Solid Foundation (7 page)

Jameson
shook her head. “What are those two up to?” she wondered.

“Hey,”
Michelle called as she opened the door slightly. “You okay?”

Jameson forced a smile. “Great.”
       

“Uh-oh.
Bad
time? I thought we were supposed to
meet here?”

“No…I
mean, yes. We were supposed to meet here. Lately, there is no
good
time,” Jameson said.

“J.D.
you look like shit. What is wrong?” Michelle asked.

“Just
tired. I really need to wrap two of these projects before next week. I just
have no idea how I am going to do it. Probably going to have to inconvenience
you and crash at your place all weekend. Sorry.”

Michelle
laughed. “J.D., my place is actually your place; remember?”

“Nah.
You pay rent,” Jameson said.

“Uh-huh.
Like half what the place is worth. Don’t worry about me. I probably won’t be
home this weekend anyway.”

“Really?
Why’s that?”

Michelle
grinned. “Actually, celebrating the end of the school year with friends,” she
said.

“What
kind of friends?” Jameson asked suspiciously. “Oh…this is that mum’s the word
thing of yours. When do we meet her?”

“Friends,
J.D. Just friends.”

“Yeah…You
have that look,” Jameson said.

“What
look?”

“The
one your mother gets when she’s about to…”

“Stop!
I don’t want to know!” Michelle shuddered.

“I
was going to say open her fortune cookie. But, thank you for confirming where
your mind is.”

“All
right, so maybe there is someone I might be interested in. We’re just friends.
That’s all.”

Jameson
nodded. “Well, I hope it works out, Shell. By the look
on
your
face,
you like this
woman almost as much as your mom likes her fortune cookies, and that’s saying
something.”

“So?
You ready to go shopping or what?”

“Or
what?” Jameson responded. “Is there a what? If this is a
multiple
choice
question,
I will take answer B, please.”

“I
might let you off the hook, but your mom is another
story,
” Michelle said. Jameson mumbled something under her breath.
“What was that?”

“Nothing.
Let’s go. Your mom is going to kill me for not coming home this weekend.”

“I
doubt it, but why don’t you just have her come here?”

“To
the condo?” Jameson asked.

“Yeah.
Why not?”

“Maybe.
She’s been on a tear with Pearl for this barbeque.” Jameson said.

“This
barbeque is your wedding reception,” Michelle reminded Jameson.

“I
know.”

“J.D.?”

“I
'm okay
. Just too much to do and not enough
time to do it. That, and I don’t know how to deal with Gollum.”

“Who?”

“You
know…Gollum,” Jameson repeated.

“Like
the creature in Lord of the Rings?” Michelle asked. “I’m afraid to ask.”

“That
little ankle biter that’s following your mom around the last month.”

Michelle
erupted in laughter. “Jason?”

“Yeah,
him. The ankle biter.”

“Ankle
biter?
”
Michelle kept laughing.

“Yeah.
He’s always on her heels and when he’s not he’s on mine or Pearl’s. Ankle biter…slithering
around all the time. He’s Gollum,” Jameson said.

“Well,
maybe when we pick up your rings later you will be able to banish him,”
Michelle offered through her laughter.

“What
are you talking about?” Jameson asked.

“The
One Ring. J.D., you’re the one who called him Gollum. Don’t you get it? Do you
even know the story?”

“NO!
I know he is a slithering little creature who repeats himself constantly.”

Michelle
covered her face and shook her head. “He’s just trying to get a feel for you,”
she said.

“It’s
annoying,” Jameson replied.

“I’d
get used to it. You’re going to
have gnaw
marks on your ankles for the next year,” Michelle said.

“Great.
And, she was worried about Jinx? How can a woman who deals with slimy little
creatures all day be opposed to cats?” Jameson wondered aloud.

“Well,
you seem to have cured her of that aversion. Maybe Jason will grow on you.”

“Yeah,
like a fungus,” Jameson replied.

Michelle
laughed harder. “Come on. Look at the bright side.”

“There’s
a bright side?” Jameson asked.

“Sure.
At least Gollum isn’t going shopping with us.”

“Remind
me not to call you when I need cheering up,” Jameson said.

Michelle
pushed Jameson out the door. “Let’s go old lady. Slithery creatures are nothing
compared to mothers left waiting, and yours is no better than mine on that
count.”

