“Oh, I know all right. I just wanted to hear you say it. But I’ll do it for you since you insist. You’re angry with me because I brought Laura along today. You’re jealous of someone you don’t even know.”
“I am not jealous.”
“Yes, you are, Megan Elizabeth. And I’m really disappointed in you.”
Meg looked at him from beneath her bangs. He was really angry with her. “Taylor! Why’d you have to bring her? You’re supposed to be spending time with me and with Mom. We don’t need to have to share you with her!”
“Meg, how many times have I taken your friends along with us on some outing? Remember the last time I took you to the stables? You simply had to have Emily and Dante go with you. And I didn’t object because I didn’t mind. I was taking you there in the first place because it made you happy. If having them along made you happier, that was fine with me.”
He reached out and lifted her chin so she was looking into his eyes. “Meg, she’s my friend. You’re my friend. Is it so terrible to want my friends to like each other? Besides, she’s moved all the way here and has no one else. All of her family and friends are back in New Mexico. And I care about her enough to want to make her feel welcome. Something that you’re really not helping with, Meg.”
She knew he was right, but admitting it wasn’t something she wanted to do. Instead, she twisted her head away, freeing her chin from his hand, then turned her back on him.
“Meg, don’t be this way. I can care about Laura, and I can care about you. Neither takes away from the other. I’m going back out there now, and I hope you’ll come join us. But, if you don’t, Meg, it’s your decision and your responsibility.”
She listened to the sound of his footsteps crossing the room. The door opened, then closed, and his footsteps faded away while tears ran soundlessly down her cheeks.
Taylor stopped in the kitchen and fixed himself a glass of lemonade. It bought him a few minutes to compose himself. He really hadn’t anticipated Meg would react this way. And, if she were this upset because he had brought Laura today, what would Meg do when he married her?
Annie and Laura’s mingled laughter drew him to the door. Annie saw him and put a finger to her lips to hush Laura. Laura turned, and the two of them tried to look innocent. “Why do I get the feeling this was a total mistake?” he asked as he pushed open the door and joined them. His question just sent them off into laughter again. He tried to look stern, but it was hard when he was so pleased to see that they liked each other
* * *
Meg listened to the distant sound of their voices and laughter. Taylor was right, of course. He usually was. She was jealous of Laura. He’d rushed off to see her in December and, now, he’d brought her here and was taking her on the tour with him. If he liked her enough—if he loved her—they’d get married and she probably wouldn’t want Taylor to see them again. It would be like a divorce. Enough of her friends had that problem with their stepmothers. If only Taylor and her mother… Sighing tragically, Meg went and washed her face, then went out to meet her enemy.
Taylor saw her first. “There you are, Meg. Come out and join us.” As she came out on the deck, Taylor held out his hand. “Meg, I’d like you to meet Laura. Laura, this is Meg.”
Laura was beautiful! She looked perfectly matched to Taylor as she rose to meet Meg. All of Meg’s fantasies about Taylor and her mother crumbled, and she politely said, “It’s nice to meet you, Laura. Taylor said you helped pick out my bracelet. It’s lovely. Thank you.”
Taylor met Annie’s eyes. This wasn’t their Meg. She was too reserved and grown-up.
“Hello, Meg. I’m glad to finally get to meet you. Taylor talks about you all the time. I was beginning to get jealous.”
Jealous? This incredibly beautiful woman was jealous of her? Meg took a seat at the end of the chaise that her mother occupied and listened while the grown-ups talked.
She noticed that, even though Laura was in the love seat, Taylor had taken another chair across from her. And he seemed to be paying equal attention to both of the women. Maybe all her worrying had been for nothing.
Over brunch, Taylor told Annie that Laura was going to be writing a series of articles about the tour. “I’ve read the first three, and they’re really good. I had no idea that some of that stuff was going on behind my back.”
