His Love Match

by Shirley Hailstock

Teddy didn’t say anything. Diana knew neither of them could definitively say that Scott’s actions hadn’t been to achieve the goal of getting them to move.

  “Well, he’s won,” Diana said.

  “What do you mean?”

  She looked at Teddy. “I think we should move. I talked to an agent this morning and I have several places to look at in the next few days.”

  “I thought we were going to tough it out.”

  “That was before you got hurt,” she told Teddy. “I’m not giving up the offices.” Diana went on to explain her plan. “We can’t risk having one of our clients hurt, and we certainly can’t let it be one of us or the other consultants. Our only option is to move to better surroundings.”

  “And then what?”

  “I don’t know. I was thinking of separating the sales offices from the consulting side.”

  “I would hate that,” Teddy said.

  “Me, too,” Diana admitted. “We can talk about it later.”

  “Yeah,” Teddy said. “Right now, let’s go to a wedding.”

  Chapter 14

  Scott was camped on her doorstep when Diana got home from the wedding. She’d stayed longer than usual, telling herself she was enjoying it. But she really didn’t want to face an empty house. And then she’d had to take Teddy home. By the time she’d turned into her driveway it was two o’clock in the morning. Scott’s car was parked to one side of her two-car garage. She saw him as the van’s lights flashed over the porch.

  Groaning, she thought, Not now. She was not in the mood for a confrontation. She wondered how long he’d been there. Pressing the button to raise the garage door, she drove inside and closed the van’s door. Scott opened the door for her the moment she unlocked it.

  “I want to talk to you,” he said.

  “Well, I don’t want to talk to you. Now would you leave my garage?”

  “Not until I’ve said what I came to say. You’ve been avoiding me, not answering or returning my calls. My only alternative was to come here and wait.”

  “Sorry to inconvenience you.”

  “Don’t be sarcastic. It doesn’t fit you.”

  “Why not?” she countered. “Because the Diana you remember would just keep walking and never reply to the barbs you direct at me? Well, that Diana died. Now you have me to deal with.”

  Diana was going to have to talk to him sometime. They lived in the same city, so they would inevitably run into each other. She knew she might as well get this over with.

  Leaving everything in the van, she got out and went into the house. Her head hurt from all the loud music and dancing she’d done. She hadn’t had much to drink, but she’d had a couple of glasses of champagne. The garage door led into the mudroom, which led in turn to the kitchen. A light over the sink provided a small amount of illumination. She hit the switch that threw the kitchen into bright light. The sudden change hurt her eyes. Diana was sure stress had something to do with it, and with Scott on her heels, it was bound to get worse before it got better.

  “Would you like something to drink?” she offered, her manners holding from the amount of customer service training she’d had.

  “No,” he said.

  She opened the refrigerator and took out a bottle of water. She opened a nearby cabinet and grabbed a bottle of aspirin. Scott’s larger hand took it away from her.

  “Hey,” she said.

  “If this is because you have a headache, fine. If it’s because of stress or drinking, they won’t help.”

  Diana twisted the cap on the water bottle and took a long drink. Then she walked into the living room where another low-wattage light burned. She flopped down on the sofa.

  Scott came in and took the chair across from her, the same one he’d sat in when she’d woken up with her hangover a couple of weeks ago. It felt like a lifetime ago.

  Diana kicked her shoes off and her hair had begun to fall. Reaching up she pulled the pins holding it free. The masses tumbled about her shoulders. She stifled a yawn.

  “All right, what do you want to say?”

  * * *

  “I’m in love with you.”

  Scott didn’t know what reaction he would get, but having Diana stare at him as if she’d turned to stone was not one of them.

  “Say something,” he commanded.

  “What would you like me to say?”

  “‘I love you’ would be nice.”

  “It would,” she agreed, but did not return the phrase.

  This was going all wrong. Scott had imagined the conversation while he waited on the porch for her to return, but this was not meeting his expectations. He wanted to leave and stood up. Obviously, Diana was in no mood to listen to him or to even consider his declaration. He wouldn’t continue to wear his heart out where she could see it and do nothing about it.

  “I thought you felt the same way about me,” he said. “But I can see I was wrong.”

  Scott didn’t wait for her to say more. He took one last chance to reach her. He hauled her up from the sofa and into his arms. Squeezing her hard enough to stop her breathing, he found her mouth and captured it in a long, soul-searching kiss.

  Diana didn’t react in his arms. She didn’t resist him, but she didn’t participate, either. After a moment he released her and stepped back. Without a word, he left her, closing the door with a soft click. Yet he heard the echo of lost love reverberating behind him.

  * * *

  “You weren’t wrong,” Diana said very slowly after he was gone. “I love you. I’ve been in love with you since I fell into your arms that first day I walked onto campus.” But there was no one there to hear her.

