Chapter 2

Since the wedding was this coming summer it gave them a lot of time to prepare. Jason did come in and ask me if I would be his best man. I never thought to ask who the maid of honor was. I figured I would just ask Chris.

I did find out that Larry and Gary agreed to be ushers. This was really all formality stuff. The cruise ship would be taking care of getting the reception hall ready.

Chris came by my office and I asked her who was in her wedding party. She told me I was the best man and smiled at me. She did say Larry and Gary and their wives were in the wedding party. "So who's the maid of honor?" I asked.

"I asked Toni and she said she would love to be in the wedding," answered Chris.

"Toni? Who's Toni? Do I know her?" I asked.

"My God, you haven't met Toni? Oh, I have to introduce you to her. She's the nicest person you'll ever meet. Her little girl is the most precious little thing. Mom and dad just love her."

"Whoa! Hold on here. Why haven't I met this Toni and you say she's married? Where does she live?"

"Toni is a widow John. Her husband died two years ago in Iraq. She has the most adorable little girl named Jessie who is three. I forgot you never go to mom and dads' very often. Toni lives next door to them."

"So why again did you ask her to be your maid of honor? Are you sure she can afford it?" I asked. "I figured you would ask Marie."

"I did ask Marie but she said she wouldn't mind helping me set up the wedding but with the three kids it would just be to much for her. She even suggested I ask Toni, everyone loves her.

"John, I feel sorry for her losing her husband and raising a child by herself. She sees mom and dad most every day. She was looking for a baby sitter and mom volunteered. Toni moved here a couple of months ago. She is a veterinarian. She deals mostly with small animals, dogs, cats, rabbits, that sort of thing."

"This isn't one of your fix-me-up type things, is it? You of all people know how I hate being fixed up."

"No, I swear, I never thought about it. But, since you brought it up, you'd be lucky to have her. If you want to meet her I'll introduce you after work. Just come over and see mom and dad."

"We'll see, I have to give it some thought. Every time I see them they want to know if I'm seeing anyone. I keep telling them that my life is fine and I'm doing my best to build my business."

"John, they worry about you. I know you don't want to hear it but you don't share your thoughts with the family. All they know is you have a business and spend all your time there. You hardly ever come around when family is there."

"I don't have anything to share, Chris. I go on a few dates but it doesn't seem to work out. Everyone wants to fix me up with someone. Sure I would like to meet the right woman and if it happens I'll let you be the first to know. I promise."

"Ok, I'm going to hold you to that promise. Who knows maybe you and Toni will hit it off. Maybe you and Jason, Toni and me can go out for a dinner."

"Hold on Chris! Next thing I know you'll have me marrying your friend Toni." I had to laugh. "Look I am interested in meeting her but she already has a kid."

"John, most anyone you meet now will probably have kids. You're not a spring chicken and I don't want you dating women younger then me."

Chris left on that note but I did have to wonder what this Toni woman might be like. Having a kid isn't a good thing when you are looking for the right woman. But at least she's not divorced, she lost her husband.

I might only be thirty-two but Chris knows me better than anyone. I do get lonely at times. I have gone on dates and occasionally have sex with my partners but it's not the same as it once was. Sometimes I laugh at myself wondering if I was burned out already.

I know when I do see my brothers and sister with their families I do feel a bit jealous. I would love to have a meaningful woman in my life. Someone I could care for and who would want me for who I am.

My business lets me meet a lot of powerful women and I've dated a few. I don't know, maybe it's just me. Most seem to be domineering and want to be in charge. I want a woman that is sure of herself but still has a soft and gentle side. I remember telling that to a friend one time.

His reply was, "People in Hell want ice water too."

Maybe I just dated the wrong kind of women. April was way too materialistic, Collette was wonderful but already taken. Even Teresa turned out to be a wonderful wife to Larry.

Now I had a financial problem. It was known that my business was successful and I was earning a decent living. I was making six digits a year. Now with some of the women I had to wonder if it was about the money. I wouldn't have a problem sharing everything with the right woman but how do I figure out if it's me she wants or just a secure financial future. April was the one that turned me paranoid about that.

