Loving Vivienne: The Publicist, Book Six Read online

  Kate raised a hand. “Whoa, Mac. Walk that back for me, would you? These aren’t normal circumstances, one,” she held up one finger. “And two,” now two fingers, “he loves her, and that’s great. But let’s not catapult this too far ahead, okay? Vivy hasn’t been in a long-term relationship since I’ve known Nick. Three months is her max on anything, so give it more time. Tell you what, if they’re still dating come Thanksgiving, we’ll make the turkey.” But she only half smiled.

  “Kate, look, I know you think I’m being stupid about this.”

  “Not stupid, just a little overeager. If you want my opinion, I think we should take our cues from them. I’m sure they’ll let us know when they’re ready to take the leap from couple to giant, family-involved relationship.”

  He waved a hand. “Whatever. I’m doing this, because I want to show them my support, especially to Vivienne.”

  “Look, Mac, please don’t take this the wrong way, but Vivienne doesn’t need your support.”

  Mac uncrossed his legs and leaned forward. “Kate, I have a lot of things I need to make right in my life. Being with Syd has made me wish I could go back in time and right every wrong I’ve done.”

  There was an awkward pause, because they both knew Kate had been on the receiving end of many of his wrongs.

  “If you had done that, Mac, you never would have wound up with Sydney.”

  “I know, I know,” he nodded, “but I want to do this for Daniel. I feel like he’s been put in this awful situation because of me and what I’ve done.”

  Kate could see it now, the reasoning behind Mac’s mish-mashed way of explaining his goals. He was actually doing this for his son. He’d been absent a good part of their lives, and it had taken great effort on Mac’s part to get his sons to trust him again.

  Kate leaned back. “I tell you what, Mac. I’m not the one you should be talking to. You should talk to Nick, because I’m not the one still harboring residual daggers for you, he is. Go see him, talk this through, and see if you both agree that you want to do this. Then, and only if Vivy agrees as well, we can have a family dinner. Since I know Nick will never press her to do anything, let’s leave it up to them.”

  Mac stood up, “Fair enough.” And he turned and walked out of the room, saying over his shoulder, “I like them as a couple. Daniel’s never been happier.”

  Kate liked it, too, despite the oddness of the situation. Viv glowed. Her latest book was finished and in editing and a work of sheer brilliance. In fact, Viv had so much creativity surging through her she was already working on a third book, which wasn’t due for another eight months.

  Kate watched Mac walk out of the office, smiling and waving to the folks he knew. Mac was clueless when it came to this sort of thing, but she knew Nick would dismiss it as soon as he heard the idea.

  Or at least she hoped that’s what he’d do.

  25

  Ruth Ann Wilson, MD, PhD, had one of the loudest braying laughs Kate had ever heard. The sound of it, as she threw her head back for effect, filled the Starbucks on 49th Street where they were meeting for coffee. Even the barista, who was busy filling orders, paused mid-espresso making to see who was making all that noise.

  “Kate! You have got to be kidding me!” Ruth Ann said, almost spewing her latte everywhere. Kate met with her former, quite unconventional therapist-turned-friend once a month when their schedules permitted. Kate had debated telling her about the “family” dinner because she’d known instinctively how Ruth Ann would react.

  Ruth Ann was still laughing, tears streaking her cheeks as she held up her hand. “Katie, I’m sorry. I’m just…” She took a deep breath. “Oh, sweet Jesus, this is going to be a nightmare.”

  Kate stiffened. Though she knew better, part of her had hoped for a less dismal prediction from the all-knowing therapist.

  Kate’s hands curled around her paper cup. “Maybe it won’t be.”

  Ruth Ann wiped her eyes. “God, I’m sorry, but no. It’s going to be a nightmare.”

  “I should have stopped it,” Kate said quietly.

  “You tried to. You sent Mac to talk to Nick, hoping Nick would cast a glimmer of sanity on this ridiculous idea.”

  “And instead he agreed. I couldn’t believe it. Thank God, at least, we’re not having it at Mac’s. I was surprised, actually, that the kids agreed. I’m guessing Vivy knows how important this is to Daniel, you know, having a family that gets along.”