“Ugh.
I told her we should have just
flow
n to
Vegas,” Jameson grumbled. “One more week. Just one more week.”

“Until
you’re an old married lady,” Michelle said. “Look at it this way, you get stuck
with us for life. Your ankles will only need bandages for about a
year
unless Mom runs for president or something
crazy like that.”

“Oh
God, I’ll need a body cast. Let’s go. Explain this ring theory of yours to me
on the way.”

Michelle
rolled her eyes. She waved to Melanie on the way out. Melanie mouthed her
question to Michelle silently. “Ring theory?”

“Later,”
Michelle mouthed back.

“Did
you say something?” Jameson asked.

“Nope.
Come on. I’ll explain on the way.”

“Where
is J.D. going?” Bryan Mills asked Melanie.

“Something
about rings and theories. Don’t ask me,” Melanie shrugged.

“You’re
awfully chipper. What gives?” he asked.

“You
know…When the boss is away, the architects play,” Melanie said as she skipped
off.

“This
place has gone crazy,” he laughed as Melanie skipped off in one direction and
J.D.’s arms flailed in protest of something as she walked out the door with
Michelle. “Completely insane.”

Marianne walked into the
kitchen and found her mother staring out the back door. “Mom?”

Candace
turned to her daughter and smiled. “When did you get here? I didn’t even hear
the door.”

“Just
now. Rick is taking the bags upstairs.”

“Where’s
Spencer?” Candace asked.

“J.D.
commandeered him the minute we pulled in,” Marianne said. “Actually, I was kind
of hoping that Rick and I could talk to the two of you before everyone gets
here.”

Candace
frowned slightly. Marianne had traveled miles in her acceptance of Jameson.
Candace had thought that she was actually happy to have Jameson in their
family. She couldn’t imagine what Marianne would want to discuss with them. She
took a deep breath and held it for a moment.

“It’s
not what you are thinking,” Marianne said.

“What’s
not what you’re thinking?” Jameson asked as she entered the room carrying
Spencer.

Candace’s
face immediately lit up at the sight of her grandson sleeping on Jameson’s
shoulder.
“Marianne and Rick have something they
want to talk to us about,” Candace said.

Jameson
looked at Marianne hesitantly. Marianne sighed. “It’s not what you two are
thinking. Honestly. Can we just go sit in the other room and wait for Rick?”

“You
sure don’t waste time,” Jameson said with a nervous chuckle.

“I
just want to talk to you before Shell or Jonah get here later,” Marianne
explained.

“Okay.
Should I be opening wine or pouring coffee?” Candace asked.

“Neither,”
Marianne responded. She grabbed her mother’s hand and led her toward the living
room.

Jameson
whispered in Spencer’s ear. “What is your momma up to, buddy?” she asked the
sleeping toddler. He nestled into her neck. “Yeah. I’m with you there, bud. Hold
me. I’m afraid,” she giggled as she made her way into the living room. Rick
followed her in and took a seat next to his wife. Jameson sat beside Candace.

“You
have our full attention,” Candace said. “What’s on your minds?”

Rick
smiled and Marianne took his hand. “You know that Rick lost his mom when he was
only eleven,” Marianne said. Candace and Jameson acknowledged the statement
silently. “Well, it’s something we’ve both talked a lot about. When we had
Spencer, we talked about it. What each of us would do if one of us passed
unexpectedly or got sick.”

Candace
felt the breath leave her body. “Marianne?”

Marianne
saw the fear that washed over her mother’s features. “It’s okay Mom, no one is
sick.” Candace let out her breath and felt Jameson squeeze her hand. “In fact,
we are all well. All of us,” Marianne grinned.

“Marianne?”
Candace asked again.

“I’m
pregnant.”

Candace
smiled widely. “That’s what this was about?”

“Partly,”
Rick said. “We wanted to tell you both first. That’s because we also wanted to
ask you something,” he said.

“What?”
Candace asked.

Marianne
looked at Jameson, then at her mother, and then back to Jameson. “J.D., we’ve
talked about this a lot. I know you and Mom don’t want to have children,” she
said. Jameson looked at her curiously. “We both think it’s important that we
have a plan. God forbid anything happened to us. I hope that never happens, but
if it ever did…”

Jameson
nodded. “What are you asking?”

