Jade
THE CROWD BROKE apart, walking to the foyer, forming a line to see who could get out the door fast enough. With Reece spending his time at the top of the stairs, still with a champagne glass in his hand, his disingenuous apology spewing from his lips. The world was his stage as always, only this time the inhabitants were his captive audience.
I watched from a dark corner, making sure the last of the party-goers exited the home. I wasn't sure where the other familiar players were. There were no signs of Blaze or Daniel or Kim, not even Damien or Courtney showed their faces. The lights went down, and all but the stagehands, his after-party cleanup crew, were left. I walked out from behind the shadows and climbed the stairs to find the star of his own show.
He stood alone, poolside, his back to me, staring at the wave’s whitewash and the lights twinkling in the distance off the massive body of water before him, the one thing bigger than Reece Montgomery. Still drinking from his glass, he looked down, shaking his head. Perhaps a hint of regrets? That was unlikely. Probably more disappointed that I didn't allow mine and Tommy’s goodbye to be the ending scene, to play out on his deck.
This time, I took the lead. I was quiet, like a cat stalking her prey, the leftover adrenaline from the surge I got earlier from confronting Reece emboldened me. I would normally walk away and later forgive Reece. I’d make up an excuse in my mind. It was Reece being Reece or he just cared deeply for me and he didn’t do “meaning well” like the rest of us, but not this time. This time he went too far. Yet, this time I needed to be different, quiet in my retort. I needed for Reece to hear me, no witty comebacks, no yelling…closure.
As my footsteps closed in on my host, he turned. Rolling his eyes, he addressed me.“I suppose you're here to scream at me and tell me what a horrible person I am. Go ahead, you wouldn't be the first, and you certainly won’t be the last.”
Leaning on the railing, facing him, I smirked. Still the same old Reece, playing the walking wounded. As if nothing that happened here tonight was his fault. He was only trying to help.
Taking a deep cleansing breath in, I answered him. I had no idea what I was going to say, but I knew I wanted this…all of this… to end here tonight.
“Did you ever think of coming to me and telling what you found out or should I say what you went and purposely looked for?”
“Of course, but you wouldn't have listened. You were already too wrapped up with emotion for him, and so soon I might add.”
“Did you ever think none of this was any of your business, then?”
“Jade, when has that ever stopped me?” This was Reece, trying to make light of a bad situation.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Always.”
“Why? Was it for Damien? Because it certainly wasn't for me.”
He reached out and touched my cheek. His eyes closed and the breath he’d been holding released along with his frustration.
“All of it was for you. None of it was for Damien.”
“What?”
He took the last drop of drink from his glass and stilled. Bracing himself for what came next.
“Your mother and father…they left for Europe for all the wrong reasons. If they had honestly gone there for your father to pursue this contract he’s working on, it would be one thing, but they did it to push you into a normal life. To make you believe that they had the strength to deal with Jimmy’s death. They ran away, leaving Viv and the rest of us to watch over you. A job I would gladly do, over and over again.”
“What the hell are you talking about, Reece?”
“This little plan you devised to not date after Damien’s betrayal was to protect your heart, but in reality, it wasn't to protect you from going through the same thing with another man. Damien’s affair with Courtney came at the most opportune time because you were protecting yourself from loss, the loss of your brother, not the loss of your relationship with my son.”
“You can’t be serious? You had that much time away from your business to study me and my emotions?” I was no longer feeling patient.
“I didn't need to study you. You wore your emotions on your sleeve, you always have. You're honest as the day is long and you love and care for everyone around you, but everyone around you has done you a disservice, including me.”
“How’s that?”
“We allowed you to wallow in your grief for three long years.”
The crack from my hand to his jaw came swift, out of nowhere. The last of my adrenaline stores from earlier this evening.
“I believe I deserved that and that’s my point.”
“Your point…which is?”
“Other than the typical and traditional emotions and reactions to Jimmy’s death, everyone— and I mean everyone— wanted you to get back to business as usual…for lack of a better term.”
“I don’t follow.”
“You know exactly what I mean. They did their best to never say the word suicide. They did their best to indulge you in these anniversary tributes to Jimmy. They made excuses for themselves that it was good for you. That these traditions cleansed your soul. When all they really did was keep you in the same state you were in three years ago when Jimmy took his life. I watched and I admit I allowed it. But no more…”
“So, you want to be the one to save my soul, Reece?” I promised not to be sarcastic or witty, but that was an impossibility after hearing this nonsense.
