Chapter 14

 

 

 

Gemma clicked the submit button, successfully submitting her application. She folded the laptop closed then looked at the driver’s handbook. She was beyond tired with just doing that task. She had no energy left to study. She needed to be wide awake and refreshed before trying to learn about right of ways and the meaning of double yellow center lines.

“You have a package, madam,” Carson said, stepping into the kitchen, carrying a box.

“I do?” Gemma asked, looking up at him as he brought a medium-sized box into the kitchen.

“Yes. Would you like for me to open it for you?”

“Oh, no, Carson. I can open a box, but thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Carson placed the box on the counter, in arm’s reach of her. “Is everything okay by the way? I noticed you looked a little down at breakfast this morning.”

“Oh, it’s nothing,” she said dismissively.

“Nothing, you say? I didn’t know Royal went by the nickname nothing these days…learn something new every day, I reckon.”

Gemma glanced up at him. She knew he was a wise man, but a mind reader, too? “How’d you know it’s about Royal?”

“I would say lucky guess, but I know better. Nothing calls me every single day to check up on you.”

“He does?”

“Yes, indeed. Sometimes multiple times a day.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Not this time, madam.”

Still not believing a word he said, she asked, “How long has this been going on?”

Carson chuckled. “You make it sound like a conspiracy.”

“It is…somebody’s doing something behind my back. Isn’t that like…wrong on so many levels?”

“Not when what’s being done behind your back is in your best interest, dear.”

I guess it wouldn’t be, Gemma surmised. “So tell me…how long has he been checking up on me behind my back?”

The old man couldn’t get the amusement off of his face. “For quite a while.”

“How long is a while?”

“Since you were released from the hospital after your surgery, madam. Just yesterday he called and chewed me out about leaving you here alone. You must’ve told him I ran out to do some shopping.”

“I mentioned it casually when I spoke with him, yes, but I didn’t think he was mad about it, and I definitely didn’t think he would call to fuss at you.”

“Well, let me tell you…I had to hold the phone away from my ear.”

“It was that bad?”

“Yes. That bad.”

“Carson, please accept my apology on his behalf. He gets too protective of me and sometimes, he doesn’t know when to take a step back.”

“No, it’s alright. It’s fine by me. I can’t be mad at the man for showing how much he loves his woman.”

“Ah…uh…um, I’m sorry.” She shook her head as if to physically juggle her thoughts together. “What was that?”

“I said, Royal loves you. You do know that, right?”

“Um…” Gemma scratched her head. “He gets on my nerves, Carson, like really, really bad.”

Carson smiled. “That’s only because you love him, too.”

“Ugh…love, love, love. Why does everyone keep tossing this word around like it’s disposable?”

“It’s not disposable. It’s liberating. It’s what people live for. What people long for and if you’re lucky enough to find it, and by all accounts, you have been, then you better hang on to it.”

“Carson, did you not hear what I just told you? Royal get’s on my nerves.”

Carson laughed harder. “Oh, young love. I remember those days. Boy, I tell ya…”

Gemma looked at the man like he was crazy. Was he not listening to her or what? He seemed to be in dreamland. Reminiscing about when he was younger and whatnot.

Before she could offer another complaint about Royal, Carson said, “I lost my wife a long time ago. What I wouldn’t give to have an argument with her now…”

He set about his business and she sat there thinking about what it was he was trying to relay to her. Dang it, she hated it when people made her see a point. Made her see the importance of loving people while they were still here because tomorrow isn’t promised and all that jazz.

But who knew that better than her? There were many days when she thought her tomorrows would be nonexistent. When she felt like her life was ending – a horrible feeling for a young woman. A horrible feeling for anyone. But just because she couldn’t predict the future – did that mean she wasn’t entitled to her feelings? She felt like she was, and her feelings had her upset with Royal at the moment but more so at herself. She wanted independence. She wanted her life to start right now. Not later. She’d waited enough. She was tired of waiting.

And then there was all this talk about Royal being in love with her. Gianna had tried convincing her that Royal loved her and now, Carson had reiterated those same sentiments. It all confused Gemma because since they were assuming it, now her mind wanted to believe that Royal was falling in love with her. But, what if they were wrong?

