THE GREAT BETRAYAL (15 page)

Returning to her office after the final meeting, she found a note from Dawn scrawled on a sticky. She had pasted it on Leslie’s computer screen.

Thanks for telling me you wouldn’t make it to lunch…and I’m waiting for the details.

Leslie glanced at her watch. It was a quarter to six. Dawn would probably have already left for the day. She’d call her later, before going to bed.

Just as she was about to shut down the computer, Leslie paused and reopened her e-mail program. She clicked on the very first e-mail she’d received from Grace. She read through it once. Then she read it again, slowly. Grace loved Beth very much; she could tell. It was then that Leslie realized she dared not let hope run wild.

Beth was, after all, Grace’s mother.

Leslie had simply pushed her out into the world—and left her there.

When she got home, Leslie found Kate playing outside with a couple of kids from the house across the street. Pulling into the garage, she got out of the car and called out to her, “Kate—it’s getting dark! Time to come inside!”

“Okay!” She came running into the garage and threw her hands around her mom, giving her a big hug. “Mommy, where’d you go? Daddy wouldn’t tell me.” She coughed. “And you didn’t call me like you always do when you go away on your business trips. Daddy’s been acting really weird since you left, Mom. Really sad.”

“I’m so sorry, honey. I know I should’ve called you guys, but this wasn’t business. I went to Tennessee to go visit your sister. The one I told you about, remember? Your sister, Grace? And I guess your dad’s upset because he didn’t want me to go.”

Leslie went around to the truck and pulled out her suitcase. As they walked into the house, she asked, “Where is Daddy?”

Kathryn cocked her head, coughing. “Dumb question, Mom. You know he never leaves his office.”

“What did you eat today? Did Daddy cook? Or did he call Evelyn over to make dinner?” Evelyn Tremaine was their chef extraordinaire. Although Leslie did enjoy cooking from time to time, there were days when the daily grind got the best of her and she didn’t have the energy to face the kitchen. That was when Saint Evelyn worked her magic.

“Nope, he didn’t cook, and Evelyn didn’t come. We ordered pizza. Two boxes, so there are plenty of leftovers for you.”

“Oh, that’s sooo cool,” said Leslie, sounding cheerful. “Okay, you run along and get a shower. Is your homework done?”

“No,” Kate replied. When she saw the look on Leslie’s face, she quickly added, “But don’t worry—I’m on it!” Sniffling, she ran for the stairs.

“You know the rules, young lady,” Leslie called. “No playing and no TV until the homework’s done!” Leslie made a mental note to give her something before she went to bed. It sounded like her daughter was catching cold.

Dropping her suitcase at the bottom of the stairs, she walked down the hall toward Luke’s office.

She took a deep breath. He’d been so angry when she left.

Luke had been waiting for her.

He loved his home office. It was nearly six hundred feet of large, open space. When they’d moved in, Leslie had volunteered to be his personal decorator, doing her best to capture his personality with every touch. A marble coffee table sat in the middle of the room, flanked by cushiony, oversized, forest green chairs. His desk was a long, rectangular pane of emerald marble. There were large pictures about the walls featuring the most prized buildings in his firm’s portfolio. The Falls Medical Group Complex in Lantana. Red Door Hotel and Resort in Palm Beach. The Galleria at Heather Glen on South Beach. He liked to remind himself that he and Evan had much to be proud of. They’d certainly come along way from their apprenticeship, when they’d spent most of their time running around to meetings with zoning officials.

When Leslie finally arrived and walked into the office, he looked up, the sight of her having its usual effect.

God, he loved this woman.

But he’d give anything to stop.

She didn’t speak right away, just stood in the doorway staring at him with an expectant look on her face. What exactly was she expecting? He didn’t know.

Luke continued packing up his materials.

He was in the middle of sliding his laptop into its case when she finally spoke.

“
You’re leaving?”

“
Yes.” He folded the cords. Tucked them into the pocket.

She folded her arms across her middle. “Luke. Please don’t do this.
Please
.”

Disgust washed over his handsome face. “The only reason you married me is because I reminded you of
him
.” His voice cracked. “You married me because I look like him.”

“
No.” Her denial was weak. Even she must’ve heard just
how
weak. “No, Luke. You’re overreacting. Being silly. I married you because I loved you. We were in love…”

Luke threw the strap of the laptop carrier over his shoulder and gathered the remaining blueprint containers under his arm. He was ready to go. He had already moved out a fair amount of his clothes and office materials.

He pushed past her at the door and walked down the hall, toward the garage.

“
Luke, wait!”

He stopped in his tracks, but didn’t turn around. He hadn’t wanted to stop, but—damn her—he had.

Luke waited. He squared his shoulders, determined not to weaken his resolve. She’d made him feel like a fool. Shredded his pride to damn near nothing. Hell, he
was
a fool, wasn’t he? The day in the leasing office, when they’d first met…

She had found a stand-in for Jeff.

“
Please,” she said finally. “Please, Luke. Please don’t walk out on—”

He was gone.

Chapter 29

Dawn jumped up with a start.

Something was ringing. After a few seconds she realized it was the telephone. Did the phone ever ring in the middle of the night to bring you good news? Her disoriented thoughts scrambled all over as she saw images of her mother, sister, niece, and nephew…and Michael.

“Hello?” she croaked, her mouth desert dry, her heart racing.

“It’s me,” said Leslie. “I’m sorry to wake you.”

Dawn released the breath she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding. Her pulse slowed, and saliva flowed back into her mouth. “Jesus, Leslie—the phone scared the living shit out of me. What’s up?” Leslie sounded as if she’d been crying…a lot. Dawn sat up, flipping on the bedside lamp.