“Then you need to pay more attention, Taylor,” Laura said. “None of it is a big secret—except how the cast feels about you, of course. Wait until I get to that subject!”
By the time brunch was over, Meg had to admit that Laura wasn’t as bad as she’d expected. At least she didn’t talk to her like she was a baby the way that Janis-woman had. Laura seemed to be genuinely interested in what she had to say. And she didn’t seem to be in love with Taylor. When Laura teased him, it was pretty much the same way her mother treated him. Maybe it would be all right after all.
As they began to clear the table, Laura said, “Taylor? Why don’t you and Meg go on and do whatever it is you have planned. I’ll help Annie with the dishes.”
Taylor looked at Annie for permission. “Go on. Not too late, Taylor. School tomorrow.”
Meg and Taylor solemnly chorused, “Yes, ma’am,” before Meg ran off to get ready. As Annie went back out to bring in more dishes, Taylor stopped Laura and said, “Thanks.”
“She’s just worried about losing you, Taylor. I’d be jealous, too, if someone tried to steal my father away from me.”
Annie caught the look that passed between them as she came back into the kitchen. If Taylor wasn’t already in love with Laura, he was heading that way fast. And it looked as if Laura felt the same way. Annie was pleased. She’d never liked Taylor being so much alone.
Meg reappeared in the doorway. “Taylor! Are we going or not?”
“We’re going, Meg. We should be back by five, ladies. Annie, please don’t tell Laura too many of my secrets while I’m gone!”
Chapter 36
Annie and Laura finished the dishes, then moved back out onto the deck.
“I still can’t get used to how warm it is here. I spoke to my parents last night and it was snowing there. It’s unusual for this time of year, but it’s still heavy sweater weather, at least!”
“I hated New York for that very reason. I never could get used to the cold. When Meg was born, I just wanted to come home and raise her here. I’m sorry you had such a rude introduction to her.”
“Annie, stop apologizing. Meg’s great. I can remember being much the same way when I was her age. Taylor obviously adores her and she returns it.”
“I don’t know what we would have done without him all this time. He’s been more of a father to her than her blood parent would have been.”
“Taylor told me some of what happened.”
“Did he tell you he saw through Cary? I was the only one blind enough to miss all his imperfections.”
Laura’s face went white. Cary? Oh, God, no!
“Laura? Are you all right?” Annie’s face was filled with concern.
“I’m fine, Annie. I just knew someone named Cary. He was a news anchor in Albuquerque.”
“I’ve lost track of him, but he started in the news business in New York. It’s all he ever wanted, so I imagine that’s what he’s still doing. His name was Cary Edwards.”
Laura willed her voice not to shake as she replied, “That’s him then. Meg has his coloring and those same blue eyes.”
Annie could see that Laura was shaken. “Yes, it would have been easier if she had looked like me. She doesn’t know any of the truth about him. She just knows he left before she was born.” Concerned about Laura, Annie changed the subject. “Those years in New York weren’t all bad. They were incredibly good for Taylor. I began a scrapbook of our notices then and continued it for Taylor. Would you like to see it—well, them, actually. He’s long since filled up that firs
t book and several others.”
“Yes, I’d like that,” Laura said, her mind whirling. Annie was Cary’s ex-wife? The one he’d beaten while she was pregnant, if she believed Taylor. The wife that Taylor had stolen, if she believed Cary. But she didn’t believe Cary. She realized now that he’d made all of it up about Taylor and Annie to keep her from getting involved with Taylor. Dazed, she followed Annie into the house.
* * *
Meg had asked if they could just go for a drive today. Taylor was happy to oblige and put a classical CD into the player. They let the music and the sunshine and fresh air wash over them. He could see Meg relaxing next to him. After a little while, Taylor pulled into a beach parking lot. “C’mon, Meg. I feel like walking a while.”
She wandered along a few steps behind or in front of him, picking up seashells here and there. Finally, he said, “Meg, come sit down. We need to talk.”
