And then, he wasn't.
She woke up one morning, started to dress, felt a sudden cramp and it was over.
The baby was gone.
Her heart, her body, were empty.
"I'm so sorry you lost the baby, Nat," Gage had said. Sorry. That was the best he could come up with, when her heart had been breaking. When his heart should have been breaking, too, but then, it was the baby she'd lost, not our baby.
'; Oh, how she'd hated him at that moment!
,'But she hadn't shown it. She'd thanked him, politely, for his concern, and watched him take up his life again as if nothing had happened. He never thought of or mentioned the baby again. It was as if she'd never carried their child inside her. And that was when she'd finally realized that he'd never wanted the baby at all.
A baby would have interfered with the life they'd led before she got pregnant. The travelling, the parties, the racing around the globe from one Baron resort to another. It would have ruined their perfect house, with its perfect furnishings, its perfect decorations.
Natalie closed her suitcase.
That life had gone on, but with subtle changes. For one thing, she'd stopped travelling with Gage. She was, she said, too busy.
And she was busy. She joined clubs, served on charity boards, played tennis until she hated the sight of the racquet and the net, but Gage didn't notice. Or, if he did, he didn't care. He didn't need her anymore.
It had been different, years ago. He used to hurry home to her, then, take her in his arms and swing her off her feet.
"I missed you," he'd say, and she'd believed it, because she missed him, too, even when they'd only been apart for the day.
Then he'd tasted success. And, so gradually that she hadn't realized it was happening until it was too late, his need for her had changed. She became a well-dressed, well-groomed trophy, the walking, talking proof of her husband's dream of achievement-a dream that had no room for children.
Now, it had no room for her.
Natalie rubbed the back of her hand over her eyes, then picked up her carry-on.
"Goodbye, Gage," she said to the empty room. This time, she was walking out of his life forever.
Unfortunately, escape wasn't quite that simple.
Abel, who'd managed the ranch for as long as anybody could remember, pulled off his hat, scratched his head, spat in the dirt and finally confirmed what she'd already figured out for herself.
"Ain't nothin' around but the tractors, Miz Natalie," he said. "Mr. Jonas's guests done commandeered purty near ever'thin' with wheels."
Trapped, Natalie thought as she made her way back to the house, trapped like an animal in a cage.
She trotted up the steps to the back porch, warily opened the door to the kitchen, and breathed a sigh of relief that it was empty. The yeasty aroma of fresh bread hung in the air, and a pot of coffee stood on the corner counter. Natalie poured some into a mug, went out the door again, and leaned her elbows on the porch railing. She could feel her anger giving way, turning into something else, something that made her feel weepy.
"Damn," she whispered, "damn, damn, damn!" "Is the coffee that bad?"
Natalie whirled around. Marta Baron had just stepped onto the porch. She had a cup in her hand and was smiling.
"No," Natalie said, and dredged up a smile in return. "I was just-I was-"
"No need to explain," Marta said. She stepped aside as another woman came out onto the porch. The woman was young and beautiful, with hair as black as the night. Her skirt seemed to be made of a thousand different colours, all of them complimented by a crimson jersey top. Tiny silver bells hung from her ears.
Marta smiled at Natalie. "I just didn't want Crista to think I'd been lying about what superb coffee Carmen makes."
"It's true. Carmen's coffee is wonderful." Natalie cleared Her throat. "I was just... I was thinking."
Marta nodded. "There seems to be a lot of that in the air today," she said, smiling. "For instance, I just found Crista doing the same thing in the library."
The woman with the silver bell earrings laughed. "Mrs. Baron's being kind. What she means is that I was muttering to myself”, “Birds of a feather," Natalie said, and offered a real smile.
She held out her hand. "Natalie Baron."
"Crista Landon," Crista said. "It's very nice to meet you."
Marta glanced at her watch. "Would you both excuse me?
I detoured to get some coffee for Crista and me, but I'm supposed to be rounding up Mr. Landon and Jonas's sons, and herding them into the library."
Natalie grinned. "I see you've picked up Texas lingo." Marta rolled her eyes. "When in Rome," she said, and the door swung shut after her.
"Well," Crista said. "Well," Natalie said.
They leaned their elbows on the porch railing and gazed out over Espada's rolling landscape.
Crista sighed. "How peaceful it is." Natalie nodded in agreement. "Yes, it is."
"It's one of the reasons I agreed to fly down with Grant.
My husband," Crista said, and touched the tip of her tongue to her lips. "I, ah, I thought, perhaps, it might be nice if we got away from things for a while, if we spent the weekend alone, without the children."
"Children ?"
"Uh-huh. We have twins." Crista smiled. "Two little girls."
"Oh, how nice."
"Yes, they're the joy of my life." Crista's smile dimmed.
"Still, I thought, if Grant and I just took a few days alone ... " "Yes?"
