A Wedding She'll Never Forget

by Robyn Grady

  Her eyes misted with tears as Scarlet stumbled from the room, out of the house and into a shower of sunshine that provided no warmth. Daniel called after her. When he caught up and wrapped two strong arms around her, she leaned in and sucked back a lungful of air. All the long journey here, she’d vowed she wouldn’t cry.

  “It’s okay, it’s okay,” Daniel said, rubbing her back.

  “She doesn’t remember me. Doesn’t remember anything.”

  “You’ve done what you set out to do.” He nuzzled her crown. “We’ll go home.”

  “They must live on a shoestring. Mrs. Rampling…I wonder if she gets any help.”

  He held her tighter. “I’ll write a check.”

  “No matter what happened in the past, Imogene…my mother deserves the best care. I know Dad would think so, too. She needs a full-time nurse. A good doctor.”

  “I’ll look into it. Look after it.”

  She pressed her other wet cheek against his shirt. “She’s so sick. God knows how much she suffered.”

  “I’ll organize some funds. Some full-time care.” With a crooked finger, he tipped her chin higher so that his tender gaze met hers. “You’ve coped with a lot these past few days. What do you say we get some rest?”

  Scarlet frowned. He wanted them to leave. Already?

  “I need to stay for a while. Make sure everything’s organized.”

  “Okay. I’ll book a hotel for a couple of days.”

  “It’ll take more than that.”

  “A week?”

  “I…I’m not sure.”

  She held her brow. Her thoughts were spinning. Her mother had abandoned her as a child but she could understand how that had come about, why Imogene’s deteriorating condition might have played a part in her decision to stay away. Scarlet wished her father had tried harder to bring his wife home. That her mother had gotten some kind of help sooner. There was nothing she could do about that now. But she couldn’t—wouldn’t—abandon her mother now.

  And then she remembered Faith, the woman who had cared for her, loved her all this time like a mother should. The person she’d called Mom could, at times, be haughty, controlling, constantly needing to remind people of their place in society, but she’d also always stuck by her family. For all her faults, Faith Anders had her heart in the right place.

  Scarlet was certain she would understand her daughter’s actions now.

  “I’ve missed out on having Imogene in my life,” Scarlet said. “She’s missed out on having me. I want to stay with her, in that house, till I know I’ve done everything I can.”

  “Perhaps you’d better ask Mrs. Rampling before you move in.” His wry grin eased and he took her hands. “Give yourself some time. Let a professional come in, size up the situation and give a report.”

  It made sense, she guessed. Her birth mother obviously needed a comprehensive evaluation and Scarlet had a job she’d neglected back in D.C. But she wanted to be there to help.

  Then it came to her.

  “She could come home with me!”

  “Scarlet, this is her home. You heard her friend. She’s comfortable in familiar surroundings. With people she knows.”

  “Mrs. Rampling could come, too. Or I could fund a vacation for her. She deserves a break.”

  “I don’t think you understand what you’re asking to take on.”

  “I’m her daughter.”

  “Honey, she doesn’t know that.”

  Scarlet let go of his hands. He wasn’t listening.

  “I can’t let you hand over some guilt money,” she said, “then just walk away.”

  He rubbed his jaw, filed a hand back through his hair. Then he looked at the peeling green door. “I’m not sure what you want to happen here.”

  “I want to help her.”

  “She’s beyond help. For God’s sake, Scarlet, you can see that.”

  “You could do that to your mother? Walk away. Give up.”

  His gaze hardened, voice deepened. “We’re not talking about me.”

  “Maybe if you didn’t try to hide from your own past, you wouldn’t feel this way about mine.”

  His smile was thin. “That won’t work.”

  “So stop trying to talk me out of what I feel I have to do. I appreciate all you’ve done. But I have to do what I feel is right. This is my decision.”

  A strange, dark look shuttered the blue steel glinting in his eyes. “You’ve faced this. You needed to. But now you need to get on with your life. Stay in touch with what’s going on here, but you can’t let it eat you up.”

