by Avril Rose
16
Zoe
As soon as I walk into Temple Coffee, I go to take refuge in the back in an attempt to hide my swollen eyes from Victor. There’s no use, of course.
“Zoe, you’ve been locked in the storeroom for over a half hour. Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” he scolds.
“I... I’ll be right there, Victor.”
I can’t sulk in here forever. He's right.
When his blue eyes meet mine, I feel obligated to explain why they’re red and glassy.
“Liam and me, we’re through.”
"Ah.”
Awkward silence. He clears his throat.
“I’m sorry, Zoe. Do you want to talk about it?”
“No, I just need some time to get used to it.”
I’m having trouble fighting back the tears. They’ll eventually stop coming, right?
“Go on, tell me,” he insists, rubbing my back in a circular motion.
“He... he’s...”
How do I explain that the man I’ve gotten involved with is linked to Anderson? That the person who came in to help when the shop was wrecked already knew about it, maybe even helped to do it? Or worse, what if he was responsible for it?
No, I can't imagine it. It's impossible.
Victor puts his hand on my forearm.
He has a strange look in his eyes. A sort of gleam I’ve never seen before. Without knowing why, I pull away.
“I... I don’t want to talk about it. But thank you for being there, Victor,” I say.
"Whatever you need.”
My lips are quivering again. The fatigue is making it even harder to control my emotions. And Victor knows it.
“Go on, go home. That’s an order.”
“Victor...”
“You’re not going to serve customers in this state, are you? Go home!” he commands.
This all needs to stop: Victor is not the one who should have to put up with all my problems.
What a partner.
A twenty-six-year-old kid who falls for a greedy lawyer.
A business owner who can't get a loan to save her company.
A loser whose life is slipping between her fingers because some rich businessman decided his plans were more important than her dreams.
A woman whose life may be in danger, if I’m to believe the threats.
Even the police can’t help you!
I’ve never felt more alone in my life.
Dad, help me.
I’m barely through the door of my apartment when Lisa and Chloe ring the bell.
I tell them about the day’s events in detail. They both have their opinions and they are unanimous:
“There must be an explanation,” Lisa says.
“Liam couldn’t have done that,” Chloe adds, pacing the room in her usual high heels.
Busty Barbie and Jessica Rabbit are both against me. I’m screwed.
“Come on Zoe, call him!” Lisa insists.
“You can’t leave things like this. Listen to what he has to say. Don’t jump to conclusions!” Chloe adds.
“Whose side are you on?” I say gruffly.
“Yours, obviously!” she cries. "But..."
"But what? You stand up for him when he didn’t even deny it for a second!”
“Did you even give him a chance to do that?” Lisa asks.
“No. I’ve been duped for long enough. And I didn’t want to hear his pathetic excuses. He was shaking the hand of the man who is threatening me! What more proof do you need? I feel like you don’t really understand the situation! All he cares about is his career. I was wrong about him, and so are you!” I say in exasperation.
“I’m sure you let Diabolical Zoe have her say,” Chloe affirms.
“I didn’t hold back, that’s for sure.”
“What did you say?”
“Hurtful things. So he got a taste of his own medicine,” I say, justifying myself.
“How mature,” Lisa retorts.
“Lisa...”
She lifts her hands up as if to protect herself. I know she doesn’t mean to hurt my feelings.
“Look,” I say calmly. “I know you both just want me to be happy. And like you, I thought I had found happiness with him. But I was mistaken. That’s just how it goes.”
I start crying softly. My friends come to my side, wrapping their arms around me.
“I feel so empty, so alone. Liam was warm, intelligent, charming, and funny. He was my ideal man. He did everything so I’d feel attached to him, so I’d fall into his trap. I completely trusted him. All this time, he was just seducing me to get a contract with Anderson. Victor knows what that guy is capable of. Liam was ready to put me in harm’s way for the sake of his career. There are no explanations that can fix that.”
My voice trails off. A heavy silence fills the room.
“Alright, come on! I think we all need a cocktail!”
Chloe gets up as she says this and heads to the kitchen to fix some.
“We’re your friends Zoe. We’re on your side. We just have a hard time believing Liam could do such a thing. He seemed so genuine with you, so affectionate.”
“I know Lisa, and...”
My phone rings, interrupting us. The number that pops up is not in my phone book. I’m intrigued and I pick up quickly.
Deep down I’m still hoping for a miracle, some explanation for this living nightmare.
“Zoe?”
“Yes, this is she.”
“Hello. It’s Daphne Desages. Liam gave me your number when we were at the hospital. Is this a bad time?”
“No, not at all,” I assure her, drying my tears.
My friends both give me a questioning look.
“It’s Liam’s mom,” I whisper, one hand over the microphone so she doesn’t hear.
Chloe motions for me to keep talking to her.
“Is everything alright, Mrs. Desages?”
“Daphne, call me Daphne. Yes, everything is fine. I just wanted to invite you to dinner. Paul and I want to thank you for what you did. Are you free Thursday?”
