Moore Than Forever (25 page)

“You know what my concern is, don’t you?” Yoli looked him square in the eye.

“Not having a strong enough operations person to run multiple sites on the west coast.”

She nodded and took another sip, “I don’t have backfill strong enough there yet, Schooner. Lucas is good, but I think he’d be in over his head and we really need someone we can trust. Someone who will be in it for the long haul.”

“The trust piece of it is the most important aspect. There is someone I’m thinking of who I would totally trust, he’s run multi-facility organizations, just not in this industry. Smart guy, likable and between us we can teach him what he needs to know. Let me reach out to him and see if he’d even be interested in making a move. If he’s interested, I’ll put you two together.”

Out of the corner of his eye he saw her standing in the doorway looking up at him through her eyelashes.

“Hi, Daddy,” she twirled slightly from side to side, her dress and its bright yellow underskirt swishing with her.

“Hi, Sweetheart,” and the minute he held out his arms she came bounding into the room and up into his lap.

“Are you having a good time at the party?” Yoli asked.

The little girl nodded vigorously and settled herself against Schooner’s chest.

“She is precious, Schooner. It’s very clear who’s going to be Daddy’s girl.”

Nodding, he laughed. The extra time he had with her in Zambia created a bond that he never saw coming. Just as she had found her way into Mia’s heart, Portia stole his, and every morning he rushed from his hotel over to the site to spend time with his soon-to-be daughter. It wasn’t long before he found himself taking her everywhere, and as the days turned into weeks, there was not a shot in hell that Schooner Moore was leaving the country without his daughter, Portia Msikana Moore, in his arms.

“You’re so Brad Pitt,” Yoli teased.

Hugging his young daughter to his chest, he let out a guffaw, “Do not call Mia Angelina or she will go absolutely postal on you.”

Portia’s eyes were getting heavy as she tried her hardest not to fall asleep, but the excitement of the day (and probably a little too much sugar) had worn the little girl out.

“Was it hard to get her out?” Yoli whispered.

He just nodded, his somber eyes locked in on his friend’s.

“Harder than Mia knows?”

He nodded again.

“Are you ok?” her brows drawn together, there was concern in Yoli’s deep brown eyes.

“Oh, yeah, we’re fine. The business is fine. Don’t worry about anything. Let’s just put it this way, the sale of the house on Linda Isle was very timely.”

“Wow,” Yoli knew the house had sold for a staggering amount of money and even with giving half of it to CJ and paying broker’s fees, Schooner’s share was high seven figures, “you are such a good guy. You really are.”

“She makes me better,” he nodded his head toward the living room where Mia was entertaining everyone.

“She does. She makes you better,” Yoli agreed, “but I have a feeling you make her better, too.”

With his real smile shining all the way to his eyes, he appeared reflective, as if he were smiling internally, “We are a pretty formidable team, she and I,” and then his smile became external. “Did I ever tell you about the conversation CJ and I had the day we signed the divorce papers?”

“Pour me some more of that, I have a feeling I’m going to need it,” and she slid her glass back across the desk to him.

Picking up the bottle of Hennessy Paradis, “Do you believe that scumwad, Beau, drank a whole bottle of this at my house. Eight hundred bucks a bottle and he just helped himself,” Schooner just shook his head, poured Yoli a stiff drink and slid the glass back across the table. He started to laugh again, his eyes dancing, “So, she told me not to move my boat back east, because Mia and I didn’t look good together and I wasn’t going to be able to handle that,” he could hardly finish his sentence he was laughing so hard, nearly waking Portia.

Yoli’s mouth hung open, “I’m speechless. Has she totally lost touch with reality? It’s amazing how little she understands, even after all these years, just what makes you tick. So, what did you do?”

“The only thing I could do. Left the meeting and made two phone calls. One to the transporter guy in Newport Beach and the other to the marina in Ocean Beach to rent a slip.”

“True Compass is here?”

Schooner nodded, “I haven’t seen her yet. We’re planning on going out next weekend. Charles has seen her, said she looks fine. Arrived without a scratch on her.”

