Green Stone Ring Read online

  On Thursday, Gini went for her final fitting. Friday, she picked up her dresses, and that evening, on his way to his hotel event, Ric stopped by Gini’s to drop off his clothes for Saturday. She took him back to the small guest room. There was a large armoire with a rod and drawers, a twin bed pushed up against the wall, and a private bathroom.

  “This is perfect.”

  He remembered this side of the condo as stark when Gini and Franco moved in. In fact, the small bedroom was full of boxes then. Now everything was warmly decorated. The room looked comfortable.

  “Okay, so, tomorrow I’ll be helping set up in the morning. Hopefully, I can get over here early enough to clean up and take a short nap.”

  “That will be fine. I don’t want you to see me after four.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I want you to see the full presentation all at once. I get my hair done at four. What time do we have to leave?”

  “It starts at eight o’clock. I need to be there at seven-thirty.”

  “I’ll meet you here at the breakfast bar precisely at seven-fifteen. And you cannot see me before then.”

  “Okay, sweets.” He smiled at her excitement. “Seven-fifteen at the breakfast bar.”

  “Wait.” She quickly walked to her desk. “Here’s a key card. It will get you in the front door, the garage, elevator, and my condo door.”

  He put it in one of the slits in his wallet. “I will guard it with my life. Listen, I’ve got to get going. I’ll see you tomorrow at seven-fifteen.”

  Around ten o’clock Saturday morning, after Howard told Gini of Ric’s arrival, he knocked on the door.

  “It’s not after four,” he clarified.

  She laughed.

  “I just wanted to drop off my dopp kit.”

  He was dressed in khaki pants, a long-sleeved rugby shirt, and loafers. He noticed Gini eyeing his clothing.

  “These are my work clothes. The president of the league, Melinda, is very exact at how she wants things. It could be a long setup. Don’t get me wrong; I like it when they know exactly what they want.”

  “Are you working tonight?”

  “Well, no, not really. James and Carol will be behind the scenes making sure everything is moving smoothly. I’ll be out front keeping my eye on the flow there. They don’t really need me to help. They run everything beautifully.”

  “I guess you’re just the face of the company.”

  “Exactly! Yes! I like that, the face of the company.”

  “You still have your key card, right?”

  “Yes,” he said patting his back pocket.

  “You could have let yourself in.”

  “I guess I could have. Gotta go.”

  Chapter 10 – Pretty People

  At four-thirty, Ric left the beautifully decorated room.

  “See you tonight,” James said.

  “Yeah, tonight.”

  Ric used the card to park in the garage. That way they wouldn’t have to go out in the weather. He knocked on the condo door before entering. “Gini!” There was only quiet.

  The weather had turned bitterly cold, and they were predicting snow overnight. Ric shivered.

  After a nice warm shower, he put on a pullover long-sleeved heavy cotton shirt, pull-on pants, and went into the living room to have a beer. If Gini arrived, he’d quickly go into the bedroom. It was relaxing sitting in the quiet, all alone, sipping his drink. At five, he went back into the bedroom and went to bed.

  Gini arrived home at five forty-five. “Ric.” There was no answer. The beer bottle on the coffee table clued her in that he was there. She tiptoed back to the bedroom and saw him through the small opening of the door, sleeping.

  At seven, Ric sat on the bar chair checking his messages as he patiently waited for Gini’s grand entrance.

  She stood in front of the full-length mirror and looked at herself. The champagne-colored liquid duchess satin gown clung to her. Over the left shoulder was a wide strap and folded fabric draped down across her bustline from left to right. On the right shoulder, a thinner strap pulled the other side up and over. The dress was backless, forming a V at her waist with a straight, formfitting skirt that flowed to the floor just above the four-inch heeled shoe-tops in the front, and into a sweep train in the back. Her heels were a dark champagne satin with a large sparkly piece that was wide at the foot opening and had a swirl tapering to a point at the toe. The clutch bag matched the shoes with the same dramatic sparkly piece widening at the purse closure clip. Gini’s hair was pulled back, curls cascading down her back. A fancy rhinestone hairpiece held the curls in place on the right side. Two-inch narrow sparkling earrings hung down, completing the look.

  When satisfied with the ensemble, she spread her lips back away from her teeth to make sure there was no lipstick on them. Cinderella herself could not have been more excited about going to the ball. She picked up the matching satin short-cut jacket that was lying on the bed, to be worn only if the ballroom was too cold.

  Ric looked up from his PET when the bedroom doors opened. Without taking his eyes off her, he slowly lowered and set the device on the counter. His heart began to race, and there was a tightening of his body.

  “How do I look?” She took a step, turning to the right side. Then another step, turning to the left, and all the way around to show the back. He tried to say “gorgeous,” but the word got stuck on the lump in his throat. She turned forward and smiled the most beautiful smile he had ever seen.

  As she approached him, he said, “Gins, you will steal the show.”

  She walked past him to the closet to get her soft, full-length white leather-and-fur coat. Seeing him in his black tux with a white bow tie and cummerbund, her first thought was that he looked like a model on the cover of a magazine. “And look at you!”

