“Yeah, as a matter of fact they do,” I admitted. “Why?”
“Just wondering. Why don’t we take a trip to New York soon?”
“Maybe my parents should come to Philly. I told you that I have some rather eccentric relatives? Like my bubbe for instance. That's my grandmother. She's kind of…blunt.”
“She'll get along well with Drew.”
“My cousin Rachel, is a bit bitter about her divorce. She’s thirty-two and sleeps with guys in their early twenties.”
“She’ll get along really well with Drew.”
“And there's my uncle Ira, the King of Dry Cleaning. And my Aunt Ruth. She’s something like Fran Drescher, but with a more nasal voice and heavier New York accent.”
“Everybody has embarrassing relatives. You should meet my cousin Derek, the Larry Flint of the Main Line. Actually, on second thought, you shouldn’t meet my cousin Derek. Ever.”
“Braden, you’re going to meet these people and never want to even consider having children with me. I need to wait until you’re madly in love with me before I inflict my family upon you.”
“Gabrielle, don't worry so much.” He laughed. “I don’t care if you have eccentric relatives. I’m dating, and potentially breeding with you, not them.”
“Okay, okay we’ll take a trip to New York soon but don’t say I didn’t warn you. Going back to my original question though, is the necklace too much?”
“No. It'll be fine. It's very beautiful and tasteful. Just like you.” He smiled, walked over and cupped my face in his hands, leaning down to kiss me gently. I heard a knock at the door and Beth called out.
“Gabrielle? I’m sorry to bother you but the hairdresser and the cosmetologist are ready for you now.”
“Go ahead,” Braden encouraged me. “I’ll get dressed while you go see them.”
“Okay, I’ll be right there,” I called out. I quickly undressed and found my robe. I wrapped it around myself and I went out and followed Beth down the hall to her room. The stylist and the make-up professional worked on me for about half an hour and I had to admit that the results were very nice. My hair was piled on top of my head with loose tendrils flowing down and I had the “smoky eyes” that Jessica was always talking about. When I got back to Braden’s room he was in his bathroom and I stepped into my evening gown. Occasionally, I did splurge, and I had known from the minute that I had seen this dress that I had to have it. It was a shimmery light beige color with strips of fitted silk charmeuse making up the bodice and a flowing chiffon skirt. It was so soft that it felt almost sensual against my bare skin.
“Will you zip me, Braden?” I called out. He walked out of the bathroom and my mouth went dry. He was wearing a tux and he looked drop-dead gorgeous. This man was born to dress in formal wear. His eyes roamed over me from head to toe appreciatively.
“You look so beautiful.” He walked over to where I was standing and eased my zipper up slowly. Then as he helped me to fasten the clasp on my necklace there was another knock on the door.
“Yo Braden! Mom and Dad want to know if you’re ready,” Drew yelled.
“We’re not deaf,” Braden said swinging the door open.
“I thought you might be “otherwise occupied.” He snickered. Then he caught sight of me. “Whoa! Gabrielle, you look smokin’ hot in that dress, baby.”
“Did you just call her baby? Do that again and I’ll hurt you. Badly. Now stop ogling her,” Braden said, pushing Drew back into the hall. “We’ll be down in a minute.” There was some grumbling as Drew left.
“He’s right though. You do look smokin’ hot in that dress, baby and I’m allowed to ogle you,”
Braden said, smiling and kissing my hand.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
He held onto it as we headed downstairs, where the rest of his family was waiting in the family room with a guy named Alan, who was Tyler’s press aid. Apparently, there were journalists from Main Line Today, Philadelphia Magazine, Vanity Fair, the Philadelphia Inquirer and a few other smaller papers waiting to ask some questions and snap some photos. I guess that happened when your dad was a Senator and you had a party.
We went into the parlor where the journalists and photographers were waiting. Braden hovered next to me protectively, keeping his arm around my waist. At first the questions were all about the foundation and the work that it did but then out of left field came a question from the journalist from the Vanity Fair.
“Ms. Ginsberg, aren’t you the daughter of Ben Ginsberg, the CEO recently mentioned in the Times?” I saw the other magazine journalists perk up and pay attention. The newspaper people didn’t look as interested. Even other reporters probably found that article a little out there.
“Yes, he’s my father,” I answered before Alan jumped in.
“The Senator hasn’t had the opportunity to meet Gabrielle’s parents yet.”
“Does your dad like Senator Pierce’s politics?” the guy from Main Line Today asked.
“Well actually…”
“I don’t think that Mr. Ginsberg has made any official endorsement or statement on the matter,” Alan answered for me in political speak.
“Off the record then,” a woman from Philadelphia Magazine chimed in. “Might this be the joining of a political dynasty and a business empire?”
“Empire?” My dad had an empire? First he was a kingmaker, now he was an actual emperor. Did these people know my dad? He could barely match his socks without my mother’s help. Now my grandfather, he was more of an emperor. He was probably up in heaven financing major expansion as we spoke.
“Now, now,” Alan laughed. “Don’t you think that’s putting a little pressure on the kids?”
“Their kids would be among the wealthiest people in the country,” said the journalist from Vanity Fair. Did my parents have that much money? But they were so… average. Jesus, I really should have taken the money lectures more seriously.
“Gabrielle, is your father hoping to see you married to the son of a president?” asked the guy from Main Line Today. Was he kidding? My dad would be happy if I just didn’t become a crazy cat lady. This whole conversation was surreal. Alan looked like he was about to stroke out.
“Okay folks, we’ve got to wrap this up,” he said with a smile and a slight twitch. Why did I get the feeling that nobody had mentioned it to Alan that Braden was dating a kingmaker’s daughter? They snapped some last minute pictures and I smiled dutifully, wondering if I would become one of Braden’s Google Girls now. At least I would add some variety.