Inclusions

by Emily Duvall

  Chapter 6

  Traffic backed up the road before Melanie drove very far. The sunlight blinded her. The lack of water and food generated a headache, grumpy stomach, and leg cramps. Today hadn’t turned out at all as she’d anticipated, and although she should have been happy about Luke’s offer, she admitted to herself how much the entire situation wrapped around her head more than once. She knew Luke and she’d grown up with her brother. Both men could distort the truth, but the nagging thought at the back of her head persisted.

  Luke wouldn’t have offered you the position if he wasn’t certain Mark had the tourmalines.

  The wheel jerked under Melanie’s sudden movement and she veered to the exit immediately on her right. An overnight detour at a local hotel could buy her a little more time, not to mention she could have dinner and sleep. She could always leave in the morning and fight traffic on a full stomach and a night of rest. Plus, she wouldn’t have given Luke the gratification of agreeing to think over his offer. She would think about this on her own terms and in her own time. She flipped on her blinker and followed the winding road.

  The town of Tiburon is where she ended up for the night. The short drive from Luke’s house got her off the road for the evening. Tiburon stretched out across the high cliffs like a golden belt hilted with stunning homes and green landscape. A layer of thick fog crept in the distance as if rolling in a round of applause at her decision to stay put for the evening. The first hotel she spotted she pulled into the short driveway and found a parking lot full of BMWs, Mercedes, Range Rovers, and a Tesla. As a child, her parents hadn’t taken her to any of these quaint resort towns. They always did big touristy city stuff like ride the trolley and have packed lunches at Pier 39 with the sea lions barking and moaning.

  Melanie took her tote bag and entered the hotel. The small lobby consisted of a counter and concierge table with pamphlets on nearby attractions. Elevator music played from above and a couple dressed in formal evening wear walked by her and exited the lobby. The check-in process took no time at all and the clerk gladly took Melanie’s credit card. Melanie followed the brightly-lit hallway to the elevator where she got on and went up to her room on the third floor. She found her room in the middle of the hallway, swiped her key card, and went inside. The air conditioner spewed off at full blast and sent chills over Melanie’s skin. She walked over to the unit and turned it off at once.

  The curtains had been pulled back, which gave her a view of the restless gray waters and the creeping fog, surrounding a cliff. The spacious room and eye-catching view made her feel more alone than she had in a long time. One encounter with Luke and she felt like a whirlwind had knocked her upside the head. He could still affect her. He could still turn everything she’d worked for upside down. No matter what she told herself about being hungry or tired, she stood in this hotel room because of him.

  Turning away from the view, she plopped on the bed, succumbing to the layers of waves on the downy comforter. She lay down on her side, closed her eyes, and tried not to think about Luke. What a wasted effort. She thought about this job offer and the smugness on his face at making such an offer without even mentioning a salary. No, she couldn’t take the job. She had a job she liked very much. She lived a full life with her family and friends. Melanie flipped to the other side and punched her pillow. This wasn’t supposed to be how the day ended, with her heart stumbling over the sight of him and lying on a hotel bed actually considering his offer. Then, now, all the time in-between didn’t matter, it’s as if she’d been living in a glass world and he walked up and took a hammer to it.

  All angles needed to be considered, including the absurdity of the story about the stolen tourmalines, a breathtaking sight in pictures alone, although she’d never seen one in the flesh, let alone ten. Not many people did. The story he’d made up about her brother and the stones had to absolutely be false. She sat up, turned on the bedside light, and called Jessie. The screen on her phone indicated her mother had called twice.

  Avoid, avoid, avoid, she thought. They lived in the same house. Such a thing as too much togetherness existed. The woman who had birthed her could sniff out a lie an entire country away, let alone up the state. Her mother wouldn’t understand. Luke had been accurate on this account too, Melanie couldn’t lie. Her traitorous body gave her away in the form of a cracked voice, an averting gaze, or fidgety fingers, sometimes all three.

