by Cee, DW
“I…” I didn’t know how to counter her logic. What Bee said made perfect sense. “Have you talked to Delaney?”
“I have.”
“Why the hell didn’t you tell me? What did she say?”
“I called her to make sure she had settled in, and to tell her I’d be in London soon.”
I was pissed Bee spoke to her, but happy I’d received some news. “Why would she answer your call but not mine? What did she say? Do you think she’ll see me when I go see her?”
“She is settling in and as for whether she will see you or not, I hope she will is all I can say.” I knew Bee was holding back information, and I thought she might give me more, but she wouldn’t. “Have you thought carefully about why she’s avoiding you? What does that tell you about her feelings for you?”
“Either she hates me or she loves me. I don’t know which answer is more plausible at this moment.” Hopefully, I’d figure it out when I got to London and had our face to face.
Before leaving for London, I spent some time with Jake and the twins. Knowing my godchildren loved all things Disney, I took the firm’s seats for the Toy Story on Ice show. I knew James and Ellie would be entertained, and Emily would have an evening to herself.
My darling godchildren were dressed as life-sized Jessie and Sheriff Woody from the movie. “You both look irresistible!” I kissed each child and greeted everyone in the kitchen. Jane and Emily were deciding where to go for dinner while Josh Davis, Max’s youngest brother, was lamenting Delaney’s lack of returned calls. Misery loved company. I was glad I wasn’t the only guy without a greeting.
“What can I do to catch Laney’s interest?” Josh was now whining. I hoped I didn’t sound that pathetic to others when I spoke of her.
“I don’t know, Josh. I think you might be better off letting Laney go,” Emily answered.
“Why?” Josh wasn’t happy with this news, but Emily was correct. Once I got myself to London, she and I would have our day of reckoning and we would start a relationship. If all went well, Delaney and I could still catch our games in Boston and go golfing up in Canada. Once our status was sealed, I’d help her move all her belongings home.
“I talked to her this morning and it sounded like she was seeing someone.”
“What?” I’d said this loudly enough to scare my goddaughter who was resting in my arms. “Sorry, Sweetie, I didn’t mean to scare you.” What the fuck was going on? Was that why she was avoiding all my calls? It had nothing to do with me, and everything to do with another man?
“I don’t get how she could have met someone already. She just got to London. Her bags are probably not even unpacked.” Josh was pissed, but not nearly as pissed as I was.
“They met at the airport,” Emily spoke. “In fact, he saw her on the plane, and waited for her at the airport when they landed, to introduce himself. I talked to him this morning when I called her, and he sounded very sweet and very, very sweet on Laney. From the sounds of it, they’re both smitten with one another.”
I’d heard enough. Jake and I took the kids out and I told him I’d be right back. With Ellie still in my arms, I walked over to the chief’s house.
“Again?” Apparently, I wasn’t the chief’s favorite person right now.
“Chief, is Aunt Babs home?”
“Hello, Donovan.” Aunt Babs welcomed us into her home.
“Ellie, come say hello to your granduncle.” She jumped into his arms with a great big smile.
“Aunt Babs, did you know that Delaney was seeing someone in London?”
“Um, well, I know she’s met some friends who have been good to her.”
“Hey Mom,” Doug had just walked in the door. “I talked to Laney earlier today and did you know she was dating some English...,” he froze when he saw me. “Uh, hey Donovan.”
“Could you finish what you were saying?”
“Well,” he was anxious about talking in front of me.
“It’s all right. Could you tell me what Delaney told you?”
“It wasn’t anything Laney said. When I called her earlier, some guy named Michael picked up the phone and we had a brief conversation.”
“What did he say?” I needed to know what I was up against before I met with her.
“He said they were on a date, and Laney had the right to give him the boot if she didn’t like him after this one date. I think he was kidding? Who knows with my sister. What I can tell you is that they were laughing and joking around even with me on the other line.” Damn. That hurt.
“Do you think she likes him already?”
“Knowing my sister, no. If she finds someone interesting, she’ll go out with him, but it doesn’t go much further than that. He will most likely get the ax tonight. She’ll find something wrong with him.”
“Thanks, Doug.” He gave me what I wanted to hear.
“Um, Donovan?”
“Yes, Aunt Babs?”
“You’ve said you’re headed to London, but you’ve yet to go. When will you be leaving?”
“ASAP now that I’ve heard about my competition.”
I landed in London, fully confident I could win over the girl who had been playing havoc on my days and nights. The days were hell since all thoughts were on her, and the nights were even worse with her haunting my sleep—or lack of it. She hadn’t responded to my earlier text, but I wasn’t worried. As soon as I checked into the hotel, I was close enough to walk to Gram’s flat.
I hurried over to the flat and she wasn’t there, which wasn’t a good sign. I waited on the steps hoping she was running late. I called, sent texts, left messages—I got nothing in return. I sat on the steps for two hours and still she hadn’t returned. I couldn’t figure out what had happened between us and where’d we gone so wrong. I left her a voicemail and prayed she’d answer all the damn questions circulating in my head.
