by Natalie Ann
Amanda had been itching to hug her sister but since Charlotte gave no indication of wanting the contact she wasn’t about to take that first step.
She had nothing to be sorry for in her life when it came to her family.
Sure, she’d left home, but she’d reached out plenty of times in the beginning. She’d given her contact information too.
No one wanted to talk to her. They didn’t want to acknowledge she was part of their lives and she wasn’t going to beg anyone.
Charlotte’s chin went up. “I’m happy enough.”
“Then that is all that matters.”
They stood there quietly for a second when a Porsche SUV pulled over to the curb. She was willing to bet that was Richard. Though from her view the guy didn’t look like Charlotte’s type. He actually looked a lot older than her sister.
“That’s my ride.”
“It was nice to see you,” Amanda said. What else was she going to say? She figured it’d be another ten years before they talked again, she was sure.
“You too.” Charlotte took a few steps toward the door, then stopped and turned. “Merry Christmas, Amanda. And I’m sorry. I do miss you.”
Charlotte climbed in the passenger door before Amanda could ask her what the hell that was supposed to mean.
As soon as the SUV pulled away, her Uber showed up at the curb and she climbed in and took the ride back to the docks.
Once she was on the ferry she sent a text to Kayla and asked if she’d be free for dinner. That she needed to talk.
A few hours later, Kayla was opening the door of Hunter’s penthouse. “What’s wrong?” Kayla asked.
“I guess I’m not good at hiding things, am I?” she asked as her eyes filled with tears.
“Oh God. Come in here. You’re upset. Did Drew and you have a fight? Did you break up? Give me a hug. You never cry, it has to be something bad.”
She never cried in front of anyone anymore because she kept so much private, but she couldn’t this time. She needed someone to talk to and she reached out to the only person she felt close enough to in years to maybe give a little bit of information about her life.
“It’s nothing with Drew and me. We’re fine. I ran into my sister in Boston.”
“Sister?” Kayla asked. “You never talk about your family. I didn’t know you had a sister.”
“I don’t because I left home when I was eighteen. Things were tense and...not easy. The simple truth is they wanted me to do something I didn’t want to do. And when things didn’t turn out the way I thought they would and I needed them the most they weren’t there for me.”
“When was the last time you talked to your sister? Fourteen years ago when you left home?”
“I talked to her a few times after I moved, when she was in college. Charlotte. My sister’s name is Charlotte and she is three years younger than me. She just always followed what my parents wanted from her.”
“And you didn’t,” Kayla said.
“No. It doesn’t matter what happened specifically right now.” She wasn’t about to admit that she’d been pregnant and lost her baby. Not with Kayla being pregnant. Not only would that be insensitive and a shock but it would scare a new soon-to-be mother.
“Why did you stop talking to your sister?”
“Because my mother found out. My guess is she was told to stop or she’d be cut off.”
“Cut off?” Kayla asked. “Are you wealthy?”
Amanda laughed. “I’m not wealthy.”
“You know what I mean. Is your family?”
“Not like you think. We had money, but nothing like other people. My father was the president of a large bank. He did well. We didn’t want for anything, but I’m not sure we’d be considered wealthy in some people’s eyes.”
Not in Randall’s parents’ eyes that is for sure.
“Well, if your sister listened to them after she was on her own then it’s her problem and her fault.”
“Yeah. I think so. I mean I agree with you. I think she might regret it now though.”
“Why do you say that?” Kayla asked. “Let’s sit down in the living room. I ordered our dinner and it should be here soon.”
“You’re not going to cook for me?” she asked, trying to grin. It wouldn’t come though.
“No way. I can’t cook as well as you and since we are in the penthouse with Grace downstairs, she can cook us dinner. Your text made me nervous and I wanted to give you my undivided attention. Did you learn a lot from your lesson with her?”
Amanda laughed. She needed to think of something else for a minute while she gathered her thoughts. “I did. I had a blast with Hunter’s cousin. She’s so funny and sweet and sarcastic at the same time. Did you order us steak? Are you still craving it?”
“I did. I hope that was okay. I know you like it. I can’t seem to get enough red meat but I’m limiting it to twice a week.”
“Anyway. I know you are trying to distract me and I appreciate it, but I guess I want to talk about this a little if you don’t mind.”
“Of course I don’t,” Kayla said. “I just didn’t want to push you. I know sometimes it’s nice to be with someone even if you don’t want to say what is on your mind. It’s not easy to open up. Trust me, I understand.”
“I know you do. I think that is why I connect with you. We don’t always have to say everything, but we get each other. Charlotte and I were just standing there on the street talking like two acquaintances rather than sisters. She asked if I still had the same number and I asked her the same.”
“Maybe she’ll call you.”