  Jessie picked up on the first ring.

  “I’m glad you answered,” Melanie said.

  “I’ve been keeping my phone close to me all day,” Jessie answered. “How’s everything going?”

  “I’m not sure.” Melanie dove into the events of the day, ending with, “He offered me a job.”

  “A job?”

  “I turned him down.”

  “Yet, you’re staying the night in the town next to his. You’re considering his offer, or at least entertaining the idea of listening to the full extent of his offer, aren’t you?”

  “I’m tired.”

  “Don’t take the offer.”

  “I’m leaving first thing in the morning. I won’t have to fight traffic tonight.” She paused and rubbed her temples. “What do you think about the other story Luke told me, the one about the tourmalines?”

  “I think he’s telling more lies. If these gems were so important, Luke wouldn’t have stored them at his apartment when he had a safe at his office. Mark has never mentioned this tourmaline, which sounds like poorly named vineyard, and Luke didn’t bring them up at the trial. He’s kind of late in placing blame if you ask me.”

  “I thought the same thing.”

  “Exactly.”

  Melanie’s eyes popped open. “Didn’t Mark have a key to Luke’s apartment? The defense attorney made that point very clear during the trial.”

  “That doesn’t make a difference now. Keep your focus on what matters. Don’t buy into Luke’s story. He spreads lies. He convinced an entire jury, of mostly females, might I add. Our brother is behind bars because Luke lied about being attacked by Mark. Our family’s been broken wide open and we’ve all struggled to redefine our family. Don’t let five minutes with Luke get to you. You are above him and we can help Mark without Luke’s help.”

  “I know.” A faint beep reached Melanie’s ears. She pulled the phone away from her ear and looked at the screen. “Mom’s trying to call. Does she know where I am?”

  “I told her you were doing some shopping in San Francisco and you’ll be back tomorrow. The end of the school year is on Monday, she’s too busy to nose around until then.” Jessie said something to someone in the background. “Carl just arrived. We’re going out to dinner.”

  “I’ll call you tomorrow, when I’m on my way home. I have to get something to eat and then I’m crashing.”

  Melanie remained seated on the bed after the call while the dark clouds outside shadowed the room. Luke, the mystery of the tourmalines—she knew a reasonable person, a stronger person, would be able to let this all go. She would too, if not for the troublesome whisper of her gut telling her to dig deeper, to look closer. Mark wouldn’t be able to talk tonight. She’d have to wait until the morning and put a message through or wait until he called her. They could dissect Luke’s lies in seconds. The answers would have to wait.

  A quick shower ate up some of her spare time. She changed her shirt, wishing she’d packed a little more, and dried her hair before leaving the hotel room. The walkway from the hotel led to the main part of town, a quaint street with charming boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants. The air smelled like mist and the wind served up a slice of evening chill.

  A bistro on the corner looked inviting with pretty potted annuals on either side of the brick storefront. A chain of small bells jingled as she opened the door and stepped inside to the cozy sitting area, so warm and painted in browns and red, she swore the room gave her a hug. The hushed atmosphere of candles on tabletops and mismatched chairs with tables appealed to her. Downbeat music without wor
ds played from speakers. Her feet scuffed on the hardwood as she approached the hostess.

  “Welcome,” the hostess said, handing Melanie a narrow green menu. “How many people are in your party?”

  “Just one,” Melanie said, taking the menu.

  “Sit where you like. We’re a bit slow this evening.” The hostess looked around the room, partially full of patrons eating their food. “Someone will be right with you.”

  She thanked the hostess and went towards a table in the back; her hunger amplified with each step. The table might become her dinner if she didn’t eat soon. Two steps towards her table and she stopped. Luke sat in the corner table, across from the table she’d been about to sit down and order dinner. Dressed in the kind of sport coat with an insignia on the breast pocket and a shirt collar so crisp, she could cut butter with it, Luke looked in his element at a cozy bistro in an exclusive neighborhood. Upon spotting her, Luke leaned back with the faintest grin on his uneven lips. The blonde woman seated across from him, turned to see what had robbed Luke of her attention.

