Midnight in Brussels

by Rebecca Randolph Buckley

  Amanda didn’t dispute the story, although Jered and the ranch hands knew she was protecting Darys, didn’t want to make waves. They all knew how merciless Darys could be when crossed. They’d experienced it themselves. Her father would never believe she was capable of doing anything wrong.

  Two days before the wedding, Amanda was sitting in the den in front of the fireplace, reading. Darys came in and sat across from her.

  “You’re after our money, aren’t you?”

  Amanda looked up in disbelief at Darys. “What?”

  “You’re after our money, but you won’t get it. When he dies, I get it. So why don’t you just move along?”

  “Darys, I’m not after your money. I’m not after anything – the house, the money, it’s yours. That’s fine with me. I don’t want it. Surely you don’t feel that about me.”

  “You don’t fool me. Everybody knows it. No one likes you. None of our friends want you here, and neither do I. He was going to marry Elaine before you came along. She should be his wife. She’s his kind. He bought that ring for her you’re wearing. She picked it out.”

  Amanda sat silently for a few moments, glancing at her ring and hearing Darys’s words echoing in her mind. She closed her book, stood up, and said quietly, “I love your father and he loves me. I’m sorry about Elaine, and the ring.”

  She sadly left the den and went to her bedroom to get ready for the pre-wedding party Richard was giving that night for all his friends.

  Although she still had twinges of pain in her broken sternum from the horse hammering his back bone into her chest, the pain medication and carefulness in which she carried herself was helping her mend.

  Her thoughts switched to what it would be like to make love with Richard on their wedding night, just two nights away. Would the sternum pain interfere? Would she be able to be what Richard wanted? She wanted everything to be perfect. And she wondered what he would say if he knew she and Antoine had been intimate. She pushed that thought out of her mind almost as fast as it entered.

  That night before the party, Richard told her the story of Darys’s mother. She had never married Richard. They had had a torrid affair when they were young; she’d gotten pregnant, and after she had the baby had left it with him. She didn’t want anything to do with a child. She took off and he had never heard from her again. He tried to find her when Darys became a teenager and was asking questions he couldn’t answer.

  He felt his daughter needed her mother, but she was not to be found. He felt guilty and protective of Darys, shielded her from real life, gave her all she wanted, spoiled her. When she was sixteen, she rebelled and ran off and married the wrong guy. Richard went after her and brought her back home. He paid off the groom, who gladly took the money and ran.

  Since Darys was ten years old, Richard had dated Elaine Morris, who owned a gift shop in town. The only thing that bothered him about Elaine and had kept him from committing to her was that she had a terrific temper. And she was possessive. But he’d finally made the decision to ask her to marry him just before he met Amanda. He felt he was getting older and that it was time to settle down.

  He had discussed it with Darys, who was one hundred percent in favor of it. Elaine and Darys were good friends, and Elaine had even told Darys which ring she’d like to have. She’d taken her to the local jewelry store and pointed it out to her. Darys told her dad and he bought it, planning to give it to Elaine.

  But before that happened, he met Amanda on one of his trips to Bakersfield and everything changed.

  Darys was unhappy.

  Elaine was unhappy.

  Richard knocked at Amanda’s bedroom door. “Darling, are you ready?”

  She opened the door, looking like a puff of pink cotton candy.

  He gasped. “You are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen! Where did you get that dress?”

  “I made it myself. Wait till you see my bridal gown,” she teased.

  The dress she was wearing could have been the wedding dress, except that it was pale pink. It had a pink lace, strapless, fitted bodice with pink tulle flowing in layers from the waistline to mid-calf in a full, puffy skirt. Matching lace-covered dancing slippers enhanced the creation.

  “Your shoes, did you make those, too?” He was flabbergasted.

  Amanda laughed. “Actually, I did make the lace that covers them. This is what I learned while I was in Bruges. I make lace, design and make dresses, and cover shoes.”

