Chapter Twenty
Lauren blinked in surprise as her normally sophisticated, refined aunt walked into her kitchen and returned a few moments later carrying two shot glasses and a chilled bottle of Skyy vodka. Without a word, Maddy poured them each a glass, belted hers down neatly, and then refilled it.
“There,” declared Maddy, shuddering just a bit as the alcohol hit her stomach. “I think that will do it. At least for now.”
Lauren grinned. “And I always wondered why you kept that bottle in the fridge. You know vodka isn’t my favorite, and I’ve never actually seen you take a shot of anything before. Great technique, by the way. The kind that only comes with a lot of practice.”
Maddy gave her a wink. “I’ve been known to let my hair down on occasion, though not so much in recent years. When I was in college, though – well, that’s a tale for another day. The one I’m going to tell you tonight actually began when I was a little younger than you are now – twenty-five, to be precise. It was springtime in Paris – such a cliché, I know – when I met a man by the name of James Butterfield. And it was definitely, absolutely, love at first sight – for both of us.”
Lauren was instantly intrigued, both by the way her aunt’s blue gray eyes lit up at the mention of this man’s name, and at the wistful note of longing in her voice.
“What were you doing in Paris? Vacationing?” inquired Lauren.
Maddy shook her head. “Working. I was an apprentice at Lanvin, putting in gruesomely long hours for practically no money. The apartment I lived in was so tiny it made your sister’s old place here in town look like a two bedroom flat. But I didn’t mind, because I was doing the work I loved in the city I loved. I was surrounded by beautiful art and clothes and incredible food and wine, and there was romance everywhere I looked. It was fitting, I suppose, that the only time I ever fell in love was in the City of Lovers.”
“Did this James work in the fashion industry, too?”
“Goodness, no.” Maddy gave a little laugh. “He was in finance, darling, came from a very long and distinguished banking family in England. We actually met at an art gallery, during a show for a new artist. And it was like something out of a romantic movie – our eyes met across a crowded room and the rest is history. At least for a time.”
“Now, this is starting to get good,” said Lauren, rubbing her hands together in glee. “What did he look like? I mean, just the fact that he was British – and rich – was probably enough to sweep a twenty-five year old woman off her feet. There’s just something about a man with an accent, isn’t there?”
Maddy laughed. “How true, darling. And, yes, he certainly did sweep me off my feet. He was older – twelve years to be exact – handsome, well dressed, sophisticated, and very, very charming. He was also,” she added soberly, “married, with three children.”
Lauren gaped in surprise. “Aunt Maddy – what - ”
Maddy held up a hand at Lauren’s protest. “It’s not what you think, Lauren. At least, not exactly. When I first met James he’d been legally separated for almost a year, and his children were all in their teens. His wife – well, from what he told me his life with her was extremely unhappy. She was a very high strung, nervous woman, easily upset, and James was constantly having to deal with one little emotional upheaval after another. By the time his youngest turned thirteen, he’d had enough and moved out of the house.”
Lauren nodded. “Okay, I get that. Sounds like the wife made his life a living hell, and he deserved a shot at some happiness.”
“Yes.” Maddy seemed pleased that she understood. “We fell madly in love right from the start. James was based in London, of course, had a flat there, and saw his children on a regular basis. He and I only got to see each other when he could come to Paris for the odd weekend, or if he could steal away for an extra day or two. But I didn’t mind, was willing to put up with anything so long as I could have him with me. We were crazy about each other, so in love that it makes me tingle all over just thinking about it.”
“So what happened, Aunt Maddy?” Lauren asked gently. “What happened to break you up?”
Maddy closed her eyes briefly before pouring another shot of vodka and tossing it down. “We had been seeing each other for almost a year,” she recalled. “My contract with Lanvin was nearly up, and I was considering moving to London so that we could be together all the time. James had introduced me to his children by then, and they were all very sweet to me. I think perhaps living with their mother tried their patience as well, and it was a relief for them to be around someone more calming.” She paused and took a deep breath before continuing. “James had made an appointment to see his attorney, was ready to take the next step and initiate formal divorce proceedings. He would be free then, free to marry me, to have children of our own. And then the accident happened.”
