Unexpected Ride (16 page)

“I wasn’t as smart in
my
youth as you are.  I let a smooth talking man…
boy
… talk his way into my heart, then into my bed and effectively change the course of my whole life,” Carla managed to blurt out.  “The only thing he ever did for me was to get me arrested and teach me a valuable lesson about judging people on appearances.  And he gave me you… so I couldn’t
hate
him.  Even now… all these years later but he’s no good, Meredith.  I should have told you… admitted how badly I screwed up back then and maybe none of this would have happened with Chuck and the website.  I’m so sorry, honey.”

“Chuck said that day at the mall that there was a story there between you and Jarrod but I didn’t know what he meant and even when Greg figured out it was Jarrod that made the website… I didn’t put two and two together.  It’s time to stop covering for his sorry ass, Mom.  He isn’t anybody to
me
so I hope they stuff him in a small cell at the back of the jail,” Meredith smiled.  “You’ve always been the pillar of our family and I love you for it but I’m a grown up now… I can take it.”

“I’m sorry… I should have told you years ago but when I wanted to say something your daddy didn’t want to and then when… he died… I just couldn’t.  Is there anything you want to know about Jarrod?” she asked.

“Not about him so much… I don’t know him and based on the website and what I just saw out there… I don’t really want to know him… but I am curious about one thing?” Meredith replied. “How are you even still
alive
if you got arrested?  I mean I would have thought Grandpa would have grounded you for the rest of your life.”

At hearing Meredith’s laughter and the look on her face, a relief flowed through Carla as though she’d been holding her breath for the past twenty five years.  It was strange how the once cute little girl who had been so instrumental in bringing her and Doug together had suddenly grown into a woman who resembled him the most out of any of their kids.  Meredith’s heart was good and her will strong.  With Doug’s help they had raised a woman the world couldn’t help but stand up and take notice of. 

“Yea, I’d have thought ole’ Judge Patterson would have given you at least a thousand hours of community service… maybe even
two
thousand,” Chuck said as he walked into the office.

Turning back to look at the young man whose art spoke of a wounded soul capable of healing other souls like his own, Carla could only smile at his antics.  Always one to lighten the mood since emotions were so hard for him if not expressed on a canvas.  Chuck was such a key part of their family it was as if Doug had hand picked him to look after Meredith after the accident. 

In life Doug probably wouldn’t have approved of Chuck but he had only ever wanted Meredith’s happiness and Chuck provided that for her.  She felt Doug’s approval… as though he still had an influence on all their lives… but rather than the usual pain she felt when thinking of him, the idea just left a strange but beautiful sadness in the spot where only unbearable grief used to reside.

“I really thought Daddy would string me up that night when he came to bail me out of jail.  He simply said I could either learn from it or I would be destined to repeat it.  Needless to say I learned from it… at least for the most part.  So I guess you finally understand why he never just blew
you
off as a lost cause, huh, Chuck?  He recognized in you a
want
… a
need
to change your life’s path.  Just like that scared twenty year old girl I was all those years ago,” Carla replied.

“Grandpa really paid Jarrod to leave?” Meredith asked incredulously.

“Yea… it was
wrong
but… yes he did,” Carla replied honestly.

“Good… because anyone who would take money in exchange for their child is the one who is
wrong
,” Meredith said and then hugged her.  Carla knew she’d been forgiven.

She watched Lilly and Dana share a look between them and then look back at her.  Carla was grateful for their support, both of herself and Meredith. 

“So are all you ladies ready to head back out there? I guess I get
two
hot chicks for the evening since Sanders hit the road with
Barbie
,” Chuck said, eyeing Carla thoughtfully.

Carla had been
dreadfully
hard on Greg for absolutely
nothing
… for doing what he thought was right.  Why was it she could be so forgiving to almost
anyone
… except for him?  A feeling of guilt over what she’d said to him settled in her stomach but what could be done about it now?  He’d left with
Barbie,
all grace and curves made for a fashion show runway, after having received a scolding from Carla… middle aged mother of three.

