“Yes, my mom had to come and pick me up from the police station. I was so embarrassed. Anyway, I love coffee and muffins, and I would definitely love to go to dinner with you.”
He smiled as she spoke and leaned forward. “Really? You’d want to go to dinner with me?”
“Yes.”
The cute and adorable stage may have passed, but nothing was more adorable and attractive than the hint of a blush that mingled with the little freckles on his nose.
He thought for a moment. “We could go now. If you want. We could go now.”
“I’d absolutely love to.” She smiled and put out her hand for him to take. He beamed as he clasped his hands over hers and brought her hand up to his lips to kiss.
Now it was her turn to blush. Her cheeks warmed as he helped her to stand and took her hand again.
“Gee that cologne must be good.” He smiled down at her. “I’m going out with Taylor Vanderville.”
“Oh Wes.” She shook her head at him and giggled as he pulled her along.
Wade
“We were this close to a pride of lions.” Chloe’s mom beamed, smiling with excitement as she held out her hands about ten inches apart.
Wade sat in the sitting room next to Chloe, anxiety rippling through him, tearing him up from the inside.
Telling his mother about his past was the hardest thing he’d had to do in a long time. It was the hardest thing in the world, harder than he anticipated, and he’d been trying to talk to Chloe about it for the last few days.
Every time he geared himself up something would happen. Sure something was always happening, but it was like the universe was out to get him. He’d been trying to talk to Chloe for nearly a week, since Merissa made her appearance at Adrenaline’s opening. When the whole thing happened with Taylor and Richard, then Taylor and Brian, he knew he’d get thrown off track and off balance.
Tonight was the first evening that he’d had her back because she’d been with Taylor all that time.
When Chloe came back from work he’d brought her into the sitting room attempting to talk, then the doorbell rang and she said she forgot her parents were coming to dinner.
Now he was here in the midst of the talking about lions, damn tigers, and bears. He didn’t mean to be grumpy, anxious, or reserved, he was just going through a lot of mixed emotions and he felt like he’d implode under the pressure.
Add the worry of trying to impress your girlfriend’s parents, when they knew your ugly past, and he was sitting here with his brain feeling scrambled.
“Weren’t you guys scared?” Chloe asked.
“Not one bit,” Phil answered, twisting the end of his handle bar mustache and smiling. “There’s a technique to the madness, and it’s amazing. We’re thinking of planning another trip in a few weeks.” They were leaving tomorrow to go back to France.
Wade shuffled next to Chloe. She slipped her hand over his and knitted her fingers through his. Flick saw the gesture and smiled to herself.
He was hoping that was a good sign, because he was certain she would have been happier if her daughter had made a better choice. It was just how he felt.
He wished he could have been calmer, and that circumstances were different. Right now there were a million things going on in his head.
It would have been great if he could at least have been more sociable. He didn’t think he’d said two words in the last three hours that they’d been here. Instead he’d busied himself in the kitchen, making a Mexican feast he’d always relied on as his back up meal. Then he’d made drinks.
Before he came to sit down with them he’d continued his attempts to call Taylor. She didn’t answer and hadn’t since Sunday. She wasn’t talking to their mother, either. Chloe told her she spoke to her and told her about Brian. She said Taylor didn’t look upset when she spoke about it.
He’d been happy to hear that but still wanted to talk to her himself. He would have gone by to see her but he knew what she was like. When Taylor needed her space she could become quite reserved and sink into this shell that only she could break through when she was ready.
He’d seen her act like it a lot when they were younger, and he supposed if there was a time that called for her to behave like that it was now. The whole Brian thing was big news he never saw coming.
Wade glanced at Flick and wondered if she’d known. She was looking at Phil as he started talking about elephants. She must have known. Flick was his mother’s best friend and he was willing to bet that there wasn’t anything she didn’t know. He summed her up as the friend that would take your secrets to her grave. It was good, it meant she could be trusted, but he couldn’t help but feel slightly awkward at the fact that she knew and he hadn’t.
“I’ll go make some drinks,” Wade offered; the pressure was getting to him now. He gave Chloe’s hand a gentle squeeze then stood up and made his way into the kitchen. Once inside he turned on the tap and splashed some cold water on his face.
The door handle turned when he grabbed the juice jug and Flick came inside. His nerves spiked. What was she going to say to him?
Had he just thrown himself into the opportunity she’d been waiting for all night to tell him he wasn’t good enough for her daughter.
“Wade, are you okay?” She moved over to the island near him and rested her hands on the granite work top.
“I’m fine, I just can’t remember where I put the lemons.” He didn’t even know if they had lemons. Worst case scenario he’d pour the rest of the Tropicana in the jug and fill it with ice.
“Honey you look like your about to explode.”
God, he didn’t know he was that transparent. “It’s been a rough day at work,” he lied.
She smiled. “How is work? Your mother told me that you set up some fabulous adventure company with your friend.”
“Yeah, its doing good.”
