Complete Indelible Love Series

by Cee, DW

  Donovan stopped himself and had to think of an answer. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he didn’t want me with him.

  “I have to cover a lot of clients in all different cities. I won’t be able to do anything fun with you, and I’ll probably worry about you getting lost or kidnapped.”

  “You are so lame. I can take care of myself. You don’t have to babysit me...I’d really like to be with you...” I put it out there hoping he’d change his mind.

  “You are needed in LA. Your parents want you home with them for a while. It’ll only be a few days, Princess. I’ll be back on Saturday at the latest.”

  I knew it was all business, but it felt like he was trying to get rid of me, and that hurt. Then, the most God-awful thought occurred. “Will Kate be with you at all these meetings?”

  Now I got exasperated-Donovan. “She will be at some, possibly all, depending upon how the meetings fare.”

  “Got it,” was all I could muster before leaving the room and going out for a walk.

  I knew I was being lame. I knew there was nothing inappropriate about Donovan and Kate working together. But we were only going on the third week of our relationship and I didn’t want to separate from him.

  Separating on Monday for almost a week about did me in. I couldn’t say a proper good-bye Monday morning, and I purposely left the house before Donovan came to pick up his suitcase in the afternoon. As stupid as I felt, I couldn’t let go of the hurt. Donovan cheerfully said his farewells in the morning, and wasn’t fazed that we’d be apart for so many days. I didn’t ask for an itinerary, and all I could say was that I’d see him in LA.

  “Laney!” I heard a cheery voice when I returned to the flat.

  “Ruby! What are you doing here?”

  “I was commanded to come down here while your boyfriend was away. From now till Wednesday morning is ‘Operation Laney.’”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Come home with me.” She dragged me all the way to her house without an explanation.

  “Please tell me you’re not taking me to your brother, Ruby. You’re not helping him by trying to get us back together.”

  “He’s not here, yet. But, I need for you to explain to me what happened.”

  We sat on the bed in her room like old times and I explained my entire saga from the day I met Donovan in Aunt Sandy’s kitchen to the day he showed up in London. “After all those years of wanting to be with him, he finally wants to marry me. You see why I can’t be with Michael?”

  “But what if your relationship with Donovan fizzles? What then?”

  “Then, I know what it is like to have loved and been loved and I move on—but not with Michael.” I added.

  “Why not with Michael?”

  “Because it’s not fair to him. I don’t love Michael. From the start, I’ve been honest with you and your brother concerning my feelings for him. Love was not a part of our relationship.”

  “Not a part of yours, but Michael’s been in love with you from day one.”

  “I know, and in all honesty, I’m sorry I encouraged it. We shouldn’t have come this far. When I met you two at the airport, I was lonely, you were both genuinely nice and fun, and I was grateful for friends. The night before I came to London, Donovan and I were to talk and I was going to confess my feelings to him. He told me to wait for him on my swing in my front porch, but he never came. I waited all night and he never showed. After loving him for so many years, that’s how we ended. So do you see why I was overjoyed to meet you and Michael?”

  “Was I wrong thinking you liked Michael and were genuinely happy with him?”

  “Not at all. He did make me happy...”

  “But not Donovan happy?”

  “Yeah,” I answered sheepishly. “What’s our plan tonight?”

  “Dinner, a sleepover, and intervention throughout.”

  “All right. You can try your best, but I’m not budging.”

  “Let’s go to dinner.” I pushed her out the door hoping she would forget about her motive and just have a great time with me.

  Dinner with Ruby Aleksandra never disappointed. She was the life of the party, and two of her uni friends had joined us at our table. During her tale of the Arctic, I got a phone call.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi Princess.”

  My heart dropped like it did on a rollercoaster ride. “Hi.”

  “I missed you at home. Where were you?”

  “I’m with Ruby right now at dinner.” I skimmed over the fact that I had purposely left the house because I still felt hurt about him leaving me behind.

