Reunion for the First Time (24 page)

The hotel phone rang a few moments later and shattered the funereal silence of her room. She dove across the bed and grabbed it on the first ring.

“Liz. Finally. Can you tell me what the hell is going on? My answering machine tape is full of messages from you and Jack. I’ve been trying to call both of you.”

Jack could call Charlie and not her?

“That’s funny,” Lizzie glanced at her cell phone on the bedside table plugged into the charger. “My phone’s charged.”

“I’ve been calling the house. I finally took a chance and called Kay. And she told me you were staying at The Charles. Is Jack there with you?”

Her heart seized, alarmed. “No, he’s not here. You don’t know where he is, either? I’ve left messages everywhere for days and he hasn’t called me back. Charlie, what’s going on with him?”

****

Charlie heard the anguish in her voice. If he had his brother in front of him, he would strangle him. What has Jack done to my precious Lizzie?

“He’s at Pop’s cabin, and he’s fine. I have no idea what’s going on with him.”

“What cabin? Is there electricity there, cell towers?” Liz screeched.

“Very sophisticated. He’s called me several times lately. Let me worry about him. I’ll figure it out,” he promised her. “When are you coming back? I need you here to do press for the book launch.”

She answered in a monotone, “I’m not coming back for a while.”

How did this all go to shit? He was positive he had gotten them together the night of the ball. All the reasons Lizzie was instrumental to this book launch ran through Charlie’s mind, too.

“Lizzie, you have to come back for the launch. I can’t do this myself. I’m counting on you. These are your babies. This is your book. This was your idea.”

“I refuse to feel guilty, Charlie. I don’t think I can be in the same room as Jack.”

Jack, I’m going to kill you. As soon as I figure out what the hell you did to her.

Beads of perspiration dotted his hairline. “You won’t have to see Jack at the launch. He left a message this morning that he won’t be available for it. I don’t care if he makes it or not. Your photos make stars of his buildings. The book is about your artistry; his is secondary. Please Liz. Come home. I don’t know what happened between you and Jack, but I promise you, we will work it all out.”

****

Lizzie straightened her back. Reasonable enough to separate her devotion to Charlie from her growing fury with his blood relative, Lizzie couldn’t believe Jack would blow off his brother. She couldn’t fathom Jack’s behavior at all. Charlie was counting on them both. How could he desert his brother when he needed him?

She was done playing the injured virgin. What was she thinking? How could she let Jack or any man make her feel insignificant? She would be there for Charlie.

“Okay, Charlie. I’ll make arrangements and let you know when I’ll be back.”

“Thank you, Lizzie. Thank you. You won’t regret this. The book is beautiful. I’m very proud of it. I think you will be, too.”

Lizzie wouldn’t let Jack taint her feelings for Charlie. She stuffed the few things she’d bought to wear since the day after Christmas into a shopping bag, checked out via the television and left the hotel to visit Kay in the hospital.

****

Amazed with Kay’s transformation in three days, Lizzie smiled at her beloved friend. “You look so much better.”

“I wish I could say the same for you. The dark circles under your eyes have dark circles. Have you been sleeping at all? Look at those pants. They’re falling off you. Have you eaten?”

“I’m OK, mom.” Lizzie dropped her shopping bag on the floor and sat in the yellowish green, vinyl bedside armchair.

“I just came to say goodbye for now. I have to get back for the book launch. Then I might put in for an assignment to Africa again. But I promise I’ll call. Please promise me you’ll send pictures of the babies at least once a week wherever I am.”

I need to go, to put my mind on something other than him.

“Don’t leave. I don’t have a good feeling about this. Stay here with us.”

“I can’t. Charlie called. He needs me.”

“Is everything all right now? Have you talked to Jack?”

“No, it’s over with Jack,” she replied, her voice dull. Her eyes stung from crying. She was all cried out. “He never called me back.”

Standing, she bent over the bed and wrapped her arms around Kay. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be all right. I have to run and catch a flight. I’ll call.”

Releasing the hug after a good squeeze, Lizzie left the room. She was not going to fall apart, preferring cold, hard facts. If all Jack wanted was sex, fine. She had enjoyed the sex, too.