  Ruth Ann set down her cup and looked over her glasses at Kate. “You do realize that’s never going to happen, right?”

  When Kate didn’t respond she added, “It’s okay. I mean, I’ve seen worse situations. But honestly, hon, putting Nick and Mac in the same room is just not going to end well.”

  Kate rested her chin in her hand and looked over at the doc. “So what should I do, cancel it?”

  Ruth Ann shook her head, “No, that’ll just create more havoc, if that’s even possible. Just know that putting these two in a room together and expecting them to get along all night is pretty pie-in-the-sky, if you know what I mean.”

  Ruth Ann thought for a moment, and then sighed. “These two couldn’t be more different. And you put someone as straight and narrow as Nick in a room with devil-may-care Mac, there’s gonna be some fallout. Just know when it happens, you shouldn’t try to intercede. Divert the conversation as much as you can, but otherwise, just get out of the way.”

  “You make it sound so horrible.” Kate’s eyes darted out the window while her heart kicked up. A skirmish between Nick and Mac would not bode well for Vivy and Daniel’s relationship. Kate was certain of it.

  Ruth Ann put a hand on Kate’s arm. “I just want you to be prepared for whatever happens. If it had been me, I would have waited a while—until they were, you know, celebrating their tenth wedding anniversary.” She winked at Kate, who managed a weak smile.

  “Years ago when Mac and I were still together, I had a good friend, Grace, over to see if they could get along. Grace hated Mac, but tried to like him for my sake.” Kate took a deep breath. “It was the worst dinner party I’ve ever had. Grace stormed out. Mac stormed out.” Kate shook her head. “I should have stopped this,” she muttered again.

  “It’s not your place,” Ruth Ann said. “And again, you tried to, but everyone agreed to go ahead. So the only thing you can do is make a great dinner and keep some hard liquor handy in the closet so you can take a swig when things get rough. Oh, and hide all the sharp objects.” She nudged Kate with her hand.

  “Oh, and one more thing.” Ruth Ann grinned when Kate looked up. “Can I come? I’d give anything to witness this.”

  26

  Two hours later back at home, Kate was still trying to shake off Ruth Ann’s dark predictions. The therapist, although brilliant, wasn’t always right. And Kate was certain she was wrong this time. Kate was in the kitchen preparing dinner when Nick walked through the door.

  “Hi babe,” he said easily as he walked in set down his bag. He stepped into the kitchen and kissed her on the cheek. “Can I help you?”

  “The roast is in the oven. Did you bring home the red potatoes?”

  “I did. Let me grab them.” Nick began to walk away, but Kate reached for his arm.

  “Nick, listen, about tonight.”

  He pulled her into his arms. “Look, I know it’s not going to be easy, but I’m ready for anything. Mac and I agreed that it’s all about Viv and Daniel, and that’s it.”

  Mac and I agreed. Kate wondered if she should go outside and see if the world had come to an end.

  “I know this whole thing is maybe a little premature, but once I thought about it a while I decided perhaps it’s not a bad idea. Let’s not have this cloud hanging over them. Show them that Mac and I can be in a room together without it ending in a fistfight.”

  Kate rested her head on his chest. “Nick, it’s not that I don’t trust you to do that, but Mac pushes your buttons. I would just hate it if this evening became uncomfortable.” />
  Nick kissed the top of her head. “It won’t, I promise. You believe me, right?” She smiled to her husband while her heart sank to her toes. She believed he wanted it to go well, and she hoped that he was right. But deep down Ruth Ann’s prediction rattled her.

  It’s going to be a nightmare.

  27

  Vivienne had been uneasy all day. Daniel had wanted to do this dinner, and she knew it meant a lot to him. Besides, sooner or later (if they continued dating), her brother and his father would wind up in the same room together. Vivienne thought back to the fight Nick and Mac had at the launch party for her first book. And it had been a fight. Both men had thrown punches and wound up scuffling on the floor.

  It hadn’t been her brother’s most shining hour. Mac had said something to piss off Nick, and off they went. It was the first time she’d seen her brother anything but his usual happy-go-lucky self—other than the night she found out Daniel was Mac’s son.