They probably were. Royal liked to flirt. He was a ladies man. He had started out being all touchy-feely with her. Even when she was lying in the hospital bed after her surgery, she’d wake up to him holding her, massaging her fingers or gently brushing the side of his face against hers to gauge her body temperature. That was normal for him, but everyone was interpreting it for more than what it was. They had to have been because if he was all that worried about her – and that much into her – why was he hightailing it to Paris?

She held her temples, then said, “Ugh, get out of my head.”

She stood up from the barstool and filled a glass with tap water. While she sipped, she looked at the box that Carson had placed on the counter. She frowned. What the heck is that?

She set the glass by the sink, then ripped off some of the packing tape from the box and after some tugging, she finally got it open, removing a round, yellow pillow. A sad-face, emoji pillow. If she wasn’t irritated and pissed at Royal at the moment, she would’ve found it hilarious. But since Royal was leaving in a few days, she wasn’t so much in a playful mood. She had to do something to get her mind off of him – hard to do since he was all she could think about. And now this pillow…

Do something, Gemma. Do something to get your mind off of him. She thought about taking a nap, but he’d probably pop up in her dreams somewhere – that’s if she could get to sleep. She sighed, looked at her phone and decided to call Gianna.

“The Boardwalk Bakery. How can I help you?”

“Hey, Gianna, baby,” Gemma said, trying to imitate Ramsey’s deep voice. “I want some cupcakes.”

Gianna laughed. “Why are you calling me on the business phone, Gem? You used to call me on my cell phone.”

“Okay, Drake,” Gemma quipped.

“Huh?” Gianna asked, not catching the Drake reference.

“Ugh…whatever. Anyway, what’s up? What’cha doing?”

“I’m super busy today…finally getting around to baking cupcakes for St. Claire Architects. Judy will be here any minute to pick them up.”

“Who’s Judy?”

“Ramsey’s executive assistant.”

“Oh.”

“What are you doing? Are you studying for your driver’s test?”

“Nope. I’m too tired to be looking at this complicated book. It’s too much. Left signal. Right signal. Yield. U-turns. Ugh. It never ends. And why do you have to stop for school buses?”

“So you don’t mow down people’s kids. That’s why you have to stop, silly.” Gianna laughed. “Look, you can’t be out here breaking the rules of the road. Your lil’ butt gon’ be sitting behind bars.”

“I feel like I’m already behind bars. I can’t go anywhere. I have to wait for people to come and see me.”

“People like who? Royal?”

“Don’t even get started on Royal. He’s all everybody wants to talk about. Royal, Royal, Royal, Royal, Royal—”

“Gemma?”

“Royal, Royal, Royal, Royal, Royal.”

“Gemma Jacobsen?” Gianna said trying to get her attention again.

“What?”

“Okay. I won’t talk about Royal, but when you say you have to wait for people to come and see you, who are you referring to?”

Royal. She wasn’t about to admit that, though, so she said, “I just want to be able to go when I want to go. Right now, I’m stuck.”

“Okay, Gem…first, you have to take your health into consideration. I know you’re feeling better and all but you had a major surgery, baby girl. You don’t need to be running all around town. And that reminds me—you have the appointment tomorrow. Is Royal still taking you because—?”

“No. I want you to take me.”

“You cut me off before I could finish. I’ve already made commitments for tomorrow since you said Royal was taking you to the doctor. I have four catering orders and—”

“Okay. Okay. Fine.”

“Why don’t you want him to take you?” Gianna inquired.

“I just don’t—I…nevermind. Get back to work. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Okay. Call me if you need anything.”

“Yep. Bye.” As she hung up the phone, Royal was calling. Gemma just stared at the display and said, “Nope. I’m not going to do it,” she said. After the intense conversation they had on the phone last night, she didn’t want to talk to him just yet. She was still irritated. During the last ring, she mumbled, “Just go to Paris and leave me alone…you and your stupid emoji pillow.”

Carson walked by when she made the statement and said, “Young love.”

Gemma rolled her eyes, then got up off of the stool and snatched the driver’s handbook off of the counter. She went upstairs, to her room and closed the door. She yawned as she tossed the book onto her nightstand and fell across the bed, long overdue for an afternoon nap.