Wind Chime Point

22



The hastily pulled together gathering at Cora Jane’s seemed to Gabi less like a celebration than a wake. She didn’t know what was going on, but the somber expression in her father’s eyes when he’d arrived earlier didn’t bode well for a fun evening.

The fact that he’d alerted her that he wanted to have a private conversation at some point didn’t sound promising, either. She joined Cora Jane at the sink, where her grandmother was rinsing off vegetables for the salad.

“Any idea why Dad turned up here today?” Gabi asked her.

“Not a clue. He called me earlier and said he was on his way and would I mind having a few people over. Of course I said it was fine. He didn’t fill me in on the guest list. I invited Jerry, but the rest of this is your father’s show.”

“It sure doesn’t feel like a happy occasion,” Gabi said.

“Or maybe your father simply isn’t used to throwing a party. Go offer him a glass of wine. Maybe he’ll loosen up, instead of looking as if he’s about to make some doomsday announcement.”

Gabi poured a glass of her dad’s preferred cabernet sauvignon and took it to him.

He frowned when he saw the glass in her hand. “Should you be drinking?”

“I’m not. This is for you. Grandmother thought you looked as if you could use it.”

He smiled. “Funny. All I remember right now are the years she watched me like a hawk to make sure I wasn’t drinking. As a teenager, I could have sworn that woman had eyes in the back of her head.”

Gabi could imagine it. She and her sisters had also discovered there was very little they could get by Cora Jane. “And you were how old?”

“Sixteen, seventeen,” he admitted with a grin that made him look younger than the late fifties he was now. “She was very wise to keep a close eye on me.”

“I think you’re safely past the age when she’s worried about you on that front,” Gabi told him. “So, what’s the big announcement, Dad? Why did you want Grandmother to have people over tonight?”

He smiled at her impatience. “You always did want to be the first to know everything.”

“It’s a trait that’s come in handy doing PR,” she told him. “The more you know ahead of time, the better you can spin the story.”

“But I gather you have no intention of doing that any longer,” he said, then gave her a sly survey. “Or do you?”

She regarded him curiously. “Did someone mention my plans to you?”

“Wade alluded to something, but he said the details needed to come from you.”

His response unnerved her. “When did you speak to Wade?”

“Earlier today. I had a couple of things I wanted to discuss with him. Your young man has a good head on his shoulders.”

Though Gabi considered that high praise from her father, who’d never had an approving word to say about any of the men in his daughters’ lives, she felt compelled to say, “Wade is not my young man.”

Her father smiled. “I suspect he’d disagree.”

Gabi didn’t know what to make of her father and Wade suddenly becoming chums. He’d never taken the time to get to know any of the boys she, Samantha or Emily had dated. It had been up to their mother or grandmother to vet them. The thought of him and Wade sharing confidences sent a chill through her.

“Was I one of those topics the two of you discussed?” she asked.

“Yes, but you’ll probably be very happy to know he put me firmly in my place and then referred me to you for additional information on your future plans.”

Gabi couldn’t help smiling. “Good for Wade,” she said, thinking his attitude must have come as quite a shock to her father, who was used to being in command of all situations.

“So, what’s ahead for you, Gabriella?” he asked. “I gather the obsession with wind chimes has worn off.”

“Not worn off exactly,” she told him, then acknowledged ruefully, “It seems I have virtually no talent.”

She braced herself for an I-told-you-so, but he merely asked, “Then what are your plans? I know you must have something all mapped out. You’ve never left your future up for grabs.”

To her surprise, he sounded genuinely interested. She described the business she intended to start. “It will combine my appreciation for local art with my professional skills,” she concluded excitedly. “Wade and I are both looking for exactly the right space, and I already have firm commitments from a few artists for the first two years. I need more, but it’s a good start.”

His surprise—and maybe even a hint of approval—shone in his eyes. “You sound happy,” he said.

Though he smiled, Gabi could see a lingering trace of sorrow in his eyes, as well, as if he regretted the dramatic shift in direction her life was taking...away from his world.

“I’m really excited,” she confirmed. “I know you’d hoped I’d change my mind and come back to Raleigh, but this feels right, Dad. It really does.”

“And where does Wade fit in?”

“We’re still working that out,” she said.

“But you care for him?”

She nodded. “I do.”

“Then you’re making the right choice, sweetie. I wish you’d made a different one, but your happiness is what matters. And this is not a bad place to raise a child.”

