TWO DAYS LATER
Sunday, March 22nd, 8 PM
Radius Bistro, Back Bay, Boston
Ethan
Ethan grinned and raised a champagne glass to his future father-in-law. Byron Sachs, usually mannequin stiff in his gray wardrobe of Brooks Brothers suits, had been uncharacteristically outgoing tonight. He’d even told a few jokes that were almost funny.
“A toast to young love,” he announced, turning to Ethan. “Congratulations on two amazing achievements: plastics residency at NYU and my little girl in the same week! Hope you realize how lucky you are, kid.”
“Da-ad!” Jess reached across the table to take Ethan’s hand, her perfectly manicured fingers (French tips this week) intertwining with his. “Don’t you know I’m the lucky one?”
“You both are, dear.” Ethan’s mom beamed at her future daughter-in-law.
The lovefest had been going on for two hours, starting with family introductions over cocktails, and as the empty bottles of wine and champagne stacked up, all stiffness and formality melted away. Looking around the table, Ethan found it hard to believe the two sets of parents had just met. The moms were acting more like reunited childhood friends. Tipsy, embarrassingly loud friends.
“Let’s order another bottle of champagne!” Judy Sachs suggested.
Jess rolled her eyes. “I think you’ve had enough for one night.”
“Oh, lighten up, Jessie! Don’t be such a buzzkill.”
“We could head over to the Four Seasons for some coffee,” Ethan’s mom said.
Jess clapped her hands together. “Perfect. The four of you can share an Uber while Ethan walks me to South Station.”
“You kids aren’t coming?”
“Can’t, Mom. Some of us have work tomorrow.”
Everyone laughed at the comment, which was so classically Jess. As her mom had recounted earlier that evening, this was the little girl who, for her third-grade science project, had made them trek all over New England in search of the perfect soil samples. Straight A’s since grade school. USTA nationally ranked tennis player. Orchestral first violin. Editor-in-chief of the Daltonian. Class president her senior year. Harvard undergrad and law school. And now, on partner track at Vinesse and Cullen, the top corporate law firm in Manhattan. Just thinking about Jess’s accomplishments over the first twenty-five years of life was exhausting, and she showed no signs of slowing down.
How had he been so lucky? The question lingered with Ethan as he walked his parents to the coat room.
“I like them,” his mother whispered into his ear, her breath fruity with Merlot. “Such a lovely family.”
Dad glanced up from his iPhone. “She’s definitely a keeper.”
“Thanks, guys. She’s pretty amazing.”
Ethan let his mom pull him into a hug. At six-foot one, he had to bend down to accept her affection. So had Dad, back in the days when they’d still put on the loving couple act.
“Well, you deserve no less,” Mom said. “Can’t you join us for coffee? We’re having so much fun!”
“I know, but Jess is working on a big case. She needs to get back to New York tonight.”
“And you’ll be safe walking to the station?”
“We’ll take the T.”
“Can’t you take a cab?”
“Mom! This is Boston, not Kabul. I grew up here, remember?”
“Yes, but it’s so late. I just want you to be safe.”
Five years ago, Ethan would have said something harsh about helicopter parents and getting a life. But things were different. Mom had lost Abbie, and then there’d been the accident with all the bad shit that followed. Now her marriage was falling apart, so if she wanted to hover, she had good reason.
“Don’t worry.” He helped her into her Burberry coat. “Jess takes Tae Kwon Do. No one’ll mess with us.”
“Let me guess,” Mom said. “She’s a black belt.”
“Of course.”
As if, with Jess, there were any other possibility.
*
“Mmmm.” Jess lowered the Starbucks cup from her lips, the picture of contentment. “I needed this sooo badly.”
“The caffeine or the time away from our parents?”
“Both.”
Ethan followed her to a nearby table. South Station was buzzing with passengers waiting for the Acela to New York, Philly, or D.C. Two years into his long-distance relationship with Jess, he recognized many of the faces. The redhead with freckles who always cried on the platform, clinging to her boyfriend as if he were headed off to war. The guy who looked like a J. Crew model and checked his cell phone every minute. The goth girl with way too many piercings, routinely smoking next to the “No Smoking” sign.
