The Girl of His Dreams

by Susan Mallery

  Elissa took hers. “What else did Mr. Applegate want? He kept you for a long time.”

  Fallon sank back into the sofa and kicked off her loafers. “The usual. If we have any questions, he will be happy to help us personally. Oh, and birthday felicitations to all of us.”

  “Felicitations? There’s a word you don’t hear often enough.” Kayla raised her glass. “Happy birthday.”

  Her sisters echoed her toast and they all tasted the champagne.

  Fallon wrinkled her nose. “While it’s nice…” she said, her voice trailing off.

  Elissa grinned. “I was thinking the same thing.” “Me, too.” Kayla took another sip. “For the first time in our lives, we splurged and spent two hundred dollars on a bottle of champagne. And we all like the twelve-dollar stuff better.”

  Laughter filled the room. Kayla stared at her sisters, then at the silly decorations on the walls and ceilings. Balloons floated everywhere. She’d hung crepe paper and banners. Party favors more suitable for a six-year-old’s birthday littered the coffee table.

  She felt as if she were seeing light for the first time in days. She’d been walking around in a fog of pain and confusion. Even though she hadn’t come to terms with whatever was happening between Patrick and herself, even though her reaction and her feelings still confused her, she was done with the suffering. Her sisters were with her for a week, until she left for Paris. She was determined to enjoy their time together.

  “Are we going to rent romantic movies and sob?” Fallon asked.

  “Of course.” Elissa glanced at Kayla. “Aren’t we?”

  “Sure. It’s a tradition. I have tons of popcorn and soda. I’ve collected take-out menus from every restaurant within ten miles. Wednesday there’s a great sale at our favorite department store.”

  “Heaven.” Elissa sat on the floor by the sofa. Her long, flowing skirt covered her feet. With her ruffled blouse and her hair piled on top of her head, she looked like a nineteenth-century woman come to life. “Maybe I’ll buy a few things.”

  “Jeans,” Kayla said. “You don’t own any.”

  “I do so. I have at least one pair.” Elissa frowned. “Somewhere.”

  Fallon brushed her tailored trousers. “Why does it have to be jeans? Just regular long pants would be nice.”

  “Maybe you should buy something with ruffles,” Kayla teased.

  Fallon rolled her eyes. “I’ll do that the day you wear a business suit.”

  Kayla stretched out on the love seat and propped her feet up on the armrest. “Remember those hideous matching dresses Mom put us in all through elementary school?”

  “All frilly skirts and puffy sleeves.” Fallon shuddered.

  “In pink and peach and cream,” Kayla added.

  Elissa stared at them both. “They weren’t so bad.”

  Kayla leaned down and grabbed some confetti from the floor, then tossed it at her sister. “Bite your tongue.”

  Elissa ignored her. “I’m glad we didn’t go away to celebrate our birthday.”

  “Me, too,” Fallon said. “What if the money hadn’t been released? We would have been stuck with an expensive vacation and no way to pay for it.”

  “Practical as ever,” Kayla told her. “But the money has come through, so there’s no excuse for backing out of our Christmas plans.”

  “I’ll be there.” Fallon made an X over her heart. “The Caribbean over the holidays. Sounds heavenly.”

  “I want to go, too,” Elissa said. She glanced at Kayla. “Are you still going to Africa in the spring?”

  Kayla sipped her champagne. “I don’t think so. My travel agent sent me the shot list.” “Did you faint?” Fallon asked.

  “Almost. So I was thinking about something a little safer. Maybe a cruise.”

  “That’s what I want to do.” Fallon leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees. “I’ve been thinking about the money. I’m going to give some of it to charity, and I’m going to put some of it away for the future. The rest is for me. I toyed with the idea of getting a new car, but I think I’d rather do a little traveling.”

  “You could come to Paris with me,” Kayla said, thinking the trip would be better with one of her sisters along. “I can’t. Classes start in late August, and I’m committed to that until mid-December. Then I’ll be off for a year. Maybe we can do something in spring.”

