Invitation to Love (21 page)

“Raven
tells me you’re from Nashville,” she stated when Taryn resumed her seat.

“Yes.”
Though she wasn’t as condescending as Raven, she could still feel a sense of
cool reserve from her.

“Is
that where you met Michael?”

“No,
I met him in Florida over a month ago when my daughters and I went to St.
Petersburg.”

“Remi
and Rachel,” Raven cut in. “You remember, I mentioned her twins in the emails.”

“Oh,
yes,” Karen nodded. “Kind of a whirlwind courtship, wasn’t it?”

Taryn
didn’t feel she owed her an explanation. Her involvement with Michael is her
business, ex-fiancée or not. She opened her mouth with the purpose of changing
the subject when the lock in the door clicked. Her heart leaped to her throat
as all heads turned to watch Michael open it and enter.

“Michael,”
Raven hopped to her feet.

Karen
rose, straightening at her dress, with a longing smile meant just for him. It
took Taryn a little longer to get her weakened legs to stand. He halted dead in
his tracks, the light on his face dimmed upon seeing the three women standing
there. He seemed shocked as he stood staring at Karen for what seemed like ages
to Taryn. (Is he happy to see her?) She couldn’t tell by that now stony
expression. But, he has to be. She’s his lost love returned; The one he truly
wants as his wife. Any minute now, he’ll rush to her and take her in his arms.

She
immediately replaced the glasses on the tray. “Excuse me, I’ll just take this
to the kitchen.”

She
avoided looking at him as she departed the room; All she could think of was
getting out of there. The tray banged onto the counter, glasses knocking over,
as her body gave way to tears that had wanted to fall ever since she set eyes
on Karen. She slumped into one of the chairs. The rustle of voices from the
living room painted a painful picture in her mind. At one point, she heard Raven’s
laughter, and she cried even harder.

After
a minute, she jumped up and went to splash some water on her face. No time for
crying now; Save it for later. She’ll have to face him soon, and she has to do
it with incurious calm; As if Karen’s reappearance means nothing to her
whatsoever. Make it easy for him to walk away. She tossed the tissues in her
hand in the waste basket, then ripped off a paper towel and wiped the cold water
from her face.

The click
of the door closing made her nerves jolt. The sound of Michael’s footsteps were
getter closer. She quickly snatched up a dishcloth and began rubbing at the
stove. Suddenly, a stifling silence crackled throughout the room. She didn’t
want to address him right now, but it was unavoidable—he’s watching her. She
finally tossed the dishcloth in the sink and faced a somber Michael.

“Are
they gone?” she struggled to keep that smile on her face.

“Yes.”

She
exhaled a deep breath and walked toward him. (Is the easygoing lift of her face
convincing?) “It was very rude of me not to come back and join you. But, I
thought you needed some time alone. And you know what?” her laughter edged on
the brink of a sob. “I forgot to turn on the oven for dinner. I’m afraid it’s
going to be late.”

“Don’t
worry about it.”

Silence
fell again. She could see that he wanted to say something, but didn’t know
exactly how to phrase it. He didn’t have to say a word, though. She knew what
was coming, but didn’t want to hear it just now. Maybe, when she’s had a chance
to get used to all that’s happened.

“Taryn…”

“Michael,
please,” she held her hand up to stall the words that were going to destroy
her. “Before you say anything, let me speak first.” Her eyes studied his
despondent face—That beautiful, despondent face. Her mouth clamped to keep her
emotions back. Say it quick, a voice whispered from deep within, say it quick
before you lose all your spirit. “I more than expected Karen to return one day.
I just want you to know that I won’t stand in your way. I know you love her,
and that’s who you really want to be with; That’s fine, really. We both held up
our end of the bargain. So, there’s nothing holding us together anymore—right?”

A
harshness flashed in his eyes; The muscles in his jaws tightened. His
reluctance to respond was more than she could bear, but it was all she needed
to confirm what she knew all along.

Tears
began to burn the rim of her eyelids. “I’m going to change for dinner,” she
brushed passed him without a backwards glance.

The
silent gloom that appeared the moment he walked through that door and saw
Karen, hovered over dinner. He’d pick up his glass of wine and sip from it now
and then, other than that, he had no interest in his meal. Finally, he murmured
something about going to his study, and pushed away from the table. That night,
she lied in her own room, in her own bed, with nothing but her tears for
company.

She
didn’t see him for the next two days. By the time she got downstairs in the
mornings, he’d already made coffee and left, then he’d come home around three
in the morning. The only sound she heard from him was his door closing.

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

It
was early Friday morning, and Remi and Rachel were due home in a couple of
hours. Taryn glanced at her watch as she sat at the kitchen table with her cup
of coffee, eager for the hour to pass so she could leave for the airport. She
was on her last sip when Michael walked in, all dressed up for the office. She
sat up from the shock of seeing him, having expected him to be long gone by
now. He glanced at her for a brief second as he tossed the morning paper on the
table and went to pour himself a cup of coffee.

She
waited until he was in his seat before risking to speak. “I thought you were at
work, otherwise, I would have fixed breakfast.”

He
barely looked at her as he poured milk in his cup. “Remi and Rachel come home
today, don’t they?”

“Yes.”

“Then
if you don’t mind, I’d like to go with you and pick them up. The car will be
here shortly. The chauffeur will drop me off at the office then bring you and
the girls home.”

“Fine,”
she said, feeling a little put off by his demeanor, but pleased he was still
interested in the girls. “Do you want breakfast?”

“No,
thank you,” he blew softly before raising the paper between them.

Taryn
took her empty cup to the sink then headed for the living room away from his
ill temper to wait.

The
ride to the airport and back couldn’t pass quick enough for her. She sat on
Rachel’s bed and helped them unpack their suitcases, while they each told of
their adventures.

