Time's Secrets (Taylor's Girls Book 3)

by Sabra Brown Steinsiek

  She blew him a kiss as she left the room. He picked up the box she’d entrusted back to his care. He ran his hand lightly over the top then stepped outside to look into the night sky.

  “Goodnight, Annie,” he whispered to the stars. “I’ll always love you.”

  A gentle breeze came up and caressed his cheek and he could have sworn he smelled the scent of her cologne. He was smiling as he went back in the house to a well-earned sleep.

  Chapter 19

  Meg surprised Taylor by being awake early the next morning. Together they went through and closed up the guesthouse. They had to caravan, both with their own rental cars, until they came to the first place they could turn one in. After that, they traveled together, arriving in Milan in the early afternoon. Betta had been thrilled that they were coming and was waiting at her apartment when they arrived. She leaned out the window to call down to them, “Ciao! Come on up!”

  Even though it had been only a few weeks since Taylor and Betta had seen each other, she greeted him with an exuberant hug. “I’m so glad you’re here!”

  “So am I, Betta. The apartment looks wonderful…so do you!”

  She poured them all a glass of wine and they sat down to talk.

  Meg could see the questions in Betta’s eyes and answered before she could even ask. “I’m all right, Betta. Taylor brought me some things my mother left for me. Cary Edwards was a loser from the first. I had a much better life without him.”

  “And Jamie?” Betta asked quietly.

  “And Jamie will have a better life without me. That’s over. I’m going home.

  * * *

  Taylor called Laura while the girls got ready for dinner. It was morning in New York and he caught her as she was coming in from taking Annie to her dance class.

  “Taylor! I’m so glad you called. I’ve been worrying.”

  “I’m sorry, darling, there was no time yesterday. Meg and I sat up most of the night talking.”

  “How is she?”

  “Hurt and confused but ready to get on with her life. She’s coming home with me.”

  “I’m glad. When?”

  “I’ve made reservations for tomorrow evening. We’re in Milan now. We drove up here today. This way we’ll have another day with Betta before we leave.”

  “How is Betta?”

  “I’m not sure. She was happy to see us. A little too happy maybe. I think there’s something on her mind. I’ll try to get her alone to talk sometime this evening.”

  “Then you’ll be home on Wednesday.”

  “Late. Our flight’s not due in ‘til eleven. Don’t wait up.”

  “Right, Taylor,” Laura said with a decidedly unladylike snort. “Like I’m going to sleep with you due home.”

  “Hmm…then I guess I’ll have to think of some way to make it worth your while.”

  “I’m counting on it, Taylor. I miss you.”

  “I love you, Laura. See you soon.”

  * * *

  Meg was the first to emerge from Betta’s bedroom. “We’re almost ready, Taylor.”

  “There’s no hurry, Meg. But I did want to talk to you for a minute,” he said quietly. “Is Betta all right? She acts like there’s something on her mind.”

  “I think she is…and you’re right. She asked me if I could give you two some time together later so I thought I’d come back here early after dinner and leave you two to talk. All very casual, of course,” she said with a smile.

  “Thanks, Meg. You don’t mind?”

  “How could I mind, Taylor? You came riding to my rescue and you might as well do two for one.”

  “Two for one what?” Betta asked as she came into the living room.

  “Two beautiful girls and one old man.” Taylor said. “Let’s go eat. I’m starving.”

  Chapter 20

  More than one person took a moment to smile at the three of them as they sat at the sidewalk café. With no time schedule, they were enjoying the evening, the food, the wine, and especially the company. A few of Betta’s friends happened by and she introduced them but the evening was for father and daughters. Something they hadn’t had in a long time.

  After dessert and coffee, Meg pleaded exhaustion and said she’d go back to the apartment. “Taylor made me get up at the crack of dawn this morning. I need to catch up. You two had better be quiet when you come in if you know what’s good for you.”

  They watched as she headed down the street to the apartment only half a block away. Taylor signaled the waiter. “More coffee, please. Betta?”

  “Maybe another glass of wine, Antonio.” She waited until he was out of earshot then told Taylor, “Antonio thinks he’s an actor. He’s not.” She quickly suppressed a giggle as he returned with their drinks then finally got up enough courage to ask Taylor for an autograph.

  When Antonio was gone, after profusely thanking and praising him, Taylor grinned at Betta. “There but for the grace of God…”

  “What?”

  “I could have been a poor waiter somewhere. It’s mostly a matter of luck.”

  “Luck and talent, Taylor. You’ve had both, but without the talent, all the luck in the world wouldn’t help.”

  “What about you, Betta?”

  “I’m fine, Taylor. I know I’ve got the talent and I’ve decided it’s time for a little try at luck. I asked Meg to go on home early so we could talk,” she confessed.

  “So did I.”

  “Why?”

  “I know my daughters. I could see there was something on your mind. Good or bad?”

  “Good, I hope.” She paused to take a sip of her wine and followed it with a deep breath. “I think I’m ready to leave Milan, Taylor. I want to go back to New York.”

  “But things have been going well for you here in your apprenticeship.”

