Striding into their now vacant bedroom, the airy green and white decor no longer held that refreshing appeal for him anymore. It meant nothing without her, without Nat. He remembered how happy she was to decorate the house and to select the colour scheme. Her touch was branded into every single thing in the room. She had even hung a few of her own original paintings throughout the house. Everywhere he looked he saw Natasha, everything he touched he knew she had a hand in it. The scent of her perfume still lingered in the atmosphere and he could hear the memory of her voice etched into everything he saw, because it had all been experienced with her. Walking toward the double French doors leading out onto the balcony, the memories of all the times they had shared out there came flooding back. Times when they celebrated his successful purchases of his two restaurants Shores and Sands, his book releases even to his volleyball team winning few local championships from time to time. The times he was featured in magazines like the Global Writer’s digest and even on the cover of Author Spotlight magazine as when his novel became an almost overnight sensation.
As he reflected on those things, a crushing realization arrested him so forcefully that he had to grasp the banister for support. It was as though a fist had smashed into his solar plexus and all of the air had rushed out of his lungs once again.
None of those achievements were Natasha’s. Not a single one!
“Oh my god! Oh my god!” groaned Marcus as the realization finally dawned on him. Now instead of the euphoria of those moments he now remembered the occasions when he would find her sitting looking depressed or see her disinterested approach to her job at the restaurant. The night she quit singing at Sands one of the most noted businessmen on the island complimented her singing without even looking at her. He’d directed the compliment to him saying, “Your wife, sure can sing!” That was shortly before the day he saw her eyes become lifeless and cold toward him eight months ago as he chided her for being childish and jealous after he got his book deal.
Leaning forward on the banister on his elbows Marcus allowed his hands to slide upwards along his face until he was holding his head in his hands. He had been such a fool and it took Natasha leaving him for him to finally see it. He had been so caught up being the success and trying to be a success for Natasha that he pushed aside her dreams and made them unimportant. Now she had Lucas. Who knew what kind of promises that bastard was making to her right now while she was so vulnerable?
Lucas. Just the sound of that name filled him with an insane jealousy that threatened all of the remaining hold he still had on reason. All that he refused to give her she had now found with this Lucas. Sheldon was right; he needed to think things through and to make a decision about what he was going to do about his marriage. He knew he did not have all of the answers but he knew he had already made one decision and it was the most important one.
He wanted Natasha back in his life and he was prepared to do anything to get her to see that happen again.
Chapter 6
March 18th Atlanta, Georgia, USA
“Congratulations, Natasha, I told you that this contract was yours for the taking. You have incredible talent,” praised Lucas feeling a sense of pride as he acknowledged Natasha’s successful interview and audition.
“Thank you Lucas, I am still on cloud nine, I just can’t believe this is really happening for me now,” she whispered breathlessly before taking a sip of bubbly champagne from her glass and laughing as it tickled her nose.
“I know it may seem like a lot of changes to take in now, but your manager and team will help you to get settled into your new career quickly. Before you know it you will be living a lifestyle that few have been privileged to live.”
“Well, let’s be cautious about using the word career until I have at least released my first single, yes?” replied Natasha nervously.
“First single?” exclaimed Lucas. “You need to see what I see in you love. You have albums, live performances and world tours in you yet! This is just the beginning of a wonderful future for you. No more singing in little restaurants for you dear.”
“You make it sound so easy and as if my life will become so amazing, automatically!”
“It can be Natasha, and I want to see you make it straight to the stars”, said Lucas gesturing widely with his hands.
“This is really a dream come true for me!” exclaimed Natasha. “I had almost given up on any chance of this being possible again.”
“Call me the dream maker,” laughed Lucas. “No, but seriously, you don’t give yourself enough credit. You had real talent back then when we first met, but I think that somehow you have matured and you are better than ever,” replied Lucas gazing at her and drinking in her beauty knowing in his heart he was already way past simply wanting Natasha Nicholls.
“You do know that I think you are the most beautiful woman I have ever met!” he admitted boldly, fully mesmerized by the light shining in her green eyes and by the way her long hair softly fell in curly waves over her creamy brown shoulders. The form fitting sky blue dress she was wearing only highlighted how incredibly feminine she was and not just that but humble, graceful and elegant in her own right.
Natasha swivelled on the bar stool in the lounge of the Houghton Park Plaza Hotel, so that she faced away from Lucas’ penetrating gaze. She could feel the warmth and sincerity in his words and his strong attraction for her. She could clearly see that amidst his congratulations he did have feelings for her, feelings she did not share or return, at least not to that degree and not at the moment.
Tracing her finger in the circular ring of moisture left on the black granite counter by her chilled wineglass she began, “Lucas, I am so grateful to you for this second chance at my career, I hope that you know that.”
“I keep telling you Natasha that it was my pleasure.”
He reached out and captured the finger that was circling the water and drew her hand into his own, caressing its length gently.
