“I recognize the guilt Luke has been struggling with since Jake died. I see it in his eyes. He wanted to be able to save his only brother the same way I wanted to save mine. Sure, the circumstances were different. Jake was sick, while Vincent’s life was claimed by a drunk driver. I never intended to fall in love with you Debra. It started out much the same as it did for these kids. I was just trying to do the noble thing, and look after my brother’s girl.” He smiled as the memories washed over him. “I fell in love with you and I fell harder than I ever imagined possible.” He reached up and removed her sunglasses, his smiled widened, looking into her tearful eyes. “It was the best thing that ever happened to me. Vincent brought you into my life, and I will always be thankful to my brother. The life you and I made together was the best gift my brother could’ve ever given me. Our Jake did the same thing for his brother. It’s as if lightning struck twice for our family.”
Deb very rarely allowed herself to visit those early days of meeting Joe Lanza. Sure, she loved her husband with her whole heart. She loved the life they shared and was so grateful for all their blessings. But when she did allow herself the trip down memory lane, she couldn’t help but remember her dear Vincent. The first man she ever loved, the man who had been tragically ripped away from her.
She was much younger than Cara when she lost Vincent, barely twenty years old, when he had passed away. They too had been engaged to be married. Like Cara, Deb never married her first love, she was only left to mourn him and the wedding that never would be. Joe had been a pillar of strength for her back then. They had forged an unlikely friendship and from that friendship a love was born. Her love for her husband was different than the love she had for Vincent and only grew as the years passed them by. It didn’t take away from what she felt for Vincent, the young love of two carefree people.
However, Joe was her soul mate. The man she was destined to be with, the man she made a beautiful family with. With each year that had passed them by, their love grew, the doubts that she had once had, had been erased. Still, when she lost her son, she couldn’t help but wonder if Jake’s death was God’s version of Karma. She never told her husband instead, she sought counsel with her priest. She never wanted Joe to feel the guilt that she had when they lost their youngest son, but still she couldn’t help but wonder if her and Joe’s union had a hand in Jake’s destiny. A mother’s love is tricky that way, always second guessing the decisions of the past, and how they play a hand in your children’s future.
“When Luke and I went fishing, he confided in me.” He sighed. “I wanted to tell him about my brother, but I thought that story was better left for you to tell.” He paused for a moment. “Cara is torn between her feelings for Luke and her past with Jake. She’s also worried about what we’re going to think. I tried to tell Luke that isn’t an issue, but something tells me it’s not Luke, who needs the reassurance, but instead it’s Cara.”
Deb swallowed and looked back at her son and the girl she had come to love as a daughter. She watched as Cara pushed past Luke and started to step out of the pool. Her son hung his head in defeat. Deb looked back at her husband.
“Those kids need some healing, just like you and I once did.” Joe shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe their story will be even greater than ours.”
Deb found her smile at those words and gazed lovingly at her soul mate. “I don’t know about that, we have a pretty amazing story.”
“That we do, dear. That we do.” Joe winked at his bride of thirty-five years, hoping for another thirty-five years of their story.
* * * * *
Cara fastened the towel around her and glanced back at Luke. “Well buddy, I’ll see you around.”
“Where are you going?” Luke said, not liking the distance that they shared.
Cara shrugged her shoulders, wishing they weren’t in paradise anymore. She could busy herself back home pretending that Luke didn’t just wreck any resolve she had come to, but in paradise, not so much.
“Cara, this is what you wanted isn’t it?” Luke asked because he felt like he was gutting himself, under the impression this is what she needed. It was going to kill him to retreat back to the casualness that seemed lost to him, but he’d suck it up and deal if it’s what she wanted.
“I’ll see you later, Luke.” She said fleetingly and forced herself to walk away. She lifted her head and saw Deb and Joe leaning back against their lounge chairs watching her and Luke’s entire exchange. She groaned and flipped her sunglasses down and waved slightly before disappearing in the other direction. Paradise sucked when your head wasn’t into it. Or maybe when your head wasn’t, but your heart was.
