The Attraction of Adeline

by Lisa Wells

  “Jack, I’m sorry if I did or said anything that led you on or made you believe we could be something more than temporary.” Tears rolled down her face.

  “Good-bye, Adie. Take care.” And just like that, Jack Foster walked out of the door, holding Rembrandt under one arm and his hat under the other, and her heart trotted out the door behind him, flipping her off right before the door shut.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  “I love you, baby girl. I like that young man of yours, too. We had a nice chat. Come see me. We need to talk.”

  Adeline woke up from the dream. She glanced at the clock. Six a.m. She’d cried herself to sleep after Jack left. Woke up long enough to order a sandwich and take a shower, then went back to bed and slept for fourteen hours.

  She grabbed her phone to see if she’d missed any calls or texts.

  None.

  Was her dream just a dream, or could it really be Dottie talking to her? Did Jack go by and see her? Of course he hasn’t. Why would he?

  At six forty-five a.m. Adeline walked into Dottie’s hospital room. Alice noticed her right away.

  “You look a lot better,” she whispered, standing up and stretching. “I’m going to go grab some breakfast.”

  Adeline nodded and watched her leave, then quietly sat in the recliner. She didn’t want to wake Dottie.

  “Addie, is that you?” Dottie said.

  Oh God. She was awake. She was talking. Adeline sat up straight. Fear gripped her. What would Dottie say? This may be the last thing she ever said to her. Should she pretend not to be there? Not to give her a chance to hate her one last time?

  “It’s me,” Adeline said. She walked over to the bed so Dottie could see her. She waited to see what memory Dottie would be stuck on.

  Dottie smiled at her. “It’s good to see you, girl. You haven’t been around in a while.”

  Addie bit her lip. “I see you every Saturday. Bring you freshly baked bread and homemade soup.”

  Dottie’s eyes clouded. “You have? I must have forgotten. Sit, tell me what’s new in your life.”

  Adeline had an urge to sing a celebratory church hymn. “My biggest new thing? Well, I’m going to go to Paris to attend Le Cordon Bleu.”

  Dottie gave her a feeble smile. “You don’t say? That’s the best news I’ve heard in a long time. I’m so proud of you.”

  A tear fell on Adeline’s cheek. “You are? Really?” She wiped the tear away.

  “Of course I’m proud of you. You’re living your life to the fullest. Chasing your dreams. Having fun.”

  “I’m also keeping my promise to you. You need to get better so I can come back and teach you everything I learn.”

  Dottie’s smiled faltered. “Honey, that was a lovely promise you made. But I knew when you made it, I probably wasn’t going to be around to see it fulfilled.”

  “But you were so happy with it.”

  “I was happy because you wanted to make me happy. The promised way of making me happy didn’t matter. Because I knew I wouldn’t be around to see it happen. All that mattered was the intent of the promise.”

  Adeline hugged herself. “What do you mean, you knew you wouldn’t be around?”

  “My momma died at a young age from early onset dementia and Alzheimer’s. I knew I was genetically destined to follow in her footsteps. That’s why I didn’t have my own children. I didn’t want to doom them to the same type of future. That’s why you were such a joy in my life. I had the joy of raising a child without sentencing them to an early death. When I got you, all of my old dreams ceased to matter. You were my new dream. A dream I’d been afraid to have until I got you.”

  Adeline had never been called someone’s dream before. The impact left her reeling. “Why didn’t you tell me about your genetics?”

  “Because then you would have worried. I didn’t want you to worry. The only thing I’ve ever wanted for you is happiness.”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you, too, child. Now tell me about this man of yours that came to see me.”

  Adeline gasped. “Jack? He came to see you?”

  “He did. We didn’t speak. But I listened to what he had to say.”

  Adeline leaned in. “What did he say?”

  “That he loves you, and he wanted me to know that he would be here for you when I’m gone. Even though you don’t love him in return, he said he’d always make sure to keep an eye on you.”

  “He said that to you?”

