by Nikki Bloom
Glad Poppy had missed meeting my brother, I went up to her room, expecting to find her there. She wasn’t. She wasn’t in the bathroom, either. I checked my bedroom, but it was empty, just like the rest of the house. Where could she have gone off to?
I checked the security footage and saw her leaving just shortly after my brother’s arrival. She left in a rush almost like she was trying to get away from something. Taking a closer look at the video, I saw that she had been crying. “What happened?” I asked aloud, rewinding in an effort to find my answer. Five minutes before storming out, she had stood before the door for an awfully long time. The look on her face was that of someone who had just seen a ghost.
Switching cameras, I checked what was going on in the office at that time and of course, Neil was the culprit. He was making out with his girlfriend and from Poppy’s perspective, it probably looked like I was the one making a move on the personal trainer. If only he had stayed out of my office like I had asked him to.
Okay, so Poppy thinks I’m a jackass. She probably hates me and thinks I’m some kind of douchebag who can’t be trusted, but so long as I show her the footage, she’ll believe me. Right? I mean, I can’t possibly be in two places at once. And once she knows it was all just a misunderstanding, she’ll come home where she belongs. I paced the front foyer, thoughts racing through my head.
Knowing I had to get in touch with Poppy, I called her number, but she didn’t answer. I tried a second time with similar results. The third call went straight to voicemail.
After driving through town, I was starting to get worried. Wherever she had gone, she was keeping herself out of sight. Even if I checked every establishment in town, there was still no guarantee I was going to find her. She could very well be at the house of a girlfriend or perhaps she had gone to watch a movie just to get away. There was really no way for me to know and I was wasting time and gas by driving up and down the main strip.
“There has to be another way…” I banged the steering wheel with my palm as if that would help me come up with a solution. Accidentally, I called up my contact book on the center console. Poppy’s name was listed at the top as a favorite. Underneath it was, Ryan, my number two at D & D. It was then that an idea struck me.
I selected his number and crossed my fingers, hoping he would answer. After the third ring I was starting to lose hope, but then I heard his familiar voice. It was drowned out a bit by background noise, but just having him on the line was enough. “Ryan,” I said. “I need you to do me a favor.”
“What? I can’t hear you.”
“Where are you?”
“Digsters,” he said. “You know, that bar down on Second Street with all the pool tables. I’ve been shooting some pool with your personal assistant, actually.”
“Poppy’s with you?” I make a three-point turn in the middle of a busy street, desperate to turn around and make towards Digsters. “Tell me she’s still there with you, Ryan.”
“She just left, actually. She said something about selling a ring. I thought it a little odd myself, but hey, who was I to get in her way? If you ask me, she seemed a little upset. Everything alright between you two?”
“Everything is fine – just something of a misunderstanding. I’ll have it sorted out just as soon as I get her to answer her phone…”
The background noise died away, replaced with the occasional rush of a passing car. “She isn’t answering your calls? But she was using her phone the whole time she was with me. Are you sure things are alright between you two? If there’s anything I can do, just let me know.” Ryan was an excellent person to have on a corporate team. He knew how to make hires and he was always brimming with innovation, but the guy couldn’t play poker. His intentions were always written all over his face and I had seen the way he looked at Poppy. He wanted her. Well, he couldn’t have her. This whole thing started off as an act, but it had become much more than that. In a few short weeks, she’d become a part of my life – someone to truly care about. I couldn’t possibly let her slip through my fingers just because Neil had made me look like the bad guy. I wouldn’t let him ruin the best relationship I’ve ever had.
“Did she say where she was going?” I asked, but I didn’t need him to answer. It suddenly dawned on me where Poppy would have gone.
Ends and Oddities.
19
Poppy
The sign on the door read ‘closed,’ but with all the lights still on, I decided to knock, hoping Odette would make an exception to her hours of operation for my sake.
I waited for what felt like an eternity. Raising on my tiptoes, I tried to see over the various shelves and displays, but there wasn’t a lick of movement. My shoulders sagged with the heaviness of disappointment. I would just have to charge a hotel room to my credit card because I wasn’t about to go back to the mansion and face Connor – not yet, anyway. My stomach was still twisted into a tight knot that threatened to make me sick.
Maybe I was the only one who felt the strong chemistry between us…
I knocked again.
Out of nowhere, Odette appeared. She was wearing an outfit of bright orange. It was burning my retinas just trying to look directly at her. All the same, I was glad to see her.
“It is late,” she commented. “You should not be here. It was not written in the stars.”
“May I come in?” I asked. “I have something I would like to sell.”
“May I advise that you never sell something of value when you haven’t had the time to think of life without its presence. Whatever is bothering you, my dear, it will come to pass.”
“Please,” I begged. “Just humor me. I don’t really have anyone to turn to.”
