Unexpected Gift(77)
Opening the French doors where the floor-to-ceiling windows are, I step out onto the porch, wrapping my cardigan tighter around my waist. I watch the tall grass surrounding the lake blow in the breeze. The lake seems darker, menacing, reminding me of a black abyss. The clouds are threatening and lightening veins across the sky, reflecting how my soul feels. I put my hands down on the arms on a porch chair and sit down.
My phone buzzes again and Caden’s name appears. I ignore it again. I need time. I need space from him to clear my head. I want to put my thoughts together before I talk to him. I don’t want to say something I don’t mean because then I’ll have to live with that for the rest of my life, and I don’t want Posie’s life to be awkward. Him and I can be friends and make sure she has a life full of love and peace.
She does not need parents that fight. And that is all me and Caden’s relationship is based off of. It’s our foundation. It’s how we are built, and how the hell can something succeed off something so unstable?
It makes sense, you know, because of our jagged edges and all. They have to come from somewhere, and with our cracked foundation, building a home will be impossible because the pieces may fit, but it will collapse, leaving us under rubble. Caden will come out unscathed and perfect, but I’ll be left in his dust, picking up the broken pieces of my heart. It’s my fault, though. I allowed him to take a sledgehammer to it.
I close my eyes, and the first drop of rain hits my face. I get up and go back inside, watching the rain get heavier and heavier, until it is so heavy I can’t see the lake. I walk to the kitchen, grab a bottle of wine, and pour myself a glass.
If the house is going to crumble, I might as well enjoy myself.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Caden
I check my phone for the twentieth time, but Molly hasn’t returned any of my messages. It’s been an hour since she was supposed to meet, and she isn’t here.
“Somewhere you need to be?” Victoria asks, swirling the straw in the glass she drank out of.
“Actually, yeah. My girlfriend was supposed to meet me here and she isn’t here yet. I’m getting worried. I’m sorry, but I have to cut this short.”
“Your girlfriend? Oh, wow. I misread this completely.” She fiddles with her hair. “I feel a little embarrassed.”
“What do you mean?” I fish out my wallet and throw a few twenties on the bar.
“I thought we were hitting it off. I didn’t know a man like you would have a girlfriend.”
“A man like me? I’ll try not to be insulted,” I say with a smirk, so she knows I’m kidding. I don’t want to hurt her feelings, but that is very insulting.
She almost chokes on her drink as she waves off what I just said. “Oh, I didn’t mean any offense. I mean, look at you. I thought a man like yourself would have so many options lining up at the door that you wouldn’t want to settle down.”
It’s back to that. I know it is something I have to work on with Molly. I have to build that trust again for us, but I’m willing to do that for her, and only her. “Men change.”
“Are you saying someone has changed your ways?”
I stand and decide to throw another twenty on the bar to cover her drinks. “Even if I was that man, I don’t mix business and pleasure. Excuse me, Dr. Yuri.” I brush past her and run to get my coat.
“Oh, will you not be dining with us?” The hostess bats her spider leg lashes at me.
I shrug the blazer on, and a chill seeps into my skin from how damp it is. “No, I’m sorry. It seems the person I’m supposed to meet didn’t show. I’m heading out. Thank you.”
“Is this person a woman, by any chance?”
I pause and turn my head to look over my shoulder. “Yes. Why?”
“Did she have a baby?”
“How do you know that?”
She loses her flirtatious expression and swallows. “She came here. She looked around but she said the person she was meeting wasn’t here. She said she was going to call and be right back. I figured when she didn’t come back in that she had left. I assumed the plans got cancelled. Sir, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”
Shit. She saw me talking to Victoria. I’ll bet anything that is why she left. “It isn’t your fault at all. I don’t blame you. Thank you for telling me.” I don’t spare the woman another glance as I bolt out the door and to my car.
The tires spin as I reverse. I slam the car in drive and bolt forward, racing down the highway to get to the house, hoping she is there. I replay everything in my head and think if I did anything wrong with Victoria. I didn’t. She did put her arm on me, but I leaned back, trying to get away from her touch. I didn’t want it. I don’t want her.
“Damn it, Molly. Don’t think the worst of me,” I say out loud, jerking the wheel to the right to speed past a car. Five minutes later I pull into the driveway and run up the steps. When I open the door, all the lights are out, and I see her silhouette illuminated by the lightning strikes crackling in the sky every so often.
I flip on the light and see her sitting at the table, drinking a glass of wine. “Hey. Why didn’t you answer any of my calls? Or texts? I was worried about you.” I lean in to give her a kiss, but she pulls away.