Darien put down his chisel and shook his head. If he was going to give her time, he would need to get her out of his mind. But he couldn’t. If nothing else, there was still the piece of art he’d started—the Safire piece—which he hadn’t finished. Maybe if he could finish it, if he could finally capture Safire, then he might be able to stop being surprised by thoughts of her and just give her the space that she needed.
Darien went to the piece in the corner and uncovered it. It was time to finish it. But that wasn’t going to be easy. As he’d worked on it, it had kept getting more complicated. It was now ready for him to add some metal and ceramic parts. He could do the metalwork tonight and start the ceramic pieces in the morning if he got up early.
Darien took out his soldering iron and some metals, replaced his goggles and began working with a vengeance. One way or another, regardless of whatever else he had to do, he was going to get this sculpture done and take a break from Safire Lewis.
Chapter 17
“Here,” Safire said, taking the handheld game from Philly. “Let Alex play for a little while.” They had just taken off for Charlotte on their way to Houston, and since they’d had to get up early for the flight, Philly was a little tired. “Come put your head down,” she said to him and pulled his head against her arm.
A couple hours of sleep on the flight to Charlotte would do him good. They didn’t want to stress him for fear that he would have another seizure.
“Are you sure?” Alex said, taking the game from her.
“Go ahead. Philly needs a little more sleep.”
“Cool,” Alex said.
Angelina and Jeremy were across the aisle from them. Jeremy had his arm over Angelina’s shoulder, and she was cuddled against him with her eyes closed. Safire could see that their other hands were linked and that Jeremy’s fingers were slowing massaging Angelina’s. They were such a sweet couple, and it was so cute the way her sister got embarrassed by their affection. Safire sighed, a little jealous of that affection, especially since she herself no longer had a possibility on the horizon.
For the briefest moment she imagined what it would have been like if Darien was there, his fingers intertwined with hers. She ached for his touch, his smile. Maybe she should have set a date; it was sweet of him to want to know when he would see her. But she still felt she had been boxed in, that she was being forced to say things she wasn’t ready to say as yet. There were so many maybes. All she knew at that moment was that she wanted his arm around her, his presence in her world.
Safire put the thought from her mind. She made sure her brother was sleeping and took out the book for her older reading group. She had to find a good selection of The Women of Brewster Place, and the novel kept her occupied until they got to Houston.
When they arrived, Jeremy’s younger brother picked them up from the airport.
“Hey, biggie,” he said, hugging his older brother.
Once the guys were finished, they stepped apart, and Jeremy introduced everyone.
“Eddy, this is my fiancée, Angelina.” The two hugged. “This is her sister, Safire.”
Safire put on her game face; she didn’t want the others to know how heavy her heart felt. “Hey,” she said, trying to sound upbeat. “I’ve heard we have a lot in common. And you’re a cutie, too, just like your big brother.”
“If we have a lot in common,” Eddy said, “we have to hit the clubs. It’s Thanksgiving weekend. Everyone and their mother will be out.”
“I’m game, and I brought my going-out shoes,” Safire said, getting hold of her large suitcase and dragging it down from the baggage carousel before Eddy took it for her. She wasn’t up for going out, but there was no use sulking at home. Plus, she didn’t want Angelina to think anything was wrong.
“Don’t struggle,” she said to Eddy. “It has wheels.”
“Don’t be a bad influence,” Jeremy said to his little brother.
“Hey, we’re just going out. Maybe you’ll come with us now that your dance partner is here.”
“Maybe,” Jeremy said, thinking about it. “This little one is Phillip, Angelina and Safire’s brother.” Philly got shy and just stood there until Eddy smiled and bent down to shake his hand.
“You got a nice grip there,” he said to Philly.
“Hi,” Philly said.
“And this is Alex, their cousin,” Jeremy said.
The boys shook hands. “Are you twenty-one yet?” Eddy asked.
“Almost.”