  “That would be nice.” Spring seemed so far away. Who knew what would have happened by then? Right now, even her trip to Paris felt surreal. She suspected that by the time she got back, everything would have changed.

  What would happen then? Would she pick up the pieces of her life? Was that even going to be an option? No doubt Melissa would succeed in her quest for Patrick’s attention.

  Don’t think about it, she told herself. Not today. She would mourn Patrick later.

  “I’m going to cut the cake,” Fallon said. She put her champagne on the coffee table and walked to the kitchen. “What kind is it?”

  “What do you think?” Kayla asked.

  “Double chocolate with fudge filling and icing?” There was a hopeful note in her voice.

  “What else?” Kayla glanced at Elissa. “You’re being awfully quiet.”

  Elissa shrugged. “Just thinking.”

  “About the trust fund?”

  Her sister hesitated, then nodded. “I know you two think I’m crazy, but I just can’t help it. All that money scares me.”

  Fallon stuck her head around the kitchen wall. “What are you talking about? Speak up, I can’t hear.”

  “Elissa’s still scared of the money,” Kayla called.

  Fallon stepped into the living room and stared down at Elissa. “Get a financial planner, put it in another trust fund, buy yourself a dog, but please promise me you won’t write a check and just give it all away. This is yours, Elissa, as much as it’s mine or Kayla’s. We earned this money working on that damn show, week after week.” She tossed her head, sending blond curls tumbling down her back. “Make plans for the future.”

  Elissa grimaced. “I promise I won’t write a check and give it away all at once.”

  “And that you won’t give all of it away in pieces,” Fallon said.

  “Agreed. I’ll keep some for a rainy day.”

  Kayla leaned over and patted Elissa’s shoulder. “Don’t be so afraid of it,” she said. “It’s just paper, or numbers on a bank statement.”

  Elissa nodded, but Kayla knew she was more interested in not upsetting the happy mood than in agreeing. Ever since they starred on “The Sally McGuire Show,” Elissa had believed money was the root of the family’s problems. In her mind, fighting over the girls’ earnings had caused their parents’ divorce. Their father had lived an extravagant life-style he couldn’t afford. In the end, it had killed him, when he lost control of his expensive sports car and plunged into a canyon.

  “I miss him, too,” Kayla said softly.

  Elissa gave her a grateful look. “I’ve been thinking about him a lot.”

  Fallon walked to the love seat and nudged Kayla’s legs out of the way. “Me, too,” she said, sinking onto the cushion. “It’s tough now, and around the holidays.”

  For a second, nobody said anything. Then Elissa spoke.

  “She didn’t call.”

  It was a statement, rather than a question. The “she” was their mother.

  Kayla smiled ruefully. “It’s pilot season, girls. What did you expect?”

  “Pilot season,” Fallon said, in the same tone Kayla would expect her to use to announce she had lice.

  “I remember those days,” Elissa said. “The waiting, the auditions.”

  Pilot season. “I don’t want to remember,” Kayla said. “It was awful.”

  Late spring and early summer meant the networks were casting their new fall television shows. Hopeful children came in from all over the country. The yearly pilgrimage had been more nightmarish for the triplets, because when it wasn’t pilot season, their mother t
ook them on movie and commercial auditions. Free afternoons were quickly filled with singing and dance lessons, not to mention the occasional acting class. If they’d been interested in entertainment as a career, they might have enjoyed the processes, but none of the sisters had done anything but endure.

  “How old are the twins?” Fallon asked.

  “Six,” Kayla answered. “Plus Clarice is nearly eight, Andy is ten.” Three half sisters and a half brother the triplets had never met.

  “Mom sure didn’t waste any time,” Elissa said. “She was remarried and pregnant within a year of the divorce.” She sighed. “I hope those kids enjoy the business more than we did.”

  Their mother had been furious when the girls refused to continue on television. She’d been determined to “make it” with a new set of children. Kayla hoped she was successful. It must be difficult to spend one’s whole life chasing an impossible dream.

  “Enough,” Elissa said, and stood up. “We’re here to celebrate, not dwell on the past. We’re young, we’re healthy and attractive, and now we’re rich.” She grinned. “Sort of.”

