Forbidden Promises

by Synithia Williams

  “You always did try to take care of me,” she said in a slurred, sleepy voice. Then her eyes closed, and she was out.

  Travis let out the breath he’d held. She wouldn’t remember this. If she did, she wouldn’t ask why he’d been there. She never talked about these low points. One of the reasons he’d accepted they’d never be able to fall in love with each other. He’d hoped to save her, but Elaina didn’t want to be saved.

  Travis brushed the hair away from her face, sighed and then left her on the couch. He went back to the kitchen. Threw away the empty bottle and put the glass in the sink before walking out the door.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  “INDIA, THERE’S SOMEONE I’d like you to meet.”

  India turned away from putting her violin back in the case to face Jocelyn. She’d just finished practicing with the chamber ensemble for the performance in the museum’s auditorium. The chair of the museum’s board stood with a man who looked to be in his midfifties. He watched India with a steady gaze from behind square-framed glasses.

  “This is—”

  “Nikolas Kastikov,” India interrupted. She grinned and held out her hand to him. “Music director for the Tri-City Philharmonic and music professor at North Carolina State. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  Nikolas grinned, creating wrinkles at the corners of his blue eyes. “The pleasure is all mine. When Jocelyn told me you were going to be a guest performer at the museum and that you were practicing here today, I had to drop by and meet you.”

  He held out his hand to shake hers. India clasped his hand in both of hers and pumped their joined hands enthusiastically. “I’m honored. I wouldn’t think you’d go out of your way for that.”

  “I am a big fan of the Transatlantic Orchestra. You’re the assistant principal violinist for them, am I correct?”

  India let go of his hand. “I was, but I’m not with the orchestra anymore. I’m only in town until the end of my brother’s campaign.”

  “And after that?”

  She shrugged. “I submitted a request to audition for the LA Philharmonic and got the okay to audition. First rounds are next month.”

  Nikolas’s face fell, and he crossed his arms. “That’s unfortunate.”

  India frowned. True, she wasn’t as enthused to have gotten the reply as she’d expected to be, but that was no reason for Nikolas to look disappointed. This would be a big career move. “Why?”

  “I’m looking for an assistant director. I’d hoped you would be interested in the job.”

  She was momentarily at a loss for words. He should have no trouble finding anyone interested in working with him, but for him to come down to the art museum and directly mention the position to her was flattering. She’d expected to be invited to audition if she’d applied. Not to be sought out.

  “I would be if I were staying in town.” The comment was supposed to be a statement, but her voice rose at the end, making it a question. Did she have to leave town?

  “Would you be interested in staying in Jackson Falls for a little longer?” Nikolas asked as if he’d picked up on her own doubts.

  She was interested in staying longer. Her family was here. She missed being home. But staying meant telling Elaina and the rest of her family about Travis. Staying meant trusting she and Travis would survive the coming storm. That their feelings were real.

  You want to tell them. You want everyone to know. You love him.

  She met Nikolas’s gaze. “I am interested in staying home longer. I’ll consider auditioning for your position.”

  Nikolas smiled and nodded. “Good. I know Jackson Falls has nothing on Los Angeles, but bigger isn’t always better.”

  “That’s very true,” India agreed. Excitement crept into her voice, and she worked hard to keep it contained so she wouldn’t appear too eager as she and Nikolas chatted for a few more minutes.

  India thought about Nikolas’s offer as she left the museum. It was perfect. She was spending a lot more time at the museum and had made contact with other local musicians. Penelope had practically jumped with excitement when India mentioned Nikolas’s offer before she left. Penelope played with the Tri-City Philharmonic and thought India would be a perfect addition. The reasons to stay home were growing stronger.

  Still she kept her enthusiasm and visions of working closer to home very close to her heart. She’d gotten her hopes up once before and that had ended in heartbreak. This time with Travis felt different, more tangible and real. In the week since that night in her room, they’d managed to catch a few moments together, but mostly spent their time on the phone or texting. Maybe the time was right. They were right. But that didn’t make her want to dive into anything without being absolutely sure.

  Not wanting to go back to the estate, India headed for Byron’s campaign office. There were always phone calls to make, envelopes to stuff or fund-raising plans to be made. She’d occupy her time helping her brother instead of sitting at home debating all the reasons to stay home versus leaving.

  Even if things didn’t work out, did she really want to run away from home again? That was what she’d done before. All those years ago, she hadn’t confronted Travis to ask why he’d kissed her but proposed to Elaina. Hadn’t admitted to Elaina what happened between her and Travis. She’d backed away without standing up for herself.

  She’d grown since then. She’d learned to be stronger and independent. If Travis backed out again, it would crush her heart, but she would survive. She couldn’t let fear of what would or wouldn’t happen stop her from considering what she wanted in all aspects of her life. Especially the career she’d fought to build. LA had been a decision she’d jumped on out of fear. She didn’t want to be afraid to live her truth anymore.

  Byron’s office was full of the distracting noise and chatter she needed. She waved to the volunteers at the phones on her way back to her brother’s office. She knocked and waited for Byron’s deep voice to tell her to come in before entering.