“By the time you get this, I’ll probably be back at my hotel. What the hell do I have to do to get you to talk to me? Where did we go wrong? Why are you severing all ties with me? I’m hoping this is all a mistake and you’ll give me a call when you get this message. I’m staying at The Berkeley Hotel. Call me no matter how late.”
As I left this message, I was no longer confident she’d respond. Initially, I believed she either hated me or loved me, and this severing of ties was her odd response to her emotions. After hearing about a guy in her life, it pained me to think maybe he was the reason she wasn’t keen on speaking with me.
I had planned to stop by early in the morning before Delaney left, but ended up in a breakfast meeting at my hotel. Against my desire, the clients insisted on taking me to their facilities before they signed any new extensions, so I ended up in their headquarters in Scotland of all places. After meeting everyone in their Scotland office, the general manager informed me that the owner of the company would like a visit with me. What else could I do but agree? Next thing I knew, my bags were packed and sent to my next destination—Ireland. I never reached Delaney again, and since I knew she wasn’t answering my calls, I stopped calling.
I hoped Bee would have better luck when she got to London. She could provide some answers for me.
I had waited for my Aunt to call me the minute she returned from her trip to London, but there was an eerie silence on her end. This didn’t bode well for me but I decided to drop by. “Well? Why haven’t you called me to tell me what happened in London?”
“First reason was because I didn’t know what to tell you, and second reason was because I was busy.”
Shit. That wasn’t good news. That was not what I was expecting her to say.
“What’s the verdict? Why has she been avoiding me? Was she upset because I didn’t drop by the night before graduation?” What else could it possibly be? There was no plausible reason why she wouldn’t want to talk to me, unless...it had to do with that guy.
Bee was silent for a while. I never liked it when she went mute. “Laney is
seeing somebody.” That was a serious punch in the gut. That feeling of someone throttling me and choking my last breath was back and possibly here to stay.
“What do you mean she’s seeing someone? She dates, but she’s never had a boyfriend before. It can’t be that serious. Who is this guy?”
“His name is Michael Bennington, and he’s a really good guy. The whole time I was in London, he was by her side, helping me because he was…”
“He was what?”
“Michael is absolutely, undeniably, wholeheartedly in love with Laney. I’m sorry, Donovan. I know that wasn’t the news you were expecting.”
I felt like a blank slate with Bee’s explanation. I didn’t know what to say, do, or feel. All this time I wondered what it would be like when I finally saw her face to face and told her what she meant to me. I would confess my riotous emotions, and ask to be her first boyfriend or for us to date on some consistent basis. Never did I imagine another man taking my place.
“Can you tell me what you know about this guy?”
“He is a good-looking, Harvard MBA, grandson of a duke, nice guy.” Shit! This was getting even worse. I assumed Bee would tell me he was a regular Joe English, who got lucky enough to catch Delaney’s eye. “Are you OK? Did I put you in shock?”
“Did she tell you she loved him?” Bee was hesitant to give me an answer. “Come on Bee.” I was frustrated with my aunt. “Give me something!”
“She is not in love with him, but he is a great guy and a great catch. He was incredibly thoughtful and extended his helpful and generous hand to me, a complete stranger. Had Laney not been dating him, I might have considered it myself.”
“I thought you and Nick were an item.”
Bee was unhappy with my statement. “Nick and I are not an item!” She yelled pretty damn loudly.
“Thank you for the info. I’m off.”
“Where are you going? What will you do?”
“If Delaney has found another man, but doesn’t have the damn courtesy to pick up my call to tell me so, I don’t have reasons to call her any further. We are done. I guess we never started so there’s nothing to be done.”
“Donovan. Wait.” Bee kept me from leaving. “I know you’re hurt, but I want you to see this from Laney’s side.”
“What’s there to see from Delaney’s side? How do you excuse her for purposely shining me off and keeping me in the dark? All this time I thought I was in the wrong for not having confessed my feelings earlier. Apparently, she felt no guilt about leaving, without saying good-bye, and I didn’t mean a damn thing to her. If she is purposely severing ties, I’m happy to oblige. Next time you talk to her, you tell her not to worry. I will bother her no longer.”
I left Bee’s feeling royally pissed and incredibly stupid. Two weeks of watching baseball games, eating seafood, and golfing? What the fuck was I thinking? Thank God, I learned of this Michael. What a fool I would’ve been professing my feelings for her while her man waited for her in her bedroom. I was glad I figured this out early on. Otherwise, I might have pined away for an entire year. You don’t want to be with me, Delaney Reid? Fine! Have a good time with your new boyfriend. I’ll move on to greener pasture.
I called my travel agent and changed out our tickets for a newer, more promising destination.
I woke up to a sunny, bright day and to a new me. I was done wondering should I, should I not? I would return to my usual confident self and go after what I wanted, and not worry so much about hurting anyone’s feelings.
Today was Jane’s birthday, and I had a gift for her that could be the answer to both our uncertain futures.
Roland greeted me at the door with an unhappy face. “What are you doing here at this hour? Shouldn’t you be on a plane to London?”
“I’m here to wish a pretty lady a very happy birthday.”
He let me in, but also let me know he wasn’t happy with my presence. “Have you talked to my granddaughter yet? You haven’t told me how she’s settled in.”
