“You don’t like your salad?” His eyes found mine.
“I’m sorry.” Shaking my head, I put the fork down. “I’m just not hungry. I don’t want to spoil our fancy dinner, but—”
“No, no—we can get it to go. Hang on.” He motioned to the waiter, who appeared immediately at our table. “Yes, Mr. Kyser?”
“We’d like to get our entrees to go, would that be possible?”
“Certainly, sir. They’re still being prepared.”
Julian glanced at me, then he took out his wallet and handed the man a card. “I’ll come back and pick them up.”
The waiter left, and Julian stood. “Let’s take a walk.”
I thought he meant we’d cross the road and walk along the canal, but he escorted me to his car and we drove back the short distance to the Gulf. He parked at the Hidden Pass lot and we left our shoes by the pier, heading down to the ocean.
It was a perfect night, warm but not too humid. The breeze whipped my hair around my head, but I had a band from my purse to tie it back in a ponytail.
All of the events that had led us to this moment were crashing in my head like the waves on the shore. I thought about him being here, working with his dad, and how I didn’t even know about it. I thought about JYA, and how he’d practically ordered me to go to London, knowing it could lead to this.
Up until now, I’d had hope. For nine months, I’d held on so desperately to something I’d thought we both wanted until I got back here and found everything had changed.
I stopped walking and turned to face him. “Why did you send me away?” My voice was sharper than I’d intended, but I needed to know.
“What?” His brow creased, and he actually seemed not to know what I meant.
But I was tired of waiting for answers. “Last year. You pulled away from me. You cut me off and shut down without an explanation, and then you sent me away. I want to know why.”
He put his hands in his pockets and continued walking. “Don’t spoil it, Anna. Just let it go.”
“No!” I jerked his arm, making him stop and face me. “I want to know what happened.”
“Why?” Now his voice was raised. “So you can lie to me again? So you can make promises you won’t keep and then tell me how it was nothing?”
“How what was nothing? What are you talking about?”
“All those times you were with Jack. Having dinner with him, going to the park with him, kissing him on his boat. I don’t want to hear any more lies about how it didn’t mean anything to you.”
My breath had disappeared. I felt like someone had jumped out from behind a rock and thrown a bucket of cold water directly in my face. I needed a moment to recover.
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about. I told you everything—”
“Dammit, Anna, that’s exactly what I’m talking about.” He looked off and shook his head. “Don’t tell me what I saw with my own eyes.”
I was so confused. “What you saw—but how? I don’t know what you mean!”
My mind was ripping through memories like one would tear through clothes in a drawer, searching for anything that would make sense out of what he was saying.
We’d discussed the sushi night and that stupid kiss. I’d explained to him about the run-in at Fat Harry’s. I’d texted him about going to the yacht for Rachel. When did I lie to him?
“Julian, please.” My voice broke, and I felt the tears threatening. “I told you everything, I promise. There was nothing going on with him.”
“I can’t listen to this.” He started to walk, but I held his arm.
“What about last night? Why did you come to me if you felt this way?”
He stood facing the water, not looking at me for several moments. Then he pressed his lips firmly together. “I don’t know why I came over last night.”
My stomach sank, and I wasn’t sure I could hear this. The waves crashed on the shore, and he looked at them as if he were making a decision.
“I’ve been seeing Renee again.” His words froze my heart. My eyes snapped to his, but only cold blue greeted them. “We’ve been together pretty regularly now, and I guess I had a weak moment. It was wrong of me.”
I thought I might collapse. I didn’t even realize I was crying until I blinked and the tears hit my cheeks.
“You should take the job in London,” he continued, his voice sounding far away. “It’s an amazing opportunity, and you can’t turn that down. Good luck to you, Anna.”
He patted my arm.
He actually reached out and patted my arm.
Something in me snapped. I raised my fists and hit his chest as hard as I could.
“You LIAR!” I screamed, pounding my clenched hands against him. “Stupid, lying, LIAR!” My insides were broken, but I continued hitting him through my sobs. “I believed in you. I believed in US! I spent a whole year believing if I could just get back here, we could fix it. We could have what we had before. The greatest thing in BOTH our lives.”
He didn’t look at me, but he didn’t back away from me either. He only stood there and let me hit him as if he didn’t feel a thing.
I couldn’t take his cold indifference any more. I reached back and slapped him hard. His lips tightened, but still he didn’t look at me.
“I’m taking you home now,” is all he said.
“I’m not going anywhere with you! Not anywhere in that stupid car… that car…” For a moment I thought my head would explode. “You have no idea all the things I’ve done for you!”
That brought him around, but his voice was harsh. “You mean all the secrets you’ve kept? All the lies you’ve told? I’m sure I don’t.”
My voice was hoarse from crying and yelling, my cheeks were wet with tears. I couldn’t think of another thing to say. Only one thing was on my mind at this point—getting home and calling Liam. I was going to London. Damn right I was going to London, and I was never coming back here.
