by Cherrie Mack
His pace quickened as his thrusts became wildly savage. Allie’s control was all but lost as she flailed beneath his grip. His intense pounding pushed her over, and she cried out as the intense flow of endorphins flooded her body. Victor took her mouth as her body jolted from pure pleasure. With his tongue seeking hers, he came as he groaned into her mouth. It was a sound of ecstasy Allie had never heard before.
* * * *
Lying next to Victor, Allie felt safe. But the knowledge of their circumstance invaded her thoughts. There was no way to avoid the inevitable or the conversation she had to have with him. She curled into him, resting her head on his shoulder. “So, how does this work?”
She felt him breathe deep. Letting it out, he pressed his lips to her head. “All I know is I’m between worlds right now. I was given an assignment. You. I was told you needed to learn about yourself so you could be happy.”
“I don’t understand. You were sent to me to help me find happiness. And I’ve found it with you. Now you’ll leave? Where can I find you? How is this fair to us?”
“It isn’t. But happiness doesn’t always fall into your lap. You must pursue it by being true to yourself first. If you believe you are deserving of love, it will appear when you least expect it. No more feeding into the expectation of misery, you hear me? Otherwise, it’s misery you will achieve.”
“Tell me where you are and I will come to you.”
“I’m not sure where I am. I don’t even know what happened to me before all this. There are things I’m sketchy about. But I was told I—” He sat up. Resting his arms on his knees, he ran his fingers through his hair.
Allie sat up, holding the sheet to her bare skin. She ran her hand over his shoulder, “What? Please tell me the truth.”
“I won’t have a memory of this experience.” He looked over his shoulder at her. “Of you.”
His eyes showed the hurt she felt run through her. She touched his cheek, and he leaned into her touch. “So you won’t remember me at all? Any of it?”
Tears welled in her eyes as he shook his head no. “Allie, I do believe when we meet again, my heart will know yours.”
“What if we don’t meet again?”
“A love like this happens only once in a lifetime. I don’t believe we came together only to be torn apart.”
As her hand dropped away, she questioned him. “So you’ll be alive? Somewhere in the United States?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “I’m hoping so, now that you’ve found your happiness.”
“But without you I lose it.”
“No. I’m not your happiness, Allie. Another person can’t make you happy. You must make yourself happy.”
“But I’ll lose you. It’s just another tragedy in my life!”
He turned and grabbed her shoulders. Looking into her eyes, he scolded her. “Stop it. One of my favorite quotes is ‘Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength, and no matter what sort of difficulties, how painful an experience is, if we lose our hope, that is the real tragedy.’” She was silent. His hands ran down her back, caressing her. “What else have you learned from all this?”
“At first, I thought the lesson in all of this was how I fell in love with someone I least expected. Given the chance, you and I would have never even dated in the real world. I was too closed off to consider it. And deep down I think I knew I was falling for you the night you held me in your arms for the first time. What I wasn’t prepared for, and what I thought about all last night as I stared out the window, was my feelings for Adrienne. I remember a lot of times when she tried to get close to me and I wasn’t very nice to her. When you told me all those things about her past and the only father she ever knew rejecting her, I somehow understood her. She’s a lot like me, I suppose. I never would’ve seen it. And the offer to stay in the apartment? It was Trudy who jumped at the suggestion that I earn my keep until I took the boards. I remember how uncomfortable Adrienne was about it. It’s so clear to me now. Her anger toward me is based out of yet another rejection. I wonder if I were kinder to her, things would be different.”
“There’s only one way to find out.”
“So the way to my happiness is—”
“Forgiveness. Not only to receive it but to offer it as well. Once you accept the things you cannot change and never give up trying to achieve what your heart desires, happiness follows.”
“It sounds like such a cliché.”
“I learned from experience. I think.”
“So you think we’ll meet again?”
“Absolutely. I have hope because I know deep down,” he picked up her hand and placed it over his heart, “we are destined.”
“That’s beautiful, but I need some insurance. Where are you? Exactly.”
