Chapter Five

Ben tossed the keys to Rick on their way to the car. He waited while Rick circled the vehicle, admiring it. Once Rick dropped into the driver’s seat and turned the ignition, Ben was ready to talk. “Okay, tell me what’s going on.”

Rick stared straight ahead, focusing on the road. “You mean this marriage thing?”

“Yeah, this marriage thing. That’s more like the Rick I know. Put it in impersonal terms, the way you usually deal with tough issues.”

“C’mon, Dad, you know what I meant. Don’t read anything into it.”

“What do I read into this engagement, Rick? It’s so unlike you. You’re impulsive, but you’ve always been so cynical about marriage after your mother’s and my divorce and kept your distance from any relationship that even hinted at commitment. Why now? And why her?”

Rick switched on the radio. Ben turned it off. “That’s what you’re really concerned about, isn’t it? Jocelyn. Because she’s an older woman.”

“The idea of your marrying a woman who’s almost old enough to be your grandmother is a bit much, but I’m mainly concerned about this rush to the altar. You still have a few years of school left. She’s a Hollywood star who’s accustomed to the good life, if this summer house is any indication of her tastes. What’s she going to do once you return to the West Coast, set up shop in married student housing?”

“That’s low, Dad. You’re usually so open-minded. Don’t you like Jocelyn? Or is it Dina you’ve already decided not to like? She said you kinda wore on each other’s nerves while you were on the road.”

Ben started to reply, then closed his mouth. How did he feel about Dina? He hardly knew her. What he did know about her suggested someone who wouldn’t support this crazy May-October romance. Did she have a plan for heading off the marriage she was keeping to herself? He ran his fingers over the age-softened leather covering the dashboard, liking the satiny feel. “Dina’s fine, I suppose. You’re not marrying her, so what does it matter?”

“It doesn’t. Just don’t want you to superimpose your dislike of her over your support of my marrying Jocelyn.”

“Forget about Dina. Let’s talk about you and Jocelyn.”

“You and Mom were married at about the same age I am now. Are you worried history will repeat itself?”

Ben started to refute his son’s question, then thought better of it. “Would that be such a poor reason? Your mom and I were so sure we had the real thing. We couldn’t wait to be together, so we threw caution out the window.”

“Dad, marriage isn’t about being sensible.”

Ben turned to face his son, who’d wrapped his lanky frame into the seat, laying his left arm along the window frame. “I agree. Your mom and I shared something very special...for a while. You were conceived out of that love. But sometimes love isn’t enough when reality creeps in.”

“Jocelyn already has her career. She won’t walk out on me.” Rick’s voice had grown very quiet, which cut through Ben’s heart. His child had spent his entire life trying to understand why, at eighteen months, he’d been left behind by the person he depended on most. Rick appeared to have reconciled himself to the idea and now even enjoyed an active though not close relationship with his mother. But Ben knew the abandonment still haunted the kid.

“Speaking of your mother, have you told her about your engagement?”

“I will, in time. I wanted you on board first.”

Smart kid. It’d always been Rick and him against the world. Their relationship extended beyond parent and child—they were friends too, although in recent years, as his son struggled to mature, he’d tested that bond in innumerable ways. This engagement was probably the latest round.

“That means a lot to me, although your timing could have been better. I can’t stay beyond tomorrow despite the enticing invitation extended by your fiancée.”

“Aw, Dad. You gotta stay longer. You said you could work from here.” His voice carried a plaintive whine. “Besides your getting to know Jocelyn, I hoped to spend some time with you also. Maybe get in some deep sea fishing. It’s been months since we’ve done anything together.”

Ben couldn’t help chuckling. “Bringing out the big guns, aren’t you? Keep the old man here with the lure of fishing?”

“Whatever it takes. This is important to me.”

They were approaching the entrance to the inn. He’d hoped he’d be able to shake down Rick’s arguments during the ride, but his son seemed more determined than ever to proceed with this engagement.

“Pull up here while I let them know I won’t be needing a room after all.” He left Rick sitting in the idling car under the portico at the front of the main building and ran up the stone steps of what appeared to be a comfortable, sprawling resort hotel. Though Jocelyn Maitland’s home would be more than adequate, he regretted having to leave the relative solitude and privacy of the inn. On the other hand, with the possibility looming of losing his company and going bankrupt, it wouldn’t hurt to save a few bucks now.

He returned to Rick and the car in less than five minutes. No rooms had become available, so there was no choice but to accept Jocelyn’s invitation. Despite the surreal quality about the entire situation, he was actually looking forward to being her guest. At least for a day. How often did someone get the opportunity to experience a film star’s life up close? Especially since this was the life Rick seemed to want.

