by Petrova, Em
Ben raised an eyebrow. That was certainly a shock. “Really? My baby sister died from Leukemia when she was four.” Once he started talking to someone he knew could understand, it was easier to share his past and pain. Not only had he maybe found a new partner, but he might have found a friend in Patrick as well.
“I’m a twenty-year survivor,” he said proudly. “Don’t worry; my pale skin is just a part of who I am. I did have a scare two years ago though. I was getting ready to marry Autumn. I started getting nosebleeds, and my eyes were rimmed in red and bloodshot. I thought my life was crashing down around me just when I was happy.”
“But it was nothing, right?” Josselyn interjected.
“It was silly, really. I was clearing trees on my property, and it turns out I’m allergic to the sap. I caused a lot of fuss for nothing.”
“Okay, Patrick, I’m not a family practice physician, but I’m willing to give it my all. Let’s see how it goes.”
This drastic change in his career might work out after all. In his short time back in Unity, he had found a woman he loved, as well as the possibility of a new career. Was it possible his life was coming together and, like Patrick, he could find total happiness here in his sleepy little hometown?
***
Josselyn awoke early to a knock at the door. The Overnight Express truck delivering a package from Morgan’s sister Maribelle. She desperately hoped the correspondence was between Morgan and several doctors he had consulted regarding Meaghan’s medical condition.
Perhaps these letters would help Ben to understand how much Morgan really did love his little daughter. But before she showed him anything, she needed to read through the letters herself. There was no point in showing Ben a bunch of old letters if they had nothing to do with his sister.
Taking the box upstairs, Josselyn slipped it beneath the bed until she could examine the contents in private. Walking down the hallway to find Ben, she stopped in the doorway of Meaghan’s old bedroom when she heard him speaking on his cell phone. Preparing to go back downstairs to give him privacy, she heard a piece of the conversation and paused.
“I’m telling you, Kris, I’ve tried everything. I’ve reasoned with her, threatened her, bribed her, and even tried to kill her with kindness. Tell me what else I can do to get it back?”
Josselyn went cold. From the exasperation in Ben’s voice, she could only assume he was speaking with his attorney, and the subject matter was his problem in gaining ownership of the house.
Trembling, she leaned against the wall for support. Was it possible Ben had tricked her all along? The man who told her he loved her, and she had willing given over her heart and soul to? The thought was devastating.
The way he touched her and the look in his eyes when he made love to her, couldn’t be fake. Or was he so clever and devious he lured her into believing his love for her was real, while he plotted and planned with his attorney all along?
Still, she would not rush to confront him. Maybe it was all a tremendous misunderstanding, and she did not want to jeopardize their relationship if she was wrong. It would be torturous, but she would wait and watch him closely...for now.
Darting down the stairs, she busied herself with making coffee, and plastered a smile on her face when he appeared in the kitchen.
“Good morning,” she said with the brightest voice she could muster and poured him a cup of coffee.
“Hello, my lovely,” he replied, and kissed her softly on the mouth.
No, he can’t be playing me; he just can’t be.
“Joss, I have to drive into the city today, take care of some business at my office, and pick up a few things from my apartment.”
Was this a part of his plan? Was he actually going to see one of his high-flying lawyers?
“Oh, could I go with you? I’d love to see your office and apartment.”
“I wish you could come, my lovely, but it would be boring for you. I’ve got to meet with my partners and my attorney. It’s all business. Next time, okay?”
She squeezed her hand into a fist tight enough for her nails to pierce her palm. He didn’t want her along. Although he professed to love her, clearly he kept secret aspects of his life.
She strained to keep the quiver from her voice. “We have dinner this evening with Patrick and Autumn at their home.”
“I’ll be back,” he promised as he stroked her hair.
She wanted to recoil, but remained still and tolerated his touch, although at that very moment she wanted nothing more than to confront him about the conversation she overheard. Instead, she looked directly into his blue eyes and asked, “You do love me, Ben, don’t you?”
His blond brows drew together to form a frown. “Of course, I love you.” His tone was emphatic. “Why are you asking me that? Don’t you believe me?”
She shrugged her shoulders. How she wanted to believe him. “I just needed to be sure.”
“Well, be sure, because I do love you. Now, I need to get on the road so I can be back for our dinner with the Leighton’s.”
He pressed a kiss against her forehead, grabbed his keys from the hook above the kitchen counter, and swallowed the remainder of his coffee. “I’ll see you later.” When he got to the front door, he turned around and smiled. “It’s really great that you’re starting to make friends, Joss.”
Before she could comment, he was gone.
Chapter Ten
“You and I have a little matter to discuss.”
Ben sat back on his couch in the living room of his apartment, his cell phone against his ear, and waited for what feeble excuse his former fiancée would use today.
“What would that be, Ben?” Tracey asked in her most innocent little girl voice.
He rolled his eyes. It was going to be another one of those conversations. “You know very well what I’m talking about. It’s the matter of a twenty-thousand-dollar engagement ring I bought and paid for, but you still have not returned.”
“I don’t have it anymore. I lost it, or maybe it was stolen. I’m not really sure where it is.” She sounded even less convincing than usual.