  “You are spectacular! And your hair, how did you do that? I’ve never seen it twisted up like that. It looks so elegant. Darling, I am proud to have you as my wife.”

  “Not a wife yet.” She grinned up at him, sensually.

  His mind flooded with thoughts of how much she had evolved, changed. It was just a little over a year ago when he’d first met the shy, young, timid girl from Arkansas who wouldn’t even look into his eyes. She’d stolen his heart then and now she had captured his mind, body, and soul. How he loved and adored her!

  “Shall we?” He held out his arm and they headed down the corridor toward the ballroom he’d built for special occasions such as this.

  As they rounded the corner and entered the hall leading past the den, Darys and Elaine stepped in front of them.

  “Good evening, ladies. What do you think of our princess Amanda here? Isn’t she glorious?” Something warned him that all was not right. He drew Amanda to him, put his protective arm around her. “So why aren’t you two in the ballroom?”

  “You can’t do this, Daddy. You can’t marry this woman. She’s after your money, can’t you see that?” Darys pulled at Amanda’s arm. “Get away from my daddy, you gold digger!”

  “Darys! How dare you! What’s the matter with you?” He stepped in front of Amanda, guarding her.

  “She’s right, Richie! You’ve been fooled!” Elaine warned. “That girl is too young for you and she’s no good. She treats Darys horribly, and you don’t know what’s been happening! What’s the matter with you? Your pecker taking control of your brain, as usual?”

  Jered and Bill came running toward them after hearing the commotion. “What’s wrong, Boss?”

  “I think these ladies need to be escorted from the premises, Jered. Put them in the Jeep and drive them to Elaine’s house. Right now.”

  Darys screamed, “I’m not leaving my own house! I won’t go! She’s evil! She planned this! Please, Daddy! Don’t send me away; you’re all I’ve got! Please … please!”

  Jered was practically dragging her out the side door as Bill escorted Elaine behind them.

  Elaine stopped and glared back at Amanda. “You won’t last, you bitch. We’ll run you out of town, just you wait and see. Your life will be miserable.”

  Bill jerked her arm and they disappeared into the night.

  Amanda shivered. “I can’t go in there now.”

  “Yes, you can,” Richard assured her. “You’re going to be my wife, darling. Don’t listen to those two. I’ll deal with Darys. she’ll get over it. She will.”

  Later, while everyone was sleeping in the early morning hours before daybreak, Amanda knocked on Paula and Drake’s door at the motel in Cupertino where they were staying for the wedding and asked them to take her back home to Bakersfield. She told them what had happened and that she wanted to leave right then. They bundled up little A.G. and left for the San Joaquin Valley.

  By noon, when Richard realized Amanda wasn’t asleep in her room, the phone at Paula and Drake’s started ringing off the hook. No one answered. The calls went to the answering machine.

  “That’s him again. I have to go back to Belgium, Paula. I can’t stay here,” Amanda sobbed. “I’ve got to go. He’ll give up calling and will come down here after me. I can’t go back to the ranch. I’m afraid of Darys and Elaine.”

  “Are you sure you want to do this, hon?”

  “They’ll hurt me. They’ll find a way. You know they will. Darys has already tried.”

  “Okay, okay. Let’s talk about
this. Hold on.” Paula stuck her head out of the bedroom and yelled, “Drake, come in here, right now! Hurry!”

  Drake came running, thinking something terrible had happened. “What is it? What’s the matter, babe?”

  “Amanda wants to go back to Belgium, today.”

  Amanda wiped her eyes and took Drake’s hand. “I have to go. I can stay with Antoine. He moved to Brussels from Bruges to be closer to school. I told you about him. I’m sure I can stay with him till I find my own place. I can do it, Drake. I can make a living with my lace and dresses. It’s a designer’s Mecca, especially new designers, beginners. I just need some financial help until I get on my feet. Can you help me out? I’ll pay you back, I promise.”