“I’m sure you think this is all nonsense on my part, but hear me out. When you and Damien broke up after Jimmy died, you decided not to date for a while. A natural reaction after what you discovered. Now here we are three years later, and you've barely dated…until Mr. Conte that is.”
“Again, what is your point, Reece? Because I know there has to be a point.”
“Oh, but there is. Tommy Conte reminds you of your brother—the surfing, the carefree attitude, his success in business, his easy-going personality. He’s just like Jimmy in many ways.”
“You think I’m looking for my brother in a man? You can't be serious?”
“No, I know many of your hobbies were the same as Jimmy’s, so naturally with Mr. Conte loving the same things you do, the two of you would have clicked, but it was more than that—that’s where my snooping began.”
“At least you admit it.”
“You wanted to save him.”
“Come again?”
“You couldn’t save Jimmy, so with Tommy having similar attributes you decided this was your chance to save him.”
“You’re delusional.” I turned to walk away.
“Am I, Jade? He betrayed his brother. He left his business for his partner to run. A simple phone call to his office in New York and in speaking with her told me more than I could have possibly imagined. Did you know he put a book contract on hold to run off and find himself?Miss Medici, his business partner, never said those words exactly, but it was too easy to put two and two together when she told me he was traveling on sabbatical, and yet he was actually here rebuilding an old beach house.”
Listening to all of this with my back towards him, my tears rolling down my face, I realized I was the delusional one.
Perhaps, Reece of all people was right. Maybe I did want to save Tommy. I knew about his timeline, about his plan. Maybe I subconsciously felt if he didn't reach that goal and find what he was looking for, he would meet the same end as Jimmy had. No, I loved him, I wasn't delusional about that. My reactions when he touched me, his smile, his laughter…his kiss, our connection when he was inside my body. The feeling I had the night on the dance floor before I even knew who Tommy was, I was happy. That wasn’t fabricated from loss or sorrow…that was all Tommy.
I turned back to set him straight when his phone rang.
“I see. We’re on our way.” He placed the phone in his pocket and addressed me. “It’s Viv…she collapsed.”
We didn’t speak, we didn't argue. We ran for Reece’s car, where his driver was waiting to take us to Viv. Even with the car not stopping, I jumped out and ran for her stairs. Once I reached the deck, I was confronted with EMS workers and our friends.
“What happened?” I pressed, sitting down on the ground near the chair my aunt was being examined in.
“We found her here on the deck. It appears as if she fainted, so we called 911.” Daniel explained,
“And I called Reece,” Blaze added.
“Everyone settle down. I’m fine.”
“Viv…” It was all I could muster, taking her hand. Looking into her eyes for an answer.
“I’m just dehydrated, that’s all.” Touching my face, Aunt Viv gave me a soft and confident smile.
“Is she dehydrated?” Desperately trying to confirm this with the closet EMS worker.
“Yeah, from what she explained to us, she is. Now, Ms. Marshall, we’re going to give you some IV fluids in the ambulance, and we’d like to take you to the hospital to be checked out.”
“You’ll do nothing of the sort. I’m happy to take the fluids, but I’m not going to the hospital. I’ll call my doctor and let him know what occurred.”
“This is not optimal. You've lived here forever, and you know how brutal the sun can be.”
“I’m not that old, young man, but yes, I do know, and that is why I’m staying put.”
Viv was every bit her feisty self. I knew she wouldn’t budge, and I knew she was more than likely fine, but that statement about a doctor; I didn't know Viv had a doctor. She’s never mentioned one. She hates going to the doctor. I wondered what it was all about. It scared me.
Once the EMS tended to Viv and finally left, I took Viv inside and the others followed.
“Tell me why you're seeing a doctor.”
“It’s nothing to concern yourself with, Jade. Tell me what happened between you and Tommy?”
“I am concerned, and how do you know something happened?”
“Because I was at his door dropping something off when he barreled around the corner from the stairs nearly knocking me off my feet.”
“We had a fight, not really a fight, but…”
“You broke it off?”
“Yes.”
“I see.” She took a deep, agitated breath in and let that same breath out.
“Jade, I’m going to tell you something that I’ve been keeping from you and I don't want you to be angry.”
“What is it?” If I thought the night couldn’t get any worse, it did.
“I’ve been dealing with some heart issues for the last few months, nothing major, part of age, but something that needs to be addressed; that’s why I’ve been going to Philly so frequently.”
My mouth opened, my tears falling, “Why, Viv? Why didn’t you say anything?” She didn't get her chance to answer, Reece did.
“Because this is what I was telling you earlier, Jade. Everyone in this room with the exception of Daniel has done nothing except protect you since Jimmy passed away.”
