Serenity (Inevitable Book 5)

by Janet Nissenson

  Lindsey’s green eyes narrowed angrily. “Watch your mouth, little girl. You’re getting way too cheeky these days. But speaking of your father - what’s the deal with this new girlfriend of his? Who is she - some nerdy little computer tech who works in his office?”

  Hayley scoffed. “Not exactly. She teaches yoga, and looks more like a hippie than a nerd. I guess she’s pretty in a way. Her name is Sasha. Oh, and turns out her mom is one of the dancers on Beyond Ballroom. The older Russian one you like.”

  “Katya?” asked Lindsey in surprise. “I didn’t know she had a daughter. She can’t be all that old. My God, is your father dating a teenager?”

  Hayley rolled her eyes, already weary of her mother’s constant dramatics. “No, Sasha is not a teenager, Mom. Geez, you make it sound like Dad’s some sort of pervert. I’d guess she’s in her twenties, maybe closer to thirty. She’s - oh, fuck. I really don’t want to keep talking about this, you know? But Casey the Dweeb made me take a picture of him with Dad and Sasha. Just let me find it.”

  Lindsey stared in dismay at the photo of Matthew and Casey gathered around an admittedly stunning woman. Matt’s new girlfriend wasn’t quite as young as she had initially feared - late twenties, most likely - but still a good ten to twelve years younger than Lindsey. She scowled to notice the woman’s smooth, flawless skin, her sparkling smile, and headful of multi-hued curls. Her clothes did look a bit on the bohemian side, and were certainly not what Lindsey would ever be caught dead wearing, but they seemed to suit her.

  But what really pissed Lindsey off was seeing how happy and relaxed her husband looked in this woman’s presence. She hadn’t actually seen Matt in person for almost three months, since he never came inside the house when he picked up or dropped off the kids, despite the list of excuses she’d conjured up to get him to do so. If something needed to be repaired, he had told her to notify their gardener/handyman. If there was a bill or some other document she wanted him to look over, he told her to scan it and email it over to him. He was curt and to the point when she called or emailed, and had made it very, very clear that he considered their marriage over, a mere legal formality that would end just as soon as she signed those goddamned divorce papers.

  “Do you think he’s serious about her?” asked Lindsey, not bothering to disguise the panic in her voice.

  “Jesus, Mom.” Hayley shook her sleek, dark head in disbelief. “I have no idea. It’s not like I came out and actually asked Dad. I mean, he seems to like her a lot, and they were all smiling and happy during dinner, but they weren’t making out or anything like that.”

  “Did she spend the night at the condo?” Lindsey prodded. “I swear, if he’s sleeping with that bitch with my kids present, I’ll have his visitation rights taken away.”

  Hayley gave her mother a look of disgust. “Seriously, Mom? Come on, it’s not like Casey and I are toddlers. But, no, she did not spend the night. Dad dropped her off wherever it is she lives, some old house in the city. And before you ask, no. We did not see her again today.”

  Hayley turned her attention back to her phone, busily tapping out yet another text, but Lindsey was far from finished in her quest for information about this mystery woman.

  “She’s a yoga teacher?” she inquired in disbelief. “Where the hell did Matt meet someone like that? And if you tell me he’s started taking yoga classes, I will not believe you!”

  “I truly doubt that,” replied Hayley dryly. “Dad is one of the clumsiest people I’ve ever seen, so I really can’t see him doing yoga. He is eating differently, though. At dinner last night he actually ordered some sort of gross vegetarian entrée. Probably because she’s a vegetarian. And he had herbal tea with dessert instead of coffee. Weird.”

  Weird wasn’t the word Lindsey would have used to describe the situation. More like troubling. Matt should be miserable right about now, missing his wife and kids and house, and wanting nothing more but to resume his old life. Instead, he looked younger and happier than he had in a long time, and perfectly content with his current lifestyle.

  “Your father looks good,” she admitted grudgingly. “A little thinner. Is he - does he seem happy to you?”

  Hayley sighed again, obviously growing impatient with this persistent line of questioning. “I guess, yeah. He’s not all mopey and depressed or anything. Oh, and I think maybe he met Sasha through some friend of hers. Tessa or Tess, someone like that.”

