Dangerous Alterations (7 page)

She thought back to the blonde who’d seemed more than a little intimidated by Tori’s presence at the funeral parlor, then contrasted it with the never-far-from-her-mind image of the statuesque brunette she’d once considered a friend. Shaking her head against the memory, she forced a smile to her lips. “No. I guess Julia got the old heave-ho somewhere along the line, too.”

“Once a cheat, always a cheat,” Georgina, the town’s mayor and founding member of the Sweet Briar Ladies Society Sewing Circle mused from her chair beneath a gooseneck lamp. “Which is why I say, good riddance. You’re far better off with Milo Wentworth.”

Like clockwork, the mere mention of the third grade teacher’s name started the familiar butterfly brigade in Tori’s stomach. The man had, single-handedly, restored her faith in the opposite sex. And true love.

“I bet you’re missing him something fierce.”

She nodded at Debbie. “It seems like he’s been gone forever instead of just a week.”

“When will he return?” Beatrice inquired.

“Not soon enough.”

“Does he know Jeff is in town?”

Tori dropped her gaze to her lap.

Georgina repeated her question. “Does he know Jeff is in town?”

“No.” When everyone leaned forward, she repeated her answer. “No.”

“Good heavens, Victoria, why not?”

Why not, indeed.

She struggled to put words to the reasons she’d yet to explain to herself. “I know that I’m holding off on accepting Milo’s proposal because of Jeff. Because of the insecurities his cheating stirred up inside me. I guess I’m hoping that maybe I can find a way to banish them once and for all while Jeff is here.”

For a moment, no one said anything, each woman seemingly lost in her own little world. Finally, though, Leona spoke, her words clipped and to the point. “You can banish them, dear, by putting him out of your mind once and for all.”

“I suspect it’s not that easy, Twin.”

“It most certainly is,” Leona snapped at her sister, her eyes fiery behind her stylish glasses.

Tori narrowed her eyes and studied her friend, a flash of something besides fire suddenly bringing answers to the questions she hadn’t been able to ask. Leona knew the kind of hurt Tori had experienced with Jeff. Of that, she was absolutely certain.

“No man—I repeat,
no man
—is worth second-guessing your worth.” Lowering her magazine to her lap, Leona met Tori’s gaze. “You hold the power in your own life, Victoria. Don’t ever,
ever
, hand that over to anyone else.”

“You mean like you do, old woman, every single time an attractive man crosses your path?” Rose taunted.

Leona clenched her teeth. “Make no mistake about it, Rose Winters, I always hold the power. Always.”

A domino of disbelief fell across the room as Leona’s failure to take Rose’s infamous age-related bait hit them at the same time. Even Rose, herself, looked shell-shocked. And thoroughly defeated.

“I, well …”

Margaret Louise pointed to Rose’s lap. “Why don’t you show everyone the pillow, Rose.”

“I, well …” Rose’s words trailed off once again as she looked down at her lap. “I, um, have, um, an idea for a group project if everyone’s interested.”

Leona disappeared behind her magazine once again.

“Tell us,” Debbie said, her focus shifting between Rose and Leona and back again.

Rose lifted the pillow into the air with trembling hands. “This here is a comfort pillow for women who have had mastectomies. Helps protect their incision when driving. My friend, Lynn, from the treatment center swears by hers.”

“Are they hard to make?” Beatrice inquired, as she, too, stole a glance in Leona’s direction.

“Not at all.” Margaret Louise took hold of the conversation. “In fact, if we take everything we need with us on Friday, we can get a good number of ’em done at the cabin. In between our hootin’ and hollerin’, of course.”

And, just like that, the conversation turned to the mountain cabin that would play host to the Sweet Briar Ladies Society Sewing Circle’s first-ever girls’ weekend. A weekend of sewing, good food, and endless gossip … all against the stunning backdrop of the Smoky Mountains featured in Leona’s travel magazine.

But even as her friends oohed and oohed over the photographs and Margaret Louise’s accompanying sales pitch, she couldn’t shake Leona’s words from her thoughts long enough to focus on anything besides the mistake she’d agreed to meet in a little over two hours.