“We
would like you two to raise them. It won’t happen, but it would give us peace
of mind if we knew you would agree,” Marianne said.

Candace
looked at Marianne in disbelief and then at Jameson. Jameson instinctively held
Spencer a little tighter and looked directly at Marianne. “You never have to
worry about that, either of you. I shouldn’t speak for your mom. In this case,
I’m fairly sure we are on the same page. If that’s what you would want, then
put your mind to rest. You always have a home here. Spencer does and so does
anyone else that might come along.”

Candace
tightened her grip on Jameson’s hand. “Jameson is right. I have to tell you
that I am a little surprised. What about Rick’s brother and sister, or your
own?” she asked.

Rick
nodded. “They are all wonderful. We also know you would make
certain
that our children know that;
know their
family.”

“Of
course,” Candace agreed.

“The
truth is you are the only Mom I’ve ever
really
known. My mom was sick for a long time. My dad was lost when she died.
Spencer….Well, look at him. We don’t want to impose on your life. We just…”

“Spencer
could never be an imposition,” Jameson said. “It’s true. I told you,” she
looked at the pair seated across from her. “I
told
you
once that your mother and I didn’t have any plans to have children.
That’s the truth. We don’t. Things happen. I hope it never happens that your
kids have to spend more than a weekend or a summer vacation here because that’s
what they want to do. If it ever happened, and it won’t…I can promise you they
would be raised to know who their parents were. We would do our best for them
in every way we could. Not just your mom, me too.”

Marianne
nodded. “I know, J.D.”

Candace
smiled at her daughter. “Enough with the
heavy
drama. When do I get another grandchild?”

Marianne
laughed. “Sometime right after the first of the year,” she said.

“I
think you just gave your Mom the best wedding present she could get,” Jameson
commented. She watched as Candace made her way to Marianne and enveloped her in
her arms.

“Thank
you,” Candace whispered to her daughter.

“Thank
you, Mom,” Marianne said.

“You
really don’t know how much what you both said means to me,” Candace replied.

Marianne
smiled. “Yes, I do.”

“What
is going on in here?” Michelle said as she threw her bag on the floor. “I
thought I was coming home for a wedding,” she said. Candace turned and Michelle
saw the tears running over her cheek. “What the hell? You made her cry on her
wedding weekend?” she barked at her sister. Candace started laughing and shook
her head. “Okay? What am I missing?” Michelle asked.

“I’m
pregnant,” Marianne said.

Michelle
nodded and looked at Rick. “You the father of this one too?” she asked
seriously.

Rick
jumped slightly as the rest of the room fell into a fit of laughter.
“Understand the choice now?” Marianne whispered to her mother. Candace just
laughed.

“Better
be a girl this time. One named Shell. That sounds about right,” Michelle said.

“You
birth it and you can name it,” Marianne shot back.

“The
only thing I am birthing right now is
a beer
.
Once I find it,” Michelle said as she wandered off to the kitchen. “Come on preggo,”
she called back to her sister. “I’ll pour you a nice glass of milk.”

“Little
shit,” Marianne griped as she made her way toward the kitchen.

“Grab
me a cold one too!” Rick called out.

“He
meant milk!” Marianne’s voice carried.

Candace
shook her head and flopped back onto the couch beside Jameson. “You do know
what you are getting into tomorrow?” she asked.

Jameson
leaned in and captured Candace’s lips in a tender kiss. “I knew a long time ago
you had a thing for lunatics.”

Candace
chuckled. “That in a fortune cookie too?”

“Nah,
but you fell in love with me. Something must have paved my way.”

Candace
placed her head on Jameson’s shoulder and her hand on Spencer’s back and closed
her eyes. Jameson leaned back and closed hers. Marianne stopped in the doorway
and smiled. She turned and beckoned her husband and sister to the
doorway
.

“They
look good like that,” Rick said.

“Yeah,
don’t get any ideas,” Michelle whispered. “Jameson has an aversion to ankle
biters. I think you two will have to provide the new additions.”

Marianne
looked at Michelle. “Now, you know, you are telling us that story.”

“Okay,
but let’s wait for Jonah.”

“That
good?” Marianne asked and pointed toward the kitchen.

“I
went shopping with Jameson. Trust me. It’s good. Like fireside, beer drinking
kind of good. J.D. hates shopping, has deemed Mom’s campaign manager Gollum,
and actually asked mom if they could get married in Vegas,” Michelle said as
the trio slowly walked down the hallway.

