Chapter 9

Seven Weeks Later

XANDER

“Ida’s friend is getting married.”

I looked up from the stack of reports that we were powering through in my office and stared blankly at David. It was past midnight and we had been hard at work all day with the team in the adjoining office. Perhaps I had heard him wrong. “Who?”

“Ida’s friend—I can’t remember her name. The one whose dad got in an accident last month. You lent them your plane, remember?”

I did remember. I also remembered that I hadn't heard from her since her father had regained consciousness a few weeks later and had been taken home.

“How did you find out?” I asked.

He lowered his head then, caught off guard by the sudden question.

“You’ve reconnected with Ida?”

“We had dinner last week.”

I rose up then and flung the papers back unto the table. “I’m going home,” I said.

He shot his gaze to mine. “What? We still have to compare the analytics and review the advertising revenue.”

“I’ll do that at home and send you a summary before the meeting tomorrow. I’m exhausted.”

“You’re usually the one working us to the ground? What suddenly came over you?”

I didn't respond. I focused on gathering my things and a few minutes later, I was on my way home.

In the back seat of my car I took out my phone and began to go through the texts that Carson and I had sent to each other.

How are you doing? was the last I had sent to her and she had never responded. I searched the phone for Ida’s number and dialed it.

She picked up her voice, groggy from sleep. “Why, Xander?” she growled.

“I’m sorry for calling this late.”

“It’s fine. What’s going on?”

“Carson is getting married?”

She was silent for a few moments. “Yes, she is.”

“Why?”

“Her father insists on it so that his mind will be at peace as to her well-being.”

“Is that the only reason?”

“That’s what she told us.”

“When is it?”

“We’re not sure yet. Sometime in the next month or so. It will be a small ceremony, nothing fancy.”

“When next are you going to see her?” I asked.

“Perhaps this weekend. If Bethany and I can’t get tickets, we’ll go next week. We’ll spend a day or so.”

“Take my plane,” I said.

She was silent for a few moments. “Are you coming with us?”

“Yes, I am,” I replied.

“Good,” was all she said. “I’ll ask David to come along too, just in case you need the company.”

 

 

 

♡

XANDER

 

 

Ida had asked me what I planned to do when I saw Carson and my response was, “I need to confirm to myself that she actually loves this person before I can let her go.”

It did not mean that I was in love with her, or cared particularly for her welfare, but she was still a woman that stoked my desire like no other. If the terms of her proposed union were merely security, I could provide that and more. My only hope was that I still felt as on fire for her as I had before she had left, and if not, it was a short plane ride back to New York.

Carson’s mother, who I remembered clearly from our first meeting due to her kind smile, was the first to welcome us. I introduced David we were led into the living room.

“Carson just ran out for some fruit, she wants to have it with her dinner.”

“She can’t eat without it, Franny,” Bethany said. “Our apartment was always full of fruit.”

Her mom’s face dropped then. “That’s true. She hasn't been there with you for quite a while. I hope you haven't been too lonely?”

“Never, Franny. Carson and I have been hanging out together for almost fifteen years. I was getting tired of her.”

Her mother burst out laughing and I thought it sounded so much like Carson’s. Light, and free. I couldn't believe this was a woman whose husband was recently paralyzed.

“I do miss her though,” Bethany sulked.

“I know you do, and she misses you too. I had wanted her to go back but she insisted on staying here. I hope you both will be able to talk.” She gave Bethany a small wink, and Bethany nodded in response.

Then she turned our attention to me. “I remember you,” she said. “Carson introduced you to us as her boyfriend.”

The entire room turned toward me, but I ignored them and rose up to shake her hand. “That is correct. It’s nice to meet you again, Mrs. Oliveira.”

“The pleasure is all mine,” she responded, and we were ushered to the table for lunch.

“Why isn't she back yet?” her mother worried. “She always goes out and just loses track of time these days.”

“I’ll call her,” Bethany said and dialed her number.

“Hey! We’re at your place. Hurry home, I’m starving.” She laughed at something Carson said and told us that she would return soon. I wiped my suddenly sweaty palms down my trousers.

David nudged me then and I turned towards him. “You were introduced as Carson’s boyfriend?”

Carson’s mother left the room then and Ida spoke up. “When were you introduced as Carson’s boyfriend?”

I turned to Bethany and also saw a demand for a response.

I calmly picked up a glass of iced tea that had been placed on the table at each setting. “That was why we met. Didn’t she tell you?”

“I’m confused,” Bethany said.

“When she comes you can ask her yourself.”

There were groans across the table and a very long look from David, but I ignored them all and waited for Carson’s arrival.