"Oh, I don't know. I guess I had some silly idea we might patch up our troubles..." Her gaze flew to Natalie and she blushed. "Sorry. I don't know why I said that. I mean, I'm not in the habit of dumping my problems on people, especially strangers."
"I guess there are times it can be a good idea." Natalie pushed a windblown strand of hair behind her ear. "Strangers aren't as judgmental as friends or relatives."
"My husband wouldn't agree. He'd say I'm too trusting." "Take it from me," Natalie said grimly, "being too trusting can be a big mistake."
Crista sighed. "I suppose you're right."
"I know I am. If I'd listened to my own advice, I wouldn't even be here."
"I don't follow that."
Natalie blew out a breath. "Let's put it this way," she said.
"At least you came here willingly."
Crista turned and stared at Natalie, her eyes widening.
"Didn't you?"
"My husband-I'm married to Gage Baron-my husband damn near kidnapped me."
"That sounds romantic."
"Believe me, it wasn't. He lied, said his father was dying ... well, he intimated it."
"Why on earth would he do that?"
"To get his own way." Natalie took a sip of coffee. "Gage would have said anything, just about then. He was angry as hell."
"Why?" Crista blushed again. "Oh, Natalie, I'm sorry. I don't mean to pry, it's just that-"
"That's all right. There's no need to keep it quiet any longer. Gage was angry because he saw that I was capable of making a life that doesn't centre on him."
Crista gave a deep sigh. "Sounds like my husband. 'Where have you been, Crista? Who were you with, Crista?' He's an attorney and I swear, sometimes I feel as if he's got me on the witness stand."
"Doesn't he trust you?"
"There was a time I'd have said he'd trust me with his life, but lately ... "
"Lately?' '
Crista shrugged. "We come from very different backgrounds. And I think Grant's afraid that I find our life dull."
"Do you?"
"No. Oh, no! I wouldn't change a thing about it. .. But that doesn't mean I don't want to kick up my heels once in while. And that upsets him. He can't see why I'd want to go down to the Village-Greenwich Village, in New York-touch basses with old friends, see what kind of jewellery is popular, now that I've closed my shop."
"Your shop?"
"Uh-huh. I used to have this little store where I made and sold my own designs. Silver, mostly,
though I've done some work in gold, too. Grant thought it took too much of my time ... " Crista laughed. "Just look at me, telling you the story of my life. What about you? Your husband owns a bunch of hotels, doesn't he? I'll bet you lead a glamorous life."
Natalie looked down into her coffee. "I left my husband," she said softly.
"Oh, Natalie ... "
"It's okay. I mean, it's not, but there was nothing else I could do once I realized that-that what we once had was over."
Crista put her hand over Natalie's. "I'm so sorry."
"Yes. I am, too. But there's no use denying the truth. Gage and I are finished. I don't understand the man he's become or the life he prefers. Perhaps, if we'd had a child ... " Silence fell between the women. After a while, Natalie cleared her throat. "So," she said briskly, "when do you and your husband fly back to New York?"
A shadow darkened Crista's eyes. "We were supposed to go back tomorrow."
"Supposed to?"
Crista nodded. "I'm not going back. I-I started to tell Grant this morning, but I think he knew what I was going to say. He walked out of the room before I could say it. The thing is, I need some time away from him, to think."
"But your daughters ... "
"I phoned home. Their nanny is going to fly down to Palm Beach with my babies, and -"
"Palm Beach? That's only an hour from where I live." "Great! Maybe we can get together."
"But what's in Palm Beach?"
"My uncle's house. Well, it used to be my uncle's, but he left it to me. I couldn't think of anyplace else to go. The house is old and far too big for me and the twins, but it's right on the beach. It's quiet, and there's plenty of room for me to spread out and work. I really love working with my hands. " She smiled. 'I never did make money at it, though, nothing much more than expenses. I'm the worst businesswoman imaginable."
"Well, I can't imagine being creative enough to draw a straight line." Natalie smiled. "On the other hand, I've got a good head for business. I'd never have known it, until I got involved in all these charity things, but it turns out I'm a natural· at organizing things and convincing people to buy stuff." She sighed, put her empty mug on a redwood table behind her, then tucked her hands into her pockets. "I just wish I had a quiet place to go to, the way you do. A place where I could think, and sort out my life."
"What's wrong with where you live?"
Natalie laughed. "If you could see my apartment, you wouldn't ask. Gage thinks it's a hovel and I'd sooner die than let him know I agree. The bathroom ceiling leaks, the guy upstairs marches around wearing what have to be army boots, and the roaches are so big I'm almost afraid to step on them."
