Heart of the Matter (Love Me Book 2.5)

by Jaime Russell

  “Your cell phone is not to be out during work hours.” I snap.

  “What? Why not? You are always on yours.” She whines.

  “First, I own this hotel so you don’t speak to me like that. Second, you work for me not the other way around. This is your final warning. If you don’t start doing your job, I will fire you.” I walk into my office slamming the door.

  “Mr. Hawthorne, your wife is on line 2.” She, I can’t remember her name, I write a note to pull her personnel file.

  “Hey babe.” I put the phone on speaker so I can keep working.

  “Hey there stud.” I hear laughing in the phone.

  “Sally, you are not my wife. The receptionist told me it was Abby.”

  “Jenny doesn’t like her.” Sally says and I am beginning to agree with her. It’s so hard finding people that want to work. They all want money but want to do the bare minimum.

  “I came home to change but left my assistants there to keep working. I spilled glue all over my pants and I started sticking to everything.” I laugh imagining the scene before me.

  “I can’t believe that you are letting them run things without you. You have grown so much in the last two years.” Sally says something away from the phone about getting revenge on me and I couldn’t help but laugh. Abby has helped fix my relationship with Sally. We now have weekly dinners just the two of us, no talking work. I see my nieces and nephews more which I am thankful for. Jonathan and I even spend time together. Our friendship dynamics are changing but they are getting stronger.

  I walk out to the main area of the offices to find Jenny to start the process of the interviews again. I see one of my staff members sitting on the desk flirting with my receptionist.

  “John, shouldn’t you be doing something other than sitting on my office desk?” John jumps off the desk and opens his mouth to say something but is interrupted.

  “Oh Cash,” The thorn in my side speaks and the more she speaks it’s like nails on the chalkboard, “he’s visiting me. We are making plans for tonight. He won’t stay long.” Her tone was stern, almost boss like. John’s jaw literally dropped to the floor. I don’t mind staff members calling me by Cash but don’t do it in a disrespectful way.

  “Oh I am terribly sorry. I didn’t realize that you were making plans. Silly me. I wouldn’t want your job to interfere with your love life. The business can wait so John, the two of you an item?” I sit on the desk like Abby usually does on mine. My voice is filled with a lot of sarcasm. John looks mortified but he doesn’t want to leave. I pull out my phone and walk over to the receptionist. “Let’s take a selfie.” She seems excited about it as I post the picture to her Facebook page, “You know what, you are fired. Have a momentous day.” I smirk as I walk away to find Jenny, “Jenny, come here please.” Jenny gets up from her desk and comes out to the reception area with her tablet in hand. “She is fired, please call security to remove her from the premise.” She, whose name I will never get to know, starts to huff when Alex our security guard comes to stand at the desk. Alex is a 6’5”, muscles bigger than my head. Alex is a former Marine who is also a friend of Shawn. Jonathan loves to see Alex as he can hang from those arms and Alex never breaks into a sweat.

  I walk into my office to grab my cell phone and keys. I need a drink. Jenny is sitting at her old desk answering phones and checking emails. I hang my head in defeat. I should listen to the women in my life. I might live longer. I heard them plotting my death one night. I head into the dining room and see Max is on the phone talking to someone about scheduling a consult at the office.

  “You look like hell.” Max says after he hangs up.

  “I fired her. She talked to me like she was the boss. I am not having that.” Max laughs as he grabs his files and we head out to the parking lot. We drive in silence but watching Max bounce his leg as he weaves through the city to the airport. “How about them Yankees?”

  “I hate them.” Max chuckles as his phone rings and its Reagan. “Hey babe.”

  “Hi sweetheart. Where are those designs, you wanted to show Abby?”

  “They are on my desk in your office at the store. Why?”

  “We are at the store now and I wanted to show her, is that okay?”

  “Yes, that’s great. Don’t forget our plans tonight.”

  “What plans? I was going to spend tonight working in the store.”

  “Oh well I’m taking you out tonight. I’m meeting clients at the hotel all afternoon so if you can meet me there.” Max smiles. Apparently, he forgot to arrange plans for Reagan to meet us.

  “I can do that. Jonathan is staying with Nicarra tonight.”

