Текст книги "Lovely Distraction"

Автор книги: J. J. Dorn

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Текущая страница: 6 (всего у книги 17 страниц)

CHAPTER TEN

December 25, 2009…

“So Jenna, tell us what it is you do?” Jamieson’s intimidating mother, Adeline Wellington questioned me from across the large wood table.

“Well, I just graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in computer science.” I replied as all eyes were on me. Jamieson had neglected to tell me that in addition to his brother and mother, his uncle Phillip would be joining us along with some business associates from London. He had reassured me after I learned of their presence that they were also close family friends that owned a chain of restaurants and bars in London. So far I was really enjoying getting to know them. The husbands name was Lars and the wife was Violet. Violet was stunningly beautiful woman in her mid-fifties. I was seated next to her and we were easily chatting about our favorite designers before Jamieson’s mother had interrupted us.

“Jenna has also been accepted to the Vanderbilt School of Law.” Jamieson offered from beside me.

“Well I must say that is rather impressive, Jenna.” Adeline said giving me a warm smile. Jamieson’s mother might be pucker-your-cheeks intimidating but for whatever reason she clearly liked me, which I was thankful for.

“Yes I must say, James you certainly got yourself an over achiever here,” Uncle Phillip stated coldly.

Something about Jamieson’s uncle gave me a bad vibe. Perhaps it was all of his creepy dead-eyed stares or maybe it was his intense business talk that bothered me. He was aggressive by nature, it showed in how he carried himself around others, always asserting his presence.

“Yes Uncle, I certainly did,” Jamieson said and slipped his hand in mine under the table.

“So Jenna, when will you be leaving for Vanderbilt?” Uncle Phillip asked.

“August,” I replied. I didn’t want to think about it. I had talked about it briefly with Jamieson and he had reassured me the two hour drive wouldn’t stop us from being together. I tried to make my concerns known to him but he repeatedly just brushed them off telling me two hours was nothing.

“Long distance relationship, huh?” he asked looking at Jamieson with an eyebrow raised.

“Yes, Jenna and I don’t really see it as a problem,” Jamieson shot back clearly with an edge to his voice.

“Well I think that is great.” The lovely Violet piped up from my other side. “I just love seeing young people today making that sort of commitment.”

“I agree darling, if only we could find a nice young man to settle our own daughter down.” Lars mused. Violet and Lars had informed me earlier that they only had one child, a daughter who was Jamieson’s age and in fact they had been close friends through childhood. I got the feeling though that she was a bit on the wild side and caused her parents much anxiety.

“Do you have any siblings Jenna?” Violet asked me clearly still trying to help steer the conversation in another direction and bless her for that.

“Yes. I have an older sister.” I replied.

“And what does she do?” Adeline joined in the new inquiry.

“She is a horse trainer.” The beautiful older woman smiled brightly at me.

“English or western?” Adeline questioned.

“Show jumping, actually.” I replied through tiny mouthfuls of the delicious feast I was unfortunately not getting to enjoy.

“Do you ride as well?” I had clearly peaked Adeline’s interest now.

“Yes. My parents started us in riding lessons at an early age and we just loved it. I showed for many years before I went off to college. I was never as good as my sister, though. She has a very clear gift.”

“A gift like that is indeed special. I too am an avid equestrian. I mainly own dressage horses now, but I used to dabble in the jumping world. I will have to show you the stables after dinner.”

“I would love that.” Adeline Wellington was quickly growing on me. At first I found her closed-off and intimidating but now I was seeing a new side to her.

“Jenna’s sister actually won the Rolex Grand Slam last year. She’s exceptionally good.”

“I dare say she is, to win such a prestigious competition.” Lars added.

“That is impressive. I would love to meet her, Jenna. Does she live in Huntsville too?”

“Yes she does. She’s married and expecting her first child in the next few months.”

“Oh, how wonderful. Do they know what they are having?”

“Yes, a girl.” I beamed thinking of my new niece that was coming soon.

Adeline’s clear approval of my sister’s profession and inquiry into my sister’s life was too much for Ethan who had been relatively mum all evening. He quickly stood up slamming his chair backwards across the marble floor and made a hasty exit. If Adeline knew the reason for his displeasure she didn’t let on, she merely ignored him and continued the discussion about horses with Violet, who also was an equestrian owning dressage horses, like Adeline. But if Adeline had missed Ethan’s hasty exit, Jamieson certainly hadn’t. He was visibly upset at his brother’s reaction. This made me uneasy so I quietly finished my dinner and only participated in the conversation when prompted.

When dinner was finally over, Uncle Phillip demanded that Lars and Jamieson play a game of poker with him. I was hoping that would allow me to return to our room where I could have some much needed alone time. I was just about to head toward the stairs when I heard Adeline call my name. Shit….

