Part 33: EARLY PREPARATION
Saturday morning Elana awakened bright and early to get herself together for the day. She had called Gail to make sure she was in agreement with the arrangements, then she went to get dressed. She wanted to look particularly nice for Sean, so after mulling through many outfits, she eventually decided on wearing a wine-colored, u-neck, long-sleeve, stretch sweater, a fitted black suede skirt that stopped below her knees with black leather, one-inch, princess heel pumps. She brushed the spiral curls out of her hair that she and Gail had created the night before, parted it on one side and curled it all under, then tucked the heavier side behind her ear. She put on jet-black mascara and eyeliner, on the top of her eyelids, to accentuate her brown eyes and she wore a wine colored lipstick to match her sweater. She also decided to wear the bracelet Sean had given her the night before and now she was ready, all she had to do was wait for Sean and Gail.
While she waited she ate an apple and drank a cup of tea as she flipped through the morning paper and thought about seeing Sam again and meeting his wife. She was happy that Sam had married a white woman because it would eliminate any potential awkward moments when they were all together. She felt that since Sam and his wife had been married for seven years as Sean had indicated, then they all should be very comfortable around each other at least. As she continued to read, the phone rang...
"Hello?"
"Hey girl! I just called to tell you that I'm running a little late."
"Why, what happened? "
"Girl, Chelsea, decided that the jelly from the toast looked better on her dress than on the toast, so we just had to pick another ensemble for her to wear. I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Alright. We'll be waiting."
"I hope you find something to do with that man of yours while you're waiting." Gail said slyly.
"We'll see."
The women giggled at Elana's comment as they said their good-byes.
After a few more minutes of waiting, it seemed that Sean was running a little late too, so Elana flipped on the small t.v. in her kitchen and watched a cooking show on the Food Network. While she watched the chef preparing certain dishes, she was reminded that she would eventually have to make Sean a home-cooked meal. It made her a little nervous because she did not know how in the world she was going to pull that one off. She felt she could do just about anything including: out swim just about anybody; play a mean game of tennis and racquetball, redevelop a company and turn it around from bankruptcy, teach complicated mathematical equations; and yet she did not know how to adjust an oven to the proper setting and mix a few food items together for a meal. She had to laugh at herself and figured that eventually she would learn, even if she had to take classes. As she thought about it, the doorbell rang and she knew it was Sean. She quickly turned off the television and ran to the door, before she opened it she straightened herself out one more time, then opened the door to find Sean there smiling at her.
"Hi, lollipop!" He said happy to see her and holding up a long, white box of roses for her.
"Hi! Come on in." She said taking the box of roses and closing the door as he walked in. "You got these for me, Sean?"
"You're my rose aren't you?" He asked taking her hand in his as they walked down the foyer and then the steps to her living room.
"You never referred to me as your rose before."
"That only happens when you wear sexy red dresses like you did last night. I thought about you and that dress all night, so I just had to get you some roses, before I came over. That's why I'm a little late, I hope Gail does not mind. Where is she?" Sean asked looking around.
"Oh, she was running late herself. She should be here any minute." Elana put the roses down on her sofa table and turned back to Sean. "Are not you forgetting something?"
"Oh, Yeah! I'm sorry I just assumed you had a vase for them. We'll pick one up today."
"No, I'm not talking about a vase, Sean. I'm talking about my morning kiss."
"When did you start getting morning kisses?"
"Hopefully in a few seconds."
Sean laughed lightly as he moved into her to honor her request. He was careful not to squeeze her too close to him, so he just slightly held her around her waist keeping his other hand in his pocket. During the kiss, Elana was disappointed because she could tell he was holding back. She was really getting tired of his waiting game even though it was a sweet thought. As far as she was concerned he had proven that he loved her and that it was not just physical, but she was ready to go to the next step and she had already decided that she was gonna break him or die trying. She knew she could not marry him at least until after she was finished at Crealite and that would be several months from now. She did not want to wait that long for him. It was not that she had lost all her moral sense, but the fact that she was in her thirties, she knew she was going to spend the rest of her life with Sean, and her body called out for only him, that she did not want to wait. So as he kissed her innocently she pressed herself up against him tighter and weaved her fingers through his hair.
"Elana, please don't do this to me." Sean said between her kisses as he took his hand out of his pocket and held her tighter.
Elana broke off her kiss and looked at him. "I have not done anything to you yet." Then she started to nibble on his ear. "But I'd like to."
Just as she started, her doorbell rang and both of them were shocked out of their enjoyment.
"Saved by the bell." Sean said as Elana moved away from him and went to the door.
"Hey, girl. I'm ready." Gail said walking into the foyer area. "We going in my car or Sean's" she asked as she looked down into the living room at Sean leaning up against the back of the chair with his hands holding onto the back of it and his head up to the ceiling. "You alright Sean?"
"Yeah, Gail. I'm fine." Sean said standing up straight trying to get over Elana nibbling his ear. She had never done that before and he was amazed at the effect it had on him.
"Humph, well what's it gonna be?"
"What?" Elana inquired forgetting what Gail had just asked about.
"Who's driving? You guys must have been into something. If I'm interrupting, I can just go to Connecticut with Chelsea."
