Once outside, Miami’s blistering humidity soaked her shoulder blades and trickled down her spine. She swayed in the heat, overcome with responsibility.
* * *
A half an hour later, Serenity walked into her mother's recovery room carrying a fresh bouquet. Her mother loved lilies. This morning had been rough. She needed her herbal tea and to put her feet on roller beads to help destress.
It would take everything her spa had in its arsenal to make her look the part of successful businesswoman tonight. Her mother's nurse left and Mom sat up in bed. She coughed, deeper than normal. Her voice was hoarse and weak. "How was your sister?"
Serenity placed the flowers in a vase and arranged them. Without looking at her mother, Serenity answered, "She's as well as expected."
"Did you tell her I love her?"
"Of course. She sends her love too.” Her mother could be in her own home once her health improved. “Did the nurses give you all your medicine?"
"They tried."
"Mom..."
Her mother lifted her chin, looking just like Serena, stubborn and not sorry. "I don't like to be loopy."
"Mom, pneumonia isn't something to ignore. You were unconscious for a week."
"I let myself get run down."
Now that was the truth. Serenity slumped into the seat next to her. "We've had a rough year."
Her mother patted her hand and started, "Your father..."
"No," Serenity interrupted before her mom got going. She'd not justify her father's crimes or her sister's. They should have both known they were wrong. Serenity would never be involved with bad people or bad situations, not if she could help it. "Don't defend him. He is in federal prison, found guilty of money laundering and other crimes. To me he's dead and he should be to you too. My spas are all we have left."
"I don't understand why it’s all gone."
"The money wasn't ours. You know that." Her mother had never asked questions in regards to her lavish lifestyle, which had led them all down this path. Now her sister was in jail and heading to prison just like Dad. Serenity looked at the clock and groaned, realizing she’d be late to her meeting. She stood. "I have to check in with work, but I will see you tomorrow."
"Have a good day, dear." Serenity kissed her mother's cheek and then ran out the door.
Ten minutes late. She was never late. Today, seeing her sister in orange, had been hard. She swallowed as she passed Kiwi, who stood up from her desk. The all-white office with the water fountain trickling and Eastern music playing softly usually calmed her and everyone within the spa. Kiwi stepped in her way. "Serenity, your twelve o'clock was early."
Early? Her eye twitched. Normally she always was too. Right now, she needed a shower and to wash the morning off, but she didn't have that luxury. Work called. She breathed in—then out. "Give me two minutes."
Dressed in the spa’s black uniform, Kiwi followed her into her office and went right to the supply cabinet. "You look awful. Let me freshen up your makeup at least."
The supplies were for customers but right now, the CEO had to appear fresh or risk losing an investor. "Thanks."
"Where were you this morning?" Kiwi powdered Serenity’s face.
Places people in spas don't visit. Serenity pressed her lips together but Kiwi made fish lips with her own to tell her to pout so she could apply lip color. "Prison, then the nursing home."
Kiwi finished the rose matte for her mouth and then picked up a shade of cream for Serenity’s eyes. "Shake it off,” her right-hand man said. “You have that wedding tonight."
"I shouldn't go." The Morgans never should have sent her the invitation. None of this made sense. The wedding was small and intimate and all the news channels would be there. Her shoulders slumped.
"You absolutely should." Kiwi worked on her lower eye lid. "Publicity is what our spa needs to compete in this market, and if we are successful in Miami, we can branch out internationally."
"I don't get why I was invited? They must hate me. Between my sister and my father, you'd think I was persona non grata to the Morgan family."
"That's your family. You didn't do anything but start and run a successful business." Kiwi then picked up a liner to accentuate the simple cream base. "Look, you're the face of Calm Serenity and that wedding will be THE event of the year. Everyone wants an invite to a Morgan wedding. Just going will get you photographed in the local and national papers. You don't have to stay for the whole wedding if you want to sneak out of there."
Leave it to Kiwi to bring her back to reality. There was no option, really. Tonight, she'd make sure that her spa was considered the best with the billionaire set her father had once run in. "Believe me, I’ll do what I must to ensure my business is successful."