  “Good.” Abby always talks about how much Reagan has changed Max but I see it differently. Reagan was so closed off to love after Don, the murders, and thinking that she had to live her life for Jonathan but to see her open, smile and laugh has been amazing. They talk a few minutes before ending the call. “Oh hell no.” Max punches the steering wheel pulling me from my thoughts.

  “What's the matter?” I look to see Jack Stephens standing outside of the airport terminal looking around like he is lost. He stands there with four large suitcases wearing his trademark black t-shirt, dress khaki’s. Jack must be getting nervous because he keeps checking his watch. I start looking around as Max puts the truck in park as he found a spot on the loading lane. “I don’t see your mom.”

  “She’s over there,” Max points her out, “with Sarah’s parents. This isn't good at all.”

  “Why? I’m confused. I thought everyone was close.”

  “We are but this was to be about Abby and their relationship.” I let out the breath that I was holding. I hope this doesn’t blow up in our faces. We exit the truck to go greet our guests. I put on the fake smile and head to the curb. “Max,” I put my hand on his shoulder, “we need to make sure that this remains about Abby.” Max growls and I laugh.

  “We are on the same page. Mom, dad, Mr. and Mrs. Edwards” Max’s fake excitement really radiates.

  Abby

  I didn’t sleep well last night so of course Sarah and Nicarra being their usual funny selves is pushing my buttons.

  “Sarah!” I snap. I breathe in and out slowly trying to control my temper, “Do you have those samples?”

  “No.” Sarah states with no emotion whatsoever in her tone or expression.

  “Can you get them for me?” I ask in my normal calm tone. Sarah grabs her purse off the chair as she knocks it over to leave in a hurry. I roll my eyes as Nicarra shrugs her shoulders as she follows Sarah out the door.

  “Are you okay?” Reagan gets up and heads over to the Keurig to make me a cup of tea.

  “I haven’t been sleeping too well.”

  “What else is going on? I know we don’t know each other well but I care about you.” Reagan squeezes my hand for reassurance. I don’t know if I can tell her about my nightmares.

  “I’m feeling anxious about the baby coming. It is definitely out of my comfort zone.”

  “Abby, you are going to be an amazing mom, the support system that you have is going to make sure that baby is more loved than anything.”

  “Thanks.” My facial expression must not have been convincing because Reagan comes to sit next to me at the counter.

  “Abby, there is something going on here and you need trust me. Talk to me.” She rubs my hand. I take a deep breath to start talking when Sarah and Nicarra come back into the store laughing about some guy they just saw.

  “Did we interrupt something?” Nicarra looks between the two of us.

  “No, I told Reagan that I haven’t been sleeping well due to this little man.” I rub my belly on instinct. “Sarah, you okay?” Sarah is looking at her cell phone and I could swear that she went green.

  “Umm I don’t know.” She plops down into one of the chairs at one of the four tables we have in the eating area. “My parents,” she sighs, “are in Miami. They just texted me.”

  “What are they doing here?” I ask he
r as I sit down next to her. Sarah and her parents haven’t gotten along since her grandmother died. I guess they thought they were going to get the money that would set anyone up for life. Sarah was named beneficiary of the estate, all 5.5 million dollars. I was in shock when Sarah came home after being sued by her parents. Sarah’s dad, Francis Edwards, tried to get her committed so he could get the money. Sarah told them if they would have just asked then she would have given them some of the money. Sarah was so heartbroken that they haven’t spoken in months.

  “I don’t know and I hope they stay away from me. I need to go upstairs for a little bit. Can we do this design stuff later?” Sarah walks through to the back of the store and takes the stairs up to the apartment she is sharing with Reagan and Max until her apartment is done.

  “Sarah, wait!” I yell out to her and she stops at the bottom of the steps. I waddle over to her so we can talk. “Let’s talk but I can’t do those steps.” I point up to the three flights of stairs. I motion to her to use my office in the back. Right now, it’s a mess due to the boxes being piled into it. The office will be used for Reagan and me. We have one big desk and two chairs but one of them has a stack of boxes and a computer tower on it.

  “Abby. There isn’t much to talk about.” Sarah huffs as she sits down on the desk since the only one chair is mine to plop my big ass in.

