Living Lies (23 page)

“A jock,” she chuckled. “I bet your mom has an amazing family album.” She knew he had to be as gorgeous in high school as he was now.

Adam’s eyes steeled and it took him a moment to answer. “My parents were killed in a car accident a few years back.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Melanie held her breath and watched his lips relax to their normal fullness and coloring.

“It’s okay.” He nodded. “My mom did have a set of three-ring binder photo albums. But I doubt they were any better than your mom’s.”

“Did you bleach your hair blonde?”

“Never.”

“Then it’s no contest,” she said, giving her teenage-self an eye roll. “What happened with Florida State?”

Adam’s green eyes looked right through her as he hesitated. She knew the pause, she
used
the pause – the how much to tell? Pause.

“You don’t have to say anything, I’m sorry,” she said, feeling the innocent question had hit another target.

“Where’d you learn your interrogation techniques?”

Melanie held her breath, but he was being playful. “My mother. You did meet her, right? Do you want to start heading back?”

Adam dragged his front teeth across his bottom lip. Melanie’s heart flooded, that was
her
nervous gesture.

“Do you want to go?”

“No, but I thought I was being too nosey.” She said, shifting to find a more comfortable spot on the hard wood planks.

He stretched out his legs and adjusted to sit beside her. “Any way to make this work?”

“I’m in D.C. and you’re in L.A.”

“Right.”

“Are you going to tell me how you got from football to crab cakes?”

He exhaled. “Florida State. Football ended on prom night, senior year, with a 1966 Ford Mustang and a giant oak tree.”

“Were you hurt badly?” She asked, though this was obviously a delicate topic.

“I wasn’t in the car: Three friends, their girlfriends and my girlfriend. So, physically I wasn’t touched, but I
should
have been in that car. Instead, I was putting the moves on Mary Ann Reynolds.” He squinted at Melanie, “You want to hear my ancient history?”

“I do.” She really did.

Adam took a long look at her. “Kristen and I fought a lot; that’s why I wasn’t in the car. But when I heard the sirens I just knew, I ran the two miles. Nicole was in the street, the Mustang was a mass of metal and the police were trying to extract the bodies.”

“Oh, Adam.”

“Gruesome. Not one made it to the hospital.”

“You felt guilty?”

“I still feel guilty.”

“Even if it wasn’t your fault?”

“Logically, I know what you’re saying but I can’t convince myself that’s how it works. Believe me I’ve spent years replaying that night.”

“Do you let yourself appreciate how lucky you were?”

“It’s taken a long time.”

“Well, I’m grateful to have met you.”

Adam leaned into her shoulder and kissed the side of her head.

“Anyway, to answer your question. That summer I spent inside my room and had no intention of ever leaving my house. Until, I overheard my parents talking with the school shrink about a grief boot camp. I raced back up to my room and, serendipitously, on TV was an infomercial about a culinary school in Mexico City. I dialed and four days later I packed.”

Melanie wished she could be that woman who knew how to balance it all. She wasn’t. And even if she could learn – eventually – right now wasn’t the time.

“Are you okay?” He squeezed her shoulder.

“Shouldn’t I be asking you? The thing is…” She quickly added, “I don’t want to say goodbye.”

“You’re just not ready, I get that.”

“I thought I could…” she said, opening her eyes then wishing she hadn’t. He was so handsome, so close and it would be so easy, at first. She swallowed. “I wanted to try a friendship, relationship … I don’t know,
something
with you. But my job, my life…” she was beginning to ramble. She’d already allowed him too far inside.

“You don’t have to explain,” his expression was kind.

She felt both relieved and disappointed.

They both knew there was nothing more to say and the silence crept up on them.

The sun angling under the canopy signaled that the close of day was near. Adam, already late for work, quickly and ably raised the sails.

“Come here,” he motioned for her to stand at the helm. “You said you wanted to sail.”

“You don’t have time,” Melanie protested as he easily moved her in front of him, putting her hands on the wheel.