“Summers here were certainly some of the happiest times of my life,” Gabi told him. “I want that for my daughter.”

Just then the back door opened, interrupting the rare moment of accord between them, and Wade came in with Jimmy. Seeing the teenager, Gabi suddenly gathered what this evening was all about. She looked up at her father.

“He got the scholarship?” she whispered.

The slight shake of her father’s head dismayed her, but something in his expression told her that wasn’t the end of the story. For once she was going to have to exercise some of that patience that had always been in short supply.

Jimmy crossed the kitchen, his expression eager, but his steps halting, as if he couldn’t quite decide between anticipation and dejection. Apparently Sam’s carefully neutral expression was giving him no clues.

Gabi glanced at Wade and knew at once that he knew, but he, too, was giving nothing away.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” Cora Jane said impatiently. “Don’t keep us in suspense, Sam. Is this about the scholarship?”

“Is it?” Jimmy asked, real fear in his eyes now.

“I’m afraid so,” Sam said, putting his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “You were a finalist, but you didn’t make the cut, son.”

Jimmy’s shoulders slumped and he fought to blink back tears. “I figured,” he said, his voice trembling. He turned away from Sam, from all of them, then took a step back. “I gotta take a walk or something, okay?” He sounded desperate to leave before those tears fell.

“In a minute,” Sam said, keeping him in place. “The scholarships being offered by my company aren’t the only ones out there.”

“Sure, but it’s too late to try for anything else,” Jimmy said despondently.

“You don’t have to apply for this one,” Sam told him. “It’s already yours.”

Jimmy lifted his head, looking as if he hardly dared to hope. “Seriously? How come? Did you show my application to somebody else?”

“I didn’t have to,” Sam told him. “I’d already seen it.”

“You!” Jimmy said, clearly shocked.

Gabi was equally stunned, but the smile spreading across Cora Jane’s face told her she hadn’t imagined what her father had just said.

“Good for you, Sam,” her grandmother said approvingly.

“But I can’t take your money,” Jimmy protested, though he looked as if it was killing him to say no. “It would be wrong.”

“There is nothing wrong with accepting help when it’s freely offered,” Cora Jane told the teen adamantly.

“And if you feel strongly about it,” Sam told him, “we can always think of it as a loan, though I’d prefer to consider it a scholarship for a very deserving and promising young man.”

“Maybe I could pay you back,” Jimmy said, finally allowing himself to consider the possibilities. “It might take a long time, though. I know it’s a lot of money.”

“Money well-spent,” Sam said. “And here’s another possibility. We could even structure it so you’d come to work for me as a paid intern for a year or two in return for the scholarship. Whatever it takes to make you comfortable. I want this opportunity for you, Jimmy.”

Sam looked deep into Jimmy’s still-troubled eyes and sought to further reassure him. “Son, you’ve earned this chance. And the fact that you want to pay it back in some way is just one more example of the kind of young man you are, one who’s worthy of getting a decent break. Please let me do this for you.”

“I don’t know,” Jimmy whispered, then glanced over at Wade. “What do you think?”

“I think it’s the opportunity of a lifetime,” Wade told him.

“But my dad—”

“Your dad wants the very best for you,” Wade told him. “Talk it over with him. You’ll see.”

“And I’ll sit down with him, too,” Sam said, then stressed, “This is not charity, Jimmy. This is an investment in the future of my field. I expect great things from you.”

A slow grin spread across Jimmy’s face as he finally allowed himself to seize on the hope right in front of him. “You won’t regret this, Mr. Castle. I swear you won’t.”

“I’m as sure of that as I’ve ever been of anything,” Sam replied.

Gabi crossed the room and impulsively hugged her father. “I’ve never been more proud to be your daughter,” she whispered. “You did a good thing here tonight.”

“I couldn’t let that boy down,” her father said simply. “I just couldn’t.” He held her gaze. “And I hope I don’t let you or your sisters down ever again, either.”

It was the first time he’d ever made such a promise. Gabi knew if he’d made it before, she’d have had difficulty believing in it, but tonight, after what he’d done for a boy who needed his help, she did.

* * *



Emily took one look at Gabi’s expanding waistline, put her hands on her hips and griped, “Well, there’s no way to do a dress fitting with you this weekend.”

“Thank you so much for reassuring me about my blimplike proportions,” Gabi retorted as she fingered the gorgeous material of her bridesmaid dress. “You know exactly how pregnant I am. The baby’s due in less than two months, which as you may recall was exactly the reason you postponed your wedding date till later in the summer. Don’t start hassling me now.”

