Been In Love Before: A Novel (16 page)

Chapter Thirty-Four

It was a gorgeous South Florida Sunday morning. A perfect chamber-of-commerce kind of weekend, one it would call a picture-perfect day. Ryan sat at the breakfast table with his brothers having bagels and orange juice. They were all unusually quiet, each lost in his own world until Ryan broke the silence.

“I was kidnapped last night.”

“What? What the hell are you talking about? Are you okay?” Robert was on his feet.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Who did it?”

“It was the same guy who was in my office with the gun. He came back.”

“When did all this happen?” asked Eian.

“Last night after my dance lesson. When I came back to my car after dinner with Alexi, he was there waiting and . . .”

“Wait a minute. Did you say you had dinner with Alexi last night?” asked Eian.

“Yes . . . and it was very nice and . . .”

Robert interrupted, “Hey, bro, let’s go back to this crazy guy.”

“When I got into my car, the patient who held me at gunpoint in my office was waiting there for me. He had me drive him to a warehouse in West Palm at gunpoint and had the guy who was responsible for Gracie’s death sitting in a chair, naked. He handed me the gun and told me to shoot him.” Ryan took in a deep breath.

“But as much as I loved . . . and still love Gracie, I couldn’t do it. I told him to let the guy go. I called 911, then took him to the Delray police station and filed a police report about what had happened with Gracie. Then I filed a report against Jeff. That guy is very strange. Dangerous. One minute he was there, and the next he just disappeared. It was crazy.” For once, the two older brothers had nothing to say.

Ryan sat back in the chair and looked out the kitchen window at the calming water in the pool and the ocean beyond. “I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t shoot him. He admitted he killed Gracie, but for some reason I couldn’t kill him. Suddenly, I felt a tremendous weight lifted from me.”

“It’s called letting go, little brother,” responded Robert. The room became quiet again.

A few minutes passed before Robert spoke to no one in particular. “I’ve been seeing an old friend from when we were kids. You guys probably don’t remember her. Her name was Coleen McGrath back then, but now her name is Coleen Callahan. Nice lady. Husband died a few years back.”

Both Eian and Ryan sat in silence, stunned at his revelations.

“I was wondering where you’ve been spending your evenings here lately. Is she the one you bought the theater tickets for the other day? When you were out dancing in the rain?” asked Ryan.

“Yes, the one and only,” he said, smiling broadly. “We’re going to a violin concerto tonight at Lynn University. I am actually enjoying all of this culture. You guys should try it. And I asked her to be my date at the wedding next weekend.” He stood to pour more coffee, refilling everyone’s cup.

“You did?”

“Yep,” he said, “and I put a contingent sales contract on a house in Boca Raton. So you’ll be getting one of your bedrooms back soon. The place has its own lake behind it—with fish! Very nice. It’s not far from the office. It’s a fixer-upper, but that’s what I love to do. I told Bobby I’m going to take some time off after I close on the house, and we’ll see what happens. Who knows?”

“Good for you, bro,” said Ryan.

“I miss my house,” said Eian to no one in particular. “I loved it there. Don’t get me wrong, I love it here with all you guys, but . . . that was home, really home for me.”

“What’s going on with that?”

“It’s with the attorneys. They told me I never should have left. Spousal rights. Squatter rights and a bunch of other things. But I didn’t want to cause . . .” He lifted his coffee cup and sipped it in silence.

Ryan coughed to break the mood. “Well, I also have an announcement. I too have a date for the wedding; Alexi has said she’ll go with me.”

“Whoa. Way to go, little brother. That leaves just Eian without a date. What about it, Eian? Big shot? Got a date yet?” They both turned to look at him.

“No, not yet.”

“You’re running out of time, brother. The wedding is next Saturday afternoon, or have you forgotten?”

“Well, I don’t know . . . I’m supposed to go out of town on business to California starting on Tuesday for a few days.”

“I can’t wait to hear you tell Graw about that. Whew. I can hear her now,” Robert said.

“We get fitted for our tuxes tomorrow with Mickey and then pick them up on Friday. So you don’t have a lot of time. Better get crackin’,” said Ryan, looking outside. “It’s so warm today. I think I’m going to take a swim in my pool. I haven’t used it in . . . years.”

Just then, the phone rang. “Macgregor residence,” answered Robert, trying to sound so official. “Oh hi, Alexi. It’s Robert. Yeah, I’m good. You looking for Ryan? He’s right here. Hold on; I’ll get him.” He covered the receiver and said, “For you. It’s Alexi.” He smiled and raised his eyebrows a few times to show his approval.

