Текст книги "Until I Met You"

Автор книги: S. L. Scott

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Текущая страница: 7 (всего у книги 19 страниц)

VALENTINE’S DAY FELL on a regular Thursday. Hazel showed up to the park a few minutes late. Jude wasn’t worried, but she hated they didn’t have more time. When she looked up from her book, he stood there with a pink rose in his hand, and she said, “I didn’t think we would do gifts.”

He waggled his eyebrows. “It reminded me of you. Anyway, it didn’t cost much so don’t worry about it.”

As she took it from him, he sat down. With the flower to her nose, she closed her eyes and smelled. “Thank you.”

“This reminded me of you, too.” He held out a small box.

She knew it was jewelry just from the square shape of it. “No, I can’t take that.” She bit her lip and glanced between the box and him.

“Yes, you can, Jude. I bought it. You take. You open it. You say how much you love it and then you wear it. See? It’s that easy.”

A smile finally surfaced. “I used to love surprises.”

“Maybe you’ll like this one then.”

Bumping him with her elbow, she laughed. “Maybe. Guess we’ll see,” she teased. She had no doubt she would love it. It was from him, so that was already guaranteed, but she also had no idea what it would be.

Taking the small box in hand, she lifted the top and pulled out the little velvet box. Her breath stopped when she lifted the hinged lid and saw a ring.

“I know it’s presumptuous to give you a ring, or maybe a terrible idea that I had one late night when I was lying in bed alone when all I wanted was to be lying there with you. But I liked it and…” His eyes met hers. “I hope you’ll keep it, even if you don’t wear it.”

She took the delicate band of diamonds from the case and held it between her fingers. “Hazel, I can’t keep this.”

“There’s a necklace. One you can wear it on so no one knows, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

A million thoughts ran through her head, pros and cons of a gift of this magnitude, of this sentiment. But looking at him and then at the ring, the answer was obvious. Her heart spoke through racing heartbeats straight to his, and she slipped it on her finger.

He admired it on her. “A perfect fit.”

Yes, you are, my love, she wanted to say, but didn’t. For now.

Turning to him, she placed her hands on his face and kissed him. As their lips came together, winter took its last walk around the park and spring had announced its arrival through a warm breeze. When she looked at him, the cold had returned, but her body stayed warm cloaked in his love.

Jude leaned her head on his shoulder, and stared out. “Thank you.”

He nodded. “You’re welcome.”

When she sat up again, she said, “Hazel?”

“Yes?”

“My family can’t know about us. They’d never let us be.”

“You’re twenty-two, Jude, not twelve. They can’t stop me from seeing you.”

“They can.” She stared down at the sparkling ring wrapped around her finger, much like he had her wrapped around his. He just didn’t know it yet. “They think I’m crazy.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve been in and out of an asylum they call a recovery center at least fourteen times over the last two years.”

He sat up, concerned. “Why?”

“Because they hold a court order that says the hospital can evaluate me at any time. My stepfather tells them when I do anything wrong and then they decide if they come take me away.”

“What are you talking about, Jude?” He sat up, needing the full story, trying to understand. “You’re not crazy.”

“I’m not. I swear to you. I’m not, but they treat me like I am.”

That line she always noticed when he asked questions appeared, deeper than usual this time. “Where do they send you?”

“Bleekman’s. It’s a terrible place. They try to turn people crazy so they can collect the money from wealthy families. I see it. I know what they’re up to. It’s a private facility. The drugs, the… doctors.”

He noticed her hands shaking as much as her voice. Unable to face his fears, he looked away when he asked, “What do they do to you? Tell me.”

“Not today. It’s been such a beautiful day.” She held her ring out again and smiled. “If I don’t wear it on my finger, I’ll wear it close to my heart. Always.”

Clasping her ringed hand between both of his, he looked her in the eyes. “Jude, I need you to tell me what they do to you.”