Marianne
shook her head. “Why do I always have to be pregnant when there is an occasion
for
beer
?”

“Don’t
look at me!” Michelle laughed. “No itty bitties for me. I practice safe sex.”

“Shell,
you are a lesbian,” Marianne said more loudly than she had planned.

“Where
there is a will, there is a way,” Michelle chimed. She took a long pull from
her beer.

“I
don’t want to know what that means.
Backyard
now,” Marianne ordered.

“God,
you’re bossy,” Michelle complained.

“And
you are annoying. Go!”

Jameson
felt Candace shaking with laughter against her. “Gollum?” Candace asked.

Jameson
groaned. “She really should just rent billboards to embarrass me. It would be
easier.”

“Don’t
give her any ideas,” Candace said. “Now, really? Gollum?”

Jameson
groaned. “It’s like this…”

***

“You ready?” Candace
called. Jameson turned and nodded. Candace smiled and approached Jameson
slowly. “Still have time,” she said.

Jameson
shook her head. “I might be a lunatic. I’m not stupid,” she said. She took
Candace’s hand and led her through the back door.

Jameson
looked out at their family. There was no fanfare, no music, no tuxedos, not
even an expensive dress, only some simple flowers. Candace walked hand in hand
with Jameson to stand under a large oak tree in the back yard. She had
purchased an elegant, ivory pant suit that complimented the navy suit that
Jameson had chosen. Pearl stepped beside Candace and Michelle to stand with
Jameson. Candace could sense the photographer behind her. Life was full of
compromises, even on this day. Jameson had a close friend who agreed to
photograph the wedding. Candace had asked one of her dearest friends to
officiate. Justice Bevins had been appointed to the Supreme Court just three
years earlier. Candace had known the colorful judge in law school. Jameson was
more than happy with the arrangement. It had quieted “Gollum’s” concerns.
Candace chuckled as they stood before the judge recalling Jameson’s explanation
as to Candace’s campaign manager’s nickname. She took a deep breath when
Jameson turned to her to speak her vows.

“We
said
simple
,” Jameson said. “I have been
trying to think of a way to explain how I feel right now, today. You are the
one who delivers speeches. I design buildings. I have even built them. That got
me thinking. Anything that lasts starts with
a
strong
foundation. It is simple. I love you. It’s that simple. I don’t
want to think about my life without you in it. It’s that simple. No one has
ever made me laugh more. No one has ever understood me better. No one has ever
accepted me so completely. No one has ever made me feel safer. No one. I’ve
never been as honest with anyone in my life as I am every day with you. You
were
my friend before you were my lover. You’ve
become the foundation of my life. There is no more, my future. There is only
our future. I don’t want a future without you in it. You are the rock that is
my foundation. The strongest person I know. The most loving. It’s that simple,
Candace. I promise you that no matter what, I will remember the simple things.
The fact that I love you. The fact that I miss you when we are apart, that you
make me laugh, that you accept me, that you trust me. I’ll do my best to build
this marriage into the strongest part of both of our lives. That is what I do.
Nothing has ever meant more to me than building our relationship, our marriage.
Not one thing. It really is that simple. I love you.”

Candace
smiled. “Jameson…For many years I thought I understood life and love. I learned
many things raising my children, working, losing people that I cared for. I
seem to learn something new from you each day. I look forward to coming home,
not because this is a house filled with sentimental memories, but because you
are here. It isn’t the house. It isn’t the state. It’s you. I’ve spent too many
years dwelling in the past. I forgot that the past is really just the memories
we make today. I want a life full of colorful memories with you. I want to look
back one day and know that I lived every second of our life together loving you
and letting you love me. It makes me know that I am alive. You remind me in
every moment why I fell in love with you. The truth is, Jameson, I fall in love
with you every day. Each time I see you talking to Jinx. When you are mulling
over a problem at your desk. I fall in love with you when I see you holding
Spencer or laughing with Shell. I watch you and sometimes I have to remember to
breathe. When you hold me, everything in the world fades away. I’m home,
exactly where I am meant to be. I promise you I will never forget what comes
first in our life. You and me, our family. That’s what you’ve given me, a whole
family. I promise that I will cherish that for the rest of our lives. You are
right. It is that simple.”