CHAPTER 10
DELLA
I keep watching the time. It feels as if I’m on death row.
Sue passed away last year. She left us everything, but it hasn’t helped. At first, I kept breaking even at the end of every month, but things have slowly been getting worse.
At the rate things are going I’m not going to be able to keep this place up and running for much longer. I feel the familiar grip of panic wrap its claws around my heart. How am I going to provide for Danny and Jamie?
I also have Carter to worry about now. Once I’ve told him that Daniele is our daughter, he might try to take her from me. He has money and I don’t.
Fuck.
I rub my temples, trying to get rid of the headache hammering behind my eyes.
Why can’t something go my way for once? Why does life have to be so hard?
Jamie took Danny up to bed after the dinner rush. She said she would watch her while I go talk to Carter.
I lock up and slowly walk up the road. The town is always buzzing with life over the summer holidays but the rest of the year it’s dead. People love the outdoor activities we offer in Saluda. I was hoping the summer wave of visitors would help me save the diner, but it’s going to take a miracle for that to happen.
When I reach the hotel, Carter is staying at I stop to wipe my palms on my shorts.
I feel like crawling into the nearest hole and crying. I never thought I’d see him again. Out of all the holiday destinations, why did he come to this one?
As I step into the foyer, I’m surprised to see Carter sitting on one of the couches near reception. When he sees me, he stands up. His eyes lock on mine and I feel the wave of intensity all the way from across the room. The last four years have shaped him into a determined man. His shoulders are square and strong under the power of wealth that rests on them
Forcing myself to move forward, I meet him in the middle. I’d rather run and hide, but that’s not an option right now.
“I didn’t tell you which room was mine,” he says. “Let’s go up. We’ll have more privacy there.”
Following him, all I can think is that no one will be there to bear witness when he kills me.
We get in the elevator and I watch the numbers flick over as we go higher. Off course he’ll be on the top floor.
I knew he came from a wealthy family before we had sex. Afterwards, I found out just how wealthy he was. When his dad died it was all over the news. Carter is now the CEO of the largest publishing house in America. I used to dream about working at Indie Ink Publishers. That’s why I studied Graphic Design. I would’ve gotten a good job in Raleigh and worked my way to New York.
Would’ve. It was just a pipe dream.
Carter opens the door and waits for me to walk into the suite before he follows. I hear the door click shut while my eyes take in all the wealth around me.
Just one of the paintings on the wall alone must cost more than everything I own.
“Can I pour you something to drink?” he asks as he makes his way over to the bar.
I shake my head and again wipe my hands on my shorts. “I’m sorry about your Dad,” I say. “I saw on the news that he passed.”
He just smiles at me, and then asks casually, “How have you been?”
I watch him pour amber liquid into a heavy looking crystal glass.
We’re from opposite worlds. I should’ve seen it back then, but I was too in love.
Now it’s all I see. Every difference between us forms a solid wall we’ll never be able to break down.
The thought that hurts most is knowing he can take Daniele from me, and there will be nothing I can do to stop him.
I don’t understand why he’s come here after all this time. I sent him letters after Daniele was born but he didn’t care back then.
“Why did you come here?” I finally ask. I can’t hide from what’s to come so I might as well face it head on.
***
CARTER
My hand freezes on the whiskey glass and my eyes snap up to meet hers.
I didn’t expect hostility. I didn’t expect anything but two friends catching up on old times.
“I’m here for a short vacation. The guys want to go down the white water rapids.”
She frowns and I see confusion flash over her face. She’s still breathtakingly beautiful and her eyes still have the power to knock me on my ass.
“You’re only here for vacation?” Her confusion quickly makes way for hurt.
Is she actually hurt that I’m not here for her? Up until a few hours ago I didn’t know where she was or what happened to her. Fuck, it’s not like she gave me a choice back then. She decided we were over before we even had a chance to start.
“I didn’t know you lived in Saluda.”
When anger starts to spark in her eyes, I step out from behind the bar.
“What’s with the aggressive behavior? You’re the one that snuck out of my room without so much as a thanks for the fuck.”
Her lips part and she inhales sharply. “Snuck out of your room?” she seethes, clearly pissed off.
This is quickly going from awkward to insane.
“Charlotte,” she spits the word at me.
I give her a look of warning. I won’t have her drag my PA into this.
“I left because of Charlotte. I stayed away because of your precious Charlotte. She made it pretty clear that a gold digger like me wouldn’t be getting a dollar from you.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” I take a huge gulp of whiskey, needing to feel the burn down my throat.
“Don’t play dumb with me. Charlotte phoned and you couldn’t get away from me fast enough. You won the bet. You screwed me for four hundred dollars. After she was born I tried to contact you three times. Twice my letters came back return to sender. The third one Charlotte answered, warning me that she would destroy everything I held dear if I tried to contact you again. I backed off. I did as she asked. Now you’re here.” She gasps for breath between sentences before she goes on. “I don’t have much for her to destroy, so I’m begging you, please leave.”
I let her words sink in first, thinking them over. Nothing she’s saying is making any sense.
“You’ve been in contact with my PA?” I ask to make sure we’re talking about the same Charlotte.
She nods and taking a step closer to me, her voice cracks when she says, “Please, Carter. I don’t want anything from you. Just let us be. I’m begging you.”
I frown down at her, not understanding a word she’s saying. Fuck, she might as well be speaking a different language.
“Why did you write to me? Why didn’t you come see me or try to phone me?”
She throws her hands in the air, a look of frustration clouding her features. “I couldn’t travel to New York with a newborn. Besides, I didn’t have that kind of money. My truck would never make the trip. Every time I tried to call you, they would tell me that you’re not accepting any calls. It’s hard to phone such a huge company and to demand they put me through to their CEO.”
“You just left, Della. Why did you try to contact me anyway?”
For a moment she just stares at me but then all the blood drains from her face. I move forward when it looks like she’s going to faint.
“You really don’t know,” she whispers hauntingly.
“Sit down,” I snap. Luckily she listens and she takes a seat on the couch. I sit down beside her and place the glass on the table.
“I don’t know what?” I ask, hoping that the next thing out of her mouth will actually make sense.
“Daniele,” she whispers.
“Your daughter? What does she have to do with …” It hits me like a lightning bolt.
I stand up and move away from her as shock ripples over me.
“Daniele Hayes,” she says as tears spill over her cheeks.
I have a child.
The shock is quickly joined by anger.
I have a beautiful little girl and she’s been kept from me.