  “India, what are you doing here?” Byron stood behind his desk. “I was just leaving for a meeting with potential donors.”

  India waved him off. “That’s fine. I wasn’t ready to go home after the practice today. I decided to come volunteer for the next United States senator from our area.”

  Byron grinned and slipped the jacket off the back of his leather chair. “Help is always welcome around here.” He glanced her way “And I appreciate the confidence you have in me.” His voice filled with gratitude.

  “You’ve got a good heart, Byron. The voters will be lucky to have you.”

  His eyes filled with appreciation. “How was practice?” He put the jacket on, then moved to the mirror next to his desk and adjusted his tie.

  She smiled and hurried over to help him. “Really good. I miss playing with a group. I’m looking forward to the performance.” She stepped back so he could see himself in the mirror.

  Byron looked at her handiwork with the tie and nodded. “Well, just know Yolanda and I both plan to attend.”

  She forced the smile to remain on her face. She’d decided to stop arguing with Byron about his fiancée. For better or worse, she was the woman he’d chosen. The least India could do was pretend to respect his decision. Especially since she was currently hiding the fact that she was sleeping with his best friend.

  The difference is you love Travis.

  “Great!” she said, forcing the thought aside. “I’ll be sure to save you both a seat up close.”

  Byron nodded at his reflection, then picked up his messenger bag and kissed her forehead.

  India raised a brow. “What was that for?”

  “For not rolling your eyes when I mentioned Yolanda,” he said sincerely. “Your support there is appreciated, as well.”

  She patted her brother’s chest. No part of her ever wanted to run for public office, so she couldn’t say
how she’d deal with the pressures he faced. Her brother would fight for the people in this area, and if she wanted him to win, she also had to live with his campaign strategy. “As long as you’re happy, I’m happy.”

  “I am happy, and I’ll be happier when I win.” He checked his watch. “I’ll come by the house later for dinner. Will you be there?”

  “That’s the plan so far.”

  “Good. See you later.”

  With one last smile, Byron was gone. India went to the office manager to find out where she could help. A few minutes later she was on the phone making calls. The busywork did as expected and kept her mind off the decisions she needed to make. Moving, Travis, the jumble of her life.

  After two hours on the phone, India took a break. She grabbed a doughnut from the break room and a bottle of water. She was considering finishing out the day on the phone when Elaina showed up. She came through the door and shot toward Byron’s office with a determined stride. She didn’t bother to look at the rest of the people in the office and didn’t notice India coming out of the break room.

  “Elaina, Byron isn’t in there,” India called out just as her sister put her hand on the knob to Byron’s door.

  Elaina spun and frowned at India. “Where is he?”

  “A meeting with donors.” India strolled over to her sister. “Do you need something?”

  Elaina looked impeccable as ever in a fitted light gray suit. Her dark hair was pulled back from her face in a sleek ponytail, makeup so flawless India could barely tell she wore anything. India glanced at the doughnut in her hand, then noticed the ink stain on her shirt from earlier when she’d slipped the pen into her neckline while she’d been on the phone. Even in a rush, Elaina looked polished and beautiful.

  India had let go of the old feelings of inadequacy when standing next to her sister. Elaina was so like their mother in the way she went through life, as if daring the world to challenge her. Now India saw Elaina used that as an armor to keep others out. She didn’t really know her sister, what she wanted, how she felt, who she confided in. Regret hit India as she realized that if she got what she wanted, she and her sister would never have that relationship.

  Elaina’s frown deepened. She looked around the room as if expecting to see Byron pop up out of nowhere. “It’s nothing.”

  “He said he was coming by the house for dinner later. You can catch him then.”

  “I was hoping to avoid dinner at home today,” Elaina said sourly.

  Elaina and Grant were coolly cordial as ever, but the strain since the night of their fight was like a grenade in the room whenever they were together. While everyone in the room hoped neither would pull the pin. “Everything okay? At the office, I mean?”

  Elaina elegantly flipped her wrist. “I’m behaving myself, if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “No, I’m asking if everything is okay with you.” India met her sister’s eyes. “If you need anything. Even if it’s someone to talk to.”

  Elaina’s sharp gaze darted to the people in the office, then back to Elaina. She pointed to Byron’s door. “Is this locked, or can we go in here?”

  Okay, what was that look about? “We can go in. He doesn’t lock it when he leaves.”

  Elaina snorted, something she did only when she was really agitated, and opened the door. “Byron is too trusting. I’ve always told him that.”

  India followed Elaina into the office and closed the door behind them. Elaina’s brows were drawn together and her eyes were focused on India’s shirt.

  Elaina’s eyes narrowed and she leaned in to inspect. “Seriously, India, what’s that on your shirt?”

  Of course, her sister would zero in on that. Classic deflection from whatever bothered her. “Ink. It’s fine, the shirt is old. Now, can you tell me what’s going on?”

  Elaina straightened and clasped her hands tightly in front of her midsection. “Well...have you heard anything?”

