Hearts in the City Read online

  “Tell him?” Simone said, her eyes widening in horror.

  “Yes, tell him.”

  “And end up alone? Oh yeah, that’d be a great way to start motherhood off.” Simone rolled her eyes.

  “Sure be better than starting it off with a lie.”

  “And there you go again judging me. Liv, I really don’t need this right now...I’m going through enough as it is.”

  “How is that judging you? You asked for advice and I’m giving it to you. What you choose to do with it is up to you.” Olivia took a sip of tea.

  Simone stopped sucking through her straw. “You’re going to hold it against me forever, aren’t you?”

  Olivia was taken aback. “I’m not the one you should be worrying about holding it against you.”

  “Well I’d have thought that as my best friend, you’d be more supportive.”

  Olivia’s eyes widened. She was starting to get irritated. “And I am.”

  Simone folded her arms tautly across her chest. “Really?”

  “Does brain fog usually happen this early into a pregnancy?” Olivia asked sarcastically. “I have no clue what you’re getting at.”

  “Bull...shit...” Simone glared at her.

  “Look...” Olivia said, raising her voice, her frustration with Simone getting the better of her. A couple in the booth next to them stared over at them. “...you know what you have to do and you’ve chosen not to do it. Fine...that’s your prerogative, but please don’t lay your guilt on me by trying to make me feel guilty for telling you to do the right thing. So what? It’s not enough that I’m already burdening myself with the secret that you were sleeping with another man before you got married? Now you expect me to feel guilty for not telling you what you want to hear when you clearly asked me for advice? Seriously...what thehelldo you want from me?”

  “Oh, so now you’re burdening yourself with my secrets?” Simone said, anger flashing in her eyes.

  The two of them rarely argued. “Okay, so it was a bad choice of words. But I stand by everything else I said.”

  Just then, the waiter appeared with their meals. He was about to set them on the table when Simone put out a hand to stop him. “Excuse me...sorry to bother you, but there’s actually been a change of plans,” she said, staring defiantly at Olivia. “I’d like to have mine wrapped up to go.”

  Staring wordless at her, Olivia shook her head in disbelief. Sometimes Simone lived in her own little bubble and only saw what she wanted to see. “I can’t believe you’re doing this.” The exchange between them had gotten way out of hand.

  Simone fumbled in her purse for money to pay for her meal when the waiter returned. “And I can’t believe you’re treating me like the scum of the earth for my mistakes either—but that’s exactly what you’re doing.”

  “So tell me...am I being selfish?” Olivia cradled the phone to her ear as she wriggled into a pair of comfy pajama bottoms and kicked her discarded clothes across the bedroom floor too exhausted to care. She’d pick them up and put them away later. Just grateful to be home after a long day, she had a lot on her mind. Simone hadn’t spoken to her other since their blow up at the restaurant last week and Theo had been acting very strangely since returning home from his training seminar. To top it off, she was up to her ears in last minute plans for the retreat. She’d phoned Vondrelle for a much-need pep talk almost immediately after arriving home.

  “Not in the least. Mind you, he should have known you’d be disappointed at him dropping the news on you so last minute. You guys have been planning to go to the gala for months. Of course you’d be upset having your plans rearranged and finding out you’d be going all alone at the last minute,” Vondrelle said.

  “Well he’s barely said anything to me since he’s been back. Hasn’t even bothered to ask how the gala turned out.”

  “I think he’s just stewing a little bit. Just let him stew. He’ll get his head out of his own ass soon enough,” Vondrelle mused. “You know how men are. They’re such simpletons. If you’re not constantly telling them how great they are they go moping about with big sad puppy eyes until you pay attention to them.” Vondrelle laughed loudly into the phone. “Hasn’t Auntie taught you anything in all these years?”

  Olivia laughed too. “Well he has been very tolerant with my ridiculous schedule. I’ll give him that. So yes, I’m sure he’s just feeling under-appreciated, just like you said.”