“I doubt it. She could have at any time and didn’t. I didn’t even tell her where I lived. She did volunteer that she managed a boutique in New Rochelle where she’d moved with her boyfriend Richard. I got a quick glimpse at him while we were waiting on the street. He looks a lot older than her, which surprised me.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. I guess when I think back maybe it makes sense. My father wasn’t around much and couldn’t be bothered with us half the time. She was the baby and maybe it affected her more than it did me.”
She’d long since given up hope of winning her father’s love. Her father wanted boys and he got two girls and pretty much wiped his hands of them most of the time.
They were raised by their mother who had rules and ideals in her mind. Nothing that Amanda wanted to adhere to, which was why they butted heads so much.
Did her mother love the fact that she’d been dating Randall? She loved it the way a crack addict felt when they saw their dealer each day with the pocket of cash they’d managed to steal for their next score.
But Randall’s family didn’t care for her. Her mother tried to get her to change her ways to win Randall’s parents over, but Amanda wanted no part of it.
She was who she was and thought Randall loved her for that person.
She found out wrong on a lot of fronts.
“So why do you think Charlotte might have regretted her behavior in the past?”
“When she was getting into Richard’s car she turned and wished me Merry Christmas and said she was sorry.”
“Sorry for what?” Kayla asked.
“I don’t know. I didn’t get to ask her. She shut the door and they drove away.”
“You could call her,” Kayla suggested.
“I could but I won’t. I guess it just upset me. It’s so close to the holidays and I’ve been alone for years. To just run into her there. I mean, what are the chances of that? And now of all times?”
“What are the chances of me falling in love with Hunter Bond?” Kayla asked. “We live on an island where fate seems to dictate a lot of lives whether we believe in it or not.”
“I was in Boston, not on the island,” she argued.
“But you’re dating a Bond. Maybe it’s bleeding over regardless of where you are.”
“Like osmosis?” she asked, letting out another much needed laugh.
�
��You never know,” Kayla said. “I’m finding anything is possible here.”
“I’m starting to think that myself.”
26
Special Treatment
“I don’t like that you will be by yourself tomorrow,” Drew said. “I want to spend some of the day with you.”
He felt like this was Groundhog Day all over again with her at Thanksgiving. He’d brought up Christmas more than once knowing she had no family around and she’d said she was spending it with Sidney again. That Bri went back home for the holidays and she didn’t want to leave Sidney alone.
“You can come over later if you want,” she said. They were on their way out to dinner. Sidney was working and he at least wanted to spend this time with her.
“Really?” he asked. He didn’t think it’d be this easy.
“Sure. Spend the time with your family like you normally do. I’ll do a brunch for Sidney and me and then we just hang out. She won’t get home until after midnight tonight. It’s amazing how many people go to a bar on Christmas Eve.
“People come here for the holidays and they want to go out and relax at night. Mostly to get away from the families, I’m sure.” Though he’d never felt the urge to do it that much. Even when his mother did annoy him trying to set him up.
“I’m always shocked how many people do, but Sidney says it’s packed.” They pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant she’d never been to before. There were hotels and bed and breakfasts, rental homes and such all over the island. This restaurant was midway between the north and the south end. “Just like this place is packed. Wow.”
“It just opened up in the spring. The food is fabulous.”
“Let me guess. You know the owner?” she asked. “A family member by chance.”
He laughed. “You have me there. But it’s a distant cousin. One from Patricia’s side.”
“So, what does that branch of the family do? Edward and James have real estate for the most part,” she said.
“Not all do but most. But they do tend to stick to tourism trades. Catherine’s side tends to run towards medical careers. There are a lot in that branch.”
“Oh yeah. Kayla’s obgyn is Ava Mills. She said that is Hunter’s cousin.”
“Yep. That’s one of many doctors. Of course Coy is a dentist and not in real estate or tourism. There is an odd one in every family,” he said, laughing.
“So he is the black sheep.”
“He’s the black sheep for a number of reasons,” he said. “I won’t bring up the crossdressing again. I get in trouble with my mother when I do.”
She shook her head with a grin. “What is this cousin’s name?” she asked when he opened the door for her.
“Duke Raymond. Hence the name of the restaurant Duke’s.”
“Is he the chef or just owns the restaurant?”
“Both,” he said. “So two chefs in the family.”
“I can’t thank you enough for my lesson with Grace. I’m still trying things. And she’s so sweet that she’s texted me a few times to say I can ask her any question I want.”
“She’s good that way. It doesn’t hurt that your best friend is marrying her first cousin. And boss,” he said, laughing. “But she’d do it for no other reason than she’s that type of person. She likes people to learn to cook. It’s her passion.”
“You can see it.”
“Drew Bond,” he said when the hostess waited on them.
“Right this way,” she said.
“Did you get pushed to the front because you are related or your name?”
“I had a reservation,” he said looking at her oddly.
“I just figured the other people waiting did too. Maybe not.”
“I don’t know. Just because my last name is Bond I don’t want special treatment. There are plenty on the island that think that, but it’s not true.”
“I’m sure there are a few of your relatives over the years who wanted or expected special treatment.”