  “I can’t let go of it, either.”

  “The alternative will tear you apart. It’ll make you furious about stuff you can’t change. About stuff that will screw with your head until you want to hit something. Anything.”

  He was speaking about himself, not her.

  “It doesn’t have to be like that. If I bring her home, get some specialists in, take some time off work—”

  “Fine.” Throwing up his hands, his face dark, he backed away. “Your life. Your choice.”

  She wanted to shout, I don’t have a choice.

  “So what are you going to do now?” he asked.

  “Now?”

  “As in this minute now?”

  “I’m going to go back inside, speak to Mrs. Rampling. Explain what I have in mind. Why I think it’s important.”

  “And if she says no?”

  “There are always the courts.”

  “Fun,” he muttered.

  “I’m doing this.” No matter what you say.

  “Then you’ll do it without me.” He cast a glance over at the limo. “I’ll find a cab and leave the car. You’ll need it. Let me know when you want to fly home and I’ll arrange for the jet to pick you up.”

  Her eyes were stinging. Why couldn’t he try to understand? Step out of his own reality and see her point? Understand her needs? Life wasn’t all about running away.

  “I can organize my own transport,” she got out.

  “If that’s the way you want it.”

  She swallowed. “That’s what I want.”

  He looked at her for a long tense moment. When his jutting jaw relaxed, she thought he was going to apologize, hold her, kiss her. But he only exhaled and, shaking his head, walked away.

  Twelve

  “How is she settling in?”

  Descending the stairs of her two-bedroom Georgetown town house, Scarlet hesitated at her stepmother’s question. Faith was visiting her daughter for the second time since Scarlet had brought Imogene back here from Myrtle Beach. As to answering that question: how was she settling in? Scarlet wasn’t certain how to respond. Having her biological mother stay with her was an idea spawned with the very best of intentions. Talking Mrs. Rampling into it had been difficult. The elderly woman had eventually sat back and studied her friend and decided that, if Imogene had retained any of her memory, at this stage in her life she’d probably want to go with her daughter. But she’d insisted on coming along, staying in D.C., too. In hindsight, Scarlet was nothing short of grateful.

  Rather than a hospital stay, a health team had been brought in to assess Imogene. But even the full-time nurse had a hard time when Imogene suddenly went off. Poor woman. Imogene was so thin and worn. It didn’t look as if she had enough strength to move an arm let alone have an outburst.

  Faith was sitting behind the piano. Drawing nearer, Scarlet explained.

  “Mrs. Rampling assures me she’s doing fine. The nurse says she’ll need to be tube-fed soon. She recommended full-time care at a facility that specializes in this kind of patient.”

  Faith was looking absently at the piano keys. She played a few chords of a lilting melody that Scarlet recognized. Something she used to know many years ago. But Scarlet didn’t want to play. She only wanted all the bad feelings to go away. She’d wanted answers but in finding those she’d simply created more questions.

  “What do I do?” she asked. “The nurse wants Imogene
in a home, Mrs. Rampling is waiting patiently to return her friend to Myrtle Beach and I’m responsible for this mess.”

  Faith played a few more chords. The tinkling, the safe memories of that music, made Scarlet feel less lost. She rested her fingers on the keys. Their smooth cool surface made her relax.

  “You understand that what happened all those years ago wasn’t in any way your fault,” Faith said. “If you knew her, before that horrible day…Imogene was so optimistic about life. Generous. Funny. She wouldn’t want you to feel responsible for her now.”

  Scarlet felt torn. Sad for the loss, happy that she’d known that other younger Imogene once, if only for a brief time.

  Sighing, she joined in playing the melody.

  “She was a good mother,” Scarlet finally said, certain of it.

  “Talented, too. When you first began to jump behind the piano, we knew you inherited that gift from her. I can play but Imogene was brilliant.”

  “I haven’t really played in years.”