  Chapter Nine

  Having sold one of his most expensive properties yet, Alistair was in the mood to celebrate. The commission on this one was his biggest yet and he couldn’t help reveling in its near six figures. He’d worked tirelessly to sell the property in time for the sellers to move out of the country. The house had sold just days before the family was scheduled to leave much to their relief. Since he was in a celebratory mood, he was spending the evening with Corrine just because he didn’t feel like being alone.

  Olivia. He hadn’t stopped thinking about her since he’d seen her again. He thought about her at least three times a day and sometimes more. His imagination had been running wild. He’d imagined taking her out to a fine restaurant, and sharing intelligent conversation as he stared longingly into her beautiful brown eyes. He’d imagined carrying her upstairs to his enormous king-sized bed and...

  The shriek of his cell-phone ringing interrupted his thoughts. It was Corrine calling to cancel their date. Standing in the middle of the bedroom fresh out of the shower, wearing nothing but a towel, he was speechless. She had never cancelled on him before and his ego was bruised. He was insulted that he’d gone out of his way and paid special attention to detail, buying candles for the table to set a romantic tone for the evening. He’d spared no expense buying lobster, scallops, and shrimp to make seafood linguini for them. She’d blown him off big time. The most ironic thing was that he’d been actually thinking about giving them a chance. He’d thought long and hard about it, looking deep within himself to see if he had commitment issues; to see if he’d subconsciously been using the lack of a mental connection between them as an excuse. He realized now he should have very well left well-enough alone. He’d been so put off by her cancelling on him that he hadn’t even asked her why. She was probably playing some silly head game with him, the kind of game women played to show a man they were good with or without him. Well she’d just blown her chances for good.

  Irritated, Olivia threw her bags on the floor and plunked down on her bed, completely pooped from a long, busy day at the retreat. Kicking off her shoes, she took another look at the note she’d found waiting for her on the kitchen table. She gritted her teeth in anger. How dare Jazlynn run off a weekend rendezvous without telling her first?

  She was so angry she could have smashed something. She’d spent the entire afternoon trying to get in touch with Theo who hadn’t bothered to show up at the golf tournament even though he’d promised her he would. She’d gotten his voicemail every single time she’d called. She’d even left him a message and still nothing. She’d lied to Bertram telling him Theo had had a family emergency at the last minute and was unable to attend the tournament. This was the kind of thing people ended relationships over. For the first time, she realized just how distant the two of them were now.

  She took her cell-phone out of her purse and immediately dialed Simone’s number. Then she remembered they weren’t speaking to each other at the moment so she hung up before Simone answered.

  The next morning, she fumbled for the phone on the nightstand, answering it hastily when she saw Theo’s phone number on the display. “You had better have a damned good reason why you didn’t show up yesterday and why you ignored all of my phone calls. And I mean somebody bloody well better have died or something, because nothing is going to get you off the hook for what you pulled yesterday,” she said angrily. She just couldn’t wait to hear his excuse and was sure it would be doozey. There certainly could be no reasonable excuse for him standing her up—at least not one she’d accept anyway.

&n
bsp; “I called to uh...” He went silent for a moment. “...because I need to talk to you.”

  “I’m waiting...” Olivia said in a huff, tightening her jaw in anger. He had a lot of nerve, acting calm after what he’d just pulled.

  “Liv, I think it’s the end of the road for us...”

  His words came through the phone and struck her in the gut. In mere seconds, her emotions went from anger to shock. Her breath caught in her throat. “W-what are you saying...?” she asked, finally finding her voice, her eyes filling with tears suddenly.

  “I just think it’s time we both move on. There’s just nothing here anymore.”

  No. She couldn’t have heard him correctly. A wave of nausea hit her. She had to be dreaming. She was probably so overtired from all the energy she’d put into the retreat she was hallucinating. Surely she hadn’t heard him say they were over. It just wasn’t possible. It just couldn’t be.

  She sat up in bed, tears running down her cheeks. “How Theo...how can this be over?” she asked shakily.