  . . . .

  Dinner had gone remarkably well. Daniel squeezed Viv’s hand and she squeezed back with a surreptitious wink. Mac, at the other end of the table, was telling Kate and Nick (by default) about a new book he was working on. His wife, Sydney, looked poised for anything. By now the inner circle knew she was the super spy who had been dubbed Wonder Woman by the media after she almost single-handedly saved the world. Literally.

  “Do you remember the time,” Mac grinned at Kate, “when we had that author who barricaded himself in our conference room in an attempt to force us to pay him more money?” Mac chuckled and threw back the contents of his glass, an after-dinner drink.

  Kate knew from experience that Mac was reaching his limit, and she was also keenly aware of Nick and Sydney, who were not industry insiders, and the fact that Mac endlessly sharing their “remember whens” was becoming uncomfortable.

  “I do,” Kate replied simply and stole a sideways glance at Vivienne and Daniel. Both seemed caught up in each other and probably weren’t listening to Mac’s story.

  “This guy,” Mac continued, unaware that the mood in the room was shifting, “is just like that, all full of ego and entitlement.” Then Mac’s eyes fell to his son and raised his glass.

  “You two make a stunning couple,” he smiled, and Kate could feel herself holding her breath.

  “We’re both very happy for you,” Sydney said smoothly, running her hand along Mac’s arm—a gesture, Kate suspected, meant to quiet him down.

  Mac turned to Sydney. “It’s all so serious, Syd. Look at them. The kids are having fun,” Mac continued, “as they should be.” He held his glass up and nodded to his son. “Good for you.”

  Kate could feel Nick shift in his seat beside her.

  “Dad, it’s not like that. I love Vivy.” Daniel looked to Viv for validation, but something slid across her face. Disdain? Kate couldn’t quite place it, but she knew her sister-in-law wasn’t happy.

  “Come on, son. You act like you’re ready to settle down. I say you should just live it up and enjoy yourself. You’re only young once!” And with that, Nick’s composure cracked.

  “Excuse me?” Nick said, his voice dripping with contempt.

  “What?” Mac turned to him. “I’m just encouraging them to have a good time.”

  “We know your version of a good time, Mac,” Nick spat.

  Mac slammed his drink down and the brown liquid splattered against the sides of the glass. “Are you fucking kidding me? Is this about your sister’s honor or something? What is this, the 1870s? I’m just encouraging them to take it slow and enjoy it.”

  Nick slid his chair back, the legs scraping across the heavy tile floor as he stood. Kate tried to hold his arm to prevent him from standing. “No, what you’re saying is to have a good old time with my sister and any other available female who happens along.”

  “Are you like a fucking neophyte?” He turned to Kate, “Is he serious right now?”

  Kate’s stomach tightened. “Mac, I think you should go.”

  At the other end of the table Daniel stood up. “Dad, I think you’ve given everyone the wrong impression. I think—”

  Mac held up his hand. “I am sorry. I was not trying to insinuate anything. I just think that young people shouldn’t get too serious too quickly.” He looked at his son. “You just met. You have a lot of years ahead of you, and no one knows this quickly.”

  “We did,” Sydney said, her eyes fixed on Mac.

  Mac scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “I’m sorry, Syd, baby,” he said, frowning.

  Still standing, Nick turned to Mac and said, “I find it pretty amazing that you would say that, Mac—I mean, something so disrespectful—when this whole family bonding thing was your idea.” He opened his arms to encompass the dining room. “Were you just trying to lure us here, thinking once we were all kum-ba-fucking-ya, and one big, happy family? You’d have created a perfect setup so you could disrespect my sister?”

  Vivienne was looking down, her hands folded in her lap. Kate couldn’t see her face but assumed she was crying. Don’t try to stop it. Don’t get between them, Ruth Ann had said. But at this moment she felt like the doc’s advice wasn’t the wisest. If someone didn’t stop it now, she was certain one of them would start throwing punches.

  “Guys, please,” Daniel attempted to interrupt them.

