For Nick (18 page)

“Yeah, sure Zach. We’ll wait while you have
words
with your wife.” Chuckling followed the group down the hallway.

Zach faced Andie with ice in his heart. He’d never come home to anything like this in his life.

“I’m sorry, Zach. I didn’t know we were having company.”

“I’m having an all-nighter, I’m afraid. We need to complete some reports and it needs to be done tonight. It happens on occasion. I forgot all about our dinner,” he lied, as if it had meant nothing to him.

A flutter of disappointment crossed her features. “That’s okay. We’ll do it another night.”

Now she was the sweet and forgiving wife. And he was a fool.

“Would you like to open your present?” she asked. “It will just take a minute.”

“I don’t need you to buy me anything, Andie,” he said bluntly. “I’d prefer you didn’t, it’s not as if this is a real marriage, after all.”

When his words registered, her smile faded, as did the light in her eyes.

“Oh,” she said in her whisper soft voice.

He felt as if he’d just squished a particularly annoying bug with his fist. It was so easy to devastate her. One carefully worded sentence and she was dust.

Then he remembered she was just a really good actress. This was all a farce and she was playing mind games with him.

“Zach, are you all right?”

“Yeah, it’s gonna be a long night, that’s all.” He ran a hand through his hair tiredly. It would be so easy to let himself forget what he’d seen today, to ignore it and pretend it didn’t happen. Living in a fantasy world suddenly appealed. Ignorance really is bliss. Her fake compassion was pulling him in and he had to resist. “Would you mind asking Mrs. Barnes to make us some sandwiches? I’m sure everyone’s hungry.”

“I’ll do it. Let me change first.”

“I didn’t pay you to be the cook, Andie.”

She paled at his cruel words, her eyes staring into his long and hard.

“I-I really don’t mind helping.”

She turned to leave and he knew by the expression on her face that he’d struck home. If she didn’t suspect it was over yet, his next stab would remove any doubt. “Oh, by the way, Andie,” Zach started. She paused, but didn’t look at him. “You’ve been looking a little worn-out lately.”
Entertaining two men will have a way of doing that to you.
“I think it’s best if you sleep in your own bed for awhile.”

She glanced up at him then, unable to hide the shock in her expression. Once again, she held his eyes for several seconds, as if searching his face for any trace of empathy. When she found none, her eyes blinked heavily. “That’s…thoughtful of you,” she remarked politely, a slight frown to her features as she quickly retreated upstairs.

It was four in the morning by the time he made his way upstairs to get some sleep. Other than when he’d been out of town, it was the first night they hadn’t made love since their honeymoon had begun. It was harder than he thought it would be. She’d looked so beautiful as she’d passed around a huge platter of sandwiches for his employees. He didn’t acknowledge her once and he knew by the look on her face that his lack of attention had been duly noted. She’d charmed every man in the room with her smile and soft voice. Several of them commented on how lucky he was to have such a wonderful wife.

If they only knew.

Throwing caution to the wind, he peeked in Andie’s room to check on her. She was lying on her stomach, sprawled the wrong way across the bed, fully dressed. It was evidence that she was bothered by the events of the evening.

He placed a blanket on her tenderly, knowing his feelings towards her couldn’t disappear in one afternoon and accepting it. Her hair fanned out to one side and her face was highlighted by the soft moonlight, making her look beautiful…angelic. She tossed in her sleep and mumbled the words, “Nick…Nick…”

Zach saw red. He left the room vowing that Andrea Parker was nothing to him.

Nothing.

Andie awoke early the next morning, wanting to see Zach. An unfamiliar blanket covered her and this warmed her heart. Zach must have placed it on her. Since he hadn’t opened his present, she’d left it on his bed, hoping he would open it when he retired for the night. It was important that he learn the news of their child. She’d been sure he would be in here waking her up after he opened it. What was he thinking? Was he happy? Maybe he just hadn’t wanted to disturb her and was waiting for her to wake up.

She was still in her clothes, now quite rumpled, so she showered, dressed quickly, and then knocked on Zach’s door. She could hear sounds coming from his room and hoped his mood had improved since last night—although having to work all night would’ve left her feeling out of sorts too. She understood his surliness, but she’d never seen him so…irritated before. It was a little unsettling. Andie was sure she’d read too much into his comments on a night when he was clearly in a bad mood. Time to forgive and move on. Zach opened the door, pajama pants slung low on his hips and a towel around his neck.

“Good morning,” she said with a smile.

“Hey.” He didn’t smile.

“Did you open the present?”

His face was blank. “No, it was a late night.”

“Oh, of course. Do you want to open it now?”

“I’ll open it later, I’m running late.”

He was tired, running late, and still in the ghastly mood from last night. Now wasn’t the time.
“Okay.” He held the door close to him, leaving no room for her to enter. “Can I come in?” she asked hesitantly. He didn’t exactly appear welcoming. “I can help you get ready or…”

“Not today,” he interrupted. “I’m in a hurry. I didn’t get much sleep and I got up late.”

