Crossing Paths (32 page)

Sunday

When Caroline walks out of the room, I immediately feel the tension increase. Cohen has taken a seat on the bed across from me. He’s staring at his feet as he alternates lifting the toes of one foot and then the other. I stand and walk to the window. The view isn’t the best as I look out to a brick wall and a few window washers. I can see how people who are stuck in the hospital for a long time could get depressed.

I decide to speak up. “Are you really interested in her?”

Cohen is silent for a moment or two. I begin to wonder if he even heard me. As I turn around, his eyes meet mine, and I see they are glazed over with tears.

“Yes. I mean, it’s hard, but I really do care for her.”

“I know Caroline is going to tell you to call her. She’ll probably try and call her for you a few times, but I know my sister. You need to leave her alone.”

Cohen hangs his head again. “I understand if you think I’m not good enough for her. I know I screwed up.”

I’ve never felt such pity for a guy in my life. In most situations, I would tell a guy to suck it up and move on. Unfortunately, I don’t think something like that would be appropriate for a guy I barely know whose wife could die at any moment.

“I don’t think you get it. I like you, Cohen. I think you’re a pretty good guy. Caroline would probably be pissed if she thought you were leading June on or purposely trying to hurt her. It’s not like you’ve done anything wrong. I’m not sure I would have done anything differently. You can’t change what has happened over the last few weeks or anything else in your past. Julie had to come first.

“If June knew the whole story, she would understand, and she would respect you for that decision. As it is, who knows what she thinks? What I’m trying to tell you is that if you push her too far, too fast, then you’ll never have a chance. Just leave her to her own thoughts, and if she has any feelings for you at all, she’ll show up.”

Cohen looks up, giving me a slight nod, just before Caroline walks back into the room. She walks straight into my arms, and I pull her in tightly.

“Hey, Cohen, I ran into Mom downstairs. It sucks you’re in the hospital because she’s taking Liam and me out to that awesome Italian place by the house.”

When she sticks out her tongue, Cohen laughs.

“Joke’s on you. This hospital has a gourmet chef,” he says with a serious face.

“No way.”

I can’t believe she fell for that. God, I love this girl.

A few hours later, I am showered and dressed for dinner with her parents. As I walk up the stairs from the basement, I catch a glimpse of Caroline rushing past in a purple dress. When she passes by, some pieces of the dress float behind, making her look like some kind of fairy. I reach the top of the stairs, and she starts to fly by again. Catching her around the waist, she shrieks as I tickle her sides gently.

“Liam, stop! I need to finish getting ready.”

“What could you possibly still need to do? You look amazing,” I say, leaning down to kiss her.

We stand there, pecking kiss after kiss across each other’s lips. As I start to run my hands across her back, I’m wondering if we can ditch dinner. Then, I hear the front door open, and we each take a step back with our faces clearly looking guilty.

“Caroline, sweetie, are you both ready?” her mom asks, giving me a look that says we weren’t fooling anyone.

“Sure, Mom. Are we all riding together?”

“Actually, John had to go into the office to finish up some things, so he probably won’t make it. Your father is meeting us there.”

Caroline grabs her purse, and we all head out the door. When we reach the car, I climb into the backseat, expecting Caroline to sit up front with her mom. When she slides into the seat next to me, I give her leg a quick squeeze. I start to feel nervous, like I’m going on my very first date in high school again. Caroline’s mom, Vivian, looks back at us a few times through the rearview mirror, and each time she gives a sweet smile.

We arrive at the restaurant just as Caroline’s dad, Peter, pulls in. He walks right over, and I present my hand. He gives me a wink, taking my hand in his, before he pulls me into a hug.

“Dad, would you be normal, please?”

“What? A guy can’t hug another guy? Am I embarrassing you?” he asks, pulling back and looking to me for an answer.

“Oh, uh…no, sir. My family hugs quite a bit, too.”

“Good, good. My little girl deserves a lot of hugs.”

“Dad!” Caroline gives him a glare as she slaps him across his arm.

We sit down to eat dinner, and we enjoy various conversations related to every topic we could think of—from Vivian’s realty business to Peter’s obsession with baseball to college degrees to dog breeds. I’m beginning to think we’ll never have a need to get together again because we’ve covered it all tonight. We are all laughing about a funny golf story Peter just told when Vivian speaks up.

“Caroline, how is June doing? She left so suddenly. I didn’t get to see much of her.”

With that, tension fills the space between us at the table.

Caroline wipes her mouth with her napkin and sighs. “I’m not sure. I’ve tried to call her several times, but her phone must still be turned off.”

“I can’t imagine why she would leave without saying good-bye. Do you think everything is okay with your family, Liam?”

“Oh, yes, I talked with my dad this afternoon. She made it home okay. I think she felt a little overwhelmed with everything. She isn’t used to hospitals and all that.”

“I see. Well, how did Cohen seem when you left him today?”