“Hey, I was just talking about you. Me and my brothers were finishing a late breakfast, and I was getting ready to put on my swim trunks and jump in the pool for a swim.”

“Really? Great minds think alike. I know we said we’d do a picnic at the studio,” she started, “but it’s such a nice day—would you want to go to the beach down near Caffe Luna Rosa instead?”

“Sure, that sounds great,” Ryan chirped with glee.

“Meet me at the beach at Atlantic and A1A. One hour? I’ll bring everything we need. See ya.”

“Great! See you soon.” He hung up the phone and ran for the stairs. “Going to the beach. Have a good day,” he shouted, leaving his brothers behind.

It was warm and sunny, like most days in South Florida. The beach at downtown Delray was crowded for a Sunday afternoon. Where else but Florida could you go year-round for beautiful beaches, warm sun, and gorgeous weather?

Ryan saw Alexi halfway down the beach waving to him. He returned the wave and rushed to where she had laid out a beach blanket. As he approached her, he could not help but admire her sensuous curves outlined in her swimsuit. She was beautiful! And sexy.

She kissed him on the cheek and handed him a glass of champagne. He toasted, “Cheers!” and set down the glass as he stripped to his swim trunks.

“Have you been working out there, Dr. Macgregor?” she said jokingly.

“Every morning. Keeps me healthy. Do you like?”

“I like. Here, have some grapes or cheese and crackers. I got them fresh from the market.”

They sat on the blanket and talked. She was easy to talk to, like his Gracie. The sun began to warm the sky as they ran into the ocean to cool off before settling back onto the oversize blanket she had brought with her. They lay side by side under the warm sun, not saying a word, just enjoying each other’s company and the bubbly champagne.

Finally he said, “You know last night after I walked you to your car? Somebody was waiting for me at my car . . . with a gun.”

“What? What happened?” she sat up and faced him. Afraid for him.

“It was that patient that I told you about, the one with a gun in my office. I think he thought he was trying to help me; he captured the guy involved in the hit-and-run with my wife, Gracie. He took me to the guy he had tied up in some old dingy warehouse. He had the gun trained on me the whole time. I was so scared of what could happen next. But, you know, a lot goes through your mind at times like that. Makes you think. About people. Places. Values. Friends. Family, a lot. I see myself making some changes in my life. Maybe even take some time off. See the world. My clinic partner comes back from her cruise soon, and I may do just that, travel. Take off and go somewhere.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, why not? I really need the time off.”

“How about Paris?”

“What?” he responded.

“I said, how about Paris?”

He had a puzzled look on his face, and then said, “Paris would be great. Perfect. That’s one place on my bucket list I would love to see. The Louvre. The Arc de Triomphe. The
Mona Lisa
. I’d love to see it someday.”

Alexi moved in front of him. “I don’t know how to say this. It’s not something I’m very good at, so let me get it all out before you say anything. Please.”

“Okay,” he said, putting his champagne glass into the sand. “This sounds serious.”

She cleared her throat and took in a deep breath. “Here goes. We have only known each other for a really short time, yet I feel incredibly attracted to you.” He reached for her hand.

“Ryan, I felt that way from the moment I saw you. And then when we danced, I don’t know, it was almost a fairy tale or something. You make me feel wonderful . . . again. It has been a long time since I have felt that way. When we’re apart, I feel empty, and I can’t wait to see you.”

“I feel the same way, Alexi. Really I do. I want to get to know you even better. I want to have more picnics like this, just the two of us. It’s just that . . .”

“Then come to Paris with me,” she blurted out.

He fell backward, nearly falling into the sand. “What . . . what do you mean? Come to Paris with you? Now? What’s going on?”

“I was helping my brother paint the studio because he’s renovating it. I have a six-week class at one of the most prestigious dance schools in the world, The International Dance Academy, in Paris. I leave next Sunday. Come with me. I used to live there for years, so you could see the world of Paris through my eyes.” She was nearly in tears, excited, holding his hands, pulling him closer to her. “Please, say you’ll come. Please. It would be wonderful.”

She looked so fragile, so sexy, so alluring, so wanting, and he wanted the same thing . . . he wanted her. But even a few weeks off would be tough on his practice and his patients—but he deserved it. He remembered kneeling on the floor in front of the gunman in his office and then sitting in his car with him, so scared that he had promised himself that if he ever got out of the mess he was in, he would change his life. Change it for good. In Paris? See the most romantic city in the world . . . with her.