  “Ruby?”

  “She’s here, alone. I’m going to hang out with her tonight and spend the night at her place.”

  “No Michael?”

  “No Michael.”

  “You know that I’m only going on a business trip?” He was trying to reassure my unstable heart.

  “I know.” I sounded like an insipid child.

  “And you know I love you?”

  “I know.” My attitude didn’t get any better.

  “I’ll see you soon.”

  Though it wasn’t my intention, I sighed before answering. “I’ll see you soon,” and hung up.

  Ruby kept me up all night, literally, and then forced me to breakfast as the sun came up.

  “I’m ditching you after breakfast, Rubes. I need some sleep.”

  “I’m just getting you ready for your Pacific time zone.”

  I gave her a surly look, and we both laughed. We got to breakfast and Michael and his cousin Niles were seated and expecting us. I looked over at Ruby one more time but she wouldn’t make eye contact with me.

  “Hi Duchess.” Michael stood up and greeted me with a kiss that would have landed on my lips had I not turned around.

  “Hi,” I answered curtly. “And hello, again, Niles.”

  “Hello, Michael’s duchess,” he kidded with a cute smile.

  “What brings you both here? I thought you were staying up in Scotland?”

  “Niles and I would like to see Stonehenge and thought you and Rubes should come along.”

  “I leave for LA, tomorrow, Michael.”

  “What time is your flight?”

  “I think it’s a morning one.”

  “Let’s go for the day. We have a car, it only takes about ninety minutes from here to Stonehenge, then another thirty minutes to Bath. Let’s spend the day sightseeing.”

  My face must have spoken hesitancy all over it because now everyone was trying to convince me.

  “Laney.” Niles added. “Believe it or not, I’ve never seen Stonehenge. My cousin is offering to spend a day playing my chauffeur and tour guide. This has never happened. Please make my dreams come true of bossing around this future duke. He’s paying for all our meals.”

  “He even brought Grandfather’s gaudy, but ultra-luxurious Bentley.” Ruby nudged. “It’s a convertible.”

  That last comment made me laugh. “Do I have a choice in this matter?”

  Niles and Ruby simultaneously shook their heads and said, “No!”

  It was decided. I’d spend the day with the three Benningtons.

  Once breakfast was done and I let my family know where I’d be today, we got on our way for our road trip when the phone call happened.

  “Hello?”

  “Hello my sweet lady.”

  “Hi.” I was feeling like a child caught in a naughty act.

  “It’s hard to see a beautiful place and not be reminded of my beautiful woman.”

  “Where are you?” The three Benningtons were listening in on my conversation.

  “In Vienna. I start here, then go to Budapest for a dinner meeting, then to Prague for a breakfast meeting. I’ll be in Germany all day Wednesday. You ready to leave for LA?”

  “Yes. I packed my belongings when you packed yours. How long are we staying in LA?”

  �
��Not sure, yet. Rachel and Derek are coming for the celebration, and Becky and Al, as well as Amanda and her family are contemplating coming. So we may hang out with the family till they all leave.”

  “You don’t need to be back for work?”

  “I have a few LA-based clients I need to check in with, so I’ll still be working.”

  “Oh...” This was news to me. I guess this joint celebration was a bigger one than I’d imagined.

  “Where are you and what are you up to?”

  “I am on the road to Stonehenge with Ruby, Michael, and Niles. After that, Bath is next on the agenda before coming home.”

  Donovan went completely silent on me. Talk about awkward, it couldn’t have been any more awkward than having three people listening to a conversation that wasn’t happening.

  “Delaney.” He spoke to me as though I was ten and he was thirty.

  “Don’t.” I warned back.

  He sighed and sounded like he was going to let it go...but, he didn’t. “If you can’t do it for me, your boyfriend, then do it for the guy who can’t seem to get it out of his brains that you are not his anymore, and let him go. You’re not doing either of us a favor.” Though I was seething, I didn’t respond. This was another one of those cases where it was good for the relationship to just stay quiet. “I know you were pissed that I didn’t bring you with me, but there was a good reason. Stop screwing around with Michael and with me.”