Rick pulled onto the road and headed back toward Jocelyn’s summer house. Every so often they passed another vehicle full of laughing passengers or groups of young and old cyclists. Their quiet buzz bounced off the manicured trees framing the roadway. This was definitely a family-oriented recreation area.

Against that festive backdrop, father and son rode in silence, Rick concentrating on the road and Ben scrambling to make sense of the day’s events.

The thought he’d been attempting to suppress ever since Rick told him about his upcoming marriage continued to prick his conscience, though he chastised himself for even considering it. “Rick, tell me you’re not marrying Jocelyn because she’s a big movie star.”

The car jerked. “How could you even think that?”

“Sorry. Too blunt. But consider. The film industry has always fascinated you. Then you meet a famous celebrity. That would intrigue anyone with your aspirations.”

The car resumed a more normal speed. Rick continued to shake his head in disbelief, but his breathing calmed. Finally, he said, “Jocelyn’s lifestyle is exciting, but it wasn’t always like that. Stardom didn’t come until she already had a family.”

“She was married, right?”

“Yeah. Her former husband, Dina’s dad, teaches in St. Louis. They’re still close.”

“So she’s divorced.” The word sounded judgmental.

“So are you, Dad. If you ever want to remarry, will that be a consideration for your intended?”

Touché. Pretty good comeback, though he wasn’t about to acknowledge it. “I don’t plan to remarry, Rick. Once was enough. More than enough.”

Rick shot him a strange look. “Really? Don’t be so fast to respond, Dad. You never know.”

****

At the front windows, her mother watched the rental car scuttle off toward the inn. She released the drapery she’d pulled back to get a better view and returned to Dina. “So, what do you think of Ben?”

“Ben? You’re not marrying him. Nor am I. Why does what I think of him matter?”

Her mother started straightening the pristine pile of magazines on the coffee table. “Just asking. Curious if my impression matches yours.”

Dina settled back into the sofa. “I already told you. He’s a dedicated father who’s worried about his son’s future and his choice of brides.”

Her mother tilted her head. “I meant, him personally. He’s much more attractive than I pictured him, although since Richard’s such a hottie, it shouldn’t surprise me that his father is too.”

Hottie? When had her mother started using that term? When describing the opposite sex, she was more likely to use handsome and good-looking. Where was she going with this? Surely she wasn’t attempting to play matchmaker with her fiancé’s own father? “He’s okay, I guess.” No way was she going to let her mother know she agreed.

“According to Richard, he has his own company and has raised Richard since he was a toddler.”

“Ben’s wife died?”

“No. Apparently she—her name is Sherry—wasn’t ready for the responsibilities of marriage, especially a young child. She was ambitious and career-driven. She’s now a marketing executive in New York City.”

Dina slouched into the cushions. “That’s so sad. For both of them. I hadn’t realized.”

“Richard doesn’t talk about it much. But it explains why he’s so close to his father and why it’s so important that Ben approve of this marriage.”

“Then why spring it on him and expect him to go along with it overnight?”

Her mother sat back and smoothed her hair, apparently thinking through Dina’s question. “That was Richard’s call. He thinks Ben will come to accept our relationship if he can first relax a bit without the distraction of his business.”

“Ben’s business is in trouble. Why make it worse for him by diverting his attention?”

Her mother tilted her head. “Maybe this could be a working vacation?” Her eyes grew large. “What if we all help him? Become his staff for a few days.” She brightened. “You’re an accountant. Why don’t you volunteer your services?”

A spray of goosebumps torpedoed down Dina’s arm. Using her accounting skills to help Ben probably made good sense to her mother, who didn’t know anything about her problems at work. Dina intended to keep it that way. “I, uh, don’t think that would be such a good idea.”

“Oh? I would think it would be a perfect way for the two of you to get acquainted.”

“The idea is for him to get acquainted with you and me to learn more about Rick, not for him and me to get to know each other. Besides, I don’t think he’d be too anxious to share his financial information with anyone in our family at the moment.”

“We won’t know until we ask him.”

“What do you mean we?”

Her mother paused, as if to frame a comeback Dina couldn’t argue with. “I only want to help put his mind at ease about his business so he can relax, even if he’s only here for a day.”

“I’m sure he’d appreciate your intentions, even if there’s nothing we can do to help him.”

Her mother cocked her head. “Maybe we could find someone else here on the island with the expertise he needs?”

“On this weekend? Everyone’s off enjoying summer. That’s why we had to share that rental car, remember? There was only one left.”