“Oh, of course. Can I do anything for you? Get you some breakfast or…”

“No. Nothing.”

No entry into the ‘inner sanctum’ today.
Andie felt as though he was closing her out of his life. He was acting so…distant, so remote.

“Yeah, actually, you know what? There is one thing you can do for me.”

“What is it?” She perked up.

“I need you to tell me something. What was your husband’s name?”

“What?” she asked with confusion.

“Your husband, you know, the one before me?” he said sarcastically.

“What?” she said again, wondering why he was suddenly acting so antagonistic.

He moved closer, hard eyes intent on her face. “It’s a simple question, Andie. Is it really that hard to remember the name of the man you were married to? You never talk about him. What was his name?”

“Zach, what’s wrong with you?”

“What was his name, Andie? Tell me his name!”

His voice grew louder and more demanding. He was scaring her. Why was he acting like this?

“Jack…his name was Jack,” she whispered.

He scoffed and backed up, looking repelled by her very existence. “Interesting,” he said coolly. “You’ve been talking in your sleep. You really ought to be more careful…” Zach retreated to his bedroom and slammed his door without a backward glance.

It took her a second to catch her breath. Talking in her sleep? Had she said Jack’s name in her sleep? How very odd. She hardly thought about Jack, she was obsessed with Nick. It would be the worst kind of injustice for Zach to believe she was longing for Jack and not for him. She’d dismissed Jack from her mind years ago. The memories were too painful, and too bitter…but they came anyway, crashing down upon her in waves…

Jack was a dreamer.

Andie fell in love with him anyway. She was a very young, naïve eighteen year old at the time. Having just lost her parents, she was extremely vulnerable to his charms. He made her look at the world through his eyes, and he made everything seem exciting and possible.

Jack wanted to build his own home in the mountains, far away from the merest hint of civilization. He had detailed drawings of his dream home.

The fact that he’d never built a thing in his life never deterred him.

Jack wanted to buy land in Wyoming and own a cattle ranch. He dreamt of riding the wide, open land day by day, the wind in his face, the sun in his hair. He didn’t see the details as a problem.

Like the little tidbit that he’d never ridden a horse in his life.

Jack wanted to open a restaurant and be a chef. He loved to cook, he said. He planned out his menu, creating clever names for every dinner choice offered. He knew exactly how he wanted to decorate, what furniture and lighting he wanted to use, and he even designed a huge sign with the witty restaurant name emblazoned across it in big, bold letters.

He never let the thought that he didn’t know how to boil water enter the equation.

Regardless, Andie fell in love with his enthusiasm, with his zest for life. His excitement over a project was infectious. He was charming, witty, and golden-boy good looking.

And he never worked a day in his life.

But he had plans to. Oh, how he had plans. There was always another idea, always another plan to investigate. Get rich quick schemes were like a flame and he was the moth. He was taken in at every opportunity life had to offer, and he’d spend months planning his strategy, working out all the kinks, only to move on to the next big idea in a red hot second.

Hence, nothing ever happened. Ever.

Andie had money, thank goodness. Her parents’ life insurance money supported them, during which time she earned her college degree. Jack scoffed at college, saying it stifled his creativity.

Regardless, Andie loved him, figuring he’d settle down eventually. Every one of his schemes had huge potential, if only he would follow through with one of them.

Instead, reality hit them in a big way.
Jack the Dreamer
simply couldn’t cope. She knew he loved her, but that didn’t stop him from leaving, not her, just the situation, he assured, as if that made it easier.

She heard nothing from him for five months. Five months! She had no idea where he was or even if he was okay. It was as if he’d dropped off the face of the earth.

It was a cold, blustery, rainy day, the day he returned. He called on his cell from his rental car. ‘I’m trying, Andie. I’m really trying,” he’d told her repeatedly. “But I can’t do it. I just can’t do it anymore.”

Andie only remembered feeling very, very cold at his words, as if someone had just poured ice down her back. “Jack, I need you to be here right now. Do you hear me, right now! Please.”

His silent response made her angry. How could he leave her alone to face life like this? She never raised her voice, but she did this once. “Don’t bother coming home, Jack. I don’t want you here!” she yelled. She would not beg anymore.

It was then that she heard the awful screeching of tires, the sound of steel grating against steel, the piercing, high-pitched whoosh of wind and the sound of Jack yelling, inflected with fear…and then utter silence.

“JACK…JACK…” she’d screamed over and over. But he never answered.

He’d never answer anyone again.

Andie shook her head, attempting to dispel the memory of Jack from her mind.

She’d meet Zach for lunch today, after he’d had some time to cool off a bit. They needed to talk. Something was wrong and she had to know what it was. She had to apologize for saying Jack’s name in her sleep. Jack and Zach sounded very similar to each other. Surely, she’d said Zach’s name and he mistook it for Jack. If he’d just let her explain, she knew he’d understand. Maybe he was feeling jealous of Jack. If she’d said his name in her sleep, he may think she was dreaming of him or worse, pining after him. Little did he know that if she’d been dreaming of Jack, then she was having a nightmare.