A Girl's Guide to Moving On (26 page)

I was about to tell him he looked dashing and debonair when I heard my name. I twisted my head around, and to my horror, I saw it was Jake. My ex-husband had shown up at my sister's wedding. Jake had his hand on Rocco's much larger shoulder.

“That's my wife you're dancing with and I'm cutting in,” he said loudly, garnering the attention of those around us.

“I am not your wife,” I insisted, mortified that Jake would make a scene.

“Let me handle this,” Rocco answered softly. He removed Jake's hand from his shoulder. “You're drunk.”

“So what? I don't want a grease monkey dancing with my wife. You're a lowlife and a…” Apparently, he couldn't think of a suitable word.

“Nichole,” Jake cried, pleading with me. “Don't do this to us. You're my wife.”

Steve appeared. “Why don't we take this outside?” he suggested.

“Go back to your wife,” Rocco insisted. “I'll escort Jake outside.”

“I have an invitation,” Jake insisted. “You can't throw me out.”

“I believe we can,” Steve said calmly. He looked to Rocco. “Don't deprive me of the pleasure. I was never keen on this jerk. I couldn't understand what Nichole saw in him.”

Steve and Rocco, standing on either side of Jake, each took an arm and lifted Jake three inches off the floor. By the time they got to the exit, hotel security was there to escort Jake off the premises.

I was embarrassed and pressed my hands to my mouth until Steve and Rocco returned.

“Steve, I am so sorry,” I whispered.

“No problem, Nichole. Fact is, I rather enjoyed that.”

Rocco wrapped his arm around me again and brought me close. “Now, what was it you were saying about the first time we danced? As I recall, you were overwhelmed by the sheer force of my masculinity and couldn't keep your hands off me.”

I smiled up at him. “Yes, it was something like that.”

He brought his mouth down to mine. “That's what I thought,” he said, before he stole a kiss.

Nikolai wasn't happy with me. During our classes on Monday and Wednesday, he sat silent. Before, he'd been an enthusiastic contributor to our discussions. He didn't seem to understand that while I was no longer married to Sean, I felt a certain obligation to help him through this medical crisis.

Sean ended up needing to stay in the hospital an extra day and was released Thanksgiving morning. The timing couldn't have been worse.

“I can't get ahold of Jake,” Sean called to tell me. “There's no one who can drive me to the house. I hate to ask you, Leanne, but I don't have any choice.”

Nikolai and I had plans to share dinner with friends from class. One of my students, Jakob Cirafesi, had invited us to join him and his wife for Thanksgiving. Those attending were to bring a dish from their native country. Sun Young had promised to cook a pot of the same wonderful soup he'd made for me during my shingles episode, and three others were eager to bring food as well. Nikolai and I had planned to attend, and naturally he promised to bring his bread.

“I'll see what I can do.” I'd assumed Jake would be there for his father. I hadn't spoken to my son since our last conversation, when I refused to discuss Nichole's relationship with Rocco. Jake had been short-tempered with me, just short of belligerent.

“I need to know soon,” Sean said. He sounded more like a child than the confident businessman I knew him to be.

“I'll contact Nikolai now.” I dreaded making the call. Nikolai and I weren't back on solid ground yet, and this latest request from Sean was sure to complicate matters even more.

Being put in this position wasn't convenient. I knew what Sean was saying, though. It was Thanksgiving and our friends, or those who had once been our friends, were involved with their own families or were out of town. Our son had disappointed us both. I disconnected with Sean and called Nikolai.

He answered right away, his voice cheerful and happy. “Yes, my Leanne.”

“Happy Thanksgiving, Nikolai.”

He paused and I swore he knew.

“I got a call from Sean this morning,” I said, striving to sound as upbeat and positive as possible. “He's being released today. Unfortunately, he can't reach Jake and he needs someone to drive him home from the hospital. He didn't want to ask me, but he didn't have any choice.”

“Today?”

“Yes, today.”

“And he ask you?”

“Like I said, there's no one else.” I silently pleaded for understanding.

Nikolai said nothing.

