The Marriage Merger (21 page)

She was grateful to busy herself with the tea
things, it gave her time to think. With Alicia back she could
leave. Her job was done, Caitlin was progressing well, and should
continue to do so as long as she kept up the exercises. And Caitlin
needed time with her mother. Preferably without Jenna there so that
Alicia would once again become the pivot in her life.

Jenna knew she couldn’t bear to face Braden
when he returned. His “talk” was probably an explanation of how he
had been carried away by the sexual attraction between them, how
sorry he was, but he was going to marry Veronica. Jenna had
suffered enough humiliation at Veronica’s hands. If she left now at
least she would be going with her dignity still intact. Because if
Braden apologized for making love to her she was not sure if she
could laugh it off and say it meant nothing to her - her nerves
were in shreds thanks to last night’s medication and the effects of
the allergic reaction on her system.

Over the tea Alicia explained that Braden
didn’t know she had been released and she didn’t want to tell him
before because he would insist on picking her up from the hospital
and organizing her. She knew if she was to gain control over her
life she had to make her own decisions and carry them through
herself. She had hired a car and driven herself up to
Maroochydore.

She looked so pleased with herself, so sure
of her new-found confidence, Jenna felt a surge of relief. If she
left now it would be all right. Caitlin would no longer need her -
she would have her mother.

When Caitlin told her mother she wanted to
show her all the drawings she had done and raced off to her room to
get them, Jenna took the opportunity to speak to Alicia.

“If it’s all right with you, Alicia, I’d like
to leave this morning.”

“Leave?”

“Yes. Now that you’re back it’s a good idea
for you and Caitlin to have as much time together as possible to
catch up with one another. I don’t think I’ll have any problems
getting a flight to Sydney today ...” the catch in her throat
wouldn’t let her finish.

“Jenna, just because I’m back there’s no need
for you to leave. Caitlin adores you. Surely you can stay a little
longer?”

The warm concern in Alicia’s eyes was almost
too much for Jenna. She didn’t want to leave, knew she would miss
Caitlin fiercely, knew that not seeing Braden again would be
painful almost beyond endurance.

“No. I’m sorry ... I can’t ...” the tears
that had threatened all morning escaped and trickled down her
cheeks. She dabbed at them with a tissue.

“Jenna, if I’ve said or done something to
upset you, I’m sorry.” Tiny lines of distress crinkled Alicia’s
forehead. Jenna knew she couldn’t let her think she was to
blame.

“No ... not you ...” she choked.

“It’s Braden, isn’t it,” Alicia said. “He can
be awfully bossy, Jenna, I hope he didn’t get under your skin ...”
an intuitive look of understanding flashed in her eyes. “Oh, he
has, hasn’t he, but not like that. You’re in love with him, aren’t
you. I thought there was something between the two of you that
first day I met you. And does he love you?”

Jenna shook her head miserably. “No. He
doesn’t believe in love and his plans for marriage don’t include
me.” She gripped Alicia’s hand. “Please don’t tell him I love him.
The situation’s bad enough now. Let me leave with some shred of
self-respect.”

“No! You can’t go! I won’t let you!”

Jenna and Alicia turned to see Caitlin drop
her drawings on the floor. She must have walked back quietly as
they talked and overheard Jenna saying she would leave. Her little
face was contorted with hurt, her bottom lip quivered.

“Tell her, Mummy, tell Jinx she has to
stay.”

Jenna reached out to the child. “Come here,
Possum.”

Reluctantly the child trudged over to her and
allowed Jenna to lift her onto her lap.

“Possum ...” she cleared her throat “you
don’t need me any more.” She held up a finger as Caitlin started to
protest. “You know how to do your exercises so your leg will get
strong enough for school next year. And now your mother needs you.
Just like you need her. And there’s other children in Sydney who
have been hurt just like you were and they need me to show them how
to get better. You wouldn’t want those children not to get better,
would you?”

“No.” It was a whisper. Then the small arms
were twining around Jenna’s neck. “Promise you’ll come back and see
me.”

Jenna held the child close and closed her
eyes. She couldn’t promise something that would probably never
happen.

“Hell!”

