Picking up my office phone, I called my chief of operations. “Jack, I need to see you right away.”
“Be right there.”
Jack was my right-hand man, taking care of my business like it was his own. He always went above and beyond the call of duty.
“Close the door. I need this conversation to be confidential.”
“What’s going on, Trace?”
“Derrick died last night in a car accident.”
“Oh fuck. That’s terrible.”
“Yes, it is. I need you to find out everything you can about Angelina. I mean everything from the day she was born.”
“You think she had something to do with this?”
“I don’t know, maybe. Something doesn’t feel right.”
“Okay. I’m on it. I’ll get everything I can. I’ll let you know when I have a report.”
“Thanks. I know I can count on you. You’re the only one I trust.”
Jack left my office. I had no idea if he would find anything suspicious, but I had to find out. I was also going to have to pretend to console a woman who might be the reason Derrick was dead. I wasn’t looking forward to being there for her. Maybe that made me a jerk, but I didn’t want to have any part of her.
Now for the dreaded call. “Angelina, it’s Trace. Fran just told me what happened. I can’t believe it.”
“Trace, I’m so glad to hear from you. I’m in shock, I think. I just keep expecting him to walk through the door. But he isn’t going to…ever.” Her voice sounded shaky.
“Where are you? I’ll come over.”
“I’m at my parents’ house. They had a doctor come over and give me a sedative to relax. I was hysterical earlier. What are we going to do without him?”
“We can talk about things later. Right now, you just need to rest. Why don’t you let me begin making the funeral arrangements? I know Derrick wanted to be cremated. When do you think you would want to have the memorial service?”
“I don’t know. When should we have it? You’ve always been so good at things like this.”
“Well, I’ll find out what’s available and get back to you. Is there anything in particular you would like for the service?”
“Nothing’s coming to mind right now. You knew Derrick well. I’m sure whatever you think is fine. His parents may want things a certain way,” she said, her voice cracking. “Trace, whatever you decide works for me. I’m so grateful for your help.”
“Sure, Angelina. I’ll get in touch with the Thompsons and we’ll figure it all out. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Okay, Trace. Thank you.”
Whatever I thought? Whatever I wanted? I’m so good at things like this. She was trying to play me. Unbelievable. If she thought she was going to insert herself back into my life, she had another thing coming. I would never trust her again.
I didn’t want to get tangled up with Angelina’s parents, but I would go visit Derrick’s. I’d known them for years. Walking out of my office, I informed Fran that I was leaving for a few hours. She nodded, but that was all.
The last time I’d seen the Thompsons was at my wedding. More specifically, they saw me punch their son. I was prepared for them to lash out at me given the circumstances. But, I was going over anyway. Derrick and I may have been on the outs, but I couldn’t stay away at a time like this.
Knocking on their door was one of the most uncomfortable things I’d ever had to do. I didn’t know what would be greeting me from the other side. Would they want to see me?
“Trace,” Olivia said, grabbing onto me for dear life. “Thank God you’re here.”
“I wouldn’t be anywhere else,” I said, hugging her back. She was like a second mom and feeling her shake in my arms broke my heart. I couldn’t even begin to imagine what she was going through.
“Come in,” she said, releasing me. I followed her into the great room where Mike, Derrick’s dad, was sitting on a bar stool at the kitchen island.
He got up when he saw me and extended his hand. “Thank you for coming over. We didn’t know if you’d be around after everything…” he said, trailing off.
“My secretary told me about the accident when I got to the office this morning. I can’t believe he’s gone. I’m so sorry.”
“Would you like a cup of coffee,” Olivia asked.
“If it’s not too much trouble.”
“It’s already made,” she said as she turned toward the counter. Seeing her do that brought back a flood of memories of hanging out with Derrick and his family through the years. Mike and Olivia had always been so welcoming.
Seconds later she was handing me a steaming cup. “Creamer and sugar are on the island,” she said. I knew that from all the times I’d been over here, but I would imagine mundane communication was better than talking about what had happened.
“I spoke with Angelina before coming over. She’s resting at her parents’ house. I told her I could help with memorial arrangements.”
“We appreciate that,” Mike said.
“How did she sound?” Olivia asked.
“I’m not exactly sure. She wasn’t crying, but she said she had been given a sedative from a doctor her parents called to the house.”
Derrick’s mom leaned on her elbows against the granite island, her head in her hands. Mike went around and put his hand on her shaking shoulder. “I just can’t stand this,” she said through muffled sobs.
“I know, honey. We’ll find a way to handle this somehow.”
Olivia looked up at me. “We hated that he married her. After what happened at your wedding. After what they did. She’s just…not someone we wanted our son to be with.”
I nodded, not exactly sure what to say. I had brought Angelina into our lives. She had figured out a way to get into both our hearts. It was beginning to feel like it had way more to do with her own agenda than her being in love with either of us. Did she ever really care about either of us? Or was some other agenda at play? I just wasn’t exactly sure what to think.
“Trace, what do you really know about this woman? I feel like something is terribly wrong where she’s concerned.”