"No, Gail. We're ready. I can drive." Sean said as he walked up the steps to meet them in the foyer. He was not about to be with Elana alone again, at least until he was ready to propose to her.
Gail looked at Sean peculiarly and then Chelsea said something. She was on the floor with her little purse opened. After a few seconds she pulled out a comb and walked a few steps over to Sean. "Com har." she said holding out the little comb to Sean. They all looked at her and then at Sean and laughed. Sean rubbed his hair back and took Chelsea's comb and pretended to comb his hair, then he handed it back to her.
"Thank you, very much Chelsea." Sean said as he picked her up. "I see you're gonna be looking out for me." They all laughed again and headed out the door.
Elana picked up her leather jacket and locked up while Gail got the car seat and put it in Sean's ml 430. Gail had to show Sean how to buckle Chelsea into the car seat, which took a few extra minutes. When they finally got on the road, they were all laughing and talking about their college days. Gail teased Sean for taking her friend away whenever he was in town and told him a lot of her lonely weekends were because of him. When they got on the subject of graduate school, Sean now saw that Elana had gone to Pennsylvania to go to school because that's where Gail was going, so the two friends wanted to be together. It was so unlike the story Elana's father had told him when he went there to find Elana. He had said that she decided to go to a school, with another young man whom she was interested in at the time. Now it all made since and as Gail and Elana continued to talk, some of that bad feeling about seeing Elana's father on this trip were welling up inside him. He decided that if Elana wanted to see her father he would stay in the car and wait for her. He did not want another confrontation with George Powers to ruin his day with Elana.
Finally they arrived in Connecticut at the fertility facility. Gail explained that Max had done his part and that she only needed to see if the implanting had done the trick or if she needed another. She estimated that it would take no more than an hour. Sean told them he needed to check on his grandfather, but really he was going to the jeweler's, which was not far away. Chelsea had quickly grown attached to Sean and would not let go of his hand when he was trying to give her over to Gail. Evidently the last time Chelsea was at the facility, she had some bad experience and did not want to go in. Sean offered to take her with him, but Gail was skeptical about his grandfather and Sean bringing a little black baby girl in the house with him.
"Now, I don't want him saying nothing nasty to my baby, cause granddaddy or no granddaddy I'll go over to that house and kick his..."
Sean stopped her "Gail, don't worry about my grandpa. He knows about Elana and me and he's all right with it. He would not do or say anything to hurt a little girl, especially one as cute as Chelsea." Sean said pulling Chelsea's nose making her laugh. "I need to make a business stop downtown too, so I'm gonna do that first and then go home if I have time.
Gail reluctantly agreed and Sean kissed Elana on the cheek, then the two women went into the doctor's office.
Sean buckled Chelsea back into the car and drove to the jeweler's office. When he got there, it seemed to be very busy, so Sean knew he probably would not have enough time to go see his grandfather. Sean got out of the car and before giving the valet his keys he unbuckled Chelsea from the car seat and held her up next to him while giving the valet his keys. The drivers all gave Sean a strange look, but no one said anything and he ignored it. He actually saw this as practice for him, if he and Elana had any children because he knew that more than likely their children would have darker skin, appearing more black than white, so whatever he would be confronted with having Chelsea, he surmised he probably would get the same thing with his own children.
When he walked into the jeweler's store he saw that there were many people shopping for the exclusive jewelry that the Tiffany & Company sold. Sean looked around in the encasements while Chelsea looked on intrigued at the sparkling diamonds. "Wat dat?" Chelsea asked pointing at a diamond elephant broach.
Sean smiled at her and leaned her closer to the encasement. "That is a pretty toy for ladies like Ms. Elana or your mommy. This is a big toy store for big girls. One day you'll be a big girl too and someone will come to a place like this to buy you lots of these toys. You understand, now?"
Chelsea had her finger in her mouth and she shook her head yes. Sean kept casually looking over other items while he waited for a salesperson to become free. After a few minutes the jeweler, Mr. Russell, recognized him and hurried over.
"Mr. Logan, Mr. Logan! Why did you not let me know that you had been waiting? I am terribly sorry. What is it I can help you with today?" The man asked trying to look indifferent to the fact that one of his most exclusive white customers was holding onto a little black baby girl.
"I didn't want to take you from your other customers Mr. Russell. I wanted to ask..."
Chelsea interrupted Sean as he was talking and pointed at Mr. Russell, "Who dat?" she asked and looked back at Sean waiting for him to tell her.
"Chelsea this is Mr. Russell and Mr. Russell this is Chelsea. Chelsea, Mr. Russell is the man who keeps all of these pretty toys until someone comes to pick up the one they want."
Chelsea was satisfied with Sean's answer and busied herself looking around at other things as Sean continued his conversation.
"Like I was saying, I wanted to see if there was any way I could get the ring next week. It's really important."
"Why don't we go in the back and discuss this Mr. Logan. I can look it up and see if that will be possible."
"Thanks"
The two men went into Mr. Russell's office and Sean played horsee with Chelsea on his lap while Mr. Russell searched for the status of the ring on his database system. Finally he found it and read the notes that had been added.
"Well, you know we had to send the ring to our British affiliate to ensure the finest cut of the stones you requested. It seems that the diamonds were sent to them this week. It took them a little more time than usual to find flawless diamonds that could be cut this way. In any event they are working on the cut now and the place setting will be next. I'm afraid I can't promise this to you in any less than two or three more weeks, sir."
