Waking Up To Love (Lakeside Porches Book 4) (30 page)

“And we’re fine, thanks for asking.”

“Sorry. Love you.”

“Love you, too. I’ll leave my phone on, so call if you need to talk. Don’t hesitate. Understood?”

“Understood, thank you.”
She’s worried about me. Should I be worried about me?
“My love to Justin.”

“Be careful, Lyssa. I’m serious.”

“I will. I’m breathing now.” She laughed at herself, and Gianessa’s musical laugh floated back to her across the miles. “Bye.”

“Who was that?” Bethany asked from behind her right shoulder.

Lyssa started. She hadn’t realized Bethany had followed her from the table. How much had she heard? She managed an innocent smile. “A friend. Is our coffee getting cold?”

The play made the weekend charade worthwhile to Lyssa. “This performance is dazzling,” she told Rand as they stretched their legs at intermission. “Are you enjoying it?”

“Blown away. My family handles all kinds of talent in the fashion industry, but I’ve never seen costuming like this. I keep believing those animals are real.”

“Can you imagine being as strong and supple as the dancers? They must live to dance.”

“I’m sure.” He ran his fingers down her bare arm. “That dress is great.”

“Thanks.” She stepped away.

“Are you feeling all right? You seem a little off tonight.”

She started to say she was fine, but a sudden pain in her left eye made her pause. She’d learned early in sobriety, at her sponsor’s urging, to pay attention to arbitrary pain, like her headache earlier and this nasty twinge. It dawned on her she could create an excuse for leaving early. Alone.

“You know me well, Rand,” she answered. “It’s a touch of migraine. I’ve had a light show playing since we boarded the plane this morning,” she lied. “The caffeine in the coffee helped, but that fix seems to be wearing off.”

“Let’s get another coffee. We have time, and I’d like a beer.”

The bottles on the lobby bar at the theater had no appeal for her, but it was a different story after the show, when the four of them were high from the thrill of the performance.

At a nearby lounge, where tray after tray of sophisticated cocktails floated by, that’s when a Kir Berrichon beckoned to Lyssa. Her longtime Texas boyfriend and drinking buddy, Richie, had turned her on to the dark red combination of red wine and blackberry liqueur.

“I’d like—” The twitch in her eye was so painful it made her suck air and blink hard. “Sorry, changed my mind. Can you make me a
Doppio con Panna
?” Justin’s favorite drink.
I owe you, Justin. Again.

At the waiter’s nod, she excused herself. “Ladies’ room. How about you, Bethany?”

“I’m good, thanks.”

Her hands shook as she pressed the speed-dial for Gianessa.

“Are you all right?” Gianessa’s worried voice greeted her.

“Ohmigod, I nearly ordered a cocktail just now.”

“But you didn’t?”

“No.”

“And you haven’t picked up a drink or a drug?”

“No, thank God. But I don’t want to go back to the table. I want to be away from this place and these people who started drinking hours ago.”

“Then make an excuse to leave. Go back to your hotel. Lock the door. Take a bath. And sleep until morning. You’re flying home late tomorrow morning, right?”

“Yes.”

“Have yourself a good breakfast. Then call everyone you know in the program until it’s time to get on the plane.”

“Sounds like a plan. You’ve not heard from Kyle?”

“Nothing. He’ll turn up. You need to take care of yourself right now.”

“Thanks for saving my butt.”

“Be careful, Lyssa. Call if you need to.”

She smudged a little mascara before returning to the table, and didn’t refresh her lipstick or fix her wind-blown hair. “Sorry, everybody, I just threw up in the ladies’ room, and my head is pounding with this migraine. I’m going to get a cab. Bethany, don’t worry about waking me when you get back.”

Bethany gave her an ‘Are you kidding?’ look. “I’m sleeping with Brad. It’s Rand who needs to be careful.”

Why didn’t I see that coming?
“Rand, I really cannot share the room with you tonight.”

Rand chugged his beer and stood. “I give a great massage that is guaranteed to cure you of your headache. We’ll get a cab right now.”

“I’m going alone, thanks. You stay and enjoy your friends.”

“Not going to happen.” He peeled off two twenties and left them on the table.

She squeezed her eyes shut. “Sorry, everyone. This has been a spectacular evening. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did, Bethany and Brad.”

“Absolutely. As soon as Rand gives you that massage, Peaches, you’ll feel so much better.”

“Peaches?”

Bethany giggled. “That’s what the guys call you.”

Lyssa didn’t ask.

“It’s your peaches and cream complexion,” Brad said with a wink in Rand’s direction.

“Right. Enjoy your drinks.”

Rand held her close in the taxi and kept his arm around her as they entered the hotel.

“Thanks, Rand. I do wish you’d rejoin your friends. I’m going to crash as soon as I get to my room.”

“No, you’re not. You really need a massage, and I am sincere about having the magic touch.”

She turned with pleading eyes to the man at the desk, but he was two-deep with late check-ins.

“Got the key?” Rand asked her.

She raised her voice. “Rand, I do not want you to come up to the room with me.” That got the attention of several people.

He gripped her elbow with strong fingers, and she winced. His tone was low and menacing. “Do I need to remind you that I’m footing the bill for the room?”