“Oh, you might have to sit this one out.”
“That’s fine,” Alex said.
“This,” Jeremy said, “is my scandalous baby brother, Edward. Eddy for short.”
Safire acted mechanically, putting on her old, buoyant demeanor. She put her hands on her hips and eyed Eddy. “You don’t seem too scandalous.”
“The oldsters don’t know what scandalous is.”
“Word,” Safire said. “That’s just what I was thinking.”
“And just so you know,” Eddy said, “we’re going to have to do this all over when we get home.”
The grown-ups chuckled, except for Safire, who managed a tense smile. It hurt even to do that, and she hoped no one noticed anything out of place.
“Who’s at the house?” Jeremy asked his little brother.
“Only the parents and grandparents—so far.”
“Well, let’s go.”
When they got to the house, it was still only the four elders, thankfully. Jeremy started by introducing Angelina, his fiancée, and Safire, her sister. But that was as far as he got. His mother’s hands went up, and she took hold of Angelina, and his father gathered Safire in his arms. Safire was frozen in a warm and genuine fatherly embrace.
Before Safire could understand why, tears were pouring out of her eyes, and when she looked at Angelina, tears were running down her sister’s face, as well. After they were released, Safire and Angelina went immediately to each other, still crying. The second they broke apart, the opposite parents got hold of them, and it started all over again with Safire encircled in the hold of Jeremy’s mother and Angelina engulfed by the arms of Jeremy’s father. And the two girls were crying all over again.
“Oh,” Mrs. Bell said, dabbing at her cheeks. “You girls got me going.”
The four released each other, but tears were still flowing down Safire’s face. She looked at her big sister, who was just beginning to get hold of herself. Jeremy had stepped in as his father let her go, and now Jeremy held her.
“It’s been a while since we’ve had parents,” Angelina explained.
“Sorry to make a spectacle,” Safire added.
Angelina stepped out of Jeremy’s arms and came to her. They wrapped their arms around each other, and Safire continued to cry. There was so much inside her fighting to come out—what it meant to have the embrace of a parent, what it meant to have lost a lover. All of her feelings were bustling with each other for release. Old wounds that had been buried jostled against the new amputation that she had been trying to hide. The circle of loss rose around her, sheltered by the love of new parents and her gratitude for their welcoming arms. For a moment, she could miss her mom and miss her dad and miss her great-aunt and miss Darien. For a moment, she was able to let herself feel those heartbreaks.
Safire finally shook her head and pulled herself together so that Angelina would stop fussing over her.
When it was done, Philly came over to Angelina and hugged her legs. It was clear that he wanted to make sure she was all right. Alex and Eddy hung back, observing it all.
“We’ll do the rest of the introductions over lunch,” Jeremy said. “We’re taking all of you out.”
Safire and Angelina greeted Jeremy’s grandparents and went to the couch to give them brief hugs.
“Come, girls,�
� Mrs. Bell said. “Let me get you something to drink before we head out.”
“And you boys have to see the grill now that she’s done,” Mr. Bell said. Jeremy and Eddy smirked but obeyed their father. Jeremy lifted Philly onto his hip and followed his father outside.
In the kitchen, Mrs. Bell poured Safire and Angelina lemonade and touched their faces. “My, don’t you both look like sisters. I never had a girl. Now I have two. Before you go back, I have a couple of things for you,” she said to Angelina. “There’s something old and something borrowed. The three of us can go shop for something new and something blue.”
Safire recalled her hope to have Darien as her date to the wedding. That wouldn’t happen now. She felt a sharp pang, but she nodded and made her face neutral.
When they got back to the living room, they helped Jeremy’s grandparents into the car and called the boys.
“Angie,” Philly said excitedly, “can we have a puppy?”
“The neighbor’s dog’s just had a litter,” Jeremy explained. “They’re in the adjoining yard out back.”
