AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Girl?"
"You have all the classic symptoms. You never hear me anymore. Never see me, either. You don't eat right. You work too much. Why don't you tell your Mama about it? You know I'm always here for you Nicky. Yo
u've always confided in me."
Nick stood up, whirled his Mama around and stared at her, enjoying the peace in her face at last. Yes, this move had done wonders for her. Years of worry had been erased; she looked younger, more vibrant. For that he was glad.
At least one responsibility was taken care of. And he was happy about that. He kissed her forehead. "I love you Mama, and I'd like to. I really would, but I'm afraid I can't, just yet. Maybe some other time."
"Is it the O'Sullivan girl?"
"Yes, I might as well admit that much to you or you'll bug me forever." He smiled at her.
"My poor Nicky," she fretted, her eyes going serious as she patted him on the cheek. "You are in love, aren't you?"
"Don't start, Mama—" That was all he needed his mother pairing him off with Kelsey when he needed to stay at a distance from her if this idea of his was going to work.
"Start?" Her eyes danced as she moved about the kitchen in a lively step. "I'm not starting, as you put it. But it's written all over your face to read. Can I help it? I'm so happy for you Nicky. For you and for her."
"No Mama, you can't ever help that vivid imagination of yours. So let's leave it for now."
"But you always confide in me, Nicky." His Mama made a mock frown. "You know I like her. She's the first girl you've brought here that I really approve of. There's something about her. She will make fine children for you Nicky, I can see that much."
"No more, Mama, please." Just the word, children had Nick's head spinning. If she only knew. "We'll have a long talk, soon. I promise." Nick begged her and strolled out of the kitchen and into the living room where Tina was helping Tony with his lessons.
"Well, this is what I like to see. Big sister helping with homework. Nice, I like it." Nick smiled at the two of them as he eyed them with idle curiosity.
"She's been helping me with my English so I can stay on the team, Nick." Tony beamed up at him, brushing a strand of his black hair from his face.
Tina cast Nick a quick smirk, pretending an indifference she obviously didn't feel. "Well, someone has to see this kid gets off to the right start. I don't want everyone asking me if I'm related to the English flunky. Besides, we've got a chance at the pennant, for the first time in over five years they say, and Tony's irreplaceable on the team." Her voice beamed with pride.
Nick smiled, messed Tony's hair, and winked at his sister. As he sat watching them, he realized the move had done a lot of things for the family. Mama was less tense, and actually enjoying her life. Tony was getting interested in doing better in school. And Tina was already very popular and asked out by some of the boys in her class. She was dating boys her age now, even though it had taken a while to shake her away from Hell's Kitchen and Joe Giovanni.
So why couldn't he feel good about everything? Kelsey got what she wanted, but so did he. Until he met Kelsey his only thought had been to get his family into a reasonable neighborhood. Now, he had moved his family into a real home. In fact, they were self-sufficient. Everything should be hunky-dory. It just wasn't. He was going to have to work on it hard.
After a big supper, and a lot of catching up on family gossip, Nick went to bed early, feeling for the first time that things might work out in his favor. But sleep evaded him.
He had clipped a picture of Kelsey from a morning paper, and stashed it under his pillow. He pulled it out. It showed her and Ralph signing a big merger. Ralph was a nice looking, well-dressed man, but he wore a smug expression on his face. Just from the picture Nick could tell this man was a cold fish and had no business with Kelsey.
Nick sat up in bed, staring at the picture. Kelsey looked a little gaunt. Perhaps the morning sickness played havoc with her makeup that day, but she was still his beautiful Kelsey. He only hoped his idea worked. But what fascinated him about this particular picture was that her secretary stood between her and Ralph. So this was Jackson. Nick smiled, looked a little like Nat King Cole, obviously the celebrity she was talking about. And yet, this Jackson looked more in control of the entire situation than either Kelsey or Ralph. He was the brain and Nick knew it. This was a character Nick would like to meet, and thank.
He wanted to thank him for being there for Kelsey, standing by her in her times of need. A good man, this Jackson.
So he and Kelsey had something new in common, a friend, Jackson!
CHAPTER NINE
Saturday at two, Nick knocked on Kelsey's door. Casually dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, Kelsey greeted him with a shy, questioning smile. She couldn't hide her surprise.
"Nick, I don't really think–"
"That it's necessary, I know. But it is, to me" He smiled and went straight for the living room, as though it were old habit.
Kelsey followed him hesitantly, trying to figure an angle to get rid of him. Although it was the last thing she wanted to do, she knew she had to. She didn't want more contact with Nick at this point, knowing it was to no avail. Just seeing him made her heart pound harder, her palms sweat, her pulse raced. "What exactly did you have in mind?"
Nick glanced around the room and then at her. His sexy grin warming her. "I thought we'd start with the room."
"The room?" Kelsey repeated his words, not having a clue as to what he was talking about. She glanced about and then at him. "Nick, what are you talking about, what room?"
