Family_Ties_by_Lisa_Gray

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Danny stood on the shore and stared across the pond. It was really more a small lake than a pond. Lily pads covered much of the surface except for the center, which was deep and clear, fed by a bitter cold spring. As he watched, a pair of swans floated languidly on the far side. Danny wished he could emulate their serenity.

But after a weekend spent alternating between sunny daydreams and cold terror, he was anything but calm. All of it made more difficult by the fact he was not to tell anyone, even his little sister, Katie, until everything was settled. Despite the difference in their ages, Katie, as she grew up, had become Danny’s closest confidante.

So, early this morning, he’d retreated to the pond. It had always been a place of respite, soothing the worst of his emotions. Today, however, it wasn’t working.

He couldn’t stop the questions from spinning in his mind. Would Evan show up? Would he agree to the marriage? Or would Evan reject Danny without even meeting him? Or maybe after meeting him?

This wasn’t helping. He had to relax. He moved over to the wooden bench and sat down. Stretching out his legs, Danny looked down at his clothes and groaned. Brown. Brown slacks, brown shoes, brown eyes, brown hair. Nothing said “dull” better than brown. Danny shook his head in disgust at himself—he was behaving worse than a teenage girl on her first blind date.

When his text alert chimed, he jumped. It read, “Meet Evan in fountain garden.” Danny smoothed his short, straight hair back and took a few deep breaths. He murmured, “It’s okay, it’s only the rest of your life.”

Using the southern path, past the line of graceful willows, Danny quietly approached the entrance to the fountain garden and froze. His eyes widened in appreciation of the picture Evan made. The bright blonde curls softly lifted by the breeze, the face upturned towards the sun. Evan looked like an angel who’d stopped for a moment to enjoy the peace of the garden. The only telltale flaw in the illusion was Evan’s fingers gripping the stone bench. The knuckles were white with the pressure.

A sudden need arose to see Evan’s eyes. Not just the color. Danny needed to know if they would look on him with interest or disappointment. Only one way to find out. He moved forward into the garden, knowing the sound of his steps on the gravel would alert Evan to his presence.

On cue, Evan opened his eyes and looked up at Danny. Such a beautiful shade of sky blue, so clear, but such a guarded expression. Danny couldn’t read the emotion behind them.

He moved to stand in front of Evan and offered his hand. “Hi, I’m Danny Carmody. Welcome to my home.”

Smiling politely, Evan rose and shook Danny’s hand. “Thanks. And I’m Evan, as you already know.”

They stood in silence for a long moment.

Evan finally offered, “So, just a bit awkward, huh?”

Danny chuckled. “Yeah, it is. I’m sorry. I really didn’t have a speech prepared.”

Another silence.

“How about I show you around the gardens?” At Evan’s nod of agreement, Danny led the way back down the path he’d used to get there. “They were designed by somebody famous, but I can’t honestly remember her name.”

“Beatrix Farrand.”

Danny looked questioningly at Evan.

“She was the only female founding member of the American Society of Landscape Architects. She favored garden rooms like the one there with the fountain. She wanted each room to flow into the next until the formal gardens gave way to more natural, unconstrained spaces. I like her style better than most I’ve seen around the world.”

For the next hour, Danny happily listened as Evan related stories of the many gardens he’d visited and studied. Danny was fascinated, not so much by the history but by the passion Evan was projecting.

When Evan finally wound down, he blushed. “Sorry, I guess garden landscapes is a favorite topic of mine.”

“Yes, I can tell. And you’re quite an expert on it—I’m very impressed. I know you are an architect. But do you also design the landscaping around the buildings?”

“Well, I’d like to. I think the surroundings are more important for the people who use the building than the building itself. For example, the new community center I’m working on…”

When Evan abruptly went silent, Danny looked at him and saw the warmth and the enthusiasm had been choked off. Those passionate blue eyes were now cold and shuttered once more. Wanting the charming young man of a few minutes ago back again, Danny asked, “Evan, is everything all right?”

Evan responded woodenly, “Yeah, it’s fine. Sometimes I just talk too much.”

“No, you don’t. I was enjoying listening to you.”

When Danny got nothing but a tense shrug in response, he tried diverting Evan’s attention. They had neared the turn-off that led down to the pond. He placed a hand on Evan’s shoulder and tried to steer him towards that path. “Let’s go this way. It’s my favorite place in the gardens—a really large pond complete with swans a’swimming.” Danny smiled until he noticed Evan had stopped dead, firmly digging his feet into the gravel path.

“Um, no thanks. I think we should head back towards the house. I really should be going.” Evan did an abrupt about-face and began retracing their steps.

Danny stood there a moment, confused. What the hell just happened? He couldn’t think what he’d said to offend Evan, but something had soured the man’s mood.

