The door of the restaurant opened. Riley, Gavin, Hamilton, and our mother walked in. Jade and I stood to greet them. “Grams, I have to go, people are starting to arrive,” Jade said.
“Are you talking to your grandparents, Jade?” Riley asked in wonder, and I groaned. Like me, Riley would be curious, but unlike me, she lacked hesitation. She waved into the phone. “Hi! We love Jade.”
“Who are you?” Jade’s grandmother demanded.
“Riley. I’m Kal’s twin sister.” She pulled Gavin into view behind her. “And this is my fiancé, Gavin. We just got engaged yesterday.”
“Congratulations,” Jade’s grandmother said. “You make a nice couple.”
Riley beamed a smile. “Thank you! We just arrived at the restaurant where Jade and Kal planned an engagement celebration for us.”
Jade’s grandfather said, “Gavin, you want to know the secret to a happy marriage?”
Jade and I exchanged a look. Like me, she probably had no idea what he’d say. There was no stopping that train, though.
“Absolutely, sir,” Gavin answered politely.
“Only make vows you intend to keep. If you say for better or for worse, you hang on tight through the worse. If you say you’ll treasure her, never let her know when you start tuning her out. Women like to be listened to.”
Gavin nodded. “Sound advice. I’ll remember that.”
“And one more thing,” Jade’s grandfather said. “Every single night . . . before you go to sleep . . . you get down on your knees . . .”
Jade made a grab for the phone, but Riley held tight. I couldn’t blame her. Even I wanted to hear where this was going.
“. . . and thank God he sent you someone patient enough to put up with you, because chances are she’s tuning you out just as much and that’s her gift to you.”
Jade collapsed back against me. I chuckled and said in her ear, “Even if that had gone in an entirely different direction, Riley would still love him. She’s always wanted grandparents. We both did. For her, this is like you’re letting her celebrate with yours. Look how happy she is.”
Jade turned to meet my gaze. “The older they get the less I know what they’ll say.” Just above a whisper she added, “He pissed in Robert’s car.”
“I can’t say I disapprove.”
Jade’s eyes rounded.
I added, “It’s a guy thing.”
“Is it, though?” She didn’t look convinced.
I looked up from her to see that Riley had passed Jade’s phone to my mother and it was my turn to be mortified. My family was nuts. “Jade, my mother is now talking to your grandparents.”
Jade’s head whipped around. We both watched in silent horror as my mother held up the phone to Nicole and Stephan as they came in and said, “This is Nicole and Stephan. Nicole is Kal’s other sister.” Nicole looked so happy with that introduction she verged on tears. “Nicole, would you like to meet Jade’s grandparents? They couldn’t come today, but hopefully they’ll join us for Kal and Jade’s engagement party.”
“I would love to,” Nicole said. “Isn’t technology wonderful? You couldn’t be here, but with video it’s almost as if you are.” She laughed. “Well, thank you for that. I make sure Stephan is wearing pants whenever we head out into public too.”
Jade turned and wrapped her arms around me. “Your family is so nice.”
I kissed her forehead. “So is yours. And they’re hilarious.”
The door of the restaurant opened again. As Dominic entered with Abby and their children, Nicole held up the phone toward her brother. “Dom, Jade’s grandparents couldn’t make it, but they’re on the phone; would you like to meet them?”
Dominic took the phone, greeted them, then pulled his wife closer so she could do more of the speaking. Abby introduced Judy and Leonardo then said she was enjoying getting to know Jade and what a great couple Jade and I were.
As soon as the door opened again, Dominic handed the phone off to Sebastian and his wife. I looked down at Jade. “We have completely lost control of this situation.”
She hugged me tighter. “Why doesn’t that seem as bad as it should?”
“Because we’re together?” I murmured against her hair.
“Or we’re both clinically insane. I prefer your theory.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Jade
A short time later everyone including Richard D’Argenson and his wife, Maddy, were seated. I’d finally snatched my phone back and told my grandparents I’d call them the next day. They’d both been smiling when we ended the call and that brought another layer of magic to the evening.
When Richard entered with his wife, they chose the empty seats across from us. Stephan had introduced us briefly the night before. They’d graciously accepted our invitation to join us for the engagement party. When we’d said the restaurant was owned by a friend of ours, Maddy had said her husband was quite opinionated when it came to food. Kal suggested that we not tell Richard more than that our friend admired him. That was a gamble, though. We hadn’t tasted Paul’s food yet. It might be horrible. What would Richard say then?
I leaned over and whispered to Kal. “This is going to work out, right? I didn’t consider how it might crush Paul if his idol doesn’t like the dish.”
He whispered back, “I’d want the truth.”
“Should we say something? Make sure Richard softens his opinion?”
“It won’t mean anything then.”
I nodded. True. Still my stomach was in knots.
Conversation was light and easy as the waitstaff began to bring out salad plates of chicory, fennel, radishes, and toasted hazelnuts. I tried not to be obvious as I watched Richard’s reaction.
He made a face at his wife. “Americans. Always the salad first. Is this a French restaurant or a restaurant that serves French food?”
Maddy hushed him. “This is a celebration, Richard, not your kitchen. Just enjoy.”
He nodded and took a bite.
I shot a worried look at Kal, but he was happily talking to Sebastian about their favorite places to snorkel. Please let Richard like Paul’s food. Please.
When the next course came, and it was only a bowl of broth I started to really worry. Beneath the table I grabbed hold of Kal’s hand. He laced his fingers with mine, smiled at me, then continued his conversation with Sebastian.
I couldn’t look away from Richard. He lifted his spoon, dipped it into the broth, brought it to his nose and sniffed it before taking a taste. I held my breath and waited.
He nodded once. “Now this is not bad.”
I let out a relieved breath and tried the broth myself. It was delicious. There was a definite fish taste to it, but I also recognized saffron in the tomato broth and an orange zest. When Richard began to spoon croutons and shredded cheese onto the broth, I did the same. Continuing to mimic him, I added a spoonful of a sauce that I soon discovered was spicier than I’d expected. Deliciously spicy, though.
I glanced at Kal. Like him.
He turned and caught me looking at him. “Sorry, Sebastian was telling me about his family. He’d like to have us visit them. Would you go with me?”