  The decision to stay or go hung in the balance. Melanie raised her eyebrows back at Luke and made a choice. She’d rather go hungry than sit across from his table. Maybe he had decided to pull the job offer. This woman might be another coworker, or his girlfriend.

  Melanie turned around and walked back to the front door. “I’ve changed my mind,” Melanie commented to the hostess on her way out, handing the menu back to her. The bells jingled again on her way out of the bistro.

  She couldn’t get away from him. A stifling thought coupled with a loud protest from her stomach as she scanned the street for other dinner options. The coffee shop across the street made for a quick getaway. The pink neon sign blinked O-P-E-N and she crossed the street.

  The name of the restaurant she didn’t know. She opened the door and walked inside. The smell of baked goods and grease hung in the air. Instincts led her to the large glass counter full of displays of cakes, cookies, and near the back shelf, a buttery ham and cheese croissant. Along with a coffee, she paid for her dinner and found a table in the back. The coffee bar appeared to hold a different kind of clientele than the bistro she’d attempted to eat at a few minutes before. Luke wouldn’t follow her into a place like this, and, for the third time today, she had interrupted his private life. The table wobbled from one of the legs being too short and Melanie’s heart rate shot up. Such a silly aggravation to expect four legs to stay firmly planted on the floor. The table wasn’t the real problem. She brought the roll to her lips. The table dipped and straightened again. Melanie cursed.

  “I thought you’d be well on your way home by now,” said the familiar, baritone voice.

  The roll dropped out of her fingers at Luke’s presence. She responded without looking up at him. “Don’t leave your date waiting too long.”

  Luke ignored the comment. He removed his coat and casually swung it over the back of the chair. “Does this mean you’d like to hear more about the position?”

  “No.” The table dipped again.

  “I’d like to point out that you didn’t go home.” He flashed a questionable glance at the croissant and sat down. “Let me buy you dinner. We’ll have more of a formal interview if you like.”

  “I’m satisfied with my dinner.” She took a large bite out of the croissant to prove her point.

  His lips twisted into a cunning smile. “I made a few phone calls after you left my house.”

  “You know how to use a telephone. Good for you.” Buttery flakes stuck to her palm and she wiped her hands on a napkin.

  “You’ll be interested to know I was talking with Linda Meyers.”

  Melanie’s hand froze. Protectiveness bolted through her veins at the thought of anyone going behind her back. “You spoke with my boss? Why would you call her?”

  “I called her to find out more about you. Apparently, you’re in high demand. Your boss told me there’s a waiting list of clients who want you to work with their children and you’ve won prestigious awards for your work in the special needs community with children and their families. You’re a speech pathologist and you’re also trained in cognitive development. I must say, you should learn to brag more about your qualifications.”

  “My job isn’t some gemstone up to the highest bidder. How could you call my boss?” Melanie’s phone rang. She shook her head. Luke infuriated her. The sight of her boss calling her sent her into a panic. Melanie’s fingers accepted the call. Linda wouldn’t call and interrupt her vacation for any reason unless an emergency.

  “I’ll wait.” Luke leaned back in his chair; his face certain.

  “Hello, Linda,” Melanie answered grimly. “Is everything okay?”

  A minute later, everything wasn’t okay. The call ended. Melanie put her phone on the table and took a slow, calculated breath. She narrowed her eyes. “What did you do?”

  “I made a phone call. I already told you that I spoke with Linda.”

  “How do you justify what you’ve done? My God, I forgot how full of yourself you can be.” Melanie’s raised voice garnered a few glances from the people seated at the table next to them. “Linda let me go.”

  “You didn’t hear her then.” Luke scooted his chair forward, his gaze intent upon Melanie.