  “Sarah, I know you.”

  “Do you really now me?” Sarah snaps at me.

  “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

  “Nothing.” Sarah puts her head down and starts to pick at her flip flop.

  “Are you pissed at me?” I am thinking back to the time that I last spent with Sarah. It’s been a month and I frown. Sarah and I always had a Friday night girls only movie night before moving here to Miami.

  “Oh, did Abby figure it out?” Sarah mocks.

  “I’m sorry that I’ve been so preoccupied with the baby, Cash, and Reagan. You are more important to me than anyone of them, expect my baby. I hope you know that.” I reach out to grab her hand but she quickly moves it.

  “I don’t want your pity and no offense but actions speak louder than words. I’m happy that you have this new life,” Sarah sighs and looks me in the eyes and I see her eye lashes glisten from the tears she is trying to hold back, “but I think this was a mistake; moving here.” Sarah jumps off the table and takes off to the stairs.

  “Sarah!” I yell trying to get her attention but the door slamming echoes throughout the store room. I stand there crying, really crying.

  “Is everything okay back here?” Reagan asks as Nicarra and her are walking into the backroom.

  “Sarah. Mad. At. Me” I gasp through the sobs.

  “Oh honey.” Reagan pulls me into a hug and I cry on her shoulder. She’s rubs her hands up and down my back trying to calm me down. “I’m sure she’s not mad at you.”

  “She is!” I sniffle. “I’ve been so focused on Cash, the baby, and starting this business which means spending time with you. I’m closer to you than her right now.”

  “Can I say something?” Nicarra says in a quiet voice that I am not use to with her.

  “What?” I ask wiping my face and staring at her.

  “Sarah feels like she is left behind and you don’t need her anymore since you have Reagan. We’ve been spending a lot of time together since we are the only single girls. One night we were drinking at the bar and got drunk. Sarah started crying into her beer, literally and figuratively. Sarah wants to move away but not back to Pennsylvania. I told her that I wouldn’t say anything but after today I feel like I should.” Nicarra looks at the floor because I am sure that there is more to the story.

  “And what else?” I ask.

  “She saw you and Reagan today laughing and then walking in on you two during a tender moment of friendship, really did her in.”

  “I’m sorry.” Were the only words that Reagan could say before taking two steps at a time up to the apartment.

  “Walk up with me?” I ask Nicarra and she nods.

  The stairs to the apartment were recently added into the store as well. There is a door outside the second floor where the main apartment is and then goes up another set which leads to Sarah’s place once they get it done. I feel like shit for not being the friend I was to Sarah before Cash came into my life. We always promised that our friendship would come before any man including Max and I failed her. I need to make it up to her but how?

  “Nic, how do I fix this?” I huff trying to catch my breath. We had to stop on the first landing for me to catch my breath. If this baby decides not to come on time, I am coming here to walk the steps. This is a damn workout.

  “I don’t know. I only know what she told me. If you want Sarah around, then you need to make the effort too.”

  “You sound like my therapist. She is always telling me the same thing.” I sigh.

  “I know it’s hard to do because you often feel like the other one should put the effort in first, but sometimes the other person needs to see and feel like you want them in your live.” Nicarra shrugs as we make it to the front door.

  “Sarah, don’t go.” I hear Reagan plead through the door. We open the door to see Sarah with her suitcase handle in her hand and Reagan standing there.

  “I’m not needed here so why stay?”

  “I need you here.” I say walking into the apartment.

  “No, it’s very clear that you don’t need me and now my parents are here that is a big sign in the sky that I really need to get the fuck out of Miami.” Sarah tries to move but I stand in the way of her doing it.

  “I need you here. I can’t give birth to this baby. I’m scared, Sarah.”

  “What are you scared about, you will have Cash, Max and Reagan.” Sarah sneers. I have never heard such vile coming out of her before and this worries me.

  “But none of them are you. Sarah, you are my best friend, my sister, and aunt to this baby. Besides, who is going to make sure that I look good before the pictures. I mean, I can’t have pictures on the world-wide web of me looking like I just gave birth.” We laugh through the tears. “So, stay and help me. We are all family now and it’s a shock to the system because it was always you and me then Max came into our lives. Now we have more people to lean on, and love.”