"Three weeks!" Sean said. He knew he was not going to be able to keep his hands off Elana for another three weeks without alienating her like he had the week before and he did not want to sadden her any more by doing that, so he asked about his alternatives. "What if I go there and pick it up myself?"
"Well that still would not rush the process. The jewelers have to cut the stone, mold the platinum and set the stones perfectly. That takes time Mr. Logan. They won't be rushed, if you want them to give you the quality you requested. Look I'll tell you what. I'll make sure to call them everyday and inquire as to how the process is going. If they know I'll be calling on a daily basis maybe they'll work a little faster just to get rid of me. I have done that in the past with some of our more exclusive customers and it usually works. I may be able to get the ring at the beginning of week after next for you."
"If you could do that, Mr. Russell, you don't know what a relief it will be for me."
"Is Ms. Winthrop rushing you down the aisle, Mr. Logan?" The jeweler asked familiar with the fact that the two had been dating for a while because of Sheridan's frequent visits.
"Ms. Winthrop?"
"Why yes. She comes in here often looking for engagement rings, indicating that the two of you are to be married soon. You've got yourself one beautiful woman there Mr. Logan and I know you're proud to have her at your side. Any man would be." The jeweler was trying to compliment Sean on as much as possible, when in actuality he despised Sheridan because she would always come in order jewelry and bring it back saying it was not what she had asked for because of some minor mistake. He just wanted to ensure the sale with Sean and the hefty commission that went along with it."
"When was the last time she was here?" Sean asked.
"Oh I have not seen her lately. It's been several weeks now."
"Oh, I see. Well actually Sheridan does not know anything about this and if she comes in again I would prefer if you not mentioned it." Sean did not want to tell the jeweler everything because he did not know the extent of Sheridan's acquaintance with Mr. Russell and he did not want to risk upsetting her too much because of the pregnancy.
"Certainly, Mr. Logan." He said as they stood up, Sean picked Chelsea up and the two men shook hands. "She's going to be a very surprised young lady."
"That she is Mr. Russell. I'll look forward to hearing from you as soon as the ring comes in."
"Why we will deliver it straight to your office in New York."
"Great!" Sean exclaimed enthusiastically.
"Gaet!" Chelsea imitated Sean, putting her arms in the air.
Sean and Mr. Russell laughed as Sean left to go back and pick up Gail & Elana, before he drove off he called the office to tell them that he was on his way, but the secretary indicated that it would be another half hour or so. This gave Sean time to go see his grandfather, so that's where he headed.
Logan Home
"Grandpa! It's Sean!" Sean came into the door alerting his grandfather that he was there. He was holding Chelsea and went to grandpa's room to see what he was doing. Grandpa's t.v. was on, but he was not in his room, so Sean searched the house for him while he pretended to be an airplane with Chelsea on top of his shoulders. He finally found his grandfather in the game room playing pool with his lifelong friend Ed Jasper. Ed was a tall lanky man who always wore an old red baseball cap, for as long as Sean could remember. He and grandpa William had known each other since primary school. He was a famous jazz composer and had taught Sean how to play a base. Ed and grandpa used to sneak a young Sean into the jazz clubs with them when he was younger and they would always get chastised about it from their wives and Sean's mother. Eventually Ed moved away to Florida after he retired, but now his health was failing more and his daughter and her husband, who still lived in Connecticut, brought him back there to live with them. Sean was surprised and happy to see Ed.
"Hey, grandpa!"
"Sean, boy. How you doin'. You remember old Ed here don'tcha?"
"Yeah, I remember Ed!" Sean said putting Chelsea down and giving Ed a big hug.
"He just moved in with his daughter and her husband, so he's gonna be coming over more often so we can get together." "Ed, you know Sean runs the company now."
"Well, you don't say! That's great Sean. Who's this little one?" Ed asked looking at Chelsea.
Sean picked Chelsea back up. "This is my girlfriend's, friend's little girl, Chelsea!" Sean had to shout because Ed had a hearing problem.
"Hey there Chelsea. I'm Mr. Ed." He said pinching her cheek.
"Miter Ed!" Chelsea said repeating his name.
"She's a fat little thing." Grandpa said. "What your mama been feeding you honey?" Grandpa asked. She did not know what to make of grandpa because he was so gruff looking and unlike her own grandfathers and her dad and Sean, so she actually was a little scared of him.
Grandpa came in closer to her and squeezed her leg. "Yeah, you're a little porker alright." He said pinching her cheek. "I'm grandpa, but the pretty ladies call me Willie." Grandpa tried to put on a funny face, which cheered Chelsea up a little.
"Fee Wiwee! Fee Wiwee!" Chelsea said throwing her arms up.
"Yeah free Willie. What's she talking about?" Grandpa wanted to know looking at Sean.
"It was a movie grandpa about a whale, whose name was Willie."
"Ah, so you're trying to say I'm fat too huh?" "Put her down Sean, so I can take her over here to this table."
Sean complied and sat Chelsea down on her feet. When she got down she sat on the floor and opened her purse like she had with Sean and pulled out her comb again. "Com har!" She said handing the comb to grandpa whose short gray hair was flying all over his head. Sean leaned down and took the comb and handed it to grandpa who took the comb laughing.