  * * *

  Teddy returned to full-time work, and Diana had to admit she was glad to have the help. Handling the business totally alone was something she didn’t want to do again. The two could be away for vacations or the occasional emergency, but weeks of recovery had laid a heavy burden on her. Diana thought it was time to train some of the assistants to take over when needed.

  “You’ll never guess who called,” Teddy said, coming into Diana’s office.

  It was late in the day. Time for the two of them to sit and talk for a few minutes before leaving for the night.

  Diana turned around to see the Cheshire cat grin on her friend’s face. “You’re kidding.”

  Teddy head slowly moved side to side. Diana started to laugh. “How many is this? Three? Four?”

  “We are about to meet husband number four.”

  “Who’s the mark this time?” Diana asked.

  “Husband-to-be is Giles Marchand,” Teddy said.

  “Sounds English.” Diana’s eyebrows rose.

  “He is, and he owns a chain of department stores.”

  “Leave it to Jessica Halston-Wills-Commings-Olmstead to find an English lord as her next husband,” Diana said, using the last names of Jessica’s former husbands.

  “I didn’t know he was a lord.” Teddy took a seat in front of Diana’s desk.

  “Knowing Jessica, I’m surprised he isn’t a king.” Diana glanced at the bridal veil lying across the conference table in the corner of her office. “I suppose we’re to do our usual extravagant affair,” Diana said.

  Teddy nodded.

  “If she keeps this up, we can count on her to carry payroll and keep us afloat every two or three years.”

  “This time she wants an English Court wedding,” Teddy said. “She’s coming in tomorrow to begin the planning process.”

  “Are we going to England and using Westminster Abbey and all the ensuing grounds?” Diana teased.

  Teddy screwed up her face. “Only a little short of that. She wants it at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral.”

  Diana’s head came up quickly. “She’s not Catho
lic.”

  “Tell her that.”

  * * *

  Getting out of the SUV, Diana felt a little nonplussed. James didn’t immediately come to help her to the door. None of the other workmen came over, either. In fact, the site had only a few men working. She wondered what was going on. Collecting the things she needed to carry in, Diana could have used help today. She was loaded down with books, cases, samples, her briefcase and purse.

  Juggling it all, she used her hip to bump the door shut and click the key fob to lock it. Getting inside the door was another circus-style act. Once inside, she dropped her briefcase next to an open office door. Several people looked up at the noise.

  James came out. “Can I help you?” He picked up the briefcase and Diana got a look inside the room.

  “What is this?” she said, going inside. She put her huge packages on a chair and walked over to a glass-enclosed case. Inside was a mock-up of the complex. Immediately she recognized the building she worked in. If she had any problem identifying it, all she needed to do was read the label. Weddings by Diana was printed in block letters on the small roof of a building in the center of the complex.

  “This is the design of the area we’re building,” James said. “It’s going to be a medical complex for families of children with catastrophic conditions.”

  Diana’s eyes roamed over the small-scale model that took up the entire surface of a conference table.

  “Why is there a playground?”

  “Some of the families will live here.” He pointed to the housing area. There were semidetached houses and town homes. “Probably the families have other children. This is a place for them to play.”

  Diana went on to look over the mock-up.

  “The major changes have to do with the new hospital.” He pointed toward the completed building where they had taken Teddy after her accident. “This area is only a mile from the hospital. Families can visit their children and then have a safe place to come to.”

  James pointed out a day-care center, a nursery school, a health center and fitness facilities, even recreational areas for young adults and parents.

  Diana glanced over the entire complex. It was obvious her office building was not originally part of the model.

  She now realized Scott had bought this entire area to build up for families in need. Why hadn’t he explained that to her? Not that she would have listened or believed him at the time. She thought he was just being the same overgrown kid he was in college, and that he wanted her to move for no good reason. He’d never said he was building a medical facility and that his efforts would help families in need—or that her office stood in the way of his plans.

  “This has got to have cost a fortune,” Diana said. “These families won’t be able to afford to live here for extended periods.” This property was in Princeton. Land was extremely expensive.

  “There will be no charge,” James told her.

  Diana looked up at the big man. “No charge? How can that be? Especially if this is a viable business.”

  “I’m not sure of the full details of how that happens, but Mr. Thomas said it was partly family money and partly a perpetual trust that will keep it going.”

  Part family money, Diana thought. This meant Scott was backing it himself. A wave of love rushed through her. She’d been so wrong about him. He was trying to make the world a better place, and she looked like the ugly capitalist standing in his way.

  Well, she wouldn’t any longer. She’d talk to Teddy today, and they would figure out how long it would take for them to set up temporary offices in another place. The papers Scott’s lawyer had left with her were still upstairs in her office. She’d sign them and send them to him today. There would be some disruption until they were settled, but she was sure they could handle it if they worked together.

  “James, what are they putting in this building?” She pointed at the one with her company name on the roof.

  “We’re leaving that one alone except for the outside. It’ll be redone to look like the others, and there will be a private entrance and private parking lot.”

  “I see.” His words made her feel smaller. “What was the original plan for it?”

