Love, Laughter, and Happily Ever Afters Collection (147 page)

“A bad heart?” Lauren looked confused. “Seriously? You might not even pass the physical.”

“See?” Adrianne asked Phoebe. “I might not even pass the physical.”

“You would too,” Phoebe snapped. She looked up at Lauren. “She’s fine now. She had a mild heart attack two years ago, they think brought on by stress. It’s why she moved here.”

“Haiti’s a tough place,” Lauren said with a little frown. “You have to be in good shape—mentally and physically.”

“Mentally is definitely questionable,” Phoebe muttered.

“Are you healthy enough to go or not?” Lauren asked Adrianne.

Adrianne started to shake her head, but Phoebe jumped in, “Yes. Her doctor has told her over and over that she’s fine.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Adrianne finally said. “I’m not going no matter what the physical says.” She hadn’t told anyone all the details of her heart attack, but she hated that her friend thought she was weak.

“But you—” Lauren started.

“I can’t fly,” Adrianne said.

Phoebe’s hand slapped the table top. “Come on, Adrianne.”

“The last time I was on a plane was two years ago. I was sitting in first class like usual,” she said, studying Phoebe’s manicure instead of meeting her eyes. “Everything was going as usual. I had a drink. I’d just gotten off the phone with one of my brothers. I was exhausted and upset. And then I started feeling funny.” She took a deep breath, remembering the feeling of her chest pressing in on her lungs and heart, feeling like she couldn’t move.

“We weren’t even to cruising altitude,” she went on. “My chest got tight, my arm started aching—all the classic signs.” She looked up. Phoebe was staring at her. “I passed out. They did CPR on me until they could turn around and make an emergency landing.” She swallowed hard. She could still remember the panic. She couldn’t breathe, everything hurt and she knew exactly what was happening—and that being on that plane was the least safe place she could be when it did. “They said later that if we’d been any higher or farther into the flight it might not have turned out as well.”

“Shit,” Phoebe said, sitting back. “I didn’t know all of that.”

“I know,” Adrianne said. “I…it never mattered.” She shrugged. “The life I have now means I don’t do anything that means I have to fly.”

Lauren sighed. “Chicago’s a long drive. Driving to DC is almost ridiculous. To Haiti, impossible.”

Adrianne nodded. “Exactly.”

“Dammit,” Phoebe added.

“Does Mason know any of this?” Lauren asked with a frown.

“He knows about my heart, but that it was a long time ago and that I’m fine now,” Adrianne said quickly. “But he doesn’t know about the plane. If I tell him that’s why I can’t go with him, he’ll decide not to go too.”

“Right.” Lauren crossed her arms and looked down at Adrianne. “So you care enough about him to agree that he can’t stay here?”

Adrianne nodded. Mason couldn’t shine in Sapphire Falls. He deserved every chance to show how extraordinary he was. And people needed him. More than she did.

She rubbed at the spot on her chest but knew that this pain went even deeper than skin and bone and organ.

“And you, evidently, aren’t willing or able to go with him?” Lauren asked.

“Adrianne, we can get you over the fear of flying,” Phoebe said. “The chances of a heart attack on a plane must be a million to one. The chances of it happening again, especially with you in such good health now, must be a gazillion to one. You have to take a chance sometime.”

“We have to figure out a way to convince Mason to leave. Without me,” Adrianne said to Lauren without looking at her friend.

“Fine.” Phoebe shoved back from the table and stomped to where her purse sat on the counter. “You don’t deserve him then.” She spun back to face Adrianne as she pointed at her. “Remember those gaps in your life we talked about?” she asked. “The ones that are there because you want to do things but you’re scared? Well, this is the perfect way to fill those in. This is about loving Mason. And about doing something that matters. Both of those things will do more for your heart than any exercise or medicine could ever do.” Then she stomped to the front door and made sure to slam it on her way out.

Lauren stared after her for a few seconds before turning back to face Adrianne. “I know this is hard. I’m sorry. And I know it’s fast. But I need him in DC on Wednesday.”

“Tell me more about the meetings and the project,” Adrianne said. She wanted to know every detail of what Mason would be doing. She had to know that it was big, huge, much more important than she was.