“Don’t you mean committed suicide? Can’t you say it, Reece?”
“Touché, my sweet girl, touché.”
“I didn't tell you, because you had been and are currently struggling with enough.” Viv finally answered. “You were renovating the shoppe and you were questioning whether to begin a relationship with Tommy or not. How could I possibly throw one more thing at you?”
“By just doing it, Viv, just throw it at me, and I’ll catch it and fix it, or do something, but to keep me in the dark to protect me, from what? Myself? Viv, I’m far too old for that kind of protection. Please don’t keep things from me, please.” Viv looked to the crowd behind me and not directly in my eyes. That meant there was more, just how much more remained to be seen.
I turned in the direction Viv was looking, in the direction of more guilty faces.
“Oh God, what the hell is going on?”
“Jade, Tommy owns the house.”
“What?”
“He bought it in February and moved down the beginning of the week you met him.”
“Holy shit! He lied about that too?”
“He had no other choice. I asked him to keep the sale under wraps until after I spoke with you about it. We didn't know how you would feel about the house being sold, so I made up ‘the rent with the option to buy’ story.”
“Okay, but the realtor who had listed the house would have told me someone was inquiring about it. She never called me, not even to say that someone else made the sale. I mean…unless… Don’t tell me you helped Viv and my parents sell the house?” I directed my question at the only one with the license to do so.
“Okay, I won’t tell you.” Blaze indirectly admitted her guilt and her role in all of this.
“I asked Blaze to help. You see, Tommy found out about the house from Daniel’s parents, Anna and Joseph. Only they weren't told that he purchased it. He asked that I not say anything about where he was, or about the sale of the house should they or anyone else other than Daniel inquire, so in turn I took the opportunity to ask him not to admit that he bought the place until I had a chance to talk with you, and he agreed to help.”
I walked over to the fireplace where Viv displayed pictures of Jimmy and me growing up, to gain some composure. There we stood, the two of us…the laughter, the sunshine, the surf.
“It’s strange how almost yesterday now feels like a lifetime ago.” Gripping the mantle to steady myself, not facing the intimate crowd in the room, my mind tried to absorb what was revealed to me.
“If it would be okay, I’d like to speak with Jade privately?” Everyone nodded and preceded to say goodbye, all except for Daniel.
“Jade, if it’s all right with you I’d like to wait at Tommy’s until my ride arrives.”
“Sure. Stay as long as you like. I’ll help you get over there and then Viv, I’ll come back so we can talk.”
“That won't be necessary. Daniel, I would actually like you to stay while I talk to my niece.”
I nodded to let him know it was fine. Daniel rolled forward in his chair, as I pulled an ottoman up closer to Viv. Without a word, she handed me an envelope with my name written on it. The handwriting was unmistakable. It was Jimmy’s.
“I don't get it. You're giving me a letter from Jimmy now?” My voice crumbled.
“I didn't know about the letter either. Tommy handed it to me tonight.”
“Tommy? Where did he get it?” Daniel asked while I sat here stunned.
“Tommy had gone upstairs to pack.”
“Pack?” My voice escalated.
“Yes, pack…did you think he would stay in the beach house tonight consumed by all of the memories around him, Jade?” Viv’s unsympathetic tone questioned.
“Well, I didn't think he would run away.”
“You mean again?”
“What?” Viv looked to Daniel, whose disheartened expression told me there was more to Tommy buying the house than starting over.
“What was Tommy running from?”
“Himself,” Daniel said.
“I don't get it.”
“Tommy was running away from the mundane, from the reminders of how time was passing him by and he felt he had nothing to show for it, nothing that meant anything in life.”
“Tommy is a successful photographer. Why would he feel like that?”
“It wasn't the photography, Jade. It was his life in general. He wasn’t where he wanted to be, so he moved here to make it better.”
My head shook in unison with my body. “And now he’s gone. Daniel, I didn't mean to hurt Tommy. It’s just…forget it.”
“It’s getting late and although I feel much better, I’m not up for walking Lucky this evening. Can you take her?”
“He didn't take Lucky?” Questioning why, yet feeling a bit excited that I’d have the chance to see him again.
“No, he asked me if I could watch her for a few days until he could make arrangements to pick her up. He didn't have anywhere to take her tonight, and as I said, he couldn’t stay in the house. I will tell you he was heartbroken to leave her.”
I kissed Viv and made sure she was okay. Daniel said he would stay with her while he waited for his ride. I told her that after I took Lucky for her walk, we would both come back and stay with her for the night.