  Ric took the valet ticket and stuck it in his pocket, and they entered the ballroom. Only one person was in the room, Melinda, the president. It looked like a winter wonderland. There was a small stage in the center front of the room. A slim black podium was on one side. It almost looked like a music stand. Three white flocked Christmas trees were at the side, all different heights. Muted lights twinkled under the flocking. Under the trees sat a few gifts wrapped in gold metallic paper; all had ribbons wrapped around them in bright Christmas colors—each gift looked different. Silver and gold streamers hung from the ceiling. They twisted and turned in the movement of the air. With the small ceiling lights reflecting down on the ribbons, it appeared something was falling from above, the illusion of snow. The tables had black tablecloths with mounds of white mums in the center. A red poinsettia flower reached out from the middle. All around the centerpiece were tea lights illuminated by tiny fake flames powered by batteries.

  Gini turned and looked up at Ric as he took her coat. Her smile let him know how impressed she was with the room.

  “Ric,” Melinda called out. “Good, you’re here.” She walked over to them.

  “Melinda, this is Gini.”

  “Oh, yes,” Melinda said, acknowledging her. “We have been trying to get Virginia to join us for some time. Listen, Ric, I don’t think the wine glasses are set properly on the table.”

  She turned and walked away. He followed, still carrying their coats. Gini smiled; he just thought he wasn’t going to be working tonight.

  Carol came out of a door, walked up to Ric and took the coats from him as he intensely listened to Melinda’s instructions.

  “Gini,” Carol said, “you look lovely.”

  “Thank you.”

  Carol took the coats to the cloakroom and then returned. “Please, come on in. Let’s see, where are you seated?” She thought for a minute and then took Gini to a table.

  Carol was brought into the conversation with Ric and Melinda.

  Gini sat and looked around the room. It was so quiet; it was hard to believe there was to be a party soon. A nice-looking man came over and sat down next to her.

  “Matt Collins.”


  “Gini Anderson.”

  “I’m Melinda’s husband. I can see she’s still working on detail. I knew we shouldn’t have gotten here so early.”

  More people started walking in the door. Melinda concluded the conversation and left to start greeting the guests.

  Ric walked over to the table. “Matt.” The two men shook hands.

  Melinda motioned for him.

  “I guess I’m on,” Matt said, smiling. He had an easygoing air about him.

  “Did you get it settled?”

  Ric smiled. “She just needed this thing to get started. Everything’s fine.”

  He gently put his arm around Gini’s shoulders. “Shall we mingle?”

  Before long the room was humming with conversation. All the young ladies and men were impeccably dressed in modern gowns, lots of bling, and handsome tuxes. Many of the faces were familiar. Gini was surprised when David, Ric’s neighbor, walked up to greet her.

  “Ms. Virginia Anderson, imagine seeing you here.” He took her right hand and playfully bowed.

  “David!” There was some shock in her voice.

  “I know, I’m probably the last person you thought you would see here. I clean up pretty well, don’t you think?” He turned from side to side. “I hate these monkey suits, but anything for the Mrs.”

  “You look very nice.”

  “I feel like a fish out of water at these highfalutin affairs, but I promised myself I would be a good husband. Her dad didn’t want her to marry a sorry soul like me, a blue-collar worker, heaven forbid. But she loves me, and I absolutely adore her. Even though he threatened to cut her out of the will if she married me, he didn’t. You know daddies and their baby girls?”

  There was the clinking of a wine glass.

  “May I have your attention,” Melinda said. “It’s time to eat.”

  There was quiet for a moment, and then a rustling of feet, and conversations started back up. Each table had eight people. Ric and Gini were with a great group, and the meal was outstanding. The conversation was about the concert of a popular rock star coming to Boston the next week.

  A man started toward the small stage and tripped going up the two steps. He actually put his hand down to catch himself. The clumsiness caught Gini’s eye.

  There was a muffled statement. “Who put those there?”

  He then approached the podium, and the microphone screeched. “Dang!”

  The room became dead quiet. When he lifted his head, Gini saw that it was James. She turned and looked at Ric. He had his arm on the back of her chair. At her glance, he slightly gritted his teeth and raised his eyebrows.

  “Okay.” The mic was working.

  “Ah.” James, in a tux, patted his front as if looking for a script. His bow tie was tilted, and one corner poked under his chin. Gini’s heart started aching. Poor James, she thought, trying to be an MC. Ric should be up there. He was so great at that job.

  “Okay,” James said again, clearing his throat.

  “I think”—he was still trying to find a script—“I’m supposed to say, now it’s time to give the gifts.”

  His voice was suddenly strong. “And the gifts under these trees are for ME!”

  There was a small embarrassed laughter from the crowd.

  “Isn’t that right, Melinda? Isn’t that how we rehearsed it?”

  “No, NO, NO, James!” She stomped up on stage.

  Matt took her elbow and helped her up the steps.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, your president,” James said in an announcer’s voice.

  Everyone laughed, applauded, and cheered. Gini looked at Ric as she clapped. He winked.

  Melinda went to the podium; Matt stood behind with his hands clasped in front of him.