Reluctantly, she came over and sat next to him. He took her hand in his before he said, “Meg? Do you want to tell me what’s really bothering you about Laura?”
She was quiet for a long time before she finally asked, “Are you in love with her, Taylor?”
“I don’t know, Meg. I might be, but we haven’t known each other very long. We need more time to get to know each other. Does it worry you that I might be?”
“What if you marry her and she doesn’t want you to see us anymore?”
“She’s not like that, Meg.”
“But a lot of my friends… their dads stopped seeing them because their new wives didn’t want the kids around.”
“I can see that it could worry you. I promise, Meg, if I ever do marry someone, she won’t be someone who would stop me from seeing you. You’re my family, and she’d have to accept you as part of the deal.”
“Taylor? Why aren’t we enough family for you?”
“Oh, Meg, that’s so hard to answer. Love is a difficult thing to explain.”
“It’s stupid, too. I swear, Taylor, I’m never going to fall in love with anyone!”
“I’ll remind you of that, Meg, just before I walk you down the aisle,” he said as he stood and extended a hand to her. “How about, right now, I walk you down the beach and we’ll eat enough ice cream to spoil our dinner?”
Meg giggled at him. “Taylor, you are so silly.”
“I am that, Miss Meg. And I probably always will be.”
* * *
Taylor watched as Laura drove away from the condo. Something had been wrong when he and Meg had returned to the house. Laura had seemed withdrawn and distracted, so he’d suggested they leave soon after. He had the feeling Laura was very relieved when he had suggested it.
There’d been no chance to question Annie, and he decided to call her now. He needed to talk to her about what had happened while he was gone, and he needed to talk to her about these mysterious headaches Meg had mentioned on their way home from the beach.
She’d told him that her mother hadn’t been feeling well. “She’s having terrible headaches, Taylor. I don’t know if she’s seen the doctor yet, but I’m really worried about her. You know she won’t tell me if something’s wrong. Maybe she’ll tell you.”
He poured a glass of wine and opened the doors to the deck. Sitting where he could enjoy the view, he dialed Annie’s number.
“Hi, Annie, it’s me.”
“Taylor! I’m glad you called. Is Laura all right?”
“I was going to ask you the same thing. What happened while we were gone? You two were on your way to being best friends when I left, but Laura had turned into a stranger when I came back.”
“Taylor, I don’t know! We were talking about you and Meg and the subject of Cary came up. When I mentioned his name, she went white. It turned out she knew him in New Mexico! He was a news anchor there. At least I think it was him. There can’t more than one Cary Edwards in the news business.”
Taylor was silent long enough that Annie began to wonder if he’d hung up. Finally she heard a whispered “Bastard,” so she knew he was still there.
“Taylor?”
“Annie, Laura was dating some news guy. When I went out there for Christmas, I overheard people talking about her and him and the general consensus was that they were practically engaged. So, I left. Then, right after the first of the year, she disappeared. No phone, no e-mail. She quit her job. That’s where I went last month.” Annie could hear the anger in his voice as he went on. “She’d disappeared because this man she’d been seeing had raped her.”
It was Annie’s turn to be silent.
“Laura’s friend, Beth, was the one who told me. Laura doesn’t know that I know. Beth wouldn’t tell me his name. Annie, I never thought it could be him.”
“Oh, God, Taylor! No wonder she reacted the way she did. She didn’t press charges against him?”
“Laura told Beth it would never hold up in court, and she refused to put her parents through the trauma of a trial.”
“Is he still there? In Albuquerque?” Taylor could hear a note of panic in her voice.
“No, Annie. Beth said he’d left. Some big-time news job.”
“He hasn’t changed. I wonder how many other women besides Laura he’s hurt.”
“Annie. Stop it. It’s not your fault. Even if you’d brought charges against him, he would have gotten a slap on the wrist. You are not responsible for what he was then or what he is now!”
“I know, Taylor. I just wish…” Annie’s voice trailed off.
