Rose of Betrayal (45 page)

           
Ted
was the one who discovered the remaining gift.
 
An insignificant box shoved toward the back of the tree, no special
wrapping, no fancy ribbons, or bow’s.
 
It
was apparent the person experienced great difficulty wrapping the gift.
 
Retrieving it, he held the gift in front of
him.
 
Looking at one another puzzled,
they wondered where the gift had come from.
 
Flipping the box over, immediately Ted recognized Brads writing.

           
His
gaze strayed to Brads’ overcoat draped over the arm of a chair.
 
When he first saw it he didn’t demand an
explanation.
 
After all, he was aware
Brad and Bernie had an invitation to join them on Christmas Eve.
 
It was his fault for being absent.
          
  
At once rising remorse and paranoia punched his heart.
 
If not for lusting after Stacy one more time,
he would not have missed his flight.
 

A part of him that wished he had not
found the gift clung to it, but it was too late.
 
Handing it reluctantly to Sam, “It's for you
from Brad.”

           
A
host of gleeful bubbles popped inside Sam's stomach.
 
Lips beginning to curl straightened upon
noticing the serious expression on Ted's face.
 
“A gift from Brad, that's funny, he never mentioned a gift,” Sam
said.
 
It was difficult not to show
emotion when underneath she felt like a besotted teenager receiving her first
love note. Why was it so important that Brad remembered her?
 
Whatever the gift was, it did not matter, the
thought was more important.
 
Suddenly,
she could not stop her heart from doing cartwheels.

           
Displaying
more excitement than she wished, she tore at the wrapping.
 
Lifting the top, she found a plain thick
envelope.
 
With a quizzical look, she
slipped her nail beneath the seal and was startled when a key fell into her
lap.
 
She stared at it for long moments
before shaking hands unfolded several pieces of paper.

Ted began to chuckle, “I'll be a son
of a bitch.
 
It is just like Brad.
 
There's probably a Jaguar parked in the garage
waiting for you.
 
He gave me one for
Christmas a few years ago.”

           
The
possibility of sitting behind the wheel of a Jaguar made Sam's eyes as big as
saucers.
 
Anxious to uncover the mystery,
she began reading the legal documents out -loud.
 
“Deed titled to Samantha Waverly.”
 
“Oh, my God,” reality hit, the gift was not a
car, but . . .
 
Quaking fingers fumbled
with the remaining papers.
 
Her voice
wavered, “I don't believe it!
 
It's
impossible!
 
Why would he?”
 

Not at all amused, Ted pulled the
documents from her hand.
 
“Let me see.”

“What does it mean, Ted?”

           
“It
means he’s completely lost his marbles.
 
This particular piece of property must be worth a fortune.
 
Why would he think you would . . . Jesus,”
Ted sputtered under his breath lamenting he had not thought of it himself.
 

Snatching the papers from his
clenched fists, Sam sputtered, “What's wrong?
 
What is it, Dammit?
 
Ted, tell
me.”

Almost choking on his words, he
replied, “The property is located in the most exclusive area of Manhattan.”

Blue eyes glittered with
delight.
 
Sam leaped to her feet; her
vision blotched from moisture as she scanned the papers, her expression making
the sun appear dreary in comparison.
  

           
Ted
believed she resembled a child who snuck downstairs and caught Santa putting
presents under the tree.
 
The fact that
it was Brad touching her so was like a tidal wave hovering above his head
threatening to crash down upon him.

Trying to remain reserved when she
felt like dancing all over the apartment, Sam asked, “Can we go see it
Ted.
 
Please.”

“But, what about . . . “was all Ted
got out before Sam began bouncing up and down squealing,” Please, Ted.
 
Please.”

           
It
was not until that, very minute Ted realized how important Sam's career was to
her.
 
He had never given it a second thought,
for that matter, even the first.
 
Jealousy pinched his nerves.
 
Selfishly he was already missing the time he hoped they would share
after the wedding. Time for romance had been scarce due to his recent work
schedule.
 
Now there would be little time
for them if Sam started her own business, and once Brad left, he‘d be inundated
at work.
 
Thoughts giving birth to a new
kind of anger Ted had never dealt with.
 
Until now, through all the years of their friendship he had never been
truly angry with Brad.

           
When
the limo turned onto Fifth Avenue, an address would not have been
necessary.
 
Above a brass door a half
block away a sign artfully decorated read, “Samantha's.”
  
Brad took the sketch Sam developed for a
sign from her portfolio and had it duplicated.
 

           
Quickly
turning her face away from Ted, Sam dabbed at a tiny droplet defying her will
leaping from her eye.
  
Slender fingers
tightened on the key clasped in her hand while taking a deep breath to steady
the beat of her heart pounding so rapidly she believed it would burst.
 
Immediately she began chastising herself for
allowing her future husband to witness the immensity of emotions brought about
by another man's gift.

