The Henson Brothers: Two Complete Novels (69 page)

Eric stood. "No, I think we'd better leave."

"Bigmouth," Drake scolded Jackie as Eric, Nina, and Adriana went to the closet. He took Ericka and handed her to Clay. "Go find a foot to chew."

Jackie blinked, innocent. "What did I do?"

"You just couldn't leave it alone."

She kissed her teeth, annoyed. "It's obvious they are in love."

"No, it's not obvious. Leave it alone."

She rolled her eyes, but said nothing.

* * *

Nina put on her jacket. Marcus watched with building tears. She buttoned up her jacket and stared at him. "Don't cry." Eric hid a grin, recognizing the tone. "I'll come back and visit, okay? So don't cry."

He nodded. However, when they opened the door he grabbed his father's trouser leg and burst into tears as if his little heart would break.

Nina looked at him, sad. "I said I'd be back."

Drake saw her distress and smiled. He touched her cheek. "Don't worry, he'll cry for a while, then go to bed and wait for your return."

Nina was only partially comforted. Nobody had ever cried when she had left before and he looked so unhappy. Eric took her hand. "He's young. He still has to learn that people will come back."

* * *

"Marcus is so silly," Nina shared on the drive home. "He says his father makes clouds."

"Clouds?" Adriana asked.

"Yes, he takes a white stick and makes clouds with it when he's on the balcony."

Eric frowned. "He means his smoking."

Nina's eyes widened. "Uncle Drake smokes?"

"Sometimes."

Her voice grew anxious. "But smoking kills people. Uncle Drake's too nice to die. I don't want him to die."

"He's not going to die."

"Yes, he is, I've seen it," she said, adamant. "He's going to get black lungs and die." Her voice wavered.

"He's not going to die."

Adriana saw Eric's tense profile and said, "He's trying to quit. Eventually, he won't smoke anymore."

Nina nodded, satisfied. "Good."

* * *

Eric walked them to the apartment, then stood in the doorway, wondering the best way to end the evening. Elissa came up to greet him.

"Don't you want to come in?" Adriana asked.

He patted the cat, then straightened. "No, I think I'd better leave." He hesitated. "About what Jackie said—"

She waved his explanation away. "Jackie is Jackie."

"Yes." He shoved his hands in his pockets. "I want you and Nina to spend Christmas with us. We—"

"Yes."

He frowned. "I haven't explained it to you yet."

She shrugged. "Call me impulsive."

"We spend the night Christmas Eve and stand on our head till morning."

"Fine. I'll see you then."

Eric smiled. "Thanks for deciding to stay."

Adriana brushed his lips with hers. "Thanks for giving me a reason to."

* * *

She would not overspend, Adriana coached herself as she stepped into the mall. Everything was dressed in the holiday tradition, urging you to spend more than necessary only to suffer a mild stroke at the sight of your credit card bill in January. She had a budget and she had a list. She stared down at the items. She would only give one gift to each person, not three like last year.

On Christmas Eve, they scattered birdseed around a tree and everyone named a blessing for the coming year. Inside they shut off the electricity and sang songs by the fire.

Adriana stayed up after everyone had gone to bed. She sat in the living room and stared at the Christmas tree. Handcrafted glass ornaments hung on the branches, red and gold satin ribbons, white lights, and silver candy canes decorated it. Wreaths hung in the windows. She sat in front of the dying light of the fireplace.

In the distance Eric watched her, the glow of the fire touching her dark skin, illuminating her face. She looked serene like a queen draped in her blue silk robe, a gift Laurence had given her on a trip to Milan. The emeralds in her ears were twinkling like green flames.

She was like a doll in a toy store he could not afford. No matter how he pressed his face against the glass and dreamed... she was meant for someone else. Someone who could take care of her, provide for her. But he'd let the dream last a little longer. He stared at her, wanting this moment to burn into his memory. Right now he could pretend that what he gazed upon was his.

She suddenly turned. He took a step back, ashamed of staring. She held out her hand and smiled. "You couldn't sleep either?"

Eric sat next to her. "I wanted to make sure you were okay. You've been quiet."

"I was just thinking about family." Adriana took his arm and draped it over her shoulders, cuddling next to him.

He turned to her, the firelight catching the dark purple highlights of her hair, the silk of her robe whispered against his skin, her scent as alluring as a falling star. Her warmth and vibrancy called him home. He felt the earth shift beneath him and he fell.

* * *

There was no snow on Christmas morning, but cold had gripped the city, creating frost on the windows and trees. The adults watched the kids dive into their gifts. To Adriana the feeling of home and family was as euphoric as any shopping high. She bought Nina a picture book on the rain forest and saw her face light with joy. As Nina hugged her she saw Eric wink and knew she had gotten it right. Nina had painted a mug for her and Eric bought her an organizer. She gave him a purple sweater.

"I have to get you out of gray and black," she said when he frowned at it.

"Good luck," Cassie said in a stage whisper, glancing at Drake. "I've only recently gotten him to wear white."

"You're island men," Adriana said. "You've been in the U.S. too long."

Drake looked at Eric. "Should I bring out mi shirt wid de palm leaves?"

"Don't forget the Panama hat."

After breakfast they told stories, and played games. When evening came, they ate Christmas dinner, filling the house with sounds of love and laughter.

* * *

"What are you working on?" Drake asked when he found Eric at his dining table working. Eric had been acting strange since New Year's Day.

"It's a business plan for Adriana."

"Why are you doing that here?"

"I had to ask Cassie a few questions. I've done
some research on the fashion industry and think I could give her some direction. She needs to approach this goal with organized steps."

Drake sat down in front of him, amazed. "You're in love with her."

