Second Chances (12 page)

Paige opened the menu before her.

"Anything you guys want, I'm treating. Well the company is anyway," Linda said with a mischievous smile.

"What company would that be?"

For the briefest of moments, Nathan was certain he saw a look of pure terror on her face. A deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming semi. But it was only there an instant and when she smiled at him, Nathan wondered if he'd just imagined it all.

"Blood sucking lawyers of course. Johnson, Barnes and Block."

Nathan laughed politely.

"Well since you, well your bosses anyway, are buying, why don't you order for the three of us. I'll eat anything Italian and I am sure you know what Paige likes."

While her lips continued to smile, her eyes threw daggers at him. She did not like him, not one single bit. She didn't know what his game was, but she could tell he was pushing her. And pushing her hard. Not only had he almost messed up her vacation plans and gotten her in trouble with Kassar, now he was pushing her. Sure, Kassar could push her around. She had long ago come to accept that, found it a little thrilling actually. But no way was she going to let this bastard get away with it.

He glanced at Paige. She continued to smile and to anyone else it might appear that she was oblivious to the dance he and Linda were engaged in, but Nathan could tell she was picking up on the tension. And she didn't like it.

Linda lifted the menu up so it blocked her from Nathan's view. She mouthed the venom she was dying to spit across the table at him.

He wondered why he was being so hostile. Why was he pushing? He could tell that Paige was aware of his tension, but so could Linda. Was the tension and anger misplaced, misdirected? Was he so scared of what Linda represented? Was his mind just trying to invent something that wasn't there? Was he so terrified of losing Paige again that he was certain this woman was his enemy, certain that she was trying to deceive him?

Yes, he had to admit that was definitely a possibility. And yet he was certain there was more to it. He definitely feared losing Paige, but that was not the only reason he did not trust this woman. He couldn't put into words just what he was feeling, but raw hostility was definitely part of it. He felt a sincere desire to leap across the table and strike her. He was shocked at these feelings, but he couldn't deny they existed. He had been in a scuffle or two growing up, but nothing he would have ever considered a real fight and he certainly had never even entertained the notion of hitting a woman. And yet here he was, contemplating that very action.

"I am quite certain that Paige would rather make her own decisions. When it comes to Italian, Mr. ...ummm?"

"Just Nathan, please."

"Well, Nathan, when it comes to Italian, Paige can be quite picky. Isn't that right?"

Nathan waited for a moment, certain that a contradiction was coming. When Paige said nothing, Nathan merely nodded.

Linda smiled at him over the top of her menu. Paige's silence was a small victory for her and they both knew it. He refused to meet her eyes.

"I would however be more than happy to order for you, if you'd like."

He tried not to flinch at her words. He nodded, surrendering for the moment. He did not have any appetite so it didn't really matter what she ordered for him.

"I am so happy to see you," Paige said reaching over to give her friend's hand a squeeze.

"Ditto. It hasn't been the same without you. I was getting to the point where I almost missed school. Almost."

Paige laughed and Linda joined in. Their laughter seemed to mock him. He looked down at the menu. He felt foolish now. These two certainly knew each other. What the heck had he been thinking? Doubts began to swirl in his mind. Was she his Paige?

What the hell are you thinking? Of course she is. How could she not be? How could they both have the same histories? How? Am I losing my mind? Is this what it feels like to go crazy? Is this what madness feels like?

Nathan opened his mouth to answer the questions bouncing around inside his head, but stopped when he realized how it would look.

"Nathan?"

He looked over at Paige and cocked an eyebrow. "Yes?"

"Umm...were you...well you looked like you were about to say something."

"Oh," he stammered, his mind racing. "I, uh, well seeing you two together and you saying how happy you are to see each other, I was just wondering what your favorite memory
 
from college was."

Linda almost laughed at his rambling. She didn't know exactly what he had been thinking or had been about to say, but it was quite obvious that whatever it was, wasn't the near incoherent question he'd posed.

"Well, let's see," Paige began.