“I thought I knew everything about her. We shared our lives. She told me all about her childhood. When I was with her, it felt so effortless. She was always agreeable, fun, loving. I obviously thought she was the one, or I wouldn’t have proposed. I was pretty shocked when I learned the truth.” I hoped the last thing I said didn’t upset her even more. Derrick was part of betraying me.
Olivia had tears streaming down her face. I couldn’t imagine the pain she must be in. It broke my heart to see it.
“I know Derrick betrayed you…what he did was horrible, but deep in my heart I believe that she seduced him. She had some kind of hold on him.”
“Honey, Trace probably doesn’t want to talk about what Derrick and Angelina did to him.”
“I’m sorry, Trace. I don’t want to dredge up painful issues. I know this sounds awful, but she never seemed to fit with you. Not that she fit with Derrick. That I never saw coming. Oh Trace, were we all somehow blindsided by her? I just can’t help but wonder if…I don’t know, this may sound crazy, but if Angelina had something to do with Derrick’s accident. It sure is convenient for her to become a wife and widow all within seven days, and then…inherit everything Derrick has.”
Her thoughts were starting to mirror my own, which made me wonder if I wasn’t going crazy with my thoughts about Angelina after all. How well did I really know her? She hadn’t wanted to live with me until we were married. Was that weird? The Thompsons had known me for years, and they hadn’t felt comfortable around her either. Like my family…I wasn’t sure if I should reveal my suspicions and tell them about the background check or not. What if they confronted Angelina? If she was actually guilty of doing something to Derrick then I needed the element of surprise. “Oh, Olivia. I know this is so hard to take. I think we’re all in shock right now. If anything is wrong, I’m sure it will come to light.�
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“How will that happen, Trace? This has been classified as an accident. The police aren’t looking at the bride thinking she had something to do with this.”
“Have you requested an autopsy? Maybe he was drugged.”
Mike and Olivia looked at each other. “I’ll get on it right now. That’s an excellent idea,” Mike said as he began walking toward his study.
Chapter 24: Lindy
Randy dropped me off a little after midnight. It was late, but Ro had made me promise to call her as soon as our date ended. I had to admit I couldn’t wait until morning to tell her what happened anyway.
“So, how was it? Did you have a good time?”
“Yes, we had a great time. Randy showed me sides of him I didn’t know existed.”
“Oh really? Do tell.” I could envision Ro raising her eyebrows suggestively.
“Well, I guess the most important thing that happened tonight was he proposed.”
“What? He proposed? Did he have a ring?” Ro sounded like she wanted to climb through the phone to gawk at my hand.
“Yes. I’m looking at it right now. It’s a princess cut diamond. Beautiful, big.”
“You said yes?” she practically shouted. “You’re getting married?”
“I did. He was very persuasive. When I told him we’d only been on one date, he said that wasn’t correct. He had been on almost all of my dates with Dane. Then it hit me that Randy was a part of my life. A really good part, but I just hadn’t been ready to see it yet.”
“Wow. I’m just totally blown away by this whole thing. You and Randy are getting married.”
I couldn’t believe it either. It had all happened so suddenly. I hadn’t had a chance to catch my breath yet. “It is pretty crazy, isn’t it.”
“Maybe, but not if you love him. You do love him, right?”
I hadn’t really thought about that. Did I love him? I wasn’t sure. I liked him. I’d known him forever. He was comfortable.
“Lindy, are you there?”
“Yes.”
“Which question are you answering?”
“I’m here.”
“I see. So, you don’t love him.”
“I’m not sure. He’s a good man and I really like him. Listen, do you think we could talk more tomorrow? I’m really beat and I have the lunch shift.”
“Of course. Let’s get together after you get off work. We’ll talk more then.”
Saying goodnight to my best friend, a strange sensation came over me. Her question about me loving Randy kind of threw me. I didn’t know why it would. It was a perfectly logical question. But, I wasn’t really prepared to answer it.
Climbing into bed I was looking forward to shutting off my mind with blissful sleep. Closing my eyes, the only image I could conjure was the ruggedly handsome face of Trace Michaels, his hazel eyes gazing upon me. I remembered the night I went to him eager to be loved by him. To give myself to him, be lost in him. His eyes had seared through me as he’d realized what I had in mind. Every second with him had been sizzling hot, even if we weren’t touching each other. I didn’t have that kind of heat with Randy. But did I really need to for us to have a good life together? Was it realistic to think the kind of passion Trace and I shared would last for any length of time? Maybe it would have burned out quickly. I had no idea. All I knew was that I hadn’t shaken the image of Trace from my mind or released him from my heart. I’d thought about him constantly since I left him in Maui. Even on my date with Randy, Trace was there with me, flooding my mind with his sexy grin and boyish charm.
Why had I said yes to Randy’s proposal? Would I be able to fall in love with him? I really needed to talk to Ro more, but the mental exhaustion had done me in. It would all have to wait until the morning. So, I drifted to sleep like I had every night, seeing myself in Maui with Trace, nestled in his muscular arms, never wanting to be anywhere else.