The spark left her eyes and a haze replaced it. She struggled to keep eye contact and tried to pull her hand away, but he wouldn’t let go. He leveled his eyes on hers and though she knew she could trust him, she could see his anger building before she even spoke. Taking her free hand, she touched his wrist and stole an ounce of his strength before saying, “They force me to take drugs that numb me, numb my mind and body. Then I get locked in a room with a window that has bars and peeling paint. I actually feel safe in there, in the isolation. Until the door is opened in the middle of the day, after lunch at twelve fifteen like clockwork, and the doctor does a check-up.”

He swallowed down the will to suppress this conversation and asked what he wasn’t sure he was prepared to have answered. “What’s involved in the check-up?”

“Let’s just say the abuse didn’t end with my uncle’s death.” She got up, book and box in hand, and took the path toward the street.

“Be honest with me. Is that the reason you don’t want to go to my apartment? You don’t want to be intimate with me?”

“I don’t go to your apartment because if I don’t return home, I go to Bleekman’s.”

He sat there, feeling like he’d been punched in the gut. Today’s information hit him hard. This girl he was falling in love with was wearing a ring he’d just given her and yet, he wasn’t protecting her like he should. How did he not know any of this before now? He tried to control his anger, but that wasn’t going to happen. “You’re not going back to Bleekman’s,” he shouted.

He followed her. She turned around when he got close, and said, “Don’t you see how much I love you, Hazel?”

Love was in the air, in her heart, and filled his, but her forthright declaration surprised him.

Through the cleansing of the darkness, she was looking at him bathed in light. The spark returned to her eyes when he neared and his hands went around her waist. He lifted her up, eye level with him, and kissed her. When he set her down, he said, “I love you more.”

With a teasing smile, she said, “You said your gifts didn’t cost much.”

“It’s only money, Jude. Money doesn’t matter. Love does.”

Jude started opening up after that. The stories were hard to hear, but he would listen, would ask questions, and would comfort her the best he could. He just wished he could open up as easily. Telling her about his illness seemed like a daunting burden he didn’t want to place on her. She had enough to deal with.

In late February, they were waiting in line, a coffee for him and hot chocolate for her, outside his work on his lunch hour, when she said, “You would have liked my brother Ryan.”

He tried not to make a big deal when she offered these insights into her life up, but it was hard to just wait to see what she would say. “Was he like you?”

“No. He was strong.”

“I think you’re strong.”

“You say that because you don’t see me but for a few hours each day.”

“I say that because you’ve survived and still have the ability to make others smile.” He smiles and points at it.

That made her laugh. He loved hearing her laugh. She laughed quite often with him and it made him wonder if she laughed when they were apart. “Tell me more about Ryan.”

“Ryan was a lot like you—handsome and smart.” She rolled her eyes. “Girls were all over him all the time. It was quite annoying actually. He was two years older than me and would have done great things in life, if given the chance.”

Sensitive to the subject, he whispered, “How did he die?”

“He didn’t have a fitting death for the life he led.” They moved up in line. “He was hit crossing the street here in the city. Two cars racing. In Manhattan. It would have never ended well. Someone was destined to die. I just wish it wouldn’t have been my brother.”

“Me too.” Taylor put his arm around her shoulders and they ordered their drinks. When they walked away, the moment had passed, and Jude was onto another topic. Each time she shared a little more of herself, of the life she hid from him, he started to feel he understood why she kept them hidden.

Mid-March. On a Saturday that couldn’t decide if it was winter or spring, Jude felt very much that she and Hazel were star-crossed lovers. One day felt like perfection, the next complications from their secret affair overshadowed their day. Despite the mixture of emotions, she stopped when she found they were walking by The Plaza Hotel. People were coming and going, rushing past them as she stood there, looking up into hazel eyes that adored her. “We should go in.”

It wasn’t a suggestion and he took full advantage of the offer. “How much longer do we have?”

“Two hours left.”

He didn’t run, but he might have rushed the doors and up to the registration desk. “One room please.”

The woman behind the counter glanced to Jude and then to Taylor, for whom she smiled. “Certainly. One room for the night. Check-out is eleven in the morning.”

The plastic of his credit card slapped against the counter, and he replied, “That will work.”

Taking the card in hand, she looked at the name and up to him. “Very well, Mr. Barrett. No luggage?”