“So,” he said, pulling up a chair. “That went pretty well.”
“You sound surprised.”
“I knew they’d be polite to one another, but I wasn’t sure they’d hit it off.”
“I was.”
“Seriously? I mean my folks – two Mayflower WASPS – and your folks – a couple of Jewish socialites from Manhattan. Not exactly an eHarmony match. More like Christian Mingle meets J-Date.”
She laughed. “People could say the same thing about us.”
“They probably do.” Ethan leaned across the rickety table to kiss her. “But then again, who cares? You’re happy, right?”
“Never happier.” Jess held out her hand to admire the engagement ring – a two-carat emerald-cut diamond from Shreve, Crump and Low that she’d picked out the month before. “I can’t wait to show this thing off. Which reminds me. I made plans with Bethany and Jason for next Saturday in Brooklyn Heights. You can come down, right?”
Ethan cringed at the thought of spending another evening out with Jess’s socialite BFF and her aggressively perfect fiancé – an equities trader at Goldman. “Um, sure. Sounds great. I just need to check the call schedule for my next rotation.”
“But you’re doing a psych elective. I thought the whole point was that you wouldn’t be on-call next month.”
“And I’m pretty sure I won’t, but I still need to check. Orientation’s tomorrow.”
“Fine, but just so you know.” Jess pulled one of her faces – the playfully intimidating one that dared you to say no. “You’re coming. I’ve got way too much planned for you to bail on me.”
“Oh really? What’s on the agenda?”
“Well, since you asked…”
As Jess filled him in on their weekend plans, on the wedding registry and Greenwich Village apartment search and brunch with her sister and dinner with Bethany and Jason, Ethan realized he wasn’t the only one listening. J. Crew dude was sitting a couple of tables away, nodding at the cute blonde who had just joined him, but his eyes kept straying to Jess. Ethan had gotten used to the surreptitious glances and double-takes. It didn’t matter if she was dressed for a night out clubbing or draped in a pair of oversized sweats. She just had that effect. Even gay guys checked her out.
“What?” She played with one of her French braids, which was the color of dark honey. “Are you tuning me out already?”
“Nope. Just thinking it would be nice if you could stay tonight. I can drive you back early in the morning.”
“You don’t have a car.”
“I’ll borrow Larry’s.”
“That doesn’t make much sense, does it? We’ll only get a few extra hours.”
“True, but the Copley Plaza’s only a few blocks from here.”
“Hmm.” Jess kicked off a Tory Burch flat and traced her foot up his trousers, toes massaging when she reached mid-thigh. “I do still have the access code for Brighton & Welles. That’s a ten-minute walk from here. Think we have time?”
He got aroused as her foot brushed against his groin.
She nibbled on her lower lip and smiled. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
The summer before she graduated from Harvard Law, Jess interned at Brighton & Welles. The law firm had a penthouse conference room with a floor-to-ceiling window that looked out north to the Charles River Basin and Cambridge. Ethan had spent countless hours there studying while he waited for Jess to finish her work. Sometimes, he’d relaxed on a plush leather couch facing the window, but never like this… naked from the waist down, head lolled back as Jess’s mouth worked its magic.
Her lips. Her tongue. So deliciously hot. He closed his eyes and sucked in a breath through clenched teeth, trying to hold back, but it was like swimming upstream and away from a waterfall. He groaned out a warning, seconds before plunging over the edge.
“Feeling more relaxed?” Jess teased.
“God, yes.” He exhaled deeply. “You’re amazing.”
“I know.” She straddled him and hiked up her dress. “Now, my gorgeous fiancé, it’s my turn.”
“With pleasure.” He ran his hands up her legs, hooked his fingers under her panties and slid them down over toned hips. “Baby, you’re going to miss that train.”
“We’ve got an hour before the last one,” she breathed out, cheeks flushed with anticipation. “I checked the schedule.”
Of course you did. He grinned and wrapped his hands around her backside to pull her closer.
Back at South Station, Jess gave him a long French kiss and promised things would continue in her apartment next weekend. He followed her down to the Amtrak platform.
“You sure you can’t stay the night?” he asked, undressing her with his eyes.