  “Now, James, do you remember what to do?”

  “Yes, ma’am, I’m supposed to take the gifts home and open them.”

  The room filled with laughter again.

  “No,” she said slowly, trying to find some patience with him. “How long did we rehearse this?”

  “Aaahh…” He was looking up with his hand under his chin. “Two days, no, it was three or maybe four.” He looked at the crowd. “She is so picky.”

  Everyone roared with laughter.

  “Oh, I remember, I remember.”

  He went back over to the podium, nudging Melinda aside. She looked at him, disgusted, and stepped back next to Matt.

  “Okay, here we go. I’ve got it now.”

  Everyone in the room was uplifted by the comedy.

  “The Junior League of Boston, Massachusetts, is a wonderful organization dedicated to charity and service. And a lot of purdy ladies. You all have had a great year and your president, Melinda Miller, is going to tell you just how great. Melinda.”

  He turned toward her and took her hand, leading her back to the podium. There was applause again. James went over and stood next to the trees. Gini opened her bag and took out a tissue. James was cracking her up.

  “Thank you. Ladies, it has been an especially good year.”

  She went on to report on the funds raised through their special events, and how the money had been spent on the two city charities they sponsored. Throughout her speech, James stood at attention next to the trees.

  “Everyone in this room deserves a big thank you,” Melinda said. “For all of your hard work I applaud you.”

  Everyone clapped. James moved closer to the presents and looked down. He nudged one with his foot.

  “James!”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He looked innocently at her.

  “Now, I would like to give special thanks to my chairwomen.”

  She stood and faced James. Nothing happened. He was looking at his nails.

  “James,” she said very sweetly. “That’s your cue.”

  “Right,” he said, clueless. Everyone laughed.

  “The gifts.” She pointed to the ones under the tree. He picked one up.

  “Now, bring it to me and read the name.”

  He walked over to the podium, leaned into the microphone, and pulled out a large card and opened it toward the audience.

  “James.” The card read the same. Everyone was in stitches with laughter. He handed the gift to Melinda and hugged her.

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” Melinda said clapping her hands. “James the Server.”

  He ran down the steps and left the room. Everyone applauded and cheered.

  “Oh, that was fun. But now I want to get serious. I honestly could not have gotten through my two years as president without my chairwomen.”

  She read off each of their names, and the ladies went up on stage. Matt picked the gifts from under the trees and handed them to the women.

  All the ladies took the pieces of paper from under the ribbons and opened them. With big grins, they held the papers up toward the crowd. In large letters on each one was written “James.”

  After the laughter quieted, Melinda turned and took Matt’s hand, pulling him up next to her.

  “I’m not going to pretend this position hasn’t been hard. Working a full-time job and filling this office has at times been impossible. I couldn’t have done it without my wonderful husband supporting me all the way. And it has given me organization experience for my next big job. Matt and I are expecting our first child in May.”

  There were gasps, and the room broke into cheers and applause. Tissues came out of purses around the room.

  “Thank you, everyone.”

  Matt kissed her on the cheek.

  “Okay,” she said, “let’s party!”

  James, carrying a violin in one hand, walked up and helped Melinda down the steps. Then he walked up on stage and started playing a waltz. The curtain behind him rose, and the Quincy Street Orchestra joined in playing.

  “How did you get them?” Gini whispered in Ric’s ear.

  He pinched his thumb and fingers together and rubbed them back and forth.

  The dance floor filled up.

  “May I?” he
asked, taking her hand.

  When they joined the crowd, Gini put her left hand on Ric’s upper arm. He raised his right arm to a 90-degree angle, pulling his body up—in perfect ballroom dance form. Impressed, she took her position, and they began to sweep around the floor. She felt like she was gliding on air. He was so easy to follow, his steps so effortless.

  “Does James really play the violin?”

  “Yes, he’s quite accomplished.”

  When the waltz stopped, a fast dance started. Everyone whooped and hollered. Through the night, the dancing went from fast to slow, or to a dance where everyone was doing the same steps. Gini was having the best time she had had in a long time. She danced with Ric, and David, who could also cut a rug pretty well. She danced with Matt and anyone else who asked her. The gentlemen’s coats came off, and the ties untied. Women’s shoes were kicked off all around the floor. Melinda walked around the room handing out velveteen ballet slippers.

  “Having fun?” Ric asked when he came back to the table.

  Gini was drinking as much water as she could. “A blast.”

  Melinda went up to the podium as the lights brightened. “I’m sorry to say, all good things must come to an end. Thank you all again for two wonderful years. I will never forget them, and the wonderful friends I have made through the Junior League. God bless you all. Please, drive safe. If you had too much to drink, let someone else drive. I love you all.”

  There was applause. The lights dipped low again, and the last slow dance began. Ric pulled Gini up out of her chair. She folded her arms in front of her and fell into his body. He wrapped his arms around her, and they danced.

  The lights went back up, and everyone slowly left the room. Ric was back with Carol and James wrapping things up.

  “Congratulations,” Gini said to Melinda.

  “Thank you.”

  “It was a great party.”

  “The best; please, consider joining us.”