A Game of Secrets, page 11
“There’s the bride-to-be!” Pop exclaimed, his arms outstretched. “What a welcomed addition you will be to our family.”
“And such a pretty one too.” Grand beamed. “Have you considered a destination wedding? If so, Barbados is beautiful all year round.”
During appetizers, Sasha endured an extensive conversation with her mom and Ruthanne involving dates, colors and what numbers were appropriate for the wedding party and guest list. Ruthanne thought that around three hundred was adequate. Because of her husband’s position and internationally-wide political circle, Sasha’s mom thought five hundred more appropriate. Every time Sasha looked over at Lincoln he was smiling, his posture one of satisfaction, like a chess player who’d made all the right moves. Even the staid Mr. Trotter loosened up enough for an extended conversation involving the importance of her position as a future society wife.
When he suggested she take her cues from her mother, Pamela, and Ruthanne, two stellar examples of good partners, he’d added, something in Sasha snapped. Somewhere between the busboys removing salad plates and hearing the strains of a Boyz II Men love song reprised as a classical tune, she found herself standing with a water goblet in one hand, and a fork in the other, quickly clanging them together until all eyes were on her.
“I need to make an announcement,” she blurted, swallowing a well of emotion that sprang up unexpectedly. She swiped away unwelcomed tears and gripped the table for support. “There’s something I have to share with all of you. Something we,” she looked at Lincoln, who refused to meet her eye, “something that I should have told all of you long before now. But we’ve all been having such a good time, and Grand and Pop are here, and it just...”
Sasha took a sip of water, kept her eyes away from the chagrined look on her mother’s face, and took another sip to gather herself. You can do this.
“Almost two months ago, Lincoln and I broke up. There will be no wedding.”
She mentally braced herself against the expected gasps and surprised outbursts, quickly glanced away from her ambassador father’s stunned expression, her mother’s and Ruthanne’s horrified ones, and political afficionado Trotter’s look of disdain.
“Darling, what happened?” Grand asked, genuinely perplexed and more importantly for Sasha, obviously concerned. “Was this why you wanted to speak with me?”
The compassion that oozed from the older woman’s voice was like steel for Sasha’s spine. Back straightened, shoulders squared, she looked at Cora and spoke clearly.
“Yes, Grand. I wanted your wisdom. Lincoln and I secretly ended our engagement in September, but he was hoping I’d change my mind. I know how much our wedding meant to both families and agreed to delay the announcement. But no more. I’ve made my decision.”
“Sasha!” Her mom’s cultured voice had not risen but cut through the room. “Sit down. This is neither the time nor the place to discuss such personal matters.” She looked at TJ. “Son, could you please pass the basket of rolls,” her tone even and warm. “I tried the ones seasoned with rosemary and thyme. They’re incredible.”
TJ quietly reached for the basket and passed it to his left. Ruthanne took a sip of water. Mr. Trotter cleared his throat before taking out a handkerchief and wiping a sweat-free brow.
Thomas, Senior broke the silence. “You heard your mother, Sasha. You will handle this matter with your fiancé privately.”
“No, Father,” Sasha replied, her voice strong despite the tremor of nerves coursing through her body. “What I have to say cannot wait.”
“We’re all family here,” the elder Bishop Trotter intoned, his voice rich and authoritative. “This is obviously difficult for your daughter. I say we let the young lady speak.”
Sasha could have run over and kissed the old man. “Thank you, Pop—excuse me, Bishop Trotter. This is very hard, and not at all the dinner conversation you were expecting. I sincerely apologize for the embarrassment caused. I have so much respect for everyone in this room and would do almost anything not to disappoint you. That is why I can’t allow this afternoon to continue without everyone knowing the truth. I broke up with Lincoln just before my godmother, Val Baldwin, asked me to visit Point du Sable and assist with her annual children’s benefit. Linc asked that I wait until after the holidays to make the announcement. He hoped whatever was wrong could be fixed, worked out. But it can’t.”
She looked at Lincoln, who still refused to meet her eye. “This isn’t because of anything Linc did. It’s me. I don’t have the type of feelings for him that I should have if we were to marry. We’ve known each other practically all of our lives and are better being friends than lifelong partners. I’m sorry, everybody.”
“What do you have to say about this, son?” Mr. Trotter asked.
“What can I say?” Lincoln’s voice was that of anger mixed with hurt. “She’s made her decision. Guess that’s the end of it.”
The room was eerily quiet. Finally, Bishop Trotter spoke again. “No matter our opinions, Miss Sasha has articulated the matter quite clearly. I for one, however, believe that a person should never let a bit of bad news get in the way of a good steak. Let’s continue to enjoy the dinner, and one another, and I’ll counsel with the couple later tonight.”
It was a good thought, but after Sasha’s announcement there was very little enjoyment and for Sasha, aside from Grand, no one who seemed to empathize with or even understand her position. She felt shunned, while on the other side of the room quiet conversations were happening with Lincoln, accompanied by looks of sympathy for him coupled with glares of contempt shot her way. Once dinner was over, she thanked Grand and Pop for coming, politely declined the minister’s counsel and walked over to her mother who was standing alone, looking at but probably not seeing a painting on the wall.