“I will not leave you out to the wolves.” With that, she ushered me inside. I expected her to walk toward the counter, but she veered off track and took a seat on a rocking chair. She motioned to the matching pair. “Take a seat. It is easier to discuss issues of the heart while in motion.” She proceeded to rock her chair, resting comfortably, eyes closed.
Thinking it futile to argue with the strange woman, I sat down. I was about to grab the ring when she placed her hand over mine. “You are here because of a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding?” I shook my head and pulled away from her touch. “No. I know what I saw.”
“The mind has a way of coming to conclusions. Do not believe everything your head tries to tell you if your heart is saying something different. Often, it is the heart that is the wiser of the two.”
“Listen to my heart?” It sounded like the kind of cheesy advice I might find rolled up in a fortune cookie. And yet, I could feel the tug of my heartstrings. From the start they had thought it impossible – that Connor would never turn on his word – would never go for a woman so base in character. “But how do I explain what I saw?”
“What did you see?” asked Odette. “What has brought you here?”
I held the ring in the palm of my hand. “I planned on selling this ring,” I said. “Because this afternoon I saw Connor with another woman – the personal trainer who was here trying to argue that her bracelet was made with real diamonds.”
The shop owner nodded her head. “Go on.”
“She was straddled across his lap, tongue down his throat. I’m sure of it. I know what I saw.” I clutched my hand into a fist. It was hard to look at something so beautiful when it meant nothing. “I know you don’t know the story of our engagement, but let me just say that it is complicated, and I think I am done with it. I do not know what I was thinking when I agreed to be his wife, but I no longer feel right going through with the marriage. He isn’t what I wanted.”
Odette offered a sympathetic smile. “I think he is everything you wanted.”
“No!” I got up, hands shaking by my sides. “He can’t be when he’s with someone else…” The tears threatened to overwhelm me, but I held them back. “On that night, I was looking for adventure – a change of pace. My best friend was getting marri
ed, about to start a new life with the love of her life and I was stuck in a rut, always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Honestly, I was sick of it. I think that’s what made me go along with his crazy idea, but I never thought I would…” I couldn’t say the word ‘love’ because it would hurt too much to admit it. “It was a mistake. All of it. I should have walked away while I had the chance, but now I’m in too deep. I can’t stay here.”
I tried giving Odette the ring. She refused to take it from me.
“That piece of jewelry is priceless. I cannot make an offer on it because it marks someone’s love for you.”
“Ha! You think Connor loves me?”
“It isn’t a matter of opinion.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means that I know he loves you.”
“And how would you know that? Have you had a peek inside his head with a crystal ball? Or maybe you consulted the cards and they told you we were soulmates – destined to be. Well, it’s all a bunch of bullshit and I’m not blaming you, Odette, because if there’s anyone to blame here, it’s me. I should have seen this coming from the start.”
I was about to take my ring and leave when I heard the bell dinging from the front door.
Odette and I both turned around to see Connor walking through the door. “It isn’t what you think.” He reached us in a few short strides. “Just give me the time to explain.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “That’s what you want, isn’t it? You want me to let you weave your little story and come running back into your arms, but it isn’t going to work. I know what I saw and there’s no point in you wasting your breath trying to deny it.”
“It was Neil.”
That was certainly a response I wasn’t expecting. “What are you talking about?”
“You saw my brother Neil. He’s not very good at listening. I told him to stay out of my office and of course, that’s the first place he goes.”
“Why was Rhianna with him?”
“They are dating now,” he said. “It was probably her idea to tag along. She probably thought it would make me jealous to see them together, but frankly, it just made me a little sad. My brother has always had ridiculously low standards, but this is a new record. I don’t think he knows what he’s gotten himself into. They won’t last more than a week.” Connor was breathless like he’d been running a marathon. Slowly, he inched toward me, but he didn’t dare make any sudden movements like he was afraid I might run away and never be seen again.
“Your twin, Neil…” I said aloud.
“Yes. As I swore to you before, I never have any intention of dating a woman like that. She isn’t worth my time. But you – you’re a different story.” His hand found the side of my face, framing it with his palm. It was warm and just a little bit sweaty like he was nervous. “The day I met you, you caught my attention the second I looked your way. While every other girl ran around fretting about this or that, you had stolen the bride’s bouquet, just trying to have a bit of fun. There wasn’t a single moment when I saw you fuss over your hair or your makeup. You were confident and comfortable in your own skin and I loved that about you. I knew you were the kind of girl who would walk with her head held high.”
He moved closer still. The heat coming from his body felt feverish like the words were burning him up from the inside.
“I can’t explain the way you make me feel when you walk into a room, but it’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before. It brightens my day. And when I have you in my arms? I can ask for nothing more. I’d give up everything I’ve ever worked for if it meant I could spend the rest of my life with you, hearing about your day and seeing the crinkle of your nose whenever you’re focusing on something. Please,” he breathed, “don’t leave.” His eyes bore into mine for a moment before he went for the kiss that changed everything.