He felt like such an idiot. He kept his eyes down on his menu, feeling completely foolish for...well for everything. He was completely ashamed at his earlier actions. Why had he instantly disliked Linda? Simply because she was obviously a bit leery of him? Why shouldn't she be? He was a perfect stranger after all. A stranger who'd interrupted her and her friend's plans. For all she knew he could be a raving psychopath. He couldn't blame the woman for being suspicious of him.

He looked up at Linda and tried to give her a genuine smile. He felt like a jerk and was ready to ask her to forgive him, which might confuse Paige, but he was certain Linda would completely understand. Even if she wouldn't accept his apology. But Linda wasn't looking at him, her eyes were locked on Paige.

Paige was looking back at Linda. No, that wasn't quite right. Once again she was looking towards Linda, but not really at her. Once more looking through her, beyond her. She was chewing her lower lip again. He let his eyes linger on her for a moment before they flickered back to Linda.

Linda brushed a hand through her hair, a small trickle of sweat ran down the side of her forehead.

"Well I remember mine," she chirped.

"What was it?" Paige asked, a definite edge to her voice.

He studied her. What was that tone in her voice? It almost sounded like she was desperate to know what Linda's thoughts were. Almost sounded like she was on the edge of panic.

"Dean's list reception, second year. You wore that lovely red dress. I had that yellow backless number. Sarah had more than a little too much to drink. Remember? We had to sneak her past Sister Grimes. Lord, she was so strict. She'd have killed Sarah if she'd found out how drunk she was. Remember?"

Paige smiled, laughed and nodded.

"Sarah and Sister Grimes. Oh yeah, that was too funny. Sarah was so drunk that night."

"I can still hear her puking in the bushes," Linda said with a laugh.

Paige nodded.

"And Sister Grimes, she was so strict. She'd have killed Sarah.

Nathan frowned.

Linda smiled over at him as Paige again laughed at the memory of how drunk her friend had been. Another point for me, her smile said.

His desire to hit her was back.

"Sounds like a good time," he managed to say.

"Great time," Linda agreed.

"Great," Paige echoed.

"Bet that would have made a great blackmail picture."

"No doubt," Linda said.

He wasn't sure what made him say that and was even less sure about what he said next.

"It's a shame Paige lost everything in the fire. After hearing her talk about college I was hoping to see a picture or two. Unfortunately she lost everything."

"Yeah the fire," Linda started. "How awful. I was so sorry to hear about that."

She didn't sound all that sorry to Nathan.

"I'm just glad no one got hurt," Paige insisted.

"I don't suppose you have any pictures," he said, looking directly at Linda.

"Me?"

Nathan nodded.

"Of course I do. Hundreds. Unfortunately most are still packed away with all my college stuff. I've only been out here half a year and my place is so small I haven't had most of my stuff sent out to me yet."

"That's a shame."

Linda looked over at him, her eyes once again shooting daggers at him, but the smile on her face was unmistakable and he was quite certain of what was to come next.

"Oh, wait. You know what?" She lifted her purse, opened it, and rifled through it for a moment. "No. I guess not."

Nathan was impressed by her show, but not surprised by the ending.

"No, wait, yes here it is. I have one."

Linda triumphantly plucked a worn photograph from her purse. Surely the cat who swallowed the canary would have been envious of the smile upon her lips. She passed the photograph to Paige.

Game, set, match you son of a bitch. I don't know what the hell your deal is or what game you are playing, but either way I am the winner here, not you.

"Sorry to keep you waiting so long," Oliver said as he set the glasses down on the table. "A little backed up at the bar I am afraid. Have you decided what you'd like or would you like a few more minutes?"

Linda sipped her vodka tonic and winked at Nathan. "I think I am ready to order."

Linda and Paige ordered manicotti while Nathan opted for grilled chicken. When Oliver had left, Paige returned her attention to the picture. A huge smile played on her lips.

"Right outside the library," Linda said.