Maddy took a third shot of vodka, her still flawless complexion paling beneath the strain of her story. “His oldest child – Christine – had just turned eighteen. She was a beautiful girl – kind, gentle, but full of life. Very much like her father. And – oh, God, it was tragic, Lauren, just heartbreaking. She was driving home from a party with several friends and their car was hit head on by a drunk driver. Four of them in all – all so young, with so much to live for – all of them killed instantly.”
Lauren, who had never met or even heard of this girl until now, nonetheless felt the same pangs of sorrow that her aunt had undoubtedly known for years, and wrapped her arms around Maddy’s waist. “I’m so sorry, Aunt Maddy,” she whispered. “How awful.”
Maddy pressed a kiss to Lauren’s forehead. “It was awful, darling. For everyone. James was devastated, especially since Christine had been his favorite. But he couldn’t afford to mourn, to grieve, because he had to be the strong one. His other children – a boy and another girl – were so upset while his wife – well, she was so distraught that she had to be sedated round the clock for some time. Between comforting his family, taking care of the children, and making funeral arrangements, I didn’t see or speak to James for weeks. But I understood, I knew all the responsibilities he had, and just wished I could have been there to help him get through it all. I didn’t dare, however, given how far gone his wife already was. If I had been in the picture, there’s no telling how much deeper she would have sunk. So I stayed in Paris, working hard, telling myself that James didn’t really want to be away from me, and that he would call or see me as soon as he could. And then, almost a month after Christine died, he came to Paris one final time.”
Lauren hugged her beloved aunt a little tighter. “What happened?”
Maddy blew out a breath. “What I’d expected would happen ever since I’d heard about Christine. He was terribly upset, dreadfully sorry, but with his wife – her name was Miranda – so incapacitated there was no possible way he could proceed with a divorce at that time. His children needed him too badly, needed at least one stable parent in their lives. And he couldn’t in all good conscience divorce Miranda when she was in such bad shape. He told me that maybe one day we could still be together, one day when Miranda was better and the children were a little older. But until then he had to do the right thing for all of us and not see me again. And that was the last time I ever saw or heard from James again.”
Lauren had tears in her eyes again, having cried more in the last few hours than she had in decades. But this time the tears weren’t for herself. “Oh, God, Aunt Maddy – I’m so, so sorry. You must have been devastated.”
Maddy nodded. “It was heartbreaking. I’ve never known pain like that in my life, never lost something so precious before. I begged James not to end things, told him I didn’t care if I could only see or talk to him once in awhile, so long as we could still be together. But he refused, saying that it wouldn’t be fair to me, that I was too young and beautiful and talented to waste my life waiting around for something that would probably never happen. He wouldn’t even kiss me good-by, told me that if he started he wouldn’t be able to stop. So he walked out of my tiny little apartment and out of my life.”
“How awful for both of you,” murmured Lauren. “Because I know without being told how much he must have loved you, too. But what I don’t know is why you kept this secret for so long, why Mom never told Julia and I anything about it. Did she - ”
“Yes. Your mother knew everything. As did your father, eventually. And part of the reason you girls never knew is because I was more than a little ashamed of myself. I mean, James was officially separated from Miranda when I met him, had lived apart from her for months, and fully intended to divorce her. But, well, he was still a married man, and like it or not there is a stigma attached. And – that’s not quite all of it, I’m afraid.”
Lauren frowned. “That sounds like plenty of heartache for one lifetime to me.”
Maddy smiled sadly. “You’d like to think so, wouldn’t you? But not quite, darling. Because a couple of weeks after James left me, I realized I was pregnant.”
Lauren cursed softly. “Shit, Aunt Maddy. Not that. What – what did you do?”