Quickly catching up to Evan, Danny guided him to the front of the house where his car was parked. Standing in the driveway, he was determined that Evan wouldn’t leave with things so awkward between them. “Look, Evan, I know our situation is strange. And I know my mother can make a difficult situation worse. But I think things will get easier the more we get to know each other. I was hoping you’d have dinner with me tonight.”

Evan looked up at the mansion and grimaced.

Danny followed his glance and was quick to reassure him. ‘No, I don’t mean dinner here, although my little sister Katie will be crazy determined to meet you once she finds out about the marriage. No, I thought it would be best if we met in neutral territory.”

Evan said hesitantly, “I don’t know, Danny.”

He pressed. “Do you like Chinese? ‘Cause I know a fabulous place. The hot and sour soup will burn your lips off but it’s so good you don’t even care. How about I pick you up around eight o’clock?”

Evan looked like he was still trying to form a polite refusal.

Danny opened his eyes wide. “Please say yes. If you don’t, I’ll be doomed to a dinner inquisition by a teenaged Torquemada. You can’t imagine the torment.”

Evan laughed. “Okay. But I have things to do this afternoon. How about I meet you at the restaurant?”

Danny felt he was grinning foolishly, but couldn’t help it. “Great. The Pearl of the Orient on Greenwich Drive. Eight o’clock. I’ll make reservations.”

Evan nodded his agreement, got into the car, and drove away.

Danny stood on the front steps for a long time gazing down the driveway after him.

Then he heard a squeal, and a thirteen-year-old girl barreled into him, nearly knocking him over. “So, was that him? Is it true? Are you really getting married? Is he cute? Is he nice? Is he going to like me?”

Danny untangled himself from his little sister, Katie. “Aren’t you supposed to be in school, brat?”

“Half day today—teacher conferences. So, was that him?”

“Yes, that was him, and yes, he’s nice.”

“And cute?”

“Oh, he’s way more than cute. But you’ll meet him soon enough, and you can decide for yourself. And as for him liking a nosy little wench like you, well you’ll have to work on it.” He playfully swatted her on the butt and, putting his arm around her, led the way back into the house.

They ran into their mother coming into the foyer. “Ah, there you are, Danny. I take it Evan left?”

“Yes, Mother. He had things to do this afternoon.”

“But you did invite him here to dinner?”

“Yes and no. I invited him to dinner, but at Pearl of the Orient.”

“Danny! I wished to have him here with us this evening. I want him to meet your Aunt Vera in a private setting. There could be difficulties between them.”

Katie perked up at the odd undertone in her mother’s voice. “Why wouldn’t Aunt Vera like Evan?”

Nessa snapped, “That’s none of your concern, young lady. Now, don’t you have homework?”

“All right, Mother—if it’s too terrible a secret to reveal…” Katie sighed dramatically and slowly slouched off, head lowered, quietly sniffling.

Danny took pity on her. “Enough of the wounded martyr act, brat. It’s just that Evan’s father was engaged to Aunt Vera. Until he fell in love with Evan’s mother.”

Katie gasped. “Oh! That’s why Aunt Vera never married! A broken heart that never healed. Left at the altar, devastated and humiliated.”

Frowning at her daughter, Nessa said, “I see you have been reading those lurid romance novels again, Katherine Anne. And I believe I already told you to go do your homework.”

Danny smiled. Once their mother used full names, they both knew it was time to disappear.

“On my way, Mother.” Speaking in a theatrical whisper, she turned back to Danny. “Come to my room tonight, and tell me how your date went.” Then she scampered up the stairs.

“You indulge her too much, Danny.”

He nodded. “It’s not hard to do.” Because their father died when Katie was only a toddler, Danny had always been the primary male influence in her life. It had brought them closer than most siblings.

Nessa moved nearer. “I need to ask you something. Now that you’ve met the young man, do you have any critical reservations about this union? Because as important as this is, I will not see you miserable. I love you too much for that.”

Danny felt an uncommon urge to hug his mother for voicing her concern. Of course, she’d hate that. And her words were enough to warm him. “It’s a little early to tell, but so far I like him, Mother. He’s interesting. I think we’ll deal well with each other.”

Nessa nodded. “I’m glad. But you will keep me informed if things change, won’t you?”

“I promise. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to call the restaurant for reservations.”

She gestured him away, and he quickly took the opportunity to escape.

Danny retreated to his bedroom to relive his meeting in private. Grinning widely, he savored his mental images of Evan in the gardens. This fascinating, gifted, good-looking man was really going to be his? And maybe he was just projecting his own desires, but Danny had felt a connection between them—tenuous, but there. And he was going to enjoy nurturing that connection.

But first he had to find out what had made Evan withdraw so suddenly. The whole situation was difficult enough without Danny’s blundering in on sensitive territory. So tonight he would be open, honest and would discover what was troubling Evan. Then he’d do his best to set it right. Yes, this would be a great dinner. He was determined to make it so.