by C. J. Harte
Teri almost smiled. There was no way Mia could figure her out. She was still confused about the kiss.
“In that case, I know what we’ll do,” Mia said. “You’ve had those jeans on for at least two days, and I bet they’ll soon stand by themselves.” The bewilderment on Teri’s face was worth it. Mia snapped a picture before the expression changed.
“What was that about?” Teri asked. “I wasn’t ready.”
“The look on your face. You couldn’t have posed for that. Come on. Let’s get you a few more clothes designed for relaxing.”
“I have relaxing clothes.” Teri was adamant even as she was opening the car door for Mia.
“Taking off your heels and jacket do not count,” Mia shot back as she closed the door. She could see Teri mumbling something as she walked around the car but only heard the words “smart ass” as Teri climbed into the car.
“I can’t believe we’re going shopping again. Thought we were going to look at the lighthouse.”
“We are. We have lots of time.” Mia bit her lip to keep from laughing. Teri’s expression revealed so many emotions, especially the frustration with not being in control of the situation.
“I can’t believe I’m going shopping again.”
This time Mia could hear the mumbling.
“I haven’t been inside a fucking clothing store in five years, now twice in three days. Can’t believe it.”
Much to her surprise, Teri ended up buying a pair of jeans and two pairs of corduroys, a blue pair and a green pair. She also ended up buying a green fleece jacket and a blue, green, and white plaid cotton shirt.
“Excellent choices, madam,” Mia teased her. “And they’re all interchangeable.”
“Oh, yes. The plaid shirt will go well with my gray pinstriped bespoke suit.”
“We could have green pinstriped bespoke suit made with a lovely royal blue scarf.”
Teri’s eyes were wide. “Never! I have my standards.”
Mia laughed out loud. “You must have been an actor in another life.”
“I’m an actor in this life.” This time her words were somber. “I’m just following the script.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Teri’s expression changed. The brief light in her eyes disappeared. “I’ll leave theatrics to others, my brother included.”
Mia was surprised. There may be more to Teri than the image she presents. “Why do you think Jeremy is dramatic? I think he’s a grounded person.”
“If by grounded you mean emotional, I agree with you.” Teri seemed to be squirming. “I looked at the lighthouse tours. That could take two to four hours. Why don’t we just go to the museum?”
Teri shut down the conversation as quickly as she shut her door. She also seemed to turn down an activity she suggested that might take a block of time. Was she a total workaholic? Mia was intrigued. The more she learned about Teri, the more she wanted to know. Yet she knew that was a double-edged sword. The brief kiss on Cadillac Mountain hinted at emotion underneath her well-honed veneer of indifference, yet the conversation following it reinforced the sharpness of wit and tongue. And the emotionally empty persona. Her comments about being an actor in her own life were spoken with irritation. Interesting? Confusing!
“On to the museum, then?” Teri offered. “I can’t wait to see the Conestoga wagons and pogo sticks.”
“I’ll be surprised to see either of those. Is that how you got around when you were a kid?” Mia wanted the teasing Teri back.
“Ha, ha. I want you to know that I had my own personal pony to take me to school.”
“And people think you don’t have a sense of humor.”
“People don’t think I have a sense of humor? What people?”
Mia saw the muscles in Teri’s jaw tighten. She regretted her comments. Obviously, there were some things that got through her reserve. “Teri, this is not worth worrying about.”
“Are you trying to handle me?” There was an edge to Teri’s voice.
“No. It’s just…I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said what I did. I didn’t mean anything.”
“Did you make it up or did someone say that?”
“I didn’t make it up!”
“If you didn’t make it up, then tell me what was said.”
“It’s not that important.”
“I’m the one to judge whether or not it’s important. Were you one of those people?”
“No!” Mia felt anger and embarrassment simmering underneath. “I know all too well how mean some people can be.”
Teri pulled the car up near the museum and turned off the engine. She turned in her seat and glared at Mia.
*
Teri looked down at her hands and rubbed at an imagined spot. Was Mia hiding information? “I need to know who they were.” Disloyalty was anathema to Teri, and she would deal quickly with those who were. She would not have anyone working that close to her who was not completely loyal.
Mia squirmed in her seat. “Teri, that was a long time ago. I bet most of those people aren’t with the company now. Besides, I feel uncomfortable with this conversation.”
“Then why bring it up?”
“If I had known how you would react, I wouldn’t have said anything.”
“But you did and now I want to know.”
“What difference does it make now?”
“It does and I want to know. Now, are you going to tell me or not?”
“No.”
Teri pulled the keys out of the ignition and got out of the car. She had no power to force Mia to give her the information. She walked quickly into the museum, uncaring whether she was being followed. Why the fuck should I give a damn? It was years ago.
The answer was simple. Teri’s need for complete control. How the hell did she not know? She walked around the museum, oblivious to anything she was looking at until she realized she had walked around the same area several times.
Teri looked around and didn’t see Mia. Where the hell is she? Why the hell did I let those comments bother me?