  She leaned forward. “This is my job and my life. You can’t mess with me. I’ll take you to court. I’ll sue you.” Melanie slammed her fist on the table. The coffee shot out of her cup and trickled down the sides. The response to blot the hot liquid, immediate and hastily, she rubbed her skin with the napkin. “What have you done?”

  “I moved my name up to the top of your waiting list.” Luke scooted his chair closer to Melanie’s. He spoke low and strong, the confidence of someone who had already won the battle.

  “Linda wouldn’t fire me.” Melanie blinked unbelievably. The fury in her eyes clouded her vision. She didn’t feel the tears until they dripped on the backs of her hands.

  “You haven’t been fired. Not exactly. Didn’t you listen to your boss? Think of this arrangement like a temporary loan. A new client came in and hired your services.”

  Melanie laughed. “Thanks for turning me into a prostitute.”

  Luke wasn’t laughing. “I secured your services for working with my daughter until the end of August. Linda will keep your job for you until then. You’re on sabbatical for all intents and purposes. There’s nothing left in your way to say no.”

  “You are so presumptuous. I have a family. I have my own life. I refuse to work for you.”

  “Why?”

  “We have a past. We have a complicated personal situation. You also went behind my back and recruited my boss to be on your side. I stayed the night because I didn’t want to drive home. For a very brief moment, I did think about giving your offer a fair chance. This,” Melanie said, making a small circle with her hand, “this is too much. You’ve trapped me into a corner.”

  “I’m making it easy for you to say yes.” Luke stood up and grabbed his coat.

  “You’re leaving because you’re not getting your way.”

  “It’s got to be two hundred degrees in this place. Come outside with me.”

  “I don’t want to go anywhere with you.”

  “Melanie, please.”

  She caught the same look in his eye she’d seen earlier, when they’d talked about Vivian while standing by the car. “Okay,” she said simply.

  They moved out of the coffee house and away from the probing gazes and whispered dialogue. The coffee, the wadded napkin, and the half-eaten roll remained on the table. Melanie let Luke go ahead while she collected her jacket and her bag, thus allowing herself a few extra seconds to think about what he’d done and consider her options, for once she stepped outside, she didn’t know what to do or what to say. The decision should be easy; the direction obvious and she couldn’t begin to know which way to go. Luke had reached the point where a phone call and his bank account could buy him whatever he wanted and she should
have been more careful. She should have known this about him the second she’d stepped onto his property.

  The street light flickered upon her stepping onto the sidewalk. Luke leaned against the street lamp with his hands in his pockets. Such a casual, sexy countenance and the very picture of a man on the verge of getting what he wanted. “All of our history aside. Give me one good reason why you won’t work for me.”

  “Because I despise you,” Melanie said to the sidewalk.

  Luke’s long finger lifted her chin and he forced her to meet his gaze. “This time say that to my face.”

  Melanie shrugged off his hand. “You have no concept of what my life has been like with Mark behind bars. Do you know what my family has gone through? I came here today to—”

  “You came to ask me to write a letter in support of Mark. A letter I will never hand over simply because you showed up and you asked. I make deals, Melanie, with the worst kind of people out there. I don’t give away anything for free just because you feel entitled. What you did today with Vivian is more than anyone’s done for her. I can see you care about her. You’re the only person who has bothered to confirm some things I’ve seen in her. You’re diligent and you have exceptionally high expectations for yourself and your job. Those were Linda’s exact words when I called her. I also knew that before she ever said any of it. I have to have you.”

  “I don’t see how we can work together.” Melanie felt herself weaken at the firmness of his voice and the determination in his eyes, he wore her down and she stood on the fragile line of confused and curious. Could she really walk away? Did she want to? The wind pushed for a fleeting moment carrying with it memories of the past and possibilities for the future. Although, what those possibilities were, she couldn’t say. The choice before her tempted her interest and she played her only card. “Drop the issue of finding the tourmalines. Accept they are gone and I’ll consider this position.”