by Regina Hart
Alonzo let her go. His smile dimmed but didn’t fade. “That doesn’t sound good.”
“Everything’s OK. I handled it. But I wanted you to know that Leo stopped by today. He was waiting for me when I got home from Ms. Helen’s.” She tried for a casual tone but didn’t quite pull it off.
Alonzo’s expression grew cold. “He was in our house?”
“No, no.” Doreen rushed to reassure him. “I spoke with him in the driveway.”
Some of his anger dissipated. “What did he want?”
Doreen shrugged as she wandered back to the counter. “He wants to reconcile with me. I told him that would never happen, even if I weren’t marrying you.”
“Did he accept that?”
Doreen shook her head with her back to Alonzo. She resumed cutting vegetables for their salad. “He kept saying that I don’t know the real you. He said you have secrets.”
“He said the same thing to me.”
Doreen dropped the knife she was using to slice carrots and turned to her fiancé. “You spoke with Leo? When?”
“He came to my office last week.” Alonzo braced his shoulder against the entryway to the kitchen.
Doreen’s eyes widened. “What did he want?”
“To warn me against marrying you. He said I wasn’t good enough for you.” His gaze was hooded, as though he wanted to hide his expression from her. Why? What was he thinking?
“Why didn’t you tell me you’d spoken with him?” Doreen braced her hips against the counter and crossed her arms.
Alonzo shrugged again. “It wasn’t important.”
She expelled an exasperated breath. “Yes, it was. If I’d known Leo had spoken to you, I’d have been better prepared when he showed up in our driveway.”
“Why would you need to be prepared to see him?”
Doreen scowled. “How would you have felt if I hadn’t told you that I saw Leo today?”
“That’s different.” Alonzo straightened from the entryway. “I’m not the one Leo wants to marry.”
“That’s not the point. We shouldn’t be keeping secrets from each other.”
“All right. Fine.” Alonzo dragged a hand through his thick, wavy hair. “I’m sorry.”
Doreen considered Alonzo. She’d thought he was tired. But this wasn’t fatigue. This was something more. Why wouldn’t he confide in her? She was about to become his wife.
She straightened from the counter and crossed to him. “You’ve been in a strange mood for months. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” He wouldn’t look at her.
Doreen grew chilled. Was Ramona right about Alonzo and Quincy? Both men were acting out of character, seemingly growing cooler within their relationship. Why? What had changed?
“Alonzo, I need to know.” Doreen hesitated, taking a deep breath. “Are you reconsidering our wedding? Are you getting cold feet?”
“Of course not.”
“Then why won’t you tell me what’s wrong?” Doreen wasn’t convinced. “Why are you keeping secrets from me?”
Alonzo gave her a sharp look. “Why would you ask me that? Has Leo convinced you that I’m not good enough for you?”
Doreen stepped back. “Where did that question come from?”
“Are you doubting me now that you’ve spoken with Leo?”
Was Alonzo even listening to her? Could he hear himself?
“Of course not.”
“Maybe you’re right, Doreen. Maybe this wedding is a mistake.” Alonzo turned and left her.
Doreen stared after him, speechless. She couldn’t pull her thoughts together. She heard his footsteps, carrying him up the stairs. Doreen stumbled to the table. She sank onto a chair, not wanting to fall before she fell down. From where had Alonzo’s outburst come? Why would he ask her to marry him if that wasn’t what he wanted? What had she done wrong—and how could she fix this?
CHAPTER 28
“Is Mystic Park about us?” Benita watched Vaughn closely later on Thursday. She’d catch any movement, muscle twitch, or shift in his expression that tipped his hand one way or the other about the autobiographical nature of his play.
“Do you see a similarity?” Vaughn didn’t appear at all sheepish. He seemed more amused—and a little tired.
