Sunset Thunder (23 page)

The whole table roared to life, covering the end of Sophia’s proper definition in front of Rosemary and Parker.

“What?” Sophia asked.

“That word is not age appropriate for some of the people around this table,” Violet told Sophia.

“I want to know,” Parker whined.

“I will tell you if you give me your dessert,” Violet offered him.

Parker looked mortified. “No.”

“Alright, moving along.” As Violet turned to once again apologize to Ryder, he caught sight of a mark on her lower bottom chin. A dark, large, round bruise. The size of a hand. The swelling looked fresh.

How had he not noticed the mark before? 

“She had that when she came back from your place this morning.” Ryder looked up to see Marc staring at the bruise, no doubt in horror at the black, purple and green painting her porcelain skin.

Violet’s hand went straight to her chin and her head whipped in Marc’s direction. Ryder couldn’t see, but by the quick snap of her head, he assumed she had a warning look on her face.

Marc continued, despite whatever look Violet had sent him. “We were all wondering where it came from too...”

“Marcus,” Violet hissed. 

What was he saying? That Ryder hit Violet?

He would never lay a hand on her, or any other woman for that matter. Violet was only at his house a short time. Long enough to console him after driving his dad home. 

His dad. 

Ryder had witnessed Donald’s fits. His father wasn’t deliberately violent, but when his symptoms overtook him, they caused the older man great distress. Donald might not be as strong as he was before his illness, however Ryder had taken a knock or two from him when he was agitated. And he could become forceful...forceful enough to make that mark on Violet’s face.

“Did my dad do that?” he whispered. Not for the sake of her family or keeping his father a secret, but for the sake of Violet’s children.

If Violet’s forced smile hadn’t given him his answer, when she looked at her kids and said, “Parker, Sophia. Today is your lucky day. Once in a lifetime opportunity here. Today, and today only, if you go right away, I will let you eat in the cave.” Violet didn’t have to repeat that sentence. Both her kids jumped up and grabbed their plates as Rosemary begged her parents to go too. 

“Of course,” Kate said, helping Rosemary off the chair while Marc handed Rosemary her plate.

The three kids all but ran to the rocks where the water slide to the pool weaved in and out of the rocks. At the midpoint of the slide was a small fenced-in area facing them. They could eat in the caves as they loved but Violet could still see them. 

Her family glanced around at each other, but Ryder had no interest in them. He repeated his question to Violet, regardless of what anyone thought about his dad...or were about to discover. There was no way Ryder would sit though dinner now knowing what had caused that mark on her face.

Violet turned to him with softness in her face that contrasted the ugliness of the bruise, from which he now couldn’t peel his eyes.

He was so angry that he’d missed sight of her chin when he’d arrived. Spending the rest of the day twisted with remorse at the way he’d treated Violet was already eating him up inside. He’d spent the afternoon in the garden with his father and Ryder had decided his dad wouldn’t want him to punish himself or run away from the only love he’d ever known. Confessing his feelings on Violet’s front step, then their kissing, Ryder simply hadn’t noticed the bruise. 

“We don’t have to talk about this right now,” Violet said. 

That was his answer.
Donald was responsible for the bruise on her face.

The rest of her family wasn’t as quick to let the topic pass. “Donald did that to your face?” Eliza asked, sounding like a worried mother, in shock. She had every right to be. 

“Momma, I’m fine,” Violet assured her.

Eliza didn’t look convinced, but she said no more. The rest of the table looked mortified, with a thousand questions in their eyes. Curiosity that Violet would never be able to fill if she kept the truth hidden from her family. Ryder couldn’t ask that of her. Neither would he find trust in them if he didn’t explain, especially with the whole Emma situation still in their heads.

Ryder silently apologized to his father and hoped the day they met again on a level of equal communication he would understand why he couldn’t keep this secret any longer.

“My dad was diagnosed with dementia a couple years ago,” Ryder said. “Shortly after my mom died.”

He watched their faces all shift from accusing to confusion and at last to sympathy. The very thing his father did not want.

Violet touched his leg and whispered, “Ryder, you don’t have to do this.”

He squeezed her hand, loving the comfort and strength her support gave him. “He stayed in the spotlight as long as he could before the symptoms became too obvious. Then he stepped away and asked me to not to tell people of his condition. Which until now, I haven’t.” 