“We’ll see,” Angelina said. She patted Philly’s head and used it to guide him toward the door. She also took hold of Alex’s hand and petted it for a moment. “You okay, sweetie?” she asked him.
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
“Then let’s go,” Jeremy said, wrapping his arm around Angelina.
Safire felt another twinge, another gaping whole where Darien would have been. She brushed it off and smiled, and they headed out.
They took two cars and went to a late lunch. On the way back, Mr. Bell took the grandparents home, and Eddy drove the rest of them back to his parents’ place.
Before long, the buzzer started ringing, and soon Safire found out why Jeremy had asked how many people were at the house, which started filling up with remarkable speed. Neighbors, church members, coworkers and relatives started popping in to see Jeremy and his new fiancée. Mr. Bell fired up the grill. Jeremy and Eddy donned their sweaters to carry the trays of meat back and forth while Safire and Angelina helped Mrs. Bell in the kitchen and got drinks.
When Alistair and Reggie got there, Jeremy and Angelina took a break to be with Jeremy’s friends, and Alex took their son, Tyler, and Philly up to one of the bedrooms so he could watch them. Jeremy’s friend Michelle also came over. She and Alistair were home for Thanksgiving. They both knew before Jeremy did that his mother was planning a gathering.
At about ten o’clock, Eddy pulled Safire over to the side.
“How about we get out of here? You feel like a club?”
Safire didn’t feel like going out, but she made her face a mask and managed to chuckle, seeing the resemblance between them. “Okay, but I can’t stay long. I have to help clean up.”
“Unless you meet a handsome stranger.” He winked at her.
“I can’t ditch the in-laws,” Safire said. “I just met them. What kind of impression would that make?”
“Don’t worry. I got you covered. It was late, so we decided you would come over by me. It’s airtight.”
Safire made her lips into a smile. She liked the plan; in fact, it had her signature written all over it. But she also knew she wasn’t up to meeting anyone tonight.
“Let’s just go to the club, and then you get me home early so I can help Mother Bell. We can be scandalous another time.”
Eddy shrugged. “Whatever you say. But if you change your mind, remember the plan.” He turned toward the kitchen. “I’ll go let the folks know we’re checking out.”
Jeremy came over and gave his little brother a warning stare. Eddy and Safire plastered innocent looks on their faces.
“Okay,” Jeremy said, “but you look out for her out there, and don’t let her run off with any strangers in a strange town.”
“I don’t know if I’m the one you have to worry about,” Safire said. “I’ll keep an eye on him.”
“That won’t work,” Angelina said. “That’s the pot,” she said, pointing to Eddy, “and that’s the kettle,” she said, pointing to her sister. “We’re not apt to see either one before noon tomorrow.”
“Y’all get back in time for Thanksgiving lunch,” Mrs. Bell said, coming from the kitchen. “You’re a gentleman,” she said to her younger son. “You watch out for the young lady like I taught you right.”
“Of course I will, Mom,” Eddy said with an angelic smile. As soon as his mother went back to the kitchen, it twisted into a smirk.
“Let’s go,” he said. “You’d think we were twelve the way they go on.”
“Should I change?” Safire asked. She was still wearing the short, navy skirt suit and light turtleneck she had travelled in.
“It get’s colder here at night, but I have a couple scarves in the car. You look fetching. Hey, you might have already met that handsome stranger.”
Safire contorted her face and cringed. “You’re almost my brother.”
“Almost doesn’t count.” Eddy opened his car door for her.
“Yes, it does,” Safire said. Eddy was a looker, like Jeremy, just younger and a little shorter. He had the same suave look, only in a more boyish face. If it wasn’t for Darien, she might have considered his invitation, but now she couldn’t think of it. “Let’s go.”
They went to a club called the Mixing Pot, and Eddy got drinks for them. It was nice to be in a club again for a change. The Mixing Pot had a long bar, raised tables around the edges of the room, soft sofas in front of lit fireplaces, television monitors showing dance videos, loud music, disco lighting and large dance floors. Safire didn’t feel like it, but she mustered her grit and put on her party mode.