Ryan looked in her eyes again. He saw picnics along the Seine, walks along the Champs-Élysées, the Eiffel Tower, bike rides in the south of France, and he could spend time with her and have it all.
Now is the time, Dr. Macgregor. Make a decision. What are you waiting for? What are you going to do?

“I told you I’m not very good at this. Maybe I shouldn’t have sprung this on you like this, but . . . ,” she said. “Come with me. I think we can make some great memories together, our memories.” She pressed his hand to her chest. “Will you come with me? To Paris?”

“Yes . . . yes, I’ll go with you.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

Robert drove to Coleen’s house and knew the entrance guard well enough that he did not even stop him or ask to see his ID. She looked radiant in her black dress, simple gold earrings and, of course, the gold puffed heart he had given her for her birthday. She touched the ruby in the center for good luck. It was like a fairy tale, and she did not want it to end. Coleen had no idea where it was heading, but she listened to Diane. Her daughter had said, “Mom, just let it happen. Hang on.”

The violin concerto at the Lynn University Conservatory of Music was one of the best she had ever heard. With her eyes closed, she held his hand, and she was in heaven. It was a sold-out performance, but, more important, it looked as though Robert really enjoyed it too.

“Wonderful,” he said as they walked to the car. “You are making a real connoisseur out of me.”

“Is that an objection I hear?”

“No, not at all. How about an amaretto at home for a nightcap?”

“Sure. But we’ll have to stop somewhere to buy some. We drank what little was left the other night after the musical. I’ll look for a store on the way home.”

As they pulled into the parking lot, he turned off the engine and said, “I’ll be right back. What brand was it again that you liked?”

“I know the label by sight, but I don’t remember the name. Wait, I’ll go into the store with you.”

Coleen found it immediately on the shelf, and as Robert was paying for it, he dropped his wallet. She stooped to pick it up and glanced at the picture inside. She looked closer.

He whispered, “That was my Tess. It was one of the last pictures we had taken together.”

She could not take her eyes off the picture and was silent on the way home. As he pulled up in front of her house, she touched his arm and said, “I think I’ll call it a night. I don’t feel so well. I may be coming down with something. Do you mind?”

“No, of course not. I hope you feel better.”
She was fine earlier. Was it something she ate? Could it be something in the picture that upset her?

“Good night.” She kissed his cheek and was gone.

Once inside, she closed the door behind her and slumped to the floor in tears.
Why? Why? Why? Was everything he told me a lie?

Chapter Thirty-Six

The phone rang on his desk. “Hello. Eian Macgregor.”

“Hey, Mac, it’s Paula. Are we still on for tomorrow? Are you still coming to California? I hope so; I’m really looking forward to it.”

“You bet,” he replied.

“Great. I’ll pick you up at the airport. Can’t wait to see you. We’ll go back to my place and get reacquainted. Okay?”

“Yeah. See ya soon.” However, for some reason his enthusiasm had waned since he had first talked to her, and he didn’t know why.
Hope it’s not the flu or something. Shake it off, bro.
Tonight he was going out with his two brothers and with his new future in-law, Mickey.
Yeah, that should be fun.

Eian sat behind his desk inside his newly remodeled office and glanced outside. It had felt warmer today than yesterday when he had come into the office.
That’s why everybody wants to live in South Florida. Gorgeous weather, gorgeous beaches, and gorgeous women. But it is too nice to be inside. Hell, I’ll call my brother and see if I can borrow his convertible for the day.

“Ryan? Eian. Do you mind if I borrow your convertible? I thought I’d play hooky today and drive down the coast, to Lauderdale.”

“Sure, man, you’re welcome to use it anytime. It just sits in the garage all the time and really should be driven. Enjoy it, bro.” He paused before hanging up the phone and said, “Hey, Eian, I almost forgot . . . I’m going to Paris for a couple weeks . . . with Alexi.”

“What? When the hell did all this happen?”

“Yesterday. Alexi is going to France for a class there and invited me to join her. It’s been a while since I’ve taken a vacation, and I figured—what the hell.”

“Oh . . . when do you leave?”

“Sunday, the day after the wedding.”

“Wow. Hey, who’s going to make me breakfast while you’re gone? You know you make the best chocolate chip waffles. And I love your omelets. And who’s going to clean up the place? Bob’s no help.”

“You’re a big boy, Eian. You’ll manage . . . somehow. I thought you’d be happy for me . . . getting on with things in my life and all.”

“I am . . . but . . . it’s just that . . . I’ve kind of gotten used to having you around, you know?”

“I’m not moving. I’m just going away on a short vacation. A long-overdue one, I might add.”

