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“I see how you would’ve reached that conclusion. I would’ve too, but did you ever actually ask him? It might be a stretch, but he still might not be part of that Sherbrooke family.”
“Oh, trust me he is. We exchanged pictures sometime last year, and I compared it to a picture I found on the internet taken at a fund-raiser a few years ago. In it he’s standing with Jake and Trent Sherbrooke.”
Kristen tapped her fingers on the table but didn’t respond right away. While Jen waited for her sister’s next question, and she knew there would be more, she started on her lunch.
Her sister’s fingers stopped moving. “I’d be a little nervous too, but I don’t see what the big deal is. You’ve never met in person, but it’s not like you don’t know the guy. The two of you have exchanged enough letters, e-mails, and texts to wallpaper my entire house. And you already know what he looks like, so you don’t have to worry about finding some eighty-year-old man with warts
waiting for you. I say relax, enjoy the afternoon, and see where things go.”
Ah yes, they’d exchanged pictures, and there was the other problem that had been plaguing her thoughts ever since Brett said he was moving back to New England and would love to finally meet.
“Well, the whole picture thing is kind of part of the problem.”
“I’m afraid to ask, but I will anyway,” Kristen said.
Of course she would because this was her sister. And Kristen never held anything back. It was actually one of the things she loved about her. Kristen was always upfront and honest.
“Did you send him a picture of someone else?”
She’d briefly considered it, because at the time she hadn’t expected to ever meet him. Kristen didn’t need to know that small detail. “Of course not.”
“Then what? Did you have one of those boudoir photo shoots done and then send him some sexy pictures?”
Really, Kristen knew her better than that, but evidently she wanted to give her a hard time this afternoon. “Get real. That’s something you’d do and then give to Dan as a present.”
“Did he tell you?” Her sister’s face took on a slight pink hue.
“Your husband didn’t tell me anything. But your face is right now. Did you really have one of those done?” For the moment their discussion of her upcoming meeting could take a back burner. This was way too good to pass up
The pink spread from Kristen’s cheeks to her hairline, and she looked away. “I wanted to get him something different for his birthday. I’d read about them being the thing right now and figured what the heck. He’s the only one who’ll ever see them.” She cleared her throat and met Jen’s eyes again. “But let’s get back to your story. It’s more interesting.”
She’d love to tease Kristen about the photo gift, but if she did, her sister would find some way to repay the favor later. “I sent Brett my favorite picture from Mom and Dad’s fortieth anniversary party. You know, the one I had framed of you, me, and Keith together.”
“It’s a great picture of you. I don’t see the problem.”
“That’s the problem right there. It’s too good. It’s not the real me. Before the party, we both went to the salon and had someone do our hair and makeup. Before he printed the picture, the photographer removed any blemishes. I never look the way I do in that photo.” It was one of the reasons she’d had it framed in the first place.
Kristen waved a dismissive hand in her direction. “Jennifer, you’re being absolutely ridiculous. You never wear your hair the way you did to the party, but otherwise you don’t look any different in the picture than you normally do.”
She had a mirror at home, and the reflection greeting her every morning did not resemble the person in the picture she’d sent Brett. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much she could do about it now. So the way she saw it, she had two options: either meet Brett this week at Ambrosia, or cancel altogether. But canceling their meeting would probably also mean she’d have to stop corresponding with him—something she didn’t want to do.
“I’m still not sure I should go.”
“Come on, be serious. What’s the worst thing that could happen? You talk and then you go home alone and never hear from him again. Truthfully, I don’t see that happening. Not after all this time.”
She couldn’t argue with Kristen’s logic. Her life wouldn’t end if their meeting didn’t go well. She’d be disappointed though, because like her sister said, she was already half in love with the man.
“And if it does happen, well, his loss, not yours. Besides, who knows, you might spend five minutes with the man and decide he’s the biggest jerk who ever lived.” Kristen touched her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Jen, go. Drink some coffee, talk, and see what happens.”
Just because they’d never met face-to-face didn’t mean she didn’t know Brett well enough to know he wasn’t a jerk.
“What’s it going to be, sis? Finally meet the potential love of your life, or help me take Bella and her friends to their first concert. It’s not sold out; I can still get you a ticket. I’ll even order it before you leave today.”
She loved her niece, but she had no desire to take Bella and her friends to their first concert. “Tough one. I can either have coffee with a gorgeous man or help supervise a group of nine- and ten-year-old girls.” Jen pretended to weigh both options with her hands. “Thanks for the offer, sis, but this time I’ll go the gorgeous man route.”
***
Brett followed the GPS directions and took a left. Sprawling estates lined both sides of the street. He’d visited his cousin Callie’s home in Connecticut only once despite numerous invites in the past. He hadn’t planned on visiting today, but a stop there now would help break up his ride from Virginia to Massachusetts—a trip he’d started over eleven hours ago. And assuming he didn’t hit any more traffic, he still had another three and a half hours to look forward to. Delays through Maryland and New Jersey had already tacked on several extra hours in the car, and he didn’t know how much more he could handle. A short visit at his cousin’s house would give him a chance to relax, stretch his legs, and hopefully avoid any weekend backups on the Mass Turnpike.
