His heart began to break off into tiny pieces, cutting into his very soul at the sadness permeating the entire room. "I can. You just have to let me."
Whether she would ever believe him or not, he was doing this for her own good. "You can't because I'm leaving."
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
"You can't leave. Please, Daniel. Stay so we can work this out."
He closed the distance between them and kissed her on the forehead. "I'm sorry, Mel. I can't."
Her tears fell freely now. Damn. Damn. Damn. This really was for the best…wasn't it? "When are you leaving?"
"As soon as I can pack our stuff. I'll take Annie out to the car while she's still sleeping."
The thought of both of the women in his life reduced to tears delivered a crushing blow to his chest, making it difficult to breathe. He pressed his hands against the sides of his head, willing the pressure to ease. "When she wakes up, I'll try to explain everything to her."
"I need to say good-bye."
"No."
He forced himself to ignore the look of pain on her face.
"Please, Daniel. I know you're hurting, and I've probably gone about this all wrong. But, I really do care about you and Annie. I just want to say good-bye."
Stepping closer, his voice lowered. "If she sees you crying then she'll start crying. Not going to happen." His eyes found hers and locked them together for a moment. He needed to make sure she understood. "I hope you can forgive me for doing the right thing here. You're going to meet Mr. Perfect someday, rather than Mr. Messed Up, and you'll thank me for having the strength to leave you."
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Melodie watched numbly as Daniel moved about the apartment collecting his and Annie's things. She wanted to say more but, really, what more was there to say? She'd told him she loved him and offered to walk next to him through difficult times. That was it—the most she had to give. And it wasn't enough. She wanted to scream at him, argue with him…hell, even throw something at him. Annie's peaceful, sleeping form kept her from doing any of those things.
Maybe the gift of argument was something to be treasured. Before she could come up with anything more to say, he'd carried Annie to the car and returned to grab their bags. Leaning forward, he kissed her on the forehead. "Good-bye, Mel."
She'd watched him pull away and stared after the empty space for several minutes before shutting the door and moving into her bedroom. Not wanting to be on the bed, she lowered herself to the floor in the corner of her bedroom, knees clutched close to her chest and head lowered. She let the tears fall until the supply had dried up, leaving a raw, empty ache deep inside her chest. Time passed by, either quickly or slowly, she couldn't be sure. Her cell phone buzzed a couple of times, but she was in no condition to talk to anyone right now. She'd call whoever it was back later.
Stacks of unread books hovered nearby on her nightstand, calling to her with their swan song. An invitation to lose herself in the pages and escape the pain reality served up on a regular basis. Why had she let herself succumb to Daniel's charms? Even worse, why had she agreed to let him stay here with his loveable daughter?
An incessant banging on the door proved much harder to ignore than a buzzing cell phone. She hugged her knees even tighter and tried to black out the images of Daniel carrying his sleeping angel out the door and out of her life.
"Mel, what the hell is wrong with you?" Her sister's voice entered the room only moments before she did.
Melodie sensed her crouch down next to her, the familiar smell of her perfume offered a small touch of comfort in the midst of the turmoil. "Where are Daniel and Annie?"
A fresh supply of tears from God knows where found their way to her eyes and spilled out onto her cheeks. "Gone."
"That sonofabitch left you again? I'll find him and rip him a new one." Evelyn morphed into full attorney attack mode.
"No, I made him leave, I guess." Her voice wavered, but the message made its way through.
Her sister's body nudged in next to hers as Ev made room for herself on the floor. The pleat in her immaculately pressed pants served as a vivid reminder of how completely opposite they were. Still in the grey shorts and pink T-shirt, a very damp pink T-shirt, her appearance was a stark contrast to her sister. Not that it mattered anymore…
"Tell me what happened." Evelyn put her arm around Melodie and pulled her closer in a half embrace.
"I messed up in a big way."
"How so?"
"I told him I loved him and wanted us to help each other through the challenges we were facing." The admission came with a quiet acknowledgement, the tear slipping slowly from the corners of her eyes. Honestly, how could there be any water left in her body at this point? Realizing she was now dampening her sister's silk blouse, she pulled back. "Sorry about the blouse."
Warmth infused her cold heart as a strong arm pulled her even closer. "It's a stupid blouse. You cry if you need to. I'll send you the dry cleaning bill."
The slight tease in her last statement prompted Melodie to lift her head enough to see her face. "Thanks for being here." Having a big sister is nice. "Why are you here?"
"I wanted to see how things went with Mother. I tried calling, but you didn't answer the phone or return my calls. A bad habit you have, I might add. I came after mass."
"Where are the boys?"
"With their father, something about a trip to Bass Pro Shop, I think."
At the mention of the store where she'd had dinner with Daniel, she buried her head back in the comfort of Evelyn's embrace. "I was going to call you later. As you can see, I'm in no condition to carry on a conversation."
Manicured fingers gently combed through her hair. "I'm going to give you about five more minutes to wallow in self-pity, and then we're going to get off this hard floor, have a cup of coffee, and figure this out."