After a few dances with Eddy, she caught him looking at a woman and interceded for him. Of course, the woman said yes to a dance, cutie that Eddy was in his red turtleneck and jeans. That left Safire to hold down the table where they had their drinks. Now she knew why she wasn’t up for this. It was nice to dance, and the music was good, but she wasn’t looking for a dance partner. She’d just had a dance partner at home—Darien.
Safire found herself staring at her drink, not even moving to the music. This wasn’t like her, but she didn’t know what to do other than try to put Darien out of her mind. He wanted a declaration, a commitment and a schedule. She wanted him, wanted him like no one ever before, but she wasn’t going to be commandeered or corralled, and she sure as hell didn’t need someone setting a schedule for her, not with what she had on her plate already. These facts didn’t help her right now, though. She thought of slow dancing with Darien at the Grotto, and she didn’t want anyone else.
A young man wandered over to her. He smiled and nodded in the direction of the dance floor. Safire wasn’t in the mood. She pointed to her drink and shook her head. This happened three more times during one song. Finally, Safire gathered up her drink and Eddy’s drink and found a seat on one of the sofas in front of a fireplace. She crossed her legs, sipped her drink and looked at the dancers.
From where she sat, Safire could hear the slow music coming from another room. If Darien was there, that’s where they would be. Safire shook her head. This brooding wouldn’t do. It wasn’t her. It never had been. She coped by using determination, by remaining vital. When she finished her drink, she found a partner and danced the next set just to do something. When that was over, she was ready to go.
She found Eddy on the dance floor with the woman she’d pointed in his direction and told him she was going to take a cab home.
“No, I’ll take you,” he said above the music. “Do you mind if my new friend rides with us?”
Safire shook her head. He worked even faster than she did before she’d met Darien. And there was that name again. At the car, Eddy offered to take them for dessert at an all-night diner. It was still early, and Safire didn’t want to ruin Eddy’s fun, so she agreed. At the diner,
it was clear that Eddy’s new friend would be going home with him. Safire asked them to drop her off on their way, which they did. Eddy even walked her to the door.
It occurred to Safire that this was what Darien thought of her, and not too long ago, he wouldn’t have been far from wrong. She liked to go out and to meet new people, and she didn’t really get serious. She could see why Jeremy had said that she and Eddy had a lot in common. Only they didn’t have quite so much in common right now.
“You be careful,” Safire said as he left her at the door.
“I always am,” Eddy smiled and winked.
“And be up front,” she warned.
“I’m always that, too.” He smiled and turned and left.
Safire could see herself in Eddy. And she wasn’t sure she liked the image. Eddy had a couple of years on her, but perhaps she was starting to outgrow the casual club scene. Or perhaps it was just Darien.
It was just after one o’clock when she got in, but the family was up cleaning. Safire took off her blazer and helped load the glasses into the dishwasher, while Angelina and Jeremy did the pots in the sink. Jeremy’s mother came in with a load of plates.
“You go to bed, Mom,” Jeremy said. “We’ve got this.”
“If you’re sure, honey.”
Mrs. Bell hugged her son, and then she hugged Angelina and Safire, and Mr. Bell stepped in to say his good-nights, as well. The trio finished up in the kitchen, and then Safire and Angelina went to Eddy’s old room, where their things were.
Jeremy detained Angelina at the door. “You know you can come sleep with me in my room,” he said, kissing her.
Angelina swatted him. “Not in your parents’ house. We’re not married yet.”
“They won’t care, love.”
“Maybe after we’re married.”
Jeremy chuckled, kissed Angelina on the head, waved to Safire and padded down the hall to check on Alex and Philly in the spare bedroom.
“You are practically married,” Safire said.
“Do you mind the company?” Angelina asked.
Captivated Love Page 17