"She's a smart little thing ain't she. How old is she Sean?"
"She's two."
"Humph, it was so long ago that your father and uncle were that young. It's almost hard to imagine. You remember Jenny being this young Ed?" Grandpa yelled out to Ed.
"No can't say I recall that Will. Too long ago."
"Yeah. Sean it's been too long since we had any babies in this house. You better get to working on that Powers woman, boy so we can have some younguns running around here soon. I'm hoping she's better in bed to ya' than missy was, so you can start popping them in the oven boy like your great grandfather did. Why within a year first came the twins, then my aunts, and years later my father. You can't be wasting no time, we gotta have somebody to run Crealite after you get too old to do it, so you don't have much time."
"We haven't been together yet grandpa. I'm trying to wait until we get married." Sean picked Chelsea back up because she was reaching up for him. She wanted to be on the same level as the grownups.
"Humph, don't remember the last time I heard a young man these days say something like that. But that's good boy, that's real good. You must have a lot of respect for her. That's wonderful."
"I don't know how wonderful it is. I'm about to lose my mind. I went to the jeweler today to see if they could hurry it up a little, so they're gonna try. She's just not making it easy for me."
"Say she's really pretty huh?"
"She's more than pretty grandpa. She's absolutely spectacular to me. She's the most beautiful woman I've ever known and I feel so good when we're together it's like people look at us and are asking what somebody looking like her and who has so much going for her wants to be with a simple looking white guy like me. She can have anybody she wants grandpa, but she wants me and I'm having a real hard time holding back from her. I don't know how in the world I'm going to pull this off until that ring comes."
"Well, you'll be alright, just stick to your guns. And don't be thinkin' you're simple. You're my grandson and ain't no Logan man yet been accused of being simple lookin'." Grandpa told him as he headed over to a table where some cupcakes sat that Ed's daughter had baked. "I know sweet little girls like sweet things. You want a cupcake?" He asked Chelsea.
Chelsea lit up hearing the word cupcake and she looked at grandpa again with her two fingers in her mouth waiting for him to produce the cupcake before she finalized her assessment of the old man.
Grandpa picked up a vanilla cupcake then handed it over to Chelsea, but Chelsea would not take it. "No! choc' it" she said indicating she wanted a chocolate cupcake and not the vanilla. Grandpa apologized and got her what she wanted and then she took it and was happy. Sean put her down on the floor and let her walk around with the chocolate cupcake.
"So when you gonna ask the Powers woman to marry you?"
"Who's getting married?" Ed asked only discerning part of the question.
"Sean. He's gonna marry that Powers girl from high school!" Grandpa yelled back at him
"Oh yeah, the one that's black like your gra-"
"Yeah that one Ed!" Grandpa yelled back trying to cut off what Ed was going to say.
Sean was interested in Ed's unfinished comment, thinking it was something racially founded. "Who did he say Elana looks like grandpa?"
"Ah, don't pay Ed no attention. He's a little senile you know." Grandpa told Sean as he made circular motion on the side of his head with his first finger .
Getting back to what grandpa had asked him earlier Sean answered. "I'm gonna ask Elana as soon as I get that ring."
"You got the prenuptial agreement ready yet?"
"No, I'm not going to ask her to sign one grandpa. Whatever I have I'll be sharing with her because she should have been with me all these years anyway while I was making the money."
"Now Sean, you know young people don't stay together like they did back in my day and even in your father's day. If something happens and you all get divorced, she'll be able to take a chunk out of you. Don't let love get in the way of being sensible."
"Grandpa, if she leaves me, she can have everything, because I won't need it anymore. Right now the only thing my money is good for is spending it on her besides she's sacrificed being with me because she thought it would be in my best interest. That was so unselfish of her, so I won't be selfish with her when we get married."
At that moment Sean noticed Chelsea making her way to the glass doors leading to the pool, so he jetted after her and stopped her just before she put her hands on the window, but not before she smooshed the frosted head of the cupcake into her dress. "Oh! No! Gail is going to kill me." Sean exclaimed as he panicked looking for something to wipe off Chelsea's dress. When he found a towel, he only made it worse by smudging it. "Oh God! What am I gonna do. I can't take her back to her mother looking like this." Sean was perplexed.
"Boy, you can't let that baby walk around with a chocolate cupcake in her hand. If you plan on having any babies, you better learn that. She needed a high chair or you should have sat with her. Else she's gonna mess up more than that pretty little dress of hers. She'll have that chocolate all over her shoes and everything else around here.
"I didn't think about that." Sean said as he continued to try and get the chocolate off her. "Look grandpa, I'm gonna have to go. I think I saw a store downtown, so I'm gonna go there and try to replace this dress. I'm sorry about running out on you. I'm glad your friend is here with you. You have to come to New York with me one weekend, soon and get out of Connecticut for a change."
"Yeah, yeah. You keep tellin' me that. You just go cover your tracts. You got a lot to learn boy. You can't be bringing no woman's baby back looking no different than when she left her with you or you'll be getting cussed out!" He yelled as Sean made his way hurriedly out of the house with Chelsea in tow to search for a similar dress in town.