He didn’t need to say anything else because at that moment, my heart understood. Connor loved me just as much as I loved him. Maybe our time together was short and maybe the start of our relationship was a bit unorthodox, but that didn’t matter because the chemistry was there and it would only grow stronger and bloom brighter with each passing day – each passing year.
We clung to each other like it was the only thing keeping us alive. Too caught up in the moment, I didn’t hear the bell above the door. I don’t think anyone did because the robber took us by surprise.
“Hands up! Don’t Move!” he hissed from behind a mask. There was a gun in his hand, and he had it pointed at Connor. “Get away from the girl and stand over there.” He pointed to the intended area, cocking the gun to make his demand all the more serious, but Connor did not move.
“You can have all the money in the cash box. There isn’t much, but what’s there is yours,” said Odette, trying to address the issue at hand.
“Move!” the robber yelled at Connor.
“Okay, I’m moving, see? No need to point that gun at me. You’re the one in charge here.” Connor spoke calmly like he was one of those special forces cops trained to talk during hostage situations.
“That’s right. I’m in charge here. Now, where’s the money?”
“The cashbox is behind the counter.”
“You.” He pointed the gun at me. “Empty the cash register for me.”
Connor glanced in my direction and gave the slightest of nods. This criminal was clearly deranged and for the sake of everyone’s safety, it was best just to play along.
“Okay,” I said, slowly inching towards the counter. He was right behind me, which made me nervous, but I reminded myself to stay calm. “Where do you want me to put the money?”
He grabbed a nearby shoe box, dumped the shoes, and handed over the box. “Here,” he grunted. “Now, get a move on.”
My hands trembled as I gathered the money. Poor Odette. The shop was her livelihood and this scumbag found himself entitled to take it all. What had he done to earn it? Absolutely nothing.
It became harder and harder for me to hold my tongue.
“Underneath, too,” he said. “There’s where all the big bills are kept.”
I did what I was told, but as a stack of one-hundred-dollar bills went into the box, I lost my cool. “Robbing someone of their hard earned money won’t solve your problems.” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop myself from saying them.
The robber’s eyes darkened as he cocked the gun. “What did you say to me, you little bitch?”
“You heard me. You’re robbing this woman of money she worked hard for and you think because you have a gun you can just come in here and take that away from her?” Suddenly, I held the box behind my back. Something had possessed me in that moment. I wouldn’t turn over the money. It went against every moral.
“I’ll show you what this gun can do.” Suddenly, he had his finger on the trigger and I was looking down a barrel. My life flashed before my eyes – the childhood fishing trips with my father – the pain in the ass braces I had to deal with during high school – but more than that, it was all the little conversations I had shared with Connor where, in the end, a simple smile said it all. Was I about to lose all that for my outspoken ways?
It happened in an instant. One second, everyone was still, the air tense. In the next, there was an explosion of movement. Connor went for the robber, tackling him to the ground. All I could do was scream. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Odette run. A heartbeat later, the alarm went off. It was deafening, paired with a disco of red and blue lights. But above all the racket I heard the sound that turned my blood to ice.
Bang!
A stain of crimson seeped into the carpet. Who had gotten shot? I could barely see straight, but with Connor still struggling with the criminal, I knew I had to do something. How would I ever forgive myself if I stood by and did nothing while the love of my life died trying to protect me?
I grabbed whatever was closest to me – a vase. It could have been an heirloom worth a million dollars. At that moment I didn’
t care. My hands were sweaty as I adjusted my grip, readying myself to swing. I put my weight behind the blow praying I wouldn’t hit Connor by mistake. The vase shattered on impact. There was a groan. The masked robber dropped into an unconscious heap.
With adrenaline still pumping through my veins, I grabbed something else, prepared to swing again should the thug so much as twitch a pinky, but he did not move. In the distance, I could hear the sirens. The police would soon arrive and take away the man that had threatened all our lives.
“Damn.” Connor was sitting with his back against a nearby wall. He had his hand against his shoulder, which was painted a deep red.
“You’re bleeding!” I was beside him in an instant, trying to survey the damage. I didn’t know anything about gunshot wounds, but it looked pretty bad. “Oh, why did you have to go and play the hero?” Shaking as I was, I still managed to tear off a part of my dress and use it to apply pressure. He groaned, the pain intensifying at my touch. “I know. I know. You just have to stay strong for a little while longer until the ambulance gets here. They’ll take good care of you. I promise.” My voice wavered as the tears started rolling down my cheeks. I could see just how pale he was becoming. His eyelids became heavy, head drooping forward. I was losing him. “No. Stay with me.”
He blinked with eyes unfocused like he didn’t quite know who he was.
“Connor!”
He did not respond.
My heart fell to the floor. Was he already gone?
20
Connor
I felt…strange.
There was pain radiating from my shoulder, but it had been numbed to some degree, leaving this tingling sensation just underneath my skin. I tried to move but nothing would budge. It was like there was this great weight bearing down on my arm keeping it stiff.