“I know my brother pretty well and as tough as he may seem most of the time… chances are good he’s at his apartment licking his wounds,” Becca supplied from the office doorway.

Did she have the guts to go to Greg and apologize for being so overprotective of her kids that she’d unfairly lashed out at him?  Would he forgive her for being downright
vicious
toward him?  All she could do was try to make things right with him again. 

Greg had become a true friend to her… sure she’d helped nurse him back to health… but he’d been her staunchest supporter for going back to school and finally getting a degree.  In the back of her mind Carla pictured showing up at his apartment door only to have the young blonde who had to be closer to Meredith’s age answer his door instead of him.  How could a middle aged mother of three even hope to compete with
that?

“Go get him, Tiger!” Chuck laughed.  “Give him another one of those porn star kisses and he’ll kick Barbie to the curb.”

“Enough, Chuck, please.  I came here to support
you
, not to...” she said, and then realizing they were all staring at her, instead just headed back out to the gallery.

Halfway across the tiled floor of the main showroom she again noticed the beautiful painting of Meredith.  Each color and shadow spoke of the painter’s love of the model.  A return of affection was there in the flush showing in the small sliver of Meredith’s cheek that could be seen and the shy bow of her head. 

Carla felt that way when Greg Sanders looked at her and his kisses told her he felt the same way in return.  The painting was about reaching out for love… admitting it and waiting on a response.

She stopped dead in her tracks and glanced back at Chuck with a real understanding of just how incredible his paintings really were… they spoke to the soul. 
The beautiful canvas whispered words of encouragement and hope
.  The smile and wink Chuck gave her assured her that no matter the value of his paintings or how famous he became… he would always just be Chuck Reynolds… biker and
friend
. 

Just like Greg Sanders would always be a cop… retirement wouldn’t change that.  She needed to let Greg know that she understood that concept now.  Asking him not to get involved had been like asking him not to be who he was.

Becca touched her arm and handed her a business card with Greg’s cell phone number and address on the back. 

“Do you have money for a cab?” Becca asked her.

“No… I, uh,” she hadn’t thought to really worry about money since she assumed they would be at the gallery all evening.

“Please… allow me,” Cameron insisted and guided Carla out the door as Daniel guided Meredith and Chuck over to meet an expensive looking couple.

The ride to Greg’s apartment building had every nerve in her body on alert.  She wasn’t young like
Barbie
so she wouldn’t pretend not to know where this night would end if he in fact had gone home
alone
.  He’d begged her to touch him and this time she was ready… why should she deny herself any longer. 

Doug was gone now and had
never
asked her to remain alone and celibate should he die first.  Not to mention, two of her four kids approved of Greg.  Realistically
all
the kids liked him.  Aside from that…
she wanted him
… with every fiber of her being she wanted his touch.

The cab driver offered to wait for her so getting out of the vehicle she approached the callbox on the wall near the front entrance and hit the button for his apartment number and waited.  After a minute or two had passed, she pressed the button again and after several more minutes she tried one last time.  When she still received no response she got back into the cab. 

She couldn’t go back to the gallery… she could but she wouldn’t…
didn’t want to
.  He
was
with
Barbie
and her heart both hurt and was angry all at the same time because she hadn’t grabbed the opportunity when she had his full attention. 

She gave the driver the name of the hotel and sat back in stunned silence fighting off disappointed tears as they made their way slowly through New York traffic.  Greg had finally lost patience waiting for her.  It hurt…
like hell
.  Aside from his stunning good looks, he had stood up for her chance at school and unlike Doug who always encouraged her to play it safe… Greg had encouraged her to step out of her comfort zone…
dared
her to go for it.  It had been unexpected but had felt…
wonderful
. 