“Listen, I know that this is an overwhelming time for you and I can see that I have made you uncomfortable. I don’t want to pressure you into anything.”
“I don’t want to feel that I am obligated to you in that way either Lucas,” said Natasha.
“I know that, but I also want you to know that does not change the way I feel about you. I think you are an amazing woman. However, we both know that you need to sort out your life and get your divorce finalized as soon as possible, if not for me, for your contract. I’m not going anywhere but your contract was clear, you must be divorced by the launch of your first album to ensure that your new image and brand has no obstacles in the way!” he stated firmly.
Natasha looked across at Lucas and wondered how she could deserve the support of this wonderful well-connected man while she was destroying the life of another, her husband Marcus. He would never agree to her being branded as a sexy, young woman while she was still his wife. It wasn’t what she really envisioned for herself either, but she was desperate to have the contract.
She was positive that Sheldon had called him by now and he knew that she was here in Atlanta with another man. He must be in incredible pain but as those thoughts rose in her she forced them away, reminding herself that it was finally her time, finally her time to be free. Perhaps when she got settled in her new career there would be room in her life for a man again and perhaps it would be Lucas, but the thought of having a relationship now seemed more like an obstacle to her rather than support. The last relationship she got involved with put her life on hold for six years, so now her career and her dreams had to come first. She would make sure that she made plans for the divorce as soon as she could. It was the best thing for all of them wasn’t it?
“Lucas I think that you are an absolutely wonderful man and I know that some woman would be lucky to have you.”
“But not you?” he said guessing that she was about to add on one of her usual politely veiled protests to his advances.
“I don’t want to lead you on. I am really
focused on having a career now and I don’t want anything to jeopardize that! The last thing I need right now is another relationship when I am still in the middle of one, do you understand what I am saying?” she asked with a note of panic in her voice, like she really needed him to understand this.
“Natasha, not only do I understand you, but I respect you. I am willing to wait for you, just let me be your friend in the meantime,” said Lucas. The lights over the dance floor danced and reflected in his eyes making them almost serpentine in their allure. Natasha felt herself shudder involuntarily as the association came to mind but she forced that thought away and tried to be positive and cooperative.
“Okay, I can live with that! We will be friends, but nothing more!” she replied cautiously.
“Come let’s dance, let’s loosen up a bit. You just signed a major contract and we are here to celebrate not to feel gloomy or burdened.”
“I don’t know Lucas, I’m not really up to it right now!” she hedged hoping her disinterest would dissuade him.
“Come on, dance with me!” he said tugging her gently off the stool.
Being with this woman did funny things to him. Although she was entering the industry by what many would call an old age at twenty-six, the younger stars had nothing on her. The blue dress she wore accentuated her toned arms and narrow waist and her hair now long and straight hung midway down her back. Unlike many of the women it was all hers and he could get lost in her green eyes just by looking at her. He was not about to mess this up even if it meant pretending to be just friends until she worked out the details of her life.
“Come on, I love this song! Let’s have fun as friends. I promise no hanky panky!” he continued coaxing her gently with a reassuring smile.
Natasha could not help but return his infectious smile as he led her out to the floor. But as she did, she kept seeing visions of times she and Marcus had danced and how much fun and laughter had once filled their relationship. How once they had been dancing in the living room of their home in Manderley just after it had been built and one thing led to another and before they knew it they were making love right there on the brand new sofa. It had always been like that between them, very passionate and very spontaneous. So the last few months when they hardly talked or made love was something so foreign to her.
Even though she knew that she was the one pushing him away, deep down she missed Marcus, she missed the feeling of being free with him, missed feeling that she was loved. Well that was over now and maybe she should look forward to a new life, after all things really seemed promising right now. She was not sure how her art and advertising degree would be finished now with her schedule about to fill up but who knows she might not even need it anymore. She was about to be a star and that was one thing no one could ever deny her again.
October 19, Six Years Earlier
Wiltshire Heights
“Natasha, we are so disappointed in you! How could you do this to us and yourself? Haven’t we always told you how important it is to guard your reputation?” scolded Coreen Mitchell, her eyes flashing with anger.
Natasha had no words to reply to her mother’s verbal onslaught. She felt sick to her stomach and nothing was staying down. She had returned home from university three weeks earlier because she felt too ill to continue studying. Not just that, but the continuous fatigue and soreness had made it impossible to study and complete her assignments.
“It’s that man you are seeing! He has been a terrible influence on you,” chimed in Rev. Mitchell. “He should be ashamed of himself for taking advantage of you like that!
“Father, I am not exactly a child anymore and Marcus did not take advantage of me,” argued Natasha.
“The man is almost eight years older than you are, already has his degree and a job. Of course he took advantage of you. This is exactly what we warned you against. Never put yourself in a position to be dependent on any man especially one as unreliable and lacking in self-control as this Marcus Nicholls character”.