“Nope. Spur-of-the-moment trip,” he said, smiling.

Jude lifted up on her toes and whispered, “Are you sure?”

“Never more so.”

Looking around the lobby, she knew it was time, so with her back to the desk, she said, “I want to have you over for dinner with my family.”

“Really?” he asked, shocked.

“I’ll tell my parents about us tonight.”

“Do you want me there?”

“No,” she replied, coyly. “I should break it to them first. I’ll have to explain when I’ve been seeing you. I haven’t been telling them the full truth. I tell them where I go, but I don’t tell them who I’m with, so I don’t know how they’ll react.”

He took her hand and kissed it. “That’s why you take the brochures?”

“That’s why.”

Jude spoke to the front desk attendant, “Can we have champagne sent up to the room. We’re celebrating.”

Peeking up at Taylor, he had one eyebrow raised, then said to Jude, “Yes, we are. Several times over if we have it my way.”

“Have I ever told you how much I like your way? Especially when you have your way and move your tongu—”

“Sir!” the woman said, interrupting. “Your card. Please sign here and here is your room key.”

Taylor signed for the room and took the key. After listening to brief directions, the two walked together toward the elevators, a shared secret on their lips.

THE FUNNY THING about fate is one can’t outrun it. No matter how much they try, setting their sights on a different outcome, they will always end up exactly where they were meant to be.

Rufus Stevens had just left a hotel room at The Plaza after giving his regular Saturday rendezvous a diamond bracelet to keep her coming back, and more importantly, to keep her mouth shut. For, Mr. Rufus Stevens had a sexually experimental side that wouldn’t go over well with the blue-blooded debutantes he preferred to date, or rather, to be seen with in public. So he took his sexual transgressions out on highly paid call girls instead.

More recently, the Stevens family, namely his parents, had started to put pressure on him to settle down. They’d even offered a high-paying position at the family-run business and free access to the estate in the Hamptons as a wedding gift. Even after getting off, he felt like a dead man walking just from the thought.

That was until he saw a certain old chum of his across the lobby heading to the elevators with one sexy piece of ass under his arm. Taylor Barrett had been a thorn in his side since Rufus faced a rape accusation back in high school. Taylor Barrett had backed the girl instead of his friend. Daddy Stevens paid the family to shut it down, but it took nine years to get the satisfaction Rufus wanted. When Rufus nailed Taylor’s soon-to-be fiancée in a supply closet of the hospital where Taylor was recovering, he had finally gotten his sweet revenge.

“Taylor Barrett?” he called, stopping and making a scene. “Hey, is that you?”

Jude and Taylor took a step away from each other on instinct, their bodies disengaging. Taylor looked back, but he knew the voice before seeing the face attached. As they turned around, they both held their breath unintentionally. Taylor put on a smile and waved. “Hey, what a coincidence running into you here.” Not at all.

Under his breath, he whispered to Jude, “I’ll handle this.”

She felt a tightening in her chest. She knew. She knew before he even opened his mouth that there was nothing he would be able to say that would explain what they were doing there… together.

When Rufus reached them, the two men shook hands and acted as if this was a happy coincidence, though neither felt it. Rufus eyed Jude. “Judith Boehler, right? Wow. Look at you.” He checked her out from head to toe. “You look… different. Why didn’t we keep in touch after that dinner?” Taking her hand, he pulled her forward and kissed her on the cheek.

“I’ve been crazy busy,” she said, stepping back, wishing Taylor could wrap his arm around her again and make her feel safe.

Rufus turned to Taylor. “So what are you guys doing here?”

“We were grabbing lunch.” Taylor didn’t offer more than requested. Liars got caught by offering too much. But more importantly, he didn’t trust Rufus. Ever.

Rufus’s eyebrows knitted together. “Really? The restaurant is that way and you looked like you were heading for the elevators. This isn’t a date, is it? Oh man, I’m sorry.” He raised his hands in a cautious way. “Seems I’ve interrupted a little afternoon delight.” Rufus winked at Jude, making her stomach churn.