“Oh, Dawn…everything’s falling apart.”

Dawn rubbed her eyes, collecting her thoughts. Leslie had gone to Memphis yesterday. Dawn had gotten a call from Luke, so she could guess what Leslie had faced when she’d returned home. He hadn’t been happy at all. “Where’s Luke?”

Leslie began sobbing. “He left. He packed his bags, packed up his office…and he left. He moved some of his things while I was gone and…he’s basically moved out of the house.” She sniffled. “Shit, Dawn, what the hell am I gonna do?”

Glancing at the clock, Dawn saw that it was nearly midnight. “Do you know where he might’ve gone?”

“Katie says he took her with him to some house down by the Intracoastal”—Leslie’s voice was heavy with emotion—“but he wouldn’t tell her why he was bringing all of his things out there, why he was moving out.”

Dawn threw back the covers, getting up. “Go ahead and keep a lookout for me, Les. I’ll be right over.”

Dawn pulled into the driveway of Leslie and Luke’s house about twenty minutes later. She knew Leslie like a book, so she wasn’t surprised to find that the front door had been left unlocked. Dawn entered the house, locking the door behind her.

It was mostly dark inside, the only light coming from a night-light burning in the hallway. Dawn headed toward the stairs.

“Les?”

Leslie’s voice came down the dimly lit hallway. “I’m out here, in the garden.”

Dawn went out on the porch and out the screen door. Dry leaves crackled under her flip-flops as she walked through the night air over to Leslie. She joined her on a lounge chair where she sat near her favorite rose bush, crying her heart out.

At first they communicated in silence—years of friendship at its best.

I’m crushed
, Leslie seemed to say.

I know, and I’m here
, Dawn replied in kind.
Whenever you’re ready, start talking
.
I’m here
.

When Leslie finally spoke aloud, she said, “I can’t lose, Luke. He’s my whole life now.” She paused. “I never thought I’d have one again after Jeff died, couldn’t even
imagine
an adult life without him…I can’t lose it again.”

Dawn reached for her friend’s hand. “Tell me what happened.”

In a hushed, aching tone, Leslie relayed her brief exchange with Luke after she’d come home.

“
He’s just angry,” Dawn assured her. “He’ll be back.”

“
But what if he wants a divorce? What if he can never accept Grace? Dear God—what if he makes me
choose
?”

“
Come on, Leslie. You know Luke; he’d never do that. That’s not who he is. Once he’s had some time to think and put things in perspective, he’ll be back. You both love each other very much. Anyone with eyesight can see that.” She paused. “Do you want me to talk to him?”

Leslie shook her head. “No. I don’t think it would do any good right now. I’ve never known Luke to be so cold. Since I told him about my past…the secrets…he’s been ice-cold. Very distant.”

“
Well, surely you didn’t expect him to whisk you away to the staircase—like Rhett and Scarlett—and spend the rest of your lives in bed, did you?”

“
Well, I don’t know about spending the rest of our lives in bed, but he certainly pulled a drunken Rhett Butler on me that night.”

Dawn looked at her, startled. “Really?”

“
I don’t know what got into him,” she sobbed. “It’s as if he wanted to punish me or something…I don’t know. It was confusing…but I sure wish that’s what he had done when I came home tonight. Instead he packed up and walked out on me.”

“
You never told me about that. Mind if I ask what happened that night?”

Using tissues to wipe away her tears, Leslie shrugged, saying nothing at first. Then she said, “He just wanted to punish me, I think. He was very rough.”

“
So tell me about the visit with Grace,” said Dawn, switching gears. “How did that go?”

Leslie managed a slight smile and said softly, “Oh, she’s beautiful, Dawn. She blew me away. I couldn’t believe it. I
still
can’t believe it. She just wanted to know why, just like in her e-mail. Why I’d left without taking her with me.”

“
And what’d you say?”

Leslie took a deep breath. “I simply told her the truth. I tried to explain how I was feeling at the time. That I was just too ashamed to come back for her…and very afraid. After a while it seemed easier to leave things as they were.”

“
And now?”

“
Now I have to face it. I have a beautiful daughter…” Her thoughts drifted. She murmured, “Oh, Jeff, if only you could see her…”

Dawn fell silent.

“
Anyhow…she made it clear that she doesn’t want to hurt Beth’s…her mother’s feelings.”

“
That’s understandable. She’s a good girl. She obviously loves her, and she’s loyal.”

“
Yes, as well she should be.” Leslie hesitated. “But, I can’t help it now—I do want her to love me, too, you know? And I daresay that I saw it on her face yesterday, Dawn. I saw it in her eyes.” Leslie’s own eyes filled with tears. “She wants to love me, too. As a mother.” She hiccupped. “But do I deserve it?” She shook her head from side to side. “Dear God—do I dare believe I deserve it?”

“
That’s nonsense,” said Dawn, squeezing her friend’s hand. She left her chair, putting her arms around Leslie. “Of course you’re deserving, Les. Like I said before, you’re her mother. Of course she wants to love you. Beth may have raised her, but you’re her
real
mother. Nothing can ever challenge that connection, Leslie.” Stepping back, Dawn caught her eye. “Nothing.”

Leslie nodded, but it was slight. She seemed unconvinced.

“
Listen, it’ll be okay, Les. Believe me: The worst is over. Now that the truth is out, the dust can settle.”

They stayed out there, enjoying the quiet, until around two a.m. Dawn finally got Leslie to agree to try to get some sleep. With an arm around her for support, Dawn walked her into the house.

“
I feel so hopeless,” Leslie wept, sounding miserable. “I still can’t believe he left. It’s like it just neutralizes my hopes about Grace coming back into my life…”