Accidents Happen (Forever Happens Book 1)

by Josie Bordeaux

  "I meant with the divorce. Andi, you have a place to stay. Whether you want to at your apartment or mine, I'll respect your wishes."

  "I'm not going back to John. Not now. Not after what he did and how much he lied to me.” I shook my head. “I woke up to a husband I couldn't remember—pregnant, no less—and then ran into Lana and then you. The whole phone thing and then finding out I had a job, apartment, and then the divorce."

  I sat there for a moment trying to figure out how far I had gone to divorce John. If I'd have left him so long ago, how could he have assumed I wouldn't find out? "Why wouldn't John want me to know about all of this?" I sat back. "I mean, I kind of get it, but why would he think he could keep it all away from me for so long?"

  The food arrived right then, and after the waitress left, Cal picked up his sandwich. "Maybe he was hoping you wouldn't figure any of it out until after the baby was born?"

  "So he could have his name on the birth certificate? Or have a test done to see if the baby is his?" I wondered.

  "Unless he really didn’t know about me."

  "How could he not? He had to have had my phone and…" I stopped mid-thought with my mouth open.

  "What?"

  "Mallory. She said something about how he was so distressed at the hospital that she had to take over doing everything. But she told me the other night at dinner that she didn't come to the hospital because John didn't want to upset me if I couldn't remember her."

  "So you think Mallory found your phone and deleted everything? What would be the point?"

  I shook my head. "I…I don't know."

  Cal and I looked at each other for a moment longer before he nodded his head. "Eat. Our baby needs some food."

  I frowned while my heart skipped. He'd said “our,” and while I loved the thought that the baby might be his, it also scared me that it might not be. What if it wasn't? What then?

  Cal broke my thoughts yet again. “If it really is John's baby, then we'll deal with it then. Until that moment, it's our baby.”

  Along with being able to make me feel safe and secure, the man could also read minds.

  Twenty-Two

  Andi

  Cal’s door slamming shut barely registered until my door was pulled open. Like the last time he’d done that for me, I wondered if he had always held the door open for me. I took his hand and stepped out, mesmerized by the surroundings as we walked down the sidewalk.

  The quaint neighborhood was definitely not the high-rise condo buildings with chic store fronts nearby. Brick-front brownstones lined the streets, people sat out on their front stoops chatting away, and the store fronts I glanced at were mom-and-pop-type stores. I loved it immediately. There were families walking by, young couples holding hands, and groups of friends, laughing and joking around with each other.

  Cal stopped at a worn door that was squeezed between two shops. It opened without needing a key. Again, something that struck me as odd since John’s building had a doorman and I assumed it would be locked at all times without him there. We stepped inside and Cal motioned toward the staircase.

  “No elevator?” It dawned on me how snotty that question must have sounded.

  Cal smirked. “No. No elevator. Although I have one at mine.” He motioned for me to begin the climb.

  The steep stairwell, with its worn wooden stairs, made me leery to begin my ascent. “What floor?”

  “Third.” I could hear the laughter in his voice.

  “I guess I really know how to pick ‘em, huh?”

  “It seems like you wanted a change.”

  A change. Maybe that was exactly it. I had wanted something so completely opposite of what I’d with John. It made perfect sense, and as I climbed all three flights, I could appreciate it all a little more and began seeing my surroundings differently. Heck, it even smelled…distinct. Unsure of which scent was more overpowering—sweat or urine-I wondered if it had always had that stench and if I had balked at it before.

  We reached the third floor and he took the lead with me trailing behind him. We stopped at the third huge, wooden door on the left.

  I stared at it. “How are we going to get in?”

  Cal chuckled. “With this.”

  I turned my head to see him smiling and holding up a key dangling off his key chain.

  “I gave you a key?” There was no way to hide the surprise in my voice; I was stumped.

  “Uh, yeah. We…umm, we were pretty involved.” He swallowed and smiled. “Or at least that’s how I took it.”