Tears welled up again in Maddy’s eyes. “At first I was beside myself, had no idea what to do. I was alone and pregnant in a foreign country, my job was going to end soon, and I didn’t have much money of my own at the time. There was no possible way I could tell my parents. You remember how strict and old-fashioned Papa and Maman were. And so very Catholic. The very idea that their daughter was pregnant out of wedlock, and that the father was married to someone else whom he couldn’t divorce – well, there was no way I could bring myself to tell them.”
“So what on earth did you do?”
Maddy sighed. “What twins always do – when one of them is in trouble they call the other one up and cry on their shoulder. Your mother was wonderful to me, even though she was pregnant herself at the time with you and Julia. Told me to come out to California, that I could live with all of you, and that she and your father would take care of me and the baby, that we’d all get through it together.”
Lauren shook her head. “But that’s not what happened, is it? I don’t ever recall a time when you lived with us. We would have heard about something like that.”
“No, I didn’t wind up in California,” confirmed Maddy quietly. “Because less than two weeks later I suffered a miscarriage. I lost James’s child just like I’d lost him.”
Lauren couldn’t think of any words that would come close to expressing the sorrow, the anguish, she felt for her much loved aunt. Instead, the two women simply held each other, consoling the other silently, sharing their mutual heartache.
It was long minutes later before Lauren ventured to ask, “So all this time you’ve never been tempted to look James up, see if he’s still married, that sort of thing?”
“Of course I’ve been tempted,” admitted Maddy. “Each time I was in London on business, I had to force myself not to go by his house or office or to one of the clubs or restaurants I knew he frequented. But I never did, or tried to contact him in other ways. I figured that if things had changed, if he and Miranda weren’t together any longer, that he would have called me, come to see me. But here we are, twenty seven years later, and not a word. However, I came to terms with all that a long time ago, darling, realized that James was in my past and forever destined to remain there.”
Lauren stroked her aunt’s cheek tenderly. “But you’ve never stopped loving him, have you? He’s the one for you – your one and only.”
Maddy nodded. “There have been other men, of course, but no one special, no one that I ever felt the same way about. I do believe – firmly – that each of us has that one special someone in our lives, our soulmate. And James was mine, just like Ben is yours. The only difference is that it might not be too late for you, Lauren. That’s why you need to talk to Ben, to listen to him, and tell him how you feel. You can have the happy ending that I never got.”
Tears still glistened in Lauren’s eyes. “I don’t know. I have to think about it, think about a lot of things. But I won’t accept that you can’t have a happy ending, too, Aunt Maddy. Is James the reason you never married, or had children of your own?”
“Mostly, yes.” Maddy gave a little shrug. “I grieved for such a long time, both for him and for the baby I lost. And by then my career had really taken off, I was traveling all the time, working insane hours. Most men I knew would have never put up with a schedule like that. But it didn’t matter, because if I couldn’t have James I didn’t want anyone else. As for children – well, I always had you and Julia. You’ve been as precious to me as my own daughters would have been.”
“Hmm.” Lauren tapped a finger against her chin thoughtfully. “You know, I always figured you and Julia were so much alike, while I was more like Mom. I mean, you and Jules both love New York, love clothes and shoes and stuff, the theater, yada yada. While I’m more down to earth like Mom, you know?”
Maddy smiled fondly. “Maybe in the way you dress, or where you live. But I’ve always known you’re more like me, darling. You and I are both independent, both career women, and neither of us can stand to be bossed around. But let’s stop the similarities right there, shall we? Because the last thing I want is for you to wind up alone like I am, still pining for a man she loved a lifetime ago.”
Maddy refused to discuss the matter any further, declaring that this round of “True Confessions” was over for the night, and that the pair of them were emotionally wrung out. They both headed off to bed a few minutes later, but Lauren was far too wound up to fall asleep. Checking that it was still early enough in California, she pressed the speed dial button on her phone for her sister.