“The restaurant is all set and isn’t this our day together? Time to step up, Melanie.”

Melanie didn’t pretend to know less than she did, but she did take the long way back.

The marina was quiet and they held hands as they walked to his car.

“Thank you for an amazing day,” Melanie said, standing toe to toe with Adam, inches from her front door.

His fingers entwined with hers, Adam was looking directly into her eyes.

“I think we did all right for our one-day romance.” His smile brightened up the dimming evening. “If you’re ever in L.A., hell, if you’re ever in California, give me a call.”

“I will.”

It was their last moment and she clung tightly to his hands.

“I don’t really care for goodbyes,” he said, not moving.

There was a peacefulness in his last kiss.

She wouldn’t have changed one second. It had been a perfect day that, even in years to come, she wouldn’t be able to beat. He was halfway to the curb when the calm morphed into a panic that rose to her throat. Skipping down the steps she flew into his arms.

Ask me to go with you again, ask me to dinner, ask me anything!

“You take care of yourself.”

“You, too.”

Say something
, her mind screamed.

She waved at the back window of his BMW as he pulled away from her curb.

CHAPTER 14

Melanie would rather have crawled under the covers and avoided all humans, but she couldn’t. Tonight was her date with Don Avery, an entrepreneur in the local dry cleaning industry. 15 minutes late, he arrived in a delivery van. His
So Clean So. California
slogan, with giant clothes hangers looped the Os, was painted on both sides, on the back door and again on the hood of the vehicle.

“Sorry I’m late,” he wheezed. “Got caught up at work.”

I’m more disappointed that you showed up at all
.

“What’s the plan?” Melanie asked, slowing her step.

Don was 300 pounds plus, 5’10” with short legs. She was at the mailbox waiting for him to make his way gingerly down the three steps off the porch. She noticed that the gardenia bushes were blooming and that it’d been at least a week since her dad mowed the lawn.

“If it’s all the same to you, I’ve been craving Chinese food,” he coughed after situating, adjusting and buckling.

“Sounds fine.”

Melanie imagined Adam sitting in his office with a glass of wine. Maybe he was thinking of her, too.

“There’s a place in Kerney Mesa, an all-you-can-eat, that puts out shrimp on weekend nights. They do raise the price to $13.95 but I think it’s well worth the bump.”

Don continued talking, enlightening her on the dry cleaning process, and Melanie did what she could to stay focused. He talked the entire drive, he talked picking out a table and continued while they slid their trays along the buffet line. Melanie would add an occasional “uh-huh” or “oh yeah?”

Placing his tray with two loaded plates, a giant Diet Coke and a wedge of pecan pie onto the table he said, “I think I’ve been talking too much.”

Melanie’s grin was weak, but she was grateful for his chatter. “It’s all right.”

“I’m just nervous and I tend to yammer on. You can just slap me if I get started again.”

She agreed on the punishment.

Don let out a deep breath before attacking his plates. She didn’t hear a peep out of him for five minutes. Melanie ate slowly. She wasn’t hungry.

“Would you excuse me for a few minutes?” he asked, shuffling out of his seat.

Melanie played with her food as she sat uncomfortably, day-dreaming of Adam, his body wet with sea water dripping on the deck. His skin had been warm, even with the cold water, and his heartbeat erratic as she’d rested her cheek against his chest.

He thought he was rescuing me
. She smiled to herself, thinking it was very sweet and romantic of him.

“Sorry about that,” Don said, interrupting and arriving with a vanilla cone. He smelled of cigarette smoke. “I noticed you’ve got a wine stain there on your jacket. I could get that out for you at no charge,” he offered, swirling his tongue around the ice cream.

Melanie’s heart filled, looking at the corner of her leather jacket. “Thanks, but it’s sort of a memory I’d rather save.”

Don’s face wrinkled in confusion. “But that’s a gorgeous jacket and I could make it like new again.”