  “You should start again. Play some old favorites.” Faith sent over a warm smile. “Find some new tunes, too.”

  They’d spoken again about the events that followed that tragic accident years ago. Faith and her father had shown Scarlet photos and accompanied her when she’d asked to see her sister’s grave. Her twin’s name was Laura.

  Since discovering the truth, Scarlet’s sense of betrayal had faded. When she’d had time to have it all sink in, she understood how the situation had come about. The news had been devastating to hear as an adult. Courage is one thing, but at what age could they have told a little girl she’d lost so much?

  Of course, she’d gained something, too. A second mother who, despite her faults, had done her best to try to protect her daughter. Scarlet wondered what kind of relationship she might one day have with her own children. Although, since that argument with Daniel, she couldn’t imagine herself ever walking down an aisle or even having a family, particularly since doctors had suggested there was a chance that Imogene’s disease could be passed down to her.

  The only times she and Daniel had spoken had been a couple of clipped phone calls. As the days dragged on, however, so many times she had almost surrendered and dialed his number. She missed him more than she’d ever thought possible. Lying awake at night, she remembered his laugh, how his strong arms had felt wrapped around her. She missed their conversations and adventures. She ached to have him look into her eyes and tell her again how much she meant to him.

  But Daniel McNeal was the original Mr. Good Time. His world revolved around entertainment and fun. Sometimes she wondered where he found the time to manage a hugely successful company. Everything about Daniel seemed so effortless. So addictive.

  Still, whenever that sinking lonely feeling threatened to engulf her, she reminded herself that he was probably over their affair by now. She’d provided a diversion, but in these circumstances he wouldn’t want to continue seeing her. Or not for long. Hadn’t he made that clear? Her world was too full of constraints and boring protocol and responsibilities. The real Scarlet was back and she’d known all along, on scores that truly counted, she and Daniel McNeal simply weren’t compatible.

  She only hoped it didn’t take a lifetime to convince her heart of that.

  “It must have been hard for you and Dad to have kept those secrets for so long,” Scarlet said.

  “We didn’t want to risk you growing up thinking you weren’t loved. Because you were, and are, very much. Sometimes, when we’re very close to a situation…to a person…it’s difficult to know what’s best.”

  Scarlet looked across and caught Faith’s smile, soft and understanding. Perhaps she wasn’t the only one who had grown and changed these past weeks. This moment she felt close to Faith, her mother, in a way she never had before.

  Scarlet played along with Faith on the piano until they came to the end of the song. Then they turned to each other and hugged. Long and strong. An embrace that said they’d be there for each other no matter what. Mother to daughter, daughter to mom.

  “I always felt privileged to have brought you up,” Faith said, drawing away. “I wanted to give you so much, smother you with love, make sure you were safe. Taken care of. I admit, there were times I went too far.”

  Like making her concerns about Daniel known at that black-tie event. She and Daniel would meet again at Cara and Max’s wedding. Would he treat her with disdain? Sweep her up into his arms and carry her away? More likely he’d bring a date. Scarlet’s stomach swooped. On top of everything else, she didn’t know if she could handle that.

  Scarlet closed the piano lid.

  Her mother’s hand came to rest over hers. “I don’t have to tell you I was pleased when you started seeing Everett. I thought I needed to have you settled, well matched. I’d convinced myself that of course you were happy.”

  “I bumped into Everett the other day. I was about to do the polite thing, say hello. He only gave me a cold, blank look, as if I didn’t exist.”

  Her mother’s face crumpled. “Oh, darling, I’m sorry.”

  She didn’t want her mom to feel bad. Lots of mothers wanted to play matchmaker for their daughters. She saw the end product all the time when she was asked to organize weddings where the mother looked more pleased about the union than the daughter did. That would have been her and Everett. Well, she was certain she’d never make that kind of mistake again.

  Faith brushed a sweep of hair away from Scarlet’s cheek.

  “I like your hair loose,” she said.