She reached back to hold his hand. “Honey, you know I’ve gotta file that huge brief by tomorrow morning. Barry will kill me if I miss the deadline, but…” She rose on her tiptoes to whisper into his ear, “I’ll make it up to you. Promise, okay?”
Another kiss, this time a quick peck on the cheek. “Love you, babe.”
She hoisted her carry-on strap over a shoulder and disappeared into the crowd of embarking passengers. No last-second glances. No running back for a reassuring hug. No one could accuse Jess of being emotionally needy.
She felt secure in their relationship. No acting or playing games. That was a good thing, right?
Besides, he wasn’t just her boyfriend anymore. Five weeks ago he’d proposed, and she’d said “yes” with tears in her eyes. With one word, she’d erased any lingering fear that he might not be worthy. That he might not be enough.
Jess, the girl who an entire a cappella group once serenaded for a date, had chosen him.
Ethan lingered at the platform, body still tingling from that last full-mouthed kiss, and wished he could fast-forward the week to come.
One week, and then one final month of med school to get through.
All that stood between them and their perfect life together.
***
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Hi Gray.
Another smooth chapter as crisp and clean as a six-hundred thread count, Egyptian cotton sheet.
The perfect couple? Perfect in-laws? Happily ever after? No such thing except in fairytales.
Ethan is in love and Jess is just too perfect.
It's too soon to tell, but if I were Ethan, I'd remain a tad suspicious of Mr. J. Crew or the Mr. J.Crews of the world when it comes to Jess.
I hope I'm wrong.
I look forward to seeing how the characters you've introduced so far come together.
Cheers,
~Lynn
Hearing your take on these characters is really helpful! Since I haven't finished writing, the story, I'm not 100% sure how Jess's relationship with Ethan will evolve, but she has very specific expectations for what her perfect husband will be like, and if Ethan strays from those specs, it won't be good.
Thanks for reading on!
Gray
This chapter is intense in terms of emotions, and a bit confusing with all the characters playing off one another. Jess appears to be the Wunderkind, while Ethan is intent on setting a high mark in life. The changing locales and conversation had me spinning a bit to keep everything straight. I read it twice to make sure I knew what exactly was going on.
The exchange regarding safety on the T (I remember riding the T late at night myself--could be a bit scary sometimes) vs. a cab seemed almost like a set-up to a mugging or killing. But when nothing happened, I actually felt disappointed. Beware of false-start buildups. They can be problematic for your readers.
Other than these minor issues, this was a good read.
Stay safe.
Lawrence
Thanks for that suggestion about avoiding a false-start buildup with the T. I'll have to think about what to do here.
I used the T plenty when I was in Boston in the 90s and always felt really safe there -- especially on the Red and Green lines -- so in my mind this was more to show how neurotic and anxious Ethan's mom is, and to hint at the traumatic events that made her this way. So I guess I need to make this a little clearer.
Thanks!
Gray
Another great chapter. Reads great end to end.
I was hoping for more details on Ethan and his accident, so there was a little disconnect from chapter 1, though you do mention the accident and also the 5 years that have passed since.
Jess seems too perfect, and hence trouble. Nothing can ever be that good, right?
It's also interesting that this casts Ethan in a new light. Jess seems like a perfectionist in every way, so she wouldn't settle for anything less than perfection in her life partner. So, Ethan must be something special to have landed her, but it's not that apparent how yet.
Also looking forward to Ethan and Callie meeting, guessing this story is building up towards that at some point.
Ah, an interesting chapter. The writing continues to carry me along. Nothing boring. No dead wood.
Jess...I'm not sure about her. Something tells me she's going to be trouble.
And that dude watching...I don't think that's good, either. It's going to be interesting how this all comes together. I've belief this'll continue to keep me intrigued.
CHEERS!!
Mike
Your reactions are spot on, Mike. Looks like you're picking up on a lot of the clues I've dropped, but I try to mix things up here and there and play with your expectations. One thing I really tried to do was avoid putting my characters into fixed stereotypes, so Jess might surprise you as the story progresses. Hopefully, Ethan and Callie will too.
Cheers,
Gray
S. L. Garber-Ortiz