Braden slammed the file down on his desk. It
had been ten days since Jenna had left and nothing he did could
stop him thinking about her. He couldn’t concentrate at work. He’d
been so short-tempered his normally patient secretary had asked him
if he was coming down with something. So he’d told her he would be
working from home and heard the sighs of relief from his staff as
he walked out. Damn! He hadn’t felt this screwed up since his
mother had walked out on them.

He had tossed Jenna’s lavender-fragranced
soap in the bottom drawer of the vanity unit but its perfume seemed
to seep into the room, tantalizing him with memories. His bed
echoed with the sounds of their lovemaking, their cries of passion,
her voice saying his name, over and over.

Every time he walked into the kitchen he
expected to see her there, flour dusting her cheek where she’d
brushed back a stray curl. And the disappointment was like a block
of concrete in his guts.

Why had she left so abruptly? Had he hurt her
that badly? She’d insinuated he had. But she had wanted him to make
love to her, he wasn’t mistaken about that - her response to him
had been wild, passionate. For a while he had thought ... had
hoped...

“Is it safe to enter?” Alicia teased as she
poked her head around the office door.

That was another thing! Alicia had become so
bloody independent. She’d even gone and bought a new car on her
own. Sure she’d asked his advice on what makes and models he
thought were good but she hadn’t even asked him to go to the car
yards with her - just turned up one day with the new car. Didn’t
anybody need him any more?

He was proud of her, he admitted grudgingly,
she was certainly showing a lot more strength of character than
he’d thought her capable of. But she didn’t appear to need him any
more. She was even talking about going back to live in her own
home. And Caitlin hardly came near him since her mother had
returned. He was starting to feel unwanted and un-needed.

“Do you realise you’ve been in a foul temper
since I’ve returned, brother dear?” Alicia asked. “Or is it since
Jenna left?” she added, one eyebrow raised speculatively.

“What can I help you with, Ali?” he growled.
He watched the amused glint in his sister’s eyes. She had changed
so much, it was like watching a different woman. Every day her
confidence grew. Every day the bond she shared with Caitlin grew
stronger. Every day the bond he had shared with his niece seemed
more remote than ever.

“I’d like you to mind Caitlin for me today. I
have to go to Brisbane to finalize some of David’s affairs.
Besides, it might give you the opportunity to find out why you’ve
suddenly become Public Enemy Number One on Caitlin’s list.”

“What do you mean?”

“Honestly, Braden, for an intelligent man you
can be infuriatingly thick at times. Caitlin can barely bid you the
time of day, or hadn’t you noticed?”

“I thought she was just so glad to have you
back that she didn’t need me any more,” he shrugged.

Alicia sighed. She had hoped that Braden
would have talked to her about his feelings for Jenna. She had
dropped subtle hints, given him ample opportunity to discuss it,
but he remained obstinate and closed. It was obvious that he wasn’t
happy about her leaving. But it was equally obvious that he wasn’t
going to do anything about it, either.

“Please try to talk to Caitlin.” She gave him
a hug, relieved when he finally relaxed and returned it.

“All right. I’ll try.”

How was he supposed to find out what was
bothering Caitlin when she wouldn’t talk to him? It was
frustrating, damned frustrating. For an hour he had tried,
alternating between jocular inquiry and almost, but not quite,
pleading. But Caitlin had determinedly refused to discuss whatever
was bothering her.

He recognized his own stubbornness in the
resolute grey eyes, the firm set of her jaw. It gave him an
uncomfortable feeling. Had he been like that with Jenna? He had
been so determined to keep her at a safe emotional distance ...

He turned off the television set, intent on
removing any distraction from Caitlin’s attention. She promptly
picked up a picture book and studied the pages. He turned away in
exasperation, hands raking at his hair.

“Doesn’t anybody want to talk to me?” he
muttered. “Jenna goes off without a word, you...”

“It’s your fault!”

The near-hysterical anger in Caitlin’s voice
spun him around. She had flung the book down on the lounge and was
staring at him with accusing eyes.

“What’s my fault?”

“Why couldn’t you love her? She loves
you.”

“Who loves me?”

