* * *
Two weeks later, she still hadn’t heard from him. Obviously, she wasn’t that strong of a drug because he was able to resist her. And she couldn’t figure out why. He seemed into her at the rock. Yet, everything else was pretty much the same…everything except for Kayla’s fragile heart. She went to the rock every morning to see if he was there, but he wasn’t. His car was always in front of his office. She could have knocked on his door, as she had that other morning, but she wanted to see if Gabe would start to pursue her. He hadn’t…not even a little bit.
That didn’t stop her from missing him. In fact, she missed him more and more each day. With the pain came the realization she was more in love with him than ever. It didn’t help that he had touched her intimately.
So she threw herself into cleaning the storage room with Sarah. Together, they made the room look great. Kayla even succumbed to buying a ladder so she could paint the room. Sarah thought Gabe should do it, but Kayla said there was no way they could ask him for another favor. Besides, they wanted to paint flowers on the wall, and Gabe wouldn’t be able to do that. Once they bought the ladder, Sarah even painted a superhero figure. She printed out a picture of one on the internet and then traced it onto the wall. Kayla was super impressed with her sister’s artistic skills. She had never seen Sarah so determined before.
Their first class was scheduled in three weeks—a Mommy and Me yoga class. Sarah would be in charge, but a yoga instructor in Bella Cove had agreed to teach it at no cost. She thought it would be a great way for her to generate some business for her yoga studio. She also agreed to supply the yoga mats. Sarah was also planning a Mommy and Me art class. An art teacher from town had agreed to teach the class. The fact Sarah had orchestrated this all on her own thrilled Kayla.
Jordan continued pursuing Lauren, but he had pulled back a lot. He still called but now only once a day. Lauren walked around looking miserable again, but Kayla told her not to give up hope; she believed Jordan was up to something. He didn’t want to lose Lauren.
Her mom still yelled at her dad. Unfortunately, nothing had changed there. Kayla hoped her dad wouldn’t leave her mom. No matter how many times Kayla told her mother to cool it, the stubborn woman just wouldn’t listen.
Josh still walked around acting as if Kayla was doing a terrible thing by not giving him some of Nana’s money to buy a car and not paying him for his work at the family’s furniture business. Eventually, she’d have to give him a little money, just to make sure he didn’t do anything dumb. She had to sit down with her dad and talk about it. Josh would drink with or without her giving him money. At the same time, he needed to grow up and act like a man—no matter how he felt. With him having to ask for every little thing, he couldn’t be feeling like much of a man, regardless of how he’d harmed the family.
Matt and Jessica seemed okay. Jessica had called Kayla a few days before and told her she was continuing with the acupuncture and taking the supplements Erica had given her. She was also sleeping with the rattle underneath her pillow every night. Every time it moved, it would wake Matt, but it was good preparation for when the baby woke during the night. They would make wonderful parents. Kayla hoped Jessica would get pregnant soon.
Jessica asked when she could come to a family dinner, so Kayla had planned one for tonight. Her mom was more than happy to cook.
Even with the dinner planned, Kayla had stayed at the toy store late, needing to finish some accounting. The rent was due next week, and she’d have to see Gabe.
Kayla wished her grandmother was alive. She could sure use some advice. When she told Nana about Gabe, Nana had said not to worry. “True love always wins,” she’d said. Kayla wondered if Nana had been thinking about her and Pop when she’d given Kayla that particular piece of advice.
By the time Kayla arrived home for dinner, the tension in her house was so palpable, she already felt suffocated. When she walked into the kitchen, her mom was screaming at Josh to put on a nicer t-shirt. Kayla looked at Lauren to see what the problem was. Lauren mouthed back that their dad was running late. Kayla rolled her eyes. She needed a calm family dinner, not a chaotic one.
“Hi, Mom. Do you need help carrying things outside?” During the summer months, they always ate on the back porch.
Her mom was stirring the pasta pot. “There you are. Between you and your father, we’ll be eating dinner for breakfast.”
Kayla grabbed the salad bowl. “Hush, Mom. I’m sure Dad will be home soon.”