  “Tessa Gregson.” Lindsey almost spat out the name. She had heartily disliked the beautiful blonde the first time Ian had proudly introduced her to all of his friends at a benefit ball a year and a half ago. Ian, who had coldly rebuffed any of Lindsey’s attempts to flirt with him over the years, hadn’t bothered to hide the fact that he was completely infatuated with Tessa. And every time she and Matt had socialized with the Gregsons, Tessa had always been polite to her but never friendly. It was little wonder, thought Lindsey angrily, that the snooty Mrs. Gregson hadn’t wasted any time in fixing poor, lonely Matt up with one of her friends. Tessa and Ian, in fact, were probably rejoicing in the fact that Matt had filed for divorce, had even encouraged him to do so.

  ‘Well, it’s not going to be that easy,’ she thought angrily. ‘I’m not about to sign those stupid divorce papers. Not now, not ever! And I’ll be damned if I’m going to let some funky yoga teacher steal my husband. But I will have to figure out a way to get Matt to come back to me. And sooner than later, by the sound of it.’

  “Do you like her?” ventured Lindsey. “I mean, is she a nice person?”

  Irritably, Hayley tossed her phone onto her bed and glared at her mother. “I guess she’s nice enough. And I have no idea if I like her since I barely know her. Are you finished asking me dumb questions now? I want to call Sierra and find out more about this awesome party I missed last night.”

  Lindsey sniffled, and made a little show out of brushing a nonexistent tear from her eye. “I - I guess so. It just upset me to learn about your father’s new girlfriend. It hurts to realize he’s moved on so easily.”

  “Oh, brother.” Hayley shook her head in disbelief. “I’m not buying the fake tears and hurt feelings, Mom, so save it. Look, if it makes you feel any better, even if Dad wasn’t seeing someone, I don’t think it would make any difference in terms of the divorce. One way or the other, he’s not coming back.”

  Lindsey lifted her chin stubbornly. “Then I guess I’ll need to find a way to make him change his mind, won’t I? I don’t suppose you’d care to help me? It might be worth your while, Hayley. Like, for example, that Piaget watch you’ve been wanting. With a two week trip to Ibiza next summer thrown in as a bonus.”

  “Hmm.” Hayley tapped her index finger against her lip. “Maybe. What did you have in mind?”

  Triumphantly, Lindsey plopped down on the bed. “That’s the problem. I haven’t been able to think up anything just yet. But I’ll bet if the two of us work together, we can dream something up. So put your thinking cap on, sweetie. Between the two of us, we’ll figure out a way to get your father to move back in. And ditch the yoga teacher in the process.”

  Chapter Ten

  December

  “It was so sweet of you to serve a vegetarian entrée tonight, Tessa,” said Sasha to their hostess. “But you really didn’t have to do anything special.”

  Tessa waved a hand in dismissal. “Don’t be silly, it wasn’t any trouble at all. And vegetable moussaka is one of my favorite dishes to make.”

  Julia, whose twin-sized baby bump was extremely noticeable at nearly the seven month mark, swallowed another forkful of the eggplant and mushroom laden dish. “Mmm, and it’s sooo good, Tessa! I definitely don’t miss the meat.”

  Julia’s husband Nathan grinned at her good naturedly. “I guess since you’re eating for three it’s acceptable to have seconds. Though I honestly don’t know how you’ve got room in there any longer.”

  He patted her burgeoning belly affectionately, then planted a kiss on h
er cheek after she gave him a mock glare.

  “You’re right,” sighed Julia. “Your sons are taking up most of the space down here. I can usually only eat a little bit at a time or it’s uncomfortable. They aren’t even born yet and already I’m making all these sacrifices for them. When Tessa and I went out for lunch earlier this week, I was way too full to even think of eating dessert.”

  Nathan arched a brow in her direction. “Would that particular dessert have been the giant lemon bar that you were snacking on in the middle of the night?”

  Julia exchanged a quick look with Tessa before shrugging. “Guilty as charged. Hey, I might have been too full at lunch but no way was I passing up on that lemon bar. I’ve been craving sour stuff like crazy the last couple of months.”