“Jenna, I would love to show you the stables now.”

I looked at Jamieson for reassurance but he only smiled softly. “Sure, just let me grab my coat.”

I ran upstairs and grabbed my navy blue down coat and a pair of cream gloves.

I met Adeline at the front door and she was also bundled up in a warm jacket that complimented her beautiful silver hair. “Ready, my dear?” she asked holding the door open for me.

The stables weren’t far from the main house. I hadn’t seen them when Jamieson and I arrived the night before but now I could see the palatial building Adeline lovingly called “the barn.” As we entered, the sweet smell of hay and sawdust struck my nose. I loved that smell. Horses had always brought me great joy, they centered me somehow.

I follow Adeline down the row of horses, listening contently as she explains about each one. They were all truly magnificent and gorgeous. I could tell she also draws that same sense of calmness from the horses. It made me like her that much more.

“So tell me Jenna, what are your intentions with my son.”

Her statement caught me completely off guard. I did not see that coming at all and the look on Adeline’s face said she knew it.

“I uh, I don’t really know how to answer that question.” I stated plainly.

“I know that.” She replied simply. “What I’m really asking is how do you feel about my son?”

This question also caught me off guard and I felt my cheeks instantly turn pink. I didn’t know how to answer her. If I told her the truth I risked looking over eager, but if I played it too cool I may seem disinterested.

“You love him don’t you?” she hadn’t even let me try to answer, she just called me out.

“Yes,” I decided to be brave and level with her.

“Does he know that?” She asked.

“I don’t know. I think so, but I haven’t come out and said the words to him.” I felt my cheeks turn a deep shade of red.

She didn’t say anything in response for some time she simply just stared into the stall of a beautiful bay stallion. “I wasn’t completely honest with you earlier Jenna. I lead you to believe I didn’t know you had a sister, but the truth is I did know. I also am very aware that she had a relationship with Ethan some time ago.”

“Oh,” is all I could muster in response.

“My sons are complicated creatures, Jenna. Their daddy was a complex man and I’m sure you can tell his brother, Phillip is also that way. My husband once described himself and his brother as an intense mixture of light and darkness. Unfortunately, my sons have also inherited these traits. Jamieson has always been much lighter than Ethan. Ethan has always struggled in the darkness much more than his brother. Had I had the chance to meet your sister Jenna I would have told her this very same thing I am about to tell you, loving such a man is a hard life. One can easily lose themselves in the process, so if you’re not willing to risk that it is best to end things now.”

I let her words sink in for a moment. At first I felt a bit defensive at her directness but as I let the conversation fully wash over me I understood more what she was saying. I respect her for her candor but my response was almost instant. “That is a risk I am willing to take.”

“I thought you would say that, dear. I said the very same thing to my mother-in-law over forty years ago.” She smiled at me and guided me out the side door of the stable.

After my unusual visit with Adeline in the barn I retreated to my bedroom. Jamieson was playing poker with Lars and Uncle Phillip still but it was late. I started to get curious about his extended absence so I decided to go investigate. I made my way down the large hallway until I came to the open foyer that overlooked the grand living room. I could hear voices down below so I peered over the edge to find Jamieson talking with his uncle. I could tell even from far away that it was a strained conversation. Jamieson’s body language was rigid and cold. Phillip was leaning forward and seemed animated. I moved closer to the railing trying to listen to their conversation.

“That was not the plan James! She is not the plan!” Phillip scolded.

“I don’t care, Uncle!”

“Fine, I guess the company will just go bankrupt and we will lose everything.”

“There has to be another way.”

“There is no other way! The banks won’t loan us any more money. Our only hope is Lars and the nightclubs.”

“I won’t do this to her.”

“You don’t have a choice, James, not unless you want to give up everything you have worked so hard for, everything your father worked so hard for.”

“I won’t give her up.”

“I know you don’t think you can, but you will. You are just distracted. You have always struggled with staying focused. You need to keep your eye on the prize, James. Your family needs you. Are you going to turn your back on us?” Uncle Phillip spat, then stood and stormed off.

I quickly stepped back from the balcony not wanting to be discovered and landed smack into something hard.

“Careful. Eavesdropping in this house can lead to the discovery of some truly ugly things.” Ethan drawled in my ear still holding me tight.

“I was just… just looking for Jamieson.” I stuttered trying to wiggle loose from his grasp.

“I’m sure he will be up soon. I can’t imagine he would leave you for very long. He seems quite captivated by you.”

I didn’t know what to say to that so I stepped away and made my way back to the bedroom Jamieson and I were sharing.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The next morning I woke to Jamieson’s large arm draped over top of me. I don’t remember falling asleep or him moving close to me. I’m torn. Part of me wants to recoil and swat his arm away, but the other side of me wants to snuggle deep against him. I opt for neither of those things and just quietly lay there relishing in his gentle touch and enjoying the intoxicating smell of his cologne. There was a time in my life that I thought I couldn’t live without that touch or that smell, but now I knew the truth. I could live without him and I had to.

