“Jessica, grab your purse,” I yell towards her as I leave my office.
“What’s going on?” she asks, looking up from her computer.
“We’re going to see Frank. I need my makeover and by the looks of you, you do too. Come on, let me spoil you for a few hours.”
“That sounds nice,” Jessica responds as she powers down her computer and searches for her purse.
These past few months, I’ve let my hair go back to a light, natural red and my nails painted black. It was a way for me to show the world I was depressed and craving the one thing I thought I couldn’t have.
Now, I feel I can shine; I can finally be me again. Today started a new chapter and what better way to celebrate than with a fresh new me?
As Jessica and I walk in side by side to the see Frank, I feel at peace. For the longest time, I felt the world was tipping me over, and now, it’s picked me back up and set me upright.
“Frank, dear, it’s been too long. Time to bring Tabitha back,” I explain as I hug him.
“Oh, thank you, Lord. I thought I lost you for a little while. I’ve been waiting for this day to come. Hurry along and let’s bring you back to life.”
“Sounds good. And will you get Whitney to do a makeover on Jessica?”
“Already set up. Let me show her to the other room and I’ll be right with you.”
Making myself comfortable, the butterflies rise up from within. It’s been awhile since Carter’s seen me with my darker red hair. My family loves it lighter, but I feel fiercer, more alive, when it’s darker.
Hours later, Jessica and I walk out feeling like new women. She got it all done—wax, nails, toes, hair—and I even splurged for her to get her makeup done. As I stand back and look at her, I know my brother will have the wind knocked out of him. Jessica already had a glow; I just helped it along a little.
As for me, I of course went all out. As Angela instructed, I tamed the circus and now have bright pink, glittered nails. I honestly think we both skipped out of the salon. Dishing out a quick goodbye to everyone, I head back home to where my heart is waiting for me.
The only thing I question on the drive home is what to do with him now. Always living alone, I don’t cook and I sure as heck am not used to having another body in my space. This is going to take some getting used to, that’s for sure.
I am almost home when my phone rings. As I look to the dashboard, I see it’s Angela calling to check in. Hitting the Bluetooth, I answer, “What’s up?”
“Someone sounds chipper. Nothing much, what about you?”
“Oh you know, just left Frank’s and headed home. How’s my Godson today?”
“Went to see Frank, huh? And Graham is just fine. Growing and driving us crazy, but we love every moment.”
“Then he’s doing as Aunt Tabby instructed him to do,” I say as I laugh out loud.
“Will you please stop corrupting my child?”
“Never. Someone has to.”
“Anyway, what are you doing?” Angela asks.
“Headed home. Why, what’s up?”
“Nothing, just had an interesting call today and I called to give you a few days off. Well, that is, when you return from Texas.”
“Call from who? Cory or Seth?”
“Neither, it was Carter. Now, don’t freak out, but I’m glad he finally called. I’m not close enough to rip his balls off, so I had to threaten him over the phone. It’s that or send Logan to do my dirty work.”
“Easy, tiger. I don’t think we need to rip anything off anyone. I can handle him and plan to in other ways.”
“You are a force to be reckoned with, you know that, chick?”
“I do, but are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
“Not at all. Just go with the flow, especially since we all know how hard that is for you.”
“Hey, I can’t help it. I like to plan things out. Oh, before I forget, I have to tell you something. Jessica’s having a girl. So now not only do I get to spoil Prince Graham, but I’ll have a princess as well.”
“Oh, the glitter Gods are not working with us now. I might need to phone Jessica and warn her. Who’s doing the shower?”
“Me, of course, and thank you very much, the glitter Gods are aligned in sweet harmony now.”
“I’m sure they are, Tabitha. Don’t forget to let me know when it is and I’ll plan to be there. So, I’ll see you soon.”
“Will do and yes, I can’t wait. I miss you.”
“Miss your crazy ass too. I’ll phone later, and keep me posted.”
“Okay … Before you go I have a stupid question.”
“I’m listening.”
“What do I do when I get home?”
“That’s easy, relax and go with the flow. That man has his work cut out for him with you. Oh, but whatever you do, do not cook. Call for takeout. If he sees your mad kitchen skills now, Carter just might skip out on you.”
“I am so hanging up on you now. Love you, bye,” I quickly say as I disconnect the call.
Maybe I need to take some domestic class or something, or cooking classes. Does Carter know how to cook? I wonder as I park the car. Baby steps, is what I remind myself as I approach the front of my apartment.
Carter
I finish up with my little research project and confirm that Kelly has arrived safe and sound. I tried to invite her over to dinner, but she told me that she’d see me later. Now I’m sitting here attempting to figure out what to do with myself. I’ve already got an appointment set up to look at a few offices in town, and until then, I can’t start with any new designs.
Deciding to move about the apartment, I head over to inspect Tabitha’s music collection. As I do this, all I can do is shake my head. I’ve never seen someone have so many eighties and nineties CDs in one spot. She usually has her iPod plugged in, but I noticed she took that with her this morning. I finally find an artist that I can bear to listen to—Ray LaMontagne—and pop it into the CD player.
