When I’m With You (Indigo)

by LaConnie Taylor-Jones

  Caitlyn nodded when he said he was an only child, but shook her head and frowned at his last statement. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be rude, but how could you not have known you had a daughter?”

  “It’s a rather complicated story,” Ken softly replied.

  With a look of assurance, Marcel glanced over at Ken. “But it’s great you’ve located her, and the two of you will be reuniting soon, right?”

  Ken leaned and placed his cup on the table. “A little over thirty-nine years ago, I met a woman with whom I fell in love the moment I first laid eyes on her. I thought we could make a go of it, but unfortunately that didn’t happen.”

  “I’m sorry.” Caitlyn paused a moment and tried not to sound too nosy. “Did the two of you remain friends?”

  Ken shifted in his chair. “No, we didn’t. She left and relocated north.”

  Caitlyn was still baffled. “I see. And you never heard from her again?”

  “No,” Ken whispered.

  In a gentle tone, Caitlyn asked, “So, did she know she was pregnant with your child when she left?”

  Ken shook his head. “I doubt she knew when she left, but once she found out, she never told me.”

  A shocked expression spread across Caitlyn’s face. “And she never tried to contact you once she had the baby?”

  Ken released a long sigh filled with regret. “No. Now I know I should have tried harder to find her. It’s a mistake that will haunt me the rest of my life. Anyway, she relocated to New Jersey.”

  Caitlyn nodded.

  Ken stood and paced in front of the fireplace. “I would give anything to turn back the hands of time.”

  Caitlyn scooted to the edge of the couch. “So, you eventually did find out what happened to your daughter?”

  Ken looked first at Marcel, then at Caitlyn. “I found out she had to live in foster care after her mother died.”

  Caitlyn suddenly felt tears settling in her eyes, and she placed her hand over her heart at Ken’s statement, reflecting on her childhood. “I know what that’s like. I lived most of my life in foster care as well.”

  Ken’s gaze locked on Caitlyn’s face for what seemed like an eternity. “You have to believe me, sweetheart, when I say if I had known Della was pregnant with you, I would have moved heaven and hell to find you both.”

  Caitlyn’s hands flew to her face. “Oh my God, you’re my…”

  “Yes, baby, I’m your father.” Ken reached in his wallet, and with trembling hands handed a black-and-white photo of Della to Caitlyn, along with a copy of the DNA results.

  With her hands over her mouth, Caitlyn gasped. Tears ran down her face and she sat staring at the picture. She vaguely remembered her mother, but seeing the dated photo and realizing the striking resemblance between them sent waves of disbelief, joy and anger through her all at the same time.

  Ken squatted in front of Caitlyn. “Caitlyn, you have to believe me when I tell you that I loved your mother…”

  With her head hung, Caitlyn’s emotions were so fragile she was scared to say anything.

  “Baby, there’s something else we need to tell you,” Marcel uttered in a hoarse voice.

  Swiping at the tears that ran down her face, she faced Marcel. “What is it?”

  “Cole Mazzei is back in the picture.” Marcel’s heart ripped in two when he stared into Caitlyn’s terror-filled eyes glassed over with tears.

  “Oh, my God.” Caitlyn clamped her hand tightly over her mouth. She stood and walked to the other side of the room, then whirled to face him. “That’s what was wrong the other night, wasn’t it?”

  Marcel remained on the couch and lowered his head. “Yes.”

  “W-Why…why didn’t you tell me before now?”

  “Kitten, you have to believe me when I tell you I wanted to.” Marcel stood and walked across the room. He placed his hands on her shoulders. “From the moment everything started to unravel, I wanted to tell you.” He glanced back at Ken. “But I had to be sure that Ken was really your father. We wanted to tell you together and I didn’t get the DNA results until yesterday.”

  Ken came over and stood next to Caitlyn, rallying to Marcel’s defense. “Sweetheart, don’t blame him. He’s not at fault here.” His words had come out so fast, he had to stop and catch his breath. “Marcel has gone through just as much agony as you’re going through right now.”

  Marcel folded her in his embrace, resting her head on his chest. “Kitten, remember the night I offered to help you find your father?”

