Anything But Mine (20 page)

Jen held her left hand out in front of her, and watched as the ring sparkled in the moonlight. “It’s a beautiful ring, Vince,” she said softly. “Thank you.”

Vince wrapped his arms around Jen, sensing that something was troubling her. “Just so you know, I personally picked this ring out for you. I didn’t staff it out. But, if you don’t like it, we can bring it back to Tiffany and exchange it for anything you want.”

“No, no, really, Vince, I love it. It’s beautiful, and I wouldn’t want to bring it back, most especially because you took the time to pick it out just for me.”

“But…”

“You know I love you, Vince, and I meant it when I said yes, that I will marry you and be your wife. But it just seems like everything is happening so quickly with us. It’s only been six months since our first date.”

Vince was prepared for Jen’s reaction. “And it has only been five months since we first spent the night together.” He wrapped his arms around Jen, and continued, “I know it seems like everything has happened so quickly, but I love you, and I want to have children with you, and let’s face it, I’m not getting any younger.”

Jen nodded her head, and was silent for a few minutes, before whispering, “We’re going to have to keep our engagement secret for a while, at least until you’ve had the chance to talk to my father.”

“There’s no need to keep secrets, my love. I’ve already spoken to your father, and he gave me, and us, his blessing.”

Surprised, Jen abruptly sat forward and turned around to look at Vince. “When did you speak with him?”

Vince smiled as he stood up and retrieved their champagne glasses. He handed Jen her glass, and watched as she took a deep sip, before taking a sip of his own. “Over Memorial Day weekend, right before the party, when you, your mom and Gina were getting things ready in the kitchen,” he said, as he picked up the bottle and refilled their glasses.

Sitting back again in the lounge chair, Jen tipped her head back and drained her champagne glass, then passed it to Vince for a refill. “I had no idea the two of you had that conversation.”

“Your father is a doctor, Jennifer. He is good at keeping confidences.”
Confidences, secrets...what secrets are you keeping from me, Jennifer?

Jen nodded, and took another long drink of champagne before tilting her head up towards the star-
filled
night sky.
It’s dark by now in California. I wonder if Drew is looking up at the same stars,
she thought, before shaking her head to try to rid it of any thoughts of him.
I’ll have to try to call him before he finds out from someone else that I’m engaged.

Vince interrupted her thoughts when he poured the last drops from the champagne bottle into her glass. “It’s getting late, and a little chilly. Let’s go inside, crawl into bed together, and finish our celebration in private.”

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

T
he next morning, Jen and Vince walked into Grace and Peter’s house just in time for breakfast. “Hey, Mom and Dad,” Jen called out as she and Vince walked towards the back deck, where Grace, Peter and her younger sister, Gina, were seated.

Standing to greet them, Grace said, “I’m so glad you called and said you wanted to join us for breakfast.”

Jen glanced at Vince, who put his arm around her. “We have some important news to share with all of you. Vince and I are engaged. We’re getting married.”

Gina jumped to her feet and joined Grace in hugging Jen, and Peter stood to shake Vince’s hand before kissing Jen on the cheek.

Gina asked, “Can we see your ring?”

Grace wiped away some happy tears as she and Gina admired the diamond engagement ring. “I want to hear all about the proposal over breakfast,” Grace said, as they sat down and began to pass the platters of bacon, scrambled eggs and toast.

Vince gave a recap of the prior evening, from the fireworks to the proposal over glasses of champagne in the back yard at Deer Run. “Jennifer has made me the happiest man in the world,” he said, as he leaned over to kiss her on the cheek.

When Gina asked about the wedding plans, Jen replied, “We haven’t had the time to discuss any plans yet.”

“Well, as soon as we’re done with breakfast I’m going to go to the store to pick up some bridal magazines so we can start to look at dresses,” Gina offered.

“Umm…okay, thanks Gina,” replied Jen, as she buttered a piece of toast.

Peter sat back and observed the happy chaos around the breakfast table, noting that Jen was quieter than he expected her to be, given her big news. He raised his eyebrows, but said nothing, when Gina asked if they had a date in mind, and Jen replied they were in no rush while, simultaneously, Vince said he hoped they would get married as soon as possible.

Gina and Grace were also puzzled by their contradictory answers, but Jen re-
assured
them. “We simply haven’t had the chance to talk about any wedding plans yet. This all just happened late last night,” Jen explained.