It’s getting late, and I’m not sure what time to expect Tabitha home, so I head to her kitchen to prepare dinner. This is when I finally realize she wasn’t joking. The cabinets are bare, well, except for the thermos she still has hidden. Grabbing it from the top shelf, I place it on the counter. That needs to go and someplace far away from here. I still can’t get over her train of thought on that one, but as I’ve come to find out, never expect anything less from her. She’s full of surprises.
Feeling like I just won the lottery, I’m able to find the makings for Chicken Alfredo. Not questioning if she likes it or not, because obviously, since it’s the only thing in this kitchen, she does.
Going around and around in this space, I’m about to pull my hair out. Everything is in order, but Tabitha has nothing in here. Plates, silverware, and a few pots. I’m pretty sure the pots have never been touched. Now that I’m living here, this will change. I might not have cooked every night, but I know how and enjoy it. Maybe I can teach her how to do the simple stuff.
As I’m stirring the sauce, I hear my phone ping with a notification of an incoming email.
I don’t bother to look at my phone, I just click the screen on my laptop. Once it opens I notice it’s an email from the one and only Bethany Edwards-Northwood. Something in me burns from looking at her name splayed across my screen. I thought I got rid of this black widow.
Sitting down, I click open and set out to read what she has to say this time.
My Dearest Carter,
I’ve arrived in Monaco safe and sound and for that, I thank you. I had a lot of time on the flight to do some soul searching. Stop rolling your eyes, as I know it’s hard for you to believe that I have one. I do, okay? I need to explain a few things to you that were too hard for me to say face to face.
When we started dating, I was so happy and in love with you. My father’s career was just beginning and he was bound to not let anything stand in his way, which included me. He never approved of us, and warned me that if I was
n’t careful, he would take down anything and everything in his path.
Remember all those dreams I had in school, the ones that included me going off to study art history and you architecture? Well, you were the only one who fulfilled your dreams. One day I hope to explore mine. You have genuine talent and never hold it back. Show the world the person I know you are deep down.
Now, you once told me that I destroyed your heart and soul. I think you’re wrong, it was hidden profoundly and you’ve found the one to show you the way. I watched from afar long enough to know that you and Tabitha are meant for one another. Love her with all your might. Don’t let anything ever go unsaid or dealt with. I know you have it in you.
As far as me, don’t worry, as I know you probably won’t anyway. I’m finally happy where I am in life. I can be free to be with the one that I love. Oh, and I’ll tell you about that now.
See, my affair might have started with your father years ago, which only dragged the two of us down. For the last two years, I’ve been in love with Jasper. Now pick your mouth up and listen. Everything he did was an act. Jasper is clean and hasn’t touched drugs in over three years. I had him follow you two just to throw you off the lies that I had buried. He’s joined me here in Monaco and the two of us will wed soon. My plans are to never return to the States. Nothing is left or important enough for me to come home. My home is here now, with Jasper.
I know this will not replace the years you lost or heal the pain, I only hope that one day you will be able to forgive me. My hopes are that in passing, you’ll be able to give me a quick nod at least. Forgiveness is what I seek from you, Carter, not love or money. So I ask you to forgive me for my sins, forgive me for all of it.
As you find it within yourself to do so, I ask that you never regret another day of life. Carry on with the things and people you love. Love them with all your might.
I stopped loving you the day they forced us to marry. It wasn’t how I planned. It was an act of survival. A simple means to be able to carry on with life as we both knew it. Do I ask myself daily about what ifs? Yes, I do. I honestly believe that if our two families would have let us figure it all out, it might have ended differently.
Remember that all things shall be well, Carter. You control your destiny, not I, nor anyone else around you. Be true to yourself.
Until the day we pass as two ships, I wish you the best in life.
Love always,
Bethany Edwards-Northwood
Not sure what to think about her email, I close it down and head back to what I was doing. If I think back to what she said, I know Bethany is right. Our lives would’ve turned out differently without the involvement of our families. In the end, I’m where I’ve always belonged, with Tabitha. Stepping stones is what our relationship was, and now I know the path to true happiness.
Lost in my own thoughts, I hear the door open and Tabitha yell out as she enters, “Honey, I’m home.”
I turn towards her and all I can do is laugh at her. She’s bent over laughing at her own response.
“You okay?”
“No, I always wanted to do that, and it sounds so funny. Oh, something smells good,” she says as she enters the kitchen to see what I’m cooking. “Mmm, my favorite.” She reaches up to place a quick kiss on my cheek. “You know how to cook?”
“I do, and from the looks of it, I will take your word for it that you don’t know how.”
“Nope and never claimed that I did. Where did you find all those?” she asks as she points to the pots on the stove.
“Found them in your cabinets. After you get comfortable, could you do away with that?” I ask as I point to her frozen thermos.
“What am I going to do with it?”
“I don’t know, send it back or something?”
