by Melissa Hill
‘I bought it in Tunisia last year,’ she replied, and at this Adam met her gaze and smiled conspiratorially. It was the same dress she’d worn to dinner at the hotel in the Sahara that night, and while he wasn’t a big one for compliments, she knew he liked it.
Spotting the look, Andrea harrumphed. ‘At one of those tacky foreign markets I suppose. I don’t know why people buy things in places like that. Give me Brown Thomas any day.’
‘Well I prefer a more individual look to be honest,’ Leonie replied. ‘There’s nothing worse than looking like a clone of every other woman in Ireland.’
“Absolutely,” Adam agreed, reaching for her hand. “And to me, Leonie would look good in a paper bag.”
Now, listening to her recount the scene, Grace laughed. ‘Yay, strike one for Leonie!’ she said, aiming for a high five. ‘Good on you, she does sound like an awful cow and I don’t know how you put up with her.’
‘I really don’t have much of a choice unfortunately.’
‘As if that daughter of his wasn’t enough of a consequence.’ Grace, who had met Suzanne a couple of times when over for a visit, wasn’t one of the girl’s greatest fans.
‘Suzanne I can handle, it’s her mother I’m not so sure about.’
But that weekend, the battle lines had been well and truly drawn between Leonie and Andrea. The problem was, she thought mournfully, was that she wasn’t sure she had it in her to fight such a battle, let alone try and win it.
Chapter 21
‘What do you mean he wants to try again? I thought you guys were getting a divorce?’
As expected, Jon wasn’t overjoyed to hear that Alex’s husband was back in town.
It was Friday night and they were in North Beach sharing an al fresco pizza at Calzone’s when she decided to broach the subject. But in retrospect, she probably should have picked a quieter spot because as usual, the whole area was buzzing. Sidewalk tables here were a premium and fought for space with the scores of people passing up and down the street.
‘It’s nothing to worry about,’ she reassured him. ‘He has no real intention of trying again, he’s just being Seth. He heard about you and is acting like a little boy who doesn’t want to share his toys, that’s all.’
Jon didn’t seem convinced. ‘Are you sure? And how come he’s back all of a sudden? I thought you said he couldn’t be found.’ He recoiled a little as an overgrown Dalmatian flopped beneath a neighbouring table. Jon was afraid of dogs – tough in San Francisco, where most places in the city welcomed them.
Alex smiled as the dog lay peacefully at its master’s feet, unruffled by the hustle and bustle all round. ‘He couldn’t – up to now.’ She went on to explain how she’d bumped into him while in Monterey with Leonie. ‘Like I said he’ll be out of our hair soon, but in the meantime, I have no choice but to humour him – at least enough to get him to sign the papers.’
‘I guess.’ He sounded somewhat threatened, and at this Alex couldn’t help but feel oddly gratified. Although it was obvious that things were becoming more serious and they were getting on brilliantly, it was still nice to know that Jon felt that strongly about her. Not that he had anything to worry about where Seth was concerned – nope – once Alex had him served that would be the end of her husband, and with any luck, the end of her troubles. After that, she’d be free to move on with the rest of her life, and even further along with this relationship.
Not that Jon was putting undue pressure on her or anything. Thinking about it now, he was actually quite the opposite of Seth really. And although he didn’t possess her ex’s irresistible magnetism (but who the hell did?), he was also hugely attractive in his own way.
Anyway, Alex wondered, why had she started comparing him to Seth all of a sudden?
Jon was who he was and such comparisons were completely immaterial!
‘Alex, are you sure you’re really over this guy though?’ Jon’s voice broke into her thoughts, making her feel even guiltier about what she’d been thinking. Was he that perceptive or was she just too easy to read?
‘Absolutely sure. Honestly Jon, in case you’re wondering, you’ve got absolutely nothing to worry about!’ She gave a light laugh. ‘He’s a part of my life that’s very much in the past; unfortunately I can’t get rid of him until …oh hell!’ Stricken, she looked up at the figure approaching them on the sidewalk.
No way, this could not be happening. How on earth could he …?