That excitement in her stomach had felt like jumping off the high dive for the first time and Greg had caught her before she splashed down… had an answer for every excuse she could come up with.

After exiting the elevator Carla started down the hallway towards her room at the hotel until, unable to stand the sickness in the pit of her stomach over having lost her chance with him, she decided to detour down another hallway just to see if he was by any chance in his room.  At the very least she owed him an apology… then she would go and leave him and
Barbie
alone.  She was setting herself up for serious disappointment, she knew that, but couldn’t stop her feet as they carried her to his door.

She knocked on the door before her nerves could talk her out of it and waited breathlessly.  The door opened a few seconds later and standing in the doorway was well over six feet of gorgeous.  His amazing eyes scanned her from head to toe before backing up and holding the door open for her to enter.  As she passed by him she noticed the bottle of liquor in his hand and an empty hotel room.  The two of them were alone.

“I’m in the safety of my hotel and don’t plan to leave so there was no need to come and
check
on me, Carla,” he said.  “I’m a grown man…”

“I know that… I just,” she tried.

Unwilling or, perhaps with help from the liquor, unable to help ease her discomfort, he instead stood there.  Greg stared at her for the longest two minutes of her life.  He was waiting for an explanation and she owed him that much but the desperation that had brought her here was losing to the fear that was keeping her from the whole purpose in coming. 

Eying the liquid courage in his hand she instead said, “May I have a small bit of that?”

Glancing down at his hand holding the bottle he held it out to her and said, “The housekeeping staff forgot to leave any glasses… plastic or otherwise.”

Past the point of caring, she took the bottle from his hand and took a drink of it.  This wasn’t exactly how she’d expected this night to go when she’d left the gallery.  Doug had always been so good at reining her in and keeping her from running on nothing but her emotions. 

Greg on the other hand seemed content to stand and watch her drinking hard liquor from a bottle almost like he was again
encouraging
her or daring her.  She wasn’t sure which.  Did she have the guts to make the first move?

“I’m sorry for what I said to you.  I didn’t mean it.  I just didn’t want Meredith to know that I’m not… the perfect mother and wife that she thinks I am.  Come to find out she’s known that, since ninth grade at least, and was much less upset than I expected her to be,” she blurted and then took another drink for more courage.

He walked over and sat on the edge of the large bed off to one side of the room and looked at her as if inviting her to continue.  It had been a good while since she’d had anything stronger than a glass of wine and the couple of long swigs she’d taken from the bottle left her a little unsteady on the unusually high heels she wore. 

She ungracefully stepped out of the shoes and felt his hazel eyes caress her legs as she bent to pick them up and hold them in her other hand which now held her wrap, her clutch and the shoes.

Forcing herself to meet his eyes, she lost the battle with herself to remain strong, say what she’d come to say, and then leave the next move up to him, when his beautiful lips curved up in a lopsided smile.

“Did you want to sit down, Carla?” he asked.

How could she meet his gaze when that mouth had solicited an excitement in her that she still felt several hours later from when they’d last made contact with her skin?  Did he know that’s what she was thinking about right now?  Was that what was behind his grin? 

Her knees grew weak so she moved forward and sat down a little heavier than she would have liked on the edge of his bed.  Seeing that his beautiful lips still smiled down at her, she again took another long drink from the bottle.  She would be drunk soon at this rate… courage not stupidity was what she was after.

“I sometimes let my emotions get the better of me… even the bad ones,” she said, handing him the bottle.  “That’s no excuse for being so hateful toward you at the gallery, earlier.  I realize now you… you will always be a cop.  It’s who you are and I’m sorry.”

His eyes never left her as he also took a drink from the bottle and then offered it back to her before saying, “Is that all you see when you look at me, Carla? 
A cop?
”

How could she answer that?  Taking the bottle from his hand she again took another drink.  Yes, she saw a cop when she looked at him but she also saw a man with amazing eyes, a good heart and that
mouth
.