Saturday morning Elana awakened bright and early to get herself together for the day. She had called Gail to make sure she was in agreement with the arrangements, then she went to get dressed. She wanted to look particularly nice for Sean, so after mulling through many outfits, she eventually decided on wearing a wine-colored, u-neck, long-sleeve, stretch sweater, a fitted black suede skirt that stopped below her knees with black leather, one-inch, princess heel pumps. She brushed the spiral curls out of her hair that she and Gail had created the night before, parted it on one side and curled it all under, then tucked the heavier side behind her ear. She put on jet-black mascara and eyeliner, on the top of her eyelids, to accentuate her brown eyes and she wore a wine colored lipstick to match her sweater. She also decided to wear the bracelet Sean had given her the night before and now she was ready, all she had to do was wait for Sean and Gail.
While she waited she ate an apple and drank a cup of tea as she flipped through the morning paper and thought about seeing Sam again and meeting his wife. She was happy that Sam had married a white woman because it would eliminate any potential awkward moments when they were all together. She felt that since Sam and his wife had been married for seven years as Sean had indicated, then they all should be very comfortable around each other at least. As she continued to read, the phone rang...
"Hello?"
"Hey girl! I just called to tell you that I'm running a little late."
"Why, what happened? "
"Girl, Chelsea, decided that the jelly from the toast looked better on her dress than on the toast, so we just had to pick another ensemble for her to wear. I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Alright. We'll be waiting."
"I hope you find something to do with that man of yours while you're waiting." Gail said slyly.
"We'll see."
The women giggled at Elana's comment as they said their good-byes.
After a few more minutes of waiting, it seemed that Sean was running a little late too, so Elana flipped on the small t.v. in her kitchen and watched a cooking show on the Food Network. While she watched the chef preparing certain dishes, she was reminded that she would eventually have to make Sean a home-cooked meal. It made her a little nervous because she did not know how in the world she was going to pull that one off. She felt she could do just about anything including: out swim just about anybody; play a mean game of tennis and racquetball, redevelop a company and turn it around from bankruptcy, teach complicated mathematical equations; and yet she did not know how to adjust an oven to the proper setting and mix a few food items together for a meal. She had to laugh at herself and figured that eventually she would learn, even if she had to take classes. As she thought about it, the doorbell rang and she knew it was Sean. She quickly turned off the television and ran to the door, before she opened it she straightened herself out one more time, then opened the door to find Sean there smiling at her.
"Hi, lollipop!" He said happy to see her and holding up a long, white box of roses for her.
"Hi! Come on in." She said taking the box of roses and closing the door as he walked in. "You got these for me, Sean?"
"You're my rose aren't you?" He asked taking her hand in his as they walked down the foyer and then the steps to her living room.
"You never referred to me as your rose before."
"That only happens when you wear sexy red dresses like you did last night. I thought about you and that dress all night, so I just had to get you some roses, before I came over. That's why I'm a little late, I hope Gail does not mind. Where is she?" Sean asked looking around.
"Oh, she was running late herself. She should be here any minute." Elana put the roses down on her sofa table and turned back to Sean. "Are not you forgetting something?"
"Oh, Yeah! I'm sorry I just assumed you had a vase for them. We'll pick one up today."
"No, I'm not talking about a vase, Sean. I'm talking about my morning kiss."
"When did you start getting morning kisses?"
"Hopefully in a few seconds."
Sean laughed lightly as he moved into her to honor her request. He was careful not to squeeze her too close to him, so he just slightly held her around her waist keeping his other hand in his pocket. During the kiss, Elana was disappointed because she could tell he was holding back. She was really getting tired of his waiting game even though it was a sweet thought. As far as she was concerned he had proven that he loved her and that it was not just physical, but she was ready to go to the next step and she had already decided that she was gonna break him or die trying. She knew she could not marry him at least until after she was finished at Crealite and that would be several months from now. She did not want to wait that long for him. It was not that she had lost all her moral sense, but the fact that she was in her thirties, she knew she was going to spend the rest of her life with Sean, and her body called out for only him, that she did not want to wait. So as he kissed her innocently she pressed herself up against him tighter and weaved her fingers through his hair.
"Elana, please don't do this to me." Sean said between her kisses as he took his hand out of his pocket and held her tighter.
Elana broke off her kiss and looked at him. "I have not done anything to you yet." Then she started to nibble on his ear. "But I'd like to."
Just as she started, her doorbell rang and both of them were shocked out of their enjoyment.
"Saved by the bell." Sean said as Elana moved away from him and went to the door.
"Hey, girl. I'm ready." Gail said walking into the foyer area. "We going in my car or Sean's" she asked as she looked down into the living room at Sean leaning up against the back of the chair with his hands holding onto the back of it and his head up to the ceiling. "You alright Sean?"
"Yeah, Gail. I'm fine." Sean said standing up straight trying to get over Elana nibbling his ear. She had never done that before and he was amazed at the effect it had on him.
"Humph, well what's it gonna be?"
"What?" Elana inquired forgetting what Gail had just asked about.
"Who's driving? You guys must have been into something. If I'm interrupting, I can just go to Connecticut with Chelsea."
