“Good.” He placed another teasing kiss on the corner of her mouth. “Actually, I’m not sure I can wait that long to see you. What about also meeting me at the hospital for lunch tomorrow?”
His eagerness to be with her was so typically Tyson that she laughed. “You going to climb up to my window in the middle of the night if you don’t see me tomorrow?”
“I might. Somehow it seems almost as important as when we were sixteen.”
She understood what he meant. As if they couldn’t look away because everything would vanish. “What time for lunch? I have the car until maybe two or so.”
“Eleven’s best, but I have some wiggle room if that doesn’t work.”
“It’s fine.”
“But we’re still on for Wednesday too, right?”
“Right.” The night when she’d commit to him all over again.
Maybe.
Tyson, his arms still around her, walked her backward a few steps until they hit a tree. “Remember this place?” he murmured, his low voice sending shudders through her.
Saffron hadn’t until he mentioned it, but now she saw it was the same tree where he’d first told her he loved her. Tears gathered in her eyes. “Yeah.”
“I still love you,” he said.
“I love you too.” But then, she’d never stopped loving him.
He kissed her full on the mouth, finally, but some of the magic they’d shared during their day at the beach was gone, and Saffron didn’t know why or how to recapture it.
17
After saying goodbye to Tyson, Saffron had to push her way into the room at the inn. “What’s going on here?” she asked, eyeing the additional suitcases and boxes clogging up the floor space.
Halla looked up from the table where she sat with her laptop. “Kendall’s been here with more of her stuff. She apparently pulled out of school today and wanted to get all her things from her room before your mother found out.”
“Smart girl. I should have done that before I left.” Saffron hopped over a box and dodged a mound of folded clothes. “Speaking of Kendall, where is she?” Saffron finally made it to Halla and set Mrs. Dekker’s bag on the table.
“She rushed out to meet Joel somewhere, I think.” Halla shrugged. “I’m honestly hoping your mother doesn’t call the police and break in here to recover this stuff. What’s this?” she tapped the paper bag.
Saffron started to sink into the other chair but changed her mind and launched herself instead toward the bed, where she sprawled out with a sigh. “It’s peach cobbler that Tyson’s mom sent, and maybe more things. She insisted.”
“Oh, nice. I’m actually hungry.” Halla stood and peered into the bag. “Uh, there’s a lot more than cobbler in here. Looks like bread, rolls, and . . . peanut butter?”
“Help yourself. It’s for both of us.”
“Sounds like it went well, then.”
Saffron didn’t reply.
Halla released the bag and came to sit next to her. “Uh-oh, what happened?”
“Nothing, really.” Saffron blinked back tears. “It’s just . . . they were super nice. His mother apologized. They adore Tyson, and he really likes them. They actually invited me to stay with them, if you can believe it. She kind of reminds me of Lily.”
“Wow, that is a little weird, but it does sound like something Lily would do. Only it’s not weird for Lily because she runs a foster home. But if the Dekkers are nice, what’s the problem?”
Saffron sat up, pulling her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. “Me. I’m the problem. I don’t fit in. My heart feels like a lump of rock when I’m sitting there listening to them talk. One ‘I’m sorry’ doesn’t change what happened.”
“You don’t think you can forgive her?” Halla put a hand on her back, patting gently.
Saffron thought a moment. “It’s not that. I understand why she did it, and I feel better that she apologized. But it still hurts so much.” The tears started to fall. “And when I think of seeing her again, and helping them, and sharing Tyson with them . . . it’s hard.”
“Do you think it might get easier?”
“That’s what I’m guessing, but at the same time, I don’t want it to. I want them to feel it. I want them to understand what they gave up. Because they aren’t new people in my life—they were a part of what happened, and they should feel it. But they’ll never understand because they weren’t there those last months, and it was too long ago. I’m the only one who will ever know. Not even Tyson can know everything because he wasn’t there with me.”
“Oh, honey.” Halla squeezed her tightly. “I don’t think there’s anything anyone can do about that.”