Emily grinned, turning to Samantha. “Are these pregnancy hormones talking? She’s awfully cranky.”

“And still in the room,” Gabi replied irritably. “And getting less and less inclined to throw you a bridal shower by the minute.”

Samantha laughed openly. “It’s so much fun having sisters,” she said. “We’re always so compatible.”

“Speak for yourself,” Gabi grumbled. She’d been like this for a couple of weeks now, ready to take offense at anything and everything, exhausted most of the time and eating ravenously. The secret longing she’d had to be one of those pregnant women who glowed with good health and carried their babies like little basketballs in their tummies didn’t seem to be panning out. She waddled and she hadn’t seen her feet in days. She’d finally given in and gone to a salon for a pedicure.

Amazingly, Wade seemed as attracted to her as if she’d fit the magazine cover stereotype of maternal bliss. He still claimed she was beautiful and never seemed to tire of rubbing her shoulders or even her swollen ankles. In fact, she wished he were here right now to massage away the tension this entire conversation was causing in her shoulders.

“She’s thinking about Wade, isn’t she?” Emily asked, again as if she weren’t in the room.

“How can you tell?” Samantha asked, studying her.

“Sappy expression,” Emily said. “When did that happen, by the way? Last time I was here she was still holding him at arm’s length.”

Gabi scowled at the pair of them. “Since you seem content to talk around me, I think I’ll go downstairs and get something to eat.”

“No!” Emily said, even as Samantha stepped in front of the door to block her way.

Gabi scowled at them. “What is going on with the two of you? You’re acting weird. I don’t buy for a second that you came back this weekend for more dress fittings.”

“Not just fittings,” Emily insisted. “Grandmother has an endless list of wedding details she wanted to run past me.”

“And I came just to thank you in person for giving my career a much-needed boost,” Samantha said. “I’ve had two parts recently. Neither was exactly star-status, but at least I was working again. Both of the casting directors mentioned the blurbs they’d seen in the paper, said it had reminded them of how much they’d liked me in other roles.”

Gabi saw the sparkle in her big sister’s eyes and smiled. “I’m glad. I told you all you needed was a little buzz.”

“Well, it remains to be seen how long it lasts, but I do have a callback for another part next week.”

“What about the prime-time series?”

“The recurring role went to someone else, but they did give me a couple of small parts in upcoming episodes. The writers said they’d keep me in mind when they’re developing scripts for next season.”

“That’s fantastic,” Emily enthused. “Sounds like this was just the shot in the arm your career needed.”

“We’ll see,” Samantha said. “I’ve had runs like this before that went nowhere.”

“This is a discouragement-free zone,” Gabi declared. “Only good thoughts allowed here. You have work. Emily’s getting married. I’m having a baby, and this art studio project is catching fire.”

“And you have Wade dancing attendance,” Emily teased.

Gabi smiled. “That, too.” Suddenly she frowned and glanced around the room. “Why are the windows closed in here? It’s getting stuffy. It’s gorgeous outside. Let’s let in some fresh air.”

“You’re probably just having a heat flash or something,” Samantha said hurriedly. “I’m actually a little chilly.”

“Yeah, me, too,” Emily said.

Gabi regarded them oddly. “A pregnancy hot flash? Are you kidding me?”

“I’m telling you, it’s chilly in here,” Samantha repeated, pulling her sweater more tightly around her to emphasize the claim.

“Okay, that’s it,” Gabi said. “If you don’t want the windows open, then I’m going downstairs for something cold to drink.”

She left the room before they could stop her.

Before she was halfway down the stairs, she heard Emily holler, “Gabi, bring me up some bottled water, too, okay?”

Since she’d shouted it as if she wanted to be heard in the next county, Gabi could hardly pretend not to have heard the request. “Sure. Samantha, do you want anything?”

“No, I’m good,” she said, though she sounded as if she weren’t that far behind Gabi when she spoke.

Gabi stepped off the bottom step, turned into the living room and was overwhelmed by shouts of “Surprise!”

She halted in shock and was almost trampled by her sisters, who were, in fact, right on her heels.

“Is this for Emily?” she asked in confusion, then spotted the pink decor and all the baby shower paraphernalia.

“Are you surprised?” Samantha asked, putting an arm around her. “We really, really wanted it to be a surprise.”

