by T. A. Foster
The walls fell away and Haven blinked hard. “They know? Who knows?” She lifted her hand to run it through her hair, but it was all gone. She felt the emptiness when she got to her chin. Panic hit her. “My mom. Travis, tell me my mom doesn’t know.”
“That’s why I’m calling you. I thought you would want to know.”
“But how? Why?”
“Nell caught them at Betra’s shop when she went to pick up some gifts for her grandkids. She ran out of there so fast, she ran into a car and had to be airlifted to Norfolk for leg surgery.”
“Oh my God.” Haven was trying to picture the scene.
“She was so surprised and in so much pain, she kept screaming about what she had seen in the shop. Everyone heard it. There was no way it wasn’t getting back to your mom at that point.”
“When did this happen? Have you seen her? How is she?”
“No, Nell’s still in recovery.”
Haven tried to swallow her instant guilt. She was asking about her mom; she hadn’t thought to check on Nell. “And my mom? What about her?’
“My parents haven’t seen her and neither have I. Do you want me to go over or something?”
“No!” Haven couldn’t imagine the embarrassment it would cause her mom if Travis showed up on her doorstep. “I’ll come home. I can be there tomorrow.”
She looked around the ranch. All she had to do was throw some things in a bag, and she could catch a flight tomorrow, maybe even borrow the jet.
“Aren’t you kind of busy out there?” Travis asked.
She regretted the spa day with Carly. They could have knocked out another song, but there wasn’t anything to be done. Her mother needed her and she had to get home.
“It doesn’t matter. There’s nothing more important right now. I’ll be there tomorrow.”
“I’m sorry I had to call you about this.” Travis’s voice was low.
“I’m glad you did. If anything comes up, let me know. Ok?”
“I will. See you soon.”
“Bye, Trav.” She hung up the phone and raced up the stairs.
She started tossing clothes in her suitcase. She could barely see what she was packing. The tears were heavy and thick. She slid to the bathroom floor and buried her face in her hands. How could he do this? She sobbed. How could he ruin the safety her mother had? Destroy a life of memories? A life as a family?
All she could picture was her mother alone in their big house, hiding from the windows, wringing her hands with worry. Everyone in town feeling pity for her. Haven’s chest tightened, knowing that everyone who passed by would shake his or her head and think: “What a shame. Poor Maura Owen. She didn’t see it coming.”
She curled into a ball and let the tears fall on the marble floor.
EVAN RUBBED his eyes. He had been dumped, and then got the girl back in a matter of ten hours. He was completely exhausted and wiped out of every emotion. Fake breakups were challenging, especially when they mirrored his own life. He was ready to wrap for the day, but Archie wanted one more take on the make-up scene. It had to be epic. It had to jump off the screen and tear at the audience’s heart.
He had never kissed someone so many times in a row. Well, other than Haven. It almost felt as if his lips would be black and blue. Emmy didn’t hold anything back. At times, her lips were like a vicious tiger attacking him to save her life, and then in an instant they were tender and soft. She was all over the place.
There were moments when Evan thought he had tackled more in this role than any other in his life. The physicality of playing a spy wore him out, but it also invigorated him. This role took him somewhere he didn’t know he was capable of going. He could feel it. Reluctantly, he admitted he was growing as an actor alongside Emmy. Dexter Red was someone he was supposed to be, no matter how up and down this roller coaster had been.
Evan still hadn’t talked to Haven, and it had to be close to midnight in Texas by now. He prayed she had listened to all his voicemails as much as he hated leaving excuses on a recording. He looked at Emmy, who was ready to start again. He whispered to the makeup artist that he needed Chapstick before they started the scene. His lips might not survive another round of an Emmy reconciliation.
He coated his lips and stepped in front of Emmy, waiting to hear, “action.”
“How do you think things are going today, babe?” She wrapped a cool palm around the base of his neck.
“Fine.”