“Thursday? I...”
Lisa and Chloe motion for me to accept.
“Yes... I’m... free,” I stutter.
“Perfect. I’m so glad. I’ll send you our address in a text. See you then, Zoe!”
“See you then. And thank you for the invitation,” I say, pretending to be happy.
If I was pale before, I must be transparent now. The icing on the cake.
Questions bounce around my head. Will Liam be there? What if he’s the one who told his mom to invite me, to force me to face him?
“Relax, Zoe. Drink this.”
“How much ABT do I get?” I attempt to joke, sipping the gin cocktail Chloe hands me.
“We’re going to start with four weeks, sweetie,” Lisa replies kindly, rubbing my back.
“Speaking of which, is yours over?”
"Umm. I... well...”
“Why are you blushing, Lisa?” Blunt and Direct blurts out.
“Well...”
Chloe is cracking up at the sight of Lisa’s crimson cheeks.
“Are you happy with your legal counsel?” she insists, cackling even harder.
“But... How did you—”
“We won’t say another word without your lawyer present,” Chloe interrupts.
Lisa starts laughing too. I finally manage to smile. For the first time in days.
While everything crumbles around me, I realize how lucky I am to have the support I do.
***
Five days. Five days since I’ve seen Liam. Five days I’ve been dialing his number and then chickening out before pressing “call” because I don't want him in my life anymore. Not after what he’s done. Five days of high alert as soon as anyone walks into Temple Coffee.
Five days and he hasn't tried to contact me. Not once.
That in itself is proof of his guilt.
I'm so angry at him for his treachery, but also for what he's turned me into. A besotted, weak, hurt woman.
Each morning, I put on an emotionless face, and each night I empty all my tears as soon as I walk through the door of my apartment.
I’m not sleeping. I'm exhausted.
How long is the recovery and cleanup from typhoon Liam going to take? Can anything even be salvaged?
I love him. As much as I hate him.
I miss him. As much as I want him to stay out of my life.
***
I ring the doorbell at Liam’s parents’, a bouquet of flowers in my hand, anxious and stressed.
I’m afraid Liam will be there, and afraid he won’t be there. I’m a lost sheep, that’s what I’ve become.
I'm worried I won’t know what to say to his parents, especially Paul. After all, Liam sees his dad as a role model for his career. What I hate about Liam is probably everything his father taught him.
Daphne, as elegant as when we first met, greets me with a kind, honest smile. We take to each other immediately. I like how classy she is and how attentive she is to others.
She offers me a seat in the living room and leaves for a moment to find a vase. I take this time alone to examine my surroundings. I’m immediately drawn to the beautiful console table in the bay window. On this designer piece of furniture with Plexiglas legs and a glass top, there are a few family photos. I take one of them in my hands. Liam is younger, surrounded by his parents and a man in his twenties. The picture oozes happiness. I touch Liam’s face, my heart racing. It’s impossible to deny that, despite the horrible wrong he committed, I miss him. I stop and look at the man by his side. The resemblance is striking. Could Liam have a brother he never mentioned? Did I even ask him if he had brothers and sisters? I must not have, I was so convinced he was an only child.
“Photographs are magical, aren’t they? They have the power to remind us of happy memories.”
Daphne’s sudden presence makes me jump with surprise. I was so engrossed in the family photo, I didn’t even hear her walk in.
"Who is that?" I venture to ask.
“Colin. Liam’s older brother. I’m guessing Liam didn’t mention him to you...”
“Um... no. I didn’t know Liam had a brother.”
I finally look away from the picture to turn to Daphne. Her eyes have grown sad.
I'm so familiar with the nostalgic gleam I find there, the one that comes over me whenever I look at family photos. I understand that Liam used to have a brother.
Daphne moves away to carefully position the flowers in the large royal blue vase and tells me Paul will be here soon.
A twinge of disappointment blossoms in my stomach when I realize Liam won’t be coming.
What's wrong with me?
As the three of us sit together to share a pre-dinner drink, I’m extremely tense. So tense it must show. As clear as day. As clumsy as a bull in a china shop. Or as Zoe Pasquier, ultra-stressed in her ex–future in-laws’ living room.
“Is everything okay, Zoe?" Daphne asks, worried.
“Yes, absolutely,” I say, not very convincingly. “The wine is very good,” I add.
“Liam told us what happened to your coffee shop,” Paul says suddenly. “How are you doing?”
Does he really care? I doubt it.
“I’m trying to forget it even happened,” I lie.
“Zoe, can I be honest with you?” Paul asks.
"Of course.”
I wish I could act relaxed when I talk to Paul, but I can’t help but see him as just another Domenic Anderson.
“Liam told me everything about Anderson,” he says to my great surprise, awakening my curiosity.
“What do you mean?"
“That he's responsible for what happened. And what he's capable of.”
“You didn’t know?” I ask coolly.
"Of course not! Do you really think I normally work with that kind of person?”
