Chapter One
Courtney Spellman pulled her ancient Cadillac off to the side of the road and took a ragged breath before checking her reflection in the mirror. The wind had sniped through her hair, but it somehow managed to fall back into place as it always did. If her mother were still alive, she'd say it was because it was impossible for Courtney to ever look anything less than like a supermodel.
“No time for a trip down memory lane,” she muttered to herself before checking the address on her phone one last time.
Assured that she looked presentable, Courtney pulled back onto the cobblestone road on the outskirts of Houston, Texas. She wasn’t surprised when she pulled up to the address her best friend had given her and saw it was nothing short of a mansion. Sprawling gardens covered the outside of the late seventeen hundreds style manor. The pillars on the porch seemed to reach up to the sky itself.
Courtney parked her car just as a stunning brunette woman came bounding out of the manor in a designer outfit and matching pumps. If it weren't for her enthusiasm, Courtney would have thought she seemed very professional.
“On my Lord! I can’t believe you're here!” shrieked Katherine Dillion.
Courtney childhood best friend ran to embrace her warmly, and Hanna reciprocated, “it’s only been three months Katherine!”
Katherine smiled and pulled away, “I know, but now you’re really here! Not for spring break or summer vacation either!”
Courtney laughed at her friend’s enthusiasm. She was right though; it had been four years since Courtney had been home for any length of time. As soon as she finished high school, Courtney had left for Princeton and stayed away for as long as possible. It wasn’t that she didn’t like her hometown, it simply brought out too many painful memories for her to want to stick around. Now though, she had a reason to come back.
“I’m so happy that you're finally here,” continued Katherine as she pulled Courtney up the front steps. “I just have a few more things to do here then we can get you settled in at my apartment. I hope you don’t mind?”
Courtney smiled, “I don’t mind one bit,” she said earnestly.
“I’ve told the doctor so much about you, he said he wanted to meet you, but I think he was just being polite,” chatted Katherine.
“Oh really? This is Dr. Wright isn’t it?” asked Courtney as she looked around
“The one and only,” replied Katherine
“Well, I would love to meet him,” she said sweetly
“Maybe later before we leave. I have to run back to the office. The gardens are through that door if you want to look. If you need anything, just text me okay? I’ll go as fast as I can,” said Katherine, already looking down at her phone.
“I'll be all right, go do you thing,” said Courtney as she headed for the gardens.
The grounds were even more beautiful from the rear. They extended out over acres of well-manicured lawn. Trees and flowers sprung up from guarded beds in random locations throughout the sightline. Courtney was falling in love with the manor very quickly when she heard laughter radiating from inside the house somewhere. She spun around, looking in the direction of the noise. Katherine was walking out towards the gardens. On her side was the doctor and a woman that Courtney didn’t recognize.
“Courtney!” called Katherine, waving to her friend
Courtney walked over to meet the approaching party. She couldn’t help but notice how attractive the doctor was. He was in his late thirties maybe, but he obviously took great care of himself. He was everything that a woman would dream about ending up with; tall, dark and handsome with classic good looks. The woman on his arm was the same age but stunning in her own right with auburn hair and hazel eyes. Courtney’s trained eye picked up a slight twitch when the woman thought no one was looking though.
“Courtney, I’d like you to meet Dr. Jared Wright, world renowned surgeon, and my boss, so be nice,” joked Katherine
Courtney laughed, “I’ll do my best, hello Dr. Wright. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“All good, I hope,” he replied, holding out his hand
Courtney smiled but didn’t provide an answer, she knew that not responding would eat away at him. Instead, she turned her attention to the woman at his side, “you aren’t by chance Amber Middleton, are you?”
The woman smiled and shook Courtney’s hand, “I am, how did you know?”
“My mother always thought that your father was the greatest mayor this city ever had, I recognized you from clippings she sent me while I was in college,” replied Courtney
From the corner of her eye, she saw the amusement in Dr. Wright’s glance. She didn’t think that he was brushed off by many women. Courtney had no intention of falling all over herself though to keep in the man’s line of sight. Amber was talking about politics and her family, the same thing that all socialites liked to do and Courtney played the part, smiling and nodding until the doctor intervened.
“Darling, I am sure that Katherine and her young friend would like to go,” he said coolly.
Courtney smiled, “your right sir, it’s getting late. I’m sure you two would like to have your supper soon. Amber, it was a pleasure to meet you.”
Dr. Wright’s jaw dropped, the jab at his age and meal time since it was only four in the afternoon wasn’t caught by the woman, but Courtney could see that he understood it. Before he could comment, the two woman set off for the front door, making plans for the weekend ahead. Courtney knew that it wouldn’t be the last time that she saw the doctor and his girlfriend, she would make sure of that. For now though, she just wanted to get settled and catch up with Katherine. Something seemed different about her, but Courtney couldn’t pinpoint it.