“Fine? After all this, that’s what you have to say?” She pulled back to look at him. “We might as well be shooting a detergent commercial.”
“It’s better than fine, I guess. We’ll have to see it on playback.”
“You have got to be kidding me, Evan. We’ve spent an entire day together pouring our hearts out, and you want to see the playback? You don’t feel any of it?”
He felt eyes on him from the perimeter of the set.
“Em.” He lowered his voice. “Come on, don’t make this about us. I think the scenes are great. You’ve really taken it to a new level today, ok?” He didn’t know how to satisfy her without saying what he knew she wanted to hear. He wasn’t about to go there.
“Really?” Her eyes raked over his lips as if she were about to devour them again.
“Yes, really. Those kisses are going to burn a hole right through any screen they’re played on. Ok?”
She nibbled on her bottom lip. “I haven’t been too much for you?”
He laughed. “At times, but keep it coming. I can take it.”
“We’ll see about that.” Her eyes gleamed. “We still have one more round.” Her hand slipped back to his neck.
Evan braced himself for what he was sure would be another stunning Emmy performance.
“Action!” The set was silent and he looked into Emmy’s eyes, and then leaned down to kiss her.
Once Archie was satisfied that he had captured every possible angle of their lip lock, he called it quits for the day. Evan pulled the robe tightly around him, and headed back to his trailer. He didn’t care about the clothes that were piled on the floor—those belonged to Dexter. He had a pair of boots and jeans in his trailer he couldn’t wait to put on.
The door latched behind him and he slumped on the couch. What a damn long day. He quickly dialed Haven. Maybe he could catch her before she fell asleep.
Someone answered, but all he could hear were muffled sounds.
“Haven? Is that you? Where are you?”
He realized the muffles were actually sobs.
“Darlin’, what’s wrong? Where are you?” He sat forward on the couch.
“I-I can’t talk about it.”
He breathed. “At least you’re talking. Please tell me what’s going on. I can’t help if I don’t know what’s happening. Just tell me if you’re ok.” He wondered if he needed to hang up and call Bud.
“I’m ok,” she managed to mutter.
“Are you at the ranch? Do you need Bud?”
“I’m at the ranch. I’m fine.” She cleared her throat. “I have to go home tomorrow.”
“Home? North Carolina home?” Nothing made sense right now.
“Evan, it’s terrible. It’s so awful.” He heard the sobs start again.
He looked around the trailer, feeling completely helpless. “Do you need me to come out there?” He had no idea how he could swing something like that, but if this was serious, he would be there.
“No! No, I have to go be with my mom. I can’t stay here.”
“You’re scaring the hell out of me right now. Can you just tell me something?”
She sighed into the phone. “Travis called tonight. Everyone knows about my dad’s affair. Everyone, even Mom.”
“Oh, God. That sucks.” Haven had confided in him during the summer that she knew her father had been having an affair. For the most part, he thought Denton Owen was a good man, but she had struggled with the affair and that put Denton on his cautious list. It hadn’t been easy for her to keep the secret.
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br /> “What can I do to help? There has to be something.”
She sniffed a few times before answering. “I know it’s kind of a big favor, but can I borrow the jet? But if it’s too much trouble, I can just get a regular ticket.”
“Hell no, you take the jet. Whatever you need. It’s yours. I just wish I could go with you.” The trailer walls felt like they were closing in on him. He was trapped. The movie had cut off all his flexibility.
“Thank you.”
“I’m sorry I’m not there for you. Maybe I could fly out over the weekend.”
“No, the jet is enough. I know you would be here if you could, but I’m not sure how my mom would react. I haven’t even talked to her yet. She doesn’t know I’m coming.”
“Oh, wow. Do you think it’s the best idea, then? Maybe you should try to call her.”
“She needs me. I know she does. If I call, she’ll tell me to stay here and I can’t do that.”
For the first time since she answered the phone, she sounded like herself—confident and determined.