“How dare you,” Pamela hissed, without looking over. “I have never been so humiliated in my entire life.”
“Mother, I—”
With the utmost composure, Pamela cut off Sasha’s comment with a quick, barely perceptible move of her hand. She even managed to curve her lips upward, though there was no joy in her eyes.
“We will talk later. You will fix this. We’ve held the engagement party. The news is out. I will not have your immature thinking and selfish actions bring a stain on the family name and become gossip mill fodder.
“Time will ease today’s discomfort. We’ll act as though that undisciplined outburst of yours never occurred. You have until Val’s benefit to get yourself together. When you return, we’ll announce a date for the wedding.”
Sasha inhaled a fortifying breath. “Lincoln and I are not getting married.”
Pamela took a step toward Sasha and lowered her voice even more. “Then your father and I will cut you off financially. We’ll repossess the condo, end the lease on your car. Defy me and there will be stiff consequences. If you choose to go down this unfortunate road, don’t bother coming home once the benefit in Chicago is over.”
Fourteen
Monday morning, Jake was awakened by his buzzing cell phone. He hoped it was from Sasha. It was Lincoln.
“Seven o’clock in the morning, man,” he answered amid a yawn. “This had better be good.”
Instead of a cheeky retort, there was silence.
Jake sat up against the headboard. “Hello?”
“You’ve got a hell of a lot of nerve.”
“Excuse me? What’s this about?”
“You know exactly what this is about.”
“No,” Jake replied, easing out of bed and slipping into a robe. “Actually, I don’t.”
But he did.
“Was it always your plan to try and steal Sasha away from me? Is that why you reached out to me to start a consulting business? So that you’d have a legitimate excuse to be near my soon-to-be wife?”
Jake reached the kitchen, popped a cup of dark roast into the machine and hit the button. Clearly, this convo would require coffee, something stronger if it weren’t so early in the day.
“Linc, after seeing you and Sasha on TV the other night, this is the last type of call from you I expected.”
“Sasha told me everything.”
Jake’s body tensed. Poker time. He forced a lightweight casualness into his voice. “Considering what I saw happen at the Wizards game, couldn’t have been too much.”
“Are you going to deny that you’ve been spending time with her? Messing around? Getting physical?”
“You knew Sasha and I had spent time together. I never hid that from you. It’s basically what you’d asked me to do.”
“Don’t you dare take a request of a man I thought upright and ethical, a brother I planned to do business with, and try and make your inappropriate behavior somehow my fault.”
“That’s not what I’m doing. Something else I’m not going to do is argue with you about what you think happened between me and Sasha, or what someone said happened or whatever you heard that has you this hyped before eight a.m.”
“I can’t believe I trusted you, was actually excited about partnering up to do business together.”
“It probably wouldn’t be too presumptive of me to say that deal is off.”
“You cocky motherf—”
“Let’s keep our mothers out of this.” Jake took a sip of steaming hot coffee.
“You’re over there all calm and smug. I can ruin you. You have no idea the enemy you’ve made.”
“You should know that I don’t scare easily nor take threats well. Do or say anything that tarnishes the Eddington name, and you’ll be in a whole heap of trouble. I promise you that.”
Jake ended the call. Now angry at both Lincoln and Sasha, he quelled the desire to throw the mug of coffee against the wall and instead walked to his bedroom, changed into sweats and headed over to the main wing’s fully equipped gym.
Ninety minutes later he felt calmer, looked like a boss and was ready to begin his workday. While working out, he’d received a text from his assistant that his first appointment had canceled. He started out the door with the thought to grab breakfast at a new restaurant getting rave reviews, then changed his mind and went in search of his mother. She was often in the solarium around this time. Maybe they could have breakfast together and if the opportunity presented itself, maybe he could share enough of what had happened with Sasha to get her perspective.
Jake was right. Mona was in the solarium. But she wasn’t alone. Val was with her and didn’t look happy.
“Good morning, ladies!”
Mona looked up and smiled. “Hello, son. This is a surprise. To what do I owe this rare pleasure?”
“Client canceled,” he said, reaching for a stem of grapes from the fruit bowl as he walked around to greet Val. “Thought I’d have breakfast with my favorite lady.”
He squeezed Val’s shoulders. “Hello, Mrs. Baldwin.”
“Hello, Jake.” She smiled, but her eyes held sadness.
He took one of the empty chairs. The conversation he’d seen in progress when walking up to the table was now on hold.
“I’m sorry. Did I interrupt a private conversation?” He half stood. “If that’s the case, I can leave.”
He watched Mona glance at Val, who slowly shook her head. “No, Jake. It’s fine. I was sharing news with your mother that you’ll soon hear anyway. Sasha ended her engagement to Lincoln.”
“Oh.” That her comment surprised him was an understatement. Even with the conversation he’d had with Linc just hours before, it was the last thing he’d expected to hear. He kept his face neutral and hoped for a tone to match. “Wow.”
“Her family is extremely upset. Over-the-top if you ask me. Her mother, Pamela, all but threatened to disown her.”