  “Amanda, I have no doubt that you would, but don’t you worry about paying any of it back to us. We have more than we need anyway. You’re a gutsy girl, and I admire your strength and braveness. So figure out what you need, but we’ve got to get going. I’m sure Richard is on the road right this minute. We can figure out what you need on the way to the airport. We’ll drive to L.A., you can fly out of LAX and we’ll buy the ticket over the phone on the way. So grab what you absolutely need and let’s get going.”

  “I’ll sign a paper, Drake. We’ll say that you and Paula are partners in—in Mandy Malone Designs. That’s what I’m going to call my shop. Deal?”

  “Okay, okay, deal! Now get movin’!” Drake hugged her and headed for the garage to get the SUV.

  Paula grinned. “See why I married that lug, Amanda? I’ll get little A.G.’s stuff, so you hurry up now. Okay?”

  Amanda put her arms around her sister. “I love you, Paula.”

  “I love you too, honey babe. Like I always say, we Conroy sisters have got to stick together!”

  Chapter 43

  When Amanda arrived in Brussels, she went directly to the Metropole Hotel and got a room. She’d made the decision on the plane. Even though it was an expensive hotel, she didn’t know of any others. It was familiar to her. She still had some of the money that Rachel and Richard had given her before. Besides, with Antoine’s mother and two daughters with him, it would most likely be crowded. It shouldn’t take her long to find an apartment. She figured she could always sell the engagement ring if she needed to, now that she knew it had been purchased for Elaine, it didn’t mean a damn thing to her.

  Amanda was feeling stronger and more determined than she ever had. She knew exactly what she was going to do. She would recruit lace-makers at the school in Bruges to make the lace for her garments that she would design. She would set up a sewing room above a shop and pay seamstresses to do the work. She would manage the shop and the sewing room.

  If she was frugal, she could do it. Within two months, by the end of June, if she could find the people she wanted, she could be back in business. She also had to get all the necessary permits to have a business in Brussels. And she had to see if they could rush it all through for her … evidently it usually took four months to get all the paperwork cleared.

  She needed Rachel.

  “Rachel. Hi, it’s Amanda.” She sat at the window in her hotel room looking down on the busy boulevard.

  “Amanda! Oh, I’m so glad you called. I talked to Paula last night and she told me what had happened. Girl, you are doing the right thing. So what’s the plan? Where are you?”

  “I’m at the Metropole, decided not to stay with Antoine, don’t want to bother him. And tomorrow I’m going to find a shop with an apartment overhead. I’m sure if I look hard enough, I’ll find one, even if I have to talk to the existing shop owners. I hear that sometimes they move out at a moment’s notice. Lots of new designers just out of school set up shop then sell all the merchandise they have and close up. So that might be a way to go, too.”

  “You’re absolutely right.” Rachel walked to the edge of the cliff in her back garden overlooking the boats in Newlyn Harbour below. She’d been sitting on the iron settee that Pete had given her when she moved into the cottage. He had arranged the purchase of the cottage for her while she had been in the States at her mother’s funeral. She’d been thinking about Pete all morning and how he ought the cottage sight unseen because he knew what she wanted, and that she trusted his judgment.

  “Rachel, I was thinking, maybe you could help me get the permits. I don’t know a thing about that. I’ve decided to hire lace makers and seamstresses to help me put together a collection and I think I can be ready in two months so we can open in June. But they say the permits might take about four months to get. Do you have any ideas?”

  “Just leave that to me. We can do anything we set our minds to, luv.”

  It immediately dawned on Amanda that she’d been selfish and had not asked Rachel about how she was doing. How insensitive it was, when here she was still grieving over the loss of Pete.

  “I’m so sorry, Rachel. I should have asked you about you. Are you all right?”

  “Oh, I’m doing okay. I’m even better now that you’re back and we can get back to planning. I haven’t felt like writing, can’t get my mind off Pete. I finished the book before I left Brussels, though, but haven’t done the final read-through and edit. And Belinda has been having a really rough time, is on another round of chemo. I don’t know how that girl can stand it. So it’s been pretty depressing around here.”