“And there is a lot to talk about,” Vince chimed in, adding that they should start to make plans as soon as possible. “Grace, maybe you, Jen and Gina can start working on the wedding details this week. You might want to see what dates St. Ignatius Loyola has available in the next few months.”

Jen’s head snapped up, “St. Ignatius Loyola? On Park Avenue?”

“It’s the Catholic church closest to our home, Jennifer,” Vince replied. “It makes sense.”

Jen said nothing, and instead stared off into space for a moment. “It was always my dream, since I was a little girl, to get married out here, at Our Lady of Poland,” she said, quietly, as Grace and Gina nodded their heads in agreement.

Indignant, Vince blurted out, “Seriously?” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he realized that everyone around the table was staring at him, and he quickly added, “I think we probably need to compile a guest list to see how many people we’re expecting before we decide on a venue.” He raised Jen’s left hand to his lips, and gently kissed it before saying, “I know the LaBella women have planned many parties over the years. You are pros and don’t need my help, but I can contribute Marianne, my personal assistant, in case you want someone to help coordinate.”

Peter dabbed at his mouth with his napkin, and pushed his chair back from the table. “Vince, let’s let the girls have some time together. I was thinking about heading over to the club. Why don’t you join me for a round of golf?”

“I’d love to,” Vince said. “I’m just going to run back to Deer Run to pick up my clubs.”

“And I’m going to run into the village to get some bridal magazines,” Gina said. “I’ll be back in a little bit.”

Once Vince and Gina left the house, Peter joined his wife and daughter in the kitchen, where they were cleaning up the breakfast dishes. “Jen, Grace, can I talk to you both for a few minutes? Before Vince gets back.”

When they were all seated around the kitchen island, Peter said, “Jen, I don’t want to burst your bubble, but I want to make sure you understand and are aware of a few things about Vince.” He took a deep breath and continued, “First, you realize that Vince is going to want you to sign a pre-
nuptial
agreement, right?”

Unable to look at her parents, Jen simply nodded her head and whispered, “Yes, I guess he will.”

Grace and Peter exchanged concerned looks, before Peter attempted to re-
assure
his daughter. “I’ll help you find the best representation, and help you get the best possible deal in the event of a divorce.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

“Next, I don’t like how possessive of you Vince is. At first, when he wanted to protect you after the break-
in
at your apartment, I was grateful, and pleased that he cared about you so much. But now, I worry that he exerts too much control over you. How do you feel?”

Jen took a moment to think about her father’s concerns, before replying “I understand, Dad. You’re right, Vince can be possessive and jealous, but I think it comes from a good place. He has a good heart, and he loves me. I’ve managed to figure out ways to handle his possessiveness, and get him to ease up on me a bit. He just wants to keep me safe.”

Peter sighed, and nodded his head. “Finally, and most importantly, your mother and I just want you to be happy. Are you happy? Is this really what you want?”

“Yes, this is what I want,” Jen said, unable to look her parents in the eyes, as she stood to hug them. “I know that Vince loves me, and that he will always take care of me, and keep me safe.”

Once her father and Vince left for the golf club, Jen turned to Grace and said, “I need a few minutes alone so I can make some phone calls, Mom. Is it okay if I go up to my old room?”

“Of course,” Grace said. “It will always be your room, honey.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Jen said, as she turned and climbed the stairs. She opened the door to her old bedroom, lay down on the bed, and started to punch in some numbers on her cell phone, before changing her mind and reaching for the land line handset instead.
I wonder if Vince checks my phone records. Better to be safe than sorry,
she thought, as she put the receiver to her ear.

When a sleepy voice answered the phone at the other end of the line, she asked, “How’s my best friend?”

“Hey, Jen…I’m good, how are you? And why are you calling so early on a Sunday morning?” Drew whispered as he slipped out of bed and walked down the hallway, out of earshot of Collette. “Is everything okay?”

“Everything is fine. I’m sorry if I woke you up.”

“It’s okay, no problem. I’m just walking into the next room so I don’t wake up Collette.”

“Where are you?”

“I’m at her apartment.”

Of course you are,
Jen thought, as she looked at the clock on the nightstand.
It’s 7:30 in the morning in California.
“I’m so sorry, Drew. I had a little time alone and wanted to talk to you, and totally forgot about the time difference.”