“Ryder, I’m so sorry,” Eliza said immediately. “Donald is an amazing person, with a good heart.  I am just so sorry.” 

“No, I’m sorry.” He turned to Violet. “I didn’t notice it today. You should have told me.” He tilted her head with his finger to get a better look. “I can’t believe he did this to you. I’m so sorry.” 

Violet caught his hand. “It’s alright. It was an accident. He didn’t mean to. He was confused and upset and his elbow accidentally hit my chin.” She smiled, but it did nothing to reassure Ryder. “I’m okay.”

Her face didn’t look okay.

“I’m okay,” she repeated. She turned to her family. “I drove over to Ryder’s house this morning, to invite him over for supper.” Talk about laying it all out there for her family. She was going to shock their systems...if Donald’s marks across her face hadn’t already. “I saw Mr. Carlex walking along the ditch, so I gave him a drive home. He was disoriented and upset, but he is fine now.”

Ryder had been such an ass to Violet this morning, after she had gone out of her way to bring home his dad and was hurt along the way. Now Ryder felt like even more of an ass. 

“Is that where you got the scratches on your legs too?” Izzy asked. 

Scratches? Scratches! 

He felt Violet squeeze his hand before she said, “Well, I’m not outdoorsy, alright,” she said, turning the incident in to a joke on her. This was nothing to joke about. “I was in my heels, wearing a dress that ended up in the garbage, I slid down the ditch, and scraped the back of my legs on the way.”

She did all that today?

Izzy laughed. The rest of her family only found slight humor in her story.

Ryder didn’t find the humor at all, but maybe that was because it was his dad who had caused all these marks on her body.

“Can’t you just picture Violet in her tight blazer, running through a ditch, trying not to rip her pantyhose?” Izzy said between fits of laughter. Ryder had never even seen this woman in pantyhose.

The table gave a half-hearted round of laughter. Good, at least his wasn’t the only one not finding the humor. 

“Sweetheart I’m just glad you found Donald,” Eliza said in a serious tone. “That would have been very scary having to search the woods for him.”

What? How was Eliza thinking about his father when he’d hurt her daughter?

“How’s your father now?” Eliza asked Ryder. “That must have been very dramatic for him.”

Ryder didn’t answer right away, not sure he’d heard the question right. But the waiting eyes assured him she was referring to Donald. “He’s fine. He also has some scratches, but no big bruises.” Ryder turned to Violet again, wishing they were alone so he could pull her into his arms and hold her.

Susan and Kelly were trained in dealing with the symptoms of his father’s condition, but Violet was not. He was never leaving her alone with Donald again. 

“I’m just glad it wasn’t you causing the bruise or I was going to have to have a word with you,” Marc said. By the half-serious, half-joking tone, he realized Marc meant he’d planned on leaving a bruise on his face in retaliation.

The rest of the table caught on and all chuckled, then started speaking at the same time, taking all the attention away from Ryder. 

“You? Stand up to Ryder? You would lose!” Izzy said from the end of the table in a fit of laughter.

“Kate would have a better chance of getting in a punch,” Emma teased. 

“Stop picking on your brother,” Eliza said.  “Some men are fighters and others are lovers. My baby is a sweet little boy.”

“That’s not helping his case Momma,” Izzy cracked before another burst of laughter.

Ryder would have normally grinned at the banter, but he couldn’t get past the bruises and scratches on Violet. Violet had been there for Ryder when he had no one. She’d held him when he needed support. He’d greedily taken it and then yelled at her when he was finished. The whole thing caused Ryder to feel claustrophobic.

“Would you excuse me? I’m just going to use the men’s room.” Ryder slid his chair back. 

“I can show you where it is.” Violet slid her chair back, but he stopped her. He needed a moment to himself.

“I saw it earlier. I’m okay.” 

His stride couldn’t carry him away fast enough. Once inside Violet’s suite, he headed straight to the bathroom he’d seen in her bedroom. There was a bathroom in the hall, but he didn’t even register it. Ignoring the bed where Joel made love to Violet, and
their
kid’s photos on the dresser, Ryder shut the door and let out the breath that had been suffocating him. He sucked in fresh air and the smell of Violet filled his lungs.

Ryder splashed his face with cold water and let it air dry as he hung his head over the sink. One of the double sinks.
One Joel’s. One Violet’s.