  “I guess I’ve been feeling left out by you. I never thought you would have a new best friend.” Sarah looks to Reagan. Reagan looks at her feet and sighs. Nicarra puts her arm around Reagan as I see the tears flowing down her face. We all make our way to the living room with the recliners and couches so I can get off my ever-swelling ankles.

  “I’m Max’s girlfriend and Cash’s best friend so I am now in the inner circle. Sarah, my sister was my last business partner so we knew everything about each other and I trusted her with my life. Abby and I didn’t have that level of trust and we needed to form that friendship for the sake of the men in our lives plus this business. I am sorry that we forgot the other two women in our life.” Reagan looks to Nicarra and they smile at each other.

  “Girl, I love you and understand that Abby and Sarah need to be inducted into the circle. We are always good” Nicarra leans into Sarah, “besides I know all the dirty secrets that Reagan doesn’t want to come out.” Reagan laughs and throws a pillow at Nicarra.

  “So, are we good?” I ask Sarah feeling hopeful.

  “I don’t know to be honest, but I’ll try. I don’t want to lose my best friends. I need to know why my parents are here. I think that is why I am so spooked.”

  “I can call my parents to find out.” I pull out my cell phone and dial Jack’s number.

  “You would do that?” I nod and start to call my dad’s cell phone which goes straight to voicemail.

  “Umm hey dad. I’m calling to check on you. I was wondering if you had any idea why the Edwards are here in Florida. If you can text me or call me to let me know that would be great. Bye.”

  I hang up the phone and look at Sarah as she chews her fingernails
off. “Relax, we got this.” Reagan pops up and says that we are having pizza for lunch. Nicarra and Reagan decide to head out to pick it up to give Sarah and I some time alone to talk.

  Sarah

  I feel like an absolute bitch right now. Abby is pregnant, starting a new life and here I am wishing that we never came to Florida. I miss the three of us. Now Max has Reagan and I’m sitting here in this state, alone. I’m watching these relationships blossom and one thing is the same; I’m not a part of it. I feel like the forgotten adoptive child when the parents give birth to their own kid. Abby and I have never let a man, woman, or business come between us but now things are different.

  “Earth to Sarah.” Abby’s hand is flying in front of my face.

  “What? I’m sorry. I was thinking.”

  “Penny for your thoughts?” I roll my eyes. This has been an ongoing joke with Max. When we were younger, he would ask that question and pull a penny from our ear to make us laugh.

  “It’s nothing. So, what plans do you have tonight? Want to do a movie or something?” I mentally slap my forehead because I know what her plans are tonight. Cash and Max are throwing a big surprise party for Reagan and Abby since they can’t do it since the baby is due and all that stuff.

  “Cash wants to have dinner tonight but I can tell him no.”

  “No, don’t do that. I forgot that Nicarra and I are hanging out tonight with Shawn. We are picking him up at the hotel later.”

  “Oh, then we can ride together. Cash is working late tonight but wants me to meet him there.”

  “That sounds great.” I smile and get up to go into the bathroom to clean up my face.

  I close the door behind me and try to breathe. I feel a panic attack coming on every time I think about my parents. I was not in a good place when Grams died. I felt like she was the only one who truly loved me. She paid for college so I didn’t have to work which meant that she paid all my bills until I found a job. I was her only grandchild and she would often tell me that she couldn’t take it with her. My dad and she had a falling out when my mom gambled away all his trust fund, ten million dollars, gone. He needed money and she wouldn’t give it to him. When Gramps died ten years ago, he left that trust to my dad. My Grams changed it about a month before she died. I got her entire estate which was estimated around twenty million dollars. I was more surprised at this than my parents. I knew that I had a five-million-dollar trust that I used to redo the apartment upstairs and help cover things until we get mine and Max’s business up and running. It’s money well spent in my opinion. I haven’t spoken to my parents since they sued me. My mom has an addiction to gambling and my dad has an addiction to my mom. He would do everything and anything for her, hence the suing his only child. I offered up the house for them to sell and use the money. They ended up moving into it since the bank was foreclosing on theirs.