Love's Call (16 page)

Liana held the cell phone to her ear and laughed at Alyssa’s teasing.  She could always count on her friend to make her laugh and lighten her mood. Alyssa had called her every day for the past week after her father’s funeral just to make sure she was fine.

But then, without a smooth transition or any tact, she moved right into a question that Liana could tell she’d been dying to ask her. “Lia, what really happened with you and Kyle?”

“Huh?” Liana was caught by surprise by the random question.

“I mean, you told me the basics already, but I mean, time has passed, you’ve had a chance to think about it, did it really go down the way you think it did in that moment?”

“I can’t believe you’d ask me that.”

“Come on, we’re real with each other, right?  I just want to know.  Because I find it hard to believe that man who doesn’t love you, who is lying to you and who wants to hurt you would show up at a funeral and risk getting cussed out by you.  That sounds more like someone who really cares for you.”

Liana sighed, because she had been thinking the same thing for the past week after the funeral.  She thought about how he’d made the effort to just be at the funeral even though he thought she couldn’t stand him.  

“I mean, do you have proof that anything happened between him and his ex-wife?” Alyssa asked.

“No, but…”

“And has he
ever
done anything else to make you doubt that he was an honest person?”

“Ok, no, but…”

“No, wait,” Alyssa cut her off again. “And what did he have to gain by showing up at that funeral and getting the floral arrangement for the family, and all of that?”

“Well, it could’ve just been a way for him to try to get back in.”

“Oh, come
on
, Lia,” Alyssa groaned, frustrated.  “You have a reason, excuse and explanation for everything.  But the reality is that he still loves you.  And you know what; I know that you love him too.  So you can sit over there and be a stubborn cow if you want to, but that’s your choice.  If you end up miserable years from now, wondering what happened to your life, you know who you have to blame for it.”

“Damn, ‘Lyssa, really?  You have to be so harsh?”

She could hear Alyssa sigh into the phone.  “Okay, I’m sorry.  I just...I want to see you happy Lia.  And you get in your own way
every
time
.”

“Okay, okay,” Liana said, ready to cut this conversation short. “I’ll think about what you said, alright.”

“Please do, Lia.” Alyssa pleaded.  “But not for me, for you.”

“I will,” Liana replied and hurried to get off of the phone before Alyssa had a chance to bring up any more sensitive subjects.

Liana pulled open the see-through glass door in front of the building where she worked. Cindy, the administrative assistant, was the first person to greet every visitor to the office, as her desk was centered in front of the entrance door.

Along both sides of Cindy’s desk ran two parallel halls which housed the offices for the Realtors who were a part of that particular division of the larger national real estate company chain.

“Morning, Cindy,” Liana said as she approached Cindy’s desk.  

“Hi, Liana,” Cindy looked down at her desk, as she moved things around, searching for something. “Oh, hey, I have a message for you from a client requesting that you show one of your properties.  It’s the Wilson estate property.  Looks like the client would like a quick tour today, if possible.”

“Really?” Liana asked, excited about the news.  The Wilson estate had been a particularly difficult sale to make, as the owner, Greg Wilson was a defiant man who wouldn’t budge on his preferred list price. Liana had suggested several times that he would have more luck selling it if he’d list the home at a price that would make it competitive in the market, but he’d refused.  “What time are they interested in the showing?”

“Cindy picked up the piece of paper she was looking for.  “It says here, they can be at the place at two this afternoon.”

“They?  Is it a couple?”

“I don’t know. The woman on the phone seemed like a secretary or assistant or something. Like she may have been calling for the client.  And she said, “they” and “them”, so I’m assuming it’s a couple, maybe.”

Liana shrugged.
Couple, single, it doesn’t matter. As long as I can finally sell that property.
The property had been sitting on the market for nearly a year now, and she was ready to finally be rid of it.

***

As Liana drove through the winding and hilly roads that led to the home, her mind drifted, as it usually did, back to Kyle. It had been nearly a week since she’d been reprimanded by Alyssa about her treatment of him and the whole situation with their relationship.  