****

Jack was tired of sitting on the wood deck, staring at the lake. His muscles ached from chopping the year’s supply of logs stacked on the back porch. His grandfather’s cabin offered him all the solitude he thought he needed. But after three days of mind-numbing brooding, he was no closer to solving his problems and was more depressed now than when he first arrived. No matter how he tried to free his mind of Beth, she had burrowed in and refused to release her hold on him.

Noting the caller ID on his cell phone when it rang, he picked up.

“Yes, Eileen. What is it?”

“I’m sorry to bother you, sir, but I have two urgent messages. The first is from Charlie, again. The second is from a Ms. Kay Lynch.”

“What was the message from Kay?” He listened as Eileen read the message word for word. “Did she leave a number?” Jack scribbled down the number Eileen recited. “Okay, thanks. Did Ms. Moran call again?”

He was disappointed when his secretary told him, no. Damn it. It was like the day his mother left. Checking the mail every day, staring out the window.

“I’m not sure when I’ll be heading back. I’ll get in there and sign the papers you need soon. Thanks for everything, Eileen.”

Grabbing a cold beer from the fridge, he dialed Kay’s number suspecting he’d need alcoholic courage to deal with her. He was right.

“What the hell are you doing to Lizzie?” Kay lashed out at him. “What is wrong with you? How could you break her heart like that? I thought we understood each other. I told you about Lizzie’s past because I thought you cared about her. I would never have betrayed her confidence if I knew you only planned to hurt her with the information.”

“Maybe she should have kept her past in the past.” Jack wouldn’t let an angry female intimidate him. He was angrier.

“Excuse me. You have a minute to explain yourself and the clock starts now.”

“I don’t know why you’re so mad at me. I’m the one who got kicked in the gut.”

“The clock’s ticking, and I haven’t heard an explanation.”

He ran out of patience. “Why don’t you ask Beth? She can tell you how she was in Wally’s arms. She didn’t know I saw them, but I did. Wally looked me right in the eye before he dove in for a long, juicy kiss.”

Talking about it opened up the wound again. He hated the nagging pain from losing her, the conclusion that he was a jerk because she was never his to lose.

“I was going to give Beth the benefit of the doubt after she left me a message about the babies. By the way, congratulations.” No reason to forget that Kay’d had a hard, dangerous time bringing her babies into the world.

“I called her back at the same number and got Wally’s voice mail. Cozy, huh? I’m not stupid, Kay. If Beth wants Wally, although I think she’s an idiot, it’s a free country. I love her, Kay. I want her to be happy. There, are you happy now? Can you leave me alone?”

“No, I’m not going to leave you alone.
You’re
the idiot, Jack. Wallace looked you right in the eye? Could it be that Wally was playing you and Lizzie? She told me he made a move on her again in front of the nursery. It made her mad as hell. Is that where you saw them?”

She didn’t wait for him to tell her yes. He had the distinct impression she already knew she was right.

“Maybe you should have stuck around long enough to see Lizzie slap him away. God, you
are
an idiot, Jack. There is nothing between them. She’s in love with you, and if I’m not mistaken she even told you so. She thinks there’s something wrong with her because of the way you treated her. You abandoned her just like Wallace did. You don’t deserve her any more than he does. He’s a pompous ass. And you’re a jackass, Jack.”

It all rang true, and he had let that asshole best him. Who was the asshole, now?

“You may be right, Kay. But I thought she wanted Wally, not me. It drove me crazy to see her in his arms. That bastard. He did this to her, not me.”

“You’ll get no sympathy from me. You don’t deserve her. I just kissed her goodbye. You have no idea how much you’ve made her suffer. What are you going to do about it?”

“Where is she? I need to make this right. I love her, Kay.”

“She’s traveling back to Chicago today. After Charlie assured her that you wouldn’t be there, she agreed to go to the book launch on New Year’s Eve. She plans to leave the next day for an open visit to Africa. I think she’s running like she did when Wallace broke her heart, and I don’t like it one damn bit.”

“I can run fast Kay. I’ll catch her. Thank you for setting me straight.”

“You hurt her again, Jack, and I’ll be your worst nightmare.”