  “Doctor’s and dental offices. But Mr. Thomas changed it before construction began.”

  “Why?” Diana asked unconsciously. She didn’t realize she’d said it out loud. She knew why Scott had done it—to placate her.

  “Not sure,” James said. “But it’s providing jobs in this economy, upgrading the hospital to a first-class level and providing a valuable service to kids and parents in need.”

  “I didn’t know,” she whispered, but this time only she could hear it.

  Diana gathered her belongings. They felt even heavier than they had when she’d gotten them out of the van. “Thank you,” she told James and gave him a smile. He was a nice guy, and she could tell that he believed in what Scott was doing.

  She turned back. “James, do you have children?”

  He smiled. “Three. They are the light of my life and I’m thankful that all of them are healthy, but at any moment any family could need this facility.”

  Giving his big arm a squeeze, she said nothing, but let him know she understood.

  In her office several minutes later, she located the papers and glanced through them. The offer was very fair. She signed them and walked over to Teddy. After explaining what she’d seen downstairs, Teddy signed them, too.

  “Where do we go now?”

  “We started this in my great room. We could go back there until we find something more suitable. You and I could share that room, and if we remove the furniture in the dining room and the downstairs office, we can put the other consultants in there.”

  “What about the real estate agent?”

  “He had some promising space. None of it was as ideal as we have here, but we may have to give up some amenities for the sake of moving.”

  “Diana, this is a good thing. Don’t look like you’ve lost your best friend. We’ll survive.”

  Diana smiled at her, but her attitude didn’t change. “I know we will. And we’ll be better than before.”

  “That’s the spirit,” Teddy said. “Why don’t we celebrate? Go somewhere after work and forget the troubles of the day.”

  “What do we have to celebrate?”

  “Good citizenship. We’re giving up our space for needy children.”

  Diana felt a little better after Teddy said that. And even if it was later than it should have been, they were doing something good.

  “Are we?” Teddy asked after a moment.

  “Are we what?”

  “Are you concerned about unknown needy children or are you really interested in the man providing for them?”

  Diana wasn’t one to lie to herself or her friend. “I’m not sure,” she said, truthfully.

  “You’re having problems resolving what your mind tells you and what your heart wants?”

  Diana weighed her words for a moment. “He hurt you, Teddy,” Diana stated.

  “True. And it was serious, but I’m not holding a grudge.”

  “You think I should forgive and forget?”

  “I think you should follow your heart.”

  “My heart says run to him, but I’m not sure that’s the best course of action.”

  “You could be hurt.”

  She nodded.

  “Are you afraid to take the chance?” Teddy asked.

  Diana looked at her. In no way did she appear to have had an accident that could have claimed her life. And she appeared to be giving Diana permission to return to the man who caused her accident. Inadvertedly caused, she amended.

  “Diana,” Teddy spot softly. Diana looked at her. “Take the chance.”

  * * *<
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  The phone in Scott’s hand nearly fell to the floor. “What?” he said. It was past seven o’clock, but he and his lawyer worked late hours. Both were still in their offices. Scott had just returned from a flight and was in the process of filing out the necessary FTA paperwork.

  “It came by messenger early this afternoon,” the lawyer said. “I was in court and only went through the mail a few minutes ago.”

  “What were her conditions?”

  “She made none. The pages are as pristine as they were when we delivered them. She made no changes.”

  “And both women signed them?”

  “Both signatures are on it.”

  “Did she give a reason?” Scott asked.

  “Nothing. The envelope contained only the contract. Nothing else. Not a letter, not even a sticky note.”

  “I don’t understand,” Scott said. He was speaking more to himself than to his lawyer on the other end of the phone.

  “Don’t question it. You have what you wanted. Now you can go ahead with your original plan for the entire complex.”

  Scott agreed and rang off. He had what he wanted, but what about Diana? Where was she going? She’d held out on moving for so long, and now without a word of explanation the papers arrived. Something must have happened. Was it Teddy’s accident? Diana had refused to speak to him since Teddy had been hurt. He wondered where she was. He hadn’t seen her in days. She could do her franchise work from her home. If she needed to take a trip, Teddy or a limousine could take her to the airport without Scott knowing about it.

  But he wanted to know where she was. He wanted her close enough to touch, to hold, kiss and make violent love to. He wanted to wake up with her and go to sleep each night with her warm body folded into his. He’d never felt this way about anyone. Until the Match For Love service put them together, he’d have said there was no way she was the one. But he was thinking that not only was she the one, she was the only one.

  Picking up his cell phone, he dialed her number. He didn’t expect her to answer. She hadn’t answered any of his other calls. And he was rewarded with the same voice mail message. He’d stopped leaving messages days ago. His number would appear as a missed call, and she would know it was him. She would know he wanted to talk to her. He wanted to explain that he couldn’t live without her. He wanted to tell her he loved her, but that was something he couldn’t do over a phone. It required an in-person declaration.