Saffron nodded. “I know. It just takes time, I guess. I didn’t realize I was holding so much anger inside. It’ll be good to let it go.” She gave Halla a watery smile. “I think.”
“It is good. You’ll see.”
“Oh, and I saw his girlfriend. Or a picture of her, rather.”
Halla blinked. “And?”
“She’s beautiful. She has dark eyes and olive skin. Shiny black hair. She’s slender. Definitely a product of good genes. One thing for sure is that she looks nothing like me.”
“Dang those genes,” Halla muttered.
Saffron flopped back on the pillows. “Why couldn’t she be homely? I mean, she’s a doctor already for crying out loud. How can I compete?”
“You compete plenty well, if you ask me. I saw you kissing, remember? He’s into you big time.”
“He did kiss me again tonight.”
Halla grinned. “See? So when are you seeing him again?”
“He has to take his dad to therapy tomorrow night, but I’m meeting him for lunch at the hospital where he works. Don’t worry. I’ll be back before two—you can even make it to the study group for your test, if you still want to go that early. Then on Wednesday, he wants to take me to dinner and show me his condo in Oceanside.” She hesitated before adding, “He invited me to stay there instead of paying for this room.”
“Oooh.” Halla’s eyes grew impossibly wide. “Seriously?”
“He also said he loves me.”
“No way! What did you say to that?”
Saffron suddenly wished she hadn’t brought it up. “I’ve always loved him, Halla. I don’t know how to stop.”
“This is so exciting! I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks.” Saffron herself felt a bit more numb than excited. Were they moving too fast?
Halla lay down on the pillows next to Saffron, and for a long time neither of them said anything. When Saffron was about to drift off without getting ready for bed, Halla said, “If you’re meeting him at the hospital, maybe it’s time we check out this lady doctor and see what’s what.”
All Saffron’s sleepiness fled. She propped her head up with her hand to look at her friend. “What are you saying?”
“Aren’t you curious? Don’t you want to see her in person?”
“I’m not going to stalk her.”
“Okay. I’ll go with you, and I’ll stalk her.”
“No.”
Halla sighed. “All right. But can I still go?” She looked at Saffron with pleading eyes. “I promise to get lost during your romantic lunch. After, maybe we can stop at the beach again for a while before I have to leave.”
“I don’t know how romantic my lunch will be at a hospital, but I guess you can come. At least you can if you push me out of this bed, so I can brush my teeth.”
Halla obliged with more gusto than was needed, but at least Saffron was up and moving. Even muscles she didn’t remember having were tired. She’d barely dropped back into bed when someone knocked on the door.
“I’ll get it,” Halla called, jumping up from the table where she was eating a peanut butter sandwich with one hand and typing with the other.
She opened the door to Kendall, who came in dragging a large box. “Sorry I’m here so late.”
“You shouldn’t be carrying thing
s that big,” Saffron said, climbing out of bed.
Halla was already hefting the box. “It doesn’t weigh much.”
“Just a few stuffed animals for the baby,” Kendall said. “They were mine when I was little. Well, some were probably yours, Saffron. “You can have whatever you want. I just didn’t want Mom to throw them away.”
Is that what she did with my things? Saffron decided not to ask. “I hear you dropped out of school?”
“Yep.” Kendall sank down on the bed with a sigh. “I did. And I’m glad. I don’t want to be a designer. And at least I got back some of the tuition. That’ll help me until I find a job.”
Saffron studied her sister. Far from looking happy, she appeared exhausted and ready to cry. “What do you want to be?”
“I don’t know,” Kendall muttered.
“Are you hungry?” Saffron asked, sitting next to her.
Kendall shook her head. “I ate with Joel.”
Ah, Joel. Something was up, Saffron could feel it. “I heard he’s going to a concert. Are you going with him?”
“No.” Her response was scarcely a whisper. “It’s just for the guys.”
She started crying and Saffron put an arm around her. “It’s going to be okay,” she murmured.