“It shouldn't take long. I'll collect Sean, get him to the house, and get him settled. Then I'll meet you at the Cirafesis' house.” It seemed the perfect solution. I'd be as quick as possible.

“No,” Nikolai said.

“No?” I repeated, hardly able to believe what I was hearing.

“I come with you. You no meet me later, because I know this man. I know he keep you. He no want you with me. I burst his basketballs,” he said.

I held back a laugh. “You mean you want to burst his bubble.”

“Yes, that is what I mean.”

And that was how Nikolai came to join me when we went to collect Sean following his release.

As soon as Sean saw Nikolai I could see he wasn't happy. Nikolai could very well have been right. Sean would use any excuse he could think up to delay me and keep me away from this dinner party. “You remember Nikolai, don't you?” I said, coming into Sean's hospital room.

The two men glared at each other like boxers before a match. One looking to intimidate the other.

“I remember,” Sean said, his voice low and tight.

Nikolai nodded sternly, his eyes as hard as I had ever seen them. “I remember, too.”

The aide came to collect Sean with the wheelchair. I stayed with him while Nikolai left to get the car and drive it around to the front of the hospital, where patients were released. The nurse followed with a list of instructions and his medications. I listened intently, although everything had been written down. Sean was the one who needed to remember, not me.

My ex-husband looked nothing like himself with his shaved and bandaged head. He was thinner than I could remember him being. I could tell he was weak. He hadn't mentioned the test results and I was afraid to ask. My guess was if he had information he'd let me know. At least I hoped he would.

Finally I couldn't stand not knowing. “Any word?” I asked, when the aide was out of the room, picking up his discharge papers.

“None,” he said, frustrated and irritated both at once. “Doc said it was because of the holiday. I'll know first thing Monday morning.”

“That long. Oh Sean, it must be tearing you apart not knowing.” I gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze. He reached up and grabbed hold of my hand and held on to it on the ride down the elevator. As soon as we were on the main floor, I pulled my hand free, not wanting Nikolai to see.

Nikolai had the car parked and the passenger door open by the time we made it outside. The aide helped Sean into the car and handed me the bag of medications.

“Your wife has the medications,” she told Sean.

Nikolai bristled and said with gritted teeth, “She not his wife.”

The aide looked at the paperwork. “I'm sorry, but that's what it says here. You are Leanne Patterson, aren't you?”

“Yes,” I answered, not looking at Nikolai. “I'm Leanne, but I'm Sean's ex-wife.”

“I'm sorry.” The aide sent me an apologetic look.

“It's a simple misunderstanding,” I said, eager to leave the hospital.

The tension in the car was thicker than the Great Wall of China as Nikolai drove to the house. The only words spoken were by me as I gave Nikolai directions. I could see when we pulled into the driveway that Nikolai was taken aback by the splendor of our custom-built country-club home.

We helped Sean out of the car and into the house. I set him up in his favorite chair in the family room.

“We go now,” Nikolai said as soon as Sean was settled.

“Just a minute.” I didn't want to rush away until I was sure Sean had what he needed. I checked the refrigerator and realized the shelves were mostly bare. Nikolai saw it, too. “Sean could use a few groceries,” I said, leaving the decision in Nikolai's hands.

His frustration was clear. He waited an uncomfortable moment and then nodded. We left Sean and drove in silence to the first open grocery store we could find. I grabbed a few essentials: bread, milk, orange juice, and bananas, along with several cans of soup and a jar of peanut butter. Because it was Thanksgiving, I also tucked a package of sliced turkey breast in the stack. All in all, it took less than fifteen minutes to gather the supplies for Sean.

Nikolai insisted I remain in the car while he took in the groceries to Sean. I don't know what the two said, but it took far longer than necessary.

When he returned his face was red and he didn't look happy.

“Thank you for doing this,” I said as soon as he climbed into the car. I knew Nikolai was right. If I'd gone alone, Sean would have found an excuse for me to stay. I would have completely missed our Thanksgiving celebration.

