View Park, page 16
“We have to go,” Janet said loudly. “We have an engagement.”
Leigh placed her hand over the phone, hoping Richard hadn’t heard. “Just a second, okay?”
“We have to go to the museum to plan the fund-raiser. It’s for your clinic, remember?”
Leigh remembered. She remembered her promise and how this was all for the clinic. A few weeks and they would be back where they were before this all went downhill. Back on track. Back on track. Waiting for her mother to leave, she took a deep breath before returning to the phone.
“Who was that?” he asked.
“Maya.” She cringed at her own lie. “Richard, about that movie; can we push it back a little?”
To Steven, seeing Janet lying on the sofa against the window in their bedroom was like looking at a painting. She was the picture of perfection calmly lifting her head from her book and sending him a smile that warmed him throughout. He loved this woman to no end and, although he should be home more often, coming home to that smile was a blessing.
“It’s late.” She kissed him on the lips, wrapping her arms around him. She felt the tense muscles in his back and shoulders. “You’re working too much these days.”
“You always say that.” He loved the feel of her soft familiar body and she still had a way of making him feel like he was the king of the world because she had forsaken all others for him.
She removed his tie, tossing it on the bed before she led him to the edge of it. “Lie down. Let me loosen you up.”
“That’s what I’m talking about.” He leaned back onto the massive bed, reaching out for her. With a wife like Janet, a man didn’t need Viagra.
Janet slapped his hands away playfully. “Turn around and take your shirt off.”
“However you want it.”
“Stop being dirty and lie on your stomach. I’m going to give you a massage. You’re tense all over.”
Steven let out a moan as Janet kneaded the muscles in his back. He hadn’t realized how much he needed this until she grabbed his shoulders and began turning. She began with the polite “how was work” conversation, which always led to something more serious and this time it was Carter’s predicament.
“My legal staff is having a problem,” he said. “Carter is being too hard on them; barking orders left and right.”
“Sounds like you.”
“He’s a natural leader, but they work for me, not him.”
Janet rested her weight on him. “Did I just hear you give Carter a compliment?”
“Stop it, Janet. You know I love that boy.”
“He’s not a boy, he’s a man, and I know you love him. He just needs to hear it every now and then.”
“He is a boy,” Steven said. “He’s only thirty and he has yet to comprehend the magnitude of this—”
“What about what I just said?” Janet usually tried to avoid the role of mediator in their relationship because Steven begged her to stay out of it. “I called him today and he said he hasn’t spoken to you since last week.”
“We’re both busy trying to clean up the mess he made.”
“The mess you gave him.” She squeezed a little harder this time until he groaned.
“I can’t talk to that boy. It’s like he resents everything I’ve done for him. I’ve made him the man he is today. I taught him strength, responsibility and the keys to success.”
“You sound like you gave him a gift. You’re his father, Steven. You’re supposed to do all of those things, and more.”
“It was my job, I know.” Steven sighed. “I don’t want a thank you. I’d just prefer not to get a fuck you.”
“That’s not fair. Carter loves you.”
“I know he loves me, Janet. I want him to respect me.”
She leaned down, speaking harsh words tenderly. “He respects you, Steven, but that’s not what you want. You want him to worship you and Carter is too much of his own man to worship another one. He got that from you, too.”
Steven grinned at the thought of it, but it bothered him that he couldn’t think of a way to fix what was going on between him and his son. “Can I go this evening without a lecture on Carter?”
Janet wasn’t going to push anymore. She knew when to pick her battles, but she was concerned about this feud between the two of them. If they didn’t work this out, their relationship could be irreparable. That, she couldn’t bear.
“What is Maya making?” he asked.
“Some Caribbean dish. I don’t know.”
Steven’s stomach grumbled. He hadn’t eaten all day. “I thought I smelled curry.”
“It stinks up the entire downstairs,” Janet said. “I tell her time and time again not to cook that, but she says you like it.”
“I do.”
“She works for me, not you.”
“We all work for you.” He reached back, squeezing her thigh. “I tried to call him yesterday.”
Janet stopped for a moment, sensing the strain in her husband’s voice. “And?”
“I left a message for him to call me. To come over to the house, but he never called me back.”
Janet sighed. Carter was just as stubborn as his father. “It’s just one day. He’ll be here Saturday at least.”
“What’s Saturday?”
“I’ve invited Avery over to the house for dinner.” She leaned back as Steven quickly sat up, looking at her like she was psychotic. She expected as much.
“You invited that woman to our house?” Both Carter and Janet’s infatuation with Avery was beyond ridiculous. “That woman could destroy us.”
“Stop being so dramatic.” Janet slid off the bed and went to her vanity. “If that innocent woman could destroy Chase Beauty, then Chase Beauty was never meant to be.”
“Innocent?”
“She’s incredibly pleasant. I only spoke to her on the phone, but she was polite and well spoken.”
“That’s nice, considering she thinks our son tried to kill her.”
“Your son has been working some magic with her. I don’t know what he’s done, but she didn’t seem to hold any animosity toward Carter when she spoke of him.”