“I don’t think he wants the baby anymore,” Kendall said between sobs. “And maybe not me either. What am I going to do?”
“Tonight you’re going to sleep,” Saffron said, rubbing her back. “Tomorrow we’ll figure it out.”
Kendall stood. “You’re right. I’m so tired I can’t think straight.”
Saffron gently propelled her sister in the direction of the bathroom. “Go get ready. You need rest for the baby.”
Kendall grabbed one of her bags and disappeared into the bathroom.
Climbing back into bed, Saffron checked her phone and found a message from Vaughn. Slaying any more dragons?
Thinking of the Dekkers, she typed in a response. Maybe one or two. You?
There was no answer, so he was probably getting ready for bed or coming home from somewhere. She wondered if he’d told the people they normally hung out with that they were broken up. If so, he might even be on a date. She put down her phone.
“What’s wrong?” Halla said.
“Nothing. Just worried about Kendall.”
Twenty minutes later, Kendall had come to bed and Saffron was nearly asleep when a return text came from Vaughn.
Why do you get all the fun? Maybe I’ll come down before Halla does on Friday and bring your car. You might need more dragons slain.
He had to be joking, of course, because of his classes, but it made her smile. Her brief reply was only partially sarcastic: My hero.
Her last thought as she drifted off was why couldn’t her sister have fallen in love with someone like Vaughn.
18
By the time Saffron arrived in Oceanside at the Tri-City Medical Center, she was already ten minutes late for her lunch date with Tyson. Kendall had decided at the last moment that she needed to go with them, and she was looking so down that Saffron hadn’t wanted to leave her alone. Apparently, Joel hadn’t changed his mind yet about not wanting her along on his trip. Saffron and Halla ended up waiting for Kendall to shower and arrange emergency pregnancy snacks for the drive.
“Not that I really wanted to go with Joel,” Kendall said for the fourth time since they left Temecula. “I mean, it’s not like I want to be crushed by all those fans. Or drive seventeen hours in a car with a chain-smoker. I know that’s not good for the baby. But I hate that he’s wasting all that money.”
“And that he wants to go without you,” Halla said. “That bites. But to be honest, there’s a lot of places I wouldn’t want to take my boyfriend, if I had one.”
“Like where?” Kendall wanted to know.
“To a chick flick, a salad bar, a baby shower, shoe shopping, the hairdresser.”
Kendall wrinkled her nose. “Why not a salad bar?”
Halla grinned. “Because I eat too much. It’s embarrassing.”
Saffron killed the engine and set the parking brake. “Okay, ladies.” She tossed Halla the key to the car. “He’s only got an hour, if that, so I’ll meet you here in the lobby at fifteen after twelve. I’ll text you if there’s a change. Have fun.” She looked meaningfully at Halla and then at Kendall, hoping Halla would get the message to take care of her.
“Actually, I need to use the restroom,” Kendall said.
“Let’s all go in then.” Saffron shot off a text to tell Tyson she was here. She was supposed to meet him in the cafeteria, and she hoped he could still get away.
They took a while to find the bathroom, where Saffron freshened up her makeup and chatted with Halla until Tyson texted that he was on his way. “Now if I can just find the cafeteria,” she said.
“We’ll help you and then take off,” Halla offered.
They wandered down a hall, following some signs, but must have missed the turn to the cafeteria. Several hospital workers passed them, and Saffron was tempted to ask directions, but Halla seemed confident of finding her way. After several more turns took them nowhere, Kendall stopped a woman in white scrubs.
The woman smiled and pointed back the way they’d come. “Just down there by that picture on the wall, take a left. Then go to the second right after that and immediately you’ll see a door on your right. It’s a little tricky.” She peered closer at Kendall. “Don’t I know you? You look familiar.”
Kendall’s eyes widened. “Oh right. I remember you. You look different in white and with your hair back like that. You were dating Tyson Dekker, right? My boyfriend has been working on his parents’ house.”
