Read Back to You Online

Authors: Natalie-Nicole Bates

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Back to You (7 page)

BOOK: Back to You
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Chapter Six

When Suzy showed up at the door unannounced, Lynsey was wary, as their last get-together had ended so badly.

But Suzy actually had a smile on her face and a peace offering—a coconut frosted layer cake. Lynsey felt her resistance melt. She didn’t want to be angry at her best friend.

“I thought my brother would be here this morning,” Suzy commented as she got the plates and cutlery from the kitchen cupboard while Lynsey started a pot of fresh coffee.

“I heard him leave a while ago. Sometimes he goes to have breakfast with Evan. But we don’t keep track of each other’s comings and goings.”

“Well, that gives us some girl time together,” Suzy said as she cut into the cake.

When they finally settled down at the table, Suzy continued “I’m so sorry about what happened at the diner, and for hurting your feelings. I just wanted to see you and my brother together. It’s obvious you love him, and I know he loves you.”

Was she really that transparent? Lynsey wondered. Maybe it was time to just give in and tell Suzy the truth. Afterward, Suzy would realize why she and her brother could never be together.

“Suzy, I want to tell you something personal.”

“Listen, Lynsey, you don’t have to…”

“No, I want to.” She reached for Suzy’s hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “I’ve been holding this secret in for twenty years.”

“Okay.” Suzy nodded.

Now where to start? “You were right—all those years ago, there was a lot more going on between your brother and me then I ever admitted. We were sort of seeing each other at the same time he was engaged to Kelly. We fell in love…” She paused when she felt her face heat. “Well, I was in love.

“Anyway, he told me that he was going to break the engagement with Kelly and we were going to be together. He told me all kinds of silly stuff that he never really meant, and I built up a huge, childish fantasy that he was going to marry me. Then about two weeks before the wedding, my mother was out of the house at a dental appointment and we wound up in my bedroom and one thing led to another…”

Suzy startled. “Are you saying that the two of you…”

Lynsey really, really didn’t want to explain any further what was already evident, but she continued. “It was classic, clumsy first-time sex. He didn’t get undressed, three thrusts and it was over. Nicky got up off of me, zipped his jeans, apologized, and left. I never heard from him again until he asked me at his wedding reception if I was pregnant. That’s really all there is to tell,” she said as she picked at the coconut on her slice of cake.

“Wow, I knew there was something going on, but I had no idea that my brother was your first lover. He was your first, right?”

“Yes,” she said tersely. “I guess if anything satisfying came from it, it’s the knowledge that I had your brother first, not Kelly,” she smugly added.

Suzy chuckled. “I always thought that Swiss ice hockey player was your first.”

“Jean-Luc? No, he wasn’t my first lover. Do you know that he’s a coach for a National Hockey League team now? I still see him for dinner once or twice a year.”

“Just how many men do you have on a string?” Suzy asked.

Lynsey’s dark lashes flew up at the accusation. “Are you insinuating that I’m some kind of a whore? Just because I have friends who happen to be men doesn’t mean that I sleep with them all,” she hissed.

“I didn’t mean that at all, Lynsey. I’m jealous of your beauty and your success, okay?” she admitted. “You have everything—a successful career, an incredible house, men who fall at your feet…” she shook her head. “You are so lucky, Lynsey, and you don’t even realize it. You have everything anyone could ever want .”

“And I would trade it all to have what you have. We had it all planned out, remember? We were going to be best friends forever, and get married, and live in the same neighborhood, and have our babies together, and our kids would be best friends as well...”

“I think you’re just romanticizing that idea,” Suzy interjected.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, you had that chance, Lynsey. When you went to Switzerland it was only supposed to be for one year. If you really wanted to be a wife and a mother, you would have come home and married Caleb. That man was so in love with you back then that he was willing to wait as long as it took for you to return from Europe. Only you never came home. You stayed on for four more years.”

What Suzy was saying was the uncomfortable truth. She could have been married now to Caleb for almost twenty years. They would have had a home and children. But would she have been happy?

“I understand what you’re saying, Suzy, really I do. Still, you have everything I’ve ever wanted—a home with a man who loves you, and gorgeous, healthy children.”

Suddenly, Suzy stifled a sob.

“What is so wrong, Suzy? Please tell me so I can help,” Lynsey said gently.

“Everything is wrong, Lynsey. Doug wants a divorce. He got someone at his office pregnant. He hasn’t been on the road like I said, he’s been with her!”

Suzy’s thin body shuddered.

Lynsey always thought Suzy and Doug were the perfect couple. Rock-solid and unshakeable. Now she was just stunned. “I’m so sorry.” She moved her chair next to her friend. “What are you going to do?”

“I have no idea. Doug wants to sell the house. We’re deep in debt, we have no savings, and I have no skills to get a job. All I’ve ever been is a wife and a mother. Who’s going to hire me now?” Tears streamed from Suzy’s eyes.