           
By
the time she somewhat collected herself, the limo was almost in front of the
narrow building, the chuckle erupting from her mouth helped to shield her
emotions.
 
On opposite sides of the door
were large display windows each with a mannequin, one in a Santa suit with an
epigram, “Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Peterson,” another, in a Mrs. Clause
suit, “Merry Christmas, Princess.”

Princess, Ted deliberated.
 
Why did that word suddenly slice him like a
razor blade?

           
 
A big red bow draped the door.
 
Inside, an elegantly decorated Christmas tree
immediately drew their attention.
 
The wheels
of the limo barely stopped before Sam abandoned all consideration of Ted's
feelings.
 
Opening the door, she vaulted
out.
 
Gripping the key with both hands
did little to calm her shaking hand making the possibility of inserting it into
the keyhole insurmountable.
 
Relief
washed over her when a hand clasping hers offered assistance.
 
She could not look at Ted, it was not
necessary; her violent trembling was obvious. There was no way of calming the
hurricane of excitement going on inside.

           
She
knew what Ted must have been thinking.
 
He wasn't blind.
 
Brad's gift held
more meaning than the fur, the emerald and diamond earrings, the pearl
necklace, and bracelet.
 
Meager gifts
compared to the many other exquisite ones Ted gave her for Christmas.

           
Finally
gaining entry, their first step submerged their feet into dense scarlet
carpeting.
 
Stationed in various
locations, numerous display racks.
 
White
poinsettias lined the bare walls.
 
An
antique gold cash register sat alone on a glass counter.
 
The remainder of the front room left
barren.
 
Having studied each of Sam's
drawings Brad tastefully stayed within their confines leaving the rest of the
embellishments for her future experimentation.

           
Sam's
elation was explosive.
 
Arms stretched
skyward, she whirled around unable to subdue the well of emotions swallowing
her.
 
“Can you believe this, Ted?
 
I don't know what made him do this for me . .
. us.
 
Do you realize this is the
beginning of my dream?”

           
Though
dizzy from spinning, she detected Ted's despondency and need of
reassurance.
 
Rushing to him, she said
sweetly, “I love you, Ted.
 
Don't ever
forget that.
 
I will pay Brad back every
dime if it will make you feel better.
 
I
swear.
 
This is my chance.
 
Don't you see? I have to try.
 
I need something to occupy my mind when
you're away.”

Grappling to restrain
his emotions, Ted decided now was not the time to lose control.
 
Wisdom told him if he spoiled this moment he
would regret it the rest of his life.
 
  
The truth of his suspicions was not digesting
well.
 
Brad was in love with Sam.
 
He had tried to deny it, to ignore the looks,
but when you have known someone as long as he had Brad; you sense things about
one another.
 

           
If
he were honest, he knew from the very beginning.
 
How could he blame Brad or, anyone for that
matter?
  
Sam was everything a man could
possibly want.
 
Maybe he could learn to
live with another man coveting his wife if it was Brad, as long as he stayed in
Wyoming and never did to Sam what he had done to Candy.
 
Sam was his and no one would come between
them, not even his best friend.
 

           
For
the first time in year’s Ted's thoughts wandered to the night, he raped
Candy.
 
To this day, he was positive Brad
never found out the truth.
 
If he had,
Brad would have never forgiven him.
 
Now
that the tables were turned, he knew how much pain Brad would have endured had
he known the whole story.

Sam's endless chatter pierced Ted's
jumbled thoughts.
 
“Ted, are you
alright?
 
Are you upset?”

Chill out and calm
down, Ted scolded himself.
 
“No sweets, I
know Brad, he loves us both, and would not do anything that would come between
us.”
 
At least that was what he
hoped.
 
Still, he doubted that he could
end a lifelong friendship even for Sam.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….......................................................…………………………………………………………….,...........

           
How
did you thank someone for such generosity, Sam quietly mused.
 
What could she say?
 
There were no words in the English language
to express how she felt deep inside.
 
There had to be a way, something.
 
The seed Brad unknowingly planted into the very depths of her heart had
been germinating.
 
She could not allow it
to swell beyond the capacity allocated, she simply couldn't.

CHAPTER
38

“JUNE, 2011”

           
Brad
felt as if catapulted into the pits of hell, suspended over brimstone by the
final thread of his tenacity, but, during the decent that final cord of
determination became stronger inducing an oath no one would ever keep him away
from Sam again, no one.

           
Though
Sam's parents verbal blow was brutal, it served to revive what little remained
of his fighting spirit.
 
One way or
another he would find Ted.
 
First, he
needed time to think, to clear the clouds of depression storming him since
leaving Wyoming.
 
The police did not know
everything.
 
He was certain.
 
Trusting Sam that safe, somehow he would find
Ted and solve the mystery.