I honestly believe Chris could see through me more than the rest of the family. I know I went on dates and she would tell me what she thought of some of the women she met. She loved the words 'gold digger', or 'phony'. Looking back maybe it was her watching over her big brother rather than me watching over her.

It was Chris that suggested I meet Toni. She hadn't said anything really nice about my dates for the last couple of years. In fact, she hadn't tried to fix me up with anyone for at least two years. I remember her saying, "If the right woman comes along, I'll let you know."

Now I had to wonder if she was kidding me and if she even remembered saying it to me. I called her to my office. "Chris, I have something to ask you."

"Go for it Boss," she said. In private she would always kid me about being her boss, which I really was.

I reminded her of the statement she made a couple of years ago. "If the right woman comes along, I'll let you know."

"Of course I remember saying it and I meant it. Well, I have to get back to work, Boss. See you at mom's and dad's tonight. I called mom and she invited you over for supper." She smiled at me and left my office.

What the hell just happened? Was I just played by my little sister? Did she really feel her friend Toni and I should meet? I hardly ever stopped by mom's house. Usually holidays, birthdays or if it was some special occasion. What did Chris say to our mom? One thing for sure was, I was going to mom's for dinner. She really was a wonderful cook.

I arrived at the house at six. Chris beat me there by a few minutes. I walked in and my mom smiled at me. She came up and gave me a hug and I kissed her on the cheek. Dad just waved to me from his easy chair.

They always seemed to have a good marriage. You would think that dad ran the household but I think mom had him thinking he was the boss. I believe there are a lot of marriages like that. Thinking about it, my sister Marie was the same way with her husband Bob. I could see Chris being the same way.

"So to what do we owe this visit?" my dad said.

"Harold, stop it. John comes to see us and you jump at him," replied mom. "No wonder he doesn't come by very often."

"It's all right, mom. I should stop by more often. I just spend a lot of time at the business. I stopped by because Chris wanted to introduce me to her bride's maid."

About that time the sweetest little girl went to my mother. "John, I don't think you've ever met Jessie. She's Toni's daughter. Jess, this is my son John. Do you want to say hi to him?"

She was a literal baby doll. Curly hair, big blue eyes and dimples that showed when she smiled. "Hi, I'm Jessie, I'm free." she said as she held up three fingers.

"Hi Jessie, I'm very please to meet you, I'm John." She had a smile that would melt your heart.

"Want to see my pitchers? Me and grandma drawed them today?" She didn't wait for an answer but ran into the other room to get her coloring book.

Mom smiled, "She's the sweetest little girl. I love her to death. She always calls me grandma and dad grandpa. She heard our other grandchildren call us that and we don't mind."

Jess came running back in with her coloring book and climbed up on my lap. She opened her book and said, "The pretty pitchers grandma drawed. She said I did good. I like coloring pitchers."

"I think you did a great job coloring your pictures. Grandma used to color with me when I was your age. She always did draw the best," I smiled at Jess.

"Do you want to color with me? I'll go get my crayons."

"Not today Honey, maybe another time. I came to talk with Mom and Dad."

"Ok, we can color tomorrow." God, how can I keep saying no to this little girl?

"I'll tell you what. I'll stop by the day after tomorrow and draw a couple of pictures with you. Then if you like I'll take you out to dinner."

"Really? Can we go to McDonoos? Mommy has to come along because I'm too little to go myself."

Mom looked surprised at me. This wasn't something that I would usually do. About that time Toni came walking in the front door. Jess jumped off my lap to go hug her mother.

"Mommy, Mommy, guess what? John is taking me to McDonoos and you can come too."

I stood up to meet Toni. Chris introduced us.

"Hi, I'm happy to meet you. I've heard a lot about the invisible John." She did smile. "I've met your whole family and was hoping to meet you also. What's this about a date with my daughter?" At least she was still smiling.

She wasn't what I expected to see. Hell, I don't even know what I expected. She had a blond ponytail, dressed in jeans and a nice blouse but she looked beautiful. She had the same dimples as her daughter when she smiled. She looked to be in great shape. I later found out she does walk in the evenings and exercises a few times a week on her lunch hour. All I can say is she looked good.

"She asked me to color pictures with her and I told her that afterwards we could get something to eat. It would be the day after tomorrow but she says you have to come along. She's hard to say no to. What's this about me being invisible?"