  “Too well, Taylor. I’m past needing a mentor. I’m ready to try striking out on my own. I’ve been thinking about it a lot and I want to go back to New York and open a boutique. Knowing that my family is there is just the icing on the cake,” she said as she reached out to squeeze his hand before she rushed on. “It doesn’t have to be a big place. I’d like to have my designs of course and those of a few others, almost a gallery for clothes as art, if that makes any sense.”

  Taylor nodded but didn’t interrupt her. He was enjoying seeing his usually quiet Betta stirred up about something.

  “And I want to make a specialty of wedding gowns, Taylor. I’ve designed some and people have raved over them. I want people to think of one of my gowns on the same level as one by Vera Wang.”

  “How can we help, Betta?”

  “I have the money that Rosina and Matteo put in trust for me when my parents died. That’s about half of what I would need for start-up capital.”

  “You still have a pretty good chunk left in your college fund, too,” he reminded her.

  “I was hoping you’d say that. With those two, I’d have the capital I’d need for everything except a place to open. I was hoping you’d co-sign a loan to help me pay the first year’s rent on a place in Soho.”

  “Why not your own building, Betta? It makes more sense than paying rent.”

  “I’d never be able to afford that…not at first, Taylor.”

  “Then what about a partner? A silent partner? Laura and I could buy the building as our buy-in to the company.”

  Her eyes widened. “You would do that for me, Taylor?”

  “Betta, you’re our daughter and we’ll do anything to help make your dreams come true. We’ll expect a return once the profits start coming in, of course. And I think it’s going to be as good as—and probably a cheaper—investment than Meg’s medical school tuition.”

  Betta stood up and came around the table to put her arms around him. “I don’t know what I did to deserve a second family as wonderful as
my first. But I’m so grateful for all you’ve done for me. I love you, Taylor.”

  “I love you, too, Betta. I have from that first morning I came downstairs to find you and Megan giggling over something. I knew then that you were a part of me.”

  Wiping tears away, Betta returned to her chair as Taylor asked, “Tell me more about what you have in mind.”

  “First, Taylor, I want to call the store Morganna’s and my line of clothing, Elisabetta.” She went on to tell him all of her plans and they talked until the sidewalk café closed and they were gently reminded it was time to leave. They walked back to her apartment arm in arm still lost in the plans they were discussing, enthusiastically building castles in the air.

  * * *

  Meg heard their voices as they came in and Betta’s gentle laugh before she called a quiet good night to Taylor. She sat up as Betta came into the room.

  “So, I gather the talk went well? When do I get to hear what’s going on?”

  “Oh, Meg, I am so happy! I’ll be home in New York soon. I’m going to open my own place, with Taylor and Laura’s help!”

  “Betta! That’s wonderful. Tell me about it.”

  * * *

  Taylor tried to make himself comfortable on the sofa in the living room. He could have stayed in a hotel but didn’t want to miss a minute of time with his girls. He could hear them talking in the bedroom even after the light went off.

  Betta would be coming back to New York. Maybe, just maybe, Meg’s idea of med school in New York was not such a bad idea after all.

  Smiling, he found a semi-comfortable place and fell asleep to the murmur of their excited voices.

  Chapter 21

  It had been a long trip. First the day with Betta, then the flight to New York.

  He had so much to tell Laura. His heart lifted as the elevator opened and he saw her silhouetted in the doorway. “Go on, Meg. I’ll get the luggage.”

  She didn’t have to be told twice, running the few steps down the hall and straight into Laura’s outstretched arms.

  By the time he made it to the door with the luggage, they were gone. He could hear their voices down the hall in the guest room and he left Meg’s bags outside the door, before depositing his own in their bedroom.

  He was standing in Annie’s doorway watching her sleep when Laura came up beside him. He draped his arm around her and pulled her close as they stood silently watching their third daughter safely asleep before they turned to go down the hall to their room.

  He closed the door behind them then kissed her, a gentle kiss quickly turned ardent. He broke away and leaned his head against her hair. “God, I missed you, Laura.”

  “I’ve missed you, too, Taylor. Come to bed and let me show you just how much. The news will wait until morning.” He followed willingly…home again.

  * * *

  A few nights later, after Annie had been safely tucked into bed, Meg knocked at their open bedroom door. Taylor looked up from the script he was studying as he lay propped up against the headboard of the bed. “Hi, Meg. Come in.”

  Laura turned away from her computer to smile at her daughter. “At last. Human companionship. Taylor seems to think that script is more important than talking to me!”

  Meg hesitated. “If you’re busy, Taylor, I can…”

  “Never too busy for you, Meg. You know that. Come sit here and tell us what’s been bothering you.”

  “That obvious?” she said as she sat on the bed where she could see both of them. “I thought I’d been hiding it pretty well.”

  “You have, except from your nosy parents,” Laura said.

  “Then I guess it’s time to talk,” she said. “Please hear me out before you say anything. I’ve decided to put off medical school.” She raised her hand as Taylor opened his mouth to protest. “No, Taylor, wait. Let me explain.”