Melanie smiled. “I appreciate that but I don’t think of it as a blemish.” She knew he didn’t get it. In Don’s eyes all stains were meant to be eradicated. “Would you want to catch a movie or something?” Melanie asked on their way back to his van, still full of deliveries in the back.

“Well, I don’t really know how to put this,” he paused, opened the door for her and walked around to the driver’s side. The van groaned as he sat down, and he shuffled trying to get comfortable. He unwrapped a mint he had taken from the restaurant and popped it into his mouth. She declined one when he offered but he said nothing as he started the ignition and drove out of the parking lot.

“Cheryl said this was only dinner. If we went to a movie with popcorn and a drink it’s another 40 bucks.” He was taking her home. “The offer on the jacket still stands.” He grimaced at the red wine that had stained the leather.

Sunday, Melanie went to Mass with her parents. She daydreamed through the entire sermon and decided she just met Adam at the wrong time, pushing away the question of when would have been better.

She spent the rest of the day helping her mom with Sunday dinner, fetching, measuring and pouring over a new Paula Deen cookbook. It was a day meant for her ‘improve relations’ project. Jealousy over her relationship with Cheryl was only bound to get worse once the baby was born.

That Sunday Bruce arrived early. Jason Johnson was a San Diego Padre and Bruce was thrilled wearing his Johnson baseball jersey. He approved of Melanie’s outfit an hour before Jason arrived. Then leaned against the kitchen sink, keeping a watchful eye on every car that passed.

Bruce hollered and Melanie looked out her bedroom window and saw that parked out front was a gorgeous burgundy convertible Porsche. From the top of the stairs she could hear Bruce’s nervous voice.

“Yeah, she’ll be right down. I’m her brother, Bruce. I am a huge fan and let me tell you how great you are doing, fantastic! Worth every cent.”

“Thanks, man.” Jason slapped Bruce on the back and whistled when Melanie walked down the stairs.

She smiled.

“Okay, well, you two have a great time tonight,” Bruce said, nodding in approval. He was as giddy as a school girl as Melanie and Jason walked out the door. “Stay out as long as you like. It was really great meeting you.”

Melanie shook her head at her silly little brother and turned to say something but Bruce quickly shut the door.

“Nice car.”

“This baby isn’t even a month old.” He caressed the hood as he trotted to his side of the car. “Do you want me to put the top up so you won’t get your hair messed up?”

“No way.” Melanie wanted the wind in her face.

Jason sped through the streets. “I thought we’d take a little drive before dinner.”

“Love to.”

She leaned back into the new leather interior and closed her eyes, imagining she was with Adam driving to L.A. It had been difficult to stop the daydreaming. He was even trying to creep into her reality. Everywhere she went she noticed his car or someone who looked like him.

Jason cranked up the stereo – rap music. He drove way too fast, tires squealing around corners, then pulled into a secured driveway and unlocked the gate. Carefully he avoided the huge potholes that dotted the pavement. Rounding the bend the land opened up, and Melanie realized they were driving along the marsh that swung in about a quarter mile from the sea. The road coiled around the outskirts of a bog. Towering eucalyptus trees lined one side of the road as it cut through a hill that held the 5 freeway.

“I like to take her out here for a spin.”

Jason put the car in gear and like a bullet they sped along the unmaintained path. The force molded her into the seat, and her adrenaline kicked in.

Desperate to preserve the familiar feeling, she asked, “Do you think I could give it a try?” Melanie was exhilarated, longing to hold onto an old friend.

Jason hesitated. “Can you handle this car?” he asked, looking down at her small frame.

Melanie smiled, “Yeah, and I’ll tell you what, I’ll even put in a good word for you with Trish.”

He put the car in neutral and gave her pointers as they traded seats. Melanie rolled her seat closer to the pedals and floored the accelerator. She shifted gears and hugged the curves, holding onto the power and control.

Melanie,
she thought with a pang of heartache, recognizing herself and missing this person.