Melodie wanted to argue but knew this time her sister was right. Not that she would admit that outright to her. Five more minutes didn't seem a reasonable time to process everything that happened between her and Daniel this morning. "Ten minutes?"
Evelyn smiled. "Seven and a half. Who says I can't compromise?"
Melodie closed her eyes but returned the smile with a small one. "You're a gem."
Exactly seven and a half minutes later, she was in the kitchen with her sister, watching as she made a fresh pot of coffee. "So, he left because he doesn't love you?"
"No, I'm pretty sure he left because he believes he doesn't deserve to be loved."
"Why?"
Melodie paused for a moment, not really sure this was her story to share. "Something happened when he was in Afghanistan working as a civilian contractor. He feels guilty for the role he played." She made eye contact with her sister, hoping to convey how serious this was without providing any more details. "Very guilty."
Several moments passed before her sister blinked and nodded. "OK, I understand that's his challenge. What's yours?"
This explained why her sister was a successful attorney. She never missed a detail. "I can't have children."
Evelyn's face registered surprise, but she quickly composed herself. "When did you find out?"
"The doctor told me about six months ago, right after Tom shipped out after his leave. The doctor and I have been trying different treatment options, but the scarring from the endometriosis is too severe."
Her sister pulled her into a strong embrace again. "I'm so sorry, Mel. The fact you can't have children isn't the end of the world. There are other options."
Melodie smiled sadly. "That's what Daniel said. I believed him…and you." She added. "I told him this morning I wanted to help him through his challenges just like he offered to help me through mine. I thought it was a perfect solution. He disagreed."
"And you listened to him?"
Evelyn's words struck a chord. She'd fought hard for him…for them. Hadn't she? "Not at first, but, unlike my family, I wasn't going to pressure him into trying to be or do something he wasn't re
ady for."
"Oh, save the dramatics. This isn't about pushing him to be better at something, this is about finding a way to show him love, and keep loving him until he believes he deserves it."
"I did try. I swear."
Evelyn hugged her. "I know, kiddo, but you can't give up so easily. Love is hard. Trust me."
Today, ironically, the childhood nickname made her feel loved rather than annoyed. "I'm not arguing, I promise. I just really am at a loss. He's refused my love and my help, taken Annie, and left."
Evelyn's eyebrow rose, "Are you doubting your big sister's ability to help you find a creative solution to this problem?"
Evelyn's words peaked her attention and brought a small smile to her face. "Your name on the door of a major law firm in downtown Chicago suggests there is no room for doubt."
Evelyn pulled herself to her full five-feet-eight inches and winked. "Then it's time to completely break out of your comfort zone, and do something different if you want different results." Her posture slouched a fraction. "Trust me—I know a thing or two about this."
Melodie remembered Jason mentioning his dad slept on the couch many nights. Maybe Ev's fairy tale life wasn't the happily ever after she portrayed. Soon, very soon, she'd ask her about the status of her marriage. First, she wanted her to continue this line of thought. "Well, you've picked the perfect time to suggest this as I've been slowly breaking out of that zone for weeks now."
"Good! Then here's what I suggest you do. Pull yourself together, book a plane ticket, knock on his front door, and park yourself in his living room until he admits he needs you and can't live without you." Evelyn smiled. "I'm pretty sure the law says if you stay long enough, you'll become his common-law wife."
"Let's say I want to do that. Other than the state, I have no idea where he lives." She wasn't even sure a cell number would help at this point. She could call, but this conversation needed to take place in person.
Evelyn chewed on her bottom lip, signifying deep thought. Mel grinned, remembering her picking up the habit at a very young age. Mother would always fuss reminding her of the "tell" being a show of weakness. Mel thought it made her appear more human and something less than a goddess.
Finally, Evelyn spoke. "I know a guy, an investigator. He owes me a favor. You make arrangements at work, and book your flight for Friday. I'll have an address for you by then."
Miracles never ceased. This particular miracle she had to thank Daniel for, as he served as the catalyst for the turnaround in the relationship with her sister. "Are you doing this because Daniel blackmailed you into being nice to me?"
Her big sister grinned. "A few points of order, little sis. First, Daniel isn't here, so there's no threat of blackmail looming over my head. Second, while I might not approve of his methods, he helped me see you in a different way—the way I should've viewed you all along. He stood up to me without flinching. There aren't too many people around with the guts to take me head on. I respect him."
"He's kinda great, isn't he?" No, he's wonderful. She was going to find him and make him see how amazing he truly was.
Daniel had handled her family flawlessly.
"Let's not get carried away. He's still a man, which means he possesses serious flaws. But, as far as his gender is concerned, he comes across as better than average."
Thinking of their last night together, Melodie's eyes closed. "Much, much better than average."
"On that note, I'm going to leave you to start the repairs on your red, puffy eyes. Judging by their current state, Friday may be cutting it close to be back to normal."
Melodie raised her hands in surrender. "I know. Tea bags and cold compresses followed by plenty of rest." And research on survivor guilt.
She felt the comforting embrace of her sister once more and a kiss on her forehead.