Taylor bit back, “You’ve misunderstood. We were going to the restaurant. As a matter of fact, we’re going to be late. It was good to see—”

“Oh good. Then you don’t mind me joining you? I’m starved.”

Jude swallowed hard. “Taylor was helping me with a problem. A friend of mine’s problem. I wanted to offer her advice, but don’t know how to go about it. So if you don’t mind, I’d like to talk to him privately over lun—”

“Taylor is great with the advice as long as it benefits him. Maybe you want an unbiased opinion.” Rufus swayed his hand toward the restaurant while putting the other on Taylor’s shoulder and redirecting them. “Let’s eat and I’ll be happy to help.”

The three of them started walking across the lobby, Jude and Taylor much less eager than Rufus. She tried to catch Taylor’s eye, but she caught Rufus’s instead and he grinned at her. “Sure is good to see you again, Judith.”

She didn’t reply, but she felt it in her gut: nothing good could come from this. Debating on bowing out, she walked toward the sunny windows ahead, drawn to the outside. Unfamiliar fingers took her elbow, her skin crawling under his touch, and guided her back on track to the restaurant.

They were seated at a table in the middle of the restaurant. Very public. The couple thought it was perfect. There was no way to get too personal when there were so many ears that could hear. Rufus would have to stay checked with his insinuations.

Taylor and Jude sat next to each other at the table for four. Rufus took the seat on the other side of her, cozying up closer to her corner. Jude hated this. She couldn’t see Hazel’s eyes without being obvious. His eyes gave her security, made her feel safe and beautiful. In his eyes, she saw a future that she couldn’t see with her own.

Bending her head down, she read the menu, taking her time to help distract her nerves.

Once they placed their order, Rufus clapped his hands together and said, “So what’s the big problem your friend has?”

Jude, startled from the loud clap, and stuttered, “Um, well…” She closed her eyes hoping to see the lie that needed to be told, but her mind was blank.

Taylor saved her. “It’s a remodel issue with her friend’s boyfriend. If they can’t blend their two styles, is their future doomed?”

Rufus stared at him like he was looking at a three-headed alien until his beer was served and he took a long pull.

Jude took the split-second reprieve to steal a glance at Hazel. She was fidgeting and her nervous energy was spreading. Taylor reached under the table and squeezed her hand gently before placing his napkin in his lap and pressing his knee against hers. Unfortunately it was the only gesture of reassurance he could give without Rufus noticing.

Jude sipped her wine. She shouldn’t be drinking in the middle of the day, but she needed something to calm her nerves.

Rufus finally said, “Are you for real? People fight over this stuff?” He sat back and scanned the restaurant. “As long as the place doesn’t have florally shit everywhere, I don’t give a shit how my wife wants to decorate. It’s her place. A woman’s domain, and all that. Let her have at it. Women love that crap. Right, Taylor?”

Jude looked at Hazel just as interested in his answer as Rufus. Taylor’s tone was reflective of his feelings toward Rufus. “I think it’s important for couples to find balance so they both feel at home. I’ve found many solutions for couples that couldn’t decide on styles. The last thing a couple wants starting a marriage is strife.”

“Are you saying that because Jude’s here? ’Cuz that was a real pussy answer.”

Taking a deep breath, he released it and said, “I’m saying it because I believe my wife’s opinion matters and I know mine will matter to her.”

“Speaking of wives, I saw Katherine last week.” Bam! There it was served so blatantly, so purposefully to hit Taylor where he thought he could hurt him most. “She said you guys have gotten together a few times.”

“One time,” Taylor corrected, glancing at Jude.

“I say smeegal. You say smigel. Semantics.” He leaned forward, directing his hand in a very purposeful manner. “My point is—”

“I don’t give a fuck what point you’re trying to make. That topic is off the table.”

Jude’s knee started bouncing again and Hazel pushed forward with his until hers stopped. She drank her wine and didn’t join in the conversation that had made all three of them tense.

Rufus pushed on. “I was just going to say it’s good to see you’re working it out. I think she’ll appreciate you more this time.”