“I know, Annie, I know. I’ll call you tomorrow to let you know how she is.”
“Taylor?”
“What, Annie?”
“You’re in love with her, aren’t you?”
“I have been from the minute I met her, I think. That’s really why I went back out there. I’d decided not to give her up gracefully. But, instead of being able to tell her how I feel, I have to help her put the pieces of her life back together first.”
“Well, she couldn’t have found anyone better to help her do that. It will be all right, Taylor. Don’t give up on her.”
“Thanks, Annie. Goodnight.”
He hung up the phone and walked out onto the deck. The sun was gone, and there was a chill in the air, but Taylor didn’t feel it. All he could think of was that the same man had hurt both of the women he loved. And he was powerless to do anything about it. It wasn’t until much later that he realized he hadn’t asked Annie about the headaches.
* * *
“Hi, Beth. It’s me.”
“Laura! How are you? What’s happening? How’s the show? You’re still in Florida, right?”
Laura couldn’t help laughing. “Slow down, Beth! I can’t answer everything at once. Tell me what’s happening there first.”
As Beth filled her in, Laura was grateful for the normalcy of her report; the gossip about people they both knew, new stories of Henry’s curmudgeon act. The afternoon with Annie had been surreal. She kept thinking she must have dreamed it, but she knew better.
“Laura?” Suddenly she became aware that Beth had asked her a question.
“Beth, I’m sorry, what did you ask?”
“Never mind, Laura. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, Beth.”
“Laura Collins, don’t even try lying to me. You know you can’t get away with it.” Beth’s voice went from lecture to concern as she continued, “There’s something wrong. Tell me.”
* * *
Annie went in to say goodnight to Meg. She was suddenly aware of how much her daughter looked like Cary with her coal black hair and midnight blue eyes. She really hadn’t thought about him in years. He’d never been a part of their lives. All she wanted to do was forget about him. Why she’d come up with his name this afternoon was something she couldn’t explain.
“Mom? Why are you staring at me?”
&nb
sp; Annie shook off the memories. “I was just noticing how tall you’re getting. By next year, you’ll be taller than me, I bet.”
“Well, Mom,” Meg said with an impish grin, “being taller than you isn’t going to be hard.”
“Oh, yeah? I may be small, but I still know everything there is to know about you. Don’t get too smart, miss. I have videotapes of you as a baby that I’m just saving to show your first boyfriend.”
“Mom!” It was amazing how a three-letter word could be stretched out into multi-syllables.
“Meg!” Annie answered in the same drawn out tone. “Into bed, miss.”
Annie pulled the light blanket up over her daughter and sat beside her on the bed. “Are you ok about Laura, now?”
Meg made a face, then said, “I guess so. Taylor thinks he might be in love with her.”
“Did he tell you that?”
“Well, I asked, and then he told me.”
“It’s not a bad thing, Meg.”
“I know. But I don’t want things to change. If he marries her…”
“If he marries her, you and I will dance at their wedding and be happy for them.”
“I just wish… ”
“I know, Meg.” Annie smoothed the hair away from Meg’s face and kissed her. “Goodnight.”
“’Night, Mom.”
Annie closed Meg’s door and went to her own room. Standing on a chair, she reached far back into the closet, to a top shelf, and pulled down a box. Sitting on the bed, she opened it and took out the tangible proof of her life with Cary. There wasn’t much; their marriage license and divorce papers, her wedding ring, and a few newspaper clippings. She’d kept these things because someday Meg would ask about him, and she had a right to know what her father looked like, even if Annie hoped she never found out what he’d been like.
In the bottom of the box was their wedding picture. They couldn’t afford a professional photographer, so Taylor had taken it.
She no longer recognized herself in the free-spirited girl who was gazing adoringly at the almost sullen groom. As she looked at him, she felt the beginnings of a headache, and she hated it that he still could affect her this way.
Timing Is Everything Page 19