  “Which is why I made a key lime cheesecake for dessert,” announced Tessa. “So hopefully you’ll save a little room for it.”

  Even Sasha, who wasn’t overly fond of sweets, made a little “mmm” of pleasure at the mention of the dessert Tessa had planned. She took a small sip of the one glass of red wine she’d indulged in this evening, smiling at Matthew as their eyes met.

  This intimate dinner party at the Gregsons’ had been one of the most enjoyable evenings Sasha had experienced in a long time. Given that she had spent the first fifteen years of her life constantly packing up and traveling from one place to another, Sasha had never been able to make close friends. And even after she’d come to live with Linda, and then later as an adult, she’d found it difficult to form lasting friendships.

  But Julia and Tessa had quite firmly brought her into their small but close knit circle, one that also included Julia’s friend Angela and occasionally her twin sister Lauren, in addition to some of Julia’s co-workers. And while Sasha mostly eschewed girly activities like shopping or spa visits, she liked having brunch with Julia after yoga class, or going on a strenuous hike with Tessa. She’d also helped Tessa plan a baby shower for Julia to be held right after New Year’s, admitting that it would be the first such event she’d be attending.

  And once she’d finally fessed up to both of them that she and Matthew were in a relationship, Tessa and Julia had squealed excitedly like little girls. Tessa in particular had been elated to hear the news, and assured Sasha that she was exactly the sort of woman Matthew needed in his life.

  “I don’t know all the details, of course, about why he and Lindsey split up,” Tessa had confided. “But I can tell you that she was never very nice to him, took him for granted most of the time. Any woman who can blatantly flirt with another man right in front of her husband - especially with a husband like Matthew, who’s just about the nicest person I know - doesn’t deserve someone like him. I’m just glad that he finally decided to do something about it, because he should have the chance to be happy. And I’m doubly glad that he has you in his life, Sasha. You’re two of the kindest people I’ve ever met, and I hope that things keep working out for you.”

  Sasha had been touched by Tessa’s ardent declaration, but had also been quick to downplay her relationship with Matthew. “It’s pretty casual between us, you know. We really only get to see each other once a week, maybe twice, since he travels so much or is busy at work. And then of course he has his children every other weekend, and tries to see them at least once during the week, too.”

  “How are you getting along with his kids? They’re both teenagers, correct?”

  Sasha had given a nod. “Hayley is sixteen, and Casey turns fourteen in February. As for getting along - well, I’m afraid Hayley doesn’t like me very much, not so surprising under the circumstances. Casey on the other hand is a great kid, very kind and friendly like Matthew. I actually haven’t spent all that much time with them, since it’s important for Matthew to have time alone with his children.”

  “Hmm.” Tessa had looked pensive. “My guess is that the daughter is taking her mother’s side in this divorce. Like you said, not all that surprising. When are all the legalities supposed to be finalized anyway?”

  Sasha had hesitated a moment before replying. “Lindsey apparently is playing hardball with Matthew and refusing to sign the papers. He’s supposed to meet with his lawyer again before the end of the month and see if they can force her hand. But I don’t really discuss it all with him very often. Frankly, the whole situation makes me feel a little guilty at times.”

  Tessa’s blue eyes had widened in surprise. “Why on earth would you feel guilty?” she asked in astonishment. “It’s not like you broke up their marriage, after all. From what I’ve been able to figure out, Lindsey sort of destroyed things all by herself.”

  “He’s still legally married, Tessa,” Sasha had pointed out quietly.

  Tessa had given a shake of her head. “Not in any way that matters. He and Lindsey haven’t lived together for almost half a year, and Matthew has told Ian more than once that for all intents and purposes he considers himself a single man. Look at it this way, Sasha. If you weren’t in a relationship with him, would Matthew be even thinking of going back to Lindsey?”

  “No,” Sasha had admitted. “He’s told me the same thing several times - that he already considers his marriage to be long over, and that it’s simply a matter of Lindsey signing the forms to make it official.”