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Mia leaned against a tree and stared at the sky. White cotton clouds floated by, and she tried to imagine faces with constantly changing expressions. She kept seeing, instead, Teri’s angry countenance. Well, I now know she has a limited sense of humor, demands you answer a question she asks but doesn’t have to answer yours, and her moods are all over the place. She needs some drugs.
She watched Teri walk out of the building.
“You keep disappearing.” It was an accusation.
“No, Teri, you sped out of the car and were in the museum before I was even out of the car. I walked around and you certainly didn’t give any indication you wanted to be interrupted. When I was done I came out here to wait.”
“Are you always determined to prove me wrong?”
“No, you can do that quite well yourself.” How the hell does this keep falling apart? Play nice. Remember? Just a little while longer and you will never see her again.
Teri opened the car door for her and then drove silently back to the house.
Dinner was quiet. Mia filled her plate and ate on the front porch. She didn’t care what Teri thought. How many years had she driven herself crazy with unhealthy relationships? How many times had she mourned the destruction of her first love and blamed her life’s problems on that event and those feelings? How much longer was she going to continue down that path? She was done. She deserved better. Natalie deserved better. Mia put her plate down next to her, her appetite gone. She put her feet up on the seat of her chair and hid her face. Tears poured out until Mia finally felt empty.
*
Teri sat alone at the table, calmly eating. She was damned if she was going to let Mia’s temper tantrum affect her. She had too much work to do, and Mia was just a temporary distraction. When she finished eating, she went into her office. By two in the morning, she gave up. She had dealt with a number of issues, answered e-mails and voice mail messages, and reviewed sev
eral reports. Normally, she could give details of everything she had done. Tonight, however, she had read two reports twice.
Damn that woman. She didn’t understand Mia, but she missed talking to her. Perhaps I overreacted. Mia shouldn’t have to report on anyone who works for me. She would get a couple of hours sleep and then get up and make phone calls. Later, when Mia was up, she would make it up and make sure they had a good day.
*
At nine, Teri went into the breakfast room. The table was set for one. She looked for the housekeeper.
“Has Ms. Daniels had breakfast?”
“Yes, ma’am. She was grabbing something to eat when I arrived. Then she left for the airport around seven.”
“The airport? Did she say where she was going?”
“No, ma’am, just that it was time to be going. I thought you knew. I’m sorry. I should have asked.”
“No, that’s fine. Don’t worry.”
Teri went upstairs and Mia’s room was empty. Except for the blue dress she left hanging in the closet. Teri had put it there the day after she had arrived. Next to it was the blue shirt. Once again, Mia had turned down her gifts. And now she was gone. “Damn that woman!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Mia sat in the Jeep staring out at the surface of the water. The wind had picked up and the waves were bouncing up and down, much the way she had been the last few days. She had intentionally missed the first flight and now saw the next one approaching. She stared out at one of the boats. In spite of the churning, it moved through the water smoothly.
She had learned how to navigate the emotional storms her life, and her work, sometimes put her in. Now she was running away from the one personal tempest that had dogged her.
“Isn’t this what you always wanted? Isn’t it time to move forward?”
If Mia were honest, she had hoped she would run into Teri during this visit so that she could let go of that frightened, shamed teenaged past. True, that teen was fading, but it was still a specter that hung by a thread and insinuated itself into her dreams, memories and activities at unexpected times.
“Well, are you going to let Teri Stanton chase you away or are you going to leave on your own terms?” Mia turned the Jeep around. She would face, and erase, her ghosts.
*
The trip back didn’t seem to take as long as the trip to the airport. It didn’t matter. She had been gone for nearly three hours. Mia parked the Jeep in the garage and left the keys hanging from the visor. She grabbed her bags and walked toward the back door. What was it she had said to Jeremy? I’ll gird my loins and grit my teeth.
The housekeeper was preparing lunch when Mia walked in. “I thought you would already be on a plane somewhere. You didn’t have car trouble, did you?”
“No. I came back to face my trouble.”
Mrs. Davis gave Mia a look of confusion and then shrugged. “Young people today,” she muttered. “You staying for a while?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll be here for another two or three days. I’m just going to put my stuff back in my room, if that’s okay?”
“Go right ahead. Lunch is not for an hour.”
Mia dragged her two suitcases and shoulder bag to the bottom of the stairs and took a deep breath.
“I’ll take those.” Teri walked up from behind and picked up the two suitcases.
Mia stiffened. Take a deep breath and relax. “Thank you.” She marched up the stairs, head held high.
“I heard the Jeep coming up the driveway.”
Mia reached the top of the stairs and turned toward her room.
“Mrs. Davis said you left.”
Once again, Teri was talking around the subject but not asking any questions. Mia stopped and threw her shoulder bag on the bed. The blue dress and blue shirt were still hanging in the closet. When she turned around, Teri was less than a foot away.
“What do you want to know, Teri?” She grabbed one and then the other suitcase and placed them on the floor.
“Lot of clothes for a few days.”
Mia had already decided she would be pleasant, but she was not volunteering any information. “What do you want to know?” The rules were changing.