“That’s because from the phone you couldn’t see the voodoo dolls in the back of her shop.” Steven wasn’t giving up even though his wife had that look on her face that told him protest would be a waste of time. “I don’t want her here. She’s the enemy.”
“She isn’t the enemy, Steven, and she’s coming.”
“This isn’t going to go well.” He sat at the edge of the bed, facing her. “You got lucky with Leigh, so you’re hedging your bets.”
“Steven, in all the years you’ve known me, have I ever done anything that wasn’t in the best interest of this family?”
He didn’t need to answer that. It was an unequivocal no.
“Then Saturday it is,” he said. “Now I’m gonna go tear up some curry.”
“You can’t be serious!” Alex leaned across Avery’s desk in the back office of Essentials II. “You can’t tell me you’re going over there?”
“I’ve already made up my mind,” Avery said.
“What exactly did she say to you? That woman has a master’s in charm. She can charm a million dollars out of anyone for her foundation. You must have been easy for her.”
“I’m going to ignore that.” Avery had been easily induced by Janet Chase’s invitation. She’d made it impossible for her to refuse. By the time the woman ended, she had Avery feeling like she owed the family.
In the two days since the invitation, Avery must have picked up the phone ten times to cancel, but a call from Carter sealed the deal. He was trying so hard to spend time with her and it was driving her out of her mind because she was beginning to get used to him.
He wasn’t too happy when she made him agree to stop if she came to the house for dinner, but he agreed nonetheless. Avery didn’t believe it for a second, but at least she knew if he kept trying to see her after that, she didn’t have to be nice to him anymore.
“It was an incredible gesture.”
Alex sat in the chair near the door, looking around. “This place is a mess, Avery. Why can’t you get one of those girls to clean it up?”
“We’ve all been a little busy lately.” Avery was beginning to become numb to his ambivalence about her professional life.
“If you think it was such an incredible gesture,” he said, “then why did you wait till today to tell me?”
“Alex, I’m just asking you to come with me.”
He threw his hands in the air. “There is no way I’m setting foot in that house and neither are you!”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I’m putting my foot down, Avery. If you don’t care about what these people have done to you, then I’ll care for you.”
“You’re not gonna do anything for me,” she said, “and you can put your foot up your ass.”
Alex looked stunned for a minute, but snapped out of it. “This is about Carter, isn’t it? I know he’s trying to get with you, Avery. I’ve been reading the log on your caller ID. I know he’s—”
Avery shot up from her chair. “How dare you? All I’ve asked you for is your support in what is undeniably the worst time in my life and you refuse to give it to me. All you give me are orders and insults and you have the nerve to accuse me?”
Alex just stared at her. Avery could see he was shutting off. It was what he always did when he was about to lose an argument. He would shut off and give her the cold shoulder in his passive-aggressive way of punishing her for being right. Avery didn’t really care right now. She had too much to deal with to be concerned with Alex’s hurt feelings.
“I’m doing the best I can,” he answered after a while. His face held no expression at all. “You don’t make it easy. You’re just feeling sorry for yourself.”
She couldn’t deny that completely. “I’m sorry, but I’m stressed out. I can’t do this on my own and you’re not helping me. I’m going to have to take out a second mortgage on this place to pay off what I owe for Essentials.”
“You can’t afford that.”
“Is that the advice you have for me?” she asked sarcastically. “Well, it’s very helpful.”
“Stop your whining,” he said. “Get rid of this place.”
Avery was too stunned to respond and too familiar with Alex to think she heard him wrong.
“You sell this place to pay them both off and sue the Chase family to make up the rest. When we get married, you won’t need to work anyway.”
“Alex, Essentials is my life.”
He rolled his eyes. “It’s a hair salon, Avery. It’s so…working class. You’ll be able to go to business school with what you get from the Chase lawsuit. Unless, of course, you go over there and play into their game. I’ll catch you later.”
Avery stood in the middle of the back office for several minutes just staring at the door. She was beginning to realize that the Chase family’s game wasn’t the only one she had played into.
Leigh laughed as Richard grabbed at her under her shirt. She pushed his hands away even though she loved it. “There are other people here.”
The other people at the clinic were Alicia and the man installing the new security system.
“They aren’t paying attention to us.” Richard leaned in, kissing her. “I want to be alone with you.”
Leigh was really falling in love with Richard. When they finally got together on Wednesday, they skipped the movie and dinner and went right to his place for nonstop sex and pizza delivery. She couldn’t get enough of him and the way he made her feel. He made her forget the clinic was being delayed and she had become her mother’s indentured servant. He hadn’t been able to make her forget she was lying to him, and the more she fell for him, the more afraid she became that she could lose him over this.
“Can’t you guys get enough?” Alicia asked. She was carrying an encyclopedia-size book on how to operate the security system. “Isn’t that why you guys were late getting over here?”
“Actually, it was.” Richard reached for the book. “Let me take that. I don’t want to stress your brain.”
