Now That I've Found You - Kristina Forest Page 0,81
you don’t still love me too, I’ll leave. But just say the words, Peg. That’s all I need to hear.”
Gigi stares at him, bringing a hand to her chest, breathing quickly. “Of course I still love you, you fool.”
Then James Jenkins takes my grandmother into his arms and kisses her with more passion than I’ve ever seen in any of their movies, and my mouth falls open in shock. Gigi breaks the kiss and pushes him away, slapping his shoulder.
“I didn’t say that you could kiss me!” she hisses. “Really, James. Why do you always have to take things to the next level?”
“Because I love you and you love me,” he says simply. “What else matters?”
“Oh my God.”
This is said by me. I don’t mean to say it, but I cannot believe what I’m seeing right now.
James and Gigi quickly spin around to face me.
“Evie Marie?” Gigi says, eyes wide. “What are you doing here?”
“What am I doing here? What are you doing here?” I point at James and shout, “And what is he doing here?”
“It’s not what it looks like,” Gigi says, coming toward me.
“Is this where you’ve been all week? Hiding here in Brooklyn, waiting for James, of all people?” I ask, backing away. “You disappeared out of nowhere and couldn’t call to tell me that you were okay, but somehow you found time to tell him?” To James, I say, “You told me you didn’t know where she was. You lied.”
He walks toward me too, and I take another step back.
“I didn’t lie,” he says. “For years Peg has wanted to buy this place and fix it up. I came here on a hunch. I didn’t know if I’d actually find her.”
“I’ve been on a wild-goose chase, looking for you every day, Gigi,” I say, feeling stupid. “And you’ve been here this whole time. You abandoned me when I needed you the most. Just like when you left LA.” I only saw what I wanted to see: the possibility that I could find Gigi and bring her back home. That’s what wishful thinking will do to you. “You abandoned me just so that you could be with him?”
“That’s not what this is, Evie Marie,” Gigi says. “It’s not what it looks like.”
I suddenly don’t know if I even want an explanation. My feelings are too big, and this room is too small. I turn around and walk back into the living room, forcing myself to breathe in and out, and Gigi and James quickly follow behind me. Milo is standing in the middle of the living room, and he starts to approach me, but I hold out an arm to keep him at bay.
I can’t trust any of these people, and they’re closing in on me.
“I didn’t come here to be with James,” Gigi says. “I came here because the thought of going to the FCC ceremony was too much. For years, I’ve kept the industry out of my life, and here you were trying to force me back into it. I left so that I could come to my old home, where I feel grounded and calm. Years ago I bought this place because I thought one day I’d move here myself. But once I was here, I realized what I should do is give this place to you.”
“What?” I say, shocked. I look around again at the pastel blue walls, at the portrait leaning against the wall of Gigi and me. Now it all makes sense. “Me?”
“I thought maybe it could be a home to you,” she says. “I’ve been so worried about you, Evie Marie. And for the first time in your life, you wouldn’t let me help you. You wouldn’t talk to me. You were so caught up in getting approval from everyone, approval that you don’t need. I thought maybe if I could offer you a safe space of your own, a place where you could start over and find a sense of peace, then maybe you’d gain some perspective about your career. About your life. You’re so young, baby girl, and you have so much time on your hands. You don’t have to rush into anything. This place is for you, and this way you can be close to me without having to be under the same roof if that’s not what you want. I’d planned to tell you everything this morning, but then James came and threw everything off.”