“Aunt Yoli’s present, let me buy the kids little life vests.”

“That’s a great gift, Yol. You are an amazing Aunt.” Yoli Perez was the sister Schooner Moore never had and he couldn’t have been happier that she wanted to be a part of his children’s lives.

“So, when are you getting married?” she sipped the smooth cognac.

“Good question,” Schooner shrugged his shoulders, “I just got home, so I don’t know. Ask Mia,” and with a smile and sparkling eyes, “or better yet, ask Seth and Lois.”

Together they laughed at what they knew was the absolute truth.

Chapter Forty-seven

With the last guests gone and the kids asleep, Schooner and Mia finished cleaning the kitchen. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Mia smiling at him.

“What are you smiling at, Baby Girl?” his panty wetting smile was at full wattage.

“Us. Look at us,” she leaned against the marble counter.

Coming to stand in front of her, Schooner lifted Mia and sat her on the counter. Smoothing her hair, that was curling in the summer humidity, he smiled down at her.

“It’s pretty nice, isn’t it?” continuing to smooth her curls with his fingers.

“It’s so,” Mia paused to think, “normal,” and she hit him with a devil grin.

And they both laughed.

“Don’t you just love it?” Schooner was relaxed and calm, rested from his long journey with Portia.

“I do. I’m just thinking how wonderful the rest of this summer is going to be. I can’t believe it’s July and we haven’t been out to the beach house yet.”

“Next weekend.”

“I can’t wait to see how the two of them respond to sand and the ocean. Don’t forget to bring the video camera, I have a feeling our kids will put on a good show for us.”

Schooner laughed, “Why do I have this suspicion that Nathaniel is going to be a sand eater?”

Smiling up at him, “Because he is going to be a sand eater. Everything goes in that mouth.”

Taking his finger and running it gently along her lower lip, he watched her intently, a small smirk on his face. Mia opened her lips slightly, the tip of her tongue coming out to meet the tip of his finger, swirling around it slowly.

“Nice tongue action, Baby Girl. Is that a preview of coming attractions?”

“Help me clean this kitchen and it’s a promise.”

“You know what, I forgot to call Holly back,” Schooner grabbed his phone off the counter.

“Anything to get out of cleaning this kitchen. I know your tricks, Pretty Boy,” she pointed a serving spoon at him.

Laughing, he dialed Holly’s cell, “Hi, Sweetheart, I wanted to get back to you … oh yeah, it was great, she did really well meeting a lot of people … I know, isn’t she adorable. She’s such a good girl, too. Sonkwe and Bupe have done such a nice job raising her … So, what’s going on.” Schooner’s eyes widened and the look on his face was pure amusement. “Really? She wanted you to personally tell me that? Well, I’m sorry she saw fit to make you the messenger, Sweetheart … Seriously? She wants my reaction? … Ok, well tell her I laughed and said, “He’ll never marry her.” … Yes, exactly like that… How are Grandma and Grandpa feeling? … good, good … So, are you going to spend some time with us on the beach? … Sweetheart, don’t ever feel like you need to be asked … we want you there always … Mia’s nodding her head … Zac wants to know if it’s ok if he comes, too? … Tell him of course,” laughing. “Yes, Mia is still nodding her head. But that might be a headache … we’re going out next weekend and I’m sure Mia will be there with the kids through Labor Day … I know, he misses you, too … you’re not going to believe how big he’s gotten … ok, Sweetheart,” laughing, “yes, that is my message … I love you, too. Get some plane tickets. Goodnight.”

“What was that all about?” Mia looked truly perplexed.

“CJ and Beau are engaged,” Schooner’s smile told a tale of happiness.

Mia screeched, hands flying to her mouth, “Oh no, I hope I didn’t wake the kids,” but there was no sound from their bedroom. “Wait, she wanted Holly to tell you that? That’s so fucked up.”

“That’s so CJ,” he laughed.

“And your response was, ‘He’ll never marry her?’ I don’t understand,” Mia’s brows were knit together.