Saffron stared. It was Jana, and she did look different in her hospital garb. She was still beautiful and slightly exotic with her dark coloring, and Saffron felt washed out in comparison. She swallowed hard, wondering if Jana might somehow guess who she was.
“Oh, right. That’s it. You’re the girl with all the medical questions.” The woman gave them a smile that was genuine enough, but she didn’t look happy.
“So weird to run into you,” Kendall said, the words coming out a little forced. Saffron peeked at Halla, suspecting both she and Kendall had something to do with how they “happened” to run into Jana. No wonder they’d come in with her. She’d question them about it later.
“It’s not that big of a hospital,” Jana said. “I run into people I know all the time.” After an awkward pause, she added, “How’s the work on the Dekker’s house coming along?”
“They finished last night,” Kendall said. “Or at least the part my boyfriend was helping with.”
“That’s good. I bet the Dekkers are excited, especially Mr. Dekker. The poor man has been feeling trapped.” Jana’s eyes wandered over them, as if wanting to ask more, but not sure she should. “Look, I’ll show you to the cafeteria. I have a few moments.”
Saffron had the sense of being on a train that didn’t have any brakes. Was she going to run into Tyson with Jana at her side? She made a “help me” face behind Jana’s back, but Halla shrugged helplessly.
“Here we are,” Jana said as they reached another hallway that looked like all the others. “See where those people are coming in and out? That’s it right there.”
“Thank you,” Saffron said with the others.
“By the way, I love your necklace,” Jana said, indicating the chunky, double-row necklace Saffron had chosen to match her blue top.
“Thanks,” Saffron said. This was the time when she would normally pull out a card and offer to make a similar one. But not this time.
Jana nodded, her smile slipping as she glanced behind them. “Well, take care.” She pivoted on her heel and returned the way she’d come.
“She’s really nice,” Halla said.
Saffron didn’t respond. She was too busy looking to see what had spooked the woman. Down the hall, Tyson was walking quickly toward them, deep in conversation with another doctor.
/> Saffron glanced at Halla. “I know you two somehow planned running into Jana,” she said. “Thanks for the near heart attack.”
Halla had the decency to look ashamed. “Sorry.”
“It’s good to size up the competition,” Kendall added. “I knew where she worked, more or less, but the rest was fate.”
“Yeah, right.” Saffron bet if Jana hadn’t appeared when she did, they’d still be wandering the hospital corridors.
Tyson saw Saffron and waved. The doctor with him glanced at her, said something to Tyson, and then peeled off, turning down another hallway.
In a few more strides, Tyson was with them. “So, I get the whole gang, eh? Good to see you all.”
“They’re just leaving,” Saffron told him.
“Halla and I are going baby shopping,” Kendall said. “To get an idea of what’s out there and what I might need to buy. I really don’t have a clue yet.”
That called his attention. “You’re taking prenatal vitamins, right?”
“Oh yeah. I read about that. I didn’t do it before I got pregnant though, like you’re supposed to.” She frowned. “I hope the baby will be okay.”
“I’m sure the baby will be fine. It’s not too late for it to benefit.”
Kendall nodded and reached over to squeeze Saffron’s arm. “Have fun.”
Saffron watched Halla and Saffron leave, wishing she could call them back. What had been a simple date for lunch now felt like something secret behind Jana’s back. But he’d mentioned Jana knew about them, so there was nothing to hide.
Saffron straightened her back at the exact moment Tyson leaned over to kiss her. His chin hit her nose painfully.
“Sorry,” he said, his grin looking a bit lopsided. “My reaction time is slow right now. It’s been a long morning, and I need food. One of my little patients developed an infection, and I had to work out surgery for him this afternoon.”
“Oh, no. That’s sad.”
“He’ll be fine. I lined up the best surgeon we’ve got. I’ll be assisting—after I fuel up.”
“By all means, let’s get you fed.” Saffron pushed the awkwardness and her feelings about Jana aside as they hurried to the cafeteria. Tyson filled his tray with protein and plenty of carbs, while Saffron opted for protein and a few veggies.
Broken Lies Page 17