  And...that did it! He pissed me off with that last sentence. “Thank you for the unsolicited advice,” I ground out in anger, “because it was so necessary. And now let me give you my response.”

  “Princess...” he called apologetically. He knew he was busted!

  “I will no longer be your on-call travel partner. When I go back to LA on Wednesday, I will have most of my stuff packed and I will be attending medical school this fall. I am not attending medical school this year because of you, as previously stated, but because this sorry situation of mine as a lady-in-waiting is pissing me off. I will not wait around for your charity and I will not hope for you to take me places when it’s convenient for you.”

  “Delaney!” He tried to interrupt. I was a force to reckon with right now, and he couldn’t sway my anger.

  “I understand you are working. But if you want me to put my life on hold so we can travel, I don’t want to be left behind. And as for your unsolicited warning and lack of trust, I know what I will not be doing, but if you so choose to do so with Kate, be my guest. You have my permission! Good! Bye!”

  “Shit.” Niles whistled after the curse. “I don’t think any of the duchesses had this kind of a temper. She’ll whip all the staff and employees into shape. You are one smart-mouthed woman,” he said to me. “You sure you want her as your duchess?” he asked Michael.

  Before Michael could answer, I cut him off. “Michael. We are friends. We will stay friends and I will not be your duchess. If any of you mentions that word again, I’m going to take the bus back to Belgravia.”

  The three Benningtons laughed at me.

  I got texts throughout the day from Donovan to which I didn’t respond. Aside from those disturbances, today turned out to be a surprisingly enjoyable day.

  “Are you truly leaving for Los Angeles for good or were you bluffing?” Michael sounded worried.

  “I said it in haste, but it’s been something that’s been on my mind the past few weeks. As much fun as these few months have been, I’m getting restless. I need to do something, and that something is school. Eight years of schooling is a long time and to start a year late doesn’t seem like the best idea.”

  “But what about Donovan? What will happen with your relationship?”

  Reaching for Michael’s hand, I hoped he would accept what I was going to say for the last time. “Michael. Donovan and I will get married. We might be in a tiff now, but unless Donovan calls it off, we will stay together for the rest of our lives. I’m sorry I led you to believe otherwise. I love Donovan.”

  Michael didn’t have a rebuttal, and he had no answers. He kept to himself the rest of the day no matter how much we three tried to include him.

  “Are you seriously leaving tomorrow?” Now it was Ruby’s turn to be pissed. “You can’t give us a little notice?”

  “Yeah. I made the final decision while I was in the car without discussing it with anyone. Not too smart, huh?”

  “But tomorrow?”

  “Ruby.” What a mess this had all become. “When I moved here, I had no idea what I wanted in life. Everything was a big question mark and that was one of the reasons I came here. I wanted time away from my life, and I wanted the space to think. Then Donovan showed up a couple months later and put everything into perspective for me. I want to marry Donovan. And watching my dad during his conference in Amsterdam made me decide med school was the right decision for me. Now that I have my answers, I’m itching to start. Even if Donovan has to stay out here for a while, I want to move onto that next phase. School’s already begun and my dad is going to have to work overtime to get me in this year. But I know with his help, I can start my life right now.”

  “Damn you for coming into our lives and making us love you.” Ruby started a chain of tears that I couldn’t keep from joining.

  “I’m sorry, but you and I will remain great friends even after we’re both married. I can’t apologize to Michael enough for all the heartache I’ve caused. Can you tell me what I can do to make him feel any better?”

  “Dump that hottie boyfriend of yours and date my brother, again?” Ruby went from tearing to giggling.

  “Will you comfort him?”

  “Oh, he’ll get over you...one day.”

  “You’ll come visit me?”

  “Does that hottie of yours have a brother?”