"No, Gail. We're ready. I can drive." Sean said as he walked up the steps to meet them in the foyer. He was not about to be with Elana alone again, at least until he was ready to propose to her.
Gail looked at Sean peculiarly and then Chelsea said something. She was on the floor with her little purse opened. After a few seconds she pulled out a comb and walked a few steps over to Sean. "Com har." she said holding out the little comb to Sean. They all looked at her and then at Sean and laughed. Sean rubbed his hair back and took Chelsea's comb and pretended to comb his hair, then he handed it back to her.
"Thank you, very much Chelsea." Sean said as he picked her up. "I see you're gonna be looking out for me." They all laughed again and headed out the door.
Elana picked up her leather jacket and locked up while Gail got the car seat and put it in Sean's ml 430. Gail had to show Sean how to buckle Chelsea into the car seat, which took a few extra minutes. When they finally got on the road, they were all laughing and talking about their college days. Gail teased Sean for taking her friend away whenever he was in town and told him a lot of her lonely weekends were because of him. When they got on the subject of graduate school, Sean now saw that Elana had gone to Pennsylvania to go to school because that's where Gail was going, so the two friends wanted to be together. It was so unlike the story Elana's father had told him when he went there to find Elana. He had said that she decided to go to a school, with another young man whom she was interested in at the time. Now it all made since and as Gail and Elana continued to talk, some of that bad feeling about seeing Elana's father on this trip were welling up inside him. He decided that if Elana wanted to see her father he would stay in the car and wait for her. He did not want another confrontation with George Powers to ruin his day with Elana.
Finally they arrived in Connecticut at the fertility facility. Gail explained that Max had done his part and that she only needed to see if the implanting had done the trick or if she needed another. She estimated that it would take no more than an hour. Sean told them he needed to check on his grandfather, but really he was going to the jeweler's, which was not far away. Chelsea had quickly grown attached to Sean and would not let go of his hand when he was trying to give her over to Gail. Evidently the last time Chelsea was at the facility, she had some bad experience and did not want to go in. Sean offered to take her with him, but Gail was skeptical about his grandfather and Sean bringing a little black baby girl in the house with him.
"Now, I don't want him saying nothing nasty to my baby, cause granddaddy or no granddaddy I'll go over to that house and kick his..."
Sean stopped her "Gail, don't worry about my grandpa. He knows about Elana and me and he's all right with it. He would not do or say anything to hurt a little girl, especially one as cute as Chelsea." Sean said pulling Chelsea's nose making her laugh. "I need to make a business stop downtown too, so I'm gonna do that first and then go home if I have time.
Gail reluctantly agreed and Sean kissed Elana on the cheek, then the two women went into the doctor's office.
Sean buckled Chelsea back into the car and drove to the jeweler's office. When he got there, it seemed to be very busy, so Sean knew he probably would not have enough time to go see his grandfather. Sean got out of the car and before giving the valet his keys he unbuckled Chelsea from the car seat and held her up next to him while giving the valet his keys. The drivers all gave Sean a strange look, but no one said anything and he ignored it. He actually saw this as practice for him, if he and Elana had any children because he knew that more than likely their children would have darker skin, appearing more black than white, so whatever he would be confronted with having Chelsea, he surmised he probably would get the same thing with his own children.
When he walked into the jeweler's store he saw that there were many people shopping for the exclusive jewelry that the Tiffany & Company sold. Sean looked around in the encasements while Chelsea looked on intrigued at the sparkling diamonds. "Wat dat?" Chelsea asked pointing at a diamond elephant broach.
Sean smiled at her and leaned her closer to the encasement. "That is a pretty toy for ladies like Ms. Elana or your mommy. This is a big toy store for big girls. One day you'll be a big girl too and someone will come to a place like this to buy you lots of these toys. You understand, now?"
Chelsea had her finger in her mouth and she shook her head yes. Sean kept casually looking over other items while he waited for a salesperson to become free. After a few minutes the jeweler, Mr. Russell, recognized him and hurried over.
"Mr. Logan, Mr. Logan! Why did you not let me know that you had been waiting? I am terribly sorry. What is it I can help you with today?" The man asked trying to look indifferent to the fact that one of his most exclusive white customers was holding onto a little black baby girl.
"I didn't want to take you from your other customers Mr. Russell. I wanted to ask..."
Chelsea interrupted Sean as he was talking and pointed at Mr. Russell, "Who dat?" she asked and looked back at Sean waiting for him to tell her.
"Chelsea this is Mr. Russell and Mr. Russell this is Chelsea. Chelsea, Mr. Russell is the man who keeps all of these pretty toys until someone comes to pick up the one they want."
Chelsea was satisfied with Sean's answer and busied herself looking around at other things as Sean continued his conversation.
"Like I was saying, I wanted to see if there was any way I could get the ring next week. It's really important."
"Why don't we go in the back and discuss this Mr. Logan. I can look it up and see if that will be possible."
"Thanks"
The two men went into Mr. Russell's office and Sean played horsee with Chelsea on his lap while Mr. Russell searched for the status of the ring on his database system. Finally he found it and read the notes that had been added.
"Well, you know we had to send the ring to our British affiliate to ensure the finest cut of the stones you requested. It seems that the diamonds were sent to them this week. It took them a little more time than usual to find flawless diamonds that could be cut this way. In any event they are working on the cut now and the place setting will be next. I'm afraid I can't promise this to you in any less than two or three more weeks, sir."