“Good.” She nodded. “So, this is what happened to the little boy who made a zip line out of my stockings. I hope you’re using something better than that these days. Your parents nearly had my head when you broke your arm.”
He gazed at her and saw that she was actually trying to make him feel more comfortable.
He just about remembered that. He must have been six years old. That was thirty years ago.
“Yeah, I swear I use a cable now,” he smiled.
“Good, because I swear Chloe would follow you just like she did back then.”
He smiled at that, again vaguely remembering that Chloe tried to jump out the window after him when Flick’s stocking snapped under his weight and he went straight to the ground. He’d climbed out of the window on the second floor of their house and made that stupid zip line to the tree five meters away from the window. It was crazy to think he’d managed to pull off a stunt like that, and probably a miracle that he hadn’t died. It pained him to think that his poor Chloe who would have been only three at the time and may not have been as lucky as him. Years later she was still following him, and he was still guilty of putting her in danger.
“I’ll take care of her,” he said. It was more of a promise. He didn’t want her to think that there would ever be a question about that.
“Oh, I definitely don’t doubt that. Not one bit. I admit I had my reservations, but I really don’t think Chloe could be with anyone better,” she stated to his complete surprise.
Her words gripped him and gave him strength. He’d been feeling like a complete loser since Merissa made her presence, and he needed to hear something good from someone who knew him. Granted Flick may not feel the same if she knew about his past with Merissa, but it was good to hear something positive. “So, can you please stop looking so nervous around us. Imagine if we hadn’t known you your whole life.” She chuckled. “And since we do, I’m sure you can skip past the whole nervousness. I was kind of hoping you’d tell us about Japan. Chloe told us you’ve been.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“Great, now come and tell us all about it. We can drink water.” She b
eckoned him to come. He put the jug down on the counter and went back out to the sitting room with her.
They talked for another hour before they left and he finally had his Chloe all to himself. He was eager to talk but it wasn’t the right time.
Again. It wasn’t the right time. It was nearly eleven and she looked tired. He wondered, though, if he should just tell her because he thought he was looking at another sleepless night. Another night of wondering how she’d react when he told her, and if she’d leave him.
She walked into the kitchen and slipped her arms around him from behind as he placed the last plate in the dishwasher.
“We’re alone, finally.” She smiled as he turned into her embrace. He lowered to kiss her delicious lips and continued to kiss her, enjoying the feel of her and the way she tasted.
“Baby,” he breathed against her lips.
“No.” She shook her head. “No.”
“No to what?” He smiled down at her.
“We aren’t talking about Taylor or your mom or anyone else. I haven’t seen you in days. Can I please just enjoy my gorgeous boyfriend?” She winced.
“You have me, baby.”
She took hold of his hand and tugged him towards her. He moved to go but stopped and pulled her back.
“What?” She narrowed her eyes.
“Baby I really need to talk to you. About me.”
She looked worried. “What is it?”
“The past. I want to talk to you about that. I know you saw a woman a few weeks ago who used to be with me,” he stated cautiously.
She smiled and reached up to touch his face. “I don’t care about her. she can’t rattle me or throw me. I’ve known you forever, Wade.”
“But—”
She shook her head and ran her finger lightly along his lip, over his beard, and lingered at his chin. “No, please…not tonight. I know it’s important, but could we just be us tonight? The way we were weeks ago when we first got together.”
He stared down at her beautiful face, loving her more than he felt possible. Loving her more than he had strength.
“We’re in love now, Chloe. We’re different to how we were weeks ago.”
She smiled on hearing that. “We’re better.”
He nodded. “So much better.”
“Then make love to me, Wade,” she whispered, pulling him towards her again.
He didn’t give her the chance to walk, he swooped her up playfully and carried her up to their room where they spent the whole night making love, becoming passion’s slaves. Being with her made him forget everything, and nothing existed outside the perfection of her.
He enjoyed the freedom his mind felt but as soon as he woke up the next morning he decided that whatever happened today he’d have to find the time to talk to her.
Regina
“Are you okay?” Flick asked Regina. They sat by the large window in Regina’s office at Runway admiring the view of the city.
“No, I’m not okay.” There was no point in lying. Taylor hadn’t spoken to her since Sunday and it was now Tuesday. She’d hoped that Taylor would have calmed down enough to accept her calls but she didn’t.
It was understandable. How else was she expected to react with the knowledge that the father she’d known all her life wasn’t hers, but Regina was going crazy with worry and guilt.
“She just needs time,” Flick reasoned, reaching out to touch her hand.
“Yeah. I wish I’d known how best to tell her.” Because clearly the way she did it was wrong. Everything was wrong. “And Brian, he’s…”
Brian had been weird with her too. She guessed he was expecting the scenario to play out differently.
She’d made so many mistakes in her life, ones that couldn’t be fixed.
“Regina, you did what you had to.” Flick nodded.
She’d known even before Taylor was born that Brian was Taylor’s father. Regina had told her, only her. Flick was the only person she’d ever been able to confide in and trust like that. Regina was lucky to have her.
