Fifteen Weekends (9 page)

  The situation was puzzling because Emily had talked to Craig several times over the few days she was at her parents’ house. Things seemed normal. Nothing alerted her that there was trouble. When Emily tried to call his cell phone to let him know she was on her way to Chicago, she received a message saying the number had been disconnected. She tried a few more times thinking it was a technological error, but Emily kept getting the same message. When Emily walked into the apartment she found his closet empty. Craig took nothing else, just his personal effects. None of Craig’s friends knew anything about where he had gone, either, and no one at the CME Group seemed to want to return Emily’s calls. Both of Craig’s parents had died when he was in college, and he wasn’t close with any other relatives, leaving her with no leads.

  Over the next several months Emily would get together with Craig’s best friends, Jared and Scott, once a week to talk about Craig and try to solve the puzzle that was his disappearance. Talking with them helped Emily deal with her emotional heartbreak and slight depression. As the frigid winter dragged on, their meetings became less regular. Jared had gotten engaged; Scott was promoted at work and moved to Austin.

   Determined not to let Craig’s sudden vanishing act affect her life, Emily began to see a therapist so she wouldn’t become an emotional wreck for her friends and co-workers. However, being in Chicago and living in the condo they once shared kept her from moving on. All Emily could do was leave the city and try to come to terms with the fact that Craig Walker had vanished and he was determined not to be found. When summer came she landed a job at Cooper Bentley and made a fresh start in Grand Rapids.

  “Emily,” she paused for a moment. “Don’t freak out, but I think I saw Craig in London.”

  The blood drained from her cheeks. “What?” Emily said in a tight voice as she turned to face Ashleigh.

  “Listen, when I was at Heathrow coming home, there was a guy who was standing outside the coffee shop in my terminal. I kept trying to place him because he looked so familiar, but I had only seen Craig’s photo a few times. I wasn’t sure until this moment, but seeing those steely blue eyes I’m sure it was him—so certain I’d bet my last paycheck on it.”

    Emily could barely hear Ashleigh talking over the thundering beat of her heart. She was dizzy, not knowing if she was going to throw up or pass out.

  “Emily, are you okay?”

  Collecting her thoughts and looking directly at Ashleigh, Emily shook her head in slight disbelief and said, “Wait…so… you’re telling me that you think the guy you saw in London is Craig?”

  “Emily, I swear it’s the same guy. I should have taken a photo of him with my phone. He walked past me as a little kid knocked over my suitcase, and Craig picked it up for me. He had an American accent, and he looks almost the same, a little older—hot as sin.” 

  Emily took another drink of wine, and then another, finishing her glass. The timer for the oven buzzed, startling her. Outside, the rain was beginning to pour again, and the thunder was so loud Emily felt as if it was right on top of her house.

  “Hello, Earth to Emily?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” she lied. “It’s weird to think that after all this time Craig would suddenly resurface.” 

 
Could it really be him?
For a second Emily thought about booking a ticket to London and going on a quest to find him, but what would she say to him after all this time? What the fuck happened to you? That question would be at the top of the list. Along with a slap to the face followed by a deep passionate kiss to his generous full lips.

  Emily was snapped from her daydream that reunited her with Craig when Ashleigh spoke. “True. I wonder if he actually lives in London.”

  Shaking her head Emily replied, “I’m not sure I’ll ever know.”

  Emily had tried to search for him on the Internet and even on Facebook, but the search always comes up with the same three Craig Bennett Walker’s, and none of their pictures resemble his likeness.

  “Well enough about Craig. I want to know more about your night with Ethan.”

  Handing Ashleigh a slice of cake, a smile returned to Emily’s face as the bewildered look that had just been there evaporated. 

  “Honestly, I cannot believe it happened. Ashleigh. The electricity that sparked when he kissed me ignited instantly, like he set my blood on fire.”

  “Wow…” Ashleigh swallowed hard. “That’s intense. And he told you that he and Libby ended their relationship?”

  Nodding, Emily replied, “I can hardly believe it, but I’m definitely not sad about it.”

  “So, did anything else happen?”  

  “Well nothing as exciting as what you’re conjuring in your dirty mind, I assure you of that, Ash. However, it wasn’t for his lack of trying to fuck me right there in his office. Believe me he tried—
relentlessly
. I probably would have let him, but my stupid brain kept telling me to make him work a little harder for it,” Emily said with an aching groan. “Ash,” Emily wailed, “It took
everything
in me not to give in to Ethan’s expert hands as they skimmed over my body. I mean
Jesus
. The man has amazingly strong hands
and
long fingers.” Emily’s eyebrow arched as she shot Ashleigh a sly smile.

  Fanning a hand across her face, Ashleigh swallowed the last bite of cake and said, “So let me get this straight, the man who drives you insane now wants to drive you out of your mind with pleasure?”

  Emily shrugged and smiled.

  “This is truly quite the turn of events. Sounds to me like things are going your way, Em. I wouldn’t give Craig another fucking thought. Just move forward with your life.” 

  Raising an eyebrow, Emily said, “I could advise you of the same where Liam is concerned, Ash. I know you’re still dealing with your feelings for Nick, but don’t you want to get married and start a family?”

  “Not all of us women want the white picket fence, the 2.5 kids and the shuffling back and forth between swim lessons and soccer games.” Her tone was laced with sarcasm.

  “I understand that suburban domestication is not everyone’s cup of tea,” Emily said while clearing the plates. The storm, now in full force, caused Emily’s lights to flicker. “Hell, I’m not even sure it’s mine.”

  Emily went back and forth on the issue of marriage. Some days she wanted to be married; others she shared Ashleigh’s sentiments. When Emily was with Craig she imagined their future together many times. None of the men in her life since Craig have sparked the same kind of romantic visions.