Nodding his head, his sapphire eyes were truly alight.

“I don’t understand your response,” Mia was still perplexed.

“There is a method to my madness, Baby Girl.” This time he jumped up and sat on the kitchen counter, long legs dangling.

Going over to stand between his legs, “Ok, ‘splain it to me, Lucy.”

He laughed, “Well, if I tell CJ, he’s never going to marry you, she is going to be hell bent on proving me wrong and she will get that fucker to marry her yesterday.”

“And that means no alimony.”

“You are right, Baby Girl. It’s not that I have an issue paying CJ alimony, because I don’t. I was married to her for a long time and I get that. It’s supporting that fucker that really chafes my ass. He actually sold his condo and moved into my house. I was paying that fucking freeloader’s rent. So yes, I want her to marry him, because it is my alimony check that he is living on.”

Rubbing her hands up and down the front of his thighs, Mia thought reflectively, before speaking. “Do you think he’ll marry her?”

“Fifty-fifty shot. Am sure he likes the current financial arrangement and marrying her means she becomes his expense and CJ is not a cheap expense. He’s also forty-four years old and has never been married. So those are the cons. On the pro side, he’s wanted her his whole life and he’s thrilled to have her as arm candy.”

“And he’s getting laid,” Mia couldn’t hide her devil grin.

“Yeah and not paying for it,” Schooner cracked himself up. “Well, he is paying for it. He just doesn’t have to call and schedule it through an 800 number.”

“So, shall we take bets? Will they or won’t they? And if they do, the date.”

“You’re on, Baby Girl. I say they do. If he balks, she’ll seal it with a blowjob,” picking up his phone and hitting the calendar app, he scrolled, “Sunday, August 25th.”

“Let me see that,” Mia reached for his phone, “I agree, she will get him to marry her. It might take some coercing, but she will get her way,” she looked up at Schooner, “we know that first hand. But I don’t think they will stay married for too long. I give it twelve to sixteen months. Hmm, let’s see, Friday, August 15th is my guess. If she gets married before that I win and get the prize of my choice, if it’s after the 25th, you win and choose your prize. I think she’ll want to do it before Holly and Zac are back east in school, but she’ll want to mess up their time on the beach with us.”

“Oh you know she’s going to want to do that. Now, why don’t you think they’ll stay married.”

“He’s not rich enough or good looking enough. He’s just a fuck you to you and me. That’s all he is to her,” was Mia’s assessment.

“Well, the big fuck you is that neither you or I care. And speaking of fucking, is the kitchen clean enough for a blow job yet?”

“I’d tell you to lose the cargo shorts, Pretty Boy,” the devil was in the kitchen, “it’s known as counter service. But we now have a kid that walks, so doors that lock are now our friend.”

Jumping down from the counter, he grabbed her hand and started to pull her toward their bedroom with long-legged strides. Looking back, “We really did become normal,” and the smile on his face said he loved everything about it.

Chapter Forty-eight

Toes dug in the sand, Nathaniel asleep in his Pack ‘n Play under the umbrella, Mia and Gaby sat on their beach chairs watching Portia and Paola looking for holes to appear in the sand each time the ocean receded after a crashing wave. They’d see a bubble and start digging, knowing that under the gritty muck was a clam waiting to be put into their buckets. Each clam discovered brought elated squeals and a shout of, “Look Mommy,” before finding its way into a brightly colored pail.

“I have missed being here,” Mia Silver looked more relaxed and content than she’d possibly ever looked in her life.

“I’ve missed having you. It’s lonely here without you during the week.”

“I assure you that I am not stepping foot off of this island until after Labor Day,” Mia promised, unconsciously digging her toes deeper into the sun-warmed sand.

“Mommy,” Portia was jumping up and down, her thin limbs flailing. As she held up the clam for Mia to see, a stream of salt water shot from the clam’s foot. Laughing, squealing and jumping simultaneously, Portia cried out, “Ahhhh, clammies making a pee-pee,” causing both little girls to shriek and jump around.