“I really have no idea. I get the impression your career is very important to you.”
“Yes, that’s true, I love my work and I am very invested in my firm. I’m passionate about it. Just like you are about yours, right?”
Touché.
“I always see things through, I often meet my goals,” he continues. “But not without scruples and reason, Zoe. I have always done things by the book and in alignment with my values: integrity, honesty, and hard work. Daphne and I taught Liam the same values. And that’s why he asked for my blessing to end our collaboration with Anderson.”
End their collaboration? But it’s impossible he would have asked such a thing! The firm is too important to him!
“He would never do that!” I say in a voice I was hoping would sound a bit less sarcastic.
“Don’t be so sure,” Daphne intervenes.
On top of it all, Daphne is also very intelligent. She knows her words will count more than her husband’s when it comes to me.
“Liam has chosen to be incorruptible, and I’m proud of him for it,” Paul continues. “He’s trying to find a solution that will limit the damage to the firm. He didn't want to give me any more information for the time being. Maybe you have more information than I do, actually,” he teases me, alluding to our relationship.
“No, I...”
Should I believe him? Am I even capable of it?
Could I have made a horrible mistake?
My superior and sarcastic attitude has turned lost and sheepish.
“When did he talk to you about it?”
“The night after his last meeting with Anderson. He met with him to try and learn more about his intentions, notably concerning you. When he understood the man would stop at nothing, he realized he couldn’t continue working for him.”
I almost choke when I hear this.
Why didn’t he try to contact me again if what his parents are saying is true?
All those horrible things I threw in his face come back to me. Well, that explains his silence.
“I caught your son with Anderson and I thought he...”
Daphne places her hand on my arm to get me to look at her.
“I... I said horrible things,” I confess, desperate. “He came to give me an explanation and I refused to listen.”
“It’s never too late, Zoe.”
The tension has dissipated and left a warmth in its wake. The dinner is excellent, by the way, and we have a calm, lovely time. I envy Liam and the meals he still gets to share with both his parents. The last dinner I had with both my mom and dad together seems like it was centuries ago. The thought tears me apart for a moment.
Contrary to my preconceived notions, Paul is a man of integrity with many good qualities. He's funny, smart, clever, and generous. According to Daphne’s confessions, his second heart attack made him realize he needs to spend more time enjoying life’s pleasures and his family, that he needs to live every moment to the fullest, rather than race to the finish at warp speed.
I thank them sincerely as I leave.
“Zoe?” Daphne calls.
“Yes?”
“Liam is on the phone with Paul. He's home now,” she says.
A knowing smile raises the corner of her mouth.
“Thanks for the info,” I say gratefully.
I get in the taxi that’s waiting out front and give the driver Liam’s address.
A whirlwind of emotions washes over me: the relief I feel now that I know I was wrong about Liam; impatience to finally see him again, to curl up against his chest, warm in his arms.
Suddenly, fear hits me in the gut. What if he doesn’t forgive me for the cruel things I said?
17
Liam
“What are you doing here?” I ask Zoe, emotionless as
I stare at her from my doorway.
“I’ve made a horrible mistake, Liam. I feel so bad, if you only knew. I’m here to apologize. For doubting you. For saying such horrible things. I didn’t believe what I was saying, not a word of it.”
“Go away, Zoe,” I order her angrily.
She turns pale before my eyes. I really do want her to leave.
“No, Liam, please...” she begs. “I’m sorry, forgive me, I’m so sorry.”
“I heard you,” I retort with disdain. “But it’s too easy! You can’t insult me like that and then just say you’re sorry. That’s not how this works.”
“Put yourself if my shoes,” she says, a lost look in her eyes. I saw you with him and you looked away when you saw me.”
“It was so he wouldn’t be onto me Zoe! If only you had let me explain.”
“I know, I’m so, so sorry. Really,” she says again.
“But instead, you tore into me,” I insist coolly.
“I know Liam. I feel awful about it. I felt betrayed and I wanted to hurt you. I wanted you to suffer like I was suffering. I used your weaknesses against you because I knew it would hurt.”
“Thanks for your honesty,” I reply, my voice laced with contempt.
“I was wrong, and I don’t know how to make up for it and how to apologize for all the vicious things said to you.”
"You can't,” I say, laying down the law.
How could I forgive her for all the vile things she spit at me?
"What? But yes, of course I can.”
“No, Zoe. I want you to go, now.”
I’m walled up inside a heavy silence, which she finally breaks unexpectedly.
“I felt happy with you, I had started to trust you. I kept telling myself it was too good to be true. You were too perfect to be truly attracted to a girl like me. When I caught you with Anderson, I had found the ideal explanation for all my doubts and the fear that my feelings for you had awakened.”
“I want you to go,” I insist.
She begins crying, uncontrollably. She finally says what she’s been holding back.
“I... I fell in love with you, Liam. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. And it terrified me. It still scares me! Because I’m afraid of hurting, afraid of losing you.”
I don't show an ounce of emotion as I listen to her confession.