Chapter Twenty Five
Cara swiveled in her chair, chewing on the cap of her pen, staring out the window into the parking lot. It was a slow day at Riverdale Ink, but then again, Friday’s usually didn’t pick up until the night hours anyway. They had been back from Cabo over a week and the instant the plane’s wheels touched down on New York soil, Cara ran from Luke and the conflicted feelings he provoked in her. The last few days of their vacation, after Luke politely, of course, gave her the “let’s be friends’ kiss off, had been painful to say the least. New Year’s Eve was the worse of the trip. What she had once envisioned as a romantic night for her and Luke, turned into both of them awkwardly kissing Ava’s cheeks at the stroke of midnight. When she wasn’t avoiding him, they were pretending everything was okay in front of Ava. When Deb and Joe were around they were just buddies shooting the shit. She hated it. She hated all of it, the whole façade they were putting on. It was beginning to dawn on her that she was the reason for all of it too, which was even more disturbing.
Jake hadn’t visited her dreams again. He was probably pissed at her too. She snarled, at least she had Benny to keep her company. Her swiveling came to halt when Pete’s tattooed hand grabbed the back of the chair and his other hand came around her to present a manila envelope.
“You’re making me dizzy, Cara.” He said, turning the chair around so she could face him.
“Sorry.” She offered and looked at the envelope before cocking one perfectly sculpted eyebrow at him. “What’s this?”
“The bills for the week and the invoices, Luke said this is your job now.” He said as he dropped the envelope into her lap and crossed his arms against his chest.
“Oh, did he? When did you speak to Luke?” She asked curiously.
“He called to cancel our weekly meeting. Apparently you’re not just a pretty face at Riverdale Ink.” He said, holding back the smirk when her eyes narrowed at him. “Big boss Man, says you’ll be taking care of all the paperwork, making you Big Boss Lady.”
She wouldn’t be getting her weekly phone call from Luke, telling her that he deposited the profits in her checking account anymore. The calls she once dreaded had become something she looked forward to each week. She stopped ignoring the calls once she came back home from Lakeview, looking forward to the light banter they would share.
“Hello? Earth to Big Boss Lady. Is it the name? Would you rather be called just Cara?” Pete asked with a hint of amusement in his voice.
Cara shook her head clear and looked back at the envelope in her lap before glancing back up at Pete. “Big Boss Lady works.” She said flatly. Pete laughed and turned to walk back to his station. “Pete?”
“Yeah?” He asked, glancing over his shoulder at her.
“Did Luke happen to say anything else?” Cara chewed on her lip the minute the words left her mouth.
He raised an eyebrow amused at her question. “No Boss Lady, sorry.”
Cara shrugged. “No biggie.” She blew out a breath and lifted the envelope. “I’ll get to work on this.”
Pete started for his station, but stopped mid-stride and turned around. “If it’s any consolation, he sounded just as miserable as you look.” Cara didn’t turn around so he turned back around and continued to his station. Pete’s statement should’ve made her feel a little better, but it didn’t. She he
ard the soft chime of her phone signaling she had received a text message. She sighed as she reached for her phone.
Sam: See you tonight. Nick is going out so it will be just us girls.
Cara smiled slightly and busied her fingers typing out her reply. She wasn’t sure how much Sam knew about her and Luke, but Cara could guarantee after tonight she’d know everything, Cara very much needed a friend she could confide in.
Cara: Can’t wait. I’ll bring the Chinese food and lots of it.
* * * * *
Luke pushed open the door to his house and stepped aside, letting Ava storm passed him. She dropped her book bag on the floor and stomped into the house. Luke looked after her as he walked inside, bending down to pick up the discarded book bag.
“Ava, can you please get back here and bring your book bag upstairs.” He said with his patience holding on by a thread. Since they had been home from Mexico, Ava had picked up a bit of an attitude. He tried to talk to her, he tried to get her to admit to him what was bothering her, but she brushed him off. He couldn’t wait for the teenage years. He watched her snatch her book bag and roll her eyes. What the hell did he do to piss her off, too? He shook his head, concurring that he’d never figure it out.