  “No, but I do. And he’s pretty cute, though nowhere near Donovan’s cuteness.”

  “Laney, no one can touch your man in that category. He’s incredible with his clothes on. I’m green with envy that you get to see him with his clothes off.”

  Now that made us giggle hysterically.

  After giving Michael and Ruby much love and a fond farewell, I arrived at home to find the family waiting for me.

  “May we speak with you in the morning room?” Mom called me over.

  “What’s up?”

  “Donovan called, frantic that you were packing for home. What’s this about?” Dad asked.

  “I want to start school this year. My decision’s been made. Once Donovan proposes, I’ll marry him, but for now, if you’ll help, I’d like to start med school ASAP.”

  “What about Donovan?” Grandfather asked.

  I was unsure where this was going. “What about Donovan?”

  “He moved his life here for you.”

  “He temporarily moved here to woo me and to sell your company. He would have moved back home in a year regardless of either result. I figure I’ll start school, he’ll do what needs to be done here, then he’ll come back home.”

  “Don’t you want this time to travel and spend days in beautiful cities with the man you love?” Gram questioned.

  “This week’s trip has convinced me I don’t want to be one of those women who sit around waiting for her man to say jump. I know I’ve waited a long time for this man to love me, but that doesn’t mean I stopped all aspects of my life for him. I studied, I prepared for a future, and I came here to live. You may all think I’ll do whatever Donovan asks of me, but I want you to know, everything in my life has a purpose. If I give in to Donovan’s wishes, it’s because I want to, and not just because he wants me to.”

  “Jake.” Gram addressed a very quiet Jake and Emily. “You’ve just been replaced by Laney as my favorite grandchild.”

  “That can never be, Gram.” Jake wasn’t worried. “I’ve given you James and Ellie. Don’t forget that Ellie is this spitting image of you in every way. She and I will always be your favorite.”

 
I let out an evil laugh. “Until Donovan and I have kids...” That ended our discussion, and I went upstairs to pack.

  Donovan must have been busy in Prague because he never called that night. I knew he was sorry for what he said, and I had forgiven him already, but we hadn’t spoken since our fight.

  “You ready?” Mom asked.

  “Yes.” I didn’t end up taking back as much stuff as I’d originally intended. But I did pack up our bedding and towels to put in Donovan’s home. Once school was situated, I’d have to make a trip back soon.

  “Oh James.” I was sad to be leaving this little one. “I’ll come visit whenever I can, and in ten weeks, you’ll be home.” I hugged him and kissed him longingly. I’d miss him, again. “Ellie, Auntie Laney loves you even though you love Uncle Donovan more.”

  “My Unca!” she let me know.

  “I know, Cutie!” I kissed her and hugged her as well.

  “I guess this is good-bye again?” Emily hugged and kissed me. “But this time, it’s a much happier good-bye.”

  “I’ll see you in a few weeks. I’ll be back here before you know it. Somebody’s gotta pack up my stuff to bring back home. Please take care of Donovan for me when he’s out here by himself.”

  “My buddy is not going to be happy.”

  “He’ll just have to work harder to finish selling off this company. The sooner he’s done, the sooner he can come home to me.”

  Jake asked, “Aren’t you sad or upset that you’re going to be separated from him after finally getting together with him?”

  “If I can leave knowing that he doesn’t love me, I can leave knowing that he does love me.”

  “Always the poet.” Jake chuckled. “Have a safe flight home and do well in med school.”

  “I will. I can’t wait to be in one of yours or Dad’s classes. I expect an easy A.”

  He laughed even harder. “Just don’t be a pain in my ass.”

  On my way to the airport I texted a silent Donovan.

  Going to LA. Though you’ve yet to call, I’ve decided to forgive you for your lack of trust. And though I gave you a bye, I’m hoping you didn’t take me up on it...

  I put one of those sad face emoticons with the text and waited for a response. Nothing came.