  “And I hadn’t given you any reason to think differently, had I?”

  After a lingering glance at my lips, one that made my heart stutter and the kind that immediately melted your insides, he shook his head. “No, you didn’t.”

  I smiled. It was so innocent and yet at the same time so flirtatious. He quickly unlocked and opened the door, holding it back so I could go in first.

  The apartment was small, and immediately I loved the feel of it, but somehow it still seemed off-as if it weren’t really mine. Maybe that was because I was so distracted by all the day’s events, it was throwing off my senses. I wanted it to feel like home, and while it had a cozy aura about it, nothing really struck me as mine. Although how would I know that to begin with?

  The coarseness of the brick walls made me smile as I ran my fingers over the entrance.

  “This doesn’t seem right.” Cal’s concern was more than apparent as it cut through my thoughts.

  “What doesn’t?” I barely looked at him as I continued to walk forward, taking it all in. My white, soft sofa looked like it would swallow me, and I could totally picture myself sunk into it reading a good book. The TV that sat across from it was an old, small, worn one sitting atop an ancient wooden coffee table. The place was small. Very small. Where had I slept?

  “The cupboards are all open.” I looked up to see Cal standing in a tiny kitchen-barely that. It was wedged next to the window and had only one cabinet above a small sink. I peeked inside and noticed it still seemed full with dishes, cups, and a few serving bowls.

  “Does anything appear to be missing?” It seemed complete to me, despite the mismatched set of four of everything, stacked neatly in place.

  “Not from here.” He then walked over to the small table and continued to look around. “You had a small crate of papers here.” He pointed to the corner behind the tiny table.

  I glanced around not seeing much of anything on the floor, but followed him to a set of double doors. Two slim, white doors right next to each other and he chose the left. Following close behind him, I peered inside the tiny closet. Standing inside the small room, he reached up and pulled on a string, clicking the light on.

  Stepping inside, I found there was barely enough room for the both of us, yet I squeezed in and ran my fingers over the small amount of clothes hanging on a pole, some of the hangers empty and strewn about. There were some clothes that seemed like mine, but others were so different from the style I was used to wearing or seeing over at John’s. There were some that were more relaxed and definitely not purchased at the stores I was sure I frequented.

  Cal gazed at me, unable to go anywhere but right next to me. The devilish smirk he wore lit up everything inside of me. I drew a deep breath as our bodies brushed against each other, and I knew immediately why I had been drawn to him without remembering how we met. His hands reached for my hips in order to maneuver around me. The feel of his fingers pressing into my skin made me wish the layer of clothes would disappear.

  Our eyes locked, neither of us moving one way or another to get out of the closet. His fingers dug into me a little firmer than before making my insides swirl with need.

  I swallowed as my eyes focused on the luscious swell of his bottom lip. My breath hitched, and my heart beat furiously inside my chest. The urge to kiss him was more than a little overwhelming, and quickly I raised onto my tiptoes before I could think any more about it.

  Cal lowered his head. A slight hesitati
on caused my heart to stutter, but when he continued and leaned in, a wild energy surged through me.

  The dim light from above couldn’t hold back the beautiful glint in his blue eyes as his lips grazed mine. His scent was even more powerful in the small space, and my mouth watered in anticipation.

  A small moan escaped my lips the moment his velvet-soft ones touched mine. His body leaned in, pressing against me as his hand glided to the back of my neck to pull me closer to him.

  The longing for this kiss was apparent from both of us. The need to be wrapped up in each other had been battling inside us for far too long. My hands slid up to the back of his head as our tongues danced, my fingers tugging on his silky hair.

  I needed this. I knew we had had something, and this was proof. Flashes of having done it before danced in my vision, and the way he held me was so familiar I sighed, remembering the pleasure.

  Tears pricked my eyes but I refused to ruin the moment with another over-emotional episode. Yet he noticed and pulled back, concern in his eyes as he kissed my lips again as if to seal it.