“You’ll be entitled to alimony and child support. You have children who are under eighteen. I doubt that any judge in his right mind would make you sell the home your children live in. Have you seen an attorney yet?”

“I called Legal Aid, but they said because I have a house and a car, I can pay for my own attorney. I told them that if I have to pay for an attorney then I’ll be living out of my car with my children because I won’t have a home.”

Suzy looked utterly humiliated and defeated. It was still such a shock that her life was falling apart all around her. No wonder she had been so distant.

“Well, I can solve that. I’ll lend you the money for an attorney, and you can pay me back when you’re financially stable…or never.”

Suzy shook her head vehemently. “I’m not taking money from you, Lynsey. Money and friendship don’t mix. Just be my friend; that’s all I want from you.”

Lynsey reached over and hugged her friend tightly. “I’m here for whatever you need, remember that.”

“Lynsey, what am I going to do? What do I tell my kids? DJ is going to graduate this year. How do I tell him that I can’t pay for college?”

“There are all kinds of scholarship and grants available. It’s not hopeless. You’ll know what to say when the time is right,” she answered honestly.

“You’ll think I’m crazy, but I don’t want a divorce. I mean, I know he cheated, and he’s in love with someone else he’s starting a new family with, but he was my first love—the only man I’ve ever loved and the father of my children.”

Lynsey’s heart actually hurt at the thought of Suzy’s pain. Even after everything that Doug had done to her, she still loved him, and wanted a life with him. She didn’t know what to say or how to comfort her friend. A stream of tears ran down her face too.

The kitchen door rattled and Nick stepped inside. Immediately he frowned. His T-shirt was plastered to his chest with sweat. He had obviously been out for a run.

“You need to talk to Nicky, now. Tell him everything,” she implored. “But remember that I’m here for anything you need, and I mean anything,” she whispered into Suzy’s ear.

Standing up from the table, she wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. “Nicky, I’m going to go out for the afternoon. Your sister really needs to speak with you.”

When he walked up to Lynsey, she could see concern in his blue eyes. Gently, he caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. “Are you okay, my angel?” he asked.

“I am perfectly fine. Suzy needs you now. I’ll see you when I get home.” Reaching up on tip toes, she pressed a kiss to his smooth cheek. “Bye.”

***

It was early evening when Lynsey returned to Nick’s home. She found him at the kitchen table going through stacks of paperwork.

He looked up. “You’ve been a popular girl. Caleb and Owen called here looking for you—twice. They would both like for you to call them back.”

“Oh? Owen has an idea for a book he wants to collaborate on with me.”

“Owen is a good guy. I could see you and him together for the duration,” he said.

After Suzy’s admission regarding the dismal state of her twenty-year marriage, Lynsey was in no mood to think about a romance with Owen Mitchell—or anyone else for that matter.

“How’s everything, Nicky?” She hoped that he could help Suzy resolve some of her troubles. But realistically she knew her friend’s problems were far from over. With children in the mix, her problems would probably never end.

“I’m just looking over my finances to see how I can help my sister. She needs an attorney—fast.”

Lynsey went to the stove and started the kettle to make coffee for both of them. “I offered to lend her the money, but she won’t take it from me. She says it will ruin our friendship. That’s so not true, but I know she’s hurting and she’s confused.”

“Well, I’m going to have to do a lot of convincing for her to take any money from me. But I can’t just sit around and allow that cheating bastard she’s married to, take her life away from her.”

Lynsey admired how much Nick loved his family. But in a way, it was a stark, cold reminder that she had no one. She finished preparing the coffee, set a mug in front of Nick and took a seat at the table.

“I just can’t believe that Suzy wants to take Doug back after he’s caused her so much pain and humiliation. He should be so ashamed of himself for what he’s done to his wife and children that he wouldn’t want to show his face in public.”

His gaze locked to hers. “So, you’re saying that a man isn’t entitled to make one major, catastrophic mistake in his life? Does it damn him to hell forever?”

“Of course everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes really bad and hurtful mistakes. As long as they’re truly sorry for the pain they have caused, and the person they hurt can accept, then I see no reason they shouldn’t be forgiven,” she answered.

The intensity within his blue eyes caused her to shiver . It seemed to Lynsey that their conversation suddenly took a personal turn. It was time for a change of subject.

“Hey, I’ve heard that you’re up for a big promotion at work, and that you have your pick of two prime positions.” After the depressing topic of the day, she strove to sound happy and upbeat.

He looked away. “Oh, and who told you that?”

She didn’t want to bring Caleb into the conversation knowing how Nick felt about him, so she chose her words carefully. “I heard about it at the party last week. You have your choice of becoming a sergeant or a detective. I’m so proud of you!”

“Well, don’t be. I’m not putting in for either position. I’m happy with things just the way they are.”

She frowned deeply. “Why not? There’s no one who’s more qualified than you.”