“Hey, maybe I’ll go too? And Bob? He’s never been to France.”

“It’s not that kind of vacation, bro. It’s just the two of us, Alexi and me.”

“Oh,” Eian said, sounding disappointed. “I guess we’ll manage . . . somehow or another. You said I could use your convertible?”

“Sure, the keys are in the kitchen drawer. It’s all gassed up. Enjoy. What’s mine is yours, bro.”

Too nice to be working inside but a great day for a ride in a convertible. A great day just to spend outside, relaxing with someone. Rose? Yes, Rose.

He dialed her number and was excited when he heard her voice, but it was her voice mail: “Sorry I can’t take your call at the moment, but if you leave your name and number, I’ll call you back.”
Beeeeeep!

“Hey, Rose, Eian here. Just thinking of you and thought maybe . . . well . . . call me when you get this message.”

Eian spun around in the chair like a twelve-year-old, going faster and faster. Then looked outside with random thoughts running through his mind. The phone rang and he answered, “Eian Macgregor.”

“Eian, hi . . . it’s Rose. I got your message. What’s up?” she added tersely.

“Hey, Rose. I’m glad you called.”

That was it, more than she could tolerate, and finally she said, “That’s more than I can say about you.” She sounded mad. “You said a week ago that you’d call me. I waited for you. You said we were going dancing, and you never even so much as picked up the phone to say hello or good-bye or kiss my ass. I thought we were going dancing.” Disgusted, she finally said, “Good-bye Eian,” then hung up the phone.

What the . . . ?
he wondered.

He redialed her number. “Rose . . .”

“What?” she said, nearly shouting at him through the phone.

“I’m sorry, Rose. I screwed up. I’m really sorry.”

She could not be angry with him, but she also did not want to let him off the hook.
Let him squirm
. “Well, you should be . . .”

“Forgive me?”

“Well, I don’t know . . .”

“Let me make it up to you.”

“How?” she asked.

“First, can you get away?”

“Yeah . . . I guess. Why? You’re still in the doghouse, buster. You’re not getting off that easy.”

“Rose, I thought it was such a nice day, too nice to be inside. It’s a great day to be driving a convertible down the coast and maybe have lunch near the beach. I know a place that makes great margaritas. I called my brother, and he said I could use his convertible, and well . . . you were the first person I thought about. Sorry.”

She melted. She could not resist him. “Okay, okay. Pick me up at home, twenty minutes. I gotta change clothes.”

“No need. Whatever you’re wearing I’m sure will be fine. You always look great.”
Damn him.
Now she was really like putty in his hands.
Hold on tight, girl. This is going to be one helluva ride!

“Twenty minutes, at home.” She wanted to look perfect. “And you better be there this time.” Then she softened and said, “See ya soon,” and was out the door.

He was there in nineteen minutes and watched her lock her house behind her. Eian looked at her as she ran to the car like an excited schoolkid. Rose looked great in her snug white jeans, pink silk top, thin sandals, beige scarf, and ever-present sunglasses. He thought she looked like a movie star.

“You look great,” he said as she slid into the seat beside him. It was a dark-green two-seater British sports car, and the engine responded with a growl at the slightest touch of the gas pedal.

“Thank you,” she said with a smile, giving him a slight peck on the cheek. She smelled wonderful too. “And thanks for thinking of me. What a wonderful idea. Where are we going?” she asked as the car pulled away from the curb and he drove east toward the ocean.

“You’ll see.”

They turned onto Ocean Avenue, and Eian said above the roar of the engine and the whistling wind, “I thought we would head over to the Coast Highway and drive south toward Lauderdale. There is a nice little restaurant on the beach I love to go to. Kind of special. It has a bar upstairs, which overlooks the ocean, and they serve great frozen margaritas and even better seafood. It won’t be crowded at this time of the day. I thought we’d try a little bit of tapas, a little of this and a little bit of that from their menu. What do you think?”

I think life is grand and just keeps getting better,
she thought. “Perfect,” she said as they turned south onto the two-lane Ocean A1A road. She tightened her scarf and leaned back to enjoy the day, the sun, the surf, and . . . him. She looked at him, completely at ease, and asked herself
,
What’s happening here?

He turned on the radio to a Miami mellow Latin jazz station as they passed through the different villages along the ocean and made their way south. Some towns, like Highland Beach, consisted of magnificent, multi-million-dollar oceanfront estates, with their broad dark-green lawns, lush landscaping, tall fences, and tall entry gates. Other towns, like Boca Raton, featured rows upon rows of high-rise condominium buildings with Spanish-sounding names: Boca Del Rio, Aqua Del Mar, Del Boca Costa, and many others. In between the towns, over the dense sea grape shrubs, they could see the surf crashing onto the beach as cruise ships set sail to exotic destinations.