“What you need to do is take your hand off my elbow,” she yelled.

“A word, sir?” a man in a security uniform said, his voice quiet, but firm.

Rand released her arm, and she ran to the elevator. As she pressed the button for the fifth floor, a couple joined her and pressed six. She willed the doors to close before Rand could talk his way out of his latest jam.

Once inside the room, she tossed all her things into her overnight bag, made sure her passport and wallet were in her purse and double-checked that she had the keycard to the Omni. She paused at the door.
God, I need you to do this with me
.

The hallway was clear but, as she pushed through the door to the stairway, the elevator dinged and the doors slid open. She didn’t pause to see who got out.

With her weekend bag hooked over her shoulder, she pounded down the stairs. After two flights, there was still no sound of anyone following. A few deep breaths quelled her panic. She continued at a more prudent pace.

A peek at the lobby showed Rand still talking with the security officer, who was laughing at something Rand had said.
Figures
.

She set down her bag, drew her hood over her hair so it shadowed her face, gripped the bag tight in her hand, and strode purposefully to the front entrance.

A taxi had just disgorged an older couple, and the cabbie nodded to her as he shut the trunk. In one fluid motion she threw her bag onto the back seat, slid in behind it, and pulled the door shut.

“Where to?” he asked her.

She held out a fifty-dollar bill. “Omni Berkshire Place.”

“Lady, it’s just six blocks.”

“This is so you don’t tell the half-drunk, fast-talking, blond guy where you took me.”

“You got it, honey. I’ll tell him you asked for Penn Station.”

“That’s brilliant.” She laughed in relief. The possibilities were endless.

Safe and warm in Kyle’s hotel room, she stripped off her black dress, bra, and panties and slid fanny-first into a steaming, gardenia-scented bathtub. Her every pore tingled when the bath salts awakened them. She closed her eyes and let the warmth ease her tension. Even the crick in her neck worked itself out.

She recited her evening prayers, changing the routine to suit the day. First up was gratitude for another day of sobriety. And for her safety tonight. For Gianessa, the cab drivers, all the people that helped her along the way. She prayed for Kyle’s safety and his mum’s health.
Whatever he’s dealing with, please help him
.

When the water was cool and her skin puckered, she climbed out of the tub, wrapped herself in the hotel’s terry robe, and washed her hair in the sink. She’d just turned off the hair dryer when her phone chirped. “Yes, hello?”

“Lyssa? It’s Manda.”

“I’m so glad to hear your voice. What’s happening? Has anyone heard from Kyle?”

“Joel has been on the phone with him. Kyle’s mother is in the hospital with pneumonia, and they aren’t sure if she’ll make it.”

“That’s horrible. I need to be there.” Lyssa’s stomach clenched.

“That’s why they asked Kyle to come. And they don’t want people to use cell phones in the hospital. Every time he tried you, your phone was off, and he got worried.”

“Blast, I don’t want him worrying about me.”

“Where are you?”

“In his hotel room. It’s a long story. But I should be with him.”

“Exactly. Joel’s been researching flights, and he wants to talk to you. Here’s Joel. I love you.”

“Love you, Manda. Hi, Joel.”

“Hey, sis. Want to go to Cornwall tomorrow?”

His strong, upbeat tone cheered her. “I’d rather go tonight, to be honest.”

“The earliest we can get you off to London is seven fifteen in the morning. There’s a Virgin Atlantic flight out of Newark, just across the river from Manhattan. You can probably see the planes from your hotel.”

“Got my drapes drawn, Joel,” she said with a chuckle, “but I believe you.”

“I’ll make the reservation if you’ll give me the exact name on your passport and your passport number.” When she’d given him the information, he told her, “You need to be at the airport by four fifteen, so I’ll arrange a car to pick you up at your hotel at three thirty in the morning. That gives you a few hours now to get some sleep. Manda just whispered that you’re at Kyle’s hotel. Is that the Omni?”

“Omni Berkshire Place, yes.”

“How are you fixed for clothes, medication, shoes, and outerwear?”

“Thank you for asking all the right questions. I don’t have or need medication. I’ve got one change of clothes that I planned to wear home tomorrow. It’s a bit casual, but it will get me to London.”

“How about this? You’ll have a couple hours at the airport. Call your roommate. Karin, right? Ask her to round up a few changes of clothes for you. Kyle thought she or her friend Tommy might be able to drive you to Padstow or at least get you to the train.”

“Yes, brilliant. Karin will be all over it, and Tommy will love the drive.” She burst into tears.

“What’s wrong?”

“Sorry, I’m just so grateful to you all for helping me.”

“That’s what friends do for each other, and we’d be really upset if you didn’t let us. Now, this is really important: your tickets are business class, which means free drinks. Get a good breakfast at the airport so you’re not tempted. And a neck pillow so you can get some sleep on the flight.”

“Good thinking, Joel.”

He made her repeat the things he had asked her to do at the airport. “Can you do all that, Lyssa?”

“Yes, and I’ve written it down in my little notebook.”

He chuckled. “Good. Get some sleep and be at the entrance to the Omni by three-thirty, ready for the car.”

Phone to her ear