Ryder looked up at the marble backsplash, the white makeup bag on the counter, toothbrush sitting on a charger and a basket of jewelry, Ryder realized he was using Joel’s sink.

He pushed away. 

Was he jealous? Of Joel?

If Violet was still in love with Joel, then yes, he was jealous. He’d left the table needing a break to settle his constricting chest, and now the compression was growing worse. The bathroom was closing in on him more with each new realization.

Ryder could try to blame his new discovery on his lack of sleep, or the stress of losing his dad, or the sudden confession of Violet’s feelings, but the evidence was clear. The very first moment of his interaction with Violet, was because of Joel. She’d initiated sex with Ryder, which had been incredible, minutes before a meeting with Joel and his fiancée. What other reason could Violet have, than the obvious...she was still in love with Joel.

Why hadn’t he seen this before coming here?

Ryder closed his eyes
.

What was he doing here?

Joel and Violet had children together. Two. They’d had a life. In this suite. In this resort. And Joel was so damn flip-floppy, that he could decide on a whim to get Violet back. Ryder had nothing in comparison to offer Violet. Joel was the father of her children.

The more Ryder tried to convince himself differently, the more points Joel gained. This would never work. He needed to get the hell out of here. 

“SOMEONE’S IN TROUBLE,” Izzy said, when the suite of Violet’s door closed behind Ryder. The sassy blonde tossed a chip down the table at Marc, as though she hadn’t sent Ryder her own bundle of attitude.

Violet’s intense stare must have given away her intentions as soon as Ryder was out of listening range. She wasn’t about to scope them out one-by-one, and she knew Marc was worried about her, but still she hadn’t invited Ryder here to be insulted and accused.

She turned to her family. “Let’s get this over with. Ask me all your questions quickly before Ryder gets back and then you all can stop digging into what’s happening between us and just get to know him. Or, tell me if you don’t approve and I will take that into consideration, as well.” Her family’s opinion
did
matter, especially Emma, who might feel uncomfortable. 

No one said anything. 

“No one?” Violet asked, taking her time to look at each of them sitting around the table with discomforted looks across their faces. How did they think Ryder felt?

Violet purposely left Emma until last. “Emma?” 

Emma made a face. “Why are you asking me?” 
As if she didn’t know.

“Because he tried to bone you at Violet’s wedding.” Izzy rolled her eyes at having to state the obvious and a chip went flying across the table in Emma’s direction.

“Marc, maybe we should consider hiring Izzy to clean the pool room,” Violet snapped.

“Maybe we should hire Ryder as the pool boy,” Izzy retorted.

“You couldn’t afford him,” Violet snapped. “Especially with your lack of income.”

“Are you kidding me? In case you missed it, Carl’s my dad and not only did I get Robert’s portion, but I get half of Carl’s too. I can afford a playboy pool boy.”

“I don’t plan on dying anytime soon. So I won’t be parting with my portions anytime soon. Thank you,” Carl said.

Player? Player!
“You could afford a lesson in−”

Izzy cut her off. “A new filter,” she said, and grinned. It irritated Violet that sometimes Izzy didn’t take things seriously. She’d not only insulted Ryder in this conversation, she’d insulted Violet and Carl, and seemed dense to all of the above.

Emma waved a hand. “Ryder was so drunk that night, he didn’t even know who I was, and it wasn’t a big deal. He wasn’t crude or ignorant. He was drunk and sad. It was kind of sad. Anyway, that was a long time ago and I’m not worried about it. If you like Ryder, then you definitely don’t have to be worried about that incident putting any label on Ryder.” Emma chuckled. “Does Ryder even remember?” 

“No.” Violet ignored the questioning faces on how she was so sure. “Next question.” 

Silence.

“Now you all are quiet?”

Eliza spoke first. “Do you like him?” she asked.

“Yes,” she answered honestly, and prepared herself for the eruption of her family.

Nothing.

A smile Violet recognized crossed her mother’s lips. It was her proud mother moment smile. Violet had the same smile for her kids. When Violet had decided to pursue her career in wedding planning, she’d received that exact smile. The day Marc announced he was marrying Kate, this was the very smile Eliza sent them both, standing in front of Mrs. Calvert’s bakery, freezing their bottoms off.