He laughed. “I don’t know. I want to say a hospital, but I’m really not sure.”
“What do you remember?”
“I don’t. All I know is you, Allie. You’ve been my constant and my reason to push through and hang on. I’m in love with you, and I prayed you’d love me too.”
“And I-I do love you. I’m just not ready to say good-bye.”
“We’ll never be ready, sugar. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to love you. You’ve helped me find my happiness too.”
“I know you will live. You will live because you changed me. You’ve made me a better woman, and for that I will never forget you.” Her tears did not stop her from kissing him. As he slowly pushed her down on the bed, she ran her hands up his back. His skin was smooth and silky to the touch, and she wanted nothing more than to hold on to this moment in time as long as she could. But somewhere in her subconscious, she knew when she slept, she would wake up alone.
Chapter 16
Allie woke up smiling. She felt loved, and she was finally content. The last twenty-four hours were the happiest she’d ever been. Reaching over to stroke Victor’s arm, she was unable to wait for his lips to find hers. Dreamily, she searched the bed for him as the birds could be heard rejoicing the arrival of a beautiful spring morning. As the grogginess of sleep lifted, Allie opened her eyes. She quickly sat straight up and looked around the empty room. Swallowing hard, she pulled the covers back and slowly blinked her eyes.
Her feet felt like lead as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. Held in the grip of fear, her lip trembled as she fought back the tears. She called out, “Victor, should I order breakfast?” She cleared her throat and grabbed the room service menu from where she left it the night before. With her voice shaking, she spoke aloud. “They have a really lovely fruit dish, and I heard the omelets are even better. What can I order for you? I know I’m getting tea for starters because I can’t do without my tea.” She listened for movement, silently praying an answer would come.
Pursing her lips, Allie closed her eyes tight and took a deep breath. When she opened them, she stood up on shaky legs and walked to the bathroom door. It was ajar. She knocked lightly at first. “Hey you? Did you hear me? Omelets or fruit tart?” When no answer came, Allie pushed the door open to the bathroom. The fear of finding it empty was realized.
Turning around, she searched the room. There was no clothing, no shoes. There was no evidence of Victor anywhere. Allie fell back against the wall, the same wall she leaned against when she professed her love to him, and slid down to the floor in a heap. Her dreams in ruins, her life in tatters, she was once again left alone to pick up the pieces of a shattered heart.
Allie crawled along the floor until she reached the bed. Pulling herself up with the help of the blankets, she reached for his pillow. Grabbing it, she clutched it in her arms. She pressed her face in its softness, smelling for his scent. How could such a beautiful morning so full of promise make her feel so desperately empty? Allie cradled Victor’s pillow in her arms and curled up in a fetal position on the floor of her room—their room—at the beautiful Plaza Hotel, and prayed for her happiness to return.
* * * *
Allie returned to the apartmen
t she shared with her stepsister, Adrienne. She was comfortable with that description now. Gregory was Adrienne’s biological father and her dad, so that made them stepsisters. She placed the key into the lock and glanced up toward the heavens because, lord knew, this would not be easy.
Once inside, Allie found Adrienne balled up on her expensive carpet, her eyes swollen and red from crying. Allie felt the guilt press on her heart. When all this began, she wanted nothing more than to hurt her. The discovery of Zach Brady’s motivation was too good to be true. But all that no longer mattered. It was different now. She was different.
Allie joined her stepsister in the living room. Adrienne sat up and hugged her knees when she saw Allie staring. She hid her face and spoke with her head turned away from her. “You must be so happy, huh?”
“No.”
“Go away Allie.”
“Not until I know you’re okay.”
Adrienne looked up, surprise lighting her eyes. “Why? So you can bask in my misery? You never cared before. Why now? When we first met, you wrote me off without missing a beat. I tried befriending you so many times, and you ignored me like I ruined your life. All I wanted was to have a sister, a friend who I could share everything with. I even got Gregory to call us stepsisters so you would be forced to get to know me better. But you treated me like shit from day one. And now you come sniffing around pretending to care because you think I got my heart stomped. Go away, Allie. You know nothing.” She cradled her head on her knees and looked away again.