“Jinx does. I heard her telling Mummy. But
she said you didn’t love her. So she went away.” Tears started to
run down her cheeks. “Why don’t you love her, Uncle Braden? I love
her and I want her back.”

He stood like a man in shock. Then he walked
slowly back to his niece and sat down.

“Caitlin, honey, I want you to tell me
everything Jenna said.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Jeff Martin placed an arm around his sister’s
shoulders.

“Please say yes, Jinx. I know it’s a last
minute thing, but if the other guy hadn’t pulled out at the last
minute I wouldn’t have to go to this function. I have to take a
partner and it’s too late to go ringing up the few women I know in
Sydney. Well,” he amended, grinning at Jenna in an effort to
convince her, “the few who would go out with me, that is.”

Jenna smiled, disarmed as usual by her
brother’s charm. “I might as well agree. You’ll only keep on
pestering me until I do anyway. What time do we have to be
there?”

“Eight o’clock.” He glanced at his watch.
“Gives you an hour to make yourself gorgeous. Thanks, Sis, I knew I
could count on you.”

“Yeah. Good old reliable Jenna,” she muttered
bitterly as she walked to her bedroom. She shook her head at her
mirrored reflection. Snap out of it, Jenna. You can’t spend the
rest of your life like some lovesick teenager mooning over someone
who doesn’t even care if you exist. Forget Braden. You’ll be
working again soon, you’ll need your wits about you then.

It didn’t work. Every day since she’d
returned to Sydney she’d given herself the same pep talk, but every
day the depression seemed to grow. The ache in her heart deepened.
Tears dampened her pillow each night.

She snapped her head back. Perhaps going out
tonight might help. She squared her shoulders and walked to her
wardrobe.

Fairyland on the water. It was how Jenna had
always thought of Sydney Harbour at night. As Jeff drove over the
Harbour Bridge she looked across at Circular Quay, myriad lights
from high-rise buildings reflecting colour on the inky water. The
white sails of the Opera House, boats twinkling lights like
fireflies on the harbour’s smooth waters - they had always felt
like home to her, but now she was wondering if anything would ever
feel like home again.

Jeff pulled into the parking area of the
Hotel Intercontinental. He escorted Jenna into the spacious
foyer.

“Wait here, I’ll just be a minute,” he said
and walked to the reception desk. Bowls of fresh flowers filled the
area with their delicate perfume. Jenna had little time to admire
the polished timber, the luxurious, tasteful furnishings, before
Jeff was leading her to the elevators, explaining that he had to
see his colleague first to get his paperwork.

He ushered her into an elegant suite toned in
pale lemon and chocolate. She walked over to the window and gazed
out over the Royal Botanic Gardens and the ring road leading to
Government House.

She turned around. Jeff was gone, but the
figure who stood watching her was just as dear, just as loved.

Braden.

She trembled with shock. He looked tired,
haggard, in need of sleep. And wonderful. So wonderful. Like
someone dying of thirst she drank in the sight of him. Then sanity
returned and she stiffened, tense and on guard. Why was he here?
Was he the colleague whose paperwork Jeff had to pick up? He looked
tired but he certainly didn’t look ill. Her mind buzzed with
questions, and finally the one that filled her with the most dread
burst out.

“Caitlin! Has something happened to
Caitlin?”

“No.” He shook his head. “Caitlin’s
fine.”

She sighed with relief. All week she had been
anxious, her concern for Caitlin almost over-riding her heart-ache
at leaving Braden.

He looked awkward, not the confident,
forceful man she had left nearly two weeks ago, and he was
obviously ill at ease. Had Veronica called off the marriage? What
was he doing here? Just standing, staring at her. Her tongue
slipped nervously over suddenly dry lips.

“I’m sorry about the dinner party,” she
finally blurted out, anxious to break the silence. “I knew you were
going to announce your ... merger.” She couldn’t bring herself to
say marriage.

“The merger’s off.”

She should have looked contrite, said she was
sorry, but the little spark of joy in her heart wouldn’t condone
the hypocrisy. Instead she settled for “Veronica must be ...
upset.”

He flung a dismissive hand. “Not for long.
She has other companies.”