"Then let's work our magic on you before you go, and make you look fabulous so people are lined up out the door."
"Thanks Kiwi. This is why you're my assistant."
"And why you pay me what you do as the analyst.” She winked at the job title correction. “Now, let's go with coral to really make your blue eyes stand out. Who knows, there might be a billionaire or a prince waiting to meet you. Will you wear my shoe design?"
"A billionaire or a prince would still be a no." Serenity laughed. The last thing she wanted was love—it made you weak. "And of course, I'm wearing your shoes. They are fabulous."
A few minutes later, she met with her first appointment of the day and worked her way through the afternoon. Calm Serenity spas was her lifeline and it was all she'd ever need to be secure and safe. She tried not to dwell on the yacht party later where she’d meet the woman that her sister had almost killed as she toasted well wishes to the groom, Peter Morgan, and his bride, Belle Jordan.
The House of Morgan
Secret Crush
Secret Baby
Secret Bet
Secret Wish
Secret Dad
Secret Heir
Secret Tryst
Secret Date
Secret Romeo
Secret Match (coming Feb 2019)
The House of Morgan Boxed Set 1-3
The House of Morgan Boxed Set 4-6
And don’t forget to pick up Returning for Valentine’s (FREE if you go to my website)
Secret Romeo Preview
Unedited!
Pilar Soliz let her dark hair down and flap in the tropical wind that came with the strong rain. She stood under the canopy attached to the five star beach resort on Grand Bohemia, an island in the Caribbean where the rich and famous tend to gather.
Everything about this hotel was nothing like her life, but if her daughter was happy marrying into the House of Morgan, she was happy for her. For Christmas they wrapped the palm trees in lights around their trunks.
Pilar hugged her scarf closer around her shoulders and let the wind brush against her skin.
Soon it would be hot and tropical again, but Pilar cherished the wind. Sure her husband disappeared on her twenty years ago and was gone like the brush of a wind, but that was why Pilar enjoyed storms. Life had a habit of changing fast and she’d always found her way, no matter what obstacle was thrown in her way.
She heard her daughter’s sigh from the huge bay windows that overlooked the beach. Maybe she hadn’t physically heard her about to be married daughter, but she felt it in her soul so she left the canopy and returned to the conference room that soon would be full of sunshine and let them celebrate this wedding on Christmas Eve. She walked over to her dark haired daughter who shared her brown eyes and face, though she was much younger. Pilar let the scarf go lower and asked, “Caro, the flowers should be on both sides of the aisle, no?”
Her daughter scratched the back of her head like she was confused and asked, “You don’t think both in the middle?”
The last thing Pilar wanted was to stress her daughter out. She’d never presume to tell any of the Morgans she served how to handle their business, and she’d not interfere with her daughter’s wedding either. She shrugged and s
aid, “It’s your wedding mi’ja. I just thought it balanced you both surrounding you and your Luke with beauty near your back.”
Caro motioned with her two hands to have two of the hotel workers separate the wall flowered trellises and then nodded when she saw them in front of the two Christmas trees decorated in pink and blue, the wedding colors. “I see what you’re saying now.” She nodded at the workers who then left the flowered trellises and went to get the flowers for the aisle set up. Caro turned to her and said, “Okay mom.” Her daughter then frowned at whoever walked in the front door and pouted as she asked, “Who invited Jennifer here?”
Ahh. Jennifer Gonzales, her famous almost daughter who never quite left her family though she wasn’t technically her daughter. Pilar had been slipping Jennifer food since she was a child and her mother was too busy calling her daughter fat and keeping her on a diet. Pilar was offered twenty five invitations for her daughter’s wedding, but just used one as she said, “Jennifer has been like a daughter I never raised in many ways, Caro. You and Rafe make me proud, but I do wish Jennifer grew past the influence of her own mother.”
Jennifer walked to join them in the middle of tomorrow’s wedding ceremony as Caro blushed and said, “You’re kindness makes me feel like I’m being bad and gossiping near Christmas.”