The music professor had had a long Thursday: several summer semester classes and a concert band practice even before tonight’s rehearsal. Overall, the rehearsal had gone well. The only glitch had been their female lead’s absence, a pretty major glitch. Vaughn had been stressed enough without Benita pointing out that she’d once again been right. Instead, she’d given him an I-told-you-so look, then stepped into the role for the night. Benita was more than capable of the substitution. She’d sung and danced her way through musicals in high school and the first two years of college.
They’d stayed after rehearsal to review the musical’s props, costumes, and advertisements. Benita had waited until they’d discussed all of those items before voicing her suspicions about Vaughn’s play.
“Come on, Vaughn. In your play, Mama D’Leau is based on my mother, isn’t she?” Benita wouldn’t be distracted from the debate at hand. She leaned against the base of the stage, facing Vaughn where he sat in the front row of the left section of audience seats.
“Does that make you the water fairy?” His smile was a teasing taunt.
“Am I right?” Benita wouldn’t allow him to divert her with his sexy smile and teasing eyes. She had him. He was sending her a message with his play.
“What if you are?” Vaughn settled back onto the folding audience seat. He propped his right ankle onto his left knee. “What is our story in the play?”
“Just like Mama D’Leau won’t let the water fairy live on land with the mortals, you blame my mother for convincing me to leave Trinity Falls.” Benita waited for Vaughn’s reaction. Again, he didn’t give away his inner thoughts with so much as a muscle twitch. The silence stretched on for almost a solid minute.
“The play isn’t about us, Benny.” Vaughn rose slowly to his feet. “Although I can see why you’d think it was.”
“Maybe you didn’t realize you were writing about us.” Benita straightened away from the stage. “But I want you to know that my mother isn’t keeping me from Trinity Falls. I left on my own.”
“And you left me.”
She stepped back from the pain in his voice. “Come with me.”
“You blame Trinity Falls for your parents’ divorce, but you’re wrong.” Vaughn packed up his suitcase. “Your parents grew apart. Trinity Falls had nothing to do with it.”
“How can you say that? There was even less to do in this town when my parents lived here.” Benita collected her purse, tote bag, and coat. “Maybe they’d still be married if there’d been more to hold their interests in this town.”
“If your theory was correct, everyone in Trinity Falls would be divorced.” Vaughn escorted her from the auditorium. “The fact is Trinity Falls’s divorce rate is well below the national average.”
“How do you know that?”
“I just do.”
In silence, Benita preceded Vaughn down the narrow staircase from the second floor to the main lobby. It was almost ten P.M. She was getting used to Trinity Falls University at night. The lamppost lit their way across the campus Oval to the university parking lot on the other side of the street. A few shadowy figures walked in groups away from the library, a sure sign that summer semester was under way.
Benita glanced at Vaughn from the corner of her eye. His expression was an unreadable mask in the shadows. “I never meant to hurt you by leaving. I was following my dream. But I never said you couldn’t come with me.”
“Then Los Angeles will change both of us.”
“What do you mean?” Her eyebrows knitted.
“Like I said, Benny, you’re not the same person when you’re in Los Angeles.”
“How am I different?” He’d told her this before, but Benita had had no idea what he’d been talking abou
t.
“You’re more relaxed in Trinity Falls. When we’re together, I have your attention.” Vaughn checked both ways before heading across the street. “In Los Angeles, you’re always checking your cell phone and e-mails.”
“That’s because I’m working.” Benita spotted her car under one of the lights.
“You’re always looking around to see if anyone famous is nearby.”
“Working.” She sang the word as she pulled her keys from her pants pocket.
“You’re not always working, Benny. And if living in Los Angeles can do that to you, it can change me.” Vaughn stopped beside her car and faced her. “I love you, but I don’t want that to happen.”
“Where does that leave us? I’m on water and you’re on land?” She made a reference to one of the key songs in his play. “I love you, too, Vaughn. But my life isn’t a musical.”
“Neither is mine. Good night, Benny.” Vaughn turned and walked to his car.
Benita watched him for a few seconds before climbing into her Acura. Whether he’d intended to make the script about them, he must recognize the similarity in their love stories. It was time she heeded the message of Mystic Park, Vaughn’s fictional Trinity Falls, and live where her love is. She was going to finalize her offer on Doreen’s house.