‘Hey there Mrs Rogers, fancy meeting you here!’ Seth grinned, appearing alongside their table out of nowhere. As if out of the thousand-odd restaurants in the city, he’d just happened upon the same one. Alex groaned inwardly. He was doing this on purpose, she just knew it. Somehow, he’d found out that she and Jon were meeting here tonight and had decided to gatecrash.
Jon was looking from one to the other in surprise, much like Leonie had that time in Monterey, she realised.
‘Mind if I join you guys? Seems pretty full here.’ Seth said, pulling out the unoccupied chair alongside Jon, as if they were all old friends. Then as if to once again highlight to Alex the differences between the two men, he bent down and patted the Dalmatian with relaxed ease. ‘Hey big fella.’
‘Um…’ Jon looked at Alex, urging an explanation.
‘So aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?’ Seth was saying now, not even bothering to hide the smug amusement in his tone.
Alex glared at him through narrowed eyes. ‘This is Jon, my boyfriend. Jon, this is Seth who I think I might have mentioned before, is my ex-husband.’
‘Ex-husband? I don’t think so.’ Seth corrected, shaking Jon’s hand as if they were old friends but if they’d been dogs, his leg would have been well and truly cocked.
‘Um, pleasure meeting you.’ Jon’s expression was dark and as Alex watched him squirm beneath Seth’s grasp, she couldn’t tell if it was with discomfort, or actual pain.
‘Pleasure’s all mine,’ Seth replied, beaming mischievously at Alex.
Alex was furious. ‘I cannot believe you gate-crashed my date like that!’ When a few minutes later Jon excused himself to use the restroom, she let Seth have it with both barrels.
‘Don’t know what you’re talking about,’ he said, feigning innocence. ‘I just happened to be passing by when I saw you guys sitting outside.’
‘Don’t give me that. It was no coincidence. How did you know?’
‘Know what?’ His amused and blatantly self-satisfied expression made her want to slap him.
‘That I’d be here tonight. Don’t bother trying to deny it Seth, I know you did this on purpose.’
He shrugged offhandedly. ‘I guess Leonie might have mentioned it.’
‘What?’ She was going to kill Leonie. ‘When did she tell you that?’
‘I called by your place earlier but you weren’t in, so I went upstairs to see if she knew where you were.’
Alex couldn’t understand why Leonie would have volunteered this information, but knowing Seth it was likely she hadn’t volunteered anything, no doubt he’d managed to wrangle it out of her somehow!
When Jon returned to the table, she met his gaze and tried her utmost to convey an apology while they tried to finish the rest of their food in peace – impossible with Seth yacking on as if they all got together on a regular basis.
‘So what do you do for a living then, Seth?’ Jon asked eventually.
“Actually, I’m sort of between jobs right now -’
‘Between jobs?’ he repeated chuckling. ‘You’re kidding, right? Because I really don’t think I’ve ever heard that from anyone over twenty-five.’ Seth’s face reddened with anger or embarrassment, Alex wasn’t quite sure. Clearly Jon wasn’t going to let him get away with hijacking their date so easily!
‘So would you like to share some of our food, seeing as things must be tight for you right now,’ he continued gravely.
Seth shook his head. ‘No thanks doc, I find I generally don’t have to rely on money to get what I want.
’ He might have been speaking to Jon but his gaze rested squarely on Alex.
‘Right. Well, let me know how that works out for you,’ Jon picked up a slice of pizza and took a bite out of it.
‘OK, well I guess we should order some dessert!” Alex blurted, unable to stand any more of this male swagger. For Christ’s sake, they were like a couple of silverback gorillas squaring up to one another!
She and Jon finished their meal in silence, while Seth remained sitting across from them, his expression indolent.
Eventually, Jon pushed away his plate. ‘I’m sorry Alex, but I’d better be going,’ he said, putting a hundred dollar bill on the table – way more than the bill plus tip warranted. ‘I’m on an early shift tomorrow morning.’
‘So soon? But it’s Friday night!’ Seth exclaimed exaggeratedly..