  Wiping away my tears, he asked, “I’m so sorry. Was that too soon? I’ve tried to hold back, but I couldn’t help myself.”

  Smiling, I pulled him to me. With the feel of his arms wrapped around me and burying my head into his shoulder, I sighed from all the comfort this man could bring me.

  “You’re fine. I loved it. I even had flashes of doing that before.”

  “Yeah?” His voice was so hopeful, my smile broadened as my heart lifted for him.

  I nodded into his shoulder, hugging him tighter. “Yeah.”

  The moment for me ended too soon as I realized that I was married. The phone John had given me kept reminding me of that, which was why I had finally shut it off on the ride over.

  “I’m so sorry.” I leaned back, breathless and completely ashamed.

  “Why are you sorry?”

  “Because…of everything that happen—”

  “Shh. Enough. It’s done and we’ll go from here. I’m not sure why you hadn’t told me, but you had to have had your reasons. We’ll figure it out.”

  Smiling, I pulled back, even though I didn’t want to leave being nuzzled against his neck. “You’re an amazing man, Cal.”

  He smirked, and there was some flash in his eye that he was going to say something back to me. “You’re not too bad yourself.” He sealed it with a soft, quick kiss.

  Remembering we were in a closet, I looked around the small space. Up at the top were shelves. An old suitcase sat up high.

  Cal’s eyes followed, and he side-stepped me to pull it down for me without me even asking him to. After leaving the closet, he placed the worn, brown suitcase onto the small, wooden coffee table.

  Sinking onto the couch, which was exactly as comfortable as I had thought it would be, I stared at the object in front of us as Cal sat down next to me.

  “Do you want me to…”

  “No. You’re fine,” I immediately said. Whatever was in there, I wanted him to be there to see. It wasn’t like he hadn’t helped me uncover so much so far.

  Unsure of what it would contain, I unhooked each silver buckle, which echoed throughout the apartment. There could have been anything in it, from valuables to my lingerie. I blushed at the thought as I flipped the top open, staring at a bunch of sweaters.

  I shrugged and almost sat back when Cal coaxed me. “It felt heavier than just sweaters. There’s gotta be more.” He laughed as he said that.

  I pulled out a dark brown peacoat, along with a couple of heavier sweaters. There were some framed picture of me and John and I together-one from college it seemed, and another from a vacation we must have taken. Neither of the photos brought back any memories at all, yet seeing a photo of Mallory and another woman hugging me and smiling angered me. I stared at the other person, knowing from what Mallory had told it must have been Sarina. Was that really Sarina? The fascination to know more about her grew. Was she the missing key to something else? Did she know more about my life? Or was she really like Mallory had told me she was and I was like her? What if Cal was someone I was wanted a fling with, like her and her Europe men?

  Running my finger over her image, I realized that even though she had long blonde hair like Mallory, hers seemed…natural. It wasn’t perfectly coiffed. Why hadn’t I noticed that before? Her green eyes sparkled and her smile was open-mouthed. She had been truly laughing. Or was that me wanting to believe that this woman was different from the horrible friend I had found Mallory to be?

  “Anything?”

  I shook my head, wanting to be annoyed by his question. “Nothing.” I shoved the suitcase in a mini tantrum and slumped back into the couch-although, the moment my back hit the couch, I realized I had heard an odd jingle.

  “There’s something else in there,” Cal said. “Check the pockets or something.”

  I sat up and pulled it closer to me, inspecting the lining, and there was a small side pocket. My fingers ran along the nylon compartment and felt something. Silk rubbed against my fingers and I tugged at a small, silk pouch.

  Immediately a wave of excitement rushed through me as flashes danced in my vision. “This was my mother’s! She gave it to me on my wedding day.” Excitement coursed through my veins as my heart danced happily inside my chest. I sat there breathless, tears welling as the memory rushed at me. “I was standing in front of the mirror in my wedding gown, adjusting my veil, when she stood next to me.” I turned to Cal. “I remember that.” Streams ran down my cheeks as I felt the emotions that I’d had when she’d handed it to me. The tender moment of her giving me something so precious blazed in my mind. Her eyes had shown that proud, caring gaze for her daughter. For me. “It was passed down from her mother too.” Through my tears, I could barely see the white silk with small purple flowers embroidered on the front.