Taylor couldn’t stop from watching Jude as she finished her wine in silence. He wanted to explain everything. He wanted to tell her he wasn’t seeing anyone but Jude, but he couldn’t, and Rufus knew that. Rufus knew what he was doing, leaving them two choices—come clean, or continue the lies.

They ordered another round of drinks when their lunch was delivered. Taylor glared at Rufus. Rufus grinned at him, and then crossed a line. “Judith?”

She looked up, surprised he was addressing her directly.

He asked, “We should go out sometime. Got any plans tonight?”

Taylor’s hold on his knife tightened. He turned his wrist so the utensil was turned upside and he stabbed downward. His vision briefly blurred and he almost lunged across the table, wanting to take him down, but this time Jude’s hand landed on his thigh, her soft touch strong enough to hold him in place. “Actually,” she replied, looking directly at Rufus. “I already have plans.”

“With Taylor?”

“No. With my family. We spend a lot of time together.”

“Oh. That’s… quaint.”

The fork made another pass over the salad she ordered, but Jude could barely eat. She checked her watch and saw their opportunity passing too quickly. She thought of the room upstairs and how she could possibly get Rufus to leave so she and Hazel could enjoy it. But like a leech, he stayed to suck every second out of their time together until Jude finished her wine again. “I’m sorry, but I need to go. I promised my family I’d be back by four.” She rubbed her forehead. “And I’m not feeling that well.”

“That’s an hour from now. You have plenty of time,” Rufus said, touching her hand. “Stay a while longer.”

Her skin burned in an entirely different way than when Hazel touched her. “I’m catching the subway and I need to find a station.”

This was news to Taylor. He was just about to suggest a cab, but Rufus spoke first, “Stay a bit longer and I can have my driver take you home. Let’s just finish lunch first.”

He wasn’t asking. He was telling her, and Jude had no excuses come to mind. She didn’t dare look at Hazel. She knew he was boiling inside. He had a jealous streak, a possessive side that she was first introduced to the night of the dinner. It was a side she saw in spades that night, but hadn’t seen since. Until today. His knee knocked into hers, hard.

A sure-fire way to shake Rufus was with the obvious. She coughed, and then said, “I have to make a stop for girl stuff on the way home. So thanks, but I’ll be fine.” She stood up abruptly and dropped her napkin on her plate. “Thank you for your help with my friend’s problem.” She looked at Hazel, only Hazel, and said, “I’m sure they’ll find a way to work it out.”

“I’m here, if she needs help. Please let her know. She can tell me anything. Anything at all and I’ll work with her to come to a resolution to keep them together.”

“What the fuck are you guys talking about?” Rufus asked, finishing off his third beer.

Her gaze lowered as disappointment set in, their afternoon a lost cause. She glared at Rufus. She hated him. Everything about him reminded her of the other men who took liberties at her expense—her uncle, the doctor, her stepfather.

When she turned back to Hazel, she replied, “Thank you for everything.”

She started digging into her pockets for money, but Hazel said, “I’ll take care of your lunch.”

“Thank you again.”

Hazel stood, being polite. Rufus remained seated. “See you soon, Judith.” The way he said her name made the hairs on her arms stand on end. She nodded and left, hurrying as fast as she could.

Her head was beginning to spin and she was starting to feel confused. In the lobby, she stopped and touched her temples. She hadn’t taken her meds that day. She didn’t need them. She never really had, but she felt woozy like the last time she tried to commit her life to the ever after.

She ran outside and had them hail a cab. Hopping in, she gave her address and leaned against the window, trying to catch her breath. Each breath was weighted in her chest. This wasn’t right. She hadn’t mixed. She knew better. These days she had too much to live for. But when she was dropped off in front of her home, the driver went and knocked on the door, as she stood there motionless at the bottom of the stoop. Roman took one look at her and his lips wavered down. He paid the cabbie and took Jude by the arm, helping her inside.

“Why are they doing this to me?” she asked, staring blankly ahead as she walked up the stairs, counting each step to the pink bedroom. She started to cry as the wave of her reality, of her life, came crashing down inside her head. Roman shook his head and in his quiet sympathy, she got her answer. “They’ve been drugging me all along.”