Conklin's Foundation (Conklin's Trilogy) (21 page)

“Look at you two, all cuddly.  You know Becca, you can change your mind.  I’m way better
at cuddling than Tyler.  I’ve had more practice,” Mitch teased, wiggling his eyebrows.  I couldn’t help but laugh. He looked so goofy.  Taking Mitch serious was impossible.

The rest of Tyler’
s family laughed at my reaction. I didn’t mean to sound harsh, but it was funny.  Mitch gave me a scowl.

“What’s so funny?” h
e asked, searching the room.

“The fact that you have no moves whatsoever,” Nathan
laughed, helping his mom with presents. 

Mitch scowled at Nathan.  “I’ve never seen you with a girl, so I wouldn’t talk.”

Nathan shrugged his shoulders.  “Because I’m not pussy whipped like the rest of you assholes.  The only female I need in my life is my white Ferrari,” Nathan said easily.

Mitch scowled again,
sitting down next to RJ.

Mary wandered around the room, passing out bags.  It was odd, because all of the bags were tiny.  Did this family only buy each other gift c
ards?  What’s the point in that?  They all had money in the first place.  Shouldn’t that make finding meaningful presents a priority?

I stood from the couch to pass out the gifts that Tyler and I had brought.  I felt his eyes on me as I moved.  Once I came back with a few gifts in hand, Tyler was giving RJ a death stare.  I furrowed my brows at him, hitting his knee with a gift, breaking his stare from his father.  I gave Tyler a flirty smile, and he
just shook his head at me, scowl still formed on his face.

When I passed out the actual gifts, they all stared at each gaudily wrapped package
in confusion.

Once I was done passing out our gifts, I sat back by Tyler.  Mary had placed a few small bags
in front of me.  I was touched; I wasn’t expecting them to get me anything.

“Why don’t we
take turns this year. Becca, you go first,” Mary encouraged, taking a seat on the large chair next to Nathan, linking her arm through his.

I gave a shy smile and picked up one of the small bags.  Digging out the tissue paper, I pulled out a
small, flat box with the words La Perla that held a small card.

“Thanks…
,” I said, trying not to sound like I had no idea what La Perla was.

Tyler’s eyes widened
as RJ smirked.  “Really, Mother?”  Tyler said, staring her down.

“What?  I thought maybe tomor
row I could take Becca shopping and then to lunch,” she pouted.

“To La Perla?  You don’t find that at all inappropriate?” 
Tyler was turning red, not from anger but embarrassment.

She waved him off again.  My eyes passed between the two of them, afraid to ask what kind of shop La Perla was.

I bit my lip as I looked at Tyler.  Then I heard Nathan cackle. 

“Becca, you have no idea what kind of store that is, do you?”  Nathan laughed.

I blushed again, biting my lip harder.  Tyler wrapped his arm around me, giving Nathan a hard look, but it didn’t stop him from continuing his humor.

“Don’t worry Becca.
I would be more than happy to show you,” RJ grinned, sitting back farther in the sectional.

Mary let out a sound of disgust.  “Shut up, RJ.  Leave the poor girl alone.  I didn’t even think any of you boys would know what that store was.”

“I must be the only one who doesn’t know,” Mitch snorted, starting to open one of the small bags in front of him.  I guess he was going to open his gifts next.

I looked up at Tyler, feeling like an idiot for not knowing.  “It’s a fancy lingerie store,” he mumbled. 

My eyes widened.  What an inappropriate gift!  I was with her son for Christ sake!  We weren’t even engaged. I guess I could see maybe at a bachelorette party, but not for the first time we met!  How could she assume I would go shopping with her there too?  Wouldn’t it weird her out knowing I would be wearing it for her son?

“I’d love to come shopping with the two of you,” RJ flirted, expanding my blush as he winked at me.

Tyler glared at his father.

“Good, then Tyler and I can go shopping,” Nathan
added.  “I think you need to add some new clothing to your attire.”  Nathan looked at Tyler from head to toe while taking a sip of his drink.