I attempted to squeeze my shoulders out from underneath him without waking him but with no success.

“I see you’re finally awake.” Wait, was he pretending to sleep?

I pulled myself out from underneath him. “I uh, I need to get home.”

“I’ll drive you, just let me go put on some clothes.” Jamieson rose out of the bed and he was only wearing his boxers. I shouldn’t have been surprised. He loved to sleep naked. I was more shocked he even kept the boxers on.

I followed him into his bedroom to gather my clothes from last night and my purse. Jamieson quickly put on a pair of dark wash jeans and a white t-shirt. His outfit may have been simple but there was something about it that was sexy as hell. I felt myself staring so I immediately headed downstairs. That’s when I remembered that Olivia would probably still be there. She didn’t think I knew but she had been shacking up with Julian lately.

When I got to the first floor I searched around but it seemed pretty quiet. I checked the front of the house and of course her car was gone.

“They left early this morning. I told them I would bring you home.”

Jamieson startled me. I didn’t hear him come down the stairs.

“Alright.” I conceded.

I followed him to his massive garage. The stupid thing can fit six cars or more. I headed toward the truck; it is the closet vehicle to the door and the one I knew he drove the most. Jamieson however didn’t stop at the truck he had continued down the row of vehicles until he came to the sporty black Aston Martin.

“Get in, Jenna.” He commanded.

He was doing this on purpose, I knew him. He was well aware the memories this vehicle held. The last time he and I had sex was in that ridiculous car. It was the hottest sex I had ever had, hands down. I have relived that memory a thousand times in my mind. I knew I could protest but that would just prove to him how much I remembered. Instead, I opted to ignore it and climbed in like it meant nothing to me.

As I fastened my seatbelt I caught Jamieson staring at me and for a brief second I saw the flash of memories in his eyes. He too remembered that night.

He pushed a button and the car roared to life. Music flooded around us through the sound system. I thought about reaching forward to turn it down but I didn't do it. It took me a minute to realize the song but then it came to me. It was Desire by Meg Myers it sent unwanted butterflies loose in my belly. The song blared as he sped down the private drive. The haunting melody overtook me and I felt myself get lost in the backdrop of scenery as it whizzed past us.

When we got to my apartment, Jamieson parked the car and turned it off. “Thanks for the ride.” I told him.

“When are you telling your parents?” His question only slightly surprised me.

“Today.” I decided not to look at him; I didn’t want him to see the fear in my eyes.

“I want to go with you,” he declared.

“No. That is nice of you to offer but I don’t think it’s the best idea,” I replied.

“Jenna, I am to blame for this and I would like to be there for you when you have to tell your parents.”

“Yes, but I am the one that agreed to marry you, sober or not. I made my choice and I have to live with that now.” I knew his intentions were good, but I just couldn’t take the high stakes pressure of having him in the same room as my family when I divulged this monumental fuck up.

“Jenna, just let me help you through this,” Jamieson pleaded.

“You know that is not a good idea,” I retorted.

“Why?”

“You know why! This cannot happen Jamieson, not again.” He was starting to upset me now.

“No, I don’t know that. This thing between us, Jenna, it’s not over. We can’t keep ignoring it.”

“Ha! I didn’t ignore it, you did and you made it abundantly clear it was very much over. I gave you everything of me, Jamieson. I wanted you and only you. But that wasn’t the case for you was it? The truth is I was never enough and I was never going to be enough. You knew that, but unfortunately I took longer to catch on.” I flung open the door and scrambled out of the car toward my apartment not looking back. I wasn’t sure if he would try to follow me but I didn’t intend to find out. As I opened my door I heard the roar of the engine come to life and I knew I was free of him, for now.

My parents had no idea I had called off the wedding, or should I say the wedding already took place to another man. I wasn’t sure how I was exactly going to break the news to them but I figured I might as well do it at Sunday dinner with everyone there. I had considered telling my mom first or my sister but then I decided why go through the pain and questions more than once. I needed to just do this once and get it over with. Today was going to epically suck.

As I proceeded inside my parents’ house toward the kitchen I could hear my mother and sister chatting and entertaining my niece, Libby. Libby is almost five now and an absolute handful which is why I love her so much. She reminds me of her mother, she is fearless and very determined. She hasn’t even had her fifth birthday yet and she is already learning to jump her pony, Edwin.

“I said one Libby.” I heard Jacks tell her defiant daughter.