  With shaky hands I unknotted the lilac ribbon that was wrapped around the folded fabric. Unwrapping the silk, I found a small zipper compartment and immediately opened it. I dumped the contents into my hand and gasped.

  Along with some necklaces and delicate bracelets, I found two rings. Instantly I remembered as I held them up: a flash of John slipping the wedding band onto my finger seized me. Inhaling deep breaths, I tried to calm my beating heart as tears fell faster than before.

  They were my rings that John had said he couldn’t find. Now I knew why he couldn’t locate them-because I had them wrapped up in my closet. Should I have been flattered that he went out and purchased new ones? Or angry that he lied to me and probably knew I had them tucked away in my apartment? The apartment he never told me about.

  Strong arms wrapped around me, and Cal pulled me to his chest. The frustration of all of it—not remembering anything, not knowing whom the father of my baby was, seeing my husband with my best friend—all of it came crashing down at once. In the comfort of his chest, his arms around me, I let it all out. The soft cotton of his shirt in my grasp contradicted the harsh reality I faced. With every stroke of his hand along my hair, I heaved ugly sobs.

  And in that instant, it dawned on me that I hadn’t felt such comfort with John. From leaving the hospital, and even when I had my tantrum and he held me, it hadn’t been like this at all. But sitting there, with Cal’s arms wrapped around me, crying my eyes out, there was nothing but pure contentment.

  This was home. Cal was my home.

  Twenty-Three

  Cal

  It was as if she had never left. I almost wished I didn’t know she was married. That little fact seemed to elude both of us as I held her while she sobbed. The smell of her hair, inhaling her beautiful lavender scent, it attacked all my senses. It took everything in me not to pull back and kiss all her tears away. Right there, right then, it was practically impossible.

  "I’m so sorry,” she murmured, breaking the fight inside me to kiss her again.

  “Sorry for what?”

  “For everything.” She sniffled and smeared away her tears, her mascar
a streaked in the process. “For not telling you I was married. For holding back that I'm pregnant.”

  There were moments, I couldn’t lie, that I was so ticked off at her for not telling me those things before. I tried to rationalize that she had her reasons. I still believed that, but the frustration I had for her to remember was nothing compared to what she was going through. And that was what had kept me going. That was what had kept me from being angry with her. Her eyes met mine, and it took everything in me not tell her everything I felt inside.

  “I hurt you,” she continued, still sniffling as she tried to get her words out. “I hurt you so much. I don’t know why, if I felt so strongly about you, I hadn’t told you about John.” She bit her lip as it quivered. Her warm eyes glossed over with another shimmering coat that only made them more beautiful.

  She paused, looking around the small apartment, and exhaled. I wrapped my arms around her, remembering how much I loved this and enjoying every second of it.

  “We’ll figure this out,” I whispered. “Together we’ll find out what really happened.”

  Her arms squeezed me tighter as she nodded her head into my neck.

  After what didn’t seem like long enough, she loosened her grip and sat back. Wiping her tears, she gave me a sheepish grin that tugged at my heart. I wanted her to feel safe with me again; I needed her to feel comfortable like she had before. At the same time, I tried to see everything from her point of view: all of this was hard to hear. Her eyes flitted around the room as she sniffled back more tears.

  She left my arms, reaching down to hold my hand and squeeze it before walking over to the small table. She sifted through the papers on the table. “You said you think something is missing?”

  “Yeah.” I cleared my throat. “You had a small crate full of folders and paperwork. The kind of crate from college. It was white.” I looked around. The place wasn’t too big, so it would be obvious if it were around the small room. It wasn’t. It was definitely missing.