Page 51 of Inevitably Yours

I’ve never been so happy to see that familiar chipped paint and crooked shutter. I can’t wait to get inside and see what surprise John has waiting for me.

It was a fuss all the way to the door—who would carry Cephina, who would open the door for Augusta. It was like dealing with five-year-olds arguing over what to play at recess.

Jan burst through the door and almost tackled Gus, leaving it open behind her. “Umph. Well, at least that solves one problem, fellas. I’m going inside, y’all can join me or continue to fuss over who gets to do what.”

Gus was thrilled to have her sister, but a twinge of disappointment stained her homecoming. Where was John? When she broke the plane of the threshold, she was welcomed by the scent of sausage and spice. “Mmmm, jambalaya?”

“Yep, but it’s spicy as fuck.”

“Jan,” Gus scolded. Jan didn’t look the least bit sorry and ignored Gus’ interruption.

“Might be too spicy for you. Not sure how, you know, how things are moving along. So, I have a pussy version in the small pot and some plain buttered rice if that’s what is called for. Plus…”

Before Jan could finish, Gus noticed the biggest arrangement of flowers she’d ever laid her eyes on. So many, in fact, that as she entered the kitchen, they overpowered the scent of the jambalaya.

Appreciation and disappointment bloomed in her heart. While she appreciated the gesture, and the obvious investment, this was not like John at all. It was sad that he felt the need to try to be someone he wasn’t. A touch of that disappointment sat in the realization that he didn’t know her as well as she thought either. It’s not that she hated cut flowers, they were beautiful, it’s just, she’d rather them be left to grow and flower again.

Gus felt that cut flowers were a waste of money and beauty. Why someone would want to possess such beauty for a short time, when they can appreciate it every year when it blooms, was beyond her. Give her a bush of roses over a bouquet any day.

Still, John had made the investment, she could at least read the card. She reached for the card, removed it from its envelope, and began to read. This is so unlike John. She let her sadness overtake her as he thanked her for a wonderful evening, making her feel a little slimy about the whole thing.

She continued to read.

Finally, the signature line sunk in. “Oh, thank God, they’re from Jesse.” She was so happy they weren’t from John, she must’ve spoken aloud.

“Wow, so you really like him. I think he’s the good sort, that’s why I set you up, but I didn’t think much would come from it because I thought you were truly in love with John.” Augusta spun to see Andy deposit Cephina in the bassinette, which they had wheeled into the living room. It was mobile, so it could go anywhere around the house, for when the baby needed to be here during the transition.

Seeing Cephina here, in her home, helped the reality sink in. This was not as cut and dry emotionally as she expected. Lucky for her, Andy planned, expecting as much. While she didn’t think of Cephina as hers, she had given birth to her, so there was a special connection.

Augusta was so lost in thoughts of transitioning Cephina to their house full-time, her silence spoke lies. Andy took her in his arms and apologized, “I am so sorry, Pixie, I was way off the mark. I thought, well, it doesn’t matter, I can fix this. John’s a mature adult and will handle it with dignity when I send him packing. I don’t know how I could have misread the situation so poorly.”

Shoving Andy away, Gus took a few minutes to try to understand why he wanted to send John…

“Oh, that?” Gus tossed her thumb over her shoulder in the direction of the monstrosity of dying blooms. “That wasn’t because I’m gaga over Jesse, that was because I thought they were from John.” Andy seemed puzzled, but Marco stepped in.

“She was disappointed in silver fox because she thought he was basic as fuck and didn’t know a thing about her.” Marco slapped Andy’s bicep with the back of his hand as he passed. “Why do you think we always send her a potted plant for special occasions instead of an arrangement?”

Jan and Gus simultaneously dropped their jaws at Andy, who still looked clueless. Marco took the lid from the pot and waved his hand into the steam. “Girl, this smells amazing, you better cough up the recipe,” he ordered Jan.

January came up to Andy and patted his chest. The sight was rather comical, considering she had to reach up to do so. “Don’t worry, handsome, it’ll come to you. Should we show her the surprise so we can eat? I’m starving?”

Everyone had a good laugh at Andy’s expense. Their amusement deepened when it appeared he realized that by not knowing that detail, Marco had basically dimed him out for not picking out gifts.

Andy asked, “Where’s John?”

Jan was leading them toward Gus’ room, motioning for them to hurry up the whole way. “He’s next door, tweaking shit, but everything is functional.”

When they got to her room, they all stood staring at her television like it was something new. “I don’t get it? Where’s my surprise?”

“Let’s see.” Andy grabbed two remotes from her dresser—one she recognized, one she did not—and started punching buttons. The TV powered on to the last channel she watched.

“Why am I not surprised?” January joked at the site of Animal Planet. Gus just shrugged.

The screen went fuzzy, then black as Andy punched more buttons. “Ah-ha,” he proclaimed as John’s face filled the screen. It only took a minute for Gus to identify what, or rather where, she was seeing. She turned her questioning gaze toward the two men staring back at her.

“It’s closed circuit, direct to the little angel’s crib.” Gus glanced back at the screen. Sure enough. If you looked past John staring straight up at them from a ladder, you could see the crib slid out of the way to accommodate what he was doing.

Augusta’s gaze lingered on John. She appreciated the lines of his body from this angle and the flex of his biceps as he worked on something unseen. He was humming a tune and seemed content in his activity. He always was when working with his hands.

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