He was waiting on her front porch when she arrived, his tall muscular frame sprawled out with confident ease on her wicker rocker.

“I was beginning to wonder if you’d stood me up. But then I remembered who I was waiting for and I knew that would never happen.” Jeff pushed off the chair and sauntered over to the top step, blocking her admittance with a playful smile. “You see, Victoria Sinclair is sweet and she would never make plans with someone and not show up.”

Tori tugged her tote bag higher onto her shoulder and ducked her way around Jeff’s waiting arms. “Considering this is my home, that’s probably a safe bet.”

He laughed. “You’d come even if we’d set a park bench as our meeting place.”

Oh, how she wished he were wrong.

“Jeff, I don’t—”

A ring from Jeff’s pocket cut her off mid-sentence. Instead, she found herself watching as he pulled out his cell phone, made a face at his caller ID, then flipped it open and held it to his ear. “Yeah Kelly, what do you want? I told you, I had something to do … what difference does it make … okay, fine, I’m with Tori right now … yes, Tori … no, I haven’t told her yet … look, I don’t owe you anything … I told you I was going out to celebrate and that I’ll be back to Vera’s when I’m done … find a movie to watch or file your nails … I gotta go.”

Shrugging, he shoved the phone back into his pocket and flashed his most charming smile at Tori. “Sorry about that. It won’t happen again. Now where were—ahhh, yes, I know. I was commenting on how true you are to your word. And how I knew you’d show up simply because you said you would.”

At least one of us is true to our word …

“So, what did you want to see me about?” She made a beeline for the stationary chair a good twenty feet from the rocking chair he’d claimed just moments earlier. “It’s getting late and I really need to get some sleep.”

Pulling the rocker to within mere inches of her knee, Jeff sat down. “I want you to give me a second chance.”

She stood up. “I don’t have time for this. I told you, I’m committed to someone else. Someone caring, and sweet, and funny, and—”

“Broke.”

“What are you talking about?”

He grabbed hold of her hand and tugged her back down to her chair. “You said he teaches, right? Which means he’s broke. While I, on the other hand, am now in a position to lavish you with diamonds, and trips, and whatever your heart desires.”

“My heart desires a man who knows what commitment means. And you and I both know that isn’t you, Jeff.”

“It could be.”

She couldn’t help but laugh at his refusal to see reality. “You mean like you’re doing right now by being here and talking like this? Don’t you think Kelly might disagree?”

He waved his hand in the air. “Kelly means nothing.”

“Like I apparently did.”

“That’s not true. You meant the world to me, you really did. I just wanted to get a few last-minute gulps of air before we got married.”

She stared at him. “Gulps of air?”

“You know … of freedom.”

And in that moment every insecurity she’d carried from the moment she’d found him in the closet with Julia disappeared, chased from her heart by anger and repulsion. “You saw marriage as an end to your freedom?”

“Who doesn’t?”

“Those of us who see marriage as the beginning of something beautiful, that’s who,” she hissed through clenched teeth. “I think it’s time you leave.”

He stepped in front of her as she stood. “I’m ready now, Tori. I really am. I can have”—he pointed toward her front door—“this place packed in less than twenty-four hours and we can be on our way back to civilization.”

“Civilization?”

“I’ll get us an apartment on Lake Shore Drive. You can even have a room that’s just for you and all of your books.”

“Did you rob a bank?” she asked.

He snickered. “Something like that.”

She pushed past him and glanced down at her watch.

Nine thirty.

There was still time to call Milo.

Whirling around, she faced Jeff for what she hoped was the very last time. With a heart that was suddenly free of everything except the knowledge that her broken engagement was nothing short of a blessing. “I wouldn’t give up what I have with Milo for a thousand apartments on Lake Shore Drive. And you want to know why?”

“Why?” he asked with a voice that was suddenly bored.

“Because you can’t put a price tag on things like loyalty and honor. And you sure as heck can’t
buy
them, either.”