“You’re kidding.” Mona’s frown conveyed her annoyance.
“I wish I were. Poor girl is only trying to follow her heart. They should be glad she had the courage to tell that man the truth rather than go through with a ceremony for appearances. Neither family sees it that way, and that’s a shame. Lincoln isn’t being supportive either and that doesn’t help.”
Jake’s mind was awhirl with questions, ones mostly only Sasha could answer. “Is Sasha still helping with your event?”
Val nodded. “Thank goodness she has that to distract her. When I went to bed last night around midnight, she was still up working.”
“She’s back already?”
“I picked her up at the airport last night. She was supposed to be back today but the row with her family was so intense she thought it best to put distance between them.”
The family chef came over. “Good morning, Mr. Eddington. What can I get you this morning?”
“Nothing for me, John. I’m on my way out.”
“I thought you were going to join us for breakfast,” Mona said.
He stood and kissed his mom on the cheek. “I just remembered something that I need to do.”
On his way to the car, Jake pulled out his phone and dialed Sasha. The anger he’d felt at the sports bar and earlier this morning had been replaced by something else—concern.
“Sasha, it’s me. Jake.”
“Hi.” Her voice was low and raspy.
“Have you been crying?”
Pause. “No.”
Her voice told Jake otherwise. “Val’s here having breakfast with Mom. I heard what happened.”
“You probably think I deserve it.”
“Where are you? We need to talk.”
“I don’t need your pity, Jake.”
“Are you at Val’s?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Stay there. I’m on my way.”
Moments later, he reached the quiet cul-de-sac and tried the door handle. It was unlocked. He entered.
“Sasha?”
A long pause was followed by, “In here.”
He walked toward the sound and found a disheveled beauty on the couch, a throw around her shoulder, her legs tucked beneath her. He went over, sat down and pulled her into his arms. For several moments they stayed that way, Sasha’s silent tears wetting his designer suit.
“My family’s not speaking to me,” she finally managed, her voice strained with the remaining unshed tears.
“They’re angry.”
Sasha shook her head as she pushed away from his chest. “It’s more than that.” She reached over for a tissue and blew her nose. “I’ve done the absolute worst thing you can do in my parents’ eyes. I’ve brought embarrassment to their doorstep. They’re ashamed of me.”
“Because you broke up with a man you’re no longer in love with? That’s ridiculous.”
“It is, but that’s how they feel. For Mother and Father, it’s all about decorum. I’ve broken a societal code.”
Sasha eased off the couch and moved to a nearby chair. She reached for another tissue, before wiping her nose and then dabbing her eyes. Her voice grew stronger as she stood and walked to a window.
“All my life, I’ve done what I was told. I behaved as expected. I followed all the rules. I tried my best to be the daughter they wanted and for the most part, I succeeded in portraying that image.
“It was the same with my brothers. From the time I was born, they were instilled with the belief that I was one to be looked after, protected and to an extent, told what to do. I love TJ and Brandon. They’re only doing what they were taught by a structured military man turned US ambassador who was long on discipline but short on outward affection. Both of them, but especially TJ, inherited that same uncompromising nature. Growing up I did what subordinates do. I fell in line and pretended to be okay with it. But there was a cost.”
“What was that?” Jake softly asked.
Sasha returned to the chair and sat. “Me.”
Sasha went on to tell Jake about her years at boarding school, how difficult it was in those first, early years—the loneliness, pressure and feelings of being isolated from all that was familiar. She was picked on and bullied by jealous classmates. It was new territory for a girl who’d been the apple of her family’s eye.
“What happened when you told your parents about it?”
“I only told Mother and then, only so much. Dad didn’t bother with such things.”
“What did your mom say?”
A bittersweet smile appeared on Sasha’s face. “Basically, to suck it up and not do anything to bring embarrassment to the family. Don’t make the school have to call her about something negative. Me and my brothers were constantly reminded of our dad’s high-profile position. What we did was a reflection on how well he led his family, which in turn, in Mom’s eyes, impacted how others viewed his leadership abilities overall. Her response to whatever problem or situation I brought to her was never about me. It was always about protecting Dad’s reputation, her social standing and the family name.”
For a moment, Jake felt too angry to respond. To put so much expectation on a child was inexcusable.
“I don’t mean to disrespect your mom,” he finally responded, “but I’ve got to say this. What she told you was bullshit. Your feelings mattered. What happened to you mattered and shouldn’t have been ignored. You are more important than anything in politics or society. Just in case nobody ever told you that, now you know.”
Sasha offered a wisp of a smile. “Thanks, Jake. I don’t know that I believe all of what you said, but it’s good to hear.”
“I have something else to tell you that won’t be so pleasant.”
“Oh, no,” she groaned. “I don’t know if I can handle anything else right now.”
“Yes, but you need to know. Linc called me.”
“He did? When?”
“This morning.” Jake gave her an abbreviated version of the conversation. He told her how angry Lincoln was about what happened. He left out the parting threats.
“Despite what either you or I say, he believes I’m responsible for the breakup. He said you told him everything. Did you?”