Her mother traced the outline of a flower on the upholstery with a fingertip. “What are you going to tell him about me when he asks?”

“Where did that come from?”

“We already know how he feels about our engagement, so he’s not likely to pay his son’s feelings about me much attention. You’re his best source of information, other than his own experience with me while he’s here.”

“Don’t you think he’d be equally suspicious of my opinion?”

“Yes, except you’ve already gone on record opposing our marriage, just like him. I’m disappointed you feel that way, but it may just work in our favor. He’ll be more inclined to listen to you.”

Though that made some sense, Ben was still angry with her for keeping her identity from him. Even before that, he was convinced she was a ditz. With those points against her, he wasn’t likely to listen to her praise her mother.

“He already knows you’re a great actress with an impressive list of films to your credit. I’ll tell him you’re a great mother. You’re caring and the world’s biggest optimist.”

Her mother took her hand. “Thank you, dear. I wasn’t fishing for compliments. I just wanted to know you weren’t going to diss me.”

First hottie and now diss. Was she adopting Rick’s vocabulary? Some influence the fiancé was having on her mother. “Why would I do that?”

Her mother’s hands sought out the pile of magazines to straighten them again. “We, uh, don’t always seem to be in synch with each other. I don’t know why that is, but I was worried it might color your opinion of me.”

She’d picked up on that? Dina couldn’t always tell how much her mother absorbed. “No matter how much we may disagree at times, you’re still my mother.”

Her mother placed a hand on her heart. “Thank you, dear.”

Outside, a car engine purred into the drive-through. A second later, they heard car doors open and slam shut. Mother and daughter stared expectantly at each, sensing Round Two was about to begin.

“We’re back!” Rick called as they burst through the front door. “What bedroom should I put my dad’s luggage in, Josh?”

Josh?

“The back bedroom will be fine, Richard.”

Dina headed for her own bag still waiting for her just inside the entrance. “I’ll go with you, Rick.” No better time than the present to grill her future stepfather.

Rick shot a glance at his fiancée, who unobtrusively nodded at him. Then, addressing Ben, he said, “You stay here and get comfortable, Dad.”

Ben started to object, but in the end, went along with the suggestion. He was about to hit the couch when her mother intercepted him. “You haven’t seen the ocean yet, Ben. I bought this house for its breathtaking view. Why don’t I show you?”

Before he had a chance to reply, she entwined her arm with his and led him from the room.

Rick turned to Dina. “Your mom’s not too subtle. She wants to work her magic on my dad while I convince you how sincere I am.”

Dina let his comment go without responding. As she reached the top landing, she said, “My room’s the one on the far end on the right. I’ll meet you in your dad’s room as soon as I park this bag. You can impress me there.”

Drifting into her own room, she wondered as she did every time she visited why it held no appeal for her. The walls were painted light blue, her favorite color. She should have been pleased with the honey oak furniture built in the airy, flowing lines she liked, but it left her cold. Perhaps it was because she thought the house pretentious. Or she had so few fond memories of her visits here.

She lifted a window sash and breathed in fresh ocean air blended with the heavy floral scent of magnolia trees. Those two elements did appeal.

Before she met up with Rick, she checked the emails on her phone. Not much of interest there. But there was a text from Phil Darcy, her boss. “When u coming back?” What was she going to tell him without drawing his ire? She had to respond with something, or she’d escalate his irritation. She input, “Soon as Dad here to set her straight.” That should work for now, but Phil would probably contact her again tomorrow. And the next day and the day after that. Where are you, Dad? I can’t handle Mother by myself. Nor was she sure Ben would be able to stop them either.

When Dina joined Rick a few minutes later, she found him flat on his back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. In the mini-second before he noticed her presence, she studied the expression on his face. He seemed perfectly calm and satisfied. Was that the look of a twenty-year-old man engaged to a woman thirty-three years his senior? Was that love or something much more sinister, like a rake on the make taking advantage of an older woman’s fears of growing old?

He noticed her standing in the doorway, became slightly flustered and bounded off the bed. “Sorry. It must get to you to see me lounge around here like I own the place. Don’t mean to be an insensitive clod.”

“No, that’s not it. I just, uh, wondered if, uh, you were sharing Mother’s room.” She hated herself for asking, but she had to know even though her mouth felt like she’d just swallowed sour milk.

Rick studied her, amused. “Hard to think of our parents in that sense, isn’t it? Although I’m pretty sure my dad’s been leading a monk’s life for some time, so it hasn’t really been an issue for me. But, no. Your mom and I decided to stay in separate rooms. We knew our engagement would be difficult enough for you to accept.”

