Saving Each Other (BWWM Romance) (19 page)

Faith leaned back on the bench she had stopped at. Much had happened in her life. From her childhood with her “family” to being there now, there was so much that had shaped who she was. She allowed herself to momentarily drift to Kevin. She smiled as she thought about how sweet he was to her. Hopefully he was happy, he deserved that much, even if not with her. She had decided then that her focus should be on work. That was one thing she could relax and enjoy about her life. Everything else was just…well, complicated. She hadn’t turned her back on him, she had simply removed herself from being a complication in his life. He was better off.

She remembered the time they had gotten stuck at Harbor in the rain. She had spent so much time getting ready for that staff dinner and spent so much on her hair, only to have the rain make a mess of it. He had just laughed and, unable to be upset for too long, she had laughed too. Even now she giggled at the memory.

“That must be some memory, Miss Parks, for you to giggle like a schoolgirl.” He said it suddenly in the stillness of the afternoon light. Faith shot up from her seat.

Embarassed now, she replied, “Yes it was, thank you, why do you insist on sneaking up on me, Mr. Robinson? It really does happen all of the time.”

“You know, Faith, I don’t really try to…it just sort of…well, happens.” He completed the statement with a shrug of his shoulders which made him even more endearing.

“One day you’re going to give me a heart attack, if you want me gone there are far nicer ways to do it, you know?” Joking now, she smiled over at him.

“I would never want you gone, Faith.” The seriousness with which he said it sent a bolt of lightning up her spine. It was almost as if time stopped for a second and he stared at her intently.

Faith brushed off her uniform as if to break the trance he seemed to have over her. She could smell him; the scent of leather, his hair needed a trim too but it curled dangerously over his forehead, giving him a rakish appearance. This was no good, that’s all she could think, it was either that or she would reach over and move the curl in question off of his forehead.

Instead she chose to lean forward and smell the lilacs, which were blooming rampantly.

“I was hoping you would walk with me?” He reached over to touch her arm. Looking up at him, she knew she wouldn’t say no.

“Perhaps for a few minutes more.”

They started walking west into a section of the gardens Faith had yet to explore. This section was overgrown and needed tending to. It was obvious there had been lovely roses there of some kind, and the tangled gnarled mess of the branches were everywhere. It was then that Faith reached up to untangle one from her hair and cut her hand.

“Ouch! Stupid thorns.”

Having never heard anything like this from her before, it took Cooper a moment before he reached out for her hand and turned it over to look at it.

“So she does have a temper.” He grinned as he said it.

“I have been known to actually…but I try to think before I speak, so that helps.”

Cooper reached into his blazer pocket and pulled out a handkerchief and pressed it against her palm, where the angry cut was bleeding slightly.

The closeness of him and his hand on hers made Faith panic slightly and she pulled away from him.

“It’s nothing really, I’m fine.” She flushed slightly. “I really should be getting back.”

“Before you go, I wanted to share this part of the gardens with you because I’m thinking of redoing them. They’ve been untended for a long time, Mr. Jacoby can only do so much alone.”

He looked at Faith expectantly, she was acting oddly so he attempted to distract her.

“What do you think?” He waited.

“What do I think about what? Oh the garden… I think that’s wonderful, it once had roses I can tell.” She had calmed down enough now to look around at the far wall.

“Yes roses…overplayed I think. Perhaps something different this time.” He said flatly.

“Oh you don’t like roses? They are intricate and smell heavenly and there are so many hybrids now it’s virtually impossible to know how many kinds there are. Those and carnations of course.”

“Carnations? They are basically weeds.” He grimaced at her.

“Well they are my favorites, both unique .It’s your garden, Mr. Robinson, I was just giving some ideas.”

She had to admit she was a little hurt. She had loved roses and carnations for very different reasons. Roses were expensive and elusive to her. She remembered when Louis Champlain had given her one when she was 15. She could have very well fallen in love then if she hadn’t been careful. She had cared for that rose until it started to wither and her aunt had simply thrown it out. Her only reasoning was that it looked dead. That rose had been the one beautiful thing in her life for a long time until she went to church and learned what true beauty was. Carnations were a little different. They had been her Nana’s favorite, she had them all over the house, giving it an air of elegance when it really was simply that it was the cheapest flower she could find.

“I didn’t mean to offend you, Faith, honest.” He fell in line with her as they walked towards the estate. They walked silently for a moment.

She started up the stairs to Mrs. Robinson’s room but she turned and said, “I’m sorry, Mr. Robinson, I'm in a mood today, you didn’t offend me. I think renewing the gardens is an excellent idea and whatever you decide will be beautiful.” She nodded slightly and headed up.

Cooper headed to his study, she seemed different that day, but he couldn’t figure out what it was. He set about getting his paperwork done before dinner.

Chapter 8

The rest of the afternoon passed uneventfully. Faith sat in front of the vanity in her room lost in thought and silently thinking about her reaction to Cooper. She had hoped that the distance between them would have made it less difficult to react to him whenever he was around. It was no use. Faith had to admit to herself that she felt something real for Cooper, the issue was that she needed to make it stop and keep her distance. She just didn’t know how to do that. She would soon find her answer.

Dinner that evening was not as uneventful as the afternoon. They had just sat down at the table, Cooper at the head and his mother at his right side. Faith was seated next to Mrs. Robinson and Linda was on Cooper’s left. They chatted happily about the weekend ahead, Mrs. Robinson doing most of the talking.