Vaughn approached the counter at Books & Bakery Saturday morning. The scents of baking bread, confectioners’ sugar, and coffee assailed him. Ean, Quincy, and Darius already were there and finishing breakfast. Megan and Doreen stood on the other side of the counter, keeping the men company.
Darius looked up as Vaughn took the empty bar stool beside him. “Hey, Vaughn. Interesting that you’re here. You don’t usually join us.”
A surprising number of customers had arrived early at Books & Bakery to enjoy breakfast at the café tables. The diners ranged from retired couples, students on summer semester, and couples and families enjoying breakfast out. The couple reviewing the map appeared to be tourists. That wasn’t surprising considering it was Memorial Day Weekend.
“I’m looking to make some changes in my life.” Vaughn returned his attention to Darius.
“How are things with Benita?” The newspaper man gave him a concerned look.
Vaughn paused to breathe through the pain in his chest. “We’ve broken up for good this time.”
A chorus of regrets circled him. He appreciated his friends’ concern, but it only made him feel worse. As it was, he was holding on to his composure by a thread.
“At least you’re not alone.” Darius waved his hand to encompass the group seated at the counter. “Everyone here is experiencing relationship problems. Well, everyone except me.”
Ean frowned. “Megan and I aren’t having trouble.”
“Yet.” Darius sipped his coffee.
Ean’s scowl deepened. “What does that mean?”
Megan reached across the counter to squeeze Ean’s shoulder. “Don’t encourage him.”
“You’re on borrowed time, E.” Darius continued without invitation. “You’re going to have to polish up that proposal pretty soon.”
Quincy snorted. “This from a man who declared his love in a bathroom.”
“At least it was the ladies restroom. Did you know they have scented lotions and potpourri in there?” Darius pinned Megan and Doreen with a look. “You ladies have much nicer bathrooms than men.”
Doreen turned to Vaughn. “What can I get you?”
He decided to splurge. “May I have steak and eggs, please?”
“Sure. Coffee?” Doreen laid his silverware and napkin before him.
“Please.” Vaughn nodded.
“I’ve got it.” Megan squeezed Doreen’s shoulder. She offered Vaughn a cup of coffee as the other woman disappeared into the kitchen to make Vaughn’s breakfast.
Vaughn glanced at Darius as he added creamer and sugar to his coffee. “If your relationship with Peyton is fine, why are you having breakfast with us?”
Darius jerked a thumb toward Quincy. “Q sent a nine-one-one. Ramona hasn’t spoken to him since she ripped him a new one Thursday night.”
It was Saturday morning. “You went a whole day without her talking to you?” Vaughn’s eyes widened with concern. “What happened?”
Quincy rubbed a hand over his face. “She found out I’d talked with Foster about getting my old job back.”
“The problem is he hadn’t spoken with Ramona first.” Ean shook his head in disbelief.
“Oh, man.” Vaughn sighed.
“That sums it up.” Darius propped his forearms on the counter.
Vaughn looked at Megan, Ramona’s cousin. “Do you have any insight on this situation?”
Megan refilled Darius’s coffee mug. “After speaking with Ramona, I suggested to Quincy that he stay with Ean and me for a while.”
From bad to worse. Vaughn looked at Quincy’s bent head. “Good luck, Q.” He couldn’t think of anything else to say. “What about Doreen? Everything’s fine with her and Alonzo, right?”
Megan glanced cautiously toward the kitchen. “The wedding may be off.”
“Oh, no.” Vaughn looked around the counter. Everyone looked upset by the news, especially Ean. “Does Benita know?”
“Doreen spoke with her yesterday.” Megan leaned a hip against the counter. “She’s confident it’s pre-wedding nerves. She’s following up with the wedding preparations as though it’s going to happen.”
Vaughn stared into his mug of coffee. That sounded like Benita. She would trust everything to work out. She wouldn’t give up. If only she’d taken the same positive approach with Trinity Falls and not given up on them.