“He won’t. He’s been staying late for the last three nights. He says he has some large pieces of furniture due, but I think he’s having an affair.”
“Mom! He’s not having an affair.” Kayla almost dropped the salad all over the floor. Luckily, she had good reflexes.
She opened the back door and placed the bowl on the table. At the same time, Matt and Jessica were walking up the back-porch stairs.
“Hey, sis, we were just grabbing something from the car.”
Matt kissed Kayla on top of her head, and Kayla gave Jessica a hug.
“That’s okay. I just got here, and Mom is already on a tirade. Dad’s running late.”
“I know. We have a bedroom set due in a few days. Dad’s been working like crazy on the bed. I told him I’d help him, but he wanted me to start on another order, which is due shortly after this one. Business has been crazy. In a good way, but crazy all the same.”
Kayla sighed. “Please do me a favor and tell Mom that.”
“All right.” Matt walked into the kitchen.
“How are you doing?” Kayla asked Jessica.
Jessica smiled. “I’m good. I absolutely love Erica.”
“I’m so glad.” Kayla inhaled. “We better see if we can help Mom before she completely loses it.”
Jessica laughed, but Kayla didn’t. She hoped she had it in her tonight to be there for her family. Right now, she didn’t think she did.
As they were about to enter the kitchen, Matt came out with a huge bowl of spaghetti. Her mom followed with meatballs.
“Kayla, grab plates and bowls. Jessica, sit down and relax.”
“But I’m family, too,” Jessica said in the strongest tone Kayla had ever heard from her.
“Yes, you are,” Kayla responded. “Help me grab everything.”
Jessica followed Kayla into the kitchen, where they grabbed plates, bowls, and silverware.
“Hey, Kayla, do you approve of this shirt?” Josh asked, running down the stairs.
“I didn’t even see the shirt you originally had on. Mom made the comment. Not me.”
“But you’d probably agree,” Josh said in a tone Kayla did not appreciate.
“Josh, let’s try to get through this meal in a civil manner. Please?”
Josh gave her a dirty look and stormed out the back door. Kayla rolled her eyes and shook her head at Jessica, who smiled warmly at her.
Jessica and Kayla joined everyone else outside. Her mom grabbed the plates out of her hand.
“It took you long enough,” her mom said.
“Mom’s in rare form tonight,” Sarah said sarcastically, as she chewed on a carrot stick.
Kayla turned toward Sarah to respond when she felt her hairs stand on end. Her heartbeat thudded wildly.
“Is everything okay? You look pale all of a sudden,” Sarah said.
Kayla swallowed hard. “Yes, I’m just worried about Mom’s attitude ruining this dinner.” But she was far from okay. Somehow, she knew if she turned around, she wouldn’t be able to take the sight in front of her.
“You can’t control everything, Kayla.”
Sarah was right, but not for the reasons she thought. Without any other option, Kayla turned toward the table. Her breath caught in her throat. Standing on his property, surveying his house, was Gabe. Aside from the mornings, she’d been outside every night for the last two weeks, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. She was starting to feel like a stalker. Figured—of all nights, he had to be around tonight. Was
she still his drug or had he spent the last two weeks detoxing from her? She was dying to know, but, of course, she couldn’t ask him that. At least, not now.
The builder had been making progress, and Gabe must be glad about that. But ever since she realized Gabe’s grandfather had bought the property for the two of them, she’d never looked at the land in the same way.
“Oh, there’s Gabe,” her mom chimed in. “Should we ask him to join us?”
“He seems busy,” Kayla said quickly.
“He had a very nice time last time he came for dinner,” her mom said, clearly not letting it go.
“I was hoping for a night with family only, Mom. Jessica and I have some news,” Matt interjected.
Kayla looked at the two of them. She suspected what the news was and briefly closed her eyes. She needed this news, and by helping them, she was a part of it.
Still, Matt had said he had hoped it was a night for family only. Gabe was supposed to be a part of their family. She needed to tell her parents and brothers about him soon.
Kayla’s father finally arrived and walked up the back stairs slowly. He looked exhausted. With the business being busier than ever, he was working too hard. Kayla needed to talk to him about that.