“Jules, hey. I’m not interrupting anything, am I? Oh, God, really? Jeez, it’s barely nine o’clock back there and you guys are already – never mind. Look, the reason I called is because I need a phone number. Just give it to me, and I’ll let you get back to your – er, shagfest.”
***
“Mr. Gregson, Lauren McKinnon would like to speak with you, sir. She insists it will only take a moment and that it’s quite urgent.”
Ian was rarely surprised, his daily schedule having been planned out to the quarter of an hour, but this announcement from his PA was completely unexpected.
“You’re certain it’s Lauren McKinnon and not Julia?” he clarified.
His PA – Andrew Doherty – was barely able to disguise the irritation in his reply. “Yes, of course I’m certain, Mr. Gregson. I never get a name wrong. Besides, Julia is now known as Julia Atwood. Shall I put Ms. McKinnon through?”
Ian had to stifle a chuckle, knowing that he’d greatly annoyed his PA by questioning him in such a manner. Andrew was always precise, always organized, and – damn the man – always right. He was also the very best assistant Ian could ever imagine, and not someone he cared to rile up.
“Yes, please. Thank you, Andrew. I’m sure this won’t take long, and then we can proceed with our morning meeting.”
Ian was still smiling to himself as Andrew put the call through. Of course, he was always in a good mood these days, smiled more than he could ever recall doing, and all because he finally had his beloved Tessa living with him. They were almost inseparable, for she also traveled on business with him, serving as his PA during such trips. And even though it was barely eight thirty in the morning, his day having just begun, he was already counting the hours until he could be with her again.
“Lauren.” He greeted his unexpected caller warmly. “This is a pleasant surprise. Are you in San Francisco?”
“I wish,” she replied with a rather dramatic sigh. “No, I’m in New York, where it’s supposed to rain most of the day. And it’s already like a sauna outside. I really hate this place in the summer. And the winter, too. And the fall and spring aren’t all that great, either.”
“My sympathies,” he told her. “I suppose it would be insensitive of me to tell you that it’s cool and foggy here this morning, with an expected high of sixty-five degrees.”
“I hate you,” she stated matter-of-factly. “Actually, that’s not true. Especially since I’m calling to ask a favor.”
“Really? Now I’m intrigued. What can I do for you, Lauren?” he asked in an amused voice.
“It’s not exactly for me, but for my aunt. Though she has no idea I’m calling you right now, would probably be horrified at the thought. And I might be shooting for the moon here, but figured that life’s too short not to take a leap of faith every so often. You know what I mean?”
“Yes. And no,” he replied, shaking his head in complete bafflement. “I take it you think I can provide some assistance with helping you make this – ah, leap?”
“All I really need is a phone number. Uh, a phone number and maybe finding out if a particular person is still married or not,” she added hastily.
Ian laughed. “I wouldn’t have thought you needed anyone’s help to get whatever fortunate man you’ve set your cap for.”
Lauren made an impatient sound. “It’s not for me, silly. It’s for Maddy. Look, I can see I started this off all wrong, so let me begin again. Do you happen to know a man by the name of James Butterfield? He’s one of your countrymen, probably early to mid sixties, some sort of banker.”
Now Ian was genuinely intrigued. “Yes, of course I know James. I mean, he’s obviously more my father’s friend than mine, but I’m certainly acquainted with him. Why do you ask?”
“Well, without giving away too many family secrets, your friend James had a thing for my aunt twenty-odd years ago. And, well, it turned out to be this tragic love affair, they had to end things because of his crazy wife, blah, blah, blah. But he’s the reason my aunt never married, ‘cause she’s still in love with him, and I thought I’d try a little matchmaking. Provided he’s divorced or widowed or otherwise single at the moment, of course. I figured all you rich British dudes must know each other, so I called Julia last night to get your number and here I am.”