Crista grinned. "Sounds like my old place down in the Village. Too bad you can't..." Her voice drifted to silence and then, suddenly, she swung towards Natalie. "Natalie? Are you really a good saleswoman?"·
Natalie grinned. "Ask the Have a Heart Fund. Or the Children's Centre. Or the Home for Animals. I raised zillions of bucks for-"
"The Home for Animals? You like animals, you mean?" "I love them." Natalie sighed. "We've never had any, though. I always wanted to, but we used to travel so much ... " I Crista grabbed Natalie's hands. "Come with me."
"Come with you?" Natalie said blankly. "Come with you, where?"
"To Palm Beach. Don't shake your head, not until you've heard me out."
'Crista, really-"
"The house is huge. You can have your own suite."
"Yes, but-"
"I know we've just met, but, I don't know, I feel a kinship.
Don't you feel it, too?"
Natalie bit her lip. "Yes. Yes, I do. But I have no money.
I couldn't possibly pay you for-"
"Nonsense! I don't need your money, I need your friendship." Crista smiled. "Besides, I have an ulterior motive."
"You do?"
"Sure. You can deal with the business end of the jewellery thing."
"I don't know a thing about jewellery," Natalie said, but she could feel the excitement beginning to build inside her.
"You don't have to." Crista rolled her eyes. "There are all these la-di-da shops on Worth Avenue. I just know they'd carry my stuff, if I could figure out how to approach them, but people who move in that world look at somebody like me and don't know what to make of her. You, on the other hand, could just sashay right through those doors."
Natalie laughed. "Have you taken a good look at me, Crista?"
"Uh-huh. The suit looks like you slept in it... but the cut says 'Paris label.' And you wear it as if you were born to it." Crista waved her hand. "I can tell, Natalie. You have the right look. And I'd just bet you have the drive. The voice. The chutzpah." She grinned. "That's New Yorkese for the absolute brass it takes to make a good salesperson. I'm telling you, you'd fit right in."
Natalie hesitated. "I don't know," she said slowly. "A move to Palm Beach is a big step."
"Why? You said you've left your husband. You said Palm Beach is just an hour from where you live now. You said you need a place where you can think, where you can try and get yourself together ... "
"We may feel some sort of kinship, but really, we don't even know each other."
Crista smiled. "What do you want to know? I told you, I have two daughters. You'll have to be prepared to have them drive you just a little bit crazy. They're at that stage where they love to babble, and get into all kinds of trouble."
"They sound wonderful"
"They are. Dh, and I have a cat, too." "A cat," Natalie said, and smiled.
"And a dog. The dog'll be under your feet and the cat'll probably want to spend most of the day in your lap."
Natalie's smile broadened. "Sounds like pure torture." "It is." Crista grinned. "So, what do you say? Is it a deal?"
"It's crazy," Natalie said, and laughed. "Absolutely crazy.
And you know what? I think I'm going to love it."
"Going to love what?" a gruff voice said.
The women swung around. Gage and Grant were standing in the open doorway.
"Going to love what?" Gage repeated, and scowled. Natalie's hand tightened on Crista's. "I'm giving up my apartment.'
Gage felt a joy so intense it almost stole his breath away.
"Babe," he said, and stepped forward. "Babe, that's wonderful. I knew you'd see reason, if you just-"
"I'm moving to Palm Beach."
"Palm ...?" He felt the blood draining from his face.
"What the hell are you talking about, Natalie?"
"Crista's asked me to move in with her."
Grant's handsome face went as white as Gage's. "Palm Beach? My wife asked you to ... Crista? What in hell is she talking about?"
"I tried to tell you this morning," Crista said softly. ''I'm not going back to New York, Grant. I've already spoken with Addie. She's flying down with the twins. With Annie and Sweetness, too. I need-"
"You need?" Grant's voice was ragged with tightly suppressed anger. "What about what I need, Crista? And I'll tell you right now, you are not taking my daughters from me."
"I would never do that. I'm not leaving you, Grant, I just need some time to think. And it'll be easier for everybody if the twins are with me."
"Easier for everybody," Grant said through his teeth. He swung towards Gage. "Is this easier for you, Baron? To be told that our wives are going to set up house without us?"
Gage stared at Natalie. Her cheeks were bright with colour, her chin tilted in defiance. She looked more beautiful than he had ever seen her, and more determined. He thought of last night, and how the heat of her had all but melted his bones, and a terrible sense of dread swept through his blood.
He moved forward, until they were a breath apart. "If you do this," he said softly, "it will really be all over."
Tears glittered in Natalie's eyes. "It was all over a long time ago."
Gage stepped back. She was right, and he knew it. And that was what hurt the most.
CHAPTER EIGHT
IT WAS going to be an
adventure.
At least, that was what Natalie told herself while she waited for Crista to pack her things.
An adventure. And an exciting one.
She'd gone from being daughter to wife without so much as a breath in between. These few weeks were the first time she'd lived on her own but what she was about to do now moving to a different city, plunging into a business she'd have to learn from the ground up--would really be burning her bridges behind her.
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