  “So, honey, why don’t you love him?”

  Adeline licked her bottom lip. The truth was complicated.

  “It doesn’t have to be complicated,” Dottie said.

  Adeline’s eyes widened. “Did you read my mind?”

  Dottie shrugged. “I seem to be able to do that today.”

  “I don’t have time for love. I have promises to keep.”

  “No, you don’t. I relieve you of your promises to me.”

  “Still, I’m not the right girl for him. He needs someone that plays golf with the wives of other partners. He needs a wife that is happy to stay at home and dote on him. He needs a wife who wants to be involved in charities. I’m not any of those things.”

  “No child, it’s more than that. I believe you’re afraid to give him your heart.”

  “Can you blame me? My mom gave her heart to a man and chose that man over me. If that’s the kind of things love makes you do, I don’t want any part of it.”

  “Honey, your momma didn’t choose a man over you. She chose to let you go because she knew she didn’t have it in her to be a good momma to you, and she loved you enough to let you go.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “How I know doesn’t matter. Only that I do know.”

  “None of that changes the fact I’m not good enough for him.”

  “Bullshit. You stop this feeling sorry for yourself. I didn’t raise you to feel sorry for yourself. Any man will be damn lucky to have you as his wife.”

  Adeline blinked. Had she been feeling sorry for herself? Is that why she pushed him away? Old insecurities. “I do love him. He makes me laugh, and he laughs at himself, and he’s not afraid to change his mind.”

  “Don’t tell me, go find him and tell him.”

  “It can wait. I’m going to stay here and hang out with you.”

  “Get out of here. I’m not going to die while you’re gone. Go get your man and bring him back.”

  Adeline grinned. “Okay, Mom.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Adeline gathered her courage as she waited for the elevator to let her off on the fourteenth floor of the Carpenter Building. Jack’s office building. After much consideration, while showering and changing, she decided she didn’t want to wait until Jack was off work.

  The elevator dinged, and the door slid open. She stepped out of the elevator and directly into the waiting room.

  “May I help you?” said a lovely woman behind a beautiful wooden desk.

  Adeline took a deep breath. “I’d like to… I’m here to see Jack Foster,” she added as much assertiveness to her voice as she could muster.

  “Well, well, well, look who the cat dragged in,” said a mocking voice behind her.

  Adeline groaned. Of course Debbie would just happen to walk by at the same time she asked to see Jack. Adeline pasted on a smile and turned. “Good morning, Debbie. You’re looking quite average today.” She’d meant to say lovely, but average came out. And why in the hell wasn’t she still at the retreat? Did she insist on coming back with Jack to hold his hand? In hopes of being his rebound woman? Again.

  Debbie gave her a thorough, high eyebrow look. “Too bad I can’t say the same for you. Your breeding is showing.”

  Adeline’s hands fisted, but she didn’t throw a punch. After all, she’d thrown the first insult. If you can’t take them, you shouldn’t give them. Playground-bully-rule number three.

  Debbie glanced at the receptionist. “Cindy, I just left Jack’s office. He an
d Mr. Carpenter are on a conference call, so please don’t disturb them.” With that unhelpful demand, Debbie swept past Adeline and down a long hall where she disappeared.

  Cindy gave Adeline an apologetic look. “I’m sorry. I can’t disturb Mr. Foster.”

  “Cindy, I’m sure there’s been a point in your life that you’ve fallen in love, or maybe you’re in love now.”

  Cindy sighed in a dreamy manner. “His name is Brad.”

  “Jack is my Brad. And I messed things up with him really badly. Could you at least buzz him, and if he answers, tell him I’m here?”

  “I guess I could try. He’ll have his phone set to voicemail if he doesn’t want to talk.” Cindy picked up the phone and pushed a button. She smiled at Adeline. “Mr. Foster, there’s a young woman here who would like to meet with you.”

  Adeline waited.

  “Her name?”

  “Adeline Rigby,” Adeline whispered.