Natasha felt as though she would simply scream. Ever since she told her parents about her pregnancy and they forced her to return home by cancelling her tuition she had to endure heaps of blame as they spoke negatively about her relationship with Marcus.
Right now, it seemed as though they were warming up for the meeting that would begin in another ten minutes by practicing on her. Her parents had summoned Marcus over and now their first meeting ever was about to take place. She blamed herself for keeping her relationship a secret because Marcus had always said that he wanted to meet her parents. But, she did not think they would approve of him and now his first meeting would be under the most negative circumstances imaginable. If only she could turn back the hands of time!
At that moment, the doorbell rang and Natasha got up to answer the door. She opened it and standing there Marcus looked confident and as usual had a deep love for her shining in his eyes.
“Hi Natasha, how are you feeling?” he asked as she let him come in.
“I could be better. I’m still finding it hard to keep anything in my stomach,” she replied.
Marcus wrapped an arm around her shoulder and drew her to him as he kissed her forehead. Somehow, Marcus always knew what she needed. She loved him so much already and although she felt sicker than she ever thought she would ever be in her entire life, deep inside she was happy about the fact that they had created someone special together.
“Natasha, who is it at the door?” came her father’s voice as he came around the corner to the foyer. As his vision caught sight of Marcus holding his daughter so intimately in his arms in his home he felt as though he would explode with anger.
“So you are the man who has dishonoured my daughter, this family and God!” began Rev. Mitchell. “You would do well to take your arms from around my daughter, while you are standing in my home!” his voice boomed.
Natasha recoiled in apprehension at hearing her father’s tone, but Marcus did not loosen his hold on her shoulder immediately. Instead, he calmly turned to face Natasha’s father and then took her hand in his own, threading her fingers through his, before speaking and walking toward Rev. Mitchell with his other hand outstretched in greeting.
“Rev. Mitchell, it is a pleasure to meet you, Natasha has told me so much about you!” he said choosing to overlook the rude way in which her father had opted to address him. He was not a child and he was determined to make sure that Rev. Mitchell saw that clearly in addition to his commitment to his daughter.
Natasha’s father looked at Marcus’ outstretched hand and made no effort to grasp it with his own. Natasha looked at her father pleading with him with her eyes to be polite. But that would not be happening tonight.
“I don’t need you trying to make friends with me young man. You are here to discuss one thing and one thing only. When I am satisfied by your response, I am the one who will decide if it has been a pleasure to meet you.”
With those words Rev. Mitchell turned and strode back down the hallway to the living area leaving Marcus’ hand suspended in the air. Marcus allowed his hand to fall to his side, but he was far from daunted by the blustery nature of Rev. Mitchell. As her father, he had every right to feel he was defending his daughter. It would be a challenge, but he had a point to make here tonight too and he was determined to have his say as well.
“Marcus, I am so sorry about my father’s behaviour just now,” said Natasha totally embarrassed by the display.
“That’s okay, I’m fine. He’s just concerned about you!” said Marcus trying to reassure her.
“You mean he wants to control me! Look, I think we should go into the living area before he gets any angrier. I don’t know how much of this I can take tonight,” said Natasha wearily.
Natasha and Marcus went into the room together and sat beneath the penetrating and disapproving glare of both of her parents. After supplying a brief introduction to Dr. Coreen Mitchell, Natasha’s father wasted no time in getting to the point.
; “This pregnancy has brought a lot of embarrassment to this family and we need to make sure that Natasha’s reputation is not ruined any further. You two will marry before she begins to show. She is already three months along so this means that you must be married before the end of next month.”
As Marcus watched Natasha’s father speak to both he and Natasha, he began to understand why Natasha always seemed to be running away from home. This man talked at his daughter and not to her and he lorded over his ideas and expected that whoever was within earshot would simply accept them. He never bothered to find out who he was as a person or even how he felt about Natasha. This was about him saving face as a parent and a pastor and quieting down the gossip.
“Rev. Mitchell, if I might interject here,” said Marcus cutting off Natasha’s father in mid-sentence. He could hear from the sharp intake of breath by both Natasha and her mother and by the surprised expression on Rev. Mitchell’s face that what he had just done was totally out of the norm. Maybe someone needed to do that a bit more often, Marcus thought.
“I know that you are concerned about your reputation and that of your family, but I need you to understand something as well. I love your daughter and before all of this happened I already knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. She means everything to me and I am willing to do anything and everything to make her happy if she would have me. So although you think that you may be forcing me to marry your daughter, nothing would make me a happier man than to call this woman Natasha Nicholls, my wife.”
Rev. Mitchell’s mouth was still hanging open as if he couldn’t believe the audacity of this young man in interrupting him while he spoke to declare his love for Natasha.
“Love? Don’t make me laugh. You don’t love Natasha! Guys like you only know one thing and that is sex. If you loved my daughter you would have found a way to keep your hands and the other parts of your body under control,” barked Natasha’s father in response.
Forgotten Love (Derrien Island Trilogy) Page 8