  “Yes.” Her voice was strangled.

  “Well, I asked Alex to try and locate your father. Baby, when Alex reported his findings to me, we discovered Pop had also hired an investigator to check into your background.”

  Stunned, Caitlyn could only stare with wide eyes.

  For the first time in his life, Marcel stumbled over his words. “Do you recall the night you came over to San Francisco to meet me for dinner?”

  “Y-Yes,” Caitlyn finally managed to say. “You introduced me to Alcee and Ken for the first time.”

  “Meeting you led to Pop hiring an investigator.” Marcel explained everything in detail about the past and how their two families were involved, leaving nothing out.

  “There’s something else,” he added. “I also asked Alex to investigate the bidding war for the dealership. He found out that Cole Mazzei is trying to get a position with Louis’s dealership.”

  “Oh God…” Caitlyn wrapped her arms around her waist and stared at the wall in front of her.

  “Baby,” Marcel took a deep breath, “I told Louis to hire him.”

  “You did what?” Caitlyn jumped away from Marcel so fast her feet tangled together. “H-How could you? You promised me that you wouldn’t try and find him.”

  Marcel rubbed at the tension in the base of his neck, “Kitten, I kept that promise. I didn’t go looking for him.”

  “Don’t play semantics with me, Marcel. I don’t know what will happen if Cole ever finds me.”

  “Kitten, trust me, he may find you, but nothing is going to happen to you. I promise you that.”

  She didn’t acknowledge Marcel’s promise and stared at him for a long time. “How can you be so sure?”

  Marcel grabbed her hand and walked them back to the couch. He sat and effortlessly lifted Caitlyn onto his lap. He told her every detail of the plan he’d come up with that would get Cole out of her life once and for all. “Kitten, this is a sure way for Cole to confess what he did to you.”

  Her eyes darted over at Ken who paced in front of the fireplace. “You told my father what he did?” Her voice was a cracked whisper.

  “Never that.” He squeezed her tight and whispered low enough so only she could hear. “That’s between me and you.”

  Caitlyn’s body trembled and she rose to her feet. “I-I need to be by myself right now.”

  “Trust me.” Marcel watched Caitlyn grab her purse and keys. “Kitten!” He heard the front door open. He shot across the room to go after her.

  “Caitlyn,” he shouted again as the door slammed shut. He opened the door to go after her, but the hand on his shoulder stilled his movements.

  Ken patted his shoulder. “Let her go, Marcel. We’ve put a lot on her today. Give her some time. I’m sure she’ll come around.”

  * * *

  Caitlyn sat on the edge of Vic’s bed, her arms wrapped tightly around her waist and rocked. Two days ago, she’d landed on Vic’s doorstep. Since then, she’d cried so hard and so long her eyes were beet red and almost swollen shut. She told herself not to shed another tear. The next thing she knew, she was pulling another tissue from the box as she wiped another wave streaming down the slopes of her cheeks.

  After leaving Marcel’s estate, she had driven through parts of Oakland she didn’t know existed, until her vision blurred. Her thoughts jumbled, and she couldn’t put a rational concept together if her life depended on it. The only thing of which she was confident was that she had to leave Oakland. But
just the thought tore her heart in two. When she’d had to run before, she hadn’t had a choice. It was either run to stay alive or end up physically abused or worse. Before she hadn’t been leaving a man who meant the world to her, but she’d leave Marcel and his family in a heartbeat if it meant they would be safe from Cole.

  Vic walked in with a cup of herbal tea and held it out to Caitlyn “Here. Come on now, drink this for me.”

  Caitlyn shook her head. “No thanks, Vic. I’m not thirsty.”

  Vic sighed, set the cup on the dresser and took her seat next to Caitlyn. “Sweetie, you’ve barely had anything to eat or drink for two days. You’re going to waste away to nothing.”

  Caitlyn managed a weak smile through her tears. “Well, you sure know how to cheer a friend up.”

  Vic smiled back. “Scoot over.” She wrapped her arms around Caitlyn’s shoulders. “When are you going to call him?”

  Caitlyn looked down at her lap. “I-I can’t call him.”

  “Why not?”