“I’ll call a cab. You’ll never see me again.”
I walked away from him standing on that lost beach, my insides shattered and blasted to a million pieces. I knew I’d never be able to put them back together again.
* * *
That’s it. She didn’t write any more. I suppose she left this flash drive behind with all the rest of it when she moved to London.
I have to be honest, chaps, I feel a little winded right now, and I have so many questions.
She said she’d never come back here, yet here we are. We’re at this bloody reunion, and all I can think is I want answers.
And if she doesn’t demand them, I will.
~Jules
Chapter 3
Present Day
Her
The woman lifted her face to the high-rise condominium building. It had been seventeen years since she’d stood in this parking lot looking up at the beige stucco behemoth.
Back then she’d been so young, so unsure of herself and her place in the world. She’d doubted everything—her ability to find success, to find love. Her ability to stand beside his family.
Then she’d done what he told her to do all those years before, after the fateful birthday party, when she’d sat on the beach and cried in his arms. Before their worlds started to twist and change.
She’d gone after the things she wanted. She’d worked hard, and she’d achieved award-winning success. She had her own money now and the ability to live wherever she chose.
None of it would have happened if she’d stayed here.
Somewhere along the way, she’d heard a speaker talking about success. He’d said where you see great success, you also see great sacrifice. The flip side was if one wanted great success, one had to be prepared to make great sacrifice. Looking up all those feet toward that penthouse office suite, she was ready to concede she’d made the biggest sacrifice of her life.
Today she was back, ready to face him. Ready to tell him the truth about the last secret she ever kept, knowing he already knew.
Before anything was said, she needed to see those waves again. The beach was getting crowded, but not as crowded as it would be in another month, when summer vacation kicked into full swing. For now she had a bit of peace to think about what happened.
It all started on a public beach.
Well, truthfully, it started in tenth grade algebra class. She laughed remembering what a studious little coward she’d been back then. School was the only thing she was ever really good at. In relationships, she usually made an F. Possibly F-.
Until him.
Until she opened her eyes and saw what was right in front of her.
She’d tutored him in math, and he’d held onto her until she managed to score an A in relationships. And then he walked away.
Dropping to sit on the dry sand, she allowed the sadness to trickle back in. That night was burned in her brain, and she’d replayed the scene over and over so many times. His cold indifference, her screaming and hitting him. The slap she could still hear across the pond. She hugged her knees to her chest. Funny how her eyes still misted whenever she thought of that night.
She also remembered the first day. The day she’d sat on this beach longing to be somebody else. She’d done it. Now she was somebody else, although inside she was still that same girl. The girl who walked down to the shoreline and wished for anything to make her life more interesting. So many wishes she’d made, that was the one that came true.
The constant breakers were a familiar soundtrack. Their rushing in and pounding then rushing back out put everything into perspective. It always had. No matter what happened here on these shores, those waves would keep going, over and over until the end of time.
Now it was time.
The tightness in her chest had relaxed, and she knew she couldn’t put it off any longer. Standing, she dusted off her skirt and walked slowly back across the dry sand, back across the boardwalk, to where she’d left her shoes. Slipping her feet into the wedge heels, she went all the way to the elevator.
The shiny metal doors opened to the familiar, penthouse waiting room, but it had changed through the years. The furnishings were newer, and the magazines on the table were different. A different receptionist sat at the desk—brunette, pixie-cut hair. She smiled when the woman approached.
“May I help you?”
“I’m here to see Julian Kyser. Anna Sanders.” Her voice was so formal. Internally, she laughed, realizing she’d expected to sound as young and small as she’d always felt in this building. That too had changed.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Ms. Sanders!” The girl seemed genuinely distressed. “He just left for the day, would you like to leave a message or a card?”
“Ah, no. That’s okay. Thank you.”
“Would you like to see someone else? I believe Mr. William Kyser is in his office.”
Anna laughed aloud then. “That’s okay. I think I’ll skip that one today.”
The girl gave her a confused smile, but nodded. “Okay, then. Sorry!”
“Thanks.”
She turned and went to the elevator, trying to decide what to do next.
* * *
Gabi was on the couch watching television when she arrived back at her parents’ home. The minute she walked through the door, however, her best friend jumped up to greet her.
“How’d it go? I’ve been dying. Tell me everything.”
Anna dropped her bag on the counter and walked into the living room to flop on the couch, too.
Gabi was right on the edge. “Well?”
Inhaling a deep breath, she let it out. “I didn’t see him.”
“What!” Her best friend hit her with a pillow. “I oughta—how could you build it up like that and then say you never saw him? What happened?”
“I didn’t build it up! You shanghaied me at the door.”
“Pfft!” Gabi waved her hand. “Stop using British slang. I don’t even know what that means.”
Anna’s lips curled. “Actually, I think that’s Frank Sanders slang. I’m not even sure what it means.”
“Wasn’t that an old Madonna movie?” Her friend picked up the remote.