  “Adeline Rigby,” Cindy said. Her smile faltered, and she turned her chair so that Adeline couldn’t see her face. “Yes, sir.”

  “What? What did he say?”

  “He said now’s not a good time, and perhaps he could meet you for coffee at a later date.” Cindy stood. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to go run some copies.” She picked up a stack of papers, scooted by Adeline, and out of the conference area.

  Adeline walked to the elevators and punched the down arrow. “Meet later for coffee?” What in the hell did that mean? Like in a year? In a couple of minutes? When?

  The elevator doors slid open. Adeline absently stepped inside. Rode the elevator down to the bottom. I mean, what the fuck? What guy says, let’s meet for coffee when the last time you talked you told him you didn’t love him. She paced the confines of the elevator. He doesn’t even know why I came by. The doors slid open. Adeline had one foot out of the elevator when she found her second breath of courage.

  She stepped back in the elevator and pushed fourteen. She wasn’t going to leave. She’d wait in the reception area until he was free to talk. She’d face the embarrassment of everyone walking by knowing she was there waiting to beg Jack for a second chance. The bell dinged and the elevator came to a stop.

  Adeline closed her eyes and counted to five. And then to ten. And then to fifteen. The doors whispered closed. Whoops. The scent of a familiar cologne wafted under her nose.

  She bit down on her tongue. Were her senses deceiving her? Wishful thinking on her part? She slowly opened her eyes.

  “Bonjour, Adie,” Jack said, standing in front of her looking fierce and handsome and disheveled. Especially his hat. It looked like someone had punched it or ran over it with a semi. Jack pushed the stop button. The elevator stopped moving.

  She swallowed. “Where are you going?” Did he have a meeting? Was he leaving town? Who did that to his fedora?

  “To find you.”

  On the surface that sounded like a great answer. Except the way he said it didn’t make it sound like a good thing. “You were coming after me?”

  His fierce expression didn’t change. “Why are you here, Adie?”

  She took a deep breath. Jack Foster had found his walls, and they were up and protecting his heart. If she wanted to knock them down, she was going to have to do a full-body slam against them. “Jack Foster, Je t’aime,” she said softly.

  His shoulder’s slumped like a man who’d been holding himself stiff while waiting for a hit and then relieved and surprised when the hit didn’t hurt. “You love me?” She could tell by the way he said it he was afraid he’d misunderstood.

  She gave him a tentative smile. “I have been in love with you for quite some time.”

  He gripped the rails of the elevator as if keeping himself from pulling her into his arms. “Go on.”

  “I know it’s not proper to come to your job and announce it this way, but I thought everyone you work with should know that I am truly in love with the man they call Jack Foster.” She paused but he didn’t say anything, so she continued. “They should know that I agree with all of their secret opinions that I’ll make a horrible partner’s wife.”

  He ran a hand down his bearded cheek. “You really love me?” There were dark circles under his eyes. And his tie was crooked.

  She resisted an urge to fling herself into his arms and kiss all of his sadness away. “Of course, I love you.”

  His body stiffened and he frowned. “You can’t say of course. Of course implies I knew you loved me. I didn’t. I hoped. But you never said those words freely. Only when my people were listening. In fact, what you did tell me, in private, was that you don’t love me. That you never loved me.”

  The pain in his voice sliced at her, leaving her feeling like she had a million paper cuts to the heart. “I know. I’m sorry. I was wrong to throw those words at you. But I didn’t think we could work. I wanted to kill your love. For your sake. I thought the kindest thing I could do was give you your heart back.”

  He took his tie off and stuck it in his inside jacket pocket. “What changed your mind?”

  “My heart.” Adeline licked her lips. “Did I kill your love, or are you still willing to compromise?”

  “What did you have in mind?” he asked, unbuttoning the top two buttons of his shirt.

  “I want to open a bakery. That’s my dream. But your dream of having a wife who doesn’t work is just as important as my dream.”

  He shook his head. “You’re the most important dream I have. I’d gladly give up all of my other dreams for you.”