“The detective position is for Evan’s replacement. I will not take my friend’s job.”

It was loyalty to his best friend, she realized. Reaching over, she took his hand. “I think that Evan would be very happy to have you replace him.”

“But I wouldn’t,” he stressed. “Besides, I’d be cooped up in an office most of the day doing paperwork.”

“What about the sergeant position? It’s a day shift, and you would still be on the street all day. You would be a great supervisor.”

He shrugged. “I’m not interested.”

“Nicky, you’ve earned those sergeant’s stripes. Why would you allow someone who isn’t even half as qualified as you to become your supervisor?”

“It’s not important, Lynsey. Just let it go, okay?”

“I think it’s important. This is me, Nicky. It’s Lynsey. Just tell me the truth. Say, ‘ I don’t want the sergeant’s position because I don’t want the added responsibility,’ or, 'I don’t want to be a detective because I’d be considered a rookie again and Owen will boss me around…’”

“That’s not it at all,” he balked. “I don’t shy away from responsibility! But if you must know everything, I don’t want the detective position because I have no interest in it. As for the sergeant, I’m not cut out to be a supervisor . I froze in a critical situation .”

Lynsey found this hard to believe. “What happened?” she asked gently.

“I was on duty the afternoon Evan got hit by that car,” he said as he rubbed circles over his temples. “This…this woman who hit him had been talking on her cell phone, and turned around in the driver’s seat to scream at her kids when she plowed over him in the crosswalk.

“When I arrived at the scene, she actually had the nerve to ask me when she could leave. Can you believe it? My friend is lying in the middle of the street all bloody, twisted, and broken, and she didn’t give a damn.”

She wondered about Evan’s accident, but no one ever seemed comfortable enough with the topic to discuss it at length. “I’m so sorry, honey.” She stroked the top of his hand.

“Do you know what I did?”

There was so much painful emotion in his blue eyes that Lynsey regretted even mentioning the promotions. All she wanted now was to take this man in her arms and shower him with all the comfort and love she felt. Instead, she asked, “What?”

“I actually pulled the woman out of her car and shook her. I shook her right in front of her children! What kind of monster does that make me? I was supposed to be the professional; I was supposed to keep a cool head in a time of chaos. Instead, I just…lost it.”

“Nicky, you weren’t acting as a cop. You were acting as Evan’s best friend. There’s a huge difference.”

“Well, Owen showed up shortly afterward and he took control over the whole scene. I remember being at the hospital emergency room and I just couldn’t speak ; I could barely function. They had Evan on his side on a gurney and his eyes were wide open and he was just staring forward, and then he started to vomit all over Owen’s shoes. Owen just held his hand and kept telling him that everything was going to be all right.”

Evan’s accident had deeply affected Nick, even to this day, she thought. “Evan told me that he has absolutely no memory of his accident, or even weeks prior to or after it.”

“It doesn’t matter, Lynsey.” He placed his hand over his heart. “I remember. I also remember the incident with the PEG.”

“PEG?” she asked, puzzled. “What’s a PEG?”

“It’s a medical procedure. After Evan had been in the hospital for a long while, he became very depressed because things like his dexterity and speech weren’t coming back as quick as he wanted. He became so frustrated that he stopped eating. They were using a feeding tube because his weight had dropped so dramatically. Eventually, the doctor’s wanted to do surgery to implant this PEG tube through his belly to feed him.”

She hadn’t known the extent of Evan’s recovery.

“Anyway, since his fiancée bailed on him and he had no family, Owen and I were making all the medical decisions for him. I agreed with the procedure. I thought it was in Evan’s best interest to follow the doctor’s suggestion. But Owen,” he stopped and shook his head. “Owen went absolutely ballistic. He marched out of the hospital and stormed back a half hour later with a bag of take-out from Burger Heaven. He put the burger in Evan’s hands and shouted, ‘Eat the God damn thing or I’ll shove it down your throat!’

“Wouldn’t you know that from that afternoon Evan started to eat? Afterward, his weight came up, and his health improved by leaps and bounds. If he had the procedure I wanted him to have, would he still be in a rehab hospital wasting away?”

Nick was a man who rarely showed his emotions, yet today in his kitchen, he was absolutely haunted with pain.

“Nicky, you are not a doctor. You are a kind, wonderful, and concerned man who wanted what was best for your friend. You and Owen are two completely—and I do mean completely— different men. Maybe the aggression and abrasiveness works for Owen, but that’s not you. You are a good man and you deserve to be a sergeant. But if you don’t want that, it’s your decision and I respect that.”

Standing up from her chair, she went to him and eased herself onto his lap. Capturing his face in her hands, she looked directly into his blue eyes. “You are magnificent. I am so proud of you.” She then pressed her closed lips gently against his. After a very long moment, she stood again. “I guess I’ll go make those phone calls now.”

BOOK: Back to You
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