Final Choices

 "Uh, yeah, sure Ramon. Jeanette can you swing by my shop and we can go from there. I have some of Esmi's dresses there, if you want to see her style," Britannia finally managed to get out once she overcame her shock. She glanced at Esmi who nodded that she wouldn't mind helping and then they both looked at their mother who was just as surprised. And Jeanette saw all of this, again curious by it but understanding it, nonetheless. This was all new for them as much as it was for Ramon, he just seemed to be handling it, though, and like it was the most natural thing. 

 "Yeah, that's fine. I can swing by earlier on in the day?"

 "Perfetto (perfect)." Britannia smiled at her and Jeanette returned it.

 "Tell me, Jeanette, how do you have so many ideas for your stories? I'm simply amazed that you have so many books that come out so close to each other."

 "Honestly, I get a lot of my story ideas from people watching. My mind never stops and I can just look at certain people and an idea forms." Jeanette took a bite and they laughed lightly. "Ask Ramon. Every time he takes me out, I blurt something or another about a plot or a line and he just shakes his head."

 "I've seen it, her mind doesn't stop," he chimed in.

 "No," Jeanette said, taking a sip of the wine and laughing again. "Where did we go again that you said your grandfather took you and would tell you stories ...and....," she trailed off as all eyes seemed glued to her. She swallowed hard and glanced around. Did she say something out of place and offend someone? "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to offend anyone..." Roberto smiled and shook his head.

 "No, no my dear, you did not offend any one of us. It is just," he paused and glanced at his son who merely lifted a brow back at him and turned back to Jeanette, "it is just Ramon does not share much about his grandfather to anyone. Their relationship was very close and it is just different to hear him express anything to anyone."

 "Oh." She had no clue what to say because he had told her the same thing, she just didn't realize exactly how big of a deal it was. "I didn't....," she trailed off, still not sure what to say.

 "It's okay cara mia, and yes, when we had gone, your mind did not stop and I recall being amazed at how a writer's mind worked sense it never stopped."

 "It doesn't. So since it doesn't, I can plot out quite a bit and have so many releases together." Once more she glanced around the table, trying not to cave at the eyes on her. Or rather her and him since they seemed to be going back and forth.

 "Wow. So do you ever rest? I know the day I meet you, I saw you on the computer," Esmi said, grabbing her wine glass.

 "I have a lot more on this vacation than I thought I would, at least mentally. Ramon has made it a point to make sure I don't write. However, I can't say I haven't worked on things here and there while I'm at certain places. In fact, that day Esmi I was laying out a story plot for my Editor." She laughed lightly and shook her head. "That's also the last time I touched a computer."

 "Well, it sounds like you two have been perfect for each other. Ramon is a work alcoholic, so he does not get away much," Cece said. "And it sounds like you might be on a different level."

 "There is nothing wrong with working hard," Ramon said, placing his arm behind Jeanette on the back of her chair as he leaned back.

 "No one said there was Ramon, you just do not take time off. When I ran the bank, I made sure to take time off and re-charge."

 "I do dad." Jeanette glanced at Ramon. Yeah, she doubted that because she could see it herself with how busy he was. He even told her a time or two that the company might call if something was needed from him.

 "Speaking of time off, have you talked to Sapphire? She's been back in town for a bit. She swung by the shop the other day and asked about you, said she has not seen you in a while." Jeanette didn't mean to grab her wine and chug it over Britannia's comment but she could admit that it got to her.

 "I have talked to her a time or two and did run into her at a restaurant, but no, I have not seen her; I have been too busy." Ramon rubbed her back, trying to soothe the tension that was there. However, the reaction from her and the response from Ramon wasn't lost on all the eyes at the table.

 "Do you know Sapphire, Jeanette?"

 "I do Bobby; we used to be old friends actually." Once more it seemed the chatter stopped and all eyes were on her. And if this kept happening, the night was going to become very uncomfortable for her.

 "You were the friend she had back in the States," Britannia commented. "She talked about you a lot but I never put the names together."

 "We lost our way as friends," was Jeanette's simple response. She sure didn't feel like rehashing her past with that woman when it seemed the whole family knew her and quite possibly liked her.

 "Yes, she said something similar too. Although it was Ramon she was more friends with her rather than us so he knows more than we do," Britannia offered and Jeanette nodded. She would assume they were closer than just friends but it didn't surprise her at all.

 "Why do you ask about her Brit?" Ramon asked, trying to take the conversation away from Jeanette, not that he wanted those names mixed together given her feelings.

 "She came by here once or twice looking for you," Cece said. "I don't know why she thought you would be here when you have your own place." Jeanette took a sip of her wine. Oh, she knew alright. If Sapphire wanted to talk to Ramon and he had been out with her, Sapphire would be looking in all the places that she could. She was a sneaky woman if you gave her the chance to be. "Anyway, enough about her. Jeanette, you said you fly back home in a couple of days?"

 "I do. I've spent an amazing couple of weeks here and I needed it. I've also had great company and a very awesome tour guide who took me to many places, not just within the city." Jeanette smiled at Ramon who returned it and Cece watched while everyone else was talking. Cece just couldn't help but smile to herself over what she saw.

 "Good, who wants to help me clear the table and get dessert?" Esmi and Adrianna offered. And when the girls brought back dessert, Esmi mentioned the dresses again.

 "Okay so tomorrow Jeanette, you can swing by the shop and try some on. And Ramon can drop you off."

 "Yeah, that's fine. I don't think there were any plans?" Jeanette looked at Ramon who smiled at her and shook his head.

 "No, I know you needed to get ready if you were going. And I know my sisters; you will be there a while. They will probably try to get all the dirt on you they can."

 "No, we would give her all the dirt she should have been warned with," Britannia teasingly told her brother. And for the next hour, Jeanette watched on while the siblings joked or talked.

 This was what she wanted; this is what she missed having gone to Sapphire's family house. Her home, her family, they weren't like this. Family meals for them were just places to eat but never talk, and no huge gathering either. She longed for this and it would be so rough to go home to her empty and lonely place.

 When dessert was done, Jeanette jumped up to help Cece with the dishes. She couldn't quite pinpoint why but she wanted to spend some more time with Cece. She brought the dishes to the sink and smiled at the woman as she picked up a towel and started drying.

 "You do not have to help caro (dear). You can go talk with everyone else."

 "I want to help Cece, you invited me and you didn't have to."

 "Oh, that was purely selfish. You see, Ramon does not come home much and I figured if I said I wanted to meet you, it would be a good way to have him. Besides that," Cece said, turning around to face her, "Ramon is different with you, very different. He does not act like this, does not do these things and I wanted to meet the woman that brought out that side to him." Jeanette blushed and looked down at the cup in her hands. She wasn't anything special and she couldn't even begin to understand why Ramon was doing half of these things either.

 "I didn't do anything, Cece."

 "Not knowingly anyway." They shared a smile and went back to the dishes.

 "Are you going to the gala?" Jeanette finally asked, breaking the silence that had descended on them.

 "No, I did my time playing the part of banker's wife and showing my face around. I told Roberto that is Ramon's job and we have not done one since."

 "Oh, will I see you tomorrow then?" Cece dried her hands and cupped Jeanette's cheeks, smiling all the more.

 "I will see you later Jeanette." Jeanette once more returned her smile and headed out to grab her purse and leave with Ramon. And when Cece stood with her husband and watched their son's car drive away, Cece knew she didn't mean seeing her tomorrow. She knew Ramon had found his soul mate; it was clear in all that he was doing for her. It was just a matter of when would he realize that? She only prayed it wouldn't be too late.