Lauren took the seat Phoebe had vacated. “Okay. We’re going to DC on Wednesday to convince Vice President Forrester that we do want to partner with Outreach America and the White House even though Mason told him and O.A.’s director that they are self-centered pricks before storming out of his office about a month ago.”

“Mason said that?” Adrianne was impressed in spite of herself. That didn’t sound very nerdy. “Why?”

“They were debating how to spin the story about our new seeds being used by O.A. The White House felt that they should get some PR out of it too.”

“Why?”

“The White House is helping get us in and providing military escorts while we’re there.”

“Why do you need military escorts?” Sure, she needed the idea that Mason might be in danger on her mind too.

“Haiti has a long history of political and social unrest. Since the earthquakes it’s gotten worse. The majority of the island lives in poverty. If there is something of value coming in, there are people who will want to get a hold of it.”

She was sorry she’d asked.

“But the White House wants PR out of it?”

“Of course. Have you ever met a politician that didn’t want good PR?”

Good point. “Seems like a lot of egos getting in the way of the important work. Including Mason’s,” Adrianne commented.

Lauren rolled her eyes. “You have no idea.”

“Can’t you take your seeds and everything into these countries on your own? Why do you need Outreach America?”

“Technically, yes, but there is a lot of politics, not to mention money involved in something like this. And O.A. has already established relationships with the people themselves. It was going smoothly until the White House wanted a piece of the PR. But working with them is the fastest way to do this, even with all the BS… It would take us too long to figure out our contacts and shipping and get enough staff in place to get the seeds where they need to be, in the ground and growing along with the teaching and training that has to go on.”

“Why O.A. then?” Adrianne asked, wanting every detail. “Why not another group?”

“O.A.’s the biggest, they already have agriculture programs in place, which means they have staff who know what they’re doing, and…well, they want us.”

“Others don’t?” Adrianne frowned. “That’s crazy. With what you can do and offer them—”

Lauren smiled. “A lot of them are struggling just to do what they do. They don’t want to take on new projects like this. And besides, we have an in. A friend of mine worked for them for four months right after the quake hit and recommended us. It’s ready made for success.”

“But you need Mason.”

“Definitely. Mason has to smooth this over and he has to head the project. I know a lot about a lot of what we do, but this one is his baby. He’s the problem solver. And there will be problems in Haiti. It’s inevitable with something like this. But with Mason there, they’ll be solvable.”

“I wonder if this is what it feels like to be in love with a super hero,” Adrianne said with a sigh. “He’ll never fully be mine because the whole world needs him.”

“I’m sorry this happened,” Lauren said. “I’m the one that suggested he come—insisted in fact.”

When Adrianne looked at her, the other woman did look a little sad. But Adrianne couldn’t quite bring herself to be sad that she’d met Mason. She was in love with him and breaking things off was going to hurt like hell, but she wouldn’t trade the time she’d had with him.

Besides, they’d known each other three days. That had to be better than having several months, or years, of loving him before losing him.

She shivered. She would love to have months or years of memories with him. Even if it ended in heartbreak.

“I have to convince him to leave,” Adrianne finally said, breaking the silence.

“I know.” Lauren sighed. “You have to make it good. It can’t be that you think he should go to Haiti, or that it’s more important than you are. He’s in love for the first time. He’s going to hold on tight.”

Adrianne swallowed against the tears she could feel building. “The only way he’ll leave is if he believes I don’t really want him to stay.”

“Right.”

“I have to break his heart.”

Lauren looked pained at the idea too. “Yeah, I guess so.”

They were quiet for a moment. Then Lauren asked, “Any ideas on how to do that convincingly?”

Through the kitchen window, Adrianne saw Hailey’s car pull into her driveway.

Adrianne felt like she was going to be sick as she said, “Yeah, I think I do.”

“WHAT THE HELL happened?” were Hailey’s first words to Adrianne. Her second sentence was, “Who the hell are you?” when her gaze landed on Lauren.

“Dr. Lauren Davis. Mason’s partner.”

Hailey looked Lauren up and down. Lauren let her. They reminded Adrianne of two lionesses circling, trying to determine if the other was a threat or an ally. The stand-off took only a few seconds before they seemed to come to some sort of silent acceptance of one another. Thank God. The last thing Adrianne needed was Hailey getting her panties in a twist.