  “Comfortably well-off,” Fallon said.

  Kayla motioned to the kitchen. “I need chocolate cake or I’m going to die.”

  “Coming right up.” As Elissa walked in that direction, there was a knock on the door. She unfastened the lock and pulled the door open. “Patrick. This is nice.” She looked over her shoulder. “Patrick’s here, and he has gifts. I think we should let him in.”

  Kayla scrambled to her feet, brushing at the front of her jeans and tugging on her T-shirt. She hadn’t thought they would have company today, so she hadn’t bothered with makeup or fixing her hair.

  “By all means,” Fallon said, also standing. “I’ve wanted to meet Kayla’s friend for a long time.”

  Patrick grinned engagingly at the women. Kayla stared at him, hoping their eyes would meet, but he seemed to pass over her.

  “I don’t want to intrude,” he said. “I have a few things for the birthday celebration, then I’ll leave you ladies alone.”

  “Don’t even think you’re intruding,” Elissa said, taking his arm and pulling him into the apartment. “We’d love the company. We’re going to be together for a week, so there’s plenty of time to catch up.” She touched the roses he held in his arms. “Do you need some help with these?”

  “Absolutely.” He shifted them in his arms, then held out a dozen paper-wrapped peach roses. “Happy birthday.”

  Elissa clapped her hands together. “You shouldn’t have, but I won’t refuse them.” She took the roses and inhaled their fragrance. “What a sweetie. Thank you.” She raised on tiptoe and kissed his cheek.

  Fallon was next. “We haven’t been introduced,” he said, handing her a dozen red roses. “I’m Patrick Wai-cott.”

  Fallon also kissed his cheek. “I like your style,” she said, smiling. She glanced at Kayla and winked. “Okay, now I get it. You’ve kept him hidden away all these years because you knew we’d try to steal him from you.”

  Patrick grinned. “I’m yours for the taking.”

  Blond eyebrows arched. “That’s not what I heard.”

  Kayla didn’t want to think about how much Elissa had told Fallon. The sisters didn’t have a lot of secrets between them. It wasn’t that she minded them knowing, it was just that things were so unsettled between Patrick and herself right now. She didn’t want either of them to be embarrassed.

  Patrick stepped in front of her and held out the last dozen roses. They were exceptional, with creamy petals touched with peach at the top. Their scent enveloped her. Yet, for all their beauty, she couldn’t stop looking at him.

  He wore a suit and tie. She’d known he had a meeting with several of the scientists that morning. No doubt he had appointments at the clinic, too. She hadn’t expected to see him, especially after how they’d parted last week. But she was glad he’d made the time to stop by.

  “Thank you,” she said quietly. “You’re very thoughtful to remember all of us.”

  “You three are the only triplets I’m ever likely to know. Of course I want to help you celebrate such an important birthday.” He turned to Elissa. “Did the money come through?”

  She nodded.

  He patted Kayla’s shoulder. “So you’re off to Paris. Good for you.” He moved away before she could follow her sisters’ lead and kiss him.

  Patrick sat on the sofa. The roses were safely put away in vases and pitchers. Elissa brought him cake, Fallon showed him what they were drinking and offered champagne.

  “I’d love a glass.” He pointed to the bottle he’d brought with him. “I guess this is a pitiful offering.”

  Fallon glanced at their expensive champagne, then reached down and grabbed his. “To be honest, we like this stuff much better. I guess we don’t really have millionaire tastes.”

  “Yet,” he said.

  Fallon leaned close. “None of us has a million dollars. Does that upset your plans to marry Kayla for her money?”

  “Absolutely. I’m crushed.”

  They shared a smile.

  Patrick had been prepared for the three women to look exactly alike, but the reality was more disconcerting than he’d imagined. Even without the difference in clothing, he would have been able to pick out Kayla. He was so familiar with her face and the way she moved that he could spot her without effort. Elissa and Fallon were more difficult. Had they been wearing the same clothes, he suspected, he would have easily confused them.