He was right about that. The thought of anyone other than her father in her mother’s bed bothered her enough, but this kid? She supposed she’d get used to the idea in the future, if necessary. But in the meantime, she was going to do everything in her power to prevent that contingency from happening. How was she going to figure out if Rick and her mother were for real?

Rick moved over to the window and gazed down on the garden below. Dina used the interlude to move farther into the room, settling in the reading chair. Better get back to the main reason for this confab. “I wanted to talk to you alone.”

Rick gave her his attention, a quizzical look furrowing his brows. “You want to know if I’m really in love with your mom or just scamming her.”

“That’s part of it. I’d also like to know a little more about you.”

“Okay. We’ll start with me first. I grew up in Houston. My dad has raised me, although I stay in touch with my mother. She loves me, but parenting isn’t really her thing. We’re not what you’d call close or when together, comfortable around each other, but no, I’m not engaged to your mom because I need a mother figure in my life.”

“What are your plans after you marry?”

“Plans?”

“I assume you’re going back to school in the fall. Where are you going to live?”

“Uh, I guess in your mom’s house.”

“Where have you been living?”

“Small apartment not too far from campus.”

“But more convenient for getting to classes. Mom’s place is down in Marina del Rey.”

“We plan to live together, although we might retain my apartment for convenience.”

He’d skipped right past her comment about Marina del Rey. Her mother lived in Brentwood, so he’d apparently never been to her mother’s house. That being the case, where had they gone as their so-called relationship bloomed? “What kind of films do you want to make?”

He brightened. “I’m working on a couple of documentaries for class projects. I might go that direction, although my earlier plans involved more theatrical productions.”

“Sounds ambitious. Have you interned on any of them or been a production assistant?”

He moved off the bed and threw his dad’s bag on it in his place. “Uh, not yet. I’m working on some leads, though.”

I’ll bet you are. “Too bad you weren’t able to score something this summer, before fall classes begin.”

“Yeah, well, it’s a tough road getting onto any production crew these days. Competition’s really stiff.”

Unless you’ve got an in, like Jocelyn Maitland.

“But,” he continued, “it freed me up to come here. Never been to the Carolinas before. This place is a virtual resort.”

“That was Mother’s intent when she bought and furnished the place. All the amenities of a posh resort but with more privacy.”

“Dad and I are going to try our luck at deep sea fishing. I need to go online and make arrangements. Your mom and I talked about parasailing too. Do you surf? Your mom doesn’t, nor does my dad, but I’d really like to try the East Coast waves, see how they compare to Malibu.”

She listened to him go on about his vacation here on Edgar Island. Not once did he mention obtaining a marriage license, finding a minister, or making plans for the ceremony. Of course, even more mature men deferred that kind of detail to their intendeds, but no mention of wedding plans at all? Curious.

She rose. “Thanks for the chat.”

“Find out what you came to learn?”

“Just getting started.”

Before she reached the door, he said, “On the way back from the inn, Dad told me about your little adventure in the wilds of South Carolina. How you nearly drowned him and went on to destroy his map. You’re some traveling companion.”

“He told you about that!” She’d thought the whole experience with Ben’s dousing was something he’d rather forget. Instead, he’d been entertaining his son with the tale.

“He also told me about your first few minutes driving that car and how he managed to talk his way into coming along. He’s really a good guy. If his attitude annoyed you, it’s just because—”

“I know. His business. I understand.”

They fell silent. Finally, Dina said, “Time to rescue said father from the Jocelyn Maitland charm machine.”

****

Ben let Jocelyn lead him out to the dock through a maze of azalea bushes and fragrant shrubs. He marveled at how, in the space of ten feet, the fresh smell of the ocean became so overpowering. Wave upon wave roared in to cover the sodden beach.

They wound up at the corner of an L-shaped dock. “Let’s sit here a few minutes,” Jocelyn suggested, indicating the bench that ran the perimeter of the structure. “It’s a little noisy from the surf but also peaceful. I come here to focus on the characters I play.”

Joining her, Ben had to admit, the place did have a certain ambiance. “How often do you come here, Jocelyn?”

She flashed a lighter blue version of her daughter’s eyes. Her make-up fascinated him. Ordinarily, he paid little heed to such things, except when it was overdone, which was a real turnoff. But hers was applied so flawlessly, it was like looking at a highly stylized painting by one of the Masters. How long did it take her each day to achieve such results?

“I don’t get here as often as I’d like. Maybe a month or six weeks a year, never all at once. There’s always some event where I must be seen in California or New York.” A certain sadness tinged her words.