“All right. You know what she needs better than I do.”
“Thanks.”
There was a long silence, and Evan didn’t know what else to say. If she were here, he would know exactly what to say and do to make her feel better. However, through the phone, his words seemed to fall flat. Maybe the emotion was so depleted from him that he didn’t have anything left to give her tonight. Karina had sapped his ability to do any more comforting tonight, and Dexter had all the lines.
“I guess I’ll let you get some rest. But you can call me if you need me. You know that, right?”
“I do.”
“All right, pretty girl. Be careful tomorrow and make sure you call me as soon as you get to North Carolina.”
“I will.”
He didn’t want to hang up, but he had to let her go.
“Good night, Haven.”
“Good night.”
An eeriness entered the trailer as soon as the phone was silent. As cold as it felt inside the metal walls, he didn’t think he could face the suite alone. He stretched out on the couch. It wouldn’t be the first time he had slept in a talent trailer. At least he wouldn’t be late in the morning.
THIS WASN’T supposed to be how Haven returned for the first time. There should have been a family dinner with her aunts and grandparents. Everyone gathered around ready to hear stories about Austin. Probably sneak in a few Evan Carlson questions while they were at it. Yes, that’s how her homecoming was supposed to be. Not this.
She pushed open the kitchen door and walked into her parents’ house.
“Mom? Mom, I’m home.”
The kitchen was immaculate. It was suppertime, a time when Maura would normally be bustling around the kitchen getting dinner ready for Haven’s father. Maybe checking on a dessert in the oven, or calling on her own mother to invite her over for dinner.
But the kitchen was dark and the house was quiet.
Haven parked her suitcase by the table and walked down the hall. “Mom, are you here? Mom?” The only sound Haven heard was her footsteps echoing off the hardwood floors. She scanned the family pictures hanging on the wall. Maybe she was visiting one of her sisters.
“In here,” a quiet voice answered from the office.
Haven picked up her pace and rushed into her father’s office. “Mom, are you ok? I got here as quickly as I could.”
Maura was sitting on the couch, an empty bottle of wine on the coffee table, surrounded by files and papers scattered on the seat and floor.
“Mom, what are you doing?”
“Hi, honey. I didn’t expect you.”
“I know.” Haven crouched in front of her. “I thought I would come see how you’re doing.” She took the empty wine glass from her mother’s hand. “Have you eaten anything today?” Her mother’s face was drawn, and Haven suspected she hadn’t slept in a few days.
“No, I haven’t.”
“Ok, just sit here and I’ll be right back.”
Haven picked up the empty bottle and glass, and walked back to the kitchen. She grabbed a few pieces of sliced cheese and the butter from the fridge and started the flames on the stove. Within a few minutes, she had a bubbly grilled cheese on a plate.
She presented it to her mother along with a tall glass of ice water. “Here. Try this.”
“Thank you, honey, but I don’t feel like eating.”
“I know you don’t feel like it, but you have to eat something. You can’t live off wine.”
“I don’t see why not.” Maura crossed her arms.
“Just please eat it. I won’t bug you again about food until tomorrow, I promise.”
Her mother picked up the sandwich, pulled off a corner of the crust, and popped it in her mouth. “Mmm…who taught you how to make such a good grilled cheese sandwich?”
Haven smiled. “That would be you. Extra butter, always.”
She waited for her to finish the sandwich and brought her a second glass of water. No more wine tonight.
“Mom, Travis called me.” She could hardly look at her mother. “How are you doing? What’s going on?” There were too many questions, so she settled on starting with those two.
“I don’t want you in the middle of this. I can handle it. You should be at your job. Your dream job. I’d rather hear about Austin. And how is Evan?”
“Nothing is more important than you. I can take a few days off work. I’m here to spend time with you, and make as many grilled cheese sandwiches as you need.”
“How did you even get here so fast?” It seemed like Maura was starting to emerge from her fog.