“I’m going to ask Ramona to marry me.” Quincy’s announcement startled Vaughn. Judging by the expressions on his friends’ faces, Quincy had surprised everyone.
Darius recovered first. “Maybe you should wait until she’s speaking to you again.”
Quincy scowled at the newspaper man. “I’m serious, D.”
“So am I, Q.” Darius’s tone was firm.
“I’ve been thinking of proposing to her for a while now,” Quincy confessed. “I just thought I should wait for the right time.”
“Quincy, this isn’t the right time,” Ean warned.
“I think it is,” Quincy insisted. “She thinks I don’t see her as an equal partner in our relationship. I think asking her to be my wife will prove to her that I do.”
“Quincy.” Megan’s voice was sharp. She held Quincy’s gaze. “Do you have any idea how angry Ramona is with you right now? She’s so angry with you that you’re staying with Ean and me. That’s how angry she is with you right now. Do you understand?”
“Yes.” Quincy looked depressed.
Megan folded her hands on the counter in front of him. “Then do you really think this is the time when you should propose marriage to Ramona?”
“No.” Quincy rubbed his forehead. The enormity of his situation seemed to have crashed onto him at one time.
Megan reached over and rubbed his shoulder. “It’s OK. She’ll calm down eventually. She always does.”
Crisis averted, Vaughn’s friends changed the subject. They asked him about Mystic Park, summer semester, and his brothers. Mystic Park was going well. Summer semester was light, and both of his brothers were returning to Trinity Falls for his play. Before he knew it, Doreen returned with his breakfast.
Megan straightened from the counter. “What’s next for you once Mystic Park is over, Vaughn?”
Vaughn turned to Doreen. “I’m hoping to buy a house. I’d like to make an offer on yours, Doreen.”
“Oh.” Doreen exchanged looks with Megan and Ean before turning back to Vaughn. “Someone’s already put an offer on my house. I’m sorry.”
Vaughn’s eyebrows rose. “Already? That was fast. I hadn’t realized it had gone on the market.”
Again, Doreen looked to the others before answering him. “The person made the offer before it was listed.”
The others in the group rega
rded him with inscrutable expressions. “May I ask who made the offer?”
“I’d rather wait until the sale is final before giving the name.” Doreen refreshed his coffee. “I promise to contact you first if, for some reason, the sale doesn’t go through.”
“I’d appreciate that.” Vaughn considered Doreen’s smile. It didn’t mask the concern in her eyes. The others looked away when he turned to them. Then Megan changed the subject.
Was he being paranoid or were they hiding something?
Alonzo was waiting outside of Leonard’s house when the high school mathematics-teacher-cum-football-head-coach pulled onto his driveway late Thursday afternoon. It was poetic justice since Leonard had lain in wait for Doreen when she’d come home from work exactly one week ago today. From his position leaning back against the railing attached to Leonard’s house, Alonzo watched the smaller man climb from his car.
“Am I supposed to be intimidated by you, Alonzo?” Leonard slammed shut the driver’s side door and circled the trunk of his brown Ford sedan.
“The only reason a person would say that is if he were intimidated.” Alonzo remained still, tracking Leonard’s progress with only his gaze. He still wore his sheriff’s uniform. His arms were crossed at his chest. His legs were crossed at his ankles.
“Should I be?” Leonard leaned against the passenger side of his car. He set his soft black briefcase on the ground beside him.
“Yes.”
Leonard’s neighbors were either still at work, still at school, or in their houses. The picturesque street was deserted this final week of May. Alonzo had known it would be. He’d driven past Leonard’s house a couple of times in the past week while he figured out how he would deal with this wannabe rival for Doreen’s affections.
“Are you threatening me, Sheriff?”
“I’m educating you, Leo. But don’t worry. There are just two simple lessons. Lesson one: stay away from my house.”
“It’s a public street.”
“Lesson two: stay away from my woman.”
Leonard narrowed his eyes. “Does Doreen know you’re here?”
