Eight

While they were having breakfast the next morning, the doorbell rang. Hobart came to announce that Caleb Devareau had arrived. Daphne got excited at the news, and Evelyn told him to invite the man to join them.

A very handsome very well-dressed man of Mediterranean descent entered the room. “Marcy, please bring our guest a breakfast plate,” Evelyn instructed. “

Caleb went to Daphne first and kissed her cheek. “Hello cousin, so nice to see you,” he said. Then he greeted Evelyn. Mrs. DeRoya, as beautiful as ever,” he said, kissing her hand. “Welcome, Caleb. We are so happy that you have come to visit,” Evelyn said.

Brayden greeted Caleb with a handshake and introduced his wife. The man kissed Jada’s hand and lingered a moment, staring at her. Brayden bristled a little at the man staring at his wife and suggested that he have a seat and enjoy breakfast with them.

Brayden asked Caleb what brought him to the mansion, wanting to know his business there. Caleb began to talk about some business opportunity he wanted to get involved in there in Manhattan.

Caleb was a wealthy property developer and heard of a development project He would like to be involved in. So, when he told his cousin about it, she had invited him to stay with her at the mansion and Evelyn had graciously agreed, he explained.

Brayden gave his mother a scornful look, wondering what scheme she and Daphne had cooked up with having the man stay there. She gave him a look that told him to be polite to their guest.

“Shall we have our coffee in the living room?” Evelyn suggested. Caleb took a seat close to Jada and winked at her, making her a little uncomfortable. “Oh, wow what a beautiful ring! Brayden, I see you have good tastes in jewelry and in a wife. May I say that the wearer is even more beautiful than the ring itself,” he said, flirting with her.

Brayden did not like the man’s intrusiveness at all. “Sweetheart, we should probably get going. I promised to take you on a tour of the city today,” he suggested, standing and taking her hand.

Jada rose and excused herself as Brayden bid everyone farewell. “Son, must you be so rude to leave right now? Stay and visit with our guest,” Evelyn said. Brayden did not want his wife to be subject to the man’s flirtations a minute longer.

“Pardon us, Caleb, but we have plans this morning. Come, My Love, let’s get going,” he urged as he wrapped his arm possessively around her waist and whisked her out of the room.

He took her outside and was fuming mad, kicking at rocks. “Brayden, honey, what’s got you so upset?” She asked, touching his arm with concern.

“The nerve of that man! Flirting with you right in front of me!” He fumed. Jada smiled at his jealousy of her. “Brayden, My Love, why does it matter? I’m not interested in him. He can flirt all day long, he could never take my attention off the man I love,” she assured him.

“You know this was their intention. Those two cooked this up to cause trouble between us,” he said, still angry. “So, what if they did? Are we going to let them succeed? Of course not!” She reasoned.

“Come on, Honey, let’s do like we said and have an enjoyable day together sightseeing,” she urged. Brayden looked at her and began to cool down. He kissed her and smiled. “You’re right, Sweetheart, this is our day,” he said, putting his arm around her waist and walking towards the limo.

Gerard took them back to New York City. First stop was the Empire State Building so she could see everything at once. Brayden smiled at how she smiled and enjoyed the view from the observation deck. Then he took her to see St Patrick’s cathedral. She was awed by all the statues and elaborate architecture there. It was April, so there was a cool breeze in the air. Jada pulled on a cardigan and Brayden helped her with it.

They went to Rockefeller center to the Top of the Rock to enjoy the view from there as well. They hopped aboard a bus and enjoyed the tour to the Museum of Modern Art and then from there to the top of Lady Liberty.

On their way back, Brayden took her to a French restaurant called Balthazar. They sat at a table, holding hands and talking about their day. “When we get in manhattan, let’s stop and get a pregnancy test,” he suggested. “I hope that I am,” Jada said. “Maybe then Evelyn will accept me,” she said, hoping it was true.

“Mr. DeRoya, what an honor to have you at my restaurant!” The manager said, stopping by their table. “Thank you, Sir, may I present my wife, Jada,” Brayden said, introducing her.

The man kissed Jada’s hand and commented on her beautiful ring. “Thank you, my husband has great taste, that’s why we came here,” she said, smiling. “Bon Appetit,” the man offered dismissing himself.