But, even though she’d told Alyssa she’d think about what she’d said, she hadn’t promised to act on it.  And though her thoughts drifted to Kyle every day, she had not yet worked up the nerve to pick up the phone to call him yet, and didn’t know if she ever would.

Yes, she had missed him, and yes she may have taken their argument to epic, over-the-top proportions, but she still had her pride.  
Maybe that’s my problem and will be my downfall, but it’s who I am
, she told herself, rationalizing her reasons for not wanting to call and face up to him.  

And, he was wrong for what he did,
she kept trying to tell herself, to convince herself that her actions were justified.

Liana pulled up to the circular drive of the sprawling home, and shook her head to clear her mind of her runaway thoughts.

She was early, as usual, because she preferred to arrive before the clients so that she could prepare for the showing and find all of her fliers, and other necessary materials.  Liana pulled her bag out of the car and walked toward the front door, her heels clicking along the stone walkway.  

She entered the code into the lockbox and pulled out the house key.  Liana entered, pulled the fliers and documents detailing the home’s specifications out of her bag and placed them on the granite countertop.  She went through her usual routine of performing a quick walk-through of the property before the client arrived, when she heard a car pull up in the driveway.

She rushed over to the window to steal a quick glance of the clients before they entered. When she saw the silver Camry pull up, her jaw nearly hit the floor.  Kyle, dressed in a suit, as if he’d just come from work, climbed out of the car and strode over to the front door.

She fixed her clothes and ran a hand over her up-do to smooth her hair, before she realized what she was doing.  She forced her hand down, instantly feeling silly. Kyle walked through the door that she’d left open and when he saw her his face lit up.

“Kyle, what are you doing here?  I’m expecting clients…”

“I know.  You’re looking at him.”

“You..?’

Kyle nodded, a silly grin covering his face.

“But, why...I didn’t know you were looking for a property.”

“Well, I can’t stay in the condo forever.  I need a place of my own, to call home.”

Liana looked around at the large, expansive home.  It didn’t seem his taste at all, and was a lot larger than what he needed.

“But, isn’t this a bit much for just you? And it’s much more money than I’m sure you’d like to spend.  How about I look for some other more reasonably priced properties for you.”

He shook his head. “Nope, this is the one I want.  I wasn’t looking for cheaper and...I’m hoping that I will need this much space soon.”

She eyed him suspiciously.  
What does that mean? Why does he need so much space?  Is he moving here with Shaila?  Are they starting a family?

She forced her brain to stop going wild with the runaway thoughts again, and said politely, “Okay, sure.”  

She walked through each room of the home, showing him the special features and specifications that she thought might interest him. Kyle walked behind her, as she led the way, her hand outstretched as she pointed during her demonstration.  It took more willpower than he’d ever had to conjure up before as he watched her move in front of him.

She was dressed up, wearing pantyhose, high heels and a fitted red suit that flattered her flaring hips-- his favorite part of her body. He found his will weakening, as all he wanted to do was stop her tour and sample her lips while he ran his hands over all of her curves.

They returned to the foyer of the house, and she turned to ask, “Well, what do you think?”

“I like it, I really do.  But I don’t quite know if it’s going to be a good fit.  I think I may need you to show me a few more properties.”

She tilted her head and studied his face. Was he serious? “Are you just playing a game here, Kyle, or are you serious about purchasing a property?” She walked back into the kitchen and collected the papers off of the counter into a neat pile and returned them to her bag. “I really don’t have time to play around, Kyle.  This is my job, it’s not a game.”

He was right behind her, and she smelled his cologne before she saw him--that tempting, sensual smell she remembered from the cruise.
Why does he have to stand so damn close?

He placed a hand over hers on the counter, and she turned to look into his beautiful eyes. “It’s not a game, Lia.  Never has been. I do want to purchase property from you.  And there are no strings attached, no other requirements necessary from you.”

She removed her hand from under his touch, afraid she would succumb to the powers he seemed to have over her, every time his skin met hers.