  While it wasn’t so apparent to Emily, Ashleigh knew that her friend still carried a torch for her long lost love. Emily needed closure to move on. Ashleigh, on the other hand, had a love life that was a bit more complex than just obtaining closure. Her emotional scars ran as deep as the Grand Canyon.

  “Besides, Liam lives half-way across the world, Em,” she said dryly. “I don’t see how a relationship is possible. Plus, he thinks of me only as a friend. He tells everyone we are
just
friends.”

  “London is not
that
far away.” Emily scoffed. “I don’t know Ashleigh. There’s no way a powerful man like Liam Frost remains single unless he’s got his eye on one woman whom he’s crazy in love with.” Emily lifted an eyebrow at Ashleigh.

  Ashleigh didn’t think of Liam as a powerful business mogul. She only knew him to be the thoughtful, charming gentleman who showers her with affection and passionately makes love to her without demanding a commitment.

  “What’s not to love about Liam? He’s witty, smart, successful and rich. I read the latest article on his personal wealth. It’s astounding. Have
you
read it?”

  Ashleigh grazed her teeth over her bottom lip and recalled the article regarding Liam’s personal financial portfolio. He’s everything a woman would want on paper and in person. Liam had invested in a small startup which ended up turning an enormous profit. Liam’s investment quadrupled. Along with his already hefty base salary, quarterly bonuses and now the startup, Liam has accrued a small fortune over the last year.

  “I think you’re insane, Ash. Just the purr of his accent alone would be all the reason I would need to shamelessly flop on my back and let him fuck me senseless. Christ, I’ll marry him. He’s fucking gorgeous.”

  She had to chuckle. Once Emily gets a few glasses of wine in her system her language would make even a sailor blush.

  “Let’s call him now. Maybe I can set the two of you up.” Ashleigh grabbed her phone and pretended to bring up Liam’s number.

  “No, don’t you dare. Ashleigh, put your phone down,” Emily wailed. “Whether you want to hear it or not, you two
are
practically a couple. You’ve been sleeping with him regularly for two years. There have been no other men in your life, Ash. You need to think about that. Don’t you love Liam?”

  Emily’s words were coming out fast and furious, jarring on Ashleigh’s soul. Ashleigh hadn’t thought about whether or not she loved him. There were feelings of love she had for him, but to be in love was another story. Having a relationship with Liam was just not possible.

  “Emily, I appreciate what you’re saying. I really do, but I’m meant to be alone. I have my career, my family and friends. Face it. I’m just not fucking marriage material.”

  “I wish you felt differently. Have you…,” Emily’s voice broke. “Have you considered therapy? You know, to talk about what happened with…”

  Ashleigh’s eyebrows shot up at the mere thought of going to some crack pot therapist’s office to talk about her feelings of love and loss. Emily could see by the expression on Ashleigh’s face that she was pushing her friend to revisit a dark part of her life. Re-hashing the Nick situation is just too much for Ashleigh to handle. Maybe it’s best just to leave it buried in the past.

  “Emily, I do not believe I need a man to have fulfillment in my life.”

  As if on cue, lightening crackled, thunder clapped and the lights in Emily’s house flickered twice and went out.

  “Ashleigh, I think someone out there has a different opinion on your love life.”

  The lights quickly came back on in the house. Emily shot Ashleigh a look as if to say, told you so. Ashleigh scoffed and took a sip of wine. 

Chapter Thirteen:

Amanda

  Amanda and Vince arrived in New Jersey at 7:48 P.M. at a private airport in Teterboro. From there they took a town car to an elegant and upscale French restaurant, La Bonne, on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Amanda had already looked up the website and menu after Vince told her on the plane where they would be dining. This was the first time since Brandon had taken her Christmas shopping a few years ago that she had been back to Manhattan. The city had changed so much since then, but somehow felt the same—vital and energetic. There’s really nothing quite like winter in New York City, it’s magical, but this gorgeous May night was shaping up to be pretty spectacular. 

  As they drove down The FDR Amanda looked out the window of the town car towards the East River, which was pitch black except for the lights that illuminated the bridges above.  They turned onto York Avenue passing charming outdoor cafés, lovely boutique shops with fabulous summer themed window displays and old neighborhood corner bars offering happy hour drink specials.

  The car ride from the airport to the restaurant was mostly silent except for the two phone calls that Vince took in the span of ten minutes. One call was regarding a warehouse problem at one of their base hubs, the other was someone inquiring how the flight experience was to New York City. Vince remarked, telling the person on the other end of the phone, about the performance of the pilot, the two flight attendants, the extremely comfortable seats and their excellent choice in carpeting. She noticed that Vince was a serious man, very particular with details and a man of few words, or at least tonight he was. 

  Amanda had managed to strike up a conversation with Vince on the flight. She learned that he had two kids, a son, Logan, who was ten and a thirteen year-old daughter, Addie, short for Adeline, both from his first marriage. Apparently Addie was into music, which was the reason he was at the boutique the day they met. Vince was looking for vintage records because he had purchased her a turntable for her upcoming birthday. With all of today’s modern technology, this girl wanted a record player to spin the tunes.

  Amanda desperately wanted to have children of her own. She loved kids, especially her nephew Conner who would turn four this year Amanda and her sister, Julie, had always been close and would meet secretly about every six weeks to check-in on each other. However, the sisters couldn’t seem to get their schedules to work over the last few months and Amanda hadn’t seen Conner since February. When the news of Amanda’s cheating scandal broke, Julie felt like the only one who tried to help Amanda put her life back together.

  Amanda’s public indiscretion had caused all kinds of problems for the family. From what Julie told Amanda, their father, Jack, was losing business deals left and right. Their mom, Donna, was asked to resign from several boards and committees. Julie tried to keep the family together, but she could only do so much.