“Might as well get it over with,” Parker said.
“Yeah,” Derrick teased. “The suspense is killing me.”
They all settled into the casual living room furniture made of sturdy oak and lined with thick brown and maroon cushions. Brent opened the present from his dad, which was a small box that had been set way in the bottom of a bag filled with tissue paper. He lifted the lid of the box, finding a key. “What’s this?”
“The key to a small flat in Brooklyn.”
Brent’s jaw unhinged. “Dad, that’s way too extravagant.”
“You’ll be up in the city quite a bit on business. I thought it might be nice to have your own place to get away to. Especially if you want to bring Jackie along.”
“But, I can’t let you—”
“It’s already done.” Parker’s blue eyes shone. “Your mother and I discussed it. While we’d naturally love to have you and Jackie stay with us anytime, when you’re working in the city, you may want to keep your own schedule.”
“And have your privacy,” Derrick said, nudging him.
“I don’t know what to say. Thanks.”
“It’s a very small place, an efficiency,” Parker explained. “In a brownstone in Prospect Heights.”
“That’s a really great neighborhood,” William commented.
Parker nodded. “A colleague of mine was about to put it on the market, so he cut me a deal without the real estate commission.”
“Are you sure?” Brent asked, still feeling bowled over.
“You can think of it as a wedding gift, if that makes you feel any better. One for both you and Jackie. I’ve got pictures on my phone. Would you like to see?”
Brent said of course, and everyone admired the sleek, upscale urban loft.
He hugged his dad. “Thank you. This is really too much.”
“You won’t need to get as excited over mine,” Grandpa Chad said, handing him a heavy bag. Inside it, Brent found a thirty-year-old bottle of scotch.
“Oh yeah, I will,” Brent answered with a grin. “Thanks, Grandpa. I can’t wait to try it.”
William went next. Brent opened the package, finding a selection of very fine Cuban cigars inside. “Why, thank you,” Brent said, placing a fully wrapped one between his lips. “Thank you very much.”
The other guys chuckled, and Derrick gave him the final bag.
“You didn’t have to,” Brent said. “You did all of this.” He gestured around the room.
“Maybe you should see it first?”
Brent dug into the bag and pulled out a pair of boxers. He hooted when he saw they were adorned with little top hats and bow ties and flirty red lipstick marks, as well as stenciled lettering reading: Hot Groom.
“Nice,” Brent said, still laughing. “I’m sure Jackie will appreciate these.”
His dad doubled over with laughter. “That’s the best gift.”
“I agree,” Grandpa Chad said, chuckling.
“Now I’m jealous nobody gave me a pair of those for my wedding,” William groused, and that made everyone laugh harder, because William was basically the most conservative among them.
“Thanks, guys.” Brent smiled around the room. “This is very special.”
“What do you say, everyone?” Derrick asked. “Are we ready for me to deal?”
They settled in at the kitchen table.
As his brother shuffled the deck, Brent grinned at his family. “This is all really great. I wonder what the ladies are up to?”
…
Hope rode in the car with Sally, her mom, and Meredith. Ava and Sofia were ahead of them, leading the way through the downpour. Before they’d left the main house, the others had loaded lots of heavy bags and coolers into the vehicles. Hope had no idea where they were going—she only hoped they were headed someplace dry.
A short time later, after several twists and turns along winding roads hugging the water, they pulled into a marina. “We’re not going sailing today, are we?” Hope asked, slightly aghast.
Sally laughed. “Grandmother Margaret gets seasick, so that’s not happening.” She peered through her window at the gloomy gray sky. “Besides, it’s not the best day for it.”
“It is okay for other things, though,” Meredith said mysteriously.
“What other things?”
Ava pursed her lips and stared out the window. For the life of her, it looked to Hope like her mom was trying extra hard not to laugh.
They eventually parked in a gravel parking area near the boat slips. Hope studied the others in the SUV with wonder as the rain came down in droves. “So we are going sailing?”
“Not sailing,” Sally said. “Just on the boat.” As she climbed from the driver’s seat, she issued a reminder to the others inside. “Don’t forget to put up your hoods.”
The group giggled and chattered happily as they made their way onto Grandpa Chad’s enormous rig in carefully measured steps. Sally and Margaret hopped on first and helped the others by holding out their steadying hands. The bags of supplies and coolers were passed over as well, until finally everyone—and everything—was aboard.
“We best get down below,” Margaret called as raging winds whistled.
Once inside the cabin of the boat, Hope was surprised to feel safe and warm. The cozy space was cheerily lit and just large enough to accommodate all of them comfortably.
“This is so sweet,” Hope said, taking in the miniature kitchen and compact living area. There were open doors at both ends of the room, and each revealed part of a large platform bed. “We’re not…er, sleeping in here?”
“Heavens no,” Margaret said.
Meredith grinned. “We’re having a pajama party back at the house.”
“That sounds fun,” Hope answered, thinking it really did. “What about the guys?”
“They’ll be gone overnight,” Sofia said in cryptic tones.
Hope worriedly bit her lip, telling herself her concern was for Jackie. But, truthfully, some of it was for herself. “They won’t be doing anything…naughty?”
Elsa chuckled lightly. “No worries about that.”
“Then again,” Margaret said, “with Chad along, you never know.”
Ava laughed and unzipped her raincoat. “This is so cute in here. And stable. I can barely feel the—” The ship rocked to one side, and she grabbed onto a countertop, appearing suddenly white. “…water.”