"Three weeks!" Sean said. He knew he was not going to be able to keep his hands off Elana for another three weeks without alienating her like he had the week before and he did not want to sadden her any more by doing that, so he asked about his alternatives. "What if I go there and pick it up myself?"
"Well that still would not rush the process. The jewelers have to cut the stone, mold the platinum and set the stones perfectly. That takes time Mr. Logan. They won't be rushed, if you want them to give you the quality you requested. Look I'll tell you what. I'll make sure to call them everyday and inquire as to how the process is going. If they know I'll be calling on a daily basis maybe they'll work a little faster just to get rid of me. I have done that in the past with some of our more exclusive customers and it usually works. I may be able to get the ring at the beginning of week after next for you."
"If you could do that, Mr. Russell, you don't know what a relief it will be for me."
"Is Ms. Winthrop rushing you down the aisle, Mr. Logan?" The jeweler asked familiar with the fact that the two had been dating for a while because of Sheridan's frequent visits.
"Ms. Winthrop?"
"Why yes. She comes in here often looking for engagement rings, indicating that the two of you are to be married soon. You've got yourself one beautiful woman there Mr. Logan and I know you're proud to have her at your side. Any man would be." The jeweler was trying to compliment Sean on as much as possible, when in actuality he despised Sheridan because she would always come in order jewelry and bring it back saying it was not what she had asked for because of some minor mistake. He just wanted to ensure the sale with Sean and the hefty commission that went along with it."
"When was the last time she was here?" Sean asked.
"Oh I have not seen her lately. It's been several weeks now."
"Oh, I see. Well actually Sheridan does not know anything about this and if she comes in again I would prefer if you not mentioned it." Sean did not want to tell the jeweler everything because he did not know the extent of Sheridan's acquaintance with Mr. Russell and he did not want to risk upsetting her too much because of the pregnancy.
"Certainly, Mr. Logan." He said as they stood up, Sean picked Chelsea up and the two men shook hands. "She's going to be a very surprised young lady."
"That she is Mr. Russell. I'll look forward to hearing from you as soon as the ring comes in."
"Why we will deliver it straight to your office in New York."
"Great!" Sean exclaimed enthusiastically.
"Gaet!" Chelsea imitated Sean, putting her arms in the air.
Sean and Mr. Russell laughed as Sean left to go back and pick up Gail & Elana, before he drove off he called the office to tell them that he was on his way, but the secretary indicated that it would be another half hour or so. This gave Sean time to go see his grandfather, so that's where he headed.
Logan Home
"Grandpa! It's Sean!" Sean came into the door alerting his grandfather that he was there. He was holding Chelsea and went to grandpa's room to see what he was doing. Grandpa's t.v. was on, but he was not in his room, so Sean searched the house for him while he pretended to be an airplane with Chelsea on top of his shoulders. He finally found his grandfather in the game room playing pool with his lifelong friend Ed Jasper. Ed was a tall lanky man who always wore an old red baseball cap, for as long as Sean could remember. He and grandpa William had known each other since primary school. He was a famous jazz composer and had taught Sean how to play a base. Ed and grandpa used to sneak a young Sean into the jazz clubs with them when he was younger and they would always get chastised about it from their wives and Sean's mother. Eventually Ed moved away to Florida after he retired, but now his health was failing more and his daughter and her husband, who still lived in Connecticut, brought him back there to live with them. Sean was surprised and happy to see Ed.
"Hey, grandpa!"
"Sean, boy. How you doin'. You remember old Ed here don'tcha?"
"Yeah, I remember Ed!" Sean said putting Chelsea down and giving Ed a big hug.
"He just moved in with his daughter and her husband, so he's gonna be coming over more often so we can get together." "Ed, you know Sean runs the company now."
"Well, you don't say! That's great Sean. Who's this little one?" Ed asked looking at Chelsea.
Sean picked Chelsea back up. "This is my girlfriend's, friend's little girl, Chelsea!" Sean had to shout because Ed had a hearing problem.
"Hey there Chelsea. I'm Mr. Ed." He said pinching her cheek.
"Miter Ed!" Chelsea said repeating his name.
"She's a fat little thing." Grandpa said. "What your mama been feeding you honey?" Grandpa asked. She did not know what to make of grandpa because he was so gruff looking and unlike her own grandfathers and her dad and Sean, so she actually was a little scared of him.
Grandpa came in closer to her and squeezed her leg. "Yeah, you're a little porker alright." He said pinching her cheek. "I'm grandpa, but the pretty ladies call me Willie." Grandpa tried to put on a funny face, which cheered Chelsea up a little.
"Fee Wiwee! Fee Wiwee!" Chelsea said throwing her arms up.
"Yeah free Willie. What's she talking about?" Grandpa wanted to know looking at Sean.
"It was a movie grandpa about a whale, whose name was Willie."
"Ah, so you're trying to say I'm fat too huh?" "Put her down Sean, so I can take her over here to this table."
Sean complied and sat Chelsea down on her feet. When she got down she sat on the floor and opened her purse like she had with Sean and pulled out her comb again. "Com har!" She said handing the comb to grandpa whose short gray hair was flying all over his head. Sean leaned down and took the comb and handed it to grandpa who took the comb laughing.