  He leaned back against the sofa. Kayla sat on the love seat, as far away from him as possible. He didn’t blame her.

  Even after Fallon had poured his champagne and Elissa had passed out cake to everyone, Kayla didn’t join in the conversation. She sat quietly observing, occasionally giving him questioning looks. His actions over the past couple of weeks had confused her, and she wanted to know what was going on.

  He wanted to tell her the truth. He wanted her to know that he had to avoid her, for both their sakes. If they got emotionally involved now, it would make her leaving that much more difficult. Better to keep apart, to at least pretend to be friends.

  But he couldn’t speak the words. He knew in his heart he would be too tempted to say it all. To tell her that it was too late for him. He already was emotionally involved. Without wanting to, he’d fallen in love with her.

  What would happen if she knew the truth? Would she smile pityingly at him? Would she get uncomfortable and awkward? Would she try to respond in kind, only to have the lie lodge in her throat? Would she feel guilty?

  He didn’t want any of that. Better that she be angry for a while. When she was over it, and when his pain of loving but not having had subsided to a manageable ache, they could go on as before. Friends.

  At least if they stayed friends, he would never lose her completely.

  Fallon and Elissa kept him entertained with stories from their childhood. In many of them, Kayla was the star. She didn’t seem to mind the teasing, laughing with her sisters, but she still didn’t say much.

  He found it difficult to pay attention to what was being said. He just wanted to sit there and stare at Kayla, memorizing everything about her, absorbing her so he wouldn’t be so lonely when she was gone.

  After about a half hour, he stood up. “I hate to eat and run, but I’ve got appointments at the clinic in about forty minutes.”

  Fallon and Elissa walked him to the door. “It’s been wonderful,” Elissa said. “We’re here for the whole week. It’s an extended slumber party. So come by again. We’d love to see you.”

  Fallon gave him a quick hug. “She’s right. We’re planning a session of truth or dare tomorrow, and I’m sure you don’t want to miss that.”

  He could imagine a few dares he would like to make, but didn’t think that was what Fallon had in mind.

  He waited for a second, but Kayla didn’t join them. No doubt she wanted to avoid another rebuff.

  “Kayla, would you mind seeing me out?
” he asked.

  She looked startled, then rose to her feet. Elissa and Fallon stepped back to give her room, then retreated to the kitchen. He moved out onto the porch, and she followed him.

  The late-afternoon sun was drifting toward the western horizon. When she joined him on the small wooden porch, he pulled the front door shut behind her and leaned against the railing.

  There wasn’t much room, so she was forced to stand close to him. He watched emotions chase across her face. Apprehension, determination and a few others he couldn’t identify.

  “I want the chance to say happy-birthday in private,” he told her.

  “Great. Thanks.” She reached for the door handle.

  He wrapped his fingers around her wrist to stop her. “Don’t go in yet. There’s something else.”

  Her gaze lifted to his. The wariness there made him want to confess all and beg her forgiveness. But he couldn’t do that. It wasn’t fair to either of them. Or was he just taking the coward’s way out?

  He released her, reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a gift. The box was nearly square, although not as tall as it was wide. A pale silver ribbon crisscrossed over foil paper.

  “You already gave me roses,” she said, not taking the present.

  “This is special.” Like you. But he didn’t say it.

  She took it and tugged off the wrapping. Inside was a gray jeweler’s box. She lifted the cover and gasped. The wrapping paper and ribbon fell from her fingers, and she nearly dropped the box. As she caught it, she pulled out a bangle bracelet—an oval of gold with inset square-cut diamonds.

  She turned the bracelet over in her hands, staring at it. “I can’t accept this,” she whispered. “It’s too lovely.”

  “I want you to have it. Something to remember me by.”

  Before she could object, he took the bangle and opened the clasp. He slid the piece over her hand and settled it around her wrist. When the clasp closed, the bracelet fit perfectly.

  Before he could stop himself, he cupped her cheek. “That’s the deal, kid. As long as you wear this, you’re not allowed to forget me.”

  “I could never do that. You’re a part of me.”