‘Yes well unfortunately brain surgery doesn’t lend itself to sociable hours,’ Jon’s expression was tight.
Alex stood up. ‘I’ll come with you,’ she said, only too eager to get away.
‘Honey, the guy just said he has an early start tomorrow,’ Seth protested, and Alex felt like she was going to explode, ‘so I’m sure the last thing he needs is you keeping him up late. Right doc?’
‘Butt out, Seth,’ she grunted, but because neither of them could really argue Seth’s point, Jon simply nodded. ‘I’ll call you tomorrow?’ he said, and when his gaze met hers Alex tried again to express her own frustrations about it all.
‘Sure.’ She stood up from the table and gave him a long lingering (and very obvious) kiss on the lips. ‘Thanks for dinner. I had a great time.’
Jon smiled. ‘My pleasure. See you soon.’
‘Nice meeting you, doc. Hope we bump into one another again sometime,’ Seth called after him, which to Alex sounded ominously like a promise.
Once Jon had left she turned on Seth again. ‘Who do you think you are, my father, or something? And don’t think I didn’t notice you trying to provoke Jon. He’s a good guy.’
‘A good guy? What about those cheap shots he laid on me just there? And he sent you flowers for Christ sake!’
‘Well, you deserved it and I told you, he didn’t know about my hay fever. He’d hardly have done it on purpose. He’s a doctor, remember?’ Alex grabbed her purse and stood up to leave.
Seth got up too. ‘Yeah so I keep hearing.’
‘And what’s that supposed to mean?’ she asked, marching down the street ahead of him.
‘It means that I can’t figure out why you’re with this guy, Alex. He’s about as interesting as watching paint dry. Come on I bet he’s never even been to a forty-niners game!’
‘It’s none of your business why I’m with him, and so what if he’s never been to a stupid football game. Too busy saving people’s lives maybe?’
‘Of course, I forgot, he’s a doctor,’ Seth’s voice was dripping with sarcasm. ‘Let me guess, he’s got a mansion in Pacific Heights and a boathouse in Sausalito, he drives a Hybrid and donates generously to charity. Come on Alex, this guy isn’t you!’
Alex whirled around to face him. ‘And what the hell would you know about it?’ she retorted hotly. ‘For your information Jon is wonderful. He’s kind, hugely considerate, treats me like a lady and most importantly, doesn’t jump into bed with every female in close radius.’
‘Oh so we’re back to that now, are we?’ Seth snapped. ‘Alex, how many times do I have to tell you …’ He shook his head. ‘Hell, I don’t even know why I’m bothering; you wouldn’t believe me back then so why would you believe me now.’
‘Because it doesn’t add up, that’s why!’ He was right; Alex didn’t believe him. And she couldn’t understand why he still insisted on making a fool of her by refusing to admit the truth. ‘You told me you were going out on the boat. What, so diving trips extended to Ruby Skye too?’
‘I know I shouldn’t have lied about going to the club, and you’re right I was an asshole to do that. But me and the guys had a couple of beers and well… I thought you’d get on my case for staying out late. Look, I know what you saw, but that’s all there was too it and –’
‘But you’re still an asshole, Seth!’ she cried, refusing to listen. ‘And tonight is just another example of that! You knew I was meeting Jon here, so you decided to come along and make things difficult – just because you could. This is just a game to you isn’t it?’ she said, running a hand through her hair in frustration.
It all was becoming too much. First, there was the huge step of getting over Seth and involved with Jon, and just when she’d done that – just as she’d got her life back on an even keel, Seth had sent her emotions flying again when she met him in Monterey. And as if that wasn’t enough, now there was all this talk about him supposedly wanting to ‘try again’, when deep down Alex knew he didn’t mean a word of it. Why did he have to keep messing with her head like this? Small wonder she’d automatically assumed the Valentine flowers were from him when it was exactly the kind of thing he’d do!
She turned to look at him. ‘Seth, up until two weeks ago I didn’t know if you were alive or dead because you didn’t have the decency to let me know where you were. Then when we bump into each other, and you find out I’m seeing someone else, you appear at my doorstep and tell me you want to start over. Do you think I’m stupid? Do you think I can’t see what you’re doing here?’