“Do you have plans this Saturday, Miss Parks?” Only she could tell he meant more by that than just the casual way he said it.

“Perhaps.” She simply couldn’t resist.

“Mr. Robinson, Miss Wilson has arrived.” After Mr. Robinson nodded, Reagan exited the room to bring her in.

Cynthia Wilson was the epitome of high fashion. She had auburn hair in an artfully arranged pile of curls falling around her shoulders. Her clothing, quite literally, was from a fashion show in Paris earlier that year. Tall and sleek, she wore a black pant suit and spiked heels. She completed the outfit with red lips and pearls.

Both Faith and Linda could only stare as Cynthia made her exaggerated entrance.

“Cooper, darling…I’ve been so worried, I had thought you were sending a car for me.” She pouted as she reached him at the table. “I had to get here on my own.”

Cooper stood and smiled weakly as she embraced him in a side hug.

“I apologize, my dear, I spent a lot of time going over the plans for the repair of the west gardens. Time simply got away from me and by then you were on your way.”

So he had known she was coming. Faith felt herself sinking down further in her chair.

“Everyone, this is Cynthia, I wanted to take this dinner as a way of introducing you formally. As you know, we have been seeing each other for some time and well I wanted to let you know that she has agreed to become my wife.” He looked around at the faces staring at him. He could see shock and confusion in his mother’s face, and a touch of sadness with Linda but Faith, she was like a stone. He could read nothing.

Feeling the ball of dread curl up in her stomach, Faith knew this was the one way to make sure she stopped all the craziness she felt for Cooper every time she saw him. She also knew she could think more about it later when she was alone. For the moment, she had to be strong.

“Congratulations to you both.” She extended her hand to Miss Wilson who took a moment to hesitate before barely touching her hand in response.

“You must be Linda.” She smiled a sour smile at Faith.

“No, actually I'm Faith, this is Miss Watson.” Faith gestured toward Linda who was still looking down at her now cold soup.

“Oh I do apologize, you just seem older than Miss Watson, I simply deduced…well anyhow.” She turned back to Cooper who was now turning slightly red.

Faith walked back to her seat swiftly in time to speak to Mrs. Robinson quietly.

“It’s okay, ma’am, but why are you upset?”

“How did you know I was upset?” she said breathlessly.

“I know you, Mrs. Robinson, just breathe we can talk about this later.” She patted her arm and gave her a squeeze.

Dinner went on as planned and the strained silence was only interrupted when Miss Wilson would make strange demands on Reagan or Linda about the food. Either it was too cold or too hot or under seasoned. It was obvious that Cynthia Wilson was very much used to getting her own way.

“So, Miss Parks, what do you do here in Cooper’s employ?” she asked simply while eating her custard for dessert.

“I am a nurse and I am here with Mrs. Robinson, and I try to help Linda whenever I can.”

“Oh yes that reminds me,” she turned towards Mrs. Robinson. “We shall spend some time together and become best friends, you and I. Perhaps a shopping spree together, I’m sure Cooper wouldn’t mind.” She batted her lashes at Cooper as she said it.

“Of course not, I’m not sure that’s something Mother is up for just not now though, dear.” Cooper glanced over at his mother who was trying hard not to say a word.

“Oh of course she is,” she railed. “Every woman loves to shop, no one wants to wear the same old thing every day.” This last part she said as she glanced back and forth between Linda and Faith.

“I have plans,” Mrs. Robinson said with a silent calm.

Cooper could sense the change in his mother’s attitude. He had hoped she would be happy about the engagement. She had been on him about a new family and the heir. He felt the pressure rising from his friends. This was the right thing. It answered all of their needs.

“Cynthia dear, Mother is usually tied up in the afternoon.” He said it with a finality that Faith knew too well, but Miss Wilson didn’t seem to have the same intuition.

Feeling much like the third wheel, but unable to leave without being rude, Faith tried to focus on her dessert. Cooper was being bombarded by questions from Miss Wilson from everything about the food and a new cook once they were married, to the library and how dreadfully boring it was. At one point, Faith glanced at him and found herself locking her gaze with his. He seemed to be focused more on her than listening to the rambling going on around his head.

“Cooper, do you hear anything I’m saying?” She was angry and that snapped him back to the present.

“Of course, darling, I'm taking in all of your concerns.”

Her pout was exaggerated as she went on. “I seem to have a headache coming on, I must be going, Cooper.”She noticed the look he had given that nurse earlier. She would have to watch her, that one.

“It was nice to meet you…I’m sorry what was your name again?”

“Faith.”

“Yes that’s it, the nurse, I’m sure we will see each other more as the wedding gets closer.” She smiled at Cooper as he helped walk her out the front to where Reagan had her things and her car waiting.

Wanting to be gone before he came back, Faith took her plate to the kitchen and went out the side door to the gardens. She inhaled the sweet smells deeply and felt the warm breeze on her face. She had asked for a way to help her move past Cooper Robinson once and for all and he had found a way to do just that. Maybe a part of her had liked feeling that connection? Either way it didn’t matter now, he was engaged to marry Miss Wilson. She was more suited to him with her stylish ways and the fact that she was beautiful didn’t hurt.

The wind whipped at that moment and she found peace in that small sign. Her hair a mess, she took it down the rest of the way, letting the wind whip through it and she smiled.