Green Stone Ring Read online

  Gini’s favorite rooms were the master dressing areas, all richly decorated in warm colors and heavy fabric, with big floor-to-ceiling mirrors on the walls. She closed her eyes and imagined herself getting ready for a ball. The servants were making sure everything was perfect: her large hooped skirt flowed gracefully to the floor as someone with deft hands arranged the flowers in her hair, and someone else fit the delicate shoes gently on her feet. It was a feeling not only of luxury—though of course there was that—but of being cared for.

  And then there was the elegant dining room.

  “This has always been my favorite room. Russell, my late husband, and I would have our meals at that table over there overlooking the street.” Elaina pointed, and Gini could see it was set for two. “Charles and I have continued to eat there since we started seeing each other. It seems silly to have such a large eating area now that I don’t entertain anymore. I should think about selling.” She sighed.

  “The house has been in your family for so long, isn’t there a family member who would like to buy it from you?”

  “None of the distant relatives want it. It costs a lot to run, and none of them have the funds or the time. I’m afraid if I gave it to anyone it would go into ruin very quickly. I just can’t think of such a demise for this beautiful home.” There was a sad note in Ms. Quinley’s voice.

  Gini suddenly felt the sadness pass to her, and she thought about Mama selling the family house in Sacramento.

  She heard Ric’s laugh and the sound of the men talking from the interior side of the room. There were two ornate arched openings. One went out into the grand foyer; the other, on the side of the room, went into the living room. Elaina took Gini in there.

  “Ms. Anderson and Ms. Quinley, what can I get you to drink?” Charles took Elaina’s hand and pulled it under his arm and rested it on his forearm as he led her to the small bar in the room. “Would you like a brandy, love?”

  Watching his caring and gentle touch for Elaina, once again that feeling crept into Gini… envy, or was it admiration… or just longing to have someone so in love with her he couldn’t let her out of his sight?

  “How about you, Ms. Anderson?” Elaina turned toward Gini. “A brandy?”

  Ric walked up next to Gini, and they exchanged glances.

  “No thank you, I’m not much of a brandy drinker. A Baileys sounds good if you have it.”

  Elaina agreed.

  He poured a small amount into two large wide-bowled, short-stemmed glasses and handed them to the two ladies.

  Ric watched Gini take her drink. She was so beautiful, so gracious; her special charm was still there. He wished she would open up and let the world see her as he did—like when they were in school. He gently put his hand on her back to lead her to their seats.

  She closed her eyes for a moment at his touch.

  Each couple walked back and sat on the two couches adjacent to each other. “Ric and I were just talking about our lawyering days,” Charles started the conversation. “Speaking of that, Ms. Anderson, I understand you’re helping Mr. Fredrick with his campaign.”

  “I think he’ll be good for the city.”

  “He’s a fine young man. Delbert and Delbert is going to miss him if he leaves the firm. I’m still a partner there, and we handpicked him for the firm when he graduated.”

  “You work at Delbert and Delbert?” Gini asked.

  “I retired some time ago, but I’m still on the board. I remember another young lawyer.” He turned and looked at Ric. “His first day in court.”

  Ric laughed. “And the last time I did any trial lawyering.”

  “You were against each other in a trial?”

  “It was an insurance issue against Greystone. I was the second chair. I had only been out of school for a few months and was convinced it would be good for my credentials to have a case against Delbert and Delbert under my belt, assuming we would win, of course.”

  “Did you?” Gini looked straight at Ric.

  “No way,” Charles said with his smooth, toned voice. “Lory and Lawson never won a case against us.”

  “I don’t know about that. If I recall, it was more of a draw. Our client paid two-thirds, and your client paid one-third.”

  “I call that a win, don’t you, love?” Charles looked at Elaina.

  “You are not pulling me into this.” She smiled at him.

  “All I know is I never wanted to be a trial lawyer before that, and I was certain after,” Ric surmised.