  “What happened in Ireland has hit me harder than anything since my mother died. It’s brought up a lot of feelings of grief and loss and I’m not doing well dealing with it. I’ve found a counselor here and am going to be seeing her once a week. It’s not something that I can solve in a few weeks and I can’t handle med school on top of it.”

  “I talked to Stanford and I’ve received a year’s deferment for entering. I’ll be part of next year’s class if I still want to go and I haven’t been accepted here in New York. And I’ve talked to Betta. She’ll be home soon to start on Morganna’s. She’s hired me to be her assistant. I’ll deal with the contractors and remodeling while she works on the merchandise end of things. Please believe I’ve given this a lot of thought. Maybe too much,” she said as her eyes brimmed with tears. “I just need to get myself together before I can even think of going back to school.”

  “Oh, Meg,” Laura said as she came over and hugged the now sobbing girl. Taylor sat up and held them both until Meg quit crying. He released her and lifted her chin to look into her eyes.

  “Meg, whatever you chose to do is fine with us. You have to do what’s best for you no matter what other people expect. We’re here to support you in whatever way we can.”

  “I knew that. I don’t know why I was so worried that you would be upset with me.”

  “Meg, we could never be upset with you over such an important decision,” Laura said. “Now that you’ve made it, we need to know what we can do to help.”

  “I need to stay here for a while longer. At least ‘til Betta gets back and we find someplace to live. Poor Betta’s never going to get rid of me as a roommate.”

  “This is your home, Meg, for as long as you need it. Even if you leave to go live with your sister, this is still your home, yours and Betta’s. The door is always open to you and you never have to ask permission to be here.” Taylor held her hands. His eyes could see the woman she’d become but his heart was remembering the little girl he’d had to tell that her mother would never be getting better. “You’re our daughter, Meg, and we love you.”

  “Thanks, Taylor. Your love and support—and yours, Laura—have been the only thing holding me together.”

  “Then I guess you’re ‘stuck’ with us,” Taylor said, grinning at his pun as they both groaned. Beneath the smile, his heart was breaking because he knew this was a journey she’d be making on her own. All he could do was stand by to help if she needed him. It wasn’t enough but it would have to do for now.

  Chapter 22

  “Auntie Sha’leen? Would you take a walk with me?” Jamie asked.

  “Of course, Jamie. It would be nice to get out of this madhouse,” she laughed as she gestured at the regular weekly chaos that was Sunday dinner at the O’Hearn’s. She picked up her sweater near the door; fall was coming in and the days were getting cooler.

  They walked in silence for a few minutes then Sha’leen said gently, “What’s troubling you, Jamie?”

  “The same thing that’s been troubling me the whole summer.”

  “Megan?”

  “Megan. And all the secrets and lies that were kept from me my whole life. If anyone had treated me like the grown man I am, so much pain could have been avoided.”

  “You and your father are still having trouble between you.” It wasn’t a question but a statement of fact. After the elder Jamie had turned on Megan, things had never been the same between him and his son. Jamie had moved out of the only home he’d ever known and saw his father only as they changed shifts at the pub and at the Sunday dinners his mother required of him. Although he and his father had made a peace of sorts, Jamie had never quite forgiven him for his part in driving Meg away, for tearing him apart from the woman he loved.

  “Aye. I don’t think that’s ever going away. Too much was said, too much hurt handed out.”

  “There’s more, isn’t there?”

  “That’s why I wanted to see you and ask your advice. I’ve decided to go to New York. I know it’s not much of
a plan but I feel like I could maybe find her there somehow. At the very least, maybe I could begin to heal.”

  He stopped and looked around. “Everywhere I go here in Belfast is a memory of her. Someplace we went, someplace I’d have like to have taken her to. New York would give me a new place to start rebuilding my life again.”

  “And your parents?”

  “I was hoping you’d help me there. Da would survive but I don’t know how to tell Ma.”

  “Ah, Jamie. I’ll try to help smooth the waters over after you’ve told them, but you’ll have to do the telling on your own.”

  “You’ll be there for Ma? I can count on that?”

  “Always, Jamie.”

  “Then I’ll tell them this week. As soon as I’ve made my plane reservations so they can’t talk me out of it.”

  Chapter 23

  “So what do you think, Betta?” Taylor and Meg had taken on the task of finding space for Betta’s dream—the designer clothing store to be called Morganna’s. He’d only had a couple of weeks before rehearsals started but Meg had helped scout out possible sites. Then Taylor would look at them in the mornings before he left for the theatre. It had been hectic but they’d been successful. At least he hoped it was successful. Today was Betta’s first look at the building.

  Betta turned slowly in a circle looking at the first floor. Located in Soho, it was an older building with three stories, just as she’d hoped. The first floor had polished wooden floors and huge windows to let in the light. It would be perfect for the trendy, designer clothes she’d feature.

  “So far, so good, Taylor. What about the second floor?”

  “One of the things I liked about this place was that it actually has an elevator. The building was a garment factory so it had to be big enough for clothing racks…which will allow a wheelchair and ADA approval.” He pulled back the decorative metal grating that covered the door to reveal the industrial gray elevator. Betta immediately made a note that it would have to be wood-paneled and carpeted. The transition from everyday into the magic she had planned for the second floor would start here.