Forbidden Promises

by Synithia Williams

  His face was hard and determined. “Tell me you love me, too.”

  “You know how I feel.” Saying the words would only make her decision harder to deal with.

  “I need to hear it. Because no matter what you say, I don’t think your family will be torn apart by this. They’ve done too many other things and played unfair in so many situations that us being together will not be enough to make the Robidoux family fall. So, tell me that you love me. Let me know how you feel so I know I’m not fighting a losing battle.”

  She crossed her arms over her midsection. “We can’t get married.”

  Travis stepped forward. “Do you love me?”

  The sliver of doubt that crept into his voice broke her resolve. “Yes, Travis, I love you.”

  The relief on his face made her heart ache. He grasped her waist and pulled her close. “Then there’s still a chance I can change your mind. Don’t let your family keep us apart. Don’t answer me tonight. Don’t even answer me in the next few days. Think about what you want. What you really want, and know that I love you. I will fight anyone I have to to make you happy.”

  His voice was so sincere. His dark eyes fierce with the promise to love her and fight to make them work. After performing tonight, she didn’t want to leave. She wanted to stay in Jackson Falls, but would that mean letting Travis go? Marriage, a future, how would that work without Elaina’s blessing? India would teach an elephant to play her violin before her family accepted her and Travis together.

  “We can make this work,” Travis said with the confidence of a successful defense attorney. “Believe me. We can be together.”

  She swallowed hard but nodded. Travis kissed her, and she kissed him back with all the hope and desperation in her heart. When he picked her up and carried her to the bedroom, she didn’t argue about needing to get home. She had to savor each of these moments, because no matter what Travis said and how much he promised, she feared the fallout of their decision would be bigger than either of them could handle.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  INDIA STARED AT the text message on her phone. She wished she could delete it. Move on with the rest of her day as if the two words on the screen didn’t make her insanely happy, extremely frustrated and sick with longing.

  Marry me.

  She squeezed the phone. To her surprise, she’d fallen immediately asleep when she’d gotten home the night before. A deep sleep full of dreams about telling her family she and Travis were in love and getting married. In the dream everything had gone smoothly. Her dad wished them well. Byron had been excited to make Travis his true brother. Elaina had even hugged India and said she and Travis should have always been together.

  She’d woken up smiling and full of hope. Then the sunlight hit her eyes and she realized dreams were not reality. The perfect outcome in her head was far from the outcome that would happen.

  The dream had done something else. In her dream, Travis faced everything with her. His hand in hers. Not an ounce of reservation about the decision they’d made. She’d woken up with no fading of the trust she had in his love for her.

  But dreams weren’t reality. Her dad would try to force them to change their minds, Elaina would be upset and Byron would question how the entire move affected his political campaign.

  The sun would continue to rise. People would continue to get on with their daily lives and eventually, hopefully, hearts would heal.

  She left her room and went down the hall to Elaina’s room. Her heart pounded harder and harder with each step she took. She didn’t know what she wanted to say to her sister. Only that she needed to say something. Feel her out to see how she might react to India and Travis being together. She knocked on Elaina’s door. The sound of a thud from the other side was the only greeting.

  India didn’t wait for an answer. She pushed open the door and rushed into her sister’s room. “Elaina, what was that?”

  Elaina stood at the foot of her bed. She looked up at India, surprised. “What?”

  “I heard a noise. I thought...”

  Elaina smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I dropped something.” She knelt and picked up a book. “I was reading.” Her voice broke on the last word.

  All thoughts fled India’s brain. She went to her sister, her pulse racing erratically. Elaina never cried. What the hell had happened to make her sister cry?

  Elaina pressed the book to her chest and turned away before India could touch her. She went to the desk and put the book on the surface. She sniffed and hastily wiped her eyes. “Did you need anything?” Elaina asked in a steadier voice.

  Frustration almost made India say no and walk out. Love for her sister kept her there. “Elaina, what’s wrong?”

  Her sister waved a hand. “I’ll be fine.”

  “I know you’ll be fine. You’re the strongest person I know. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to be here for you if you need me.”

  Elaina’s shoulders shook as she took a deep breath. She faced India. She tried to look impassive but her red-rimmed eyes and tightly pressed lips gave away her pain. “It’s getting closer to the day. The one day of the year I’m not as strong as I’d like to be,” Elaina said in a soft voice.

  “The day?” The answer to the question hit India as soon as she said the words. The day she’d miscarried. India pressed a hand on her sister’s arm. “Elaina, I’m sorry.”

  Elaina brushed the hair out of her face. “I don’t usually get upset until the actual day, but...well, I got some bad news and it’s making everything worse.” Her voice was apologetic, which broke India’s heart. How long had Elaina pretended to be okay when she hurt that she felt the need to apologize for showing her feelings?

  India swallowed and asked the hard question. “What news?” Had she found out about India and Travis?

  Elaina’s lips pressed together before she moved so that India’s hand fell. “Do you think I don’t know how much of a disaster it would have been if Travis and I had had kids? How it would have made the divorce even messier?”

  “That doesn’t take away the hurt.”