Soon the front door clicked open and voices came through. I took one more sip from the glass before me and turned around at the shrieks of excitement from both Ida and Bethany. They both jumped up to embrace Carson, while I and David quietly watched. He with a smile on his face, I with a neutral gaze towards the man that she had come in with. He was about a head taller than her with a light beard, and curly hair held back in a man-bun. I felt nothing at the sight of him.

David rose then and headed over to Carson with his hand out. “We finally meet. I have heard so much about you from Ida. I’m David.”

She could barely control her amusement as she accepted David’s handshake. “And I have heard quite a lot about you too. Thank you for coming all this way.” She turned around to her friends. “Why are you all here again?” and then her eyes landed on me.

For the first few seconds she didn’t move and then she smiled lightly.

“Xander.”

 

 

 

♡

CARSON

 

 

Seeing him pulled my heart into my stomach.

I had thought I never would again and was glad about it. However today, he was seated in the dining room of the house that I grew up in and was staring at me. I felt like I had just been caught red-handed for a crime. I quickly turned away from him, from all of them, and began to head towards the kitchen.

“You didn’t introduce your friend.” Xander’s voice stopped me in my tracks. Tucking my hair behind my ears, I turned around and offered an apologetic smile. I hurried up to Benjamin and slid my arm through his. “This is Benjamin,” I said. “We’re engaged.”

My friends were all so busy trying to read into my expressions that no one remembered to say what was expected, except David. “Congratulations,” he said, and thereafter followed the barrage of likewise messages from the others.

“Nice to meet you all,” Benjamin said, and I made sure to smile lovingly up at him.

“This is Bethany,” I introduced. “She grew up here, so I’ve known her since high school. Ida, I met through Bethany three years ago and we have been friends ever since.

“Davis is um, Ida’s ex-husband, and…” In the moment I stared at him, I forgot what I had intended to say.

“Xander—” Ida reminded me.

“Right,” I said, smiling brightly. Too brightly. “Xander.”

“He’s David’s business partner,” Bethany said.

At first, I didn't realize what she had said but when it clicked in my head, I turned to her. “What do you mean ‘He is David’s business partner?’”

Ida spoke up. “Xander and David have known each other for a long time so they’re quite close. They are in talks of how to start something together.”

I narrowed my eyes at the both of them and turned to Xander. “You don't work at the coffee shop anymore?”

He shook his head.

David looked confused and turned to Xander. “When did you work at the coffee shop? Oh, you’re referring to when we first met? Xander and I met at a coffee shop he used to work in,” he said to Benjamin.

“Not then,” I said. “He worked with me at my coffee shop a few weeks ago.”

David looked at Xander, but then before I could hear his response, Bethany pulled me into the kitchen to help my mom.

We completed lunch together and were soon settled down to eat. Benjamin took my dad’s place at the head of the table and David rose from his seat to offer it to me so I could seat by Benjamin’s side.

At my other side was Xander and the level of discomfort that it induced made me worry if I would be able to eat properly.

Small talk ensued amongst us, as Benjamin introduced his profession of a lawyer. Everyone contributed except Xander and me. His hands loomed dangerously close to mine as they handled his cutlery, however, I avoided them as though I would be set on fire if we touched.

His being here made me incredibly sad and reminded me more than anything of the life that I had chosen to leave behind.

“Your father?” David asked more than halfway through dinner. “How is he doing?”

As if on cue, the door opened then and in came my father in his wheelchair, my brother walking behind him. They both stopped at the sight of the full table and looked around in puzzlement. I smiled at the settling of his bunched eyebrows the moment his eyes landed on Bethany’s familiar face.

She immediately rose and headed over to give him a hug. “Harold,” she sang.

“Could you pass me the salad?” Xander asked and momentarily distracted, I did as I was asked without a second thought. When his hand touched mine the heat that burned me made me jump.

The glass salad bowl fell to the ground and shattered, spilling greens and sweetcorn mixed in with mayonnaise everywhere.

I looked at Xander accusingly. He had touched me on purpose. He had purposely covered my hand with his when I offered the bowl to him.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“I am,” I answered furiously and bent down to pick up the bowl and he did the same thing. “You did that on purpose,” I swore underneath my breath.

He stopped and looked at me. “Did what?”

I seethed as I stared into his green eyes, my gaze involuntarily slithering down to his lips and then back up to his eyes. Upset, I tore my gaze from his and it landed on my father.

Fear instantly seized my chest. I told myself to calm down and then slowly my lips stretched into a smile. I puckered my lips into a kiss and sent it to him and then rose to head into the kitchen so I could get a broom.

 

 

 

♡

 

XANDER

 

I watched her leave and then stood with a sigh to take the pieces of the broken bowl into the kitchen, however just before I could, her father spoke.

“What’s your name?”