Allie felt her knees buckle. She sat down on the couch. “Adrienne, I-I…”
“Forget it, Allie. I don’t want to bond now, okay?”
Allie nodded her head as she stared at Adrienne in disbelief. All this time she judged her without getting to know her. She judged the book by its cover and not its contents. More like judged the book by its mother but… Damn it! I’m a horrible person! Allie noticed pictures scattered on the carpet, photos of Adrienne as a child. She slid to the carpet and picked up the first one she saw. She held it up. “Where was this taken?”
Adrienne lifted her eyes and sniffled. “A petting zoo in Australia. It was my thirteenth birthday.”
Allie’s eyes widened. “No way! Let me guess, no friends? No birthday cake?”
“Nope. Mother took me on exotic trips as my birthday present. She said she wanted to fill me with culture. As for the cake? I received a low-fat cupcake every year. Mother wouldn’t stand for an obese child.”
Allie jumped up. “Hang on a minute.”
When she returned, Allie carried her hat box. She sat on the floor across from Adrienne and removed the top. She dug through and pulled out a photo. “Look.” She handed her a photograph.
Adrienne huffed and then took the photo from her hand. She met her eyes and smirked. “Where was this taken?”
“Our very own zoo in central park. It was my thirteenth birthday too. Notice anything in common?”
“Yeah. We both look miserable.”
“Exactly! Really? A petting zoo at thirteen years old? My hormones were raging. I wanted a party with boys, and my mother took me to the zoo?”
“And here I thought your mother was perfect.”
“I know now she wasn’t. But when she died, I put her up on a pedestal and never again thought of her as a real person with baggage and faults.”
“Well at least you didn’t grow up under Two-faced Trudy. That’s what my friends called her all through high school. She would talk about each one of them to the other. It infuriated me.”
“Why do you put up with her?”
“I was so close to telling her to shove it, but when I met you and saw how you missed your mother, I thought better of it.”
“I see. I guess a Two-faced Trudy is better than nothing.”
“You have great memories, though.”
“I do.”
They were silent for a while. Adrienne leaned over and reached into Allie’s hatbox. She pulled out the opened black box and held it up. “I’m not gonna pry, but if you tell me what was in this box, I swear on my life I won’t tell my mother. I’m dying to know.”
Allie looked at the box and tears swam in her eyes. As she put her hand on top of Adrienne’s, her voice cracked. “Gregory Chadwick gave me a very valuable gift. He gave me my future, only I think I just lost it.” The tears came as Adrienne clasped her other hand over Allie’s.
“Take a breath and then tell me what I can do to help.”
Allie raised her eyes to Adrienne as her tears rolled down her cheeks. “Help me? Oh, Adrienne, I’ve been a horrible stepsister, haven’t I?”
She smiled. “Well, you haven’t been easy, I’ll give you that. But I like you, Allie.” She reached for her other hand. “I always have.”
“Adrienne, I’m going to tell you a secret. Something I never thought I would tell anyone, much less you of all people. But for my new beginning, I need a friend, and I’d like you to be it.”
“Come on. Let’s go in the kitchen, and I’ll make you some tea, and you can tell me all about it.”
Chapter 17
Allie stood in front of a huge glass partition overlooking the Hudson River at Pier Twenty-One Café. Soon the booms and whistles would be an endless melody of bright flames lighting up the night sky. She was preparing to watch one of the most beautiful arrays of color add a yearly touch of flavor to New York City. The famous fireworks display was the only show able to enhance what was one of the most amazing skylines in the world. And she had a first class seat at Adrienne’s first July Fourth bash. The private party was small and exclusive. Dressed in a yellow, off-the-shoulder sundress, and gold, high-heeled sandals, Allie stood in a crowd and felt at home.
A smiling Adrienne, suntanned and gorgeous, wore a fitted black and white sleeveless mini dress with hot pink pumps. She approached Allie and handed her a frozen daiquiri and an envelope. Allie smiled and took a sip. “Yum. You’re right. This is worth every calorie.”