Alicia snatched it away from him. “Listen, Doctor, I bet I scored higher than you on the MCATs, so watch it. I’ll be teaching you how to work this thing in a couple of minutes.”
“We’ll get together tonight and do it,” he explained. “We’ll learn it together.”
Leigh nervously shook her head. “I can’t do tonight. Avery Jackson is coming over and Mom demands that we all be there for the event.”
“Good luck with that.” Alicia rolled her eyes before turning and heading for the security technician.
“I’m so sorry,” Leigh said. “I forgot to tell her.”
Richard rubbed her back comfortingly. “My fault. You told me and I forgot. Your mother has you running through hoops, doesn’t she?”
“I don’t mind. I just hate being away from the clinic so much.” She wrapped her arms around him. “I hate being away from you.”
“Maybe I can come over,” he said. “I still need to thank your mother.”
Leigh backed away, feeling her nerves charge into high gear. “No, you don’t want to come over. When my mother hosts these family dinner things, it’s overwhelming for me and I’ve been doing them all my life. It’s not the time to introduce anyone.”
Richard hesitated with a frown. “Okay. Well, look, whenever you think it’s right, but I am eager to meet your parents.”
“I want you to. They’ll love you.”
“So what about tomorrow night? Let’s do that movie thing that didn’t work out on Wednesday.”
“I…No, I can’t. My parents are going to some banquet and I promised to keep Haley company.”
Richard’s hesitation was a little longer this time. “Well, um, I guess I can do some babysitting. It can’t be that hard considering she’s twenty—”
“Maybe we should do something in the daytime. My parents don’t want anyone coming over while they aren’t there. Security and everything.”
Richard sighed. “What is it, Leigh? What’s going on? You’ve been acting weird all week.”
“I’m just nervous, Richard. I’m sorry for being so inaccessible, but I just want to make sure my mother is happy with what’s going on. Trust me, you don’t know her. She could pull out of this and I can’t let that happen.”
“I’m sorry. I know this has been hard on you.”
He reached for her, but Leigh’s shame caused her to back away. She hadn’t thought before she did it, but the second she did she regretted it. The look on Richard’s face was undeniably hurt.
“Leigh, what have I done?” He backed away, seeming resigned to not connecting with her. “You’re obviously upset with me, but I can’t think…”
“You haven’t done anything.” Leigh didn’t know how much longer she could lie to him. “You’ve been better to me than I could have expected. I’m just stressed out. I have to go.” She heard him call her name again, but didn’t turn around, and when this was all over, she wasn’t sure if she would lose Richard—but she knew she deserved to.
CHAPTER 9
When Avery drove up to the Chase mansion, Carter was standing at the door with a boyish look on his face. It made her smile even though she warned herself to be on guard this evening and not give too much. When she stepped out of the car, she promised to leave her emotions there.
“You look nice.” Carter had been doubtful until the end whether she would come.
“I get door service?”
“I’m here to warn you,” he said. “My mother put a lot into this evening. My entire family is here and they can be—”
“I can handle myself, Carter.”
Carter wondered if her cold edge was her selected mood for the evening or just geared toward him.
“I know you can handle yourself,” he said. “I think you’ve proved that ten times over. You’re healing well.” His finger gently touched the tiny scratch on her forehead from the blast. Covered by bangs, it was barely visible.
Avery recoiled at his touch. She didn’t like this caring side of him. It was too convincing. She had to forgive what little attraction she felt for Carter already because it was only human. He was fine; the devil always is.
When Carter opened the door, his parents were already heading for them. Only Janet had a smile for her and even though Carter had gone out of his way to avoid his father this past week, if he intended to give Avery a hard time, Carter intended to give him one in return.
Avery was taken back by Janet’s response to her outstretched hand. She ignored it, grabbing her in a warm hug in comparison to Steven who only offered a cold nod. She could see in his eyes that he blamed her for everything, including his own choices.
“Maya hasn’t finished setting up yet,” Janet said. “Carter can entertain you until then. The bar is set up near the pool.”
How nice, Avery thought. The bar is set up near the pool. Just like at her house.
“Come on.” Carter gently placed his hand to her back, grateful she didn’t pull away, as he led her toward the back of the house.
Steven leaned into his wife, whispering as Carter and Avery walked away. “You see that?”
Janet grabbed his hand, squeezing it tight. “You behave tonight.”
“This isn’t about him helping Chase Beauty,” he said. “He wants that woman and you know it.”
Janet turned to him, guiding his face to hers. “It still works in your favor, doesn’t it, dear?”
Steven smirked. “It’s just another way he can do something I wouldn’t want him to.”
Michael tugged at Kimberly as she said a few last words to Avery by the pool. He had done what his mother wanted and greeted her even though he couldn’t stand the woman. It was bad enough she barely mouthed a greeting in return, but now Kimberly was acting like she had just met her new best friend.
“Take it easy.” Kimberly pulled her arm out of his grip.
“What’s the matter with you?”
“I’m being polite like Janet ordered us to.”