  Scarlet was about to say, So does Daniel. Instead, she simply said, “Thanks.”

  Faith lowered her chin. “Have you heard from Daniel since Myrtle Beach?”

  Faith knew about the argument, how upset her daughter had been.

  “We’ve spoken briefly on the phone,” Scarlet said. “He said he was sorry we quarreled.”

  “But you didn’t accept his apology?”

  “Daniel McNeal is all about staying free and easy. He lives on a cloud.”

  “I admit that his reputation did nothing to ingratiate me toward him. Posing nude for a calendar… Is he still going to do that?”

  “I’m not sure.” If he did, they’d sell a million, particularly with that butterfly tattoo in a place the public wouldn’t normally see.

  “It is for a good cause, I suppose…” Faith sighed. “Thing is, after seeing how close you two had grown…after seeing the way he looked at you when you came back from your trip… Frankly, I’ve changed my mind. I believe he truly cares about you.”

  Scarlet swallowed down the rising emotion, the longing that things could be different. “He’ll find someone else.”

  A string of them.

  “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could make everyone we loved happy a hundred per cent of the time?”

  Scarlet studied her mother’s knowing look. And she had to admit—it was true. Although she wished she didn’t, she did love Daniel, and she wished she could make him happy. But after seeing his face, how he reacted at Myrtle Beach, that was never going to happen. He had his priorities and she had hers. This parting might hurt worse than a knife through the heart but in the end it was better they were finished. She only wished she never had to face him again, and so soon.

  * * *

  She’d been away from the office, the duties and friends she loved this long. Early the next morning, Scarlet arrived at DC Affairs and headed straight for Ariella’s office.

  “It’s so good to have you back,” Ariella said as Scarlet crossed over to her friend’s desk and they hugged. “From your texts, I get the sense a lot has been going on.”

  Scarlet filled her friend in on the details of her impromptu trip to Australia. Ariella sighed when she heard about the beaches and koalas. Scarlet passed on how her memory had returned in full. Finally she spoke about those very old memories and tracking down Imogene, bringing her home.

  Of course, being one of the dearest friends she had, Ariella under
stood perfectly.

  “And Daniel McNeal?” she asked.

  “Out of the picture.”

  “Well, that was short but, I’m sure, incredibly sweet.”

  “He’s not known for his long relationships. Thankfully our affair didn’t hit any headlines. I didn’t want any whiff of a scandal affecting business here,” she said stoically, pacing the room.

  “I for one think the whole thing wildly romantic. And given romance is a big part of the name of our game at DC Affairs, who knows. A few leaks might have done us good.”

  Scarlet grinned. She hadn’t thought of it that way.

  “Speaking of leaks…I heard the news on the radio coming in.”

  “About the congressional commission that’s been formed to crack open the hacking scandal?”

  “That, too.”

  ANS’s excuse about having spoken with a housekeeper in uncovering the paternity story hadn’t held water. Leaks and wiretaps had been unearthed all over the place. Email accounts had been hacked. Authorities were determined to get to, and punish, the people who had ordered the eavesdropping and broken the law. The commission had allegedly received audio evidence that confirmed ANS reporters Troy Hall and Brandon Ames plotted to hire hackers to record phone and computer activity of certain relatives of Eleanor Albert—Ariella’s birth mother—and old friends in Fields, Montana, where the president and his high school sweetheart had grown up. Charges were pending.

  Daniel’s name had also been mentioned as being one of the experts who would be called up to testify. He wouldn’t be happy about that. But Ariella must have been grateful—in one way at least—that someone had broken the law and dug into the president’s past.

  “So I guess the entire world knows now,” Scarlet said.

  The press had gone wild. Everyone wanted to know whether there was any truth in Ted Morrow’s claim that he hadn’t a clue he was a father.

  “I won’t give an interview. But, yes. It’s official. President Morrow is Ariella Winthrop’s biological dad.” A small smile curved Ariella’s lips. “We’ve spoken on the phone. He wants to meet me.”