“Oh please, Allie, you look amazing. But if I know you, you’ll make us run an extra mile tomorrow for good measure.”
“What’s in the envelope?”
“Open it up.”
Allie rested her drink on the bar and narrowed her eyes at Adrienne. “You already took me to Canyon Ranch Spa for passing my boards. This better not be another one of your—” she put her fingers in the air and made the quotation sign, “—gifts.”
“Just open it, Allie.”
As Allie read the paperwork from Martin and Slotsky Esq., tears welled in her eyes.
Adrienne smiled. “It seems my father Gregory—your dad—didn’t want you to know until you were finished, but he pre-paid all your loans. You’re debt free. You really do have a new beginning.”
“Wow. But I didn’t need this to know how much he loved me.”
“He did love you. More than me, anyway.”
“Oh, Adrienne, he would be so proud of you and the things you’ve done in his name. The new and improved trauma center at the hospital for one thing. He would be so impressed.”
“Speaking of trauma units, I want to introduce you to Dr. Richard Peters.” She grabbed Allie by the elbow and whisked her across the room. Stopping just shy of a gray-haired man with glasses and a white goatee, she whispered, “Dr. Peters is a legend. He’s here consulting on our trauma unit, and since you’re toying with the idea of becoming a trauma surgeon, I thought you might like to meet him.”
“I thought he retired.”
“He did. But now he runs a big rehabilitation center in California somewhere.”
“How did you get him to come to your little soirée?”
“My handsome doctor boyfriend. Turns out he was one of his mentors.”
“Dr. Keith Curtis looks up to someone else other than you?”
“Can you believe the nerve?”
“I’m sure once he gave Trudy a clean bill of health and she moved to Scottsdale, he felt it was safe to worship you on a full time basis.”
&nb
sp; “This is true. Come, I’ll introduce you.”
Adrienne flipped her hair over her shoulder, “Dr. Peters? Pardon me. I just wanted to introduce you to my sister, Allie. She’s a nurse over at NYU and is helping out with the Chadwick Foundation trauma unit. She is thinking of pursuing a career as a trauma surgeon, so I thought you two should meet.”
He put his hand out to her. “A trauma surgeon is a noble choice, but you best have the stomach for it. I’m sorry—Allie is it?”
She took his hand, “Yes. Allie Adams.”
He furrowed his brow. “Allie Adams?”
Adrienne interrupted him, “We’re not blood-related, but we might as well be.” She giggled.
Dr. Peters still clutched her hand but no longer shook it. “Dr. Peters? Are you okay? I can assure you I’m not on the FBI’s most wanted list.”
He let go of her hand. “Of course. I’m sorry. It’s just that—”
Adrienne squealed, interrupting. “If you’ll excuse me for a moment? I see Michael Kemp.” She wiggled her eyebrows at Allie and looked at Dr. Peters. “Michael Kemp is a theatre critic, Dr. Peters. My sister and I have taken a great interest in the recent opening of a show on Broadway.”
Allie watched Adrienne make a bee line for Mr. Kemp. Smiling, she turned back to Dr. Peters, who was staring at her. “Is something wrong, Dr. Peters?”
“Miss Adams, I know this will sound strange but bear with me. I have a friend who, a few months back, consulted with me on a case. He had a patient who was brought into the trauma center at Los Angeles General. He was in a seven car pile-up on the interstate. After surgery, he lapsed into a coma. It was believed he would not survive, but he pulled through. Once he regained consciousness, he didn’t communicate at all, and the doctors were afraid he could no longer speak. Then one day he uttered two words. They were your name, Allie Adams.”
“Excuse me? Did I just hear you correctly?”
“Allie Adams. That’s what he said.”
She grabbed his forearm and took a deep breath as hope flared to life. After countless hours of praying, reaching out to hospitals and hundreds of dead ends, could this man be her salvation? She looked him square in the eye. “Would his name be Victor?”