"I've lived here for three months and have met all your family. Everyone seems to talk about you but yet I've never seen you here. Chris says you spend all of your time working."

"I'm wrong for not coming to see my parents more often. I'll try to change that fault. So, are we going to McDonalds for dinner Thursday?"

"Say yes Mommy, I like John and he's going to color pitchers with me till you come home."

"Ok, Honey, we'll go with John to dinner on Thursday." I watched while Jessie gave her mom a hug.

"Everyone ready to sit down for dinner now. John, I hope you don't mind but when Chris called and said you were going to be here I called Toni and she and Jessie are staying for dinner."

"Mom, of course it's fine with me. Besides, it's your house and I have a feeling you treat Toni as a daughter." We all sat down and ate. Jessie sat between me and her mom.

After dinner I thanked mom for inviting me. I reminded Toni of our dinner engagement on Thursday. She told me she wouldn't forget. Jessie wouldn't let her.

That night I couldn't stop thinking about her. Chris came in the office the next morning and said, "What do you think of Toni?"

"What do you want me to say? She's very nice looking, has a great personality. I like her."

"Ok, I'll settle for that for now. I just talked to Helen and she said Cliff Mayhew from the clothing chain called. He asked if it was all right if his wife joined you for dinner on Friday. Of course we said yes. They own twenty-six stores and want us to re-design their website. His wife isn't happy with their present company."

"You want to go with me to dinner on Friday? If he takes his wife I should bring a woman along also. It's just the way it's done."

"Jason and I were going out Friday. Why don't you ask Toni? I know mom would watch Jessie."

"I don't know her that well. I can't just ask her out to a business dinner like that."

"Why not? I'm pretty sure she'd say yes. I know she's more than smart enough to handle any conversation. I guarantee she would look good on your arm."

"Ok, I'll ask her Thursday when I see her. If she says no, then you'll have to break your date with Jason. I need another woman to go with me."

"Fair enough. If Toni says no I'll go. By the way, she said she thought you were cute."

"Cute? I'm thirty-two years old. What else did she say?"

"I'd like to chat John, but I have to get back to work." She laughed and walked out the door."

On Thursday, I left a little earlier from work and went to mom's. She smiled when I walked in. "This is the most I've seen you in three months. Jessie is at the kitchen table waiting for you. She has you each a coloring book and crayons ready."

"Hi John," said Jessie. She gave me a hug. "You get the book with cars and I get the one with angels."

We just talked and colored together. I don't know what made me say yes to this but I was enjoying it. Jessie just talked away about her pictures. She only used one color on each picture. She told me she liked to color that way. I did my best to stay within the lines. I can't say that about my little friend.

"My daddy is an angel," said Jessie. I wasn't sure what to say.

"Mommy says he my garring angel and looking over me."

"Yes, he probably is your guardian angel." I've never had to talk to a three year old about her dead father.

"I don't remember him but mommy said he was a good man. I have a pitcher of him holding me when I was a baby. It's by my bed."

She seemed to handle it pretty good. I was the one who was lost for words. I looked over at the door and my dad was smiling. He then turned and walked back to his chair.

"So, what do you like at McDonalds?" I asked.

"Kid's meal, it has chicken nuggets and French fries. I usually get orange drink. Mommy says it's better for me than pop."

Mom came in the room and looked at our pictures. I actually felt kind of silly. Why was I here? "Would you two like something to drink?" asked mom.

"Yes please," said Jessie.

Mom gave us each a glass of orange juice. I had to laugh out loud. Here I was the owner of his own company, sitting here with a little girl, who I really don't know all that well, coloring pictures and drinking orange juice. Unbelievable! Then it happened. Toni came in the front door. Now I knew why I was here. She smiled and hugged her daughter and gave her a kiss.

Jessie showed her the pitchers she colored. "Can I see your pictures John?" she asked but was laughing.

Jessie got up and went in the room to show my dad her pictures. Toni smiled at me and said, "Thank you John, you'll never know how much this means to her."

"My pleasure, she's a great little girl. I guess we better get ready to go to McDonoos." I had to laugh knowing that's what Jessie calls it.