Paige nodded and then handed Nathan the photograph. His heart sank. It was Paige and Linda. They stood close to each other in front of a large stone building, a massive tree off to their left decked out in the full pageantry of a New England Autumn. He stared at the photo. Paige's smile melting him, while Linda's mocked him.

"Well," Linda said as she stood. "I need to check in with the office. If Oliver is as quick with the food as he was with the drinks, I won't be getting back to the office today. If he comes back, order me another vodka tonic, okay?"

Paige nodded.

Linda patted Nathan on the shoulder as she walked by.

Sorry pal, but you just struck out, better luck next time.

He turned and watched her walk away. His anger was undeniable. He only wondered why he felt it. Was it because he didn't believe her or because he did? Was it because she had shattered his illusions, his hopes? His eyes lingered on her for a moment and then she was gone. His emotions were conflicted, a mixture of anger and shame. He couldn't bring himself to look at Paige. He was afraid of what she was thinking, feeling. He turned and looked down the street, his eyes sweeping quickly over the various shops before he looked back at the photograph.

He hated the picture. It was proof, solid proof that what he'd believed was wrong. Though exactly what he had believed, he wasn't entirely sure. He hadn't decided on a theory that explained how all this had been possible. The damn picture forced him to face the reality that this woman wasn't who he thought and hoped she was. She wasn't his wife, his Paige, only an amazing lookalike. A woman who had recently graduated from the same college that his wife had claimed to have attended and had been flying out to hook up with an old friend and start a new job. A new life. Coming out to the west coast to take a job that had been arranged by her friend who worked for the blood sucking lawyers of the firm of Johnson, Barnes and...

He swung around, banging his knee against the table and startling Paige. His eyes wide, he scanned the street.

"No way," he said to himself.

"Nathan?"

"You have got to be kidding me."

He focused again on the picture. His eyes searching, scanning every inch. There had to be something, anything. Then it hit him.

"Jesus! How the hell could I miss it? So damn obvious. It's right in front of my face."

"Nathan?" There was a slight tremor in her voice and Nathan knew his actions were scaring her. Hell, he was scaring himself.

He looked at her over the table and reached out his hand.

"Paige, we've got to get out of here. Now."

Linda leaned against the end of the bar, sighing audibly. There was a fat woman in an obnoxious flower print moo-moo who turned and shot her a dirty look. Linda briefly considered explaining that the sigh wasn't meant for her, but decided to hell with it. Let the fat bitch think what she wanted. It wasn't the woman in the moo-moo who was the target of her disgust, it was Kassar. Him and his stupid insistence on the use of landlines for all communications. Her cell phone was encrypted, but apparently that wasn't good enough. While she didn't know the details, she did know that Kassar had been burned in the past over intercepted communications.
 

"Not like I am going to tell you anything interesting anyway," she muttered to herself. And that was the truth. The only thing she would be able to tell Kassar was that she had made contact. She did not know anything about this Nathan person. She hadn't been able to really ask anything yet. She had more or less been on defense since their arrival, which irritated her to no end.

What the heck was that all about? Was this guy angry at her? If so, why? He certainly seemed to be pushing. Was it possible he knew something?

No, of course not. How could he?

No it didn't seem logical that he could know anything, but then it didn't make sense that he should show up to have dinner with what he believed was an old friend of Paige's and then proceed to give her a thinly veiled third degree.

Paige hadn't seemed to notice or if she had, Linda hadn't been able to tell. But then she shouldn't have noticed anything, should she? Wasn't that part of the reason Linda had recorded so many sessions? Paige had definitely seemed to be oblivious to the little power struggle, though how could she not have noticed?
 
Was he stressed? If so, it had come across as barely contained hostility to Linda. Had he maybe been nervous about meeting Paige's friend? Did that make any sense? He could only have met Paige a day or so ago, right?

So if he had only met her a day ago and was comfortable being around her and she obviously comfortable enough around him to blow off what she believed to be a very important job opportunity, then why the instant dislike?

"This whole thing is fucked up if you ask me."