Maid for Martin (36 page)

The room was quite noisy, but it was good that everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and the company around them. Martin was chatting with his friend Mike and Celia’s brother Roger. They were making plans to go fishing before the holiday was over.

Her parents were chatting with each other, occasionally listening to Martin, Roger and Mike talk about their fishing trip.

Addison and Raffaello were closer to Martin and Mike, and though he’d never mentioned a love for fly-fishing he sat leaning on the table sipping his coffee, intently listening to the conversation. Addison didn’t mind. She needed a few more moments to compose her thoughts.

She glanced toward the other end of the table. Celia was laughing and chatting with her parents, aunts, and uncles. The whole lot of them seemed oblivious to the rest of the dinner party or the screaming children that were in the other room.

Now and again one of the maids would enter, and the few times when it was Randi, Addison noticed the tension in the room seemed to rise. Celia would glance up, and Martin would do his best to not let his eyes follow Randi.

Randi, on the other hand, seemed the best in control of her emotions. She didn’t smile or speak, but only went around the room offering more coffee. When she came to Martin, he held out his cup.

Martin didn’t seem to be worried that Randi would spill hot coffee on him, and for a brief second she caught a slight smile from Randi as she stepped away. Addison didn’t dare look toward Celia at that moment, but Martin did. If there was any exchange between the two, it didn’t reflect in her brother’s expression.

The filling up of cups, and sugar and milk going in, seemed to have slowed down the conversation. This seemed liked as good as a time as any for Addison to make her announcement. No time was going to be the perfect time.

She took a drink of water and, not really caring if the whole table was listening or not, she looked toward Martin and her parents and spoke. “I have something I’d like for you to be thinking and praying about.”

“What is it?” Lillian asked, taking a quick sip of coffee.

Addison glanced down, kept her grip on her glass of water, and then spoke. “I’m going to be making a move soon. I’m pretty sure that I’ll be apartment-hunting here in L.A.” She waited for one of her parents to yell, jump up, start screaming, "How dare you?" but they didn’t.

“That’s great, sis. No need to rush on the apartment.” Martin smiled from ear to ear. He knew what she was going through, and he seemed to be enjoying himself a bit too much. He leaned on the table and nodded. “I’ll be happy to have you stay as long as you like. I’ve got plenty of room.”

Addison didn’t have any trouble noticing that Martin didn’t say "we" in that statement, but she was too lost in her own worries to tell if any of Celia’s family picked it up.

“Thanks, Martin, I may just take you up on that.”

Finally, Addison got up the nerve to look at her parents. Her mother didn’t look happy, but she didn’t look like this came as a huge shock.

Her dad, on the other hand, seemed to be taking it harder. He drank down his coffee, rose from the table, and politely excused himself. Lillian left also, making up an excuse about checking on the children.

A few others rose, not seeming to notice the tension. Raffaello leaned in, kissed her on the cheek, and whispered that he was going to go check his voice mail. She knew this time he was just giving her some space, and she was thankful for it.

As each person slowly moved from the table, she and Martin were left alone. He leaned back, one of those soft smiles playing on his lips. “You sure know how to clear a room, sis, but I have to say, that took brass. I told mom I was leaving, and let her tell dad.” Martin laughed and leaned on the table.

Addison shrugged. “Maybe I should have done that too. I think -- hope -- that he’s just concerned that I’m moving in with Rafa, which I’m not.”

“I don’t know. You’re his little girl. It may just be harder to face. Also it has to make you feel old when all of your children are flying the coop.”

“I’d say it does. It seems kind of scary, too, leaving home, having to pay my own bills.”

“I’m sure you have some savings from doing odd jobs, but don’t pressure yourself by getting an apartment before you can afford it. Stay here for a while. It’s not any fun out there with no money. I paid my dues for years, going back and forth from here to Church Lane. Lean on me if you need to. Thankfully, I can take it.”

“I’d rather strike out on my own, but you’re right. I only have a small amount of savings. I’m sure I can get a job, but it might take a while to get on my feet.”

Martin nodded and rose. “It will take longer than you think. I’ll go see if I can’t find dad and assure him that I’ll keep an eye on you while he’s not around.”

“Don’t make it any worse!” she called.

“No promises,” Martin said over his shoulder and Addison laughed as he walked out of the room. She then leaned back and let out a long sigh. She sat, taking sips of water, and thinking about Raffaello and the possibility of a new life.

The packing and the leaving would be hard, of course, but the excitement of things to come would help her get past the tears and goodbyes. Addison rose, a smile playing on her lips. She knew she’d miss the safety net that her parents had provided, but she couldn’t wait to make it on her own.

She pushed her chair under the table and smiled. “LA, here I come.”

Chapter 63

Second Chances

The visitors in Martin’s home seemed to have all gone to neutral corners. Some went to take an after-dinner nap, the women were heading out for a swim with the children, while Roger, Bill, Jerry and William went to see Mike’s new Harley.

Martin stopped off in the kitchen where he found his mother and Emma. When he came into the room, Lillian smiled. "If you’re looking for your dad, he went out for a walk. The news about Addison hit him hard. I would give him some space.”

“I can do that.” Martin glanced around. He wanted to ask about Randi but wasn’t sure how to do so tastefully. After a second it came to him. “Can I be of assistance? It seems some of the help is missing.”

Emma turned and gave him a yeah-right look. He shrugged and she shook her head. “Ann and Randi have gone home for a few hours. They’ll be back later. We can handle what’s left of the mess. Why don’t you go to the garage with the rest of the men?”

“Ouch. I’m being invited to leave my own kitchen.”

“Unless you really do want to help with the dishes,” his mother added. Then she turned, dismissing him.