  Mac turned to Nick, his face nearly purple with rage. “You know what? You are wound so tight, I honestly don’t fucking know what Kate sees in you. I didn’t mean any disrespect, and last I checked, your sister was old enough to speak for herself.” On that lightly subtle note, everyone at the table turned to Viv, who still didn’t look up. When she finally did lift her chin slowly to face everyone, Kate saw she’d been right. Vivienne was crying.

  “Honey,” Daniel soothed, “I’m so sorry.” He reached for her hand but she jerked it away.

  “Stop it,” Vivienne said in a voice Kate barely recognized. “We’re done here.”

  “You’re right.” Daniel slid his chair back to stand up. “Let’s go.”

  Vivienne paused, took a breath, and then said, “No, we’re done.”

  The breath Daniel sucked in was audible around the table. “No! Honey, listen, this is nothing. It was just a misunderstanding.”

  Viv turned on him. “You’re standing up for him? Of course you are, and this is why a relationship between us will never work.” She stood up and smoothed her dress with shaky hands.

  “Wait, what? You expect me to throw my dad under the bus because he said something tacky and inappropriate? People make mistakes, Viv.”

  “Yes, and he’s made enough of them for all of us.”

  Daniel raised a hand. “Whoa, Vivienne. Now you’re skating on thin ice here. My father is no angel, I know that better than anyone. But he’s my father and—”

  “And that’s why this won’t work. I do not want to spend my life tethered to that jackass.” She pointed a long finger at Mac, who didn’t move. In fact, no one did.

  Daniel threw up his hands. “Fine. You know what? You’re right, Vivienne. If you can’t let the past go, a past that has nothing to do with you and me as a couple, then there’s nothing I can do to help.”

  He paused for a moment, running his fingers through his hair. “But you should know this.” His eyes were on her. “I love you so much that I wanted to marry you. When this dinner was over, I’d planned to ask you to be my wife and spend the rest of your life with me. But now…”

  He shook his head, and Kate could see more tears tracking down Viv’s face.

  “I can’t live like this,” Daniel continued. “I haven’t always liked my dad. You know that. It took a long time to get to where we are now, but I love him. All I’ve ever asked is that you accord him some respect as my father.” He sighed and continued, “But clearly you aren’t capable of that.” Daniel’s eyes and cheeks were wet now, too, and Kate realized Nick was sitting down again.

  “Kate,” Daniel turned to her. “Dinner was delicious, and I appreciate all the
effort you put into it. I’m sorry about how it ended.” And with that he walked out of the dining room, grabbed his jacket from the chair, and left.

  No one spoke a word.

  28

  Daniel hadn’t slept. In fact, he spent most of the previous night just thinking about everything that happened at the “family dinner,” and about his relationship with Vivienne, which had been tenuous from the beginning.

  He’d lost the love of his life.

  Sure, he’d dated women before Viv, and he’d fallen in love before—but not like this. Never like this. He’d known it from almost the minute he pulled her from the water. Something clicked in his head, like he’d found some missing piece of himself in her. But now that piece was gone, and he needed to hit the reset button on his life.

  He eyed his suitcase, which was by the front door packed and ready to go. He was lost in thought when someone knocked at his door. It was early, not even 8 a.m.

  Vivienne? The thought scrambled through his head as he raced over and flung open the door.

  “Hi, son,” his father said, “I came here to apologize. May I come in?”

  Disappointment shot through him.

  “Of course.” Daniel held open the door as his father brushed past.

  Mac noticed his suitcase in the hall. “You going somewhere?”

  “Back to Costa Rica,” he said. “They’re shorthanded.”

  Mac shot him a look. Although he knew his son wouldn’t lie, he didn’t entirely believe him. But he’d get to that in a minute.

  “I was an ass,” Mac said, sitting down on his son’s couch. “Syd gave me an earful, and rightfully so. I didn’t mean it the way it came out. It was just an awkward night, I had too much to drink, and…and…you know the rest.”

  Daniel shrugged and walked over to sit down beside his father.

  “She was the love of my life, Dad.” Daniel said, while a crushing surge of sorrow swept through him. He wasn’t used to experiencing such overwhelming feelings. Medical school had taught him how to compartmentalize. Walls were your friends, or the pressures and emotions involved in the work would gobble you up and spit you out.