“You wanted to know why I want so much space?  I was hoping you would give me another chance and that one day this place could be ours.” Liana’s breath stopped when he spoke the confessional words to her. “It’s more important to me than anything that I do something for you.  You want to know why I’m getting such an expensive place?”

She couldn’t do anything but nod, as her voice seemed to be caught in her throat. “I want to give you the biggest commission I can. I can afford it, and I want to do this for you. You are a hardworking, beautiful woman who deserves it.” He placed a hand under her chin so that he could look into her eyes.  “And I hope that no matter what you decide, this helps you to discover more of the world you’ve always wanted to see.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks at the sweetness of his words and he wiped the moisture away.

“I don’t know what I have to do to show you that you are who I want, and only you, but I’m willing to spend a lifetime doing it.  I choose you, Liana. You’re a woman who deserves to be a man’s one and only choice. Not a back-up, not a rebound, and not the other woman. But first, and only.  And I want to give you that place in my life, if only you’ll let me.”

She closed her eyes, sure that she had to be in the middle of a dream.  Because things like this didn’t happen in real life.  At least, not in her life.

She opened her eyes, to find him still there. It wasn’t a dream.  It was definitely real life.  He leaned down to kiss her. He was hesitant, but willing to take a chance on her rejection of him again.  When his lips touched hers, though, she didn’t fight and gave in completely to his soft, loving kiss.

“Wait a minute, Alyssa, let me fix your dress.”  Liana bent down to pull Alyssa’s train from underneath her feet, fluffed it up into the air and let it fall so that it fanned back down on the floor. “There, that’s better.”  

They were in the beautiful, grand ballroom of a popular Italian hotel, preparing for Alyssa’s wedding to Lloyd. Liana had taken in the gorgeous, large open space and the fine art tapestries on the wall, and being there, felt so surreal to her.  

Liana walked to stand next to her friend, and Alyssa gave her a huge grin.  She shifted her bouquet to one hand and reached up to pull her veil down to cover her face.  She then turned to Liana and reached over to help Liana pull her veil down, as well.

Liana wore a form-fitting white, strapless dress and she gripped her own bouquet of red roses tightly in her hands, praying that it didn’t slip from her sweaty palms. She was a nervous wreck.  

Once again, only Alyssa could talk me into doing something as crazy as a double wedding,
she thought. But even she had to laugh at the hilarity of it.

The music signaling that it was time for the brides to walk down the aisle began and they shared one last hug, before the doors opened.  Liana reached down for a quick squeeze of Alyssa’s hand and Alyssa grinned back at her. “You‘re gonna be okay,” she whispered, as they proceeded down the aisle toward the two men who waited anxiously to be able to call them their wives.

“I know,” Liana said. Her racing heart had been put at ease when she looked down to see Kyle’s beaming face as she walked down the aisle toward him.

***

Kyle and Liana, still dressed in their wedding attire, sat next to each other on the balcony of their penthouse honeymoon suite.  Liana reached for the glass of champagne on the table in front of them, and took a sip.  

Kyle watched her and smiled, remembering how much she’d refused to let even a drop of alcohol touch her lips before. It had been a slow process, but Liana was learning to open up to more new experiences every day.

They both stared up at the stars and the full moon above them--the same moon and stars they’d seen from the balcony of the cruise ship cabin, two years ago. Kyle reached his hand out toward her, and gave her hand a squeeze when she placed it in his.

“Thank you,” Liana said quietly, as they stared ahead at the beautiful, bright lights of the Italian city outside their hotel room.

He looked at her, confused.  “For what?”

“For helping me to open up to love, and to marriage.  And...for keeping your promise.”

“What promise was that?”

“Your promise to spend your life, traveling the world with me.”

He smiled at her reference to the cruise ship memory, and said, “There’s much more than this to see.  Only condition though, is that you promise to continue to see it with me, as Mrs. Liana Jones.”

“I like the sound of that,” she grinned over at him. “Agreed.”

They leaned over and shared a passionate kiss under the glow of the full moon.

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