“You have the most random memories. How should I know?”
“I was alone a lot as a kid.” Gabi hopped up and went into the kitchen, opening the refrigerator. “You were gone a long time. What did you do instead?”
“Hand me one of those.” Anna rested her head on her hand as her friend brought her a soft drink. “I walked out to the beach. It’s so beautiful, and I hadn’t seen it yet.”
Gabi popped the top on her beverage and sat in the old, worn armchair near the couch. “So what’s the plan now?”
“Not sure really. I’m not going to his house.”
“You could. It’s partly Jules’s house, too, you know. At least her grandparents live there.”
Anna scratched her neck. “True. But I’d rather not talk to him there. I was hoping for a more… neutral location. Before tonight.”
“You think he’s going to lose it?”
“I don’t think so. I mean, I wouldn’t expect that. Still, I don’t want their first introduction to be at the reunion. Reunions are awkward enough without turning all… Jerry Springer.”
“Juliette LaSalle! This is your father!!!” Her friend mocked a television announcer’s voice, and Anna threw the pillow back at her hard. “Ugh! Gut wound!” Her friend fell back, sending the old chair’s footrest shooting forward.
“But hang on.” Gabi sat up. “From what you’ve said, it won’t be their first meeting.”
“I can’t believe that actually happened.” Anna shook her head. “I wonder if Jules only thought it was him, you know how imaginative she is. Speaking of, where is she?”
“Haven’t heard a peep since lunch. I think she went up to your old room to sleep off the jet lag.”
“Gabi! You can’t just ignore a teenager all day. And that’s the worst thing she could do for jet lag. She needs to stay awake!”
“Sorry! I don’t have such offspring of my own—go do your motherly duty and check on her, but hurry. It’s almost time to go break some ice.”
Climbing the short flight to the second floor, she stopped at her room, the only one now upstairs. Her parents had added a master suite on the first floor and relocated in her absence. She couldn’t help thinking how useful that would’ve been in the old days when they’d done everything possible to keep their voices soft.
“Jules, you in here?” She tapped softly on the door before opening it. “Jules! What’s wrong?”
She dashed over to the twin bed, where her daughter lay facedown clearly sobbing. Sitting beside her, she gently rubbed the dark-brown curls.
“What’s the matter, honey? Why are you crying?”
Several sniffles, and her normally free-spirited Jules sat up and buried her head in Anna’s lap.
“Oh, Mum. I don’t want to go to the reunion anymore. I don’t want to see him. I don’t care if I never see him again!”
Surprise momentarily stole Anna’s voice then she caught her daughter’s face and lifted her chin. “What happened? Have you heard from him?”
“No!” Jules wailed. “I haven’t seen him or heard from him, and I hope I never do.”
Her mother’s brow creased. “I don’t understand. I thought you said you already liked your dad.”
“I was wrong. I hate him!”
Anna sat and listened to her daughter’s sobs, trying to figure out what could have possibly changed since breakfast. Then she had an idea. Jules did have half his genes, after all.
“Baby,” Anna stroked her shiny dark locks. “Is it because he was never there for you? Is it because you think he didn’t care?”
No answer; only more sobs.
“I’
m so sorry about that, sweetheart, but you can’t blame him. It was my fault. He never knew about you. I’m sure if he had—”
“How can you be sure of anything with him?” Jules sat up quick, her face splotched and wet from crying. “I want to go home! Back to England, back to Brandon! He loves us. He wanted to make a home for us!”
A sick feeling twisted in Anna’s gut at her daughter’s words, and she dropped her chin. “I’m sorry, Jules, but you know we can’t do that. I don’t love Brandon. I’ve only ever loved your dad.”
“Then you’re an idiot!” Her daughter fell back on her pillow again.
Anna stood quickly, her voice sharp. “Juliet Alexandra LaSalle!” But before she said anything more, she thought of all that had gone before, and it sapped her spirit. Her shoulders dropped. “You’re probably right. You don’t have to go tonight if you don’t want to.”
She was halfway to the door when wild arms flew around her middle in a tight hug. “Oh, Mum! I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean it!”
Wrapping her arms over her daughter’s, she soothed her. Lifting her miserable face, Anna wiped the fresh tears away with her thumbs. “Won’t you tell me what happened? Why you’re carrying on like this?”
Gabi’s voice rang out from below. “Anna! Have you seen the clock? We’ve got to get out of here—the reception’s about to start.”
Exhaling a curse, she loosened her daughter’s death-grip around her waist. “Look at me.” The teen blinked at her. “Don’t leave the house while we’re gone. I won’t stay the whole time. We can finish talking when I get back.” Jules nodded, and Anna kissed her nose. “Now wash your face.”
Running back down the stairs to her parents’ room, Anna threw open the closet and hastily scraped the dresses she’d brought out of the way. “Gabi! This is casual right?”
Mosaic (Dragonfly #4) Page 24