“You’re not getting coal in your stockings mi’ja.” Clearly her daughter was stressed out. Pilar massaged her shoulder lightly and said, “Because you’re the opposite Caro. Don’t worry about anything.”
Jennifer took her hands out of her back jean pockets that were clearly designed for her hips as she said to them, “Thank you for inviting me, both of you.”
Caro turned, smiled at Jennifer and then said, “Thank my mother. She thinks of you like another daughter.”
Jennifer then threw her arms around her neck and hugged her tight. “Pilar, I needed to hear that. Part of me thought coming was a bad idea after what I did. But I wanted to see you.”
Jennifer caused the House of Morgan tons of drama over the years because of her obsession with Peter Morgan, the oldest. The latest stunt was trying to steal his sperm to impregnant herself and not let Peter and his wife have their own. Pilar patted her back and said, “Jennifer, you caused issues at the fertility clinic, but that’s over now.”
“No, no it’s not.” Jennifer said letting the hug end, but keeping her head down.
Oh no. Inviting Jennifer was now going to cause more problems. Pilar’s skin prickled as she asked, “What do you mean?”
Jennifer bit her bottom lip and had a blush on her cheek like she was ashamed. “I’m pregnant. When Peter discovers I’m having his child, he’s going to be furious.”
Caro’s face went white as she stood beside Pilar like she was a sentinel. “My mother thinks of Peter as another son, Jennifer.”
At least Caro hadn’t mentioned Peter is Luke’s, her fiancé’s, brother.
“No.” Pilar waved her hand and said, “I’m glad you trusted us Jennifer…” But as she turned around she saw a shadow that made her heart feel like she’d just been stabbed. She gently pushed her daughter toward the window and pointed, “Caro, do you see that man over there?”
Caro and Jennifer shared a look and then she asked, “Mother, are you interested in a man?”
“No.” Pilar thought she saw Samuel, her missing probably dead husband and father to Rafe and Caro. But she blinked and the man from the window disappeared. She massaged her temples and shook her head. “He’s gone now. I imagined the whole thing.”
Jennifer asked quietly, “Imagined what?”
THis never happened in years now. But she used to day dream her husband returned. She met her daughter’s concerned brown eyed gaze and said, “That I saw my Samuel and that he was alive and with a young woman your age.”
Her daughter brushed her hair behind her head, like she was comforting her mother the way Pilar had comforted her when she’d been a teenager as Caro said, “Impossible mom. My father probably died twenty years ago.”
Pilar patted her shoulder and offered them both a smile. “I know, mi’ja. Never mind.”
Jennifer rubbed the small of her back and tried to be kind as she said, “Pilar, if you want my help in dressing up to go out and find a new man, I’m more than happy to assist. You still have a great figure for a woman you’re age.”
Her age. Right. Fifty five didn’t feel old at all. She brushed her still dark hair behind her ears and shook her head so both of the young women saw. “Jennifer, that’s not why we’re here. We’re here to celebrate Caro and Luke’s wedding.”
Caro’s bright smile didn’t fade but she blinked like she didn’t want to be an excuse. Pilar and Caro had multiple conversations about moving on with her life too, but Pilar never had. She loved Samuel. He was taken from her years ago, but she wasn’t the type to just move on and forget.
Jennifer looked around the room. “Which looks like it’s going to be beautiful. Your style has definitely improved over the years Caro.”
Caro made a face like she’d argue. Pilar didn’t want to her that old song and dance so instead she took her daughter’s hand and Jennifer’s in the other. “Let’s go find your fiancé mi’ja.”
Caro nodded and they all walked toward the door that led to the library as Caro said, “Luke was organizing the cocktail party and getting something to eat in the restaurant.”
The moment they entered the lobby, Pilar’s entire body stilled and she gazed at the man near the elevator banks. He was with a young woman about five years younger than Caro. She couldn’t budge her feet as she watched the man hug the girl.
Jennifer stepped in front of her and Pilar blinked as Jennifer asked, “Pilar, you’re face is pale. Do you feel okay?”