“I’ll order the pizza.”
“I’m not hungry.” She bit back.
“Well, you have to eat dinner.” His voice became firmer. “Go wash up and when you come down, do yourself a favor and lose the attitude.”
Ava kept her back to him and stomped back up the stairs. She didn’t have to be facing him to know that his little girl was giving him another dramatic roll of her eyes. Luke sighed heavily and walked further into his house, flipping through the stack of mail as he did so. Not really giving a damn about the bills he threw them onto the counter and reached for the phone to order the pizza when the doorbell rang. He ran his fingers through his hair as he made his way back to the front door. The doorbell rang obnoxiously as if a child was ringing it. Maybe it was the paper boy, did he even get the paper? Hell, if he knew. His head was up his ass these days struggling with his decision to make things between him and Cara casual. He wondered how casual had become nonexistent. After their plane had landed, they had shared a taxi and Cara insisted the cab driver drop her off first at her apartment. He had offered to carry her suitcase up for her, but she wanted no part of him. She gave a sleeping Ava a kiss and scurried away from Luke, as if nothing had ever happened between them. That was the last time he had spoken to her.
He pulled open the door and came face to face with the obnoxious doorbell ringer, also known as his brother-in-law. He fought the urge to slam the door in his smiling face. Damn the bastard for being happy, and then he damned himself for being a jealous prick.
“What’re you doing here?” Luke asked.
“Still have your panties in a twist, do you?” Nick asked, his smile never faltering. Luke knew he was being a jerk. He also knew that Nick had taken the brunt of it since he had been back from his honeymoon. He was surprised the poor schmuck even showed up at Lanza Automotive, today, especially after the lashing he had given him yesterday for no apparent reason. The fact that he was at his doorstep with a six pack of beer was a mere miracle.
“I picked up some beer for us and a six pack of Capri Sun for the coolest kid I know.” Nick glanced over Luke’s shoulder. “Where is she anyway?”
“She’s upstairs avoiding me at all costs.”
“You really have a way with the female population.” Nick said sarcastically as he pushed through the door and made himself at home, walking into the living room. “I brought you something that will hopefully put you in a better mood.”
“I doubt it.” Luke said, knowing the only thing that would fix his mood would be seeing Cara.
Nick pulled a DVD out of the plastic bag and waved it in front of Luke. The bastard was waving a copy of Dirty Dancing in his face, with a shit-eating grin to boot.
“I don’t like you very much anymore.” Luke said as a matter of fact. “In fact, you’re becoming one of my least favorite people.”
“I love you too schnookums!” Nick said, unfazed by Luke. “I like peppers and onions on my pizza, and a little crumbled sausage.” He shoved the drinks into Luke’s arms. “Put these in the fridge will you? Thanks you’re a gem! I’m gonna get the movie started.”
“I’m not watching Dirty Dancing.” Luke said with his arms full. After all, a man had to draw the line somewhere, didn’t he?
“Too many memories?” Nick patted him on the shoulder. “Poor guy, you miss her don’t you?”
Luke’s eyebrows drew together as he peered at Nick trying to figure whether or not he was serious or busting his balls as usual. “I already told you this morning at the garage I don’t want to talk about it.” With that being said, he turned around and left Nick in the living room.
Nick watched him until he was out of sight before he pulled out his phone and quickly typed a text to his wife.
Nick: I’m in! Operation Your Brother Is A Jerk in full effect!
He waited for Sam’s response while keeping one eye on the kitchen where Luke was.
Sam: Cara just got here. Good luck, eye on the prize.
Nick: Remind me of the prize again.
Sam: Me… naked.
Nick: Visuals would help. Just saying a picture would probably keep me focused.
Nick looked up from his phone when he heard the sound of footsteps bounding down the stairs. Ava looked up at him, surprised, her face softening when his eyes met hers.
