.” Joey pointed out the Italian delicacies, explaining what each one was to Roy, Gabe, and Jess who were near him in the line.
Lane watched Abbey. While she was very well behaved, it wasn’t easy being the only child in the group of adults. Lane rubbed her abdomen. Next Thanksgiving, their baby would be nearly six months old. She smiled thinking about the households across America who had a kids’ table set up somewhere in their houses today. She’d never been a fan of kids’ tables and wondered how they’d fit everyone around their table in the years to come.
Dinner was peppered with toasts in English and Italian; to the health and wellbeing of family and friends; congratulations to Ben and Lane for the baby, wishes for the success of the football team in the championship game tomorrow, success of the film and safe travels for Gabe and Jess.
Just after 3:30, the landline rang and Ben went to the kitchen to answer. Recognizing the number, he said, “Pronto!”
He carried the cordless phone back to the dining room and after putting it on speaker; he placed the phone in the middle of the table. “Marie Terese, you’re on speaker in the middle of the table.”
“Happy Thanksgiving.” His sister Marie Terese said to the family.
Marie Terese, Bella to the family, was a vintner at the Luciano-Bellini family vineyard in Palermo, and this year she had decided not to come home for Thanksgiving.
More Italian than English flew through the room as her parents, siblings, cousin, uncles and aunt exchanged greetings with her.
When the chatter had slowed a bit, Ben said, “Bella, Jess and her friend Gabe Greer will be landing in Rome early Tuesday.” He looked at Jess. “They will be filming near Bologna for the next few months. Maybe you could all get together sometime.”
“Forse, dare loro il mio numero di cellulare. Vedremo cosa siamo in grado di lavorare fuori.” Marie Terese replied.
Gabe leaned toward Jess and whispered, “You have family in Italy?”
“Ben’s sister, although I’ve never met her. And all of his grandparents are still in Sicily.” Jess whispered back.
Gabe spoke up, “Marie Terese, this is Gabe. We’ll definitely get your number from Ben and give you a call.”
Jess looked at him. She knew Gabe had grown up, the only child of two only child parents and apparently, he was totally caught up in being a member of this big family. She was ready to wring his neck. He kept talking about the two of them as if they were a couple or a unit and it wasn’t helping the Joey situation. He also didn’t seem to realize that the closer he became with her family the more people who would eventually be in on his secret. Not that any of the Parkers, Bellinis or Lucianos would ever breathe a word to anyone if they were asked not to, but then he’d owe them and he had no idea what that meant either.
Kansas City was a mob town, and everyone in town suspected the Bellinis and Lucianos were connected, but how did you explain that to someone like Gabe who had grown up in Hollywood and saw everything like it was a scene in a movie? They had a long flight on Monday, and explaining how she got the Bellinis to buy her shoes wasn’t the only family insight she’d be sharing.
After desserts had been eaten and coffee consumed, Meg, her mother Betty, Teadora, Elena and Daniela descended on the kitchen, quickly putting the left overs into containers and washing dishes. Mama Bellini shooed Lane out of the kitchen and suggested she might like to have a nap.
“But you’re guests.” Lane argued as Mama Bellini put her arm around Lane and walked her to the master suite.
“Basta! We’re family, and you need your rest.” She walked Lane into the master suite, where Abbey Kelly was already asleep, and waited for Lane to lay on the bed before pulling the throw over her, leaving the room and closing the door.