“But it was the wrong thing.” She nodded.
Flick sat forward and rested her hands on her knees. “What do you think would have been the right thing?” she asked
“Maybe to tell her years ago.”
“What do you think would have happened then?”
She didn’t know, but maybe Taylor was angry because of how long Regina had kept the secret. “I’m not sure, Flick, but I really could do without my daughter hating me right now. There’s too much going on.” Regina already felt like she was stuck in limbo with this damn psycho, but the worry of Taylor had worn her out. “I just wish she wasn’t mad at me. She’s a victim in this mess. But I’ve always been a victim, and everything I do feels like it’s the wrong thing.” She brought her hands up to her cheeks.
“Give her time. If I know Taylor she’ll come around. She loves you, Regina.” She gave her a soft comforting smile that made Regina think of how much she’d missed her.
“What am I going to do without you?”
Flick and Phil were leaving late tonight. Regina was grateful that they came, and grateful that Chloe had contacted them. Poor Chloe, Regina hadn’t managed to speak to her much through all that happened. She’d only seen her when it was a group of them but Regina liked having that one-to-one bond with her.
“I don’t know, Regina. You do tend to need me quite a lot,” Flick joked.
“Like my arm and my leg.” She laughed, but it was the truth.
They’d been friends for a very long time. She’d met Flick a few years before she married Ben. Flick was the new girl at school, who came at the awkward end of sophomore year. She’d known Brian, too, through Regina and saw how devastated she was when she had to marry Ben. Flick had seen her through some terrible times in her life. She’d given her the strength to get through her horrible marriage to Ben and not being with Brian. She gave her the faith to believe in herself when she came up with the idea for Runway, and she was always positive things would somehow work out.
“And your head,” Flick added.
“And my head,” Regina agreed, smiling.
“There’s still so much to talk about. Like your son and my daughter.”
Oh God. Regina slapped her hand to her head. How could she have forgotten that. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t dodging the topic I swear.”
Flick laughed. “I know, and I know when you’re dodging so you’re off the hook.”
Her heart ached when she thought of Wade. It was hard not to think about all that he’d told her on Sunday and not feel heartbroken for him. What worried her, too, was the revelation of his ex-girlfriend showing up just to taunt him and make things worse than they already were. She worried for him as he expressed his concerns in telling Chloe. Regina didn’t know what to tell him because no one could know how Chloe would react. All she could do was assure him that the right thing to do was to tell her what had happened if he loved her.
“So, my son and your daughter.” She tried to look cheerful.
“They have the look of love, Regina.”
“I’ve seen them.”
“Take care of them both for me.” Flick smiled. Regina nodded. “And call me if you need me, or us even. Phil will be there too if you need him. We’ll both come running back.”
“I know, but I also know you’ve stayed in L.A. for far too long already.” Regina knew they both hated being in L.A.
Flick smiled. “Has it been that obvious?”
“No, I can just feel it. I know how you feel and I respect that.” When they lived in L.A., it nearly destroyed their marriage.
Phil had been up to his knees in work at the university. He was always busy, always either preparing for his lectures, marking work for his students, or attending some sort of literary conference. Flick used to run her own art gallery and was always booked up with creating some masterpiece and doing her shows. They both hated that they had no time for each other and felt it was down to the fast-paced l
ifestyle of living in L.A.
“France is great. We’re happier there. We get to see each other, and live the way we want without having to please anyone. I do miss you desperately, though.”
“I miss you too.” She loved her family, loved Runway and all that she’d achieved, but Regina was starting to get that overwhelmed feeling too. She’d felt like that for years about her life here in general, and always like she was living to meet everyone’s expectations.
She’d been the wife of the state’s attorney, she’d been Regina the owner of a prestigious magazine, and most of all she’d been a Vanderville.
A name that went far back and meant something. She missed just being Regina.
“Why don’t we go grab some of those pastries you keep telling me about.” Flick smiled. They could smell the bread in the bakery across the street, and it was enticing.
“Yes, we’ll grab a whole box and then I’ll take you to lunch.”
One last lunch before she had to say goodbye.
Regina sat with Brian in the living room.
The house was really shaping up and growing on her. She liked it. To make it feel more homely she’d bought some hyacinths to brighten up the place and the mood.
Brian still had that uneasy, faraway look on his face she’d left him with this morning.
“I met with detective Fray earlier,” he said, focusing his gaze on the glossy surface of the coffee table.
“What did he say?”
“The finger belonged to an ex-con who’d gone missing a few months ago.”
Regina shook her head and clutched her stomach to calm the queasiness she felt. She still couldn’t believe that they’d been sent a finger in a package. “I can’t get my head around it. What does it all mean?”
“I don’t know. It’s like going down the damn rabbit hole and finding all sorts of crap that doesn’t make sense.”
“But it must.” It had to. How did the finger of an ex-con fit into all of this?
“I’m too tired to work it out.”
He looked drained, and like he’d aged since she told her the result of her confession to Taylor.
Secrets and Lies Page 17
