Wishing on the Water (Water Series Book 1) (14 page)

When I got to the hotel, Andrew was in the lobby pacing with the concierge. He looked frazzled and Mark was with both of them, looking like he was annoyed.

“
Where the hell have you been?” Andrew shouted above the people mingling as I walked over to them. I handed my luggage to the concierge and he sent the luggage upstairs.

“
What is the problem?” I was mortified as people stared at us from Andrew’s shouting. Andrew looked furious; it was an expression I had never seen on him before.

“
You bailed on us at dinner and then you didn’t answer your phone. You need to always answer your phone when I call. What is wrong with you? Where have you been? Why didn’t you tell us where you were going?” Andrew glared at me.

“
What the hell is with everyone today?” I retorted and went toward the elevator. I was so angry with him that I didn’t even notice that Mark was climbing in the elevator with me. I stared at the walls as my back faced the doors. I put my hands on my hips and tried to breathe in slow, deep breaths.

I didn’t know what was with the game of twenty questions when I entered the hotel, but I knew I was not going to stand there and be yelled at like some child. The worst part was I didn’t know if my friend, Andrew, was angry or if this was my boss, Andrew that was angry. Either way, I am not hearing it tonight.

I exited on my floor and walked quickly to my room. I walked in so fast I didn’t notice that Mark had caught the door with his shoe. I grabbed my luggage from the entrance and drug it to the bedroom while Mark made himself at home in the living room.

“
Why are you here?” I shouted from the bedroom, and a few moments later Mark walked in the doorway.

“
You and I both know why I am here.” Mark responded in a lowered tone.

“
If you are looking to get laid, I am not your girl.” I retorted, as I pushed the luggage into the closet.

“
I think Brooklyn might murder me if I did, and since she is a prosecutor, she would know how to get away with it,” Mark replied with a smile.

I turned and looked at him. I couldn’t return his smile and everything inside me was holding together by fractured tape.

“
Why are you here?” I asked again, as my voice quivered.

“
I am here because you need me to be here.” Mark responded and walked over to me. He enveloped me in his arms and I immediately broke.

“
He’s gone.” I murmured through my tears.

“
Sweetheart, Chase has been gone for months.”

“
Jax is gone. He hates me, and I deserve it!” I cried into Mark and even started the dry heaving again.

Mark led me into the living room and away from the bedroom. He sat me on the couch as a loud banging told us someone was at the door. Mark went to answer the door and I could hear Andrew, but his voice was muffled. When Mark came back, he was alone and I was grateful.

“
Tell me what happened,” Mark stated, as I calmed myself.

“
I went to him, with an open heart and open arms. He had the blond, Vanessa, with him, but he sent her home when he saw me. I thought that was a good thing, until he said it was over. He said goodbye. I thought I had broken what we had and ran because of it, but the truth is I hadn’t broken us, not until I ran. Now, he loves her and I love him.” I started crying again and Mark got me a glass of water.

“
I’m sorry sweetheart. I didn’t know you felt that way for him.” Mark muttered, as he pulled me into his arms on the couch. He rubbed my back and just let me cry. It was the nicest thing a stranger had done in a long time.

“
This is worse than when Chase died. I know Chase is in a better place and is happy in the sky. He is probably running practical jokes with the other angels. I think Chase wanted me to be with Jax. It was in his letter, but I was too scared that I would lose him, too. Chase left me and I was devastated. I couldn’t let Jax leave me, too. Now he is gone, but I will always wonder if he is happy, where as I know Chase is.”

Mark curled me into his chest and clutched me with one arm as he messed with his phone with another. Duty called; it always did, but Mark made no move to leave.

“
Candice, maybe he is not the one for you,” Mark answered, as he stroked my back.

“
No, he is my other half. He was always the one for me. When we were together, we were the three legs of a tripod; we fit together to make a whole Now, there are two of us left and we could form an arch, or something, but we are broken and the pieces no longer fit together.”

I cried into Mark for the next hour or so. I have to give him credit; other than messing with his phone every now and then, I had his undivided attention and relished the feel of being comforted.

I made lots of wishes on the water as I aged, but I never really prayed. I prayed and asked Chase to let go of my heart and allow me to move on. I don’t know why I felt like he had my heart, but I wasn’t whole; and, until I was, I couldn’t put him or Jax behind me.

Mark pulled me tighter into him and pulled the blanket down that was on top of the couch. He covered me up and rubbed my back until I fell fast asleep.

I woke up to the smell of coffee in the air. I sat up and realized that I was late for the conference. I was going to get fired on this trip. I rubbed my eyes and looked around but didn’t see anyone. I shrugged off the blanket and went into the bedroom where I ran into Mark.

“
I smell coffee,” I whispered, not really knowing what to say.

“
I had some sent up. I sent Andrew with whatever papers he found to the conference. You and I are going to take a day off.” Mark stated with a smile.