"You can do this, Mel. I believe in you"
What an emotional day. She'd finally experienced the pleasure of a closer relationship with her sister, and she'd lost Daniel. For the moment anyway… Her track record in the game of love currently stood at no wins and entirely too many losses. With a deep breath in and another out, hope and courage filled her heart. Time for a change.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Friday
Melodie swallowed hard as she stood at the beginning of the small brick path leading to Daniel's front door. Five days—a lifetime—transpired since Daniel took Annie and left. No texts. No phone calls. No showing up at her door. This time she would be the one to take the initiative to set things straight. She liked that.
Evelyn, true to her word, called in a favor and provided his address. The modest house occupied a small plot of neatly manicured lawn. The one-story, grey home boasted a small porch with new wooden pillars holding the roof in place, a recent repair perhaps? Three concrete steps at the end of the small walkway would put her squarely in front of the white door leading to her fate. Well, she'd come this far.
A red Ford mustang—convertible, of course—adorned the driveway. The lump in her throat expanded as memories of staying out all night with Daniel flashed in her mind. In direct contrast to the muscle car, a pink bicycle with white and pink tassels decorating the handlebar leaned against the garage. She smiled. Daniel certainly operated as a man of contrasts. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Time to see which of those two personalities would answer the door. Each step reminded her of drudging through a mud pit, laborious and slow. No walking on sunshine today. She opened the screen door, knocked, and waited.
Nothing.
She checked her watch, a little after two in the afternoon. He could be at work, but the car was in the driveway. She knocked again, a little more forcefully. Still nothing.
You can do this. Evelyn's words strengthened her resolve. She had nowhere to be until Monday morning. She'd wait. Longer than Monday, if necessary. This was it. He was her happily ever after.
Thirty minutes later a loud rumbling sounded at the end of the block. She stood, prepared to run, depending on the source of the noise. Then she saw him. Her bad-boy-turned-knight-in-shining-armor clad in jeans and a leather jacket straddling a cherry red, trimmed in black motorcycle. Talk about sex on wheels. Her body tingled in remembrance of his pressed against hers, sending her so high she had to look down to see heaven.
He pulled into the drive, removed his helmet, and slid off the bike with the grace of a panther. His fingers combed through the closely cropped hair—he'd cut it since he left. The sight of him eased the ache building in her heart from the moment he said good-bye. "Hey." Not eloquent but a start.
Her voice drew his attention away from the bike. "What kind of motorcycle is that?"
His face registered a mix of wariness and surprise. "Ducati. Best damn bike there is."
"I like it. Suits you perfectly."
He moved toward the front door, keys in hand. "I didn't expect to see you again."
She followed him onto the porch. "It seems Adventure Melodie decided to stick around. I've never been to Mississippi before. So I thought, what the hell. It's beautiful here, by the way. The colors are so vibrant. Pretty hot though."
He opened the door and stepped inside. His body blocked her ability to follow him in. Not wanting him to shut her out both physically and emotionally, she decided to appeal to the Southern gentleman. "So hot, in fact, that I've worked up quite a thirst sitting out here waiting for you to come home." She lowered her lashes and her voice. "Won't you at least invite me in for a glass of sweet tea or something?"
Daniel shook his head and grinned. "I half expected you to pull out a fan and try to mimic the accent with your routine. You really need to work on your Southern belle act."
A small crack in his resistance. Offering him a bright smile, she shrugged. "Hey I really am thirsty. Dehydration affects my acting skills."
The door opened the rest of the way, and he stepped aside. One step closer. "I'm out of sweet tea, but there's a fresh pitcher of lemonade in the fridge. Will that work?"
/> "Perfect, thank you."
A sweet shiver ran through her nerves the moment his fingers touched hers as he delivered the drink. A few sips of the tart liquid helped cool and calm her. "How's Annie?"
"She'll be home from school soon. She's adjusting well, mothering me quite a bit for an eight year old."
Thoughts of the blonde-haired, blue-eyed princess forced Melodie to wipe an errant tear from her cheek. "Sorry, I…I've missed her." She held his gaze with hers, willing him to see the love. "I've missed you."
He reclined on the cushions of the couch, a frown etched on his face. "She misses you too, along with the bedtime stories and Jason. She doesn't understand how milady can live without her knight." The blue eyes fixed a penetrating stare in her direction. "I don't know what to tell her."
Moment of truth. "I would tell her that while milady probably could, it wouldn't be what anyone would classify as living." Melodie reached out to touch his arm. "I don't want to go through the motions anymore. I want to be free to live life, and I want you to be as well. To prove it, I found you, flew all the way here, and waited thirty minutes in the hot, Mississippi sun for you. If that doesn't say I can't live without you, I don't know what does."
Her breath held as the entire world hung in the balance, well her entire world, as she waited for his response. He exhaled slowly and smiled. "All those books you read, and you quote something I said?"
The tension released its iron grip on her body, her breath escaping through laughter. "Well, you said something memorable that fit the occasion, so why not?"
He took her hand, holding it in between his. "I'm sorry I left the way I did. At the time, I really thought it was the best thing for you."
The air became trapped in her lungs again. "And now?"
More Than One Night Page 19