“Aunt
Nora took us to the mall. Opry…Opry…”

“Oprymills,”
Taryn finished for her.

“Yeah.
And, we went to the movies…”

“And,
Remi and Bobby fussed just about every day,” Rachel came out of her closet
after hanging up a dress.

Remi
was seated on the floor, picking through the pile of dirty clothes she had
dumped and frowned up at her sister, “Did not.”

“Did
too,” Rachel hurled back with her hands to her hips.

“So,
you tattled on him and got him in trouble all the time, and Momma told you not
to be a tattle-tale.”

“Did
not.”

“Did
too.”

“Girls,
girls,” Taryn clapped her hands at them. “No more fussing. I’m glad you had
fun, though.”

“Momma,
did you and Michael have fun while we were gone?”

“Yes,
honey, we did,” her smile was more of a sad reaction to the question.

“What
did you do, Mummie?” Rachel hopped up onto the bed beside her.

“Well,
he took me to see some houses he designed. Then he took me to a nice park, and
we had a picnic there. Let’s see—Oh, we barbecued on the patio; And, we went to
a beautiful dance room called the Mandarin Hall.”

“Wow,”
Rachel’s eyes twinkled. “Did you wear a pretty gown, Mummie?”

“No,
I wore a pretty dress, though.”

“Oooh.
Wouldn’t you like to go to the Mandarin Hall, Remi?” Rachel sighed and held her
hands to her chest.

“Not
if I have to wear a dumb old gown,” she scoffed. “Is that all you and Michael
did Momma?”

That
night came to mind, bringing with it a cutting pain. “Yes—that’s all. Now, take
those pile of clothes to the laundry room. Help her, Rachel. I’ll put these
away.”

When
they left, a tear wandered down her cheek. She brushed it away, aware, yet
resenting the time it would take to heal, and for the crying to stop.

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Another
week was beginning. Taryn stood in the middle of the living room floor with the
vacuum cleaner running, but not really paying attention to where it was going.
She hasn’t been able to think since that day Karen returned. What’s going on
with her and Michael? Have they made plans? The least he can do is enlighten
her. But, they barely look at one another, much less talk. Oh, he’d laugh and
talk with the girls at the breakfast table, but she might as well be in another
country.

But,
there was this morning when she happened to look up and caught him looking at
her from across the table. The usual harshness was replaced by a sad, yet considerate
stare. He wanted to say something. She didn’t want to hear it, but couldn’t
look away from the man she loves, and is about to lose. Finally, he tossed his
napkin on the table, murmured a hasty good-bye to the girls, and left. That’s
the last she’ll see of him until tomorrow.

The
piercing ring of the phone cut into the vacuum’s roar. She switched it off, and
went to answer it.

“Hi,
Taryn, it’s Raven.”

She
was at once on guard. “Yes, Raven. What can I do for you?”

“Is
Michael there?”

“No.
It’s a work day, so, that should give you a clue.”

“Now
you see, that’s what I thought. But, he’s not there.” There was a short pause.
“You know, come to think of it, I haven’t seen Karen all day, either. I wonder
what that could mean?”

Taryn
heard the spite in her voice, but pressed herself to remain calm. Raven’s doing
her very best to get at her by planting hurtful thoughts in her mind, and it
would do no good to let her know she’s succeeding. She clicked the end button
and placed the phone back on the base. Tried as she might, she couldn’t help
brooding over the picture Raven painted. Michael’s not at his office, and Karen
is nowhere to be found. Can that mean what was implied? Are they together at a
cozy restaurant? Or maybe a hotel, making up for all that wasted time? The phone’s
loud ring made her jump. She snatched it up, thinking it was an infuriated
Raven.

“Hello.”

“Taryn,”
said Michael. “I just called to say I’ll be late coming home tonight, so don’t
wait dinner. There’s an important video conference I have to attend.”

“Really,
Michael, you didn’t have to call and tell me something I already know. You’re
late practically every night. Is there anything else?”

A
long pause followed before he said, “Kiss the girls for me.”

The
line went dead. Taryn stared at the receiver before throwing it onto the sofa,
and slumping back against the cushions. A conference, she sniffed back the
tears. Why can’t he be honest and tell her where he’s really going for heaven
sakes? To meet Karen, to be with Karen, to make love to…

She
shut her eyes tight, leaned forward and hung her head in her hands. Well, they
can have one another. She has plans of her own to make. And, as much as she
dreads having to bring Nora into this, it’s necessary if she’s going to ask for
help. They’ll need a place to stay once they arrive in Nashville; Then there’s
the matter of a job. It was part of their agreement that if they decided to end
things, Michael would make sure she was well taken care of financially. But,
she can’t take a monetary settlement. It would categorize all that happened
between them back to a detached bargain.

“Oh,
God,” she exhaled when she remembered that the girls will have to be
transferred out of school. They’ll be devastated once they learn they’ll moving
back home. They love Michael and Chris so much. How in the world will she be
able to tell them that it’s all over? She’ll do everything possible to help
them get over the hurt. One day, they’ll understand. Just then, two pairs of
sneakers came into the view as she was gazing through the beige carpet. She
raised her head toward them standing over her, concern in their spry eyes.

“Mummie?”
Rachel took one of her hands away from her face. “Are you all right? You don’t
look so good.”

“I’m
fine, pumpkin,” she kissed her hand.

“Is
Michael hurting you?” Remi put an arm around her shoulder.

Taryn
sat up. “Now, why would you ask that?”

The
girls glanced at one another. “Because, you don’t talk anymore. Are you mad at
him?”

She
drew in a deep breath. (Is it so obvious?) “No,” she shook her head and did her
best to put them at ease with a smile. “He’s not hurting me, and I’m not mad at
him.”