“
Alright, but I am supposed to meet my dad,” I whispered. It was my birthday after all, even if I didn’t feel much like celebrating. Mark nodded his head and I walked past him to the bathroom and climbed in the shower.

An hour later, I had showered, straightened my brown and blond hair, and put on makeup. I was dressed in a white long sleeve shirt with a black leather vest over it. I had my skinny jeans on and my knee high leather biker boots. They said we might get more snow if the temp continued to drop, so I was prepared for anything. I grabbed my black north face jacket and headed into the living room.

“
You look like a million bucks,” Mark stated, and I gave him a shrug.

“
I feel like scum.”

“
Let’s see if we can’t turn that frown upside down.” Mark retorted and I smirked. He handed me fresh coffee in a Tim Horton’s cup. I almost jumped for joy with the first sip. I missed going to Tim Horton’s with the guys. It was a morning ritual I missed.

I took the cup and inhaled the aroma as Mark took my hand. He already had my purse as I was ushered out the door.

“
Are we in a hurry?” I asked, as we sped toward the elevator.

“
Well, I have an itinerary. We have deadlines.” Mark laughed and slowed down.

“
I am all too familiar with deadlines.” I retorted, as the elevator descended. I didn’t really know what to say. The last year of my life had been a roller coaster of events and emotions, but I finally found where I belonged and who I belonged with. That is the funny thing about life. It never asks what you want; it merely holds up a cookie and, if you don’t grab it in time, you don’t get the whole cookie. In some cases you won’t even get a crumb.

As we exited the elevator, I saw my dad. He was very skinny with salt and pepper hair. When I left he had about fifty pounds of excess weight on him; now he was skin and bones. I was elated to see him, but very worried about him as well. My emotions overflowed, and I ran for him.

My dad wasn’t there for me very much after my mom died. He didn’t know what to do with me, so Jax's and Chase’s parents had helped. I didn’t blame him for it, and always wanted a better relationship with him. Maybe this was the new path in life I was supposed to take.

“
Candy Cane.” My dad whispered, as he enveloped me in his arms.

“
Daddy, it is so good to see you.” I murmured in his ear, before placing a kiss on his cheek.

“
Candy, you look tired.” My dad stated and I turned to introduce him to Mark. After they shook hands, I hugged my dad again. I was so glad to see him. I didn’t even realize how much until then.

“
Where are we going guys?” I asked, standing between the two.

“
Your dad and you are headed to the Cafeteria to eat while I take care of something. I will meet you there in an hour.” Mark spoke as he looked at his phone.

My dad and I grabbed a cab and headed for the Cafeteria. It was my birthday, and I wanted banana split waffles.

“
Dad, have you been eating?” I asked, as the cab drove through the congested city.

“
It is the new medicine the doctor gave me. It is supposed to help control my over active thyroid, but hasn’t stopped the weight loss. Since you brought up how I look, I want to know why my daughter looks the same right now that she did when her mother and Chase died.” My dad asked and I closed my eyes.

“
Jax.” I responded in a whisper.

“
Want me to kick his ass?” My dad asked, as serious as he could be while I laughed, trying to imagine my elderly dad and his toothpick arms trying to fight my toned and tanned police detective.

“
No dad, I did this. It’s my fault. I was thinking about it this morning, though. I may see if I can go back to the publishing company and write more books. I don’t think the new job is going to work. I tried to make the new job fit to me, instead of letting the job mold to me. I can’t avoid it. I can’t run from it any longer, I am a writer.”

“
Really Candy? Does that mean you will move back here?” My dad actually looked hopeful. I stared into his brown eyes and warmth ran over me with the love and hope he saw in me.

“
I actually thought you could come to California to live with me.”

I was met with silence. He acted as though I had not said a word about his moving. I guess I always knew he would never leave New York, but I wanted to take care of him. I was finally old enough, and had suffered enough loss to know why raising me was hard for him. I wanted to help him, but maybe I could hire someone to look in on him from time to time.

As we exited the cab and walked inside the Cafeteria, I was graced with Michelle. She was waiting at the door for me. She wrapped me in her arms and nearly knocked the breath out of me with her excitement.

“
I got your message, Candy. You will always be my daughter and, no matter what your reasons are, it is your life; but, I am so glad you are home.”

I wrapped my arms around her and hugged the only real mom I ever had. My mom had passed away when I was seven, and Jax’s parents died a few years later. Michelle was everyone's mom.

I pulled back to see Christina standing by the table with a carrier. My face must have fallen because Michelle wrapped her arm around me and whispered in my ear.

“
She is not staying for breakfast with us, but we thought you might want to meet Chelle Matson.”

“
No, I really don’t,” I muttered under my breath, as I was escorted by Michelle and my dad to the table. Christina immediately busied herself with getting the baby out of the car seat.

The breath was knocked out of me when Christina held up her baby. Chelle had Chase’s blond hair, blue eyes, and his smile. I wanted to cry at seeing him in her. She was a chunky baby with an aura of happiness around her.