“Did you call the insurance company? You did file a police report, didn’t you?” He already knew the answer.
“Well, no.” she said in a tiny voice.
Ben chuckled unpleasantly. No one misplaced a diamond ring worth twenty thousand dollars. She very well might have sold it, but she didn’t lose it.
“Regardless of what you did with the ring, you still owe me twenty-thousand cash. I’m tired of the runaround. You know the law—the engagement was broken, and legally you must return either the ring so I can sell it, or you need to give me the cash price. It’s your choice. I’ve given you ample time.”
He held the phone away from his ear while she yelled. “You just can’t expect me to come up with that kind of money! Besides, I earned that ring! You caused me nothing but hurt and humiliation! I had to cancel the engagement! I just had to! Besides, are you that hard up for money?”
She always reacted the same way when they spoke about the ring. First she would play innocent. When that didn’t work she would throw a little girl style tantrum. He counted his lucky stars he hadn’t married her.
When her voice settled into a whimper, he spoke firmly. “Well, Tracey, I’m in the city today. You have my cell number. If I don’t hear from you by three o’clock, which is when I’ll be meeting with my attorney, you can expect to be served with legal papers tomorrow morning. I suggest you contact an attorney of you own. I’m certain he or she can explain the law to you, and if we go to court, I will win. Not only will you have to pay for the ring, you will also have to pay my legal costs and court cost as well.”
The phone disconnected in his ear. He hadn’t wanted this issue to be taken to such extremes, but he also wasn’t going to watch twenty-thousand dollars of his hard earned money vanish either.
Twenty minutes later, his cell phone rang.
“Yes?” he asked.
“Ben,
I think we should get together and talk,” Tracey suggested.
He grit his teeth. Although he had hoped to avoid any face-to-face contact with his ex-fiancée, it might be the only way to regain his property. It didn’t matter what she said or did, he wasn’t changing his mind.
Checking his watch, he said, “I’ll meet you in an hour at Café March, and Tracey, please bring the ring.”
Damn. He wasn’t expecting this last minute complication. He was sure her request was nothing but a rouse to get him to back down from the lawsuit.
An hour later, as he sipped a cappuccino, Tracey breezed into the café wearing a very short, bright pink summer dress and towering high heels. Her blond hair was twisted into a fancy knot.
Although an extremely beautiful woman who turned the heads of men of all ages, Tracey had lost her appeal since coming to love Josselyn. Besides, he didn’t want someone in his life who wasn’t committed one hundred percent to their relationship.
He stood when she arrived at his table near the front window and accepted the kiss she placed on his cheek. After all, he wanted to remain friendly. Five-figures worth of money were on the line.
“It’s lovely to see you again. You’re looking well.” He waited for her to sit before taking his seat. He didn’t want to just come right out and blurt, ‘Give me my ring back.’
“It’s such a beautiful summer day, isn’t it? I love being a teacher and having my summer free.” She batted her mascara-laden eyelashes at him.
He averted his eyes, and checked his cell phone for messages.
“So, how have you been spending your summer, Ben? Working as usual?”
“No,” he said tersely and pushed his phone aside. “My father passed away last month. I’ve been staying out in Unity, refurbishing my childhood home.”
She slid her hand with its long pink and white lacquered nails across the white table cloth and wrapped it around his. “I’m so sorry, Ben. I never met your father, but I’m sure he was a wonderful man.”
He tensed. Her sincerity was as false as her fingernails. How could it be that such a short time ago he thought he loved this woman more than life, but now was repulsed by her touch?
Because she wasn’t Josselyn.
He slid his hand out from beneath hers and lifted his cappuccino to his lips.
Trying for pleasant conversation before the subject matter turned ugly, he asked, “How have you been?”
“Good, great, I guess. I miss you. This time apart has really made me realize what a good thing we had together.”
He definitely didn’t like where the conversation was going. When the times got rough, she bailed on him and never looked back. While it was possible she was being truthful, he suspected she was just looking for a way to keep the ring.
“Well, when you called off the engagement it really messed up my mind, but I’m finally happy again. I’m thinking of selling off my share in the hematology practice and staying on in Unity.”
“Is this a roundabout way of telling me you’ve met someone else?” she ventured.
Coming right out with the truth was better, even if it did ignite her wrath. Besides, he would in one way or another get the ring or its money equivalent. “I have met someone else. She’s someone I’ve come to care very deeply for. Someone who I believe I could marry and start a family with in the near future.”
“Isn’t that nice.” She smiled although her words were etched in acid.
“Life has to go on in one way or another. I’m sure since I’ve been out of the picture you’ve had your share of suitors.”
Her smile was genuine, and she coyly toyed with a spoon, her blue eyes sparkling. “Well, that is true.”
Before he brought up the subject of the ring, he decided to bring up another matter he was curious about. “Tracey, do you happen to know anything about a doctor named Patrick Leighton who tried to get in touch with me a few months back? My secretary knows nothing about it, and she is meticulous about my messages. I realize now he must have tried to contact me at home.”
“Oh, the Unity guy? I’m sure I told you he called. I knew you wouldn’t be interested.”