The traffic slowed as they drove through small towns such as Deerfield and Pompano Beach, which were filled with long boardwalks, restaurants, bars, and T-shirt shops overflowing with tourists carrying big chairs and umbrellas to the beach.

Once in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, the narrow two-lane road was lined with big homes with acres of vacant land stretching as far as the eye could see, mixed with lofty condominium buildings.

Eian pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant with its faded red-and-blue sign welcoming all to the Sea Watch Restaurant.

He led Rose up the two flights of old wooden steps, then outside to the covered deck. It was deserted at that time of day, so he chose one of the choicest tables overlooking the ocean.

“How’s this?” he asked.

“Wow!” she said as the vista unfurled before her. Two huge sailboats glided out to sea, and windsurfers skimmed the waves near the shores. Farther down the beach, they could see paragliders riding high above the blue ocean waters. It was picture-perfect.

They sat beside each other on the bench seat so they could both watch the ocean and the beach activities. She felt warm next to him. She felt safe.

“What can I get you two lovebirds?” asked the tall, skinny waitress. It felt awkward and somehow broke the mood.

“Rose?”

“I’ll have a frozen margarita, with salt, please. You made it sound so good.”

“Make that two.”

“I have some menus for the two of you. We close for lunch at three thirty and reopen at five for dinner. If you get your order in before three, you should be fine. But we serve small plates and tapas all day.”

“Leave the menus here. And we’ll order things as we go along,” he said. It was a wonderful afternoon. They sipped their drinks in silence and watched the boats go by as the tall dune grasses swayed in the gentle breeze.

Over the next hour they leisurely ordered some crispy calamari, and then two bowls of conch chowder and a plate of hot fish fritters.

Rose looked at him. “You were right; this place is wonderful. Thanks for bringing me here.” Then she paused for a moment before asking, “But why . . . why here . . . why me?”

He dabbed his mouth with the cotton napkin and said, “It was such a nice day, and I didn’t want to spend it alone. I really needed somebody to talk to . . . and I thought of you.”

She didn’t know what to say or how to respond. Until she finally asked him, “What’s wrong?”

He shoved the drink aside and told her, “I played baseball with a bunch of young kids the other day on a building lot. I coached them, I played some ball with them, I taught them how to hit, how to catch, and how to field. And, Rose, it was the best feeling in my life.”

“So what’s the problem?”

“I liked it so much that I’ve decided to leave the station and try to put together a South Florida little league to get kids involved in baseball again. I want to try to get them out of their rooms, away from their computers, away from the video games and everything else. I don’t need the money I’m making now. Hell, I’ve made enough money to last me two lifetimes. I’ve invested well since I’ve left the major leagues, and now I’m ready to do something I really enjoy. Am I crazy?”

“No, you’re not, Eian. Do it. Why would you hesitate? Both of us are not getting any younger. Don’t wait.” She laughed and then became serious. “Eian, this is something you love to do. I can tell it in your voice and see the way your face lights up when you talk about it. Do it, otherwise you’ll regret it the rest of your life.”

He smiled that smile she had always loved.

“You’re right. Thanks, Rose, thanks a lot.” He hugged her, and in all the excitement, he kissed her on the lips. He didn’t know what to say. Or do. They sat on the windswept wooden bench, looking at each other, old friends—seeing each other differently for the very first time.

Awkwardly he glanced at his watch. “I think we’d better go. I have to meet my brothers tonight. Then tomorrow, real early, I head out to California for a few days for the grand opening of a new training center.” He paused to help her up from her seat, and she stumbled and fell into him. She looked at him and could not move. He helped her steady herself, then looked around for their server. “I’ll call you when I get back, and we can . . . talk some more. Okay?”

“Okay,” she whispered, and then wisecracked, “It seems to me I’ve heard that line once before, somewhere.”

Eian chuckled. “I mean it. I will.” He kissed her on the cheek, his lips lingering longer than before, as he whispered, “I promise.”

Once at Rose’s home, he went to get out of the car, but she stopped him and said, “I can take it from here. Eian, I had such a nice day. I can’t thank you enough.” She smiled, then kissed him on his cheek. “Talk to you soon?”

“You bet.”

She laughed, then closed the door and watched him drive away.
Now what? What the hell am I going to do? He’s my best friend,
she thought.