“Oh, then we could all meet for lunch!” Mary exclaimed. Nathan pulled his drink from his lips and gave Tyler a wink
with a devilish smile spreading across his face.

Tyler fidgeted next to me, worry lines threatening to become permanent on his forehead.

Wanting to defuse the situation and take the attention away from my embarrassment for not knowing what La Perla was, I mumbled, “RJ, Nathan, Mitch, you all should open your gifts from me at the same time.”

They all
picked up the packages and examined them.  Tearing the paper back, the oh-so-familiar Conklin grin spread across their faces.

“This is really nice, thank
s Becca,” Nathan said in awe, examining the platinum pen with his name inscribed on the side.

“Becca, is this a secret innuendo from when I offered to let you use my pencil?”  Mitch smirked, his eyebrows wiggling.  I laughed.  How the hell did he remember that?  He was plastered! 

“You’re an idiot, Mitch,” Tyler grumbled.

I took Tyler’s hand recalling the evening and how he shoved Mitch back when he came to approach me, showing possession and dominance.
  Just like he had in the kitchen and the hallway, protecting me from everyone’s eyes because he thought they were all staring.

Talk about a turn on.
  Maybe possessive Tyler isn’t so bad.
 

I remembered
the ugly side of the night too: my break down in front of Tyler about my past. Well, at least the part of my past that made me change my lifestyle.  I squeezed his hand, wanting to forget my drunken stupor.

Nathan let out a low laugh
as though he were remembering the evening as well.  “Was that the night we were at The B.O.B and Becca dragged you on the dance floor, Tyler?”

Tyler glared at Nathan while I tried not to blush recalling my courageous tug to the dance floor.

“Ha!  That was the first time I had ever seen you blush!”  Nathan laughed, hitting his knee.

Tyler squirmed again, his head down.
 

“How do the both of you remember that night?  If I recall you were both trashed?”  I look
ed between Nathan and Mitch.  I wanted to help take the attention off of Tyler who was becoming embarrassed.

Both guys shrugged their shoulders as if in agreement.

“Was this for your birthday, Mitch?  I don’t recall seeing Becca there?”  RJ chimed in, looking confused.

“That’s because you left early,” Mitch huffed.  The animosity in h
is voice was loud and clear.

RJ cleared his throat.
“These gifts were very sweet of you Becca, thank you.” RJ was deflecting talking about his lack of attendance for his son’s birthday.

“You are all very welcome,” I said qu
ietly, glad we were leaving the topic of the drunken night at the club.

“It’s not an easy ta
sk impressing these Conklin men.  Good job Becca.” Mary was peeking at the pen over Nathan’s shoulder, a secret smile forming on her lips.  I got the feeling she enjoyed hearing about her sons having fun together.

“Open yours,” I encouraged Mary.

She gave a bashful smile as she grabbed the box wrapped in gaudy paper.  Her fingers moved slowly as a huge smile spread across her face.

“This is beautiful!” s
he exclaimed, pulling out a silver pendant necklace.  When in a doubt, buy a rich woman jewelry; she will love it no matter what. 

She jumped from her
seat over to me, pulling me up to giving me a hug.  “Thank you, Becca!  I absolutely love it!”

I hugged her ba
ck awkwardly, telling her she was welcome.  When I sat back down next to Tyler, he looked humored and apprehensive at the same time.  I squeezed his hand, reassuring him that I was okay.

They continued opening the small bags, gift card after gift card. 

Mary saved her gift from Tyler for last.  I was so excited for her to open it. I knew she would love it, especially since she wasn’t used to getting actual gifts from her boys or husband.

She looked at Tyler with awe
as she read who the gift was from and some sort of unnamed emotion when she realized it was from him.

Sh
e slowly peeled back the paper, opening the small box to reveal the charm bracelet.