“You can’t just send it back. It’s not like a shirt that doesn’t fit and you take in the receipt for a new one,” she explains as she grabs it and stuffs it into her bag for now.
“How was your day?” Tabitha asks.
“Laid back. Yours?”
“Good,” she responds and I know she’s waiting for me to comment on the new look. She thinks I haven’t noticed but I have. I might as well let her wonder whether I like it.
“Go and change. Dinner is almost done.”
“Okay …”
Yes, she’s waiting for it, but I’m not giving it to her just yet. After setting the plates down on the counter, I grab some wine from the fridge and pour us both a glass. I set them on the table and watch her stalk back towards me. Tabitha is so laid back; I’m going to have to get used to it. Her hair’s pulled up and she’s wearing those crazy-looking lounge pants she loves.
“Come on, Tabby Cat, let’s eat,” I say as I turn to head back out with our food. Just as I sit down, I lean over and whisper into her ear, “You look great by the way. The darker red, it’s you. Don’t change it.”
“You did notice?” I hear her ask, which causes me to look over at her. Tabitha’s face is beaming with excitement.
“I did, but I was holding out on you. You were beautiful when you left this morning, so I’d like you any way you came back. Just know that, okay?”
“Okay.”
Nothing else is said about her beauty adventure today, and we sit and enjoy the dinner I prepared for us. She even goes as far as trying to figure out what I have planned for the two of us. I should’ve known Angela would rat me out. I let Tabitha know that Kelly arrived safe and is getting situated. I also explain that I’m looking at a few office spaces and property.
Tabitha proceeds to go on about her brother and what’s happening with Jessica. She also told me that we have a family function to attend and I’ll be her plus one.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Tabitha
IT’S ODD HAVING someone live in the same space with me. I haven’t roomed with anyone since college, and that was entirely different than Carter living here. I’m so used to doing my own thing, that I find myself not sure what to say or do. Our sleeping arrangements are not going as planned. He’s stubborn about what side he sleeps on. Of course that ended with me launching a pillow at him last night after dinner.
This morning, I’m trying to gather all my belongings in order to catch my flight. I’m thankful I only have to be gone overnight. Jessica has completed most of the paperwork for me and has done the initial interview. Now, all I have to do is show up, walk around, and observe. Once I’m done, I plan to curl up in bed—on my correct side—and get some much needed sleep.
“Do you need me to drive you?” Carter asks as he scares the shit out of me in my closet.
“Really, for the love of all things holy, stop sneaking up on me.”
“I didn’t sneak. I walked in,” he responds as he plops down on the bed. “So, do you need me to drive you?”
“No … Oh wait, do you need my car? Where’s the bike and truck?”
“I don’t and I sold the bike. Truck will be here this afternoon.”
“Oh, well … Okay. Why’d you sell the bike?” A part of me was excited to ride on the back again; now that’s not going to happen.
“I got it for the wrong reasons and when I look at it, I think of them. I’ll get a new one,” he says, and I turn back into my closet and let a smile spread across my face.
Tossing the clothes onto my bed, I look over at Carter and still question how this all happened. I never thought the two of us would end up here. Now I just have to stop doubting us. Angela reminds me that I have to trust and have faith, which is easier for her to say. She got lucky, and since I threw that rabbit’s foot away years ago, luck’s not been on my side.
I take a look around and I’m satisfied with my packing. I turn towards Carter and notice his playful smile.
“No sir … I do not have time for that,” I say sternly as I drag my luggage into the living room. I know if I stay next to him in that bedroom, I’ll miss my flight.
“What, I can’t smile at my girl?” I hear him yell from the r
oom. All I can do is shake my head. Will it always be this playful? Can we keep this aura around us forever?
“Carter, I’ve got to go,” I say and watch him stalk towards me down the hall.
Just as he gets close to me, he reaches out for my hand. I extend mine to him, and he takes it and pulls me into him. “I’m going to miss you while you’re gone. What am I going to do here all by myself?”
Looking up into those blue eyes that I’ve missed, I respond, “Start by unpacking your stuff and we can figure out space when I get back. I’ll miss you and I should be back tomorrow.”
“Do you like this place?”
“Been living here forever, so yes I do.”
“What if we find a bigger place to share together? Would you be okay with that?”
“Depends on where it’s at. I need to be close to work and it has to have a coffee shop within walking distance or a drive-thru.”
“Those are strange requests. You do know that, right?”
“I do, but that’s me. If I don’t have time to make it, I need to swing in before my day starts.”
“You are something else. Do you mind if I look around?”
“Knock yourself out, but just know I am very picky.”
“Already noted. Now get your ass out of here, before I take you back to bed.”
Saluting him as I pull away, I say, “Yes, sir.”
Keys and purse in hand, I lean up and kiss him softly. Before I know what hits me, Carter’s devouring me as if it’s the last kiss we will ever share.
I pull away to catch my breath and look up at him with hooded eyes. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
“I haven’t the slightest idea what you are referring to. Now go, before I change my mind.”
“I’ll call you later, love you,” I say before I head out.
Unexpected Changes Page 15