“Surprised?” Gabi repeated. “I’m in shock.”

Cora Jane stood by the table of gifts, beaming. Meg, Sally and even Louise were grinning at her. Since her circle of friends was still small, Jerry and Wade were here, too, though Jerry looked decidedly uncomfortable, as if he’d much prefer being in the kitchen cooking up the feast for the occasion.

“I can’t believe you all did this,” she whispered tearfully.

“I’ve been planning it since the second I found out you were pregnant,” Samantha said. “If all else failed, this was going to be my last-ditch attempt to convince you that you have to keep this baby. Thank goodness it’s just a full-fledged celebration now.”

“Isn’t it early to be having a baby shower?” Gabi said, even as she gravitated toward the gifts, eager to see what the beautiful packages held.

“Actually, we’re all agreed that your due date was miscalculated,” Louise said. “I have some experience in this area.”

“Some?” Meg said wryly. “I’d say five babies qualifies as more than some.”

“Bottom line, we didn’t want to wait, especially since Emily said she could get back here this weekend,” Samantha said. “Now, since I know you’re always starving, food first, then presents. Jerry’s been slaving in the kitchen since dawn.”

Gabi’s eyes widened. “Since dawn? What about Castle’s?”

“I closed it down for the day,” Cora Jane said.

“But you never close down the restaurant,” Gabi protested. “And it’s spring. There are tourists.”

“Not a one of them’s as important to me as you and this baby are,” she replied emphatically. “And I’ll close it down again for Emily’s wedding.”

“But the employees,” Gabi protested, feeling guilty about causing them the loss of a day’s pay.

“They got paid. So, now they owe you for an unexpected day of paid vacation,” Cora Jane said. “I’m sure the next time you stop by, they’ll be circling you like anxious little hummingbirds to make sure there’s nothing you need. I would have invited them today, but they’ve already been making their own plans to throw a shower.”

“Grandmother!” Samantha protested.

“They never intended it to be a surprise. Not a one of them can keep a secret.”

“And apparently neither can you,” Emily teased her.

Cora Jane gave her a miffed look. “I kept this one, didn’t I? Don’t be disrespectful.”

“Okay, enough,” Jerry said. “Let’s eat!”

After a meal that was too much even for her, Gabi was settled regally in a chair while her sisters brought presents to her. The tiny outfits earned plenty of oohs and aahs, but it was Wade’s gift that brought stunned silence.

“I’m lousy at wrapping, and this was a little too cumbersome, anyway,” he said, then left the room. When he returned, he was carrying an exquisite, handcrafted cradle with frolicking bunnies carved into the headboard.

“Oh, Wade,” Louise whispered when Gabi couldn’t even gather her composure to speak.

“It’s the most beautiful cradle I’ve ever seen,” Gabi finally managed to whisper, her voice thick with tears. There was no mistaking the love he had put into every detail. “Thank you so much. What made you think of the bunnies?”

“Other than the dozen times you mentioned how much you’d loved the Beatrix Potter books?” he said wryly.

She touched the beautifully soft pink liner that had been chosen with such care to complement the cradle’s design. Tiny bunnies danced across that fabric, as well. “Where did you find this? It’s perfect.”

He grinned sheepishly. “I had a little help with that. I asked Meg where to look.”

“I was flying blind, though,” Meg said. “He refused to tell me anything other than that he wanted something with bunnies and he wanted it to be pink.” She glanced approvingly at Wade. “You did good, pal.”

“You did really good,” Louise confirmed.

Despite the accolades coming his way, Wade’s gaze never left Gabi’s face. “You really like it?”

“I would love anything you made for the baby, but, Wade, this is incredible,” she told him, reaching for his hand.

Though he’d told her in words so many times how he already cared for this baby she was carrying, right here in front of her was the proof. He’d poured his whole heart into making this gift.

When he leaned down to touch his lips to hers, she looped an arm around his neck and held him in place. “I love you,” she whispered against his lips.

She could feel his smile against her face. As he stepped away, that smile had become a full-fledged grin.

“You don’t get to take that back, you know,” he told her, holding her gaze.

“The cradle? Never.”

“Not the cradle. What you said.”

“What did she say?” Louise asked.

“Between us,” Wade told his sister.

Gabi’s own smile grew. “Wouldn’t even try to take it back,” she told him.

Though she hadn’t imagined any of this—not the baby, not the new direction for her career and definitely not falling in love—it seemed she was all in for every single, exciting moment of it.