Jeff rolled his eyes and meandered over to the steps. “I’m staying at Vera’s place for another day or so before I head back to Chicago. Either way, you know how to reach me when you change your mind.” Looking back over his shoulder he blew her a kiss. “Or, shall I say, when
he
changes
his
mind.”

Her face warmed at the implication. “I’d watch it if I were you, Jeff. I really would. One of these days you’re going to get what’s coming your way.”

 

 

She was just reaching for the phone when it rang, the unexpected noise doing little to calm her already unsettled nerves. Checking the name on the screen, she felt the smile it brought to her face and the instantaneous way it disappeared.

Did she tell Milo that Jeff was in town? That she’d been the one to summon him and pick him up at the airport? That he’d been there, on her front porch, less than twenty minutes earlier? And, if she did, how did she explain the days-long delay in telling him to begin with?

She took a deep breath and answered. “Were your ears ringing or something? I was just getting ready to—”

“Why didn’t you tell me he was in town?” Milo’s voice, uncharacteristically sharp, made her tighten her grip on the phone. “Why did I have to hear it from Leona?”

Something akin to ice water washed over her. “
Leona
told you? Why? When?”

“She called me about a half hour ago. Said she was worried about you. And after I heard the things that jerk had to say, I can see why. Are you okay?”

“But how could you have heard?” she stammered. Dropping onto the edge of her bed she stared up at the ceiling. “I—I just spoke to him.”

A weighted silence made her pull the phone from her ear and check its connection. “Milo?” she asked as she held the phone against her cheek once again. “Are you still there?”

“Yeah. I’m here. I just don’t want to get Leona in trouble. She did the right thing.”

She counted to ten silently.

“What right thing would that be? Butting in where she doesn’t belong?”

“No. Looking out for you. Like a friend does.”

She knew he was right. She really did. It’s just that she didn’t like him finding out in this way. It made her feel dishonest, somehow.

“I’m not going to ask why you didn’t tell me he was in town sooner. I’m just going to assume you had your reasons.” His voice softened momentarily, allowing her to imagine him lying on his hotel bed. As he continued, though, his tone took on an unfamiliar edge. “But he had no right, no right to speak to you the way he did earlier. I swear, if I could have reached my hand through the phone and wrapped it around his neck, I would have.”

“Reached through the phone?” she echoed in a whisper. “What are you talking about?”

“Leona had me on speaker so I could hear the whole thing.”

Tori sat up. “On speaker? But how? Where was she?” She closed her eyes, recalling every sound she’d heard while on the porch with Jeff. But aside from a few crickets and the occasional barking dog, there’d only been a quick rustle or two from the bushes during Kelly’s call. Was Leona, elegant Leona, in the bushes?

“I don’t know and I didn’t ask. It wasn’t important. What was important was making sure you were okay. Though, I have to tell you, I almost threw my stuff in my bag and checked out while that was going on.”

“You can’t,” she protested. “You’re at those workshops for a reason, remember?”

“I’ve heard enough. And besides, I’ve met a few peers that could take notes for me.”

“No, Milo. You’ve been looking forward to this conference all summer. Stay. Please. I’ll be fine.” Tori pushed off the bed and wandered over to the window, Leona’s suspected hiding place in full view. “I
am
fine.”

And she was. Whatever self-doubt Jeff’s past actions had stirred inside her subconscious was gone, cured by the realization he wasn’t the man she’d once thought. What that said about her judgment on the other hand, certainly left room for greater self-examination in the very near future.

“I’m not that far away, Tori. I could be home in a matter of hours …”

She couldn’t help but notice the way Milo’s concern chased any lingering chill from her body. It was as if his words were an extension of his arms—holding her close, keeping her safe.

“I’m fine. Really. Talking to you, right now, makes everything better. Knowing you left your conference early for me would only make me feel worse.” She rose onto the balls of her bare feet and pivoted, her gaze coming to rest on her favorite picture of Milo. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner … about Jeff being here and all. But I didn’t know what
I
was thinking let alone how to share it with you.”

“That’s okay. Leona filled me in. Though trying to decipher what that woman is saying when she’s clenching her teeth and going off on a verbal rampage is a lot harder than one might imagine.”