The scenery blurred as she pushed the vehicle up over 100 mph. Whipping around, the car came to a dead stop at the end of the path.

“Whew! Where did you learn to drive like that?” Jason asked, leaning back in his seat. “Incredible.”

Swapping seats, Melanie pulled the seat belt across her chest. “I really need to get me one of these.”

“I do recommend it.” Jason raced back the way they had come.

Melanie’s head was forced back on the headrest as he pushed past 110 mph. Hitting a rut in the road Jason lost control and the Porsche fishtailed. Frantically he tried to regain control, but the vehicle seemed to be gaining speed, spinning them across the road. Dust rose around them, clouding any possible view. Melanie waited for the right instant before she unfastened her seatbelt and partially leapt and was partially thrown into Jason’s lap, grabbing hold of the wheel and stepping on his large feet to shift gears. She turned the key to the accessories mode to kill the engine while allowing her the ability to steer and pulled the emergency brake. Unsure if it would work, she held her breath as the car screamed to a stop with a hard, rocking jerk.

She leaned her head back on Jason’s shoulder. His heart beat wildly and his body trembled beneath her.

Her blood coursed with excitement. As the dust settled, one of the ancient trees appeared eight inches from the passenger side door.

“Wow, that was close,” Melanie exclaimed, her knees momentarily weakened.

The irregular pavement had been marked up behind them and Melanie examined the circular patterns burned into the road. There were gaps in places where it seemed the car had lifted off the ground. Jason was still in the car with his eyes shut.

He was devoid of color. Melanie knelt down beside him and cupped his face in her hands. She tilted his head to face her. Had this been one of her agents she would have slapped him, but he was a civilian.

“Jason, look at me.” She got into his face as his blue eyes focused on her. “We’re okay, everything is fine.”

“I’m sorry,” he whispered over and over.

“It’s okay, we’re fine.” She assured him of this by extending her arms and standing. “Look, I didn’t even break a heel,” she joked, bending back down to his eye level.

Jason’s color was returning but his body was still shaking. “I almost
killed
you.”

She brushed his hair off his forehead, touched by his vulnerability.

“Come on, let’s take a walk.” She held his hand as he got out and leaned against the car.

He didn’t want to see the marks the spin-out had caused and he especially didn’t want to see how close they had come to wrapping around the tree.

“Melanie, I am so sorry.” He pulled her into a tight embrace.

She enclosed him in her arms and was taken by the incredible sunset. The clouds hanging in the sky had taken on a pink glow, and the orange sun was hanging just above the horizon.

“Thank you for saving my life,” Jason stuttered and squeezed her hand, too hard.

A bond had been forged and Melanie recognized his wholesome quality and a little-boy charm. He wasn’t blatantly handsome, but she found herself understanding Trish’s interest.

“We’d better think about getting back,” he said.

“Do you want me to drive?”

“I’m okay,” Jason smiled, sheepishly. “You know, you’re like an angel.”

“Hardly.”

“You’re not going to tell anyone about my … my cowardliness.”

“You are
not
a coward – it was scary.”

“You weren’t scared.”

“Yes, I was.”

Jason drove cautiously, his hands at ten and two, around the bends and even more so on the freeway.

“So Jason, what are your feelings toward Trish?” She decided not to beat around the bush.

“Should we be talking about this?” He moved only his eyes to look over at her.

“I’m just curious because if you were interested and had good motives I think I could get you two together.”

“Yeah?! Well, if you could do that then you really are an angel. I’m crazy about Trish. I’ve asked her out dozens of times and she keeps telling me to look her up when I retire.”

Melanie laughed. “She’s determined, but I think this is a good thing.”

“I even considered getting injured just to be near her.”

“I think I’ve got a better plan,” Melanie said, looking up as Jason parked. “What are we doing here?”

“It’s my favorite restaurant. The chef is a good friend of mine.”

“Adam?”

“Yeah, you know him?”