“I don’t really see what else we need to ask you or know about Ryder,” Eliza said. “Sweetheart, if you’re happy, then we are happy for you. And I’m thrilled.” Eliza stood, almost knocking down her chair and rushed around the table to pull Violet into a hug. “I thought you gave up on love and now look at you.” Eliza pulled away and searched Violet’s eyes. “You’re falling in love...”

Violet wanted to melt into liquid and merge into the pool water.

Falling in love? How could she possibly see that?

Eliza pulled her into a longer hug and Violet caught Izzy snickering to herself, Emma rolled her eyes. Eliza whispered in Violet’s ear, so low no one else would possibly be able to hear, “Love is not easy Violet, and I wasn’t sure you would find it after Joel. But I was giving you some time and space and I hoped love would find you. I am proud that you were brave enough to open yourself to another person.” Not just any person, Ryder. Her heart only opened to him, because he challenged her in a way that no one else did. 

“Did you have sex with him?” Izzy asked. 

All heads flew in Violet’s direction, with curious eyes. Violet purposely avoided the route to Marc, who knew the answer.

Did they all think she was going to reply to that?

Eliza lightly scolded her daughter.

As Violet took her seat, she said, “I’m not answering that.” 

Izzy shrugged. “I was just curious who was better. Joel or Ryder? I assume Ryder. Actually, I would put money on it.”

“Please don’t,” Violet begged.

“He’s all muscle and sexy and strong...” Izzy continued.

This was not happening. Is this karma for mentioning it to Marc, only to get a rise out of him? Now Izzy was bringing it up to get a rise out of her.

“And Joel’s all weak, dull and boring. I mean it would be like an elephant to a lion.” Izzy roared, literally like a lion, and the family groaned in disgust.

“Sometimes you are too much, child,” Eliza scolded. 

Izzy laughed, loving the attention. “You all were thinking it. I just asked.” 

“I wasn’t thinking it,” Marc and Carl said at the same time and Violet couldn’t help but grin at the strain in Marc’s tone.

“I can’t believe the Caliendos are having this conversation,” Kate said with amusement. “I feel like I’m sitting with my sisters.” 

“That’s because Izzy is besties with your sister,” Emma pointed out. 

“Besties. But I never see Abby anymore.” 

“Oh here we go,” Marc said. 

“Why don’t you go to Oakston and visit Abby and Riley?” Eliza suggested, again.

It went unheard to Izzy, who was lost in her own world of sulking. “Maybe I will go to Hawaii. By myself. I can charter a fancy plane like Riley...doesn’t Abby remember?” 

“Or you could just drive to Oakston,” Carl said.

This was going nowhere. “I’m going to start dating Ryder,” Violet said. “The kids and I have already discussed it and they’re on board. We aren’t going to flaunt it, and I would like to move slowly for the children’s sake. He
is
Joel’s friend, so it’s going to be weird for them. But I don’t want you all to be weird around him or in front of Sophia and Parker. No more accusing him of hitting me.” Violet turned to Marc meeting his guilty frown and he nodded, agreeing. Violet turned to Izzy next. “No more mention of Emma and Ryder, because the kids won’t understand.”

Izzy held her hands in the air in question. “Why are you directing that at me?”

A handful of support moved around the table, as her family told Izzy, in no better way, that she had a big mouth. Violet would tell her it was her lack of filter, but by the time everyone around the table made rounds, there was no need.

Where was Ryder?

Violet figured his absence had to do with his dad. Not only had he admitted a handful of secrets to Violet, he’d admitted his father’s sickness to her entire family. Violet was learning that Ryder was a loyal family man, and if it was his dad who asked him to keep his sickness tucked away from others, Ryder would be racking up the guilt of exposing the truth. 

Violet excused herself. “We will be back if you all didn’t scare him away.” 

Inside her suite, Violet found the hallway bathroom door wide open and no Ryder. She made her way into her bedroom and found that door shut with light coming from under the door.

She knocked. “Ryder?” 

Silence. 

She knocked again. 

“Ryder?” 

The door opened so quickly it startled her into taking a couple steps back. Ryder looked down at her as he never had. She saw hurt and accusation that drew his lips thin and narrowed his eyes. 

“I’m going to go,” he said. 

Huh? Go? What had happened? Oh no, it was the playboy comment. Was it?

“Why?” 

He didn’t answer. 