***
Tossing and turning all night, I opened my eyes about three minutes before my alarm was set to go off. Moving in slow motion, I turned it off before the beeping sound echoed through my confined space. Coffee. I needed coffee desperately. Stumbling out of bed, I made my way to my dingy kitchen that was really a throwback from the seventies and began my morning ritual. Hearing a car pull up outside, I looked out my window. Randy was getting out of his car with two cups of Starbuck’s coffee and a bag with breakfast, no doubt. He really was so thoughtful. I could totally handle that for the rest of my life. But it would be a life without passion, Lindy.
Opening the door to welcome him in, Randy planted a soft kiss on my lips as he walked past to my small dinette. “I couldn’t wait to see you. Hope you haven’t had breakfast yet.”
“No, I just woke up. I was about to make coffee, so your timing is perfect.”
“Glad to hear it,” he said moving toward me, pulling me into his arms. “Anything to make my bride happy.”
Bride. I was a bride with all that it implied. I felt a little flush. Randy was holding me in his arms, looking at me adoringly, and my heart was pounding so hard it felt like the thunder of galloping horses in my chest. Was this anxiety?
“Are you okay, Lindy?” His look of concern was so sweet. But Randy had always been kind toward me.
“Oh, yes. I’m fine. I think I’m ready for what you brought for breakfast. I’m starved.”
Randy led me with his hand on my lower back toward the table. He took out two spinach wraps and a bowl of fruit. I liked that he was health conscience.
“This is a really nice surprise,” I said. Taking a sip of the coffee he brought for me, I realized he knew exactly how I liked it. “You know I like hazelnut.”
“I’m very observant. Not much gets past me,” he said with a wink.
“Well, that’s a good quality in a man. One I’ll always appreciate.”
“So, you’re not freaking out that we got engaged last night? I know you felt like it was all of a sudden.”
“No, the idea is growing on me. So, no freaking out. Not yet anyway.” But what was with my racing heart?
“Well, I’m going to do everything in my power to keep it that way.” Randy caressed my face with the back of his hand. “I love you, Lindy, and I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy.”
I put my hand on the one he was cradling my face with. “I know you do and I want you to know I really appreciate you.” I’m sure that’s what he wanted to hear…his bride appreciated him. Randy smiled, but I knew he wanted me to tell him I loved him too. I just wasn’t ready to say those words. I’d only said them to Dane and I’d thought about saying them to Trace. I wanted to say them to Trace and would have if everything hadn’t gone sideways in a blink.
“I don’t want you to worry about a thing. I thought we could have a simple wedding at the church and the reception in my backyard. It would be nice to keep it casual. Don’t you agree?”
“I do. I’ve never been the fancy type. Simple is more my style.”
“Good, then it’s settled. Now we just need to set the date.”
Set the date? Take a deep breath, Lindy. Now might be the time to freak out.
My eyes widened and I inhaled deeply through my nose, exhaling through my mouth. I did this several times while Randy watched me.
“Lindy?”
“Y—yes?”
“It’s all right to be nervous. I’m not because I’ve thought about making you my wife for a long time. Probably since we were teenagers.”
“Teenagers?”
Randy looked down for a moment. “I know. I’m a cliché. I fell in love with you just like my best friend did. I never stopped. When he married you, I was happy for you both and I tried to move on and find someone of my own, but it just didn’t work out. Then, when Dane died, I knew it would take some time for you to feel whole again. I wanted to be respectful of your time to grieve and not push myself into your life before you were ready. I hope you’re ready, Lindy. Please tell me you are.”
The pleading lo
ok on Randy’s face stabbed me in the heart. He was so sincere and all I wanted to do was reassure him. “Spreading Dane’s ashes in Maui brought me the closure I didn’t have before. So, yes, I’m ready to be in a relationship.” As the words tumbled out of my mouth, Trace entered my mind again. Why did that have to keep happening? I couldn’t escape him no matter how hard I tried. As much as I knew I now had to. Forever.
Chapter 25: Trace
Leaving Derrick’s parents in their state of shock and sadness had been difficult, but necessary. While I was there, Pastor Steven’s had returned their call. The memorial was scheduled for a week from Friday. The service would be held at the church they’d been attending for years. I told them I would contact a funeral home and make the arrangements for Derrick to be cremated. At some point in the immediate future, I’d have to inform Angelina of the arrangements to lay her husband to rest. The thought of it sickened me. Could she really have had anything to do with this? Could it have just been a simple accident? Maybe I was just suspicious of Angelina because she had hurt me. I had no idea. This just all seemed a little too convenient for her.
Walking into my office, my cell began ringing. It was her.
“Angelina,” I said. I wanted to be nice, but not too nice.
“Trace, what are we going to do without him?” she cried into the phone.
I didn’t know how to answer her because there was no “we.” “We have to think of what Derrick would want. He would want you to go on and find happiness.”
“Besides Derrick, you’re the only one who made me happy and I messed it all up.”
Okay, now I had entered an alternate universe. This was turning into the strangest conversation I’d ever had. “Well, it’s a difficult time for everyone.”
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