Chapter 20

She arrived in New York City late Thursday night. "Thank you for a wonderful flight, Leonard," she said. "Would you like to come to stay with my mother and me at my apartment?"

"Thank you, Ma'am. However, I have family in Brooklyn. I will be staying with them while we are here." He grabbed a small piece of paper and scribbled a number down. "Call me whenever you are ready to head back. Give me an hour lead time, and I'll have everything ready to go."

"Fantastic. Thank you again."

"My pleasure, Ma'am."

Jennifer grabbed her bag and went in search of a cab.

The cab ride was quick at this time of day. Watching the activity around Central Park was a comfort to her. Jennifer's cab stopped at the entryway to her building, paid the cabbie, and picked up her bags. She quickly made her way inside, greeted her doorman, and took the elevator to the 25th floor. Upon opening the door, she found the tea was on the stove and her mother with open arms. "Bonsoir, chérie!"

"Momma! It's so good to see you. This was such a wonderful idea! Let me get my bags in my room, and then we can catch up."

When she returned from her room, her mother already had two cups of tea sitting on the coffee table waiting on her.

"Come, chérie. Come talk with Momma."

Jennifer sank into her couch, pulling her feet up on the cushions and tucking them under her legs. "What would you like to talk about?" She took a sip of the tea. "Oh, this is good. Peppermint?"

"Oui. And the question is, what do you want to talk about?" Suzanne put her hand on her daughter's knee. "You seem to have such a heavy heart these days."

"Oh, Momma. It has seemed really heavy. Honestly, I was beginning to wonder if I was scared or if I was getting cold feet." She took another sip of the tea, letting it warm her insides, and untangle her thoughts. "But when I'm with him, there is no doubt about it; I want to always be with him."

"So, your trouble is?"

"My trouble is being alone in that house. I desperately want him by my side, not clear across the city. I love that house, but it's so big and so quiet when I am the only one there." She took another sip to help gather her thoughts. "I think I miss the noise of New York when I am all alone."

"It is a big adjustment, New York to Los Angeles."

"You know, that's not so big. The big adjustment is 5th Avenue to the suburb. From people everywhere to me shelving books alone." Another sip, another untangled thought. "You know, I'm pretty independent. I don't mind doing things alone. But I want to know people are available when I want them, and alone in the house means no one is available."

"Sounds to me like this will all be fixed on the 25th… or by little children running around that big house." The twinkle in her eye was unmistakable.

"Momma! I am not ready for that yet." Jennifer laughed. "Let me marry first, and get to know him better."

"Oui, Jenny, I know. I tease." She, too, sipped her tea, then added, "Though kids will come when they are supposed to come." She smiled at her beautiful daughter and reached out to touch her arm, "You needn't worry about it, Jennifer. That will take care of itself."

He wasn't sure he was genuinely seeing what he thought he was seeing. The crowd across Time Square was busy, a constant moving mass. And yet, he kept getting glimpses of her red hair. Could it really be? No. It couldn't be. His mind had to be playing tricks on him again. And yet…

He wasn't sure he dared hope. Why would she be in New York? She was supposed to be getting married in a couple of weeks. If she was here, did that mean something happened to those plans? Could this be one more chance for him to be able to win her back? She seemed against that chance that night.

And yet, he told himself, there she was. It had to be her this time. He made his way across the street, watching where she went as she and another lovely redhead made their way down Broadway. The two women ducked into a coffee shop before he could catch up with them.

Jonathan got up to the smell of Max's coffee. Actually, he'd been awake for a while. An idea was bouncing around in his mind, and Jonathan wanted to run it by Max. So when he could smell the coffee, he knew Max was awake, too. Jonathan threw on his robe and made his way to the kitchen.

"Morning, Mr. H."

"Good morning, Max."

"Coffee?"

"Yes, please." Jonathan pulled up a stool at the breakfast bar. Max poured the coffee and set the cup in front of him. "Busy day today?" he asked Max.

"Eeehhh. Not too bad. You have something you need me to do?"

"I think I might," he said, then he took a sip. "I've been thinking about Jennifer. She's been here several weeks now, yes?"

"Yes, she has," Max agreed.

"And she's been with one or the other of us most of the time?"

"Except when she's at the house, and we're here."

"Except then. And how does she get around then?" Jonathan took another sip of the warm dark liquid.

"Well. I guess she calls me. Or you. Or a cab."

"Yeah, that's what I was thinking."

"I think we might need to fix that," Max suggested.

"Yeah, that's what I was thinking," Jonathan concurred.

The two women were taking the afternoon to stroll the city. Jennifer was trying to remember the last time she and her mother slowed down enough to just walk around in New York City. Honestly, she really couldn't remember one since high school.

Working in New York is like everything in New York, run hard, play fast, and never sleep. Jennifer left high school, hit college, and just kept going. Visits with Suzanne and Stephen were either in Maryland on the farm or traveling the world for Stephen's job. And the latter visits often became working visits, where she and her father were collaborating on a piece.

To slow down, from work, wedding planning and moving across the country, and just focus on her mother was a sweet treat. They were in and out of shops, not looking for anything specific, but just enjoying looking and talking.

For Suzanne's birthday, Jennifer had purchased a couple of tickets to see The King and I in the Uris Theater for that evening. They decided to stop in a little coffee shop and finalize their plans. Suzanne stepped back to the restroom, while Jennifer placed their order and got a table.

"Jennifer?" She was startled by a voice that was not her mother's. Looking up, she was even more startled by the face before her.

"Elliot! What are you doing here?"

"I thought I saw you. It took me a couple of blocks to catch up."

Jennifer laughed, "I meant in New York. Last I saw you; you were at the party in LA." She paused for a moment, and added, "I didn't get a chance to thank you for saving my life that night."

"I'm glad I was there."

"Jonathan and I are, too," she smiled at him.

"So your being here doesn't mean you've changed your mind about marrying him?" Elliot asked, a little more hurt in his voice than he intended.

Jennifer tried to laugh him off, "No, it doesn't. We are counting down the days. No, I'm here with my mother, celebrating her birthday today."

"Did I hear someone talking about me?" Suzanne walked up to the table.

"Oui, Momma. This is my friend Elliot. Actually, he's a friend of both mine and Jonathan's. He's the gentleman who rescued me and helped take down Gabriel Wade the night of our engagement party." She turned back to Elliot, "Elliot, this is my mother, Suzanne Edwards."

"It is very nice to meet you," he said, offering his hand.

"Oui, it is nice to meet you," she said, smiling. "However, I must kiss your face, for saving my Jenny," she added, leaning in and placing a kiss on his cheek. "Merci."

"I'm just glad I could help." He turned back to Jennifer, "Well, if you are sure of your decision…"

"My decision?"

"To marry Hart."

"I've never been more certain of anything in my whole life, Elliot. I am totally in love with Jonathan Hart, and I am marrying him in 15 days."

"Then, I wish you the best. Goodbye, Jennifer."

"Have a nice day, Elliot."