“I promise you. I will make this up to her. You have my word.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Charlie had considered every detail to make the launch party a success; the setting in the penthouse floor of the JPH Building was perfect for a New Year’s Eve bash. The three glass walls of the main conference room on the eastern façade of the building would give his guests an enviable view when the fireworks over the lake started at midnight.

Jack’s assistant, Eileen, was a formidable organizer accepting each suggestion or requirement Charlie expressed with willing grace. She whipped every resource into shape, directed the men who moved office furniture off the floor and supervised the placement of abundant food and drink stations. She helped him with menu selections and selected the caterer who was semi-running between stations, overseeing set-up.

Yes, he had considered every detail of the event from every angle. Except, apparently, for one.

The launch of a coffee table book of the works of a single photographer required the photographer to be present. And she wasn’t. Charlie was afraid to look at his watch again. It would only countdown to miserable failure if she didn’t show up soon. Overheated, he pulled at his collar. Lizzie was giving him high blood pressure. He prayed to God that she’d arrive soon.

Despite the busywork from numerous distractions, he focused on the elevator door. He noticed the car moving upward as the floor numbers lit in sequence. Access to this floor for JP Hamilton Associates was via private elevator. Whoever was on that elevator was definitely coming here.

Charlie mumbled pleas to Mari and all the saints that Lizzie was a passenger on that car. When the doors opened with an airy swish, he was saved, redeemed.

Lizzie looked lovely in a short, unadorned long-sleeved dress of rose silk. Her sun-streaked hair was twisted up, the ends sprayed loose, shiny dark brown, streaked with copper and gold. She wore simple diamond studs as her only jewelry.

Charlie marveled at how gracefully she walked toward him in skyscraper high heels. He embraced her in a rush of euphoric relief. Tiny and fragile in his arms, he feared a healthy hug would crush her. He reared back to take a good look at her, and his stomach fell at the look in her eyes.

He had seen that look in the mirror every day until recently. She was grieving for Jack. Charlie was guilty as hell knowing he had exposed her to Jack.

“You had me so worried, Lizzie.” Wanting to comfort her, Charlie put his arm around her shoulders. “I’m so glad to see you.” He looked around the room. “What do you think of all this?”

****

Lizzie linked one arm around Charlie’s waist and leaned toward him for support as she looked around. This was Jack’s place. After being in his home, she’d know this was his even if the building didn’t bear the firm’s name. He’d left his mark here just like he’d left it on her. Her first time in his office would also be the last.

The thought broke her heart. She managed a weak smile, “I think all of this is fabulous, Charlie. You really are brilliant.” She hugged him.

Charlie led her to an inner office to show her the finished book. When she realized where she was, she couldn’t focus on the pages that Charlie was turning in front of her. No mistaking Jack’s office. It had to be. There was a picture of Jack and Charlie together.

And diplomas.

She didn’t know he went to Harvard grad school.

Another thing she didn’t know about him that he had kept hidden from her.

A framed, autographed, Walter Payton jersey hung on the wall, too.

Love ya, Sweetness, but go Pack.

Charlie still talked and turned pages happily while her agitation mounted. Being here, where Jack seemed near, made his absence at this event a glaring insult to her. And to Charlie.

Her anger with Jack affirmed her decision to be there for Charlie even if his cold, selfish brother wouldn’t.

“I’m so proud of you, Charlie. Let’s go party.”

Feeling self-satisfied, she mingled with the guests who unpacked in bunches from the elevator car. She talked up the book and praised the architectural genius of the man behind the buildings, without a hint of rancor. For Charlie’s book, Jack was no more than window dressing.

Stronger by the minute, she went through the formalities of the evening, capable and happy that she could forget about Jack in personal terms even while extolling his professional virtues. He wasn’t here and he didn’t matter.

A voice that made her heart shake came from behind her. Jack.

Her internal pep talk tapered off as she faced him and knew in her heart that he did matter. She stared at him and forced her face to remain impassive, while heat and longing, hurt and unmitigated fury raged inside her. Her hand shook as she put her full champagne glass on a passing waiter’s tray. Without a word, she pivoted and walked away from him.

He caught up with her easily and blocked her path. “We need to talk.”