“What is going on, honey? You seem upset. Are you not happy to see your family?”
Exhaustion overcame me, but I needed the truth. “No, I’m really happy to see them. Can I ask you a question, and will you answer me honestly?” I asked.
“That’s the only way I know how to answer a question.”
“Did Jack tell you to bring me here? Did he tell you about the poor, broken
married woman who needed to be saved?”
“Not at all. Jack suggested I talk to Thomas about finding a ghostwriter for
my book. He mentioned how great you were as his editor, and that’s it. Honey,
Thomas told me you were in trouble, but that’s not why I asked you to come here. I saw your work. I asked you to come because what I read was good, and
you came highly recommended. I think we both came into each other’s lives at
the perfect time.”
“And what about Jack?”
“My son is a good man.”
“Of course, you’re going to say that,” I huffed.
Viv’s green eyes glistened with tears. “Now, Caitlyn, I think you’re being alittle bit irrational. You should sleep on it before you say anything too hurtful.”
The anger that had been keeping me upright had dissipated. Suddenly, I felt
too tired to go on. “Fine, I’ll go to my room. Can you tell everyone I have a headache and I am going to bed early?”
“Why don’t you take something from the cabinet for your headache? I am sorry if you feel hurt, but you have no reason to. You were brought here because
you’re talented.”
“Night, Viv.” I squeezed her hand, not wanting to continue the conversation.
“Sweet dreams, love.” She touched my cheek.
Twenty-Nine
Locked in my suite, I turned on the water to the bathtub and began to cry.
I didn’t know where the distrust and anger came from. If Jack
recommended me to work with his mother, he had to believe I was
capable of doing the job. Even if his intentions were well meant, it felt too much like another man controlling me. I thought he wasn’t like that. He was honorable. He was the good guy. What did he bring me here to be? A holiday fling?
No, Vivian was right; I had to be overreacting. You’re too broken for anyone, Caitlyn. Leave Jack alone. He doesn’t deserve that. He deserves way better than you. You are Christopher’s leftover trash. You deserve someone like Tad.
Shuddering at that thought, I dunked under the water. I held my breath, like I
did as a child, staying under the water as long as I could until I had to burst out for air. I stayed in the water until the cold drove me out.
After I dried my hair, I put on my pajamas and looked out at the dark night
sky. In the distance I saw a bench, one that I had never noticed before.
Something about it beckoned me. Putting on a sweater and some Uggs, I walked
through the empty house. The clock on the microwave said it was after midnight.
The cold wind blew against me as I stepped outside, and I shivered. Again, I
hadn’t dressed for the weather.
It is only a short distance. You’ll be fine, I prodded myself to keep walking.
A short distance from the house, light snow began to fall. I tipped my head
back and stuck out my tongue, trying to catch snowflakes, like I had seen in the
movies.
Giggling at my absurd behavior, I began my quest again. It didn’t seem like
it would be this far from the house. By the time I reached the white stone bench, the snow had begun to fall in heavy flakes, and the wind was howling.