“I’m always happy to hear your voice, Jen, no matter what time it is.” He sat down on the sofa in Collette’s living room, putting his feet up on the coffee table, and asked, “So, what’s up with you?”

“I have some news, Drew.” She took a deep breath, before continuing, “Vince and I are getting married.”

Drew bolted upright. “What?”

“Vince asked me to marry him last night. We’re engaged.”

Drew’s voice had a distinct chill to it when he spoke. “This is a big surprise, Jen.”

“Yes, it is. I wanted to call you as soon as I had a moment alone, because I didn’t want you to hear about it from someone else.”

Drew took a deep breath. “All I want is for you to be happy. Are you, Jen?”

“Vince is a good man, and he has taken good care of me. He has protected me, and he loves me.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“That’s the best answer I can give you, Drew.”

They were silent for a few moments, before Drew finally spoke. “Can I ask you something? If I told you that I was going to move back to New York tomorrow, would you still marry Vince?”

“Are you moving back to New York?”

He sighed. “No, I wish I were, but I’m not, Jen.”

“Then I’m not going to answer that question. It doesn’t do either of us any good to speculate about something that isn’t going to happen.”

“But would you be marrying him if I was there?”

Aggravated by his question, Jen snapped at Drew. “Would you have woken up in Collette’s bed this morning if you were moving back to New York?” When Drew didn’t answer her, Jen said, “Oh God, Drew, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“No, I deserved it. I’m sorry too.”
Oh my God, I love you, Jen,
he thought. “Assuming I’m invited, I’ll definitely make the trip to New York for the wedding.”

“Of course you’ll be invited.”

“I wouldn’t miss it,” Drew said, glad that Jen couldn’t see the tears that had welled up in his eyes.

They chatted a few more minutes, before Drew heard Collette stirring in the bedroom, and he wrapped up the conversation with Jen. He placed his cell phone on the coffee table and stared at it, shaking his head.
You said you didn’t want to get involved in a rebound relationship, and now you’re marrying your rebound guy. Why? Why?

Drew was lost in his thoughts about Jen, and was startled when Collette sat down next to him, asking, “Who was that on the phone?”

Instead of answering her question, he replied “I’ve got to run, Collette.” He jogged into the bedroom, pulled on his clothes, and returned to the living room. He picked up his phone, leaned over, and kissed Collette on the cheek. “I’ll call you later,” he said, as he ran out the door.

Drew pulled his car into the driveway and ran inside the house, where he found his parents having breakfast in the kitchen. It took a few minutes before he worked up the courage to ask his father when he thought he would be able to manage the business on his own again, but even before his father spoke, he knew the answer to his question: his father needed him, and would need him for the foreseeable future.

“I’m sorry, son,” Jude Crawford aid. “I’m just not 100% yet.”

Drew said nothing in response, and resignedly nodded his head before walking down the hall to his bedroom.

After a few minutes, Drew’s mother, Laura, gently knocked on his bedroom door. When there was no reply, she knocked again before slowly turning the door knob and opening the door. She peered inside, where she found Drew lying face down on his bed.

Laura sat down on the edge of the bed, and reached out to her son. “You may be 25, and a grown man, but you’ll always be my baby,” she said. “Talk to me, Drew.”

He rolled over onto his back, revealing his bloodshot eyes and tear-
streaked
face. “It’s nothing mom, really,” he said, as he clutched an old 49ers t-
shirt
.

“It must be something, honey. It looks like you’ve been crying.” When Drew didn’t answer and instead just stared up at the ceiling, she asked, “Is it Collette? Did you two have a fight?”

Drew responded with a shake of his head. “No, we didn’t have a fight. I just got some upsetting news, unexpected news, that’s all.”

“What happened?”

“Jen called this morning to tell me she is engaged. She’s getting married.” Drew covered his eyes with the 49ers t-
shirt
that he wore to bed his last night in New York, which still held the faint vanilla-
sugar
scent of Jen’s perfumed moisturizer, trying to hide from his mother the tears that once again began to stream down his face.

Laura’s heart broke for her youngest child. “I’m so sorry, honey. I know how much Jen means to you, and how much you had wanted to stay in New York to be with her, before your father became ill.” When Drew nodded in agreement, she continued, “I wish things were different.”

“Me too, mom. I wish I could turn back the clock, maybe do a few things differently. That photo,” he said, pointing towards his desk, “and this t-
shirt
, are all I have left of her.”