For a moment everyone at the table wondered who he was referring to, but it soon became clear. I turned fully to him and gave a slight bow of my head. “Xander Cage.”

“Haven’t we met before?”

“We have, sir,” I replied.

“Come see me when you’re done eating,” he said, and I nodded in acceptance. Carson’s mother came into the room and took over from the man behind her husband, who I assumed was her son. She took his hat off his head and rolled him away.

Carson returned then with a broom which her fiancé immediately took form her. “Let me do it,” he said, and she smiled lovingly at him. She took the broken pieces from me, not even bothering to meet my eyes and exited to the kitchen.

She didn’t return to her seat beside me. Soon we were finished with the meal and I was directed to her father’s study, on the second floor.

When I arrived, I met him seated in the wheelchair, a warm blanket across his lap and the hat that his wife had previously removed now back on his head.

The room was small but distinct enough, with dark furniture and the unexpected smell of jasmine. Carson’s mom was probably responsible for that one.

“Take a seat,” he said to me and I wondered why he had specifically asked for me. I had a good guess the moment he began to speak. “You are not still in a relationship with my daughter, are you?” he asked.

I shook my head in response.

“Then why are you here?”

“We have mutual friends,” I responded. “I thought it would be a great opportunity to pay you a visit. Even though we are not properly acquainted, you are her father.”

“Are you interested in my daughter?” he asked, and my eyes narrowed at the question.

“She’s engaged, sir,” I said.

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

“No, I am not,” I replied. “We had our run together and parted ways amicably. We remain good friends.”

He kept studying me without saying anything else, so uncomfortable, I rose and bowed slightly so that I could take my leave. “I’m glad to see that you’re doing so much better, sir.”

“What do you do for a living?” he asked, and for a moment I was stumped. I wasn’t sure how to introduce myself. “I used to work with Carson in a coffee shop.”

“Your sales assistant salary can afford those clothes on your back?”

I glanced down at my cream sweater with burnt orange, navy blue and grey stripes encircling the sleeves. I didn't know how to respond to him.

“So, what do you do now?”

I didn't want to lie to him. “Hustle, sir.”

“Hustle?” He smiled and let out a light laugh and for a few moments, I was taken aback at how much the smile changed his entire face. For the first time, I could see a resemblance to Carson. I bowed slightly to him and exited the room, feeling as though I had just exited an interview.

I was surprised when I almost bumped into Carson at the door.

She seemed startled but quickly recovered, and tucked her hair behind her ears. “I was heading to my room,” she explained. “W-what did he ask you?”

I released a deep breath as I stared at her. “You never responded to the last text message I sent to you.”

She lowered her gaze then almost making me believe that she was somewhat apologetic. “Oh, um… I had a lot going on then.”

She turned around to leave then but I caught her hand. She gaze down at it and then back up at me. “What is it?”

“Let’s talk,” I said to her.

She reached forward to push my hand away but when I wouldn’t budge my hold she frowned at me. “What do we have to talk about?”

Frustrated at her constant dismissal, I began to pull her along and opened the first door I saw. It was a small bathroom with a shower stall.

I placed myself between her and the door to prevent her exit, and her eyes widened in alarm.

“What are you doing?” She tried to reach behind me for the knob, but I prevented it.

I studied her properly for the first time since I had come into the house. For the concern of other eyes, I had only given her glances here and there, but not a full study of the changes to her features. I realized then how utterly exhausted she looked. “Why do you look so tired?” I asked.

“Because I am,” she replied, “Please open the door. This is inappropriate.”

“We’re just having a conversation.”

“In a closed bathroom in my parent’s house. With my fiancé just downstairs and my father just a few steps away. This isn't funny, Xander.”

“I’m leaving tomorrow, I just have one question for you. Why are you getting married to him?”

She boldly met my gaze. “It’s none of your business.”

“That’s true,” I agreed. “But I want to know anyway.”

“I’m marrying him because my father wants me to.”

I was confused. She, on the other hand, was impatient perhaps because she was uncomfortable. She shifted her weight to her other leg and folded her arms across her chest. Countless questions flashed through my brain in that moment, but I finally settled on one.

“Do you want to marry him?”

“I don’t care about marrying anybody,” she said. “I just want to write. So if getting married will allow me the stability to be able to do that and grant my father peace of mind, then I don't think it’s too much of a problem.”

I watched her closely. “What about the responsibility that it carries? It’s a life-long one. Does that not concern you?”

“I’ve always been concerned,” she said. “About everything and anything. Where has that gotten me so far? I’ll make my father happy, and I’ll keep my dream alive. That’s all I have asked from this life and I will hold on to it no matter what. Can I leave please?”

I stepped away from the door and she walked away, leaving me to my thoughts.