  Cryptic as ever. India took a deep breath. When Elaina was agitated, she used any sign of frustration as an excuse to cut short a conversation. “Anything about what?”

  “Travis,” she said as if India should have known immediately whom she referred to. “Is he seeing someone new?” Elaina said the words quickly, her face pinching up as if she hated to even reveal that she wanted to know.

  If Elaina would have cut a backflip and sung “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” she wouldn’t have thrown India off more. India’s stomach did the backflip instead. “What? Why are you asking me?”

  “Because he talks to you.” She turned away and paced toward Byron’s desk and back. “He always did talk to you more. You were his little buddy, remember?” Elaina said sarcastically. She stopped pacing and rushed back over to India. Her eyes focused and piercing. “I thought maybe you two picked back up with the BFF vibe you had before.”

  India wanted a hole to open in the floor and suck her to the center of the Earth. “That was a long time ago—”

  Elaina scoffed. “Please, you two seem to have vibed again,” she said in a tight voice. She’d never made India feel bad about her friendship with Travis, but Elaina also never talked to India about Travis in anything but a superficial way. She’d never come to India asking for information on how Travis was thinking or feeling. India fought not to squirm under the discomforting realization that her family’s fears that Elaina hadn’t moved on because she still cared may be true.

  “We have to work together because of Byron’s campaign,” India explained and felt worse for the lie of omission.

  Elaina crossed her arms and studied India closely. “But he talks to you. I ran into Camille and she mentioned she and Travis were done. Did he tell you why?”

  She knew Travis and Camille were done. He’d wanted India to know about their split before he’d come to Asheville. That he wouldn’t have slept with her if he were still with Camille.

  “Why do you care if she and Travis are done?” She tossed the question back to change the line of questioning.

  Elaina blinked several times. Her chin lifted. “I wouldn’t typically,” she said defensively. “But she also mentioned Travis said he had a second chance with someone. I got the feeling she told me this because she thinks I’m the second chance.” Elaina shifted her shoulders as if she were uncomfortable with the idea. Uncomfortable or excited?

  India’s stomach flopped. Before, the idea of Elaina still having feelings for Travis was an abstract thought. Now it felt very real. She watched her sister closely as icy fingers of anxiety slipped up her spine. “Are you interested in a second chance?” She carefully kept her voice neutral.

  “No, of course not.” Elaina toyed with the edge of her collar, her artfully manicured brows drawn together. “I mean, I never thought...not since he made it very clear he didn’t want to go down that road again.”

  India stilled. “Did you try to go down that road?”

  “Once—it was stupid.” Elaina sounded annoyed. “After his grandmother died. I went over to see him. I thought there was something, but obviously I was wrong. He sent me away.”

  India barely hid her shock. Travis’s grandmother died months after his divorce with Elaina was final. Which meant that after they were separated, Elaina had tried to get back with him. If he turned her down, that explained her sister’s animosity. Elaina wasn’t vulnerable for anyone. For her to have tried to reconcile with Travis must have meant she’d trusted him to see a part of herself she never showed anyone, only to have him reject her.

  “I wonder what changed with him,” Elaina continued in a distracted voice.

  “What changed with you? I thought you hated Travis.”

  “I don’t hate him,” Elaina said in a don’t-be-silly voice. “I don’t like how he thinks he knows me. Then there was the dream the other night.”

  “What dream?” Her sister was still dreaming about Travis. India’s ch
est hurt.

  Elaina looked embarrassed. India had never seen Elaina embarrassed. “I thought he...” She waved a hand and quickly schooled her features into the usual mask of indifference. “It doesn’t matter. I just want to know if I have to deal with this along with everything else.” She sounded exasperated. Her sister hit her with a direct stare. “So, do you know anything?”

  India’s hand clenched. Something soft oozed between her fingers. She glanced down at the crushed half of the doughnut she hadn’t finished. She needed a minute before looking at Elaina again. She hurried to the trash can and dusted off the crumbs into the garbage. Crumbs that matched the bruising pain of her chest.

  Elaina hadn’t said no. Her sister had gone back to Travis once. Now she was here digging for information to confirm if he still cared. If Elaina did still care, how could India be with him? Before, she’d only kissed him because Elaina said she didn’t want him. Now if Elaina did care for him, India would be intentionally hurting her sister by admitting they were together.

  “India,” Elaina said impatiently. “You know something, don’t you?”

  India brushed her hands together, took a deep breath, then faced her sister. “No.” She coughed, then cleared her throat. “I don’t know anything. He hasn’t said anything to me. Do you want me to feel him out?”

  “No. I won’t have him thinking I’m trying to rekindle something that should be dead.”

  Should? Does that mean her feelings aren’t dead?

  “What would you do if this is true?” India asked. Did her sister want Travis back?

  Elaina took a deep breath and shook her head. “I don’t... It’s just... I don’t know. He was always there. Even when I didn’t appreciate him. It’s nice to have someone there.” Elaina cleared her throat and looked away quickly. “I have to go. It’s probably a good thing I missed Byron.” She walked over to India and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t bring this up to anyone. I shouldn’t have even come to ask this question. The past belongs in the past.”