I ignored Roland’s intentions. “I am about to talk to your granddaughter and Jane has settled in beautifully at our firm. You should consider making her a partner soon. Her talents are being wasted working as Andrea Kot’s personal assistant.”
Roland harrumphed and left me. I was in no mood to be harassed about Delaney. As far as I was concerned, she no longer existed in my world. We’d “stick to our usual M.O.” and become “strangers” again.
“Don’t you look like a sexpot! Damn, you look hot this morning.” Jane looked beautiful—just as beautiful as her cousin.
“How’d you get in?” She was surprised to see me, but not upset.
“Are you worried at your ripe old age of twenty-eight, that your parents will catch you with a boy in your room? Your parents still do bed checks?”
“Um...not since high school.”
“Well good because I dropped by to give you your birthday present before I left for London.”
“How’d you know it was my birthday, Donovan?”
“Jane, Jane, Jane...I know a lot about you.”
“OK, give me the present and get going. I have to get ready for court.” She looked more than ready to conquer the world, and I hoped she’d take my heart with her. “Explain...,” she said after opening my gift.
“Go away with me for a weekend. Let me show you how good we can be together.” In days to come, I might regret this action, but yesterday when I exchanged our tickets for an open-ended destination, I promised myself I wouldn’t flip-flop on my decisions anymore.
“Donovan...” Jane didn’t sound happy, but she also didn’t refuse me.
“I don’t care what you tell Max. You can lie to him, break up with him, tell him the truth...I don’t care! Just give me one weekend, Jane. I want to know! I need to know! And I know that you feel the same way.” This wasn’t my most discerning decision, but I’d made it and I was going to stick with it.
“Don...”
“Just think about it. It’s an open-ended offer. You can use the ticket at any time.”
“Donovan. I’m practically all moved in with Max...”
“I don’t need reruns of your life.” I got close enough to Jane to stare into her eyes. They were blue like Delaney’s, but completely different. The look in Jane’s eyes told me she wasn’t in love with me, I wasn’t the man for her, and she wasn’t the woman for me. There wasn’t the same trust, the same desire, the same...love, as there was when I looked into Delaney’s eyes. Her look was all wrong. My heart was not in the right place; it was back in London with that blonde-haired girl who had broken it to pieces. What I’d just done to Jane, and maybe even to Delaney, was one of my worst mistakes, ever. “Just give me a chance...” was what came out of my mouth in haste, but what I should’ve said was, “Just forget what I said and please forgive me.”
As soon as I left Jane’s room, I knew I needed to go back and rescind my offer. This indecent proposal was something out of a bad movie. I was ashamed of what I’d done—too ashamed to face her now. I’d come up with an apology while in London and make things right with Jane as soon as I returned. After my trip, I’d explain to Jane all that had happened with Delaney and promise never to come between her and Max, ever again. My trip to London was a quick one. A talk with Jane could hold off till then. What could possibly happen in those few days?
More shit hit the fan in those few days and the days after than I wanted to relive. I arrived in London and couldn’t help myself. As soon as my meeting finished, I took a cab and went over to Gram’s flat, where I hoped Delaney was in. I wanted to declare my feelings to her, tell her what an asshole I was to Jane and Max, and ask her to start a new life with me. I was upset when Bee first told me about this guy Delaney was seeing, but after thinking it through, I knew I’d overreacted.
The cab turned the curb and I spotted her immediately. She was wearing my favorite dress, sitting on the steps, staring into the street. Finally! She was he
re. We would talk. All misunderstandings would be cleared up. All would be right.
Delaney turned my way, and for a brief second, our eyes met and she gave me her blinding smile that started from her heart and reached over to kiss my own. I returned her smile and told the cab driver to stop “where that pretty lady was sitting,” now standing, to greet me. In the split second that I reached down to grab my wallet, I looked up to find Delaney in the arms of another man. This must have been Michael. Michael who’d won the lottery with the most precious woman in the world. He knew he was holding a pot of gold, and wasn’t afraid to flaunt it. Delaney looked surprised to see him, but when I saw her smiling at him, I knew my beautiful treasure was lost. She was no longer mine. It was done.
“The Berkeley Hotel, please,” I told the driver and rerouted my life.
After seeing Delaney and this guy together, I couldn’t get my head on straight. Becky frantically summoned me to Chicago with ugly news about Jane and I did as she asked, but felt bereft about Delaney. Even when Jane told me all the shit that had gone down after my indecent proposal, my heart was too heavy-laden to worry for Jane. It was difficult, but I summoned the will to stop thinking only about my own loss. I needed to help Jane in her time of crisis—especially since I was the cause of this catastrophe.
“What happened?” I asked Jane as we sat in my hotel room in Chicago. With my own issues mounting, my attempts at being a friend might have been more detrimental than helpful. I’d been the worst kind of friend thus far.
Jane explained that Max had heard our conversation. As my run-dry luck would have it, he was standing outside her door when I asked her to go away with me. Had I been in his shoes and someone made such a proposal to Delaney, I would’ve pummeled him. Max chose to leave, and Jane was left without a future.