Adrianne took a deep, calming breath. Supposedly calming anyway. “What’s going on, Hailey?”

“Drew called me from the golf course. Mason told the guys that he’s moving here. To be with you. That you’re going to live on the farm so there’s no way he can give up the land. He wants to plant corn, Adrianne. What the hell is going on?”

Okay, so Hailey’s panties were in a twist anyway.

Adrianne’s heart wanted to flip. Mason was telling everyone. He wanted to stay with her. He was in love with her. At the same time, she felt like someone had put a brick in her chest. All she had to do was say yes and she could have all of it—all of him.

At the expense of a few thousand lives, including the ones in Sapphire Falls.

No, the hopeful business owners here wouldn’t die without their shops, but their dreams would. And her friendships would. And that was all small potatoes compared to the lives in Haiti that would be affected.

And then there was Mason. What was really best for him?

Heartache seemed inevitable. But better her than all of them.

Adrianne straightened her shoulders. “There’s been a…misunderstanding.”

“Who’s misunderstanding?” Hailey asked.

Adrianne almost couldn’t say it. “Mason’s.”

Hailey’s shoulders relaxed a little and she took a deep breath. “I told Drew that was probably what happened.”

“Mason’s just jumping ahead. I’ll talk to him.”

“Okay.” Hailey sighed. “That’s what I wanted to hear. Right after Drew called, Ken Stevens called and said that the price on his land by the highway has gone up ten-thousand dollars. He knows we don’t have any other options. And he’s still insisting on Eddie having his taxidermy shop.”

“Isn’t taxidermy stuffing dead animals?” Lauren asked.

Hailey frowned at her but didn’t answer her question. “On top of this mess with Tyler, I’m feeling like things are falling apart,” Hailey went on.

“I don’t think you should put a
taxidermy
business in this new shopping area,” Lauren said.

Hailey glared at her.

“What about Tyler?” Adrianne asked, trying to keep Hailey focused—and not going for Lauren’s throat.

“He won’t return my frickin’ phone calls,” Hailey said with a scowl. “And then after I left my sixth message, he posted something on Twitter about six unreturned phone calls being pathetic and that a woman should never call more than twice without hearing back. He’s such a jerk.”

Hailey’s scowl grew and Adrianne had to fight a smile for a moment. That jerk was the guy Hailey had been gushing about to all the investors earlier that week.

“You follow him on Twitter?” Adrianne asked.

Hailey didn’t answer that. “I’m not calling him because I’m in love with him or something,” Hailey said. “This is business. He’s being an ass.” She picked up a truffle and shoved the whole thing into her mouth before picking up another.

Adrianne watched with some fascination. She’d never seen Hailey riled up over a guy. She’d seen Hailey eat chocolate only a handful of times. This was…weird.

Adrianne handed a cup of coffee to Hailey.

“Maybe I’ll start a blog. Tyler Bennett Is Full of Shit,” Hailey said, accepting the cup and drinking. “That guy is so full of himself. So he won a dumb medal. Big deal. And it was only a silver.”

“You know
Tyler Bennett
?” Lauren asked. “The hot Olympian? I didn’t know he was from here.” She frowned. “Mason never tells me anything.”

Hailey opened her mouth to reply and Adrianne rushed to interrupt.

“Well, he is the first American man to ever medal in the triathlon,” Adrianne said. She caught Hailey’s glare and added, “If that matters.”

“It doesn’t,” Hailey said firmly. “He thinks he’s God’s gift and I’m starting to think he’s just messing with me. He’s taunting me, seeing how hard I’ll work for this, what I’m willing to put up with.”

“Did you sleep with him in high school too or something?” Adrianne couldn’t help but ask.

Hailey finally focused on her directly again. “You have to make sure we have that land. We have to get this thing going. I’m going to hold Tyler Bennett to his verbal commitment. I’ll take him to court if I have to.”

That wasn’t a confirmation or a denial of her past with Ty, but Adrianne really couldn’t worry about Hailey’s sex life and how it might be interacting with their plans. Her own was messing things up enough.

Adrianne rubbed her forehead. “I’ll take care of it, Hailey.” Like she did everything else. It only made sense that this would fall to her too.