  “Then you have nothing to feel guilty about,” Tessa had assured her. “Especially since she treated Matthew so horribly. He has a right to find some happiness, you know. And I’m so pleased that the two of you are making each other happy. You both deserve it more than anyone else I know.”

  Tessa’s assurances had made Sasha feel much better about the situation, and appeased the guilt that she still experienced from time to time. Matthew had told her more or less the same things as Tessa, that he considered his marriage as good as over, and that there was zero chance he would ever contemplate reconciling with Lindsey.

  “I can’t believe that it’s already the fourth of December,” declared Julia. “And thank goodness Nathan and I don’t have to travel very far for Christmas, just down to my parents’ place in Carmel. The flight we just took home from Michigan on Thanksgiving weekend is going to be my final one for awhile.”

  “When are the two of you heading over to England?” Nathan asked Ian.

  Ian refilled his wine glass, then passed the bottle to Matthew. “On the seventeenth, I believe, returning about ten days later.”

  Julia glanced across the table inquiringly at Sasha and Matthew. “What about you two? Any plans for Christmas and New Year’s?”

  Matthew hesitated before giving a brief shrug. “Still working all that out, I’m afraid. Things are a tad complicated this year under the circumstances. Normally we head back to Wisconsin and spend Christmas with my family, but I’m still, ah, negotiating all that.”

  Sasha somewhat belatedly realized that she and Matthew had yet to discuss the upcoming holidays, and she told herself sternly that she was being silly to feel even the tiniest bit hurt or left out that he hadn’t brought the subject up until now.

  “It sounds like both of my parents are coming for a quick visit,” she offered up. “At the same time. Which means the decibel level in San Francisco is bound to rise up pretty high. Fortunately, my landlords always host a big open house on Christmas Eve, so that will help diffuse the situation with my parents a bit since there’ll be so many other people around. However, I’m afraid on Christmas Day I’ll be stuck going out to dinner with them. And playing peacekeeper the entire time, I’m sure.”

  She smiled reassuringly at Matthew, who was looking a bit guilty, as though he’d just realized the subject of the holidays hadn’t been brought up prior to this evening. Ian, who’d undoubtedly picked up on the awkwardness between them, smoothly changed the subject, for which Sasha was overwhelmingly grateful.

  But less than five minutes after they left the Gregsons’, Matthew broached the matter in a tentative voice.

  “I’m sorry if things got a little awkward during dinner,” he told he
r regretfully. “About the holidays, that is. I know we haven’t talked about it at all, mostly because I’ve been busier than usual at work but also because - well, Lindsey is being incredibly difficult about it.”

  Sasha patted his thigh reassuringly. “It’s all right, Matthew,” she replied softly. “I know it’s not an easy situation with your children, and especially not at the holidays. I wasn’t expecting that you and I would be spending Christmas together, if that’s what’s worrying you. And since I’m definitely not going to be alone then, you don’t have to be concerned about that, either.”

  He sighed, running a hand through his close cropped hair. “Believe me, Sasha. I would love to spend Christmas with you. More than anything. But it’s one of the few times each year that I get to see my parents and the rest of my family, so I’ve got to go to Wisconsin. And I’d invite you to come along, except that Lindsey is already kicking up a fuss about my taking Hayley and Casey with me. If she knew you were coming too, I think a small war might break out.”

  She shook her head. “No. Don’t make things worse, Matthew. You deserve to see your family and have your children along with you, spend some quality time together. Besides, I think bringing your new girlfriend along with you at the holidays isn’t really, well, proper. Especially under the circumstances.”

  He frowned, giving her a sideways glance. “What circumstances would those be?”

  Sasha shrugged. “You are still legally married. And I’m just afraid that your parents and the rest of your family would consider it in bad taste for you to bring another woman along when your divorce is still up in the air.”

  “Sasha.” He took her hand in his, bringing it to his lips while he drove with the other hand. His voice was gentle, tender even, as he asked, “Is that what you think? Does it bother you that technically I’m still bound to Lindsey by a piece of paper? Because I’ll swear to you once more that the only thing that binds me to her is that pesky legality. In every other way that matters, she is no longer my wife and hasn’t been for some time.”