  Elaina pushed away from the desk. “We were done, you know. I was free to do and see whomever I wanted. Then I found out I was pregnant.” She shook her head and pressed a fist against her midsection. “Neither of us wanted kids, but after our wedding, he went with me to that first appointment and he got a little excited. Then I watched that excitement disappear in his eyes. Turn into disappointment when he realized he was stuck with me.” Elaina didn’t sound bitter, just resigned to the fact that she’d been a disappointment.

  “Is that what he said?” She couldn’t believe he’d be that heartless. Even with Elaina.

  “God no. He was more than supportive. That might be the worse part.” Elaina let out a dry laugh. “Travis didn’t want to marry me any more than I wanted to marry him, but he’s honorable like that. I thought I could bring him a bit of peace in our marriage, but I couldn’t even do that.” She looked at India with confused eyes. “When you’re trapped, it’s hard to reassure the other person who’s trapped with you.”

  “It’s not your fault.”

  Elaina’s hands clenched into fists. “I wanted to make him happy and I couldn’t. Now, he’s happy, and I’m not. I guess I want a little bit of that happiness, too.” A tear trailed down her cheek and she quickly swiped it away. “I can’t catch a damn break.” Her hands balled into fists.

  India’s heart broke. Her sister’s truth finally became clear. Elaina may not have wanted to marry Travis, but like Travis, she had wanted their family to work. Her sister wasn’t good with emotions, so of course she would go back to what was familiar instead of seeking something new. Travis was the only person who’d been there for her when she’d gone through one of the worst times of her life. Elaina may not like it, but she couldn’t escape that.

  How can I tell her about me and
Travis now?

  India crossed to her sister and wrapped her arms around her in a hug instead of dwelling on the answer to that question. “Stop. Don’t think about that. Don’t think of any of that. It’s okay.”

  Elaina’s body was stiff, then she relaxed and hugged India back. She didn’t sob, Elaina never sobbed, but the heat of her tears soaked through India’s shirt.

  India wanted to hit something. Scream at the unfairness of their lives. She knew why Grant had pushed Travis to marry Elaina, but she didn’t know what Grant had done to make Elaina say yes. Her sister had been trapped in that marriage, but she’d wanted to make Travis happy.

  Elaina pulled away not long after she’d started crying. She swiped her eyes as if the tears annoyed her. She avoided India’s gaze and went to her dresser. “Thank you for letting me blubber like that.”

  “I’m your sister, Elaina, you never have to apologize for letting me be there for you.”

  Elaina pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her eyes. “What did I say? The heart of the family. You’re so perfect.” She didn’t say it with malice.

  Still the words made guilt twist India’s insides. “I’m not perfect. Elaina... I need to tell you—”

  “You know what, let’s do something today,” Elaina said, spinning around. “I don’t want to face Daddy. He knows the date is coming up and acts extra careful around me whenever it does. We’ve never done one of those sister days. You know, manis, pedis and stuff. We can even go by Ashiya’s shop and buy something sexy. I need to be sexy. Let’s do that.” Her sister’s abundance of enthusiasm did not hide the pleading look in her eyes. Elaina needed a distraction and out of this house.

  India swallowed the guilty confession that crept into her throat. Instead she smiled and nodded. She’d do anything to keep her sister from crying like that again. Even breaking her own heart. “Sure, whatever you want, Elaina.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  THE JUDGE SLAMMED his gavel. “Court’s adjourned.”

  The rumble of voices started as the judge stood and the jury prepared to exit the courtroom.

  Zachariah slapped Travis on the back. “You just pulled a miracle out of your pocket with that closing argument.”

  Travis raised a brow and shook Zachariah’s hand. “We’ll see when the jury comes back in.”

  Travis was proud of the way he’d closed the case. He hadn’t tried to pretend as if King was a good guy. In fact, he’d made sure to point out that a person with an imperfect life still had a right to defend themselves. Sugarcoating King’s history would have only played into the hands of the prosecution. Each time they tried to bring up King’s past, Travis had a counterargument. He’d defended King the best he could.

  King laughed. “If they don’t come back with a not-guilty verdict, then something’s fucking wrong with all of them. Hell, I should get you to argue the case for me to enter heaven. Otherwise my ass is going straight to hell.”

  Travis forced a smile on his face. Zachariah would need a lot more than Travis arguing his case to get him into heaven. Thankfully saving Zachariah’s soul wasn’t what Travis was getting paid for.

  “How long do you think they’ll be back there?” Zachariah asked.

  Travis shrugged. “Not sure. Hopefully, they won’t drag this out. All we can do now is wait and see.” He checked his watch. “I’m going to go back to my office and make a few calls. I won’t be far if they call us back in.”

  He turned away from King and met the angry eyes of his dad. Mac crossed his arms and glared. Travis barely nodded his head. The looks from his family had gone from angry to don’t-let-me-catch-you-on-a-dark-street furious over the course of the trial. He wasn’t letting them bother him. Not much. No matter what he did, his family wouldn’t accept or understand him.

  He walked out of the courtroom. In the spacious atrium, his uncle Mitch, cousin Devon and other family members stood near the stairs. Travis did nod at his mother, ignored the glares of the rest of his family and walked down the stairs.