  Caitlyn dabbed at her eyes with a tissue and then softly blew her nose.

  “And just what do you plan to do?”

  Caitlyn shook her head and sighed. “The only thing I can do: leave and try to let Marcel get on with his life.”

  “What!” Vic was on her feet in an instant. “Caitlyn Renee, do you really think that man is going to let you go?”

  Caitlyn sniffed in response.

  “Caitlyn, Marcel loves your dirty drawers.”

  “I know.”

  “And his family loves you, too. You do know that, don’t you?”

  “I know.” She sniffed again. “Vic, I will not drag Marcel and his family into this mess with Cole. It’s better that I leave. If I were them, I certainly wouldn’t want to be bothered with me.”

  Vic chuckled.

  Caitlyn looked straight ahead at their reflection in the mirror atop the dresser. “What’s so funny?”

  “That crazy family of his loves and wants you as much as Marcel does. Hell, they’ve been running your center for the last two days.”

  Caitlyn turned and faced Vic. “Oh my God, the center. I’ve been so miserable the last couple of days, I totally forget about the center.”

  “Well, them Baptistes didn’t forget. All of ’em—and I mean every single last one of them—have been over there making sure things don’t go to hell in a hand basket.”

  Caitlyn’s mouth dropped open. “Really?”

  Vic nodded and sat back on the bed. “Yep. Even got me over there with them.”

  Caitlyn leaned over and placed her head on Vic’s shoulder. “Thank you.”

  Vic pushed aside a strand of hair. “I need more than some thanks after having to put up with A.J.’s chauvinist behind.”

  Caitlyn lifted her head and smiled. “Vic…”

  “Well, it’s the truth.”

  “He likes you, you know.”

  Vic grabbed Caitlyn’s right hand. “I don’t want to talk about that Baptiste right now. I want to talk about the one you need to call.”

  Caitlyn shook her head. “I can’t. You of all people know that I never wanted to burden anyone with my drama involving Cole.” She shook her head again. “I’m not going to call.”

  “Well, if you love Marcel, you’ll call him.”

  “No!”

  “Caitlyn, don’t let me have to hog-tie, gag and drag you to his house.”

  Caitlyn gave a half smile. “Vic, you wouldn’t do that.”

  “Humph, try me.”

  “Vic…”

  “Listen, I harbored you away once, and for damn good reasons, but if you think I’m going to let you leave Oakland and make the mistake of your life, you’re crazy.”

  Vic scooted up the bed and leaned over toward the nightstand. Picking up the phone, she held it out to Caitlyn. “Call him.”

  Caitlyn shook her head, refusing to take it.

  Vic rolled her eyes. “I swear to God, you are the most stubborn person I’ve ever loved.”

  Caitlyn watched as Vic walked out the bedroom mumbling something under her breath about calling in backup.

  * * *

  The next evening, Caitlyn and Vic sat on opposite ends of the couch watching a movie. Caitlyn looked up at the sound of the doorbell.

  Vic hurriedly hopped off the couch and headed to her bedroom. “Sweetie, get that for me. About time they got here with that pizza. I’m just going to grab some cash.”

  Caitlyn opened the door and looked straight into a pair of piercing eyes.

  “Mama Z, what—”

  “I come here to find out two thangs, understand?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Ya tired of running?”

  Tears welled in Caitlyn’s eyes. After family week, she’d really gotten to know Mama Z and finally confided in her how she’d been stalked and how she’d ended up in Oakland. She glanced up at the loving expression on Mama Z’s face and tears slipped down her cheeks. She was so very tired of always looking over her shoulder and wondering if Cole had somehow managed to find her. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Mama Z nodded. “That’s good. Ain’t gotta run no more ’cause ya gots a man who loves ya. That boy will protect ya or die trying.”

  “I know, but Mama Z—”

  “Hush.” Caitlyn lowered her head. ”Yes, ma’am.”

  “Ya love him?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Mama Z nodded. “That’s good. I’ma leave now. Charles gonna bring me back in one hour.”

  Caitlyn’s head jerked up and her eyes widened. “Who’s Charles, Mama Z?”