  Gawd—that was a perfect answer. Why couldn’t she come up with perfect answers? “I don’t want you to give up your dreams for me. If you’d be okay with a wife that works part-time, I could start a bakery that only opens when the owner gets a whim and decides to open it. When you’re open one or two days a week, and you’re good, people will flock to you on the days you’re open. I would never miss any of our children’s events.”

  He pinched the bridge of his nose. “You would do that for me?”

  “I would because I love you. I’m choosing love.”

  He gave her a look of adoration. “Thank you,” he said huskily. “I choose love, too.”

  “You perfect, perfect man,” she said, a tear rolling down her cheek.

  He wiped the tear away. “I’m far from perfect.”

  “The fact you picked me over your job is just one of the ways you have proven yourself to be perfect.”

  “Of course, I picked you. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me. You’re the dream I dream when I’m awake; when I can pick any dream I want. And you’re also the dream I dream when I’m asleep and my soul picks any dream for me.”

  She sniffed back more tears, not wanting to ugly cry during the most beautiful moment of her life. “I’ve never been someone’s dream.”

  He hugged her. “You’re my dream come true.”

  She pulled away enough to stare into his beautiful brown eyes. “Would it be really corny if I said you’re my everything?” She leaned forward and placed her lips against his in a gentle, loving kiss.

  He didn’t deepen the kiss. Instead, he pulled back. “Are you still going to Paris? I’ll wait on you.”

  “I’ve decided to put it on hold for a year or two. Dottie relieved me from my promise to go on her behalf. And right now doesn’t seem like the right time for me to go.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t want to be the person you gave up your dreams for. I don’t want to be that guy.”

  She gave him a trembling smile. “Before you came along, I only had one dream. Now I have new dreams. Better dreams. Paris will be there when I’m ready.”

  “In that case, I have an idea I’d like to share with you. Actually it’s Mrs. C’s idea. She shared it with me after she called and chewed my ass for letting you get on a plane without me at the retreat and telling me to get myself to the runway and take the chartered plane home.”

  “What was her idea?”

  “She knows a guy who used t
o teach at Le Cordon Bleu. He’s a retired chef. She met him on the charity circuit. According to her, he’s the go-to chef for most big events in this area as well as many other big cities. She claims she can arrange for you to work with him and learn from him if you’re interested.”

  Adeline grabbed his face in her hands and stared directly into his sexy brown eyes. “That’s a fabulous idea.”

  He placed a warm kiss on her mouth. “Are you sure? It would mean you’d be working the charity-circuit as well.”

  She was reeling. Everything was turning out better than she could have hoped for. “When I think of charity work, I think of begging. Begging for money. Begging for time. Begging for love. I’ve spent my whole life begging for those things. I can’t do begging anymore. But I can do the behind the scenes kind of charity work you’ve just described. Especially, if it means working with a famous chef.”

  “Tell me you love me,” he implored.

  “I love you, Jack Foster.”

  “Tell me again.”

  “I love you.”

  “Again.”

  “I love you.”

  “A—”

  “Stop. Before I’m willing to say it again, tell me why Debbie is back from the retreat? Please tell me she’s not back because you once again turned to her as your rebound woman.” Just saying the words hurt. Asking the question hurt. She was all kinds of bad for doubting this beautiful man who was standing in front of her. But if he did, she couldn’t blame him. She wouldn’t blame him. She’d blame herself.

  He laughed. “You silly woman. You’re the only woman who can fix my heart when it’s broken. The thought of turning to someone else to try and dull the pain I feel when I think I’ve lost you is revolting.”

  “Oh. Good. I’m sorry I asked.”

  “Never be afraid to ask me any question. I’ll always tell you the truth.”

  “And the same goes for you. I’ll always tell you the truth. So why is Debbie back from the retreat?”

  “Everyone’s back. A tropical storm sent everyone home early.”

  “Jack, there’s just one more thing I need to say before you can thoroughly kiss me and start the elevator back up,” she said, running her hands through his hair.