Ian stared blankly at the phone receiver, his head spinning a bit at Lauren’s rapid fire summation. “I, ah, see. Well, I’m afraid I don’t know what James’s current marital status is, or his telephone number. But I’d be happy to make a call or two and see what I can find out. Tell you what. Give me your number and I’ll get back to you within the hour.”
“Really?” Lauren sounded delighted at this offer. “Ian, that’s so nice of you! I know how uber busy you must be, and I hate to bother you, and this is probably a dead end, but I do want to try. I want my aunt to have her happy ever after. Just like you and Tessa.”
“It’s no bother at all,” he assured her. “A phone call or two is all it is, and I owe my father a call anyway. And I understand about wanting Madelyn to be happy. Especially since I’m currently the happiest man in the universe. The least I can do is help someone else find a little of that happiness.”
Lauren recited her cell phone number. “I appreciate it, Ian. No matter what the results are.”
“You’re very welcome. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that it’s good news. Tell me, though,” he inquired curiously. “This is a wonderful thing you’re doing for your aunt, but when will it be your turn to get a happy ever after, as you call it?”
Lauren was silent for several seconds before assuring him cheekily, “I’m in no hurry whatsoever for that to happen, Ian. I’ve still got too many other places I want to see, lots of adventures yet to have. I’ll settle down one of these days. But for now, as long as the people closest to me are happy, then I am, too.”
Ian smiled. “You’re really just an old softie, aren’t you? That tough girl image is all a farce, isn’t it?”
“No,” she scoffed. “It is definitely not a farce. Don’t try making me into something I’m not, Ian. I’m not a romantic like Julia, or a sweet young thing like your Tessa.”
Ian cleared his throat, more than a little discomfited at Lauren’s bluntness. “She’s not that young,” he replied defensively.
Lauren gave a hoot of laughter. “A bit sensitive about the age difference, are we? Hey, if anyone dares to call you a cradle robber just tell them to fuck off. Especially since you landed the hot babe. Tessa’s a lucky girl and you can tell her I said so.”
He was flabbergasted at her audacity, and was silently grateful he’d never worked up the nerve to ask her out on a date last year. “I, ah – thank you for your vote of confidence, Lauren. Now, it’s already late afternoon in England so let me make those calls, hmm?”
Less than an hour later, Lauren had the answers – and the phone number – that she wanted, and gleefully began to put the next phase of her plan into motion.
***
Maddy gave her niece another lookover, and smiled with pleasure at Lauren’s appearance. “You look lovely tonight, darling. This was a wonderful idea you had – getting all dressed up and treating ourselves to a fancy dinner. Exactly what both of us needed to cheer ourselves up.”
Lauren winked at her aunt. “I agree. And you look – sensational, Aunt Maddy. Way more like my older sister than my aunt.”
Maddy flushed slightly, but it was obvious that Lauren’s compliment had pleased her. And she did look incredible for a woman of fifty-two, easily able to pass for someone ten to fifteen years younger. Her blonde hair was cut in a soft, layered style that framed her fine boned face, while her makeup was tastefully applied. Her figure was as trim and toned as ever, and she still wore a size six. Given her profession, her taste in clothing was naturally exquisite, like the classy blue Donna Karan sheath dress with a wrap-over neckline and ruffled cap sleeves she wore tonight. Navy leather Manolo Blahnik pumps and sapphire jewelry finished off her outfit.
Lauren didn’t miss all the interested male gazes directed her aunt’s way, and she gave a very satisfied little smile. Of course, in order to convince Maddy of her good intentions, Lauren had felt obliged to girly herself up, too. She’d curled her hair, made up her face, and put on a summery yellow floral Dolce and Gabbana dress, along with yellow satin ankle strap sandals that were already starting to hurt her feet. Fortunately, she thought smugly, she would only have to remain in this get-up for another half hour or so – the time it would take to finish setting her plan in motion, then get a taxi back to the apartment and take the stupid shoes off.