“Definitely. That’s just human nature, but we try not to throw our weight around. It’s bad enough we are always watched and judged, I personally don’t want to give anyone ammunition for it any more than it is.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to insult you. I guess I’m just feeling a little down about the holidays.”
He had noticed that she wasn’t her normal cheerful self. “Why is that? Because you don’t see your family?”
“Yeah,” she said. “I know I don’t talk about them much and you are probably wondering what is going on.”
“Human nature,” he said again. He wanted to know more about her but hadn’t wanted to push too much.
“I know. The truth is I just couldn’t be or do what my parents wanted of me. I stood up for myself and they didn’t like it. My sister, Charlotte, was always afraid to get yelled at. Afraid of being cut off. We weren’t wealthy, but we weren’t hurting. Charlotte was spoiled by my mother and used to that life. I wasn’t and didn’t care.”
Some of it made sense, but he wasn’t sure why she was down when he’d known she hadn’t talked to her family in years. “That doesn’t surprise me with you. That you’d stand up for yourself. You are probably much happier than your sister is.”
“I think I am,” she said. “When I went to Boston earlier in the week I ran into her. Or she ran into me. I believe she noticed me and purposely bumped into me to get my attention rather than call my name.”
“Did she think you’d see her and ignore her if she called your name?” he asked.
“I don’t know what she thought or thinks.” She told him about the meeting and how it ended.
“Do you think she’ll call you? Will you call her?”
He couldn’t imagine being completely estranged from his entire family and had to wonder if there was more going on than Amanda was telling him.
“I don’t know. I’ve thought of it for days. I don’t even know what to say. She seemed sad and I want to know why. I hated the way we ended the conversation too.”
“That’s the mother in you,” he said.
“What?” she said looking shocked.
The waitress came over and took their drink orders and told them the specials. Once she left to get their drinks, Drew said, “You always say you are like a mother. The mom of the house. That was what I meant. What did you think I meant? Are you pregnant?”
Shit. Could she be? Is that why she was down? Was she nervous? Was he nervous? What the hell was going through his mind? And why the hell was she laughing at him? “What’s so funny?”
“I’m not pregnant,” she said, lowering her voice. “Why would you think that?”
“You looked so shocked when I said it’s the mother in you. I know Kayla’s pregnancy wasn’t planned. Things happen all the time. Nothing is foolproof. I guess it just popped into my head.”
She reached her hand over and laid it on his. “I’m not pregnant. Don’t worry about it.”
It was laugh or cry when Drew asked that question.
Yes, accidents happened. She knew first hand. And that accident and the damage done to her body during the birth was probably why she might never get pregnant again. Or if she did, she might never carry to term.
There had been no answers on why her daughter had died inside of her. Those things happen, she was told.
The odds were greater because of her age. Her hips were narrow. Her body was underdeveloped. So many things. The doctors all told her that she could try again when she was older but she could still have complications or problems. That she’d always have to be watched.
No one knew how much it hurt when motherhood was brought up around her and she tried to not let anyone know.
“Well, if you were, don’t be afraid to tell me,” he said.
“Where is this coming from? I’m not and if I did get pregnant I would definitely tell you. The father has a right to know too.”
“I don’t know what is going on. Maybe it’s the holidays and the family o
verload. I mean I know I want to get married and have kids someday and I’ve been thinking of it more with you.”
“Whoa.”
“I know. I’m moving fast and you are ready to get up and run. Let’s rewind a bit. I’m not looking at it right now. I’m just saying that I’ve dated a lot over the years. I’ve had some bad relationships and I’ve gotten burned pretty bad too. I’ve had to watch myself and my back more than I care to.”
None of this should be a shock to her yet she kind of thought it was. “I’m sure your family has to do that a lot in general.”
“We do. But that doesn’t mean we don’t try. Or at least I try. Though I’ve kind of stopped trying for years. Anyway, I’m making a huge mess out of this. What’s that old saying—if we could only turn back the hands of time. I’d go back about fifteen minutes at this point.”
“I get it, Drew. The holidays tend to bring back memories—good and bad—and it’s hard for a lot of people. Myself included. It’s early yet with us and I’m not looking for anything so don’t think that. But I’m not going to run either. Does that make sense?”
“Yes. And it’s making me feel a bit better too. I’m making a mess out of this whole thing. Don’t worry, there isn’t a diamond ring under the tree for you or anything like that.”
“Thank God,” she said. “Then I might run.”
She smiled at him but deep down she wasn’t sure what else to do. There was so much he didn’t know about her. More she didn’t know about him by the sounds of it. She wasn’t positive either of them was ready for it.
They changed the subject after that. It was almost as if he knew he might need to. Or maybe he wanted to. She wasn’t sure but was thankful just the same.
By the time they got back to her place, he came in with her but it was close to nine. “Do you need to get to bed early for Santa to come?” he asked her.
“I was thinking the same thing about you. Why don’t you stay for coffee if you want?”