Caro brushed the top of her back with a quick pat. “Momma, are you getting sick?”
Again Pilar massaged her temples and shook her head, which seemed to be the habit of the day. She took a deep breathe and tried to smile. “No. I am lightheaded. I swear I’ve seen a ghost twice now.”
Caro glanced around the lobby and asked, “Where momma? Where do you think you see my father?”
“By the elevators.” Pilar pointed right behind Jennifer who then scooted out of the way.
Caro said, “No one is there now.”
This daydreaming hadn’t happened in fifteen years now. The first five years after his disappearance along with Isabelle had left her emotionally drained, but she never once had the daydreams even after Isabelle was found alive until now. Pilar straightened her spine. This was bound to eventually happen so she shrugged and told her daughter as she led the women toward the restaurant. “I’m probably dreaming because I always dreamed he’d give you away during a ceremony.”
They swept passed the maitre’d and Caro seemed to know where her Luke would be as she said, “That’s sweet but I’ve long given up hope of ever seeing my father again.”
As they made it to one of the backrooms that now showed the sun was bright with no clouds at all over the beach through the huge windows in the private dining area, Pilar commented, “There is your Luke, mi’ja.”
Caro didn’t run ahead. Instead she stayed next to her as they entered the room half full of various Morgans, but luckily not Peter. “But I am glad you’ve accepted Luke as the love of my life momma. I waited a little for this wedding because I want you to be happy too.”
That wasn’t necessary. Her daughter needed to grab at happiness with both hands and hold tight because the sudden wave that might destroy everything might show up at any moment. Pilar hoped her words expressed half of what she wanted as she said, “You love Luke. No one should stand in the way of love.”
Caro hugged her as they made it to Luke. “That’s the momma I wanted on my side.”
Jennifer had told Caro and Pilar because she wanted the Morgans to know what she’d done. Pilar didn’t blink. She’d worked for the Morgans for forty years now as their maid and her daughter was marrying into the family. Her only son,
Rafe, already had and he and his wife had her first grandchild. Pilar might not have her white apron on though she didn’t normally wear one as the head of the household staff, but she refused to be part of any scheme against her employees and pseudo extra family. “Yes, now Jennifer what is your plan? Are you here to tell Peter you’re pregnant to break up his marriage to the woman he loves?”
Luke’s eyes grew big like he was just told something major.
Jennifer’s face went red. “I used to be the woman he loves.”
“Jennifer, it’s hard when the ones we love leave us, but what you have done… Jennifer, there is no forgiveness for that.”
Pilar took both of Jennifer’s hands in hers and met her brown eyes. Jennifer was physically beautiful, but inside she had a heart that she buried so deep. Her outward appearance was a shell, but Pilar still saw the frightened girl underneath all her hardness. She held them close to her own heart as Jennifer said, “I wanted to have the child of the only man I’ve ever truly loved, even if he never returns to me. I make enough money these days with my second movie. If he tries to take my baby, I have the funds to fight him in court.”
This was what she needed to focus on. Her daughter was happy. Rafe was happy, but Jennifer was a disaster. The mother inside of her heart hoped one day the girl who spent more time in her home than at her real mother’s home had a shot at happiness too. Pilar patted her hands. “Jennifer, you’re young and beautiful. You don’t have to manipulate like you do.”
Jennifer ignored that there was a Morgan in this conversation at all now and stared at her and Caro. “Pilar, Caro. I think of you both as family too. Rafe is like my brother and best friend and he’s pretty much on your family’s party line. But I can’t help it. I have always loved Peter Morgan.”
Pilar blinked and saw the front door of the restaurant. This time she swayed on her feet. Samuel had grays on the sides of his hair now and a small balding patch, but it looked so much like her husband. Her heart lurched as she let Jennifer go suddenly, forgetting the conversation. She sidestepped to get a better view and pointed to the door for her daughter, “Wait. There Caro. Do you see the man and girl at the front door waiting to be seated?”
Secret Date Page 22