Mary took a sharp breath in, holding one hand to her chest while the ot
her pulled the bracelet from its box.  She stared at the bracelet, examining each of her son’s birth stones in silence.  Tyler was shifting in his seat.  His body was antsy as though he was worried if she liked his gift or not, but his face was indifferent.

Mary moved her other hand from her chest, fingering each charm.  Rubbing her eyes with her sleeve, she slowly tilted her head up to Tyler.

“Tyler… this is…”  She couldn’t finish her sentence. 

Tyler wouldn’t meet her eyes.  He unlaced our hands and leaned on his knees, rubbing his
face with one large hand.  “If you don’t like it I won’t be offended if you take it back.  I still have the receipt,” he mumbled into his hand.

Mary drastically shook her head, a tear escaping her eye.  “It’s perfect,” she whispered.

Tyler lifted his head from his hand to find her getting up from her seat and walking over towards him.  She held out her tiny wrist with the bracelet wrapped around it, urging him to clasp it on.

Tyler blinked at his mother
’s wrist then slowly moved his hands to help her.

Once the bracelet was on she pulled o
n his arm until he was standing then embraced him.  He towered over her and awkwardly hugged her back.  At first his face held a scowl, but then his eyebrows softened and the hug became more comfortable.

“Way to show us all up, Tyler,” Mitch snorted while playing with a piece of tissue paper. 

Mary finally let go of Tyler and made her way back to her seat by Nathan, constantly fumbling with the charms.

“It was Becca’s idea,” Tyler said quietly, taking a seat back down by me.  He kept his hands on his knees
and stared at the floor.

“This is lovely, but you forgot one,” Mary
grinned, looking up from the charms.  “Becca, we will need one for you, too.”

I felt my breath catch in my throat as Tyler’s eyes w
ent wide.  All eyes were on both Tyler and me. The air was thick and uncomfortable after Mary’s comment.  Nathan covered his mouth with his hand, his shoulders bouncing from laughing.

“Wow, I’m glad you never talk to the girls I bring home like this,” Mitch laughed, throwing the tissue paper he was playing with at Tyler.

Tyler caught it and threw it on the ground, leaning back on the couch, his expression un-readable.  Was he mad?  I didn’t think his mother would take this warmly to me, and I sure didn’t think she would become so… attached.

RJ shook his head and hit Mitch in the back of the head.  “That’s because you bring home a bunch of whores.  Becca is different,” RJ
was surprisingly sincere.  Even Mary gave RJ a funny look.

“Odd of you to say that, RJ, considering you’re always encouraging his lifestyle,” Mary snapped.

RJ cocked his head at Mary then pointed his finger at her. “Why settle down if he hasn’t found the right girl?  And I never encourage him to be promiscuous; I encourage him to be careful so he doesn’t get
trapped
,” RJ’s sneered, emphasizing the word trapped.  His eyes were on fire as he looked at Mary, who was shriveling at his comment.  She quickly regained her composure as though trying to block out the small moment of weakness she just gave him.

“
He would never be
trapped,
RJ.  Unless he is a control freak who would never let the poor girl do what she wants,” Mary hissed.

I had the feeling they were no longer talking
about Mitch but about what happened nearly 30 years ago between the two of them.

RJ clenched his jaw, his blue eyes becoming darker.  “Being a trophy wife who gets whatever the hell she wants sur
e sounds awful.  Maids, chiefs, unlimited credit cards.  Sure seems like a horrible life to live.”

Mary looked like she was about to move across the room and strangle RJ.

Could this be any more uncomfortable?

Tyler quickly stood up, yanking on my arm.  “Let me give you a tour,” he mumbled, pulling me
to safety out of the room.

Nathan jumped to his feet motioning to Mitch to get up and follow him.  “Let’s go refill our drinks,” Nathan said, walking past RJ and behind Tyler and
me. I pictured Nathan doing this for Tyler and Mitch when they were younger, always taking care of his little brothers. Voices were rising in the room we had just left, and I was thankful to be rescued.