“Evan let me borrow his jet.” Haven chewed on her bottom lip. She didn’t want the conversation to transition to him. That was too much to tackle right now.
“Oh, well that was nice of him.”
“Yes, it was. But I’m worried about you. What can I do to help?”
Her mother chuckled. “Help?” She tossed more of the papers on the floor. “I can’t make heads or tails of any of this. Your father has assets all over the place and property. How can we possibly own land I didn’t know we had? But my signature is on here plain as day. I don’t remember signing any of these. I can’t figure any of it out.”
Haven reached for the stack closest to her and read the top document. It was the title for the general store. “Mom, this is the deed for the store.” She searched her mother’s face for an explanation. “What are you doing with this?” Haven was surprised her father didn’t have these in a safe place when she realized the safe in the wall was wide open and she was looking at all its contents.
“Oh good, you found that at least.” She snatched it from Haven’s hands.
“What are you going to do with that?”
“I’m gathering everything for my attorney. I have a meeting in Nags Head tomorrow. I need these for the meeting.” She patted the deed on top of a few other documents.
“But, wait. Are you trying to take the store from Dad?”
Her mother’s eyes drifted across the room then back to Haven. “That man has stolen everything I thought existed in my life, and I’m going to take everything I can.”
Haven stiffened in her seat. “I don’t understand. Why don’t we talk through some of this? I think you’re in shock.” This was a surprising way to wear her heartbreak.
“I don’t need to talk about it.” Maura stood from the couch. “Haven, this is going to be hard for you to hear, but I knew.”
“What?”
“I knew about the affair. The question should be, how long have you known? All this time, I thought I was protecting you from something hurtful and dark your father was doing, but you’ve known, haven’t you?”
Haven swallowed hard. She hadn’t actually wanted the word ‘affair’ out in the open, but that was stupid. They needed to face what had happened with Denton head-on. She could barely nod her head. She had only been trying to protect her mother from this exact moment.
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The guilt from not telling Maura when she had the chance was overwhelming. If she had been the one, maybe she could have spared her mother some of the public embarrassment caused from Nell’s discovery.
“You knew? You knew about them? Then why-why are you doing this?” Haven looked at her mother as if she were a complete stranger. She was speaking as if she were playing the part of someone else’s mother, not the devoted woman who tended her scraped knees and brought brownies to her class birthday parties.
“Because we had an agreement. And he broke that agreement. He has made a complete fool of me. A complete fool.” Haven was prepared for tears, but instead her mother’s eyes flared. “I will not look like an idiot. If he thinks he can be happy with that shell-painting bimbo, then let him. I’ll have the house and the store…and-and all the property. He will walk away from this marriage with nothing.”
She stepped over the box of files and headed toward the door. The deed to the store was clasped in her hand.
“Mom, you don’t even sound like yourself. You don’t want the business. Think about what you’re saying.” Haven felt panic tugging at her. She realized she might be witnessing the process of a mental breakdown.
“Why? Because I’m a housewife? Because I’m the perfect Perry Island homemaker? You don’t think I can run the store?”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“I know that’s what everyone thinks. I’m quite talented at the church fundraiser cookie drive, and I have the best tomatoes on the island. You know I certainly have a way with chicken salad.” She paused. “But I can do more than those things. There is more to me than raising a daughter and sewing Halloween costumes. Always having dinner on the table for my husband. There is more to me than that.”
“Mom, I know. I know. You’re amazing. Dad just needs to get his priorities straight.” She was grasping at straws, but things were spiraling. She ignored the biting child-rearing comment. It wasn’t the time for hurt feelings.
“I appreciate that you flew all this way, honey. But, as you can see, I’m fine. I’ve got this under control. I just think it’s going to put you in an awkward position if you stay. Maybe it’s better if you take your boyfriend’s fancy jet and head back to Texas in the morning. Come back home when things have been finalized.”