  Footsteps hurried down the steps behind him. Then Devon blocked his way down the stairs. Travis suppressed a sigh and squared his shoulders.

  “What do you want?” Travis asked.

  Devon looked him up and down. The corner of his mouth twisted in a sneer. “You think you’re going to be okay if the jury comes back with a not-guilty verdict?”

  The urge to shove Devon aside, or better yet punch the shit out of him and get the fight over with flexed and raged inside Travis. Getting a rise out of him was what Devon wanted. Travis breathed in and out slowly, unclenched his fists and met Devon’s stare head-on. “Yes. I will be okay.” He’d already made the decision to do his job regardless of the threats from his family.

  Devon’s dark eyes narrowed and he leaned forward. “Don’t count on that, cuz. We always get what’s due to us.”

  “That’s the same thing Antwan used to say, and look where that landed him.” Travis was fed up with having to meet some standard that would have him in the same boat as his cousin.

  Devon’s head cocked to the side and he pointed at Travis’s chest. “Oh, you think you’re funny.”

  “No. I think I’m right.” He swiped Devon’s hand out of the way and brushed passed his cousin. The rumble of conversation behind him on the stairs increased. The back of Travis’s neck prickled. He could hear his mother trying to calm Devon down. The scuffle of his uncle probably holding Devon back with whispers of “calm down” and “not here.”

  Travis didn’t care. Let Devon act the fool. There were enough police in the building to ensure Devon’s ass ended up in jail if he so much as tried to swing at Travis. A part of him hoped his cousin did. It would give him one less thing to worry about.

  He walked out of the courtroom, got in his SUV and pulled his cell phone from the console between the seats. He didn’t bring his phone into the courtroom, but today he’d longed to have it near. Only because he’d dared to ask India to marry him again. He knew what he asked of her was huge. The fallout would suck, and they’d have a mountain to climb with her family, but he wasn’t about wasting time anymore. He loved her. He wanted to be in a happy marriage with someone who loved him back. He wasn’t willing to wait around and hope her family would one day approve.

  He was happy to see two missed calls from India. Grinning, Travis dialed her back via Bluetooth after he turned on the car. India picked up on the fourth ring.

  “Hi, Travis.”

  The sound of her voice blew away the tension from dealing with Devon. None of the courtroom drama seemed important knowing he had India in his life. That they would finally be together. “Did you get my message this morning?”

  A heartbeat passed before she answered, “I did.”

  “And have you thought any more about what I said?” He put the car in gear and drove out of the parking lot onto the main road.

  “Travis, do you know what’s coming up?” India’s voice was sharp and tight.

  He did a mental scan of upcoming events. “I don’t know, one of Byron’s campaign events?” Where was she going with this?

  Her sigh echoed in the interior of his car. “No, I mean do you know the date that’s coming up. What happened on that date?”

  His hand gripped the steering wheel. The only date coming up that he wasn’t looking forward to was the one Elaina mentioned at the concert. The old hurt he’d compartmentalized to deal with after the trial throbbed. “Why?”

  “How can you ask me to marry you knowing what’s coming up?” Accusation filled her tone.

  The pain of his loss didn’t have anything to do with why he’d asked her to marry him. Nothing between him and Elaina had a thing to do with why he asked India to marry him. “Because when I asked you, I wasn’t thinking about the pain of loss. I asked you to marry me yesterday and decided to remind you of that today.”

  “Elaina wi
ll be heartbroken.”

  “I know the day is hard for her.” It was hard for him, too. Which was why he usually spent the day drowning in work. After the divorce, when he’d called to check on Elaina around that time, she’d rushed him off the phone after telling him she didn’t need him to treat her with kid gloves.

  “Then how can you even think about marrying me? There’s so much between you and Elaina. So many reasons why we can’t do this.”

  Travis shook his head and gripped the wheel. “India, don’t do this. You know we’re good together.”

  “Being good together doesn’t erase your history with my family.” The sadness in her voice was like a dagger in his stomach. “Or make the pain of us being together easier moving forward. We’ve got to stop.”

  “No, India.” He’d never pleaded before, but he was ready to beg now. Not after all this time. Not when they were finally happy.

  “I’m sorry, Travis,” her voice trembled. “But we’re done.”

  “India.” He got no answer. “India!” His Bluetooth disconnected. She’d ended the call. He slammed his hand into the steering wheel. His throat closed up. He felt simultaneously boiling hot and freezing cold. Travis jerked at the too-tight collar of his shirt. The urge to hit something made him wish Devon had confronted him after this call.

  He’d pushed too hard too soon. Talking about marriage and forever when they’d only agreed to see how things would be between them. If he hadn’t put his ultimate goal on the line, she might not have bolted. He needed to figure out how to make this right.

  Is there a way to make this right?

  He knew his relationship with India would be difficult for Elaina. He’d never known how to make things work with Elaina. Had always felt inadequate. She bottled up her emotions, making it difficult for him to be open with his own. There was no bottling up with India. Everything was always out there in the open with them. Which was why he hadn’t been able to suppress his feelings any longer.