  “We’ve grown apart, Liv. Things have been dragging on...and...“

  “Well you don’t just bail on a relationship because it’s not perfect.”

  “I’m not the one who bailed on us, Liv...you are.”

  Reeling from the shock of the situation, she could barely speak. “No...no I didn’t. I’m still here. I’ve always been here. I’ve always wanted us to work.” Her eyes were so full of tears she could barely see. Suddenly nothing else mattered anymore...the retreat being a success, him not showing up at golf tournament. None of it mattered.

  “I’m sorry for not calling you yesterday. I was wrong for doing that, but I’ve been dealing with a lot. Trying to come to terms the decision to walk away...it’s been hard for me, too.”

  “How? How is this hard for you? No one told you to walk away...I’m not pushing you away...I want you in my life. I need you in my life.” Her voice quivered.

  “And I need more than what you’ve been giving me. I can’t help that I feel that way, Liv...I just do. If you’d wanted more from the relationship you’d have done something about it.”

  “Something like what!” she shouted, angry now. “Run off and marry you just for the sake of getting married? Get knocked up for you just to keep you happy?”

  “And that’s exactly the point I’m making. We’re in different places, you and me. I honestly don’t think your heart was ever in this.”

  “You’re wrong...” she said, shaking her head. “You’re wrong...My heart’s always been in this.”

  Theo sighed. “Your heart is in your career...that’s where it is. You don’t have the ability to love a man because you love your career more.”

  “No...no,” she said, shaking her head vigorously, sobbing. “That’s not true. I love you. You know I do.”

  “No you don’t.” He sounded bitter. “I was just an accessory to you. Just something you hung off your arm like one of your fancy handbags, someone you took to fancy corporate gatherings so you wouldn’t have to show up alone.”

  “That’s not true... you’re wrong...”

  “It’s too late. I can’t do this anymore. I’m just being honest, Liv. I can’t.”

  “So you just leave me?”

  “No...I’m not just leaving you. It’s been on my mind for a while now. We’ve grown apart and if you think about it, you’d realize the same thing.”

  She caught a glimpse of herself in the dresser drawer mirror and barely recognized herself. Puffy, swollen eyes, makeup from the day before mixed in with her tears, her hair disheveled, looking as though she hadn’t combed in ages. “There’s someone else, isn’t there? You’re leaving me for someone else aren’t you?”

  “Look, it’s not about that!” he said defensively. “It’s about me wanting what you can’t give me.”

  “I can give it to you and I will...just give me more time.”

  “I don’t have any more time to give you. I know that’s not what you want to hear, but this is what it is...”

  “What happened to you wanting this so badly?” She sobbed loudly, her body shaking.

  “I just said...I got tired of waiting. I’m doing this for me, Liv...it’s just something I have to do.”

  Olivia slammed the phone down. She threw herself across the bed and bawled her eyes out. How she’d go on living with her heart broken in a million pieces she had no idea. She’d lost the man who had stood by her side through thick and thin. She was alone and unwanted. Suddenly needing her best friend more than ever, she picked up the phone, fighting to see her way through her tears to dial Simone’s phone number.

  The moment Olivia opened the door and saw Simone she lost it, bursting into tears. The look of sympathy on Simone’s face said it all. She felt Olivia’s pain right along with her. It was the bond they had always shared—a bond where words weren’t always necessary. It was one that could never be broken no matter how heated disagreements they had. Simone stepped through doorway with outstretched arms, embracing her friend, consoling her.

  Chapter Ten

  “If I could have all of my children home together at the same time for once, it’d be a miracle.” Alistair’s mother set a bowl of gravy on the table and took a seat, finally joining the others.

  “Gee...and here I was thinking Trey and I were good enough. “Who knew? Alistair smiled, shaking his head and shrugging as he picked up his utensils, ready to dive into his Thanksgiving dinner.