  Mama Z smiled. “My man. Expecting ya to be with yo man when I get back here. Understand?”

  Caitlyn nodded.

  “I didn’t hear ya. Speak louder.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Woman needs to be with her man. Man needs to with his woman. Besides, them there babies in ya gonna needs their father.”

  Caitlyn’s eyes flared. “Babies? What babies?”

  “The one’s you gots in ya right now.”

  “But Mama Z…I’m not pregnant.”

  Mama Z smiled. Without another word, she turned and hurried down the walkway toward the passenger side of her white BMW 525i held opened by a man Caitlyn assumed was Charles.

  * * *

  Forty-five minutes later, Caitlyn used her key and unlocked the front door at Marcel’s estate. She watched as he made his way down the stairs and walked to stand in front of her.

  Her chest heaved and her voice cracked. “I’m tired of running.”

  He reached out and folded her in his embrace, planting a kiss on the top of her head. “I know you are and I promise you won’t ever have to run again. I knew you needed some time and I didn’t want to rush you.” He pulled back and glanced down at Max and Kenji. “They’ve missed you, probably as much as I have, and they told me to tell you they want you to come home.”

  She smiled even though she cried. “Marcel, they can’t talk.”

  “Yes, they can. Tell her guys.” Both puppies barked on cue.

  “I’m so sorry for everything, you know—this whole mess with Cole.”

  He gazed at her with a loving expression. “There’s nothing for you to be sorry about.”

  “I’ve got a lot of baggage.”

  He shrugged. “And I’ve got a nutty family, so we’re even.”

  “Your plan…you really think we can pull it off?”

  Marcel’s eyes locked with Caitlyn’s. “Vous faire me fie?”

  “Oui!” Caitlyn responded without hesitation. She trusted him with her life.

  He nodded. “Good. But we need one more person to make the plan work.”

  With her arms still wrapped around his waist, she glanced up. “Who?”

  Marcel snatched his cell phone from his waist, punched in a number and listened to two rings. “Vic, I need to call in that marker.”

  Chapter 18

  “Louis.” Cole Mazzei sat in front of Louis’s desk and point
ed to the picture of Caitlyn positioned on the edge. “Uh…the lady in this picture. Do you know her?”

  Louis had hired Cole as his vice president of sales development the day after his meeting with Marcel. It was now a couple of weeks later, and Louis was flipping through the pages of a strategy proposal Cole had submitted. Louis placed it to the side and lifted his head from the pages he hadn’t even bothered to read. “Yes. She’s the daughter of a close family friend.”

  Cole nodded. “I see.”

  “Good job, Mazzei. I’m impressed with your proposal.” Walking toward the window in his office, Louis turned his back to Cole and formed a wry smile. “If you’re interested, perhaps I could introduce you to Caitlyn.”

  “Yeah, I’d like to meet her. Does she live in the area?”

  Louis’s back was still to Cole. “No. She lives in California now…Oakland. She decided to move out there to be close to one of her friends.”

  “Her friend. Do you know the name?”

  “Let’s see now.” Louis paused as if he were trying to recall the name. “Oh yes, Victoria. But I believe Caitlyn calls her Vic.”

  With a crafty smile, Cole nodded.

  Louis walked back to his desk and stood behind it. “Tell you what. Since you did such an outstanding job on this proposal, perhaps I could arrange for you to take my corporate jet out to California this weekend to meet her. I could give her a call and let her know—”

  “Uh…no. This…uh…weekend is not good. Besides, you know women don’t like men to just pop up on them. If you have her contact information, I’ll give her a call and try to set something up.” He shrugged. “Never know where things might lead.”

  You stupid bastard. “You’re right,” Louis agreed. “You never know.” He picked up his Palm Pilot and touched the stylus to the screen. “Hmm. I’m not sure if this is Caitlyn’s number or Vic’s. He shrugged. “Shouldn’t matter, though. I’m sure you’ll be able to reach Caitlyn regardless.” He went on to recite the telephone number to Cole.

  Cole jotted the number on a piece of paper and tucked it in his shirt pocket. “Thanks.” He turned and walked out the office.

  Louis trembled as he picked up the phone, punched in a number and waited.