Redemption(37)

I finished the grading and prep work I had to do for my classes tomorrow and closed down my computer. I’d made it without any other friends on staff, and I’d be all right if Rob bailed on me too. Just before I reached my SUV, the jerk came jogging through the parking lot calling my name. I didn’t stop until I had my hand on the door.

“Lissa.” He arrived at my side, winded.

“What, Rob?”

“Look, about earlier—”

I stopped him. There was no point in going any further with this conversation. “There’s nothing to discuss. You said what you had to say and whether you meant it or not, you know you went too far bringing up my past. I came here to get a fresh start, and you used information I’d shared with you in confidence against me. That’s not an arena I want to play in.”

“You’re not mad about what your boyfriend did to get you tickets?”

“I don’t know your connection to Dan or where you got your information, nor do I care. I’m certainly in no position to cast judgment on how people live. All I know is he’s good to me, and I don’t believe he did anything that would hurt our relationship. So, no. I’m not mad. I just have no use for the conversation.”

“You deserve better.”

“Yeah? And what would that look like? A guy who was too insecure to make a move until someone else already had? Thanks, Rob, but I’m not interested. If Dan were sleeping with half of Greenville and we broke up tomorrow, I wouldn’t date you.”

He stepped back and allowed me to get in the car. I locked the doors as soon as I was inside while he stood to watch me. Once I’d pulled out of the parking lot, I called the one person I knew would make me feel better.

“Hey, Penny. You leaving work?”

“Yeah. I just had a run in with Rob but doubt he’ll be inviting me to any more concerts after what took place in the parking lot.”

I gave Dan the gist of the conversation after my class and in the parking lot, minus the digs at my past.

“Lissa, I’ve lived in this town my entire life. I know a lot of people, but I didn’t do anything to compromise my commitment to you.”

“Dan…I don’t—”

“Babe, let me finish. I bought the tickets, with cash…a lot of it. The limo, cash. Dinner, cash. The only favor I called in was a friend whose mother is very heavily involved with the Peace Center. She’s on their board and donates scads of money to their endowment. In exchange for a large contribution, I was able to get the backstage access. I had told her all about you and why I was doing it—she’s a romantic at heart and a lover of all things art related. I didn’t know until the night before about your actually playing with him. When I had talked to her, it was the day after I’d sat in on your class, and I was proud of you. She set that up, not me. She thought it would be good for the local community and great for his PR, and she was right.”

He took a deep breath. His frustration was palpable.

“I grabbed your violin when I got to the house and put it in the limo before you came out. The driver took it in to the Peace Center while we were at dinner. There was nothing shady, nothing I’m ashamed of. And I sure as hell didn’t touch another woman to make you happy. That’s a little contradictory, don’t you think?”

“I didn’t think you had, Dan. I promise. I was more irritated by the fact someone who claimed to be my friend a year ago was now trying to hurt my feelings.”

“I love you, Lissa. If I screw up, it’s not going to be with another woman.”

“I love you, too.”

“So, I just got off the phone with Brett. Looks like those perverted pregnancy fantasies are coming to fruition.”

Again, he always made me smile.



*

Things started at a whirlwind pace with Annie. Somehow, she scheduled three doctor’s appointments within the week, and she and Brett met with their attorney within days of making the decision to look further into having a surrogate. After our final appointment today, Annie and I decided on one of the specialists, but choosing the doctor was the easy part. And the legalities were a breeze compared to what all I would have to go through to get my body ready to carry a child. My uterus wouldn’t naturally take fertilized embryos and incubate them, the doctor would have to create the perfect environment. I was committed, and Annie promised to be there every step of the way.

We parted ways to both return to work after, and Annie promised to have the paperwork from her lawyer in the next day or two. I wasn’t concerned about any of it. I’d sign whatever they wanted me to, but she didn’t know that. I knew they needed this to protect themselves and the child I would carry. I didn’t begrudge them that. Brett had been insistent I review the paperwork with my own attorney after I received it, but it was a waste of money. I didn’t fight them on that either. If that made them feel better about all of this, I’d play by their rules. They were the ones risking something; I was just happily leasing out space.

“Knock, knock.” Dan poked his head in my office door.

I glanced at the clock realizing it was lunch time. “Hey.” I hadn’t expected him today but was always eager to spend time with him. “What are you doing here?”

“I was hoping you were free for lunch, but I also brought you paperwork from Brett. I used it as an excuse to come see you.” He came to me to hand off the envelope and kissed me on the cheek. “Want to grab a bite to eat?”