“I thought the life of a movie star was supposed to be so exciting. Sounds like it can sometimes be a bit of a drag?”

She gazed out at the water. “The business part rarely changes, other than becoming even greedier as time goes by. But the rest—who’s in, who’s out, what the public wants, what it rejects—changes daily.”

“I’m not sure I could put up with so many variables.”

“You’d think once one becomes what some would call a star, they wouldn’t have to put up with the crazy part,” she mused, bringing shining eyes back to rest on him. “But to stay on top, to keep getting the calls for the roles you want, not just mediocre parts, you must contend with even more.”

He detected a wistful tone in her voice, a far cry from what he expected. How to respond? Was that even necessary? He took in the brisk sea breeze and enjoyed the azure feast before him and didn’t comment.

Shortly, she seemed to come out of her melancholy and rejoin him in the present. She laid a manicured hand across his. “Listen to me. You’d think my life was a drudge. It must be this sea air. It slows down the pace of life and makes me think more about the here and now.”

Ben could hold his curiosity in check no longer. “Speaking of the here and now, tell me more about your marriage plans.”

“Don’t you want to know about our engagement? How that came about?”

“If a wedding weren’t imminent, yes, I would. But since you and my son seem to think you have to race to the altar, let’s talk about that first.”

“I can’t blame you for your opinion. If Dina were the bride-to-be, I’d want to find out all about the man in her life.”

“Even knowing your daughter just a few hours, I somehow don’t think she’d be rushing into a marriage just weeks after meeting the man.”

She chuckled. “For only being with her on the ride over, I’d say you got to know my daughter pretty well.”

“Maybe you and I should take a drive so I can get to know you better?”

She clapped her hands. “What a wonderful idea! Although it’s getting a little too close to dinnertime at the moment. I’ll just give you the highlights now.”

He crossed his arms, leaned back against the railing. “Okay.”

“We haven’t obtained a license yet, but since there’s only a twenty-four-hour waiting period after applying, that shouldn’t be a problem. A friend of mine on the island is a judge. He only needs a day’s notice to perform the ceremony. We haven’t planned on any guests other than you and Dina. I brought a couple of ensembles with me and I bought Richard a new suit. I hope you brought formal attire, because there really isn’t much of a selection on the island, although if need be, casual is fine.”

He held up a hand. “Okay, I get it. The ceremony itself is well in hand. Guess I was more interested in your plans after the wedding.” If there is one.

“Oh, of course. No man is really interested in the wedding itself. As soon as we return to the west coast, Richard will be moving into my home in Brentwood. Into my bedroom, if you must know but were too much a gentleman to ask. Yes, we’ve already had relations.” She beamed. “I haven’t felt this sexy in years. So alive, I went out the day after the first time and bought a new wardrobe, but not what you think. No negligees, low necklines, or tight pants. Richard has convinced me he likes me casual and no-nonsense.”

She paused, as if daring him to ask more. Also for...effect? Like she’d been reading from a script. Perhaps she’d been giving what she was going to tell him some thought and now, the opportunity having arrived, let it all spill out.

She seemed to be watching him process her comments. “Now it’s my turn. Tell me what you think of my daughter.”

“Dina? Why do you ask, because she’s going to be Rick’s stepdaughter?” Good grief, he’d just now thought of that. His son, stepfather to a woman in her thirties!

Out of nowhere, she said, “Dina resents my high-profile lifestyle. She does everything she can to distance herself from it, including associating with people who have nothing to do with the business. She tends to gravitate to older men, men your age.”

That cut.

She must have seen his surprise. “Oh dear, that wasn’t a putdown. I meant men several years older than she is. I assumed with a son of twenty, you must be at least...thirty-eight?”

Better. Funny how this age thing was getting to him. It shouldn’t.

If he sensed there was a real relationship between Rick and Jocelyn, he’d somehow get used to it. But he hadn’t heard enough to convince him yet. Rick was going to move into Jocelyn’s house. Guess that made a certain amount of sense, since she was settled and all, but where was his kid’s pride? Where also was the bride-to-be’s interest in her new husband’s career? She’d glossed right over that. Instead, she’d shared a little too much information about their sex life. Like he wanted to know any of those details.

“I’m forty, not that it matters.”

She gave him a tolerant smile. “Do you like pork chops?”

“Huh?”

“I believe that’s what we’ll be dining on soon. I need to go back to the house and check on dinner. The woman I’ve hired to do meals while we’re here should have arrived by now.”

With that, she rose and started making her way back up the dock, leaving Ben behind to ponder why she seemed more focused on her new wardrobe, dinner arrangements and almost anything else other than her upcoming marriage.