Jada smiled at Brayden without speaking. “What’s on your mind, Pretty Lady?” He asked. “How well known and respected you are and how proud I feel when you introduce me as your wife,” she said, feeling special.

Just then, their meals arrived. They had onion soup with fresh baked croissants and beef stroganoff for their meal. After their meal, they shared a sticky bun with their coffees.

“I have never eaten so much in my life! But it was oh so delicious!” Jada told the host. “We are so proud to have had you here today, Mrs.DeRoya,” he said, handing the tab to Brayden. “Thank you,” Brayden told the host, handing him a credit card.

“I feel like royalty when I’m with you, Brayden,” she said. “Thank you for this wonderful day. I truly enjoyed it,” she told him, holding his hand. “I enjoy every minute spent with you, My Love,” he told her.

They called Gerard and he picked them up in the limo. “Hand me those pretty feet, Sweetheart. I’m sure they are tired from all our walking today,” Brayden said, caressing Jada’s small feet. “That feels so good,” she said, laying back and enjoying his massage.

They were both asleep before they reached Manhattan. Gerard chuckled at the sight of them before waking the two. He turned away so Jada could sit upright. “Thank you for the trip, Gerard. We had a wonderful day out,” Brayden told him.

“Very good Sir. Enjoy the rest of your day, Mam,” he told Jada. She thanked him and smiled, touching the older man’s sleeve as a kind gesture. Gerard watched the two go inside and smiled, happy for their love. His wife had died years ago, but he had known a love like theirs with his Arlene.

The two came in to see Caleb, Daphne and Evelyn listening to music and having a hot tea. They had just had their dinner meal. “Won’t you two join us?” Evelyn asked. Brayden put his arm around Jada and sat on the couch with her.

“What did you two do today?” Caleb asked. “I can see you got some sun on your faces,” he noted. “We took a tour of New York City and it was wonderful,” Jada told him. “And I hear you are going to Hawaii on a honeymoon?” He asked. “That’s so nice for you both. I’ve never had anyone to share such experiences with me. Brayden, you are so lucky to have a beautiful wife to enjoy your life with,” Caleb told him.

Brayden squeezed Jada’s arm, pulling her close to him. “Yes, I am very blessed to have her,” Brayden said, smiling at Jada.

“Where did you two meet?” Caleb asked. “We met at the hospital. Her father is in hospice. Mother and I were there for a business meeting, and I met Jada. I thought she was contemplating jumping over the banister, so I went to stop her,” Brayden said, smiling at Jada.

“I wanted to push him over when I first met him, though. I thought he was rude and obnoxious. But then, he sent me flowers and took me out, and we fell in love,” Jada told the man, staring into Brayden’s deep brown eyes.

“You were once married to Daphne, though, is that right?” Caleb asked. “Yes, we were married, we got divorced, and now she’s staying in the mansion with me and my new wife,” Brayden said, giving Daphne an angry look.

Caleb laughed at the irony of their situation. “Now, that’s the stuff movies are made of crazy things like that, huh?” He spoke.

“Daphne is here to keep me company while these two are on their honeymoon,” Evelyn explained. “We became friends after her and Brayden divorced,” she added, trying to rationalize the situation.

“I have panic attacks and I was afraid to be alone, so Daphne came to help me with my anxiety,” Evelyn confessed. “Mom, is that true? I didn’t realize you had that issue,” Brayden reacted with concern. Despite her attitude, he still cared about his mother.

“Yes, Son, I have anxiety, but I have chest pains when I get upset as well, and the doctor told me to keep calm and watch my blood pressure. So, when I asked Daphne to come stay with me, she came right away,” Evelyn said, squeezing Daphne’s hand.

“I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t realize your condition,” Brayden said, stooping at her feet. “How can I help you, Mom?” He asked her, holding her hand, concerned.

“If you would let Jada’s family stay in the Old Mansion and you two stay here, it would help ease my worries,” she confessed, playing on his sympathy. “Okay, Mom, we will do it if that helps you,” he promised.

Jada didn’t say anything, and she would do whatever Brayden wanted, but she was not sure she believed the older woman.