  “Well, as soon as I get the apartment and shop, why don’t you come and help me get everything ready?”

  “That’s a terrific idea!” Rachel walked across the lawn to the French doors that led into her bedroom. “You know, I could come and help you find a place. Would you like me to do that?”

  “Could you? That would be even better, two of us looking. Besides, I’d like the company. I really would. This has all been rather overwhelming, although I feel fantastic!”

  “Okay, I’ll make arrangements to come by the end of the week. You go ahead and line up the lace makers and seamstresses and whatever else you’ll need. This is exciting! You’re just what the doctor ordered.”

  “You’re a dream come true, Rachel.”

  “See you soon.”

  The next few days were a whirlwind for Amanda. She took a train to Bruges to talk to the sisters at the Kantcentrum and was able to find some women to make lace for her. She would pick up the pieces they’d done to her specs on Mondays and Thursdays.

  Then she found seamstresses through the Brussels newspaper who advertised for work. She was set; all she needed now was the equipment and the space.

  The night before Rachel was to arrive, Amanda decided to clear her head and relax without thinking of anything. She went downstairs to the Metropole Café and had a light supper and a glass of wine. As she was sitting there watching the people enjoy their Friday night after work, out of the corner of her eye a familiar shape was taking form.

  It was Richard coming through the doorway heading straight for her.

  Her heart skipped a few beats and then began to pick up speed. She was getting dizzy with surges of adrenaline. How did he know where she was?

  “Hello, little lady.” He scooted close to her in the leather booth in the corner of the café. “This is a cozy café, isn’t it? Waiter?” He motioned to a nearby server. “I’ll have the same as the lady, please. In fact, bring a bottle of it, will you?”

  Amanda was speechless and her mouth was hanging open. She couldn’t think of anything to say.

  “So. You’re looking lovely.”

  She finally gained her wits and whispered, “How did you know I was here?”

  “It was easy to find out. I’m pretty clever that way.”

  She could tell he was angry, but in control of it. His words and mannerisms were tight and restrained.

  “I’m sorry I left like I did, Richard. I should have discussed it with you.”

  “Yes. That would have been the right thing to do.”

  The waiter brought the bottle and poured two glasses.

  “Let’s make a toast, shall we?” He lifted his glass and waited for
her to do so. His eyes were cold and steely. “To the truth, now and forevermore.”

  Amanda hesitated, and then took a sip. She was a little frightened—she’d never seen him this way.

  “So when were you going to explain? You left me at the altar, Amanda. Why was that?”

  “I … well … I—”

  “Is there someone else?”

  “Oh no! Not at all! Of course not.”

  “Then why?” His eyes were filling with tears. He closed them for a moment. “Never mind, don’t answer that just yet. Let’s just have a glass or two. I need to relax, and then we can talk. Is that all right with you?” He breathed deeply.

  “Richard, I am so sorry. I really am. But I didn’t know what else to do.”

  “Let’s just not talk about it right now, okay?”

  “All right. But will you forgive me?”

  He moved closer to her and put his arm around her. “Darling, I could never be angry at you for very long. You must have had a good reason to run like you did. And I’ve been miserable ever since. Did it have anything to do with my daughter?”

  She hesitated, “Yes, it did.”

  “I thought so. My foreman told me some of it, and Paula hinted at the rest.”

  “I thought we weren’t going to talk about it right now.” She attempted a smile.

  “You’re right. I’m just so happy to see you. I didn’t know if I’d find you or not. I couldn’t get it out of Paula, but Drake came through like a champ.”

  Amanda smirked. “That stinker.”

  They both laughed.

  After dinner together, the tension had subsided and it was like it had been before the wedding fiasco. Amanda told Richard what had happened and he assured her that he would take care of it, would make sure nothing like that would occur again.

  Amanda just listened to him at that point, wondering how she was going to tell him she wasn’t going back to the States, ever. She was going to live in Belgium.

  They each ordered a brandy with cheesecake and Richard grinned at Amanda as they waited for it.