“I know when I’m not wanted.” Martin started to go, then stopped. “By the way, desert was wonderful. Thanks, mom, Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without your sweets.”

“You’re welcome,” She said as he slipped out the garage door, disappointed that he’d have to wait to see Randi.

As Martin entered the garage he could hear men talking and laughing. He stepped out to find them inside now, looking his bike over. Mike was the first one to notice him.

“They got tired of my bike. I hope you don’t mind.”

“That’s what bikes are for.” Martin walked over and joined the men.

“And for getting women,” Roger added.

“A Harley has been known to turn a head,” William added.

“Some women.” Mike gestured. “I’ve dated a few that never would ride with me.”

“Celia won’t ride.” Martin crossed his arms, looking at the bike.

“Did you ever ask her, or did you assume she wouldn’t want to?” Edward’s tone inferred he knew something. Martin was in no mood to talk about his love life with Celia’s family. What went on between them was their business.

“I’ve asked her in times past. She never had any interest.” Martin guessed from the look on Edward’s face that the man was itching to argue, and that Edward would jump in like a pit pull and try to tear him apart if Martin tried to defend his actions.

He decided if he brought up the subject there might be less ammunition. “I suppose everyone can tell, things aren’t perfect between Celia and me. We had no idea things were going to escalate so quickly.”

Martin was thankful when Mike spoke next. He must have sensed the hostility from Edward. “Sometimes, nothing you try will fix things. Some people were just never meant to be together.”

“I didn’t know the two of you were having troubles,” Roger stated, pulling his attention away from the bike long enough to speak. “Celia didn’t say anything.”

“Do you think she would?” Edward added. “It has to be humiliating. She throws this big party in this fine house, and now she’s losing it all.”

Martin really wanted to give Edward a piece of his mind, but instead he considered Celia’s feelings. “It’s nothing she did. It's just not working out. We tried, but in the end we want different things. I’m sure she feels regret, just like I do. She feels like she’s wasted her time, but things just had to run their course.”

“Still it’s lousy timing,” Edward added, and the man walked out. Martin started to turn and say something but Mike spoke.

“Don’t waste your time. It’s none of his concern. Things like this should stay between the man and the woman that are involved. It’s hard enough when you lose a relationship without having to try and explain things to everyone.”

Roger, Jerry and William all seemed to agree, but it didn’t take long for the two older men to excuse themselves and take off. Roger, though, stayed. “Hey, life is short. I love my sister, but if you’re not the one for her, she needs to figure that out and move on.”

“You’re wise beyond your years,” Mike said.

“I lost a good friend a couple of years back. It taught me a lot. I don’t think I’ve ever looked at things the same since. Life goes fast, and you don’t get a second chance. You have to try to get it right the first time.”

Roger looked down to the bike, then at his watch, and spoke. “Are we still on for some fishing? I have a feeling we all may be leaving sooner than we planned, but I’m game to stay in a hotel a few days. I need a good vacation.”

“I’m not going to run anyone off,” Martin laughed. “Things may not be as smooth as they could be, but everyone is more than welcome to stay until the New Year, just like we planned.”

“You sure?” Roger seemed to brighten.

Martin laughed. “I may put Edward on a plane, but the rest of you are welcome to stay.”

“I can live with that.” Roger smiled and walked toward the door. “I think I’ll go make sure Edward isn’t in here trying to stir up trouble.”

Once Roger was inside Mike moved and leaned against the counter. He picked up a magazine, read the front cover, and laid it down. “Well, what’s the scoop? Is it over? Celia didn’t seem too broken up.”

“It’s over.” Martin also moved, straddled the bike, sat down, and looked at Mike. “I don’t think she’s broken up. I think her pride’s hurt. I just wish we could have kept this from that bunch. I tried to wait until they were gone, but I just couldn’t. I didn’t want to drag it out.”

“What about the other girl, the maid that thinks I’m Joe?”

“She knows now. I think we’re working past that. I’m not sure. I haven’t had a lot of time to talk to her.”

Mike crossed his arms. “So Celia’s out and the maid's in. Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“No,” Martin laughed, "but I have to know. I’m not going to rush things. She’s not in, like you mean. We will be dating at some point, when I think it’s safe to ask her out. She’s a little spitfire. You should have seen her when she found out I’d been lying. I had to pin her to the bed to keep her from hurting me.”

“Hurting you?”

“Well, the long and short of it is, Celia set us up. She had me coming out of the bathroom while Randi was cleaning our bedroom. Randi thought the worst. She was waiting for me when I came out. Wearing nothing but a towel, I was a bit worried. She was throwing things at me, so I pinned her down on the bed. Things calmed down quickly.”

“I bet they did.”

“Not like that. It could have been, but I didn’t want to press my luck. She’d quit throwing things so I tried to explain. It didn’t work, but then last night, she was ready to listen.”

“She’s not still here, is she?” Mike laughed when Martin kind of shrugged.

“You’re crazy, having them both here in the same house.”

“It wasn’t all my doing. She was working, and I didn’t want to ask Celia to leave. They did pretty well. Neither of them has started a cat fight.”

“Don’t take any chances. You better get Randi out of here if she’s not gone yet. I think it would be a wise move.”

“You could be right. For a while I wasn’t sure that Randi even wanted me, but now that I think she might. Things could go downhill again.”

Mike nodded. “Is she here now?”

“No, she’s gone to spend some time with her family. I don’t expect her back until tonight to help clean up.”

“Good. Things should be safe for a while. Want to take a spin? I think I’ll head out before the bullets start to fly. You might want to join me, at least till eight.”

Martin laughed and reached for the key to his bike. “Sounds like a plan to me.”

Chapter 64