“Uncle Nick, what are you doing here?” She asked as she sat down on the couch, her big blue eyes happy to see him. He shoved his phone back into his pocket and grinned at her.
“Hey, Pipsqueak. I missed you.” He sat down beside her and tousled her hair.
“I missed you too. Thank you for my souvenir, Aunt Sam gave it to me today when she took me home from school.”
“You’re welcome. Aunt Sam told me you were upset today. That’s really why I’m here. Want to talk about it?” Nick asked, remembering how Operation Your Brother Is A Jerk came about. When Nick arrived home from a grueling day of dealing with Luke at the garage, he found his wife pushing him back out the door, demanding he go talk to Luke. He had no desire to spend any more quality time with the grumpy bastard. He fought the good fight too, and told his wife that Luke was a self-declared master of women. He had them figured out what possibly could Nick say to remedy the situation? And then the little vixen he married, started to undress right before his very eyes. She pouted and told him she was worried about Ava, that, their niece seemed mad at the world since things with Luke and Cara had gone south.
Ava looked towards the hallway to see if her dad was anywhere in sight before she turned back to Nick. “My dad and Cara aren’t talking anymore.” She looked down at her hands. “It’s different than when Leah went away. I love Cara.” She whispered. “I thought she loved me too.”
“Did you tell your dad how you’re feeling?” Nick asked.
“No.” She sniffled. Christ up above, she was crying. Nick wasn’t prepared for this.
He blew out a breath and tried to formulate a plan to help a child understand that well, adults, are sometimes their own worst enemy. “Cara loves you Ava. Don’t you doubt that for one second. We all love you, more than you’ll ever know.”
“Then how come she doesn’t come around anymore? I haven’t seen Benny since Christmas.” She choked out.
“What if I told you that Cara and your dad are not the brightest crayons in the box?” That should work right? Crayons? Kids? They go hand in hand.
“I think my dad loves her, you know?” Ava whispered. “He was always smiling when she was around. And you know, she didn’t look so sad anymore, like she did when Uncle Jake went to heaven.”
Nick nodded. “They both smiled a lot more than usual around each other.”
“So what happened?” Ava asked as her shoulders slumped.
“I’m not sure, baby. But
sometimes adults need a push in the right direction.”
“Will you help me push them?” Ava asked hopefully.
Nick wanted more than to push Luke, but didn’t tell Ava that.
“Who are you pushing?” Luke asked as he leaned against the wall, crossing his arms against his chest as he peered at Nick and his daughter suspiciously. Ava looked up at her dad and then back to her uncle. Nick winked at her.
“It’s time you sat down, brother.” Nick said flatly. “Me and the Pipsqueak would like a word.” He eyed his friend. “Now.” He said firmly.
* * * * *.
Sam reached for the pint of Lo-Mein, digging in with her chopsticks. She lifted her gaze to Cara, who was poking around another container with her own set of chopsticks, barely eating.
“There is an unspoken rule, that, you have to pig out with your pregnant friend.” Sam said as she filled her mouth with the noodles.
“I’m eating.” Cara said defensively and popped a water chestnut into her mouth. “See.”
Sam rolled her eyes as she swallowed her mouthful of food. “Sure you are.” She put her carton down and pointed her chopsticks at her friend. “Are you going to tell me what is wrong or am I going to have to force it out of you?”
“Be careful what you wish for.” Cara said softly and then blew out a breath. “Okay, okay.” She looked at Sam. “I’ll tell you, but you have to promise not to hate me afterward.”
“I promise.” Sam said and leaned forward anxiously.
Cara bit down on her lip as she placed her chopsticks down and met Sam’s waiting gaze. “The night of your wedding, Luke and I, well, we slept together.” She said with a sigh. “We barely slept.” She felt her cheeks flush as she remembered Luke’s hands all over her body. She closed her eyes and relished in the memory, his big palm sliding over her ass as she crawled onto the bed, she needed those hands on her again or she would burst.
Fitting The Pieces (The Riverdale Series Book 3) Page 30