Nikolai's hands clenched the steering wheel. “I do not like this man. I pray for him, but he need more than prayer. His heart is dark.”

I didn't exactly need a reminder.

“Please don't be upset,” I said, my voice low and trembling.

At my words Nikolai pulled over to the side of the road and parked the car. Turning, he cupped my face with his hands and looked deep into my eyes. “Upset with you, my Leanne? Never. You too much in my heart. If I upset, it is with that man who not love you. He is fool and I not like fools. He use you and make you feel bad for him. You are too kind. Too caring.”

I smiled up at him and he kissed me ever-so-sweetly.

“I do not like you be maid to him. You promise me you not do that again.”

“I promise.”

“If he need soup, I cook. I take to him. He not use you. I tell him so. I tell him you in my heart now. He is fool to lose you.”

So that was what took Nikolai so long. “You told Sean that?”

“Yes and more. I say he have son to help. I say he have girlfriend. I say he leave my Leanne with me. My job is care for you. My job now to love you. Not his job,” he said, struggling with his English. “It my joy to care for you.” His hands continued to hold my face. I watched as his eyes grew troubled.

“Nikolai?”

“I never buy you house like that one. I never give you many pretty things. I not rich man like Sean. I poor, but I am rich with love.”

I'll never know what I did to have found a man as wonderful as Nikolai. “Don't you know I had all that before and willingly gave it up? None of what I once shared with Sean was worth what it cost my soul. I would rather spend five minutes with you than a hundred years with Sean.”

For the first time that day, I saw Nikolai relax his shoulders and smile. “I am luckiest man in America,” he said, and then chuckled. “Luckiest man in world to love you.”

Funny, I was thinking I was the lucky one.

Our Thanksgiving feast was truly wonderful. We shared traditional Thai dishes and Sun Young's delicious soup with Nikolai's bread. I brought candied yams and fruit salad and the Cirafesis' brought out a pork roast and some kind of stuffed dumplings that were delicious.

After we ate we gathered around and watched a football game. My immigrant friends had no understanding or appreciation of the sport, so I explained as best I could. My dad and brother had both been big fans, so I had a better grasp of the game.

At the end of the day, I got my coat and purse and brought out my cell phone to text Jake. I didn't know what his problem was but he needed to get over it.

You need to check on your father.

His response came back quickly.

I'm with him now. Not cool what you did.

What I did? I'd taken time out of my Thanksgiving celebration to pick up Sean and take him home because my ex-husband had been unable to reach our son. Before I could reply, another text from Jake flashed on my screen.

No need to rub Dad's face in the mud with your immigrant boyfriend. You're as bad as Nichole. That was beneath you, Mom. Loosing respect for you and my EX.

I suspected Jake had been drinking, so I ignored the texts. It wouldn't do any good to argue with him, and in fact it might do more harm than good.

Sunday afternoon Nichole and Owen returned from her sister's wedding. I'd cooked dinner for them and was eager to hear the details of the long weekend. We ate together in my apartment as Nichole inquired about my Thanksgiving.

“I had a good day with Nikolai and friends from the class.” I didn't mention the incident with Sean or the text from Jake. “The wedding went well?” I'd much rather hear about her time with her sisters and Rocco.

A dreamy look came over Nichole. “Oh Leanne, the wedding was beautiful. I've never seen my sister look happier or more radiant. She told me she and Steve would like to start a family right away.” I knew my daughter-in-law didn't want Owen to be an only child. I knew she would want more children if she did decide to remarry. If that was the case, I fully intended to be their grandmother.

Nichole shifted in her seat and looked away. “Jake showed up drunk at the reception.”

My heart sank. I didn't know what was wrong with my son. He knew better than that. “Oh Nichole, I'm so sorry. Did he cause a scene?”

She shrugged. “It wasn't too bad. A few people noticed, but it didn't stop the festivities. Rocco and Steve escorted Jake out of the ballroom and then security took over.”

“I believe he was drunk when he sent me a text on Thanksgiving.” I was worried about my son. This wasn't typical behavior from him. I would need to talk to Sean and see if he knew something I didn't.