“Okay, I guess. Well, as okay as a heartbroken man can be,” Caroline says.

“What he’s going through just kills us,” Peter says, looking at me.

“I couldn’t even imagine,” I say.

“You know, when he went to see Julie yesterday evening, he mentioned being interested in dating again. It was the first I’ve heard him talk about it. Do you know anything about this girl?” Vivian asks.

Caroline looks to me, biting her bottom lip, and I give her a slight shrug.

“Caroline? Are you keeping something from me?”

“No, Mom.”

“You know, you never were a good liar,” her dad states, smiling.

“Alright, fine. Cohen is interested in June.”

“What? Did you say June? Like
our
June?”

Caroline raises her eyebrows and a small smile appears on her face.

“How is that possible? Did they meet sometime while you were in college?” Vivian asks.

“No.”

Her dad tilts his head to the side and gives us both a confused look. “I think there might be a story they need to tell us, Vivian.”

Caroline sighs again and begins to explain how Cohen and June met. She mentions how we both think they would be wonderful together, but then June found out about Julie before Cohen could tell her.

“I don’t know how much she knows about the situation. Cohen said he didn’t even see her outside of Julie’s room. Something must have happened to make her leave so quickly, but I’m hoping once she has some time to think about it, she’ll give him a chance to explain everything.”

“Oh my. Well, that is quite the dilemma. Caroline, I think we need to come up with a plan,” Vivian says, tapping her finger against her chin.

“A plan?” Caroline asks.

“Yes. June is such a sweet girl. She would be wonderful for Cohen. We’ll have to find a way.”

“I don’t know if that’s the best idea,” I state.

“Why not?” Vivian asks.

“Well, June doesn’t respond well to being pushed in one direction or the other.”

“Oh, we won’t be pushing,” she says, smiling at Caroline.

Caroline gives me a sheepish grin.

We finish up our dinner and head back to Vivian’s house. Cohen is doing really well and should be getting out of the hospital tomorrow, so no one stays with him tonight. Caroline spends the rest of the evening upstairs with her mom, devising a plan to get June back to Washington.
If nothing else, this will at least be interesting.

Monday

I get back to work and sit at my desk. I’m going through the motions, but I know my attitude could use a major adjustment.

“June, glad to have you back. Hope everything is okay with your family.”

“Yes, Mr. Hargrove. Thanks for asking.”

“Sure. Now, I have a few new projects for you. Since you’ve been doing so well with your work with The Bushing Company, I thought I would float a few more of their projects your way. You and Cohen seem to work well together,” he says, giving me a knowing smile.

Any other time, I would see this as a big pat on the back, but today, it feels like a cinder block being thrown against my chest. I do my best to hide my discomfort, but the confused look that falls on his face tells me I’m unsuccessful.

“Are you okay today, June? You look a little pale.”

“I’m fine. I’m just tired from traveling.”

“Okay. Well, let me know if you have any questions.”

“Thanks, Mr. Hargrove.”

After he leaves my office, I hurry to shut the door. I throw myself into one of the large cushioned chairs in front of my desk, and I start crying. After the embarrassing amount of tears I shed on the plane ride back to Texas and the car ride home, I would think there wouldn’t be any tears left. Yet, here they are again, soaking my cheeks as they fall into my hands covering my face.

How did I get involved with a married man? Am I that pathetic?
I mean, it’s not like I ask those kinds of questions on a first date. I guess it’s another thing to add to the list of failures I’ve achieved. My mother would be so proud.

When I hear a soft knock on my door, I dry my tears with a tissue, check myself in the mirror to make sure I’m presentable, and then open the door. Two deliverymen are standing on the other side with large vases of peonies.
You have got to be kidding me.

“Those can’t all be for me.”

“Are you June?”

“Yes.”

“Well then, they are all for you.”

I direct them to set one on my desk and the other on a small table against the wall. Before they leave, one of the deliverymen hands me a small envelope with my name written across the front. Sitting back into the chair, I debate on whether or not I want to open the card. It has to be from him.
What could he possibly have to say? Sorry, I didn’t tell you I’m a married man. I’m sure sorry things didn’t work out.
Anger builds up inside me, and I crumble the envelope in my hand. He couldn’t possibly think this would make anything better.

Slouched in the chair, I sit and stare at the flowers, thinking about Cohen and what I saw.
Is it possible that I’m wrong?
I can’t believe Caroline would hide all this from me, and Liam knew, too. He could have told me. Holding the crumbled envelope and card in my hand, I need to know what it says. I decide to open the card.

June,

We appreciate you coming to Washington with Caroline. You are such a good friend. I’m sorry I didn’t get to see you before you left. I hope these flowers remind you of our sincere love for you.

Vivian

She couldn’t possibly know that these were the exact flowers in the exact colors that Cohen sent to me after our first meeting in New York…or maybe she could.
Someone must have put her up to this.