He scratched out a few numbers.

"Are you going to tell her?"

Eric crumbled up a sheet of paper and tossed it away. "You're as nosy as an old woman."

Drake ignored him. "Try to make it romantic when you do."

"Have you forgotten who I am?"

"Try."

"How?"

"Good question." Drake rubbed the back of his neck. "Food?"

"Not everyone sees food as an instant aphrodisiac."

"Poetry?"

"I already gave her a poem." He reached for his checkbook, then stopped. He looked at Drake.

Drake grinned, reading his mind for the first time. "Perfect."

* * *

Adriana paced in Rita's studio as the woman looked at her designs. They were surrounded by stacks of fashion magazines, sketches by various young artists taped to the wall, flyers for different shows scattered about, and ashtrays positioned on every flat surface, flooding with ashes and cigarette butts.

"They're awful," Rita said at last.

Adriana halted as if she'd been slapped. "What?"

Rita tapped her cigarette in a nearby ashtray. "I said they're awful." She took a brief drag and set it down. "There's no originality." She gestured to a mannequin. "This male robe is much too effeminate for any man to wear. And the color." She just waved her hand, the gesture eloquent enough. "You have no vision, no voice." She shrugged. "But it isn't like this is New York so you can show your designs at our little fashion show without any fanfare."

Instead of disappointment, Adriana felt a rage that was blinding. Rage at having her work verbally slaughtered without cause. She might not be smart on many things, but one thing she did know was what would sell. Her vision might not be unique, but she knew her consumer and she knew her talent. She took her clothes and gathered up her designs.

"I worked for months on these patterns," she said quietly. "Getting every detail right. Every seam is perfect. These are quality items and I'm going to show my designs at the fashion show if I have to call them out myself. And I will succeed because they will sell." She marched to the door.

Rita laughed. "Good girl," she said, picking up her cigarette. "You'll make it after all."

Adriana frowned, recognizing the test. It did not improve her mood. "I'll get you for this."

Rita laughed harder. "Like to see you try."

"I'll see you at the show." She slammed the door.

* * *

He was lost. He knew he should have waited until after the fashion show to see Adriana, but he wanted to wish her luck. Eric searched through the crowd of half-dressed women, but couldn't see Adriana anywhere. He should have brought her flowers, he thought, frowning at the envelope in his hand. It would have been more romantic and perhaps he wouldn't look so out of place. He shoved it inside his jacket. He looked as if he were delivering a summons.

He sighed and took off his glasses, wiping them with a cloth. Someone bumped into him and he lost his grip, sending his glasses crashing to the floor. He bent to pick them up, but someone kicked them away. He swore and dropped to the floor, searching for them. He crawled on the tile floor, unnoticed through the chaos of legs. He swept his hands across the floor, finally finding his glasses near a clothes rack. He grabbed them, relieved, and shoved them on. A pair of hot-pink high heels came into focus. They were attached to long legs. He glanced up.

"Thank God!" the woman said in a deep, smoky voice. "You just saved me from having a coronary. I thought you hadn't made it." She seized his arm and helped him up.

Eric began to protest. "But I'm not—"

"Honey, right now I don't care who you are. I was so scared we'd be a man short. You'll be wearing these." She held up red silk boxers and a robe. "You'll escort Laviana out on your second changing." She pointed to a woman getting her makeup done.

Eric stared at the items she'd given him, his heart accelerating. She couldn't possibly want him to go out in these. "But—"

"Hurry, we're about to start. Don't worry, you'll look fabulous. They're from Divine Notions." She looked him up and down. "You'd have thought they were made just for you."

"But—"

"See you out there." She spun away and began barking orders at a hairdresser.

He swore. He couldn't do this. He was a financial adviser for God's sake. He glanced at a man in boxers getting the shine taken off his nose. He caught his eye. The man winked. No, he definitely couldn't do this. He put the items down and walked to the door, then stopped. Adriana would be disappointed if her new design wasn't shown. He swore fiercely, snatching the items.

Chapter 12

"Will you relax?" Cassie said as they sat facing the runway. "I'm sure he'll be here."

Adriana tried to keep calm. The seats around them were quickly filling up while the seat next to her remained empty. She looked toward the stage at the cream curtains, red carpet, and technicians working on the lighting. There were reporters setting up in the back of the room. It wasn't a large event, but some minor celebrities always showed up, giving the event some exposure.

"It's strange, he's usually on time," Jackie said.

Adriana toyed with one of her gold hoop earrings. "Perhaps he changed his mind."

"He didn't change his mind," Cassie said.

"He wouldn't dare," Sya added with emphasis. "He gets to see women in their underwear. What man would miss that?"

Adriana frowned. "That's not all this fashion show is about."

"That's all he'll care about."

"Eric isn't like that."

"No," Jackie agreed. She glanced at her watch. "But it is strange."

Adriana felt tears of disappointment building, but set her jaw firm. She wouldn't cry. It didn't matter. It just showed how different they were. How could she have expected him to come? She didn't need him to be there anyway. She didn't care. Hell, her family had yet to attend one of these events and only her mother had ever visited her shop.

"He will be here," Cassie repeated, trying to assure her.

She shrugged as the lights dimmed. She glanced around the room and sighed. Damn it, it did matter and she did care. He knew how important this was to her. He should have been there with her, his dark eyes surveying the crowd, his jaw like steel as he watched the women parade in front of him.

She couldn't focus when the show started. The models were a blur, the announcer's voice a buzz in her ear. Suddenly, she heard Cassie gasp. She turned and saw Sya and Jackie with their mouths open.

"What's wrong with you?" she asked. "Did someone's brassier slip?"

"No," Cassie said, breathless. "Look on the stage."