  Ric and Gini were sitting separated on the couch; he had his arm on the back, his hand almost touching her. Gini suddenly relaxed. She enjoyed hearing about Ric as a lawyer: his cleverness and success. She turned and looked at him, and they both smiled. Should she move closer? It wouldn’t hurt if she sat a bit closer.

  “All that being said,” Charles went on, “there are a lot of good people over at that firm, and you were one of them.”

  Gini sat forward to set her empty glass on the table. Just as she was going to sit back under his arm, he brought it down and placed his drink next to hers.

  She took a small breath. It was good he moved. She needed to stop thinking about all the romance; it was tempting her to let down her defenses. She didn’t need it anyway; it was fine to be on her own, not having to worry about interfering with anyone else’s plans. She could do as she pleased.

  “Refill?” Charles asked.

  “No.” Ric turned to Gini. “We need to go.”

  Gini nodded in agreement. “Thank you so much for showing me your lovely home, Ms. Quinley.”

  “It was my pleasure, dear. As you can see, I’m proud of this house.”

  Ric shook Charles’ hand and kissed Elaina on the cheek. “We’ll see you next Sunday?”

  Ms. Quinley smiled. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

  When Ric and Gini turned the corner on Ric’s street, the skies opened up and poured down rain. They both started running toward his house. Inside, they were out of breath and wet. He took their coats and flung them on the backs of the chairs at the kitchen counter.

  “I would have taken my umbrella if I’d known it was going to rain so hard,” she said.

  Ric ran into the small powder bath off the kitchen and brought back two hand towels and handed one to her. “Who knew?” he said as he dried off his face, head, and hands.

  Gini dried up around the edge of her hair. “At least I had my hood. Ric, you’re soaked through and through.”

  “I know, I’m going to go up and change my clothes. I’ll be right back.” He ran up the stairs, taking them two steps at a time.

  Gini’s boots were wet on top of her feet, so she took them off. Even her socks seemed a little damp. Her pant legs were soaked at the cuffs; the fabric was less saturated as it went up her legs. She suddenly caught a chill and shivered. Just then Ric came down the stairs.

  “There, that’s much better. Gini, you’re cold.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Take off your pants. I’ll throw them in the dryer.”

  “I am not taking off my pants,” she said with an indignant tone to her voice.

  He pulled the blanket off the back of the chair and put it around her. “Wrap yourself up in this, and give me your pants. Go in the bathroom; I won’t look. No hidden cameras, I promise.” He raised his hands to show nothing was in them.

  “Oh, Ric,” she said with a pooh-poohing tone in her voice.

  She was going to say no again, but the wet fabric on her legs was uncomfortable. She went into the bathroom and took them off. She wrapped the blanket tightly around her body, so no unclothed part showed. It was so tight around her thighs it was difficult for her to walk.

  “Here.” She held the covering with one hand and handed the pants to him with the other. He took them into the laundry area on the other side of the kitchen.

  She went into the living room, sat on the couch with the blanket tight, and pulled her knees up against her body. Ric had put her boots next to the fireplace
, and she could feel the warmth of the blazing fire.

  “It shouldn’t take too long for your slacks to dry,” he said sitting on the other end of the couch.

  He was still wiping his hair and the back of his neck with the towel. She sat and looked at him.

  “What?” he asked. “What are you looking at?”

  “I don’t know that I have ever seen you when every hair on your head wasn’t perfectly placed. I kind of like the ruffled look.”

  “Why? What does it look like?” He got up and went into the bathroom.

  She smiled a slight smile. A little vain, she thought.

  When he came back, he had brushed his hair like he normally wore it. She liked the long, soft waves that were pulled straight back from the sides and top. His hair was consistently cut and styled as if he had just walked out of a barbershop. He was clean-shaven and well-groomed always. She remembered him being like that in college as well. He had seemed so much more mature than the rest of them—serious about his future and always responsible with his time and money.

  “Better?” he asked.