Teri was transfixed. Her breathing was shallow. She put her hands in her jeans pockets. “I want….”
“What?” Mia asked. “What do you want?”
“I would like to ask you what your plans are. Are you planning on staying or going?” Mia doubted that was what Teri wanted to say.
Now it was Mia’s turn to carefully scrutinize Teri. She looks nervous. What the hell is going on?
“My plans were to visit until Friday. I have a reservation to fly out Friday morning. Until then, I plan on staying here until Thursday at the latest. Then I’ll be in New York until some documents I need are ready. Anything else you want to know?”
“You forgot the dress and shirt.” Teri pointed at the closet.
“You bought those, so I left them.”
“But I really wanted you to have them. I can’t wear them. They’re yours.” Teri’s voice was soft, tentative. Very un-Teri-like.
“Thank you, Teri. That’s very nice of you, but I can afford my own clothes.” Mia needed to put physical space between them. She turned and moved around to the side of the luggage chair.
Before Mia could grab the handle, Teri had lifted the bag onto the chair. Their hands briefly touched. “I don’t doubt that, but they were made for you. That’s why I bought them. Where do you want the other one?” Teri picked up the second bag.
Teri was too close. Mia could smell her musk perfume. She could feel the heat of Teri’s body radiating against her back. She felt her own heartbeat speed up, and her throat was dry. “In the closet.” She could barely speak. “I won’t need it this week.”
Teri put the case in the closet. “And what’s inside that you don’t need now?”
Mia finally sat on the bed. “Teri, I have some questions for you and I don’t want more questions. I want answers.” She waited for Teri to sit in one of the chairs in the room. “First, and this is a yes or no, do you want me here?”
“Yes,” Teri answered without hesitation.
The answer was a surprise, but Mia continued. “Would you rather be at work than be here?”
Teri hesitated, but she didn’t look away. “I’ve enjoyed most of this week, but I’m involved in a major merger. I need to make sure nothing goes wrong.”
“What does that mean? Do you need to go back to New York?”
“It means I’m trying to balance my work with my commitment to you.”
“I’m perfectly content to spend the rest of my visit alone. I again release you from any commitment or obligation you may feel. Please go do you work. It’s obvious how important it is. I have no expectations of you.”
*
No matter how much she tried, Teri couldn’t detect anything but sincerity in Mia’s words. The temptation was strong to accept Mia’s offer to go back to the city, but there was also an underlying battle for her to stay. No one had ever made such an effort to get away from her. It was almost a challenge. Even more, she was disappointed that Mia didn’t want her to stay.
“My work is important, but I also want to be here.”
“Why?” There was no way for Mia to hide her surprise or question. Teri grinned. For once, Mia was on unsteady ground.
“Is it that hard to imagine that I want to be here with you?”
“Yes!” Mia looked surprised at her own answer. “Sorry.”
“Am I that impossible to be around?”
“You are formidable.”
“Any other questions?” Teri shook her head, wondering what was coming next.
“Why are you wearing jeans today?”
“Don’t I look good in them?” Teri stood and turned around.
“That was a question.”
Teri moved over to the bed and sat beside Mia. “I was hoping we had something planned for today and I wanted to be ready.” Her voic
e was soft, almost intimate. She brushed Mia’s hair back. “I thought we might walk along the river and take a picnic basket. I wanted to make up for my previous behavior.” And convince you that I am worth the effort.
Mia finally looked at Teri. “You’ve been waiting for me since whatever god-awful hour you got up?”
“Yes.”
Teri watched Mia walk away from her. It was both a physical and emotional separation. Recognition of that was novel to her. Her whole adult life was spent gathering what she wanted, at least on the business level. Her personal life had become nonexistent, but even there she was able to get whatever and whomever she wanted. As long as nothing interfered with work. In that moment, she realized she had forgotten how to want a personal life, much less have one.
Mia seemed undecided. Teri needed to make sure any decision was the one she wanted.
“If you’ll change, I’ll ask Mrs. Davis to make a picnic lunch for us. We’ll be ready in about thirty minutes.”
Mia shook her head and grinned. “Give me forty-five.”
“Done.” Teri nodded and got up to leave.
“What am I getting myself into?” Mia wondered out loud.
Teri grinned. “A great picnic.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Teri stared at her cell phone. She had missed three calls while waiting for Mia to come downstairs. Instead, she had planned the rest of the day for the two of them. What the hell is wrong with me?
“Sorry I took so long,” Mia said. “I needed to unpack and find some clean clothes.”
“Not a problem.” Teri nodded, picked up their packs, and followed Mia out the door. “Mrs. Davis would be happy to clean your clothes.”
“Thanks. Maybe I will wash a few things later.”
“It’s not a crime to allow someone else to do things for you.”
“I know. I just prefer doing things myself. Besides, there isn’t that much to clean right now. Thank you, though, for the offer.”
“You’re welcome.” Teri chuckled. This was one hardheaded woman. Teri welcomed the challenge. “I’d forgotten we had a small boat here. It’s full of gas and ready to go. We can actually take a ride up the river if you’d like.”