Violet took a step toward him. “Maybe we rushed into things, having dinner with my family. They’re a little overwhelming, I know. They like you, Ryder. But I understand if it’s maybe too much too soon. Why don’t we have supper. Just the two of us. Cliff house?” He’d mentioned it on the boat, so it would be the perfect place.

“Did you frequent the Cliff House with Joel?” 

Joel? Joel! Why was he bringing up Joel?
His accusing tone was a partial answer and put her in immediate defense mode. “Excuse me?” she asked.

“Are we going to repeat everything you and Joel did?”

Violet watched his eyes dart back to the bed and Violet knew she’d walked into a jealous anger.

Where had this come from?

When she didn’t answer, Ryder snarled, “I can’t even talk in here.” He stormed past her and into the hallway. Jealousy was a new side of Ryder she hadn’t seen before and she didn’t really like it.

Violet followed, but Ryder stopped right in front of the door, so she was forced to stand in the doorway of her bedroom. His back was to her. 

“I can’t change my past, nor would I want to. Joel gave me the best two things in my life and because of them he will always be in my life.” As Violet said the words, a part of her heart came to peace, recognizing the truth of her spoken words. She’d blamed her dad and Joel for the last ten years of the betrayal and misery she felt, but in the same heartbeat she would do it all again, if it promised and protected Parker and Sophia.

The veracity took her resentment and bitterness away, leaving only room in her heart for the love of her children, her family, and the man standing before her.

“Joel is my past, Ryder. I’m not sure what to do here,” she admitted, inhaling a deep breath.

Violet wasn’t ready for another game of back and forth with Ryder so she drew on her inner strength and spoke, “I don’t know how to deal with you being jealous over Joel.” 

He turned. “You think I’m jealous over Joel?” The thought was as ludicrous to her as it sounded coming out of his mouth. 

“Aren’t you?” 

“No.” That was a relief. “Well...not like that.”

What did that mean?
“Not like what?”
Was there a different kind?

“Are you still in love with him?” 

Had Ryder not seen the way that Joel treated her? Did he not see the vile feelings she felt toward Joel? “He’s getting married next week,” she said. 

“That’s not what I asked.” 

“Why are you asking?” 
This was absurd.

“Why aren’t you answering?” 

“No. I’m not in love with Joel.”

“Then why did you search me out in the lobby washroom?”

When he said it that way, it sure seemed like she was still in love with Joel and seeking out a distraction. She had been seeking out a distraction, only it hadn’t been because she was jealous or upset that Joel was getting married. For a man who saw so much of her, how had Ryder missed this?

When Violet answered, she was surprised at how out of control the words escaped her mouth, like they were begging to be set free. Her voice sounded astonished, as if Ryder should already know the answer, and pitiful that she didn’t set the truth free earlier.

“Because I agreed to plan my ex-husband’s wedding to his new bride in
my
resort,” she started and rolled her eyes at the absurdity of it...and it felt liberating. “It was crazy. My pride and need to appear flawless edged me to accept the wedding that I wanted nothing to do with. The minute Joel walked out of my life I was done with him. But I’m a Caliendo, and how would it have looked if I said no to them? Missy has been employed here for years, and she is a resident of Willow Valley, gossip-line Willow Valley. I had no choice. But the resort is my home. The halls were my playground. The restaurants are my kitchens. The pools are my backyard. Each ballroom is a part of me and here I was bringing Joel and Missy into it. Opening up my home to them, for them to marry each other.
Marry each other. In my house!
”

Every last one of her family members had been right, she’d never been okay with the arrangements.

“I didn’t go
search you out
because I’m in love with Joel. I didn’t search you out at all. I was panicking inside that morning. I was walking down the halls and suddenly it all hit me and everyone was judging me. The staff and the bridesmaids...”

A broken laugh escaped her lips.

“My entire family was spying on me, and...and...” Violet sighed and her agitation plummeted, her voice quieted. When Ryder said nothing, she continued. “I don’t know what happened. I saw you and I wanted to forget everything. But when we were done, I didn’t want to let go of you. I felt so safe in your arms. You touched me and held me like a protector. Then you devised a plan to spare my humiliation and you were being so nice and I thought, why is this man who doesn’t even know me treating me like a person,
a real person
?” She watched as Ryder’s eyes slowly came back to her, instead of to his thoughts about her heart belonging to someone else.