Chapter Two
“I think you are wrong to want a heart.
It makes most people unhappy.
If you only knew it, you are in luck not to have a heart.”
L. Frank Baum
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
The following morning Isadora ignored several calls from Lucian. She was tired of thinking, so she tried reading, but her brain wouldn’t shut off. Around eleven, a door slammed, followed by heavy footsteps.
Operation Avoidance was over.
She shut her book and took a calming breath, waiting for the accusations to fly.
“You don’t know how to answer a phone?” Lucian barked the second he stepped into the den.
“Good morning, Lucian.”
He scowled. “I called you over a dozen times.”
“I know. I was busy.”
“When did you get home?”
She stood and put her book on the table. After righting the pillows, she walked past him toward the kitchen. It was almost lunch and she was in the mood for a salad.
“Isadora.”
“Yes?” she called, making her way to the fridge.
“Are you going to tell me what happened?”
She pulled out some lettuce, tomatoes, tuna, and—ooh, peppers. “No.”
Setting the cutting board on the granite countertop, she withdrew the serrated knife from the butcher block. Lucian continued to scowl.
“I’m sorry, did you want some?” She gestured to the food with the knife.
“I didn’t come here to eat.”
“I know. You came here to badger me for information. Unfortunately, all I can offer is tuna salad. The details of my personal life are off limits.”
“You’re making a mistake.”
“Am I? Hmm, I wonder what that’s like.” She shrugged. “I’m pretty sure I’m due.”
“What the hell has gotten into you? This isn’t you. You’re the sensible one.”
She shrugged, scooping the chopped tomatoes into the bowl. “People change, Lucian.”
He scoffed. “You don’t.”
She put down the knife and stared at him—insulted. “Why can’t I change? I’ve always done everything everyone expected of me and I’ve never asked for anything in return. You and Toni got everything you wanted and now you’re both out of this house, living the lives you’ve chosen, and I’m stuck here wondering where my place is. Something has to change, Lucian, because I can’t go on living like this. I’m not satisfied that this is as good as it gets. I want more.”
“I’m not saying you can’t have a life, Isa. I want you to be happy. But Parker Hughes is a manipulative little—”
“Hey!” She pointed the knife at him. “I understand he’s not your favorite person, I can even sympathize with some of your reasoning—though I don’t know all the details—but he’s someone I’m still trying to figure out. Respect me enough to let me draw my own conclusions.”
“Whatever he told you, I’m almost positive it’s all bullshit. The kid’s a liar.”
“First, he’s not a kid. Second, what he told me did him no favors, so I wouldn’t be so sure he’s lying.”
“You wouldn’t trust him if you knew who he really was.” He followed her to the table.
“Really? Is he not the man who tried to steal Evelyn away from you? The same man who took a job at Leningrad, causing a huge fight between you and Slade, which in turn ruined our lifelong friendship with the Bishops?”
He blinked at her for a solid ten seconds. “And knowing all that you still want to associate with him?”
“People make mistakes, Lucian.”
“Jesus Christ, Isadora, why are you being so stubborn about this?”
“Because!” She paused, then admitted, “I like him.” Saying it out loud felt really good.
“God help me…”
“Look, I’m not saying I’ll see him again. I may not even talk to him again, but last night… Something terrible happened to me. Then I ran into Parker and he … helped me. He was an absolute gentleman until you showed up.”
He frowned. “What happened last night?”
“Nothing you need to worry about.” She wiped her mouth. “I’m just saying—”
“What the hell happened to your face?” His eyes darkened and he growled, “Is that a bruise?”
She rolled her eyes. “I bumped into something and fell over. I’m fine.”
“Were you drunk?”
“No, I wasn’t drunk! I wasn’t looking where I was going. But I will say the moment I fell Parker was there, insisting he get me some ice and that I sit down for a minute.”
“I think he knew who you were. I don’t believe for a second he was surprised by your name last night. I won’t let him use you in some vendetta.”
“Sorry to disappoint you, Lucian, but I think he’s over you. But thanks for implying the only reason a man would be nice to me is to get close to my brother. Always what a woman wants to hear.”
“Not a man. A snake.”
“Look,” she snapped, done justifying herself. “I appreciate your concern, but I’m not going into this with my eyes shut. I’m a big girl.”
His jaw ticked. “I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“Sometimes that’s part of life. I’ve been hurt before and I’m still here.”
He threw his hands up in frustration and slammed them on the table, causing her to jump. “Goddamn it, Isa, he’s in love with Evelyn!”
She countered his rage with calmness. “No, Lucian. He was in love with a kid named Scout. Evelyn’s your devoted wife. And people accidentally fall in love with the wrong people all the time. I wouldn’t expect a man his age to have never loved before.”
“This is ridiculous. Doesn’t it bother you that his father was Dad’s nemesis?”
She laughed, really laughed. “I’m sorry. Are you referring to the father you hated for most of your life? The one who walked out on us when I was fifteen? Or the man who forgets my birthday every year? Which father, Lucian? Or maybe it’s the one who never once—not in his entire life—thanked me for raising his children. Which one am I supposed to be loyal to?”
“All right, you’ve made your point. I just don’t understand why you can’t like someone else. Why him?”
“I haven’t even decided if I’m going to call him! You’re the one treating this like a betrothal.”
The doorbell rang and she stood. “I have to get that.”
She went to the door and a deliveryman dressed in brown greeted her. “Isadora Patras?”
“Yes.”
“Sign here, please.”
She scribbled her signature on the electronic scanner.
“Here you go.”
She took the flat package. “Thank you.”
Turning around, she saw Lucian had followed her from the kitchen. “What’s that?”
“I don’t know.” She peeled open the envelope and laughed as the sleek, stiff cover of a book peeked past the seal. She pulled it out and smiled at the sketch of a Grinch sneering back at her.
Lucian frowned as he watched her. “Is that a children’s book?”
“Mm-hm,” she answered, still smiling. “It’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”
“It’s March.”
“I know.” She opened it to the title page and was deeply pleased to find a note.
“The most likely reason of all... may have been a heart two sizes too small.”
So glad we met. I think my heart grew three whole sizes yesterday—the biggest yet.
Thinking of you…
~Parker
“Who sent that?”
She snapped the book shut and held it protectively to her chest. “You’re nosier than an old lady at a stitch and bitch. Don’t you have a million other things you should be doing?”
“He sent it, didn’t he?”
She rolled her eyes, groaning as she walked away, returning to her lunch. “Goodbye, Lucian.”
“He’s after something!” her brother yelled.
“I hope it’s me,” she murmured under her breath, snickering.