“But Mom says I can have three.” I smiled to myself hearing Libby call my mother “Mom.” Since Libby was able to talk she calls grandma “Mom” and her mother “Mommy.” I know it is because she hears Jacks and I call her that but I secretly think she also does it just to annoy her parents.

“How about we have one for right now and another after dinner.” My mother attempted to curb the freak-out that was brewing.

“Okay Mom.” Libby replied sweetly.

“Hey guys,” I called out as I entered the kitchen.

“Aunt Enna! I have missed you.” Libby hollered running up to me hugging me tightly.

“You did?” I quizzed her.

“Yes, I missed you.” She said with her blonde curls bouncing.

“Well I missed you too.” I told her picking her up and hugging her tightly.

“So where is Cain today?” My mother had always been able to tell when her children were hiding things.

“He couldn’t make it.” I replied without any further explanation. “Where’s Dad and Lukas?” I attempted to steer the conversation off of Cain’s absence.

“They are watching the game in the family room.” Jacks replied.

“Dinner is almost ready. Jenna can you go tell the guys?” Mom asked.

“Sure.” I knew my Mom could tell there was something off. I also knew she was holding back until the opportune moment.

After the table was set and we said our Sunday prayer, everyone began digging in to their dinner. Lukas and my father were arguing about some football game. My mother and Jacks were busily discussing the wedding and all of the details. I listened anxiously to all the conversations around me and panicked thinking of how my news would be received.

“We called things off.” I just blurted it out, not thinking about the consequences of such a shocking statement.

“What dear?” My mom looked puzzled and everyone else immediately stopped talking and focused on me.

“Cain and I called off the wedding,” I said it out loud for a second time.

“What?” My mother gasped.

“Why?” Jacks asked equally shocked.

“Something happened. Well a lot of things happened actually, and I just didn’t know about most of them,” I said flippantly.

“What are you talking about, Jenna? What happened?” My mother pushed.

I didn’t know how to say the next part. I had rehearsed different ways in my car during the drive over but now I couldn’t remember any of them.

“Jenna?” My dad looked at me concerned.

“Okay I am only going to say this once and then I never want to speak of it again, okay?” I took a steadying breath and then continued. “Something happened at my Bachelorette party. I didn’t mean for it to happen or want it to happen, it just did and now I can’t take it back.” I paused again trying to get my brain to cooperate and slow down.

“What happened? What did you do, Jenna?” My mother demanded.

“I married someone else.” The pure silence that filled the room cut me deep in my chest. I could feel my family judging me and my poor choices. I knew they would still love me but I also understood that didn’t mean they thought my actions proper.

“You married someone else?” My sister squeaked out in shock.

“Yes I got married while in Vegas. When I came home I came clean to Cain about what happened.”

“And he broke things off? Oh poor Cain!” My mother blurted out. I felt a sharp anger flash through me at her sympathy for him. I knew my mom didn’t know the full story and from the little I had told them it did look like I was the only asshole in the situation.

“When I went to confess to Cain what had happened in Vegas he then divulged to me that he too had been unfaithful in our relationship. Apparently he had never been faithful to me and never did love me. He was only marrying me because I presented to be the perfect wife for his family’s political aspirations. So I guess it was for the best this happened.” I strategically left out the slut comment. I don’t really know why, I just couldn’t tell them for some reason.

“Oh my God.” My mother gasped again covering her face with her hands as if she might cry. At one point during my confession I thought I was going to lose it, but I think I was all out of tears over Cain.

“I’m so sorry, Jenna. I can’t believe Cain did those things to you.” Jacks got up from her chair, hugging me tightly. I latched on to her in return and exhaled a deep breath that I had been holding in.

“Well I say good riddance. I never liked that preppy asshole.” Lukas offered in solidarity.

“I just can’t believe this.” Mom said again shaking her head.

My father cleared his throat from across the table. He did not look mad but he did not look happy either. There was a cold stare about him that sent a shiver up my spine. “Jenna, who exactly did you marry?” I had left that tiny detail out, hoping to just quickly gloss over it. I should have known better than to think my father wouldn’t see past my vagueness. I could tell he suspected that I knew my mystery husband. He knew his daughter well enough to know I wouldn’t just marry a one-night stand I met in Las Vegas.

This was the moment I was truly dreading. The moment I had to tell my entire family exactly who I had married in a quickie ceremony that I don’t have any recollection of thanks to the ridiculous amounts of alcohol I consumed that evening.

I could feel them all staring at me waiting for the answer. I closed my eyes and just blurted it out like before. “Jamieson Wellington.”

“Have you lost your fucking mind?” Jacks said from behind me.

“You married James? Why?” My mother breathlessly asked.

“Holy shit! That is amazing!” Lukas exclaimed with laughter.

The only one who didn’t say anything was my father and for some reason I felt as though he already knew my shameful secret.