‘All I’m doing is –’
‘All you’re doing is the same thing you’ve always done which is mess me around! I’ve moved on. Why can’t you give me that at least?’
‘I don’t know what you mean.’
‘I mean, why can’t you just let me be happy? Before, as soon as things got crazy, you took off and left me to deal with everything on my own. And now to add insult to injury you can’t even let me have closure.’
Seth was silent for a while and when he spoke again, his tone held none of his usual bravado. ‘By that you mean the divorce.’
‘Yes. This might be all another big game to you but it isn’t to me,’ she said, her tone wavering. ‘I’m thirty-three years old Seth, and I’ve got all this baggage from a first marriage. I don’t want to deal with it anymore and I’m tired of waiting around for it to be finished. I want to move on with my life. I need you to help me do that.’
‘You really want to go through with this?’
She looked at him, willing him to take her seriously. It was the only way she could ever truly rid herself of the pain he’d caused. ‘I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life. What - did you really think I went to all that trouble to find you for nothing?’
Seth seemed unmoved. ‘So you can be free to marry the doc, I suppose.’
‘It hasn’t come to that, and I don’t know if it will,’ she said honestly. ‘Anyway, It doesn’t matter either way. For as long as I’m married to you, on paper or otherwise, I can’t move on. I want a clean slate Seth. And I can’t have that until you agree to let me go.’
His gaze held firm and for a brief moment, she thought he was about to agree. But then his expression darkened. ‘Well I’m sorry but it’s not that simple.’
‘What?’ she said, shocked.
‘This might surprise you but I have a lawyer too, and according to him, that no-fault divorce application your lawyer just filed isn’t valid.’
Alex’s thoughts whirled. ‘What are you talking about? Of course it’s valid. California law states I don’t have to prove you were unfaithful and we have no property, no children, no assets to dispute...’
‘Well that’s where you’re wrong,’ he replied, eyeing her triumphantly. ‘Actually, there is one asset we both share, and until we can come to agreement about that, the petition doesn’t stand.’
‘What asset…?’ But almost as soon as she said the words, Alex had figured it out. ‘The Mustang,’ she gasped.
‘Yep. So until we come to some kind of agreement about ownership, officially our assets are in dispute.’
No way. He was not getting
her beloved car. Not after all the sweat and effort she’d put into it – well truthfully what they’d both put into it, but that wasn’t the point. Seth knew how much she adored that car – he wasn’t seriously thinking of taking it from her?
‘But you bought me that car for my birthday!’ she cried, maddened beyond belief. How the hell did he come up with this stuff? ‘So it’s mine.’
‘Actually, in the eyes of the law, it’s a shared asset by way of our marriage,’ he told her smugly. ‘So I guess we’ll have to try and come to some kind of agreement. Only problem is this could take some time…’
At that very moment, Alex didn’t think she had ever, ever in her entire life so badly wanted to murder someone.
Chapter 22
My love,
I know I’m probably the last person you want to hear from, but I just wanted to let you know how sorry I am. You have to know that I would never do anything to hurt you, at least not intentionally, but I made a big mistake, a huge mistake this time.
I realise there’s no going back, and I’m not asking for that; I just wanted to let you to know how much I regret what happened, and how I wish from the bottom of my heart it never happened, or that I hadn’t caused it. But it did, and it’s all my fault, and I would do anything to have the chance to go back and undo it all.
But I can’t.
I know I don’t have any right to ask, but I hope you’re OK?
I really don’t know what else to say now. Just know that I never meant to hurt you, and I’m so very, very sorry.
Please forgive me.
Leonie sat by the windowsill, and tucked the letter into the envelope.
It was still driving her crazy trying to figure out what had happened with Nathan and Helena, and despite her and Alex’s best attempts, they now seemed to have hit a real dead end in trying to find either of them. Despite herself, she’d been reluctant to read through any more of the letters once Alex had suggested that they should leave well enough alone, but at the same time, it was hard it resist.