“You look exhausted, Paul,” her mom said in a sharp tone.
“Mom, don’t start. Let’s make this a peaceful meal,” Kayla said sternly.
“That’s easy for you to say. Your husband hasn’t cheated on you.”
Kayla’s eyes grew wide. “Enough, Mom.”
Luckily, no one else heard. They were all grabbing plates and filling them with food. On instinct, Kayla looked at Gabe. He always made her feel calm, which was one of the reasons she had fallen in love with him.
Her family all sat around the table. Kayla stood and made the toast like she always did since Nana had passed.
“To the Conway family. May we always stay happy and healthy.”
“And rich,” Josh yelled.
Kayla ignored him. Then, as everyone clicked their glasses, she turned toward Matt.
“Matt, is this a good time to tell the family what you’d like to say?”
“Yeah, it’s the perfect time.” Matt stood and nodded at Jessica.
She blushed and shook her head. Kayla watched them silently communicate. She had done that with Gabe countless times. And as a silent communicator herself, she knew what Matt was saying. He wanted Jessica to stand with him, but she felt too shy, and she opted to remain seated. Kayla wondered what it would have been like for Gabe and her to tell her family news like this.
“Jessica and I have been struggling with fertility since we’ve been married. I’m sorry we didn’t tell anyone. We needed to work through this on our own, except Kayla found out recently. And because she’s brilliant, she recommended an acupuncturist. The woman Kayla introduced us to is still in school, working toward her certification, but her grandmother had taught her the tricks of the trade. And let me tell you, the lady was incredible.” Matt looked down at Jessica with tears in his eyes.
She was beaming up at him.
Kayla was relieved when Jessica stood and joined him.
“We’re pregnant!” Jessica yelled at the top of her lungs.
Kayla’s mom let out a happy scream and then kissed Matt and Jessica. Kayla ran up to them, unable to stop the tears flowing down her face, and hugged Jessica. While they waited for their turn to hug them both, Sarah and Lauren clapped and screamed. Her father, bless his soul, wiped tears out of the corner of his eye while slapping Matt on the back. Even Josh smiled.
“Congratulations, guys,” he said.
Kayla glanced at Gabe, who was staring back at her. Even from this far away, she could feel his eyes penetrating her soul. She had such a strong urge to run up to him, throw herself into his arms, and tell him the good news. Then she’d ask him why he was avoiding her. But she couldn’t.
“Now let’s eat!” her mom yelled.
Reluctantly, Kayla turned back toward the table and began eating with the rest of her family. But not a moment went by when she didn’t feel Gabe. God, she missed him.
“It’s nice to know true love exists,” her mom blurted out. “I also have news I’d like to share with the family.”
Her mom cleared her throat as Kayla’s heart clenched. She had to stop her mother from speaking. But she couldn’t think of the right words to make her stop.
“Your father is cheating on me. He’s having an affair.”
“Mom!” Kayla said sternly. “He is not.”
“Dad, are you cheating on Mom?” Sarah stood and pushed her plate of pasta away, causing it to spill all over the table. “Just because Nana got away with it doesn’t mean you can.”
Kayla gasped and stood, too. “Sarah!”
“That’s right, Sarah. My mother cheated on Pop with a man from Montauk. The man came to this house and gave me Nana’s pearl bracelet to give back to her. Pop came into the living room to see who was at the door. When he saw the bracelet, he knew who he was. So Pop forbade her to wear the pearl bracelet anymore. That’s when he bought her the diamond tennis bracelet, which she never took off until the day she died.”
“Was that the pearl bracelet I tried to sell?” Josh asked.
“Yes,” Kayla said. “Among other pieces of her jewelry.”
“How did you know Nana had cheated?” Kayla asked Sarah.
Sarah shrugged. “On my tenth birthday, Nana and Pop gave me the gold chain I wear with my initial in diamonds on it. I loved it so much, I wanted to tell Nana and Pop thank you. So I went to their room, and I was about to knock on their door when I heard Pop yelling at her. I’d never heard him raise his voice before, to anyone.”