  “Oh, stop. Of course I’m glad to have the two of you here, but I have three children, not two. If Marquise would stop thinking about herself long enough to remember the rest of us, we’d be a complete family for a doggone change. I know she’s getting her education but there are more important things than that—like family,” Loretta said.

  “There’s no need to worry. She’ll be home in time for Christmas,” Alistair said assuredly.

  “Who’s to say?” Trey piped up. “This is our sis we’re talking about. Things are only as important as she deems them to be at any given time.”

  “Well unless she plans on being disowned in the not to distant future, she’d better bring her hiney on home. Last time she bothered to show her face around here was way last Easter. She ought to be ashamed of herself,” Loretta said sternly, rolling her eyes. She looked across at Jazlynn and smiled. “But at the same time...I’m very pleased to have you join us. It’s good to have a little extra female energy around here.”

  “Thank you. I’m really glad Trey asked me to come,” Jazlynn replied with a smile.

  Alistair was glad Trey had invited Jazlynn to join them for Thanksgiving. He’d joked with him that he’d barely been home from school for week before finding a woman. He had to commend him for moving quickly to make sure he got the girl. It was more than Alistair could say for himself these days. In his heart of hearts, he wanted the same, a steady woman in his life and someone who meant more to him than just a romp in the sack. The more he thought about it, the more he knew it was true. There came a time in a man’s life when he knew it was time to get serious about finding a good woman. Hell, even the most hardcore player out there knew that much.

  Dinner conversation ran the gamut from politics and the economy to sports to television shows. Much to their delight, Loretta and Jazlynn discovered they shared a mutual fanaticism the soap opera, Passionate Hearts. The two of them spent the next several minutes discussing the storylines, talking about their likes and dislikes.Alistair couldn’t help thinking that in some way having Jazlynn around filled the void left by Marquise.

  The more he looked at her, the more she reminded him of her sister. The same perfect facial features, almond-shaped eyes and skin tone, the same hour-glass figures. But the similarities stopped there. Olivia was more conservative. She carried herself with an air of control. In contrast, Jazlynn came adorned with decorative accessories. Lots of makeup, fussed over hair, long, fake nails, dangling hoop earrings. She was nowhere near as refined as her sister. He supposed it was an age
thing, too. A successful corporate attorney, Olivia knew who she was and where she was going while Jazlynn had yet to find herself. But the end of the day, Trey seemed completely into her and that was all that mattered.

  “Tell me a little bit about your sister,” Loretta said.

  “She’s lawyer or something, isn’t she?” asked George, infusing himself into the conversation between the women.

  Jazlynn nodded. “Uh-huh. She advises on company mergers, buyouts, that sort of thing.”

  “Well she sure sounds like she’s got it together.” George grinned as he dabbed his mouth with a napkin.

  “I can imagine you’re very proud of her,” Loretta commented.

  Jazlynn laughed. “I am, yes, but only when she’s not getting on my nerves about everything. Apparently she knows best...” She rolled her eyes upward.

  Everyone laughed.

  “Well I think she should be proud of herself. She’s done great job bringing you up on her own. Good for her,” Loretta said.

  “Now if only she’d remember I’m not a ten year-old anymore,” Jazlynn said.

  “Well she does admit to being a little over-protective of you,” Alistair added with a grin as he popped a forkful of turkey into his mouth and chewed for a few seconds. “She can’t help it. It’s who she is and I think that’s a good quality to have.” He remembered the night of the housewarming party and how panicked she’d been when Jazlynn went missing. It had taken a lot to convince her that her sister was in good hands with his brother.

  Alistair smiled. He was certain that his mother and Jazlynn hitting it off so well, he’d be pressured about finding someone, too.

  “So...” Loretta said, not missing a beat as she glanced from Alistair then over at Jazlynn. “...this sister of yours, is she attached to anyone in particular?”

  “Ma...” Alistair looked at her, his eyes widening.

  “Oh it’s okay. It’s actually funny you’d even ask...,” Jazlynn said, looking thoughtful. “She’d give me hell for mentioning this, but she and her guy broke up just recently.”