“No, you never told me Patrick called. It was very unprofessional of me not to return his calls, and now I know it wasn’t my fault. It also wasn’t right to assume I didn’t want to move back to Unity.”
“Well, I certainly wouldn’t have moved there,” she retorted.
There was no sense in prolonging their meeting much longer. “We really need to settle the issue of the engagement ring. Can’t we just handle it like two mature adults?”
“My dad thinks I should be entitled to keep the ring. He wants to speak with his lawyer before any final decisions are made.”
He really didn’t care what her dad thought about the situation. Reaching for his wallet, he extracted a business card and pushed it across the table. “Here is my lawyer’s card. Go home and talk to your father...his lawyer, whoever. I’m meeting with mine at three. Perhaps your lawyer would like to attend as well, and we can end this civilly. If not, you will be served tomorrow with court papers.”
He slid his chair back and tossed a few bills on the table. “I’m sorry it had to come to this, Tracey. I wish you nothing but the best.”
***
Josselyn looked again at the kitchen clock. Six forty-five. She and Ben were due for dinner at Patrick and Autumn Leighton’s home in fifteen minutes.
Where was Ben?
He promised he would be home. What if there had been an accident? The thought made her quiver. She picked up the telephone and dialed his cell phone. It immediately went to voice mail.
“Ben, it’s nearly six-fifty, and we’re expected for dinner at the Leighton’s in ten minutes. I’ll meet you there. Please call when you get this message. I love you.”
She disconnected the phone and tapped her fingernails on the table. Worrying was absurd, she told herself as she locked the new door behind her, and descended the new front steps of the house. Ben would call her soon or show up at the Leighton’s telling horror stories of traffic jams.
But he never called or arrived at Patrick and Autumn’s home. Josselyn made apologies for him, and said he had been held up in the city on business. Even without Ben, they enjoyed a lovely evening. Secretly, she envied the couple. They were not only totally in love with each other; they had a beautiful home and twins arriving soon.
Although she loved Ben, she couldn’t help but feel uncertain of his devotion to her. He professed to love her, but how could he when he couldn’t lift a telephone to let her know he wouldn’t be home in time for a commitment? Perhaps what they shared was the extent Ben was able to love. An unpleasant memory of the conversation she overheard earlier flashed through her mind. Immediately, she pushed it away. It was difficult to even consider she might have very well been duped by Ben.
When she arrived home, Ben’s Corvette wasn’t at the curb, and the house was dark.
In her bedroom, as she took off her jewelry and tossed it on the dresser. She was assailed by two different lines of thought, both equally bad. One thought was Ben had been injured or was ill and unable to call her. The second was he simply didn’t care enough.
Slipping out of her dress, she turned on the shower and stepped in, allowing the warm, bubbly water to wash over her.
When she stepped out of the shower and began to towel off, her cell phone rang. Ben! Finally. She hurried to answer the phone.
The voice on the other end of the phone wasn’t Ben. It was a female.
“Can I speak to Ben, please?” her voice purred.
Water dripped onto the carpet. “He isn’t in right now. As a matter of fact, this isn’t his cell phone; it’s mine,” Josselyn said stiffly.
“Well, this is Tracey. He left his cell phone when he was with me earlier. I just wanted him to know it was safe.”
Anger ignited within her. He was with his city woman while she made excuses for him at dinner. She kept her anger in check. She would not
let the woman have the satisfaction of knowing she upset her, most likely her intent all along. “I’ll be sure to let him know when I speak with him.”
Within a minute of disconnecting the phone, the house phone rang downstairs. Was this woman going to torment her all night long? Going down the stairs, she yanked the cord from the wall. She stomped back up the stairs and continued to seethe as she dried her hair. Afterward, she shut out the lights and climbed into bed. When Ben got home, he was going to have a lot of explaining to do.
***
Ben sighed deeply and hung up the telephone.
Where was Josselyn?
It was after midnight. Surely she wasn’t still at the Leighton’s house.
It had been one of the longest days he experienced in some time, starting with arriving at his office to collect paperwork and software to take back to Unity. The day turned into two uncomfortable encounters with his former fiancée, one including her father, and three meetings with four lawyers.
The hassle still wasn’t over.
His first two appointments went relatively smooth. The first meeting regarded the possibility of selling his share in his hematology practice. The lawyer was confident his partners would absorb his share.
The second appointment regarded the house. The probate lawyer had liaised with the Miami lawyer who prepared the will leaving Ben the house at Little Pine Road. The lawyer informed him his Aunt Maribelle gave a damning deposition. She had gone on about how he had not been in contact with his father for years. She insisted Morgan’s intention all along was for Josselyn to inherit the house. That Josselyn was more of a daughter to him than Ben had ever been as a son. The information stung, though it really didn’t matter. He told the lawyer to drop the claim for the house.
After he left the meeting, his cell phone was missing. He hoped he hadn’t lost the phone and had left it at his apartment.
The third meeting of the day gave him the biggest headache. In his lawyer’s conference room sat his former fiancée Tracey, her father Don, their lawyer, Ben’s lawyer, and himself.