“I have, and trust me, it’s not pretty,” her mom said.
“It was terrible. I stood there shaking, and I didn’t know what to do. I was afraid to knock on their door, but I was also curious. So I listened in, but it wasn’t my fault. Pop was super loud. Anyone could have heard them. Nana said she didn’t regret cheating at all as it had saved their marriage and saved her life. I was so surprised she had cheated. I ran to my room. Luckily, they didn’t hear me. No one ever knew until now. I decided to keep it a secret. And I didn’t know you and Mom knew, too.”
“Oh, I knew,” her mom said. “And I just recently told Kayla.”
The family grew silent after that as everyone processed the fact their beloved Nana had cheated on Pop. But Kayla learned two powerful things from Sarah that she didn’t know when her mom had told her. Nana had said by cheating on Pop it had saved her life. And Gabe had saved Kayla’s life. Before she went to graduate school, she lived for pleasing her family. She was always the good girl in the family, constantly helping others. Meeting Gabe had saved her from herself. Gabe’s love had saved her even more.
The second thing she learned was that Sarah had been carrying the knowledge of Nana cheating for a long time. Kayla would bet the reason her sister had no interest in marriage was because Sarah felt disillusioned about love. Their grandparents had always acted as if they were in love, and they were. But they weren’t perfect. They were both human. But Sarah couldn’t figure that out on her own. Somehow, Kayla had to help her believe in love again.
“And all of you think I’m messed up.” Josh threw his pasta plate across the table, joining in the mess Sarah had made. He stood, forcing his chair back, which fell onto the floor with a loud thud. Then he stormed inside the house, slamming the door behind him.
“I’m sorry, Jessica and Matt,” Kayla said softly.
“No, this is what family is about. I haven’t been present in your family the way I should have been. I thought you were all perfect, unlike my family. It’s important to be here in the good times and the bad,” Jessica said.
Kayla smiled warmly. “Discovering Nana cheated has had a huge impact on all of us.”
“I’m so shocked I can barely speak,” Lauren added.
“Lynne, I didn’t know about this. If I knew you wer
e carrying this on your shoulders, I would have taken it from you,” Kayla’s dad said. “I swear on the family, who I love more than anything in my life, I didn’t cheat on you. I never have, and I never will.” Her dad looked at all the siblings. “Nana let us down. If I had known, I would have taken charge more. I allowed Nana to run the show. I allowed her to run my wife’s life. I watched it happen over and over.”
Her dad paused and cleared his throat then turned toward her mom. “I love you, Lynne. I love you so much. You can be annoying when you yell at me, I can’t deny that, but you’re the love of my life. I’ve been working late on that big furniture deal, but I’ve also been secretly making you a new wooden bed. Remember the one you always wanted? Well, I’ve been working on it from scratch. To surprise you for our wedding anniversary next month. I know I don’t tell you I love you like I should, so I wanted to show you instead.”
Tears poured down Kayla’s face and those of both her sisters. Even Jessica was crying, although that was easy for a pregnant woman. Kayla’s mom wasn’t crying, though. She looked serious and deep in thought.
“No, Paul, you’re wrong. There was nothing you could have done to release my mother’s hold on me. It was who she was, and I allowed her to take my power. I’m bored without her though. I feel an emptiness. During the day, I’m so lonely. And I know you have to work. I think I knew deep down you weren’t cheating. What my mother did to my father scared me. And I was blaming myself. I was so lonely I took it out on you. I’d yell and criticize you whenever I had the chance. I was wrong.”
Her mom threw her arms around Dad and kissed him. “Thank you for making me the bed, baby. Thank you for being my husband and sticking by me. I love you, too. Marrying you was the best choice I ever made. And I made it on my own, without my mother’s approval.”
Her dad chuckled. “Did she approve of me?”
“She did because you allowed her to continue running the show.”
Kayla looked over at Gabe’s property, hoping he’d still be there. She yearned for him, especially now. But she didn’t see him. When she turned back toward her family, her dad was staring right at her. He gently released his wife’s hug but continued to stare at Kayla.
Bella Cove_A Second Chance Romance Page 19