"She's a smart little thing ain't she. How old is she Sean?"
"She's two."
"Humph, it was so long ago that your father and uncle were that young. It's almost hard to imagine. You remember Jenny being this young Ed?" Grandpa yelled out to Ed.
"No can't say I recall that Will. Too long ago."
"Yeah. Sean it's been too long since we had any babies in this house. You better get to working on that Powers woman, boy so we can have some younguns running around here soon. I'm hoping she's better in bed to ya' than missy was, so you can start popping them in the oven boy like your great grandfather did. Why within a year first came the twins, then my aunts, and years later my father. You can't be wasting no time, we gotta have somebody to run Crealite after you get too old to do it, so you don't have much time."
"We haven't been together yet grandpa. I'm trying to wait until we get married." Sean picked Chelsea back up because she was reaching up for him. She wanted to be on the same level as the grownups.
"Humph, don't remember the last time I heard a young man these days say something like that. But that's good boy, that's real good. You must have a lot of respect for her. That's wonderful."
"I don't know how wonderful it is. I'm about to lose my mind. I went to the jeweler today to see if they could hurry it up a little, so they're gonna try. She's just not making it easy for me."
"Say she's really pretty huh?"
"She's more than pretty grandpa. She's absolutely spectacular to me. She's the most beautiful woman I've ever known and I feel so good when we're together it's like people look at us and are asking what somebody looking like her and who has so much going for her wants to be with a simple looking white guy like me. She can have anybody she wants grandpa, but she wants me and I'm having a real hard time holding back from her. I don't know how in the world I'm going to pull this off until that ring comes."
"Well, you'll be alright, just stick to your guns. And don't be thinkin' you're simple. You're my grandson and ain't no Logan man yet been accused of being simple lookin'." Grandpa told him as he headed over to a table where some cupcakes sat that Ed's daughter had baked. "I know sweet little girls like sweet things. You want a cupcake?" He asked Chelsea.
Chelsea lit up hearing the word cupcake and she looked at grandpa again with her two fingers in her mouth waiting for him to produce the cupcake before she finalized her assessment of the old man.
Grandpa picked up a vanilla cupcake then handed it over to Chelsea, but Chelsea would not take it. "No! choc' it" she said indicating she wanted a chocolate cupcake and not the vanilla. Grandpa apologized and got her what she wanted and then she took it and was happy. Sean put her down on the floor and let her walk around with the chocolate cupcake.
"So when you gonna ask the Powers woman to marry you?"
"Who's getting married?" Ed asked only discerning part of the question.
"Sean. He's gonna marry that Powers girl from high school!" Grandpa yelled back at him
"Oh yeah, the one that's black like your gra-"
"Yeah that one Ed!" Grandpa yelled back trying to cut off what Ed was going to say.
Sean was interested in Ed's unfinished comment, thinking it was something racially founded. "Who did he say Elana looks like grandpa?"
"Ah, don't pay Ed no attention. He's a little senile you know." Grandpa told Sean as he made circular motion on the side of his head with his first finger .
Getting back to what grandpa had asked him earlier Sean answered. "I'm gonna ask Elana as soon as I get that ring."
"You got the prenuptial agreement ready yet?"
"No, I'm not going to ask her to sign one grandpa. Whatever I have I'll be sharing with her because she should have been with me all these years anyway while I was making the money."
"Now Sean, you know young people don't stay together like they did back in my day and even in your father's day. If something happens and you all get divorced, she'll be able to take a chunk out of you. Don't let love get in the way of being sensible."
"Grandpa, if she leaves me, she can have everything, because I won't need it anymore. Right now the only thing my money is good for is spending it on her besides she's sacrificed being with me because she thought it would be in my best interest. That was so unselfish of her, so I won't be selfish with her when we get married."
At that moment Sean noticed Chelsea making her way to the glass doors leading to the pool, so he jetted after her and stopped her just before she put her hands on the window, but not before she smooshed the frosted head of the cupcake into her dress. "Oh! No! Gail is going to kill me." Sean exclaimed as he panicked looking for something to wipe off Chelsea's dress. When he found a towel, he only made it worse by smudging it. "Oh God! What am I gonna do. I can't take her back to her mother looking like this." Sean was perplexed.
"Boy, you can't let that baby walk around with a chocolate cupcake in her hand. If you plan on having any babies, you better learn that. She needed a high chair or you should have sat with her. Else she's gonna mess up more than that pretty little dress of hers. She'll have that chocolate all over her shoes and everything else around here.
"I didn't think about that." Sean said as he continued to try and get the chocolate off her. "Look grandpa, I'm gonna have to go. I think I saw a store downtown, so I'm gonna go there and try to replace this dress. I'm sorry about running out on you. I'm glad your friend is here with you. You have to come to New York with me one weekend, soon and get out of Connecticut for a change."
"Yeah, yeah. You keep tellin' me that. You just go cover your tracts. You got a lot to learn boy. You can't be bringing no woman's baby back looking no different than when she left her with you or you'll be getting cussed out!" He yelled as Sean made his way hurriedly out of the house with Chelsea in tow to search for a similar dress in town.