So far everything had gone wonderfully, far, far better than she could have ever hoped for, and she kept her fingers crossed that her little scheme wouldn’t wind up backfiring on her. As she and Maddy approached the corner table Lauren had browbeaten the reservation clerk into giving her, butterflies began to flutter in her tummy – a very unfamiliar feeling for someone who’d been on all manner of extreme adventures.
As the hostess placed two menus on the table, and the man already seated there rose slowly to his feet, Maddy froze in her tracks. Her eyes were wide with shock, her jaw hanging open in disbelief. Lauren placed a hand on her arm, urging her forward, but Maddy remained rooted in place.
“What have you done?” she whispered to Lauren wildly. “Lauren, how – how is he - ”
“It’s okay, Aunt Maddy,” Lauren whispered back. “A friend tracked him down in London for me, and I called him yesterday. He booked the first flight he could get on, and arrived in New York this morning. And, more importantly, he’s been a widower for about eighteen months and is still crazy about you. Now, go, would you? Give the man a hug, for God’s sake!”
“James.” Maddy’s voice was whisper soft.
James Butterfield’s handsome face lit up with a smile that was filled with so much love and longing it brought tears to Lauren’s eyes. He wore a beautifully tailored navy pinstriped suit, a pure white shirt, and an expertly knotted silk tie. His thick black hair was liberally shot through with gray, evidence of his sixty-plus years, but he was still undeniably attractive.
“Madelyn. My God, it’s really you. My Maddy. My little love.”
His last words were barely audible, but Maddy evidently heard them very clearly, because the next thing Lauren saw was her aunt being enfolded in the arms of the man she’d loved for half her life.
Lauren stayed long enough to share a champagne toast with the reunited lovers, and to briefly explain to Maddy how she had been able to contact James and do some speedy matchmaking. James, in his delightful British accent, told Maddy gently that Miranda had indeed passed away over a year ago after a long battle with cancer.
But when the waiter came to take their dinner orders, Lauren got to her feet. “Actually, this is strictly a party of two this evening. I’m headed back home to order in some sushi, watch the latest Fast and Furious movie on pay per view, and take these stupid shoes off.”
James shook his head. “Please stay and have dinner with us, Lauren. After all, I owe you a huge debt of gratitude.”
Lauren smiled and gave him a pat on the shoulder. “Plenty of time for all that, Uncle James. I’d say you have far more important things to attend to tonight.”
James chuckled. “You are every bit as outrageous Ian warned me you would be. And I look forward to getting to know you much better, my dear. After your aunt and I renew our own acquaintance,” he added with a wink.
Lauren laughed as she bent down to kiss her aunt on the cheek. “I’d expect nothing less. As for you, Ms. Benoit, I’ll see you the next time I’m in town, hmm? I fly out to Calgary in the morning.”
Maddy gave her a puzzled look. “But surely I’ll see you after dinner, darling. Or in the morning.”
“Nope.” Lauren shook her head. “I went ahead and packed a bag for you and delivered it to James’s suite at the Waldorf Astoria this afternoon. I also called your PA and told her you’d be in very late tomorrow, and that she ought to cancel all of your morning appointments. After all, what could be more important than an appointment with destiny?”
Maddy laughed softly, shaking her head in exasperation. “What am I going to do with you, young lady? Except to thank you from the bottom of my heart. What you’ve done, Lauren – well, no words can express, darling.”
Lauren gave the happy couple a cheeky grin. “I think at a moment like this that words are definitely overrated. The looks on both of your faces speak volumes. Now, you kids have fun, okay? Love you, Aunt Maddy. And Uncle James – I expect you to make that title official sooner than later.”
As James laughed, Maddy squeezed Lauren’s hand, gazing at her tenderly. “It will be your turn next, you know. Your turn to get a happily ever after. You only have to ask for it, darling.”
“Maybe.” Lauren gave Maddy and James a wistful little smile before waving good-by and walking out of the restaurant, forcing herself not to think about Ben or Elle or Spain – and definitely not about engagement rings.