  She gave a half smile. His hair still appeared damp and parted in several places. “Lovely, just lovely. Oh darn, I broke a nail.”

  “Let me see?”

  She lifted her right hand, and he took it to look at her finger. “You need to go to my nail tech, Lucy. She can fix it.”

  “You have a nail tech?” she asked, amazed.

  “Of course, I go every other week to get my haircut and a mani-pedi.”

  “Your barber does mani-pedis?” She was still surprised.

  “I don’t go to a barber.” He let go of her hand. “I go to a salon.”

  Gini let out a little laugh. “Which one?”

  “Lazy Daze.”

  She started giggling. “You go to a spa every other week?”

  “Yes,” he said, looking at her with a smile. “They have great massages and facials.”

  “Hahaha,” Gini laughed, losing control. “A facial! Next, you’re going to tell me they tweeze your brows.” She laughed harder, grabbing at her sides.

  “No,” he said quietly, enjoying her happiness. “They use thread.”

  “Oh, my gosh, Ric,” she said, still not able to stop her giggling. “No more! You’re making my cheeks ache.”

  Ric reached over and rubbed his hand up and down her blanket-covered leg. “Men go to spas. We should go together sometime. A lot of couples come in on Saturdays.”

  Gini took some breaths and stopped her hysterical laughter. “I know, I just can’t believe the Ric we went to high school with now goes to a beauty spa every other week. Our classmates wouldn’t believe it.”

  “Why wouldn’t they believe it?” He was still smiling, enjoying the moment just as much as she was.

  “You’ve changed since then. You were such a… a nerd.”

  “A nerd!” There was silence. “Okay.” He rubbed her leg again. “You’re right; I was a nerd. If I remember, I carried my chessboard with me everywhere.”

  He was surprised she let him touch her; she had been so guarded.

  “And you were always reading science books or debating with everyone about a new law or policy put into effect. No, no one would believe you ended up being a party planner.” Gini got tickled again.

  “I’m not a party planner.” He loved her laughter. “I’m an entertainment director.”

  “Okay, okay.” She wiped her happy tears from her eyes. “And you are an amazing entertainment director and company owner.”

  His caressing her leg was soothing. It didn’t bother her that he was touching her. Of late, he had a way of relaxing her—he was so amusing. It made her feel at ease.

  “You should laugh more often. It looks good on you. I don’t think I’ve seen you laugh since we hooked up again. You’re always so serious and quiet.”

  “That’s what Catherine said. Am I really that serious?”

  He smiled and moved a little closer to her. “I guess we have both changed since high school. You were always so happy and carefree, jumping or running around giggling. You looked so cute in your short cheerleading skirt.”

  “There’s that word ‘cute’ again.” She gave him a look. “Ric, I just grew up, that’s all. When I was in high school, I didn’t have a care in the world. Everyone around me loved me and took care of me. Now, it’s up to me to pay the bills, make sure I have food, and fight for all the underprivileged children.” She looked down. “And Mama— She needs my attention too.”

  “Gini, everyone around you still loves you.”

  She shook her head and turned to sit right on the couch, pulling the blanket up tighter.

  “Gins, are you still cold?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “How about some hot chocolate, that will warm up your insides.”

  “That sounds wonderful.” She pulled the blanket close around her waist and followed him.

  He went into the kitchen area, and she sat on the chair at the counter. He placed a mug in front of her, then walked around and sat on the stool next to her. “How did you like the Quinley place?”

  “It’s so beautiful. They have kept it up so nicely, modernized it, but it still has the feel of a home from centuries ago. She had such wonderful stories…” Gini paused. “Interesting, the stories were all about her late husband, nothing about herself or her past. Do you think she’s having any problem keeping the house?”

  “Why do you ask?”

  “I don’t know; she just mentioned she should probably try to sell it.”

  “She donates generous amounts of money to several charities every year. I don’t think she’s hurting for money in any way. She sponsors the big holiday gift party for needy families with children every December.”

  “That’s right,” Gini said. “I’m a helper every year. I love to see the smiling faces of those precious children when you hand them their gift.”

  “You, an elf… an elf, in pointed, curled-toe shoes and green tights.” He sat back on the chair with a grin on his face. “Sorry I’ve missed that.”

  “Oh Ric, stop.” She gently swiped his arm with her fingers. “No pointed shoes or green tights. I’m Santa’s helper with my red velvet dress trimmed with white fur.”

  “I’ll bet you are adorable.” He brushed her face with the inside of his hand as he stood up. “More hot chocolate?”

  “Please. You haven’t been at the party and seen me?”

  “No, I’m sure I would have remembered a cute—oh, excuse me—a beautiful lady in a red dress. I have always had a conflicting event on that Sunday.”

  Gini started thinking out loud. “Now that you say she’s the sponsor, I don’t remember working with her. I’m always contacted by and deal with Connie… what is her last name—?”

  “Mitchell,” he interrupted.

  How was it that he knew everyone she knew—or at least it seemed that way? Their lives had paralleled, yet they never connected. She wished they had before now. Maybe then she wouldn’t feel so lonely… all alone, having to fend for herself.

  “Connie Mitchell, she’s the event coordinator. Ms. Quinley puts up the money and her committee puts it all together. I would be surprised if she weren’t there, however. She took quite the liking to you today, Gins.”

  He put the two mugs on the counter and sat back down.

  “She’s a nice woman,” Gini said. “So classy and proper. I think she and Mr. Schmitt make a good couple. You can see that he adores her. She turned and looked him right in the eyes. “He’s always making sure she is comfortable, such a gentleman. I love men who treat their ladies like they are the only thing on earth that matters.” Her gaze drifted up as she remembered how wonderful it was with Franco when he was so caring and polite—or was it Ric who was crowding her thoughts? Ric was one of the politest men she had ever met. She had fond memories of him hugging and cuddling with Margarita, even in public… and he was gentle. She quickly dashed the thoughts.

  “Anyway,
I loved watching his tenderness, and I could see how she looked at him. I don’t know how long her husband has been gone, for I know she was deeply in love with him, but it has been long enough for her to grieve and move on with her life. The two of them, Charles and Ms. Quinley, will be together for many years to come.”

  “Do I see a romantic side to my sweet Gins?” Ric watched the many expressions and obvious feelings she conveyed while she talked about the couple. He could tell what she was feeling—up to a point. Longing, the desire for love… But did it include him? That’s what he found himself wondering. Damn Franco for being in the way!

  Once again, Gini looked straight into his eyes, and he could feel her blue eyes reach deep into his inner being.

  She took the last swallow of her hot chocolate and got up, pulling the blanket tight around her, and looking at him to make sure he wasn’t watching her lower body. He smiled and supported her elbow as she touched the floor with her feet.

  “I just like to see people happy in love.”

  The buzzer went off on the dryer, and Ric went to get her pants.

  After Gini dressed, she told him she needed to get going.

  “When are you leaving for Sacramento?”

  “My flight’s Tuesday morning at eleven-thirty.”

  Ric took Gini’s coat off the chair and helped her put it on. “Wow, your coat is dry.” He was surprised. “Look at mine, it’s still nearly dripping.”

  “Mine’s weatherproof. That’s probably why I wasn’t as wet as you.”

  She walked up close to him without touching, looked up, and smiled a devilish smile. It was as if she were daring him to flirt with her. He playfully flipped the hood of her jacket up onto her head and then grabbed another coat off the hooks by the front door and put it on.

  What was she doing? She immediately put up her armor. “Where are you going?”

  “Gini, we’re not going to have this discussion, are we?”

  “I don’t know why you don’t understand I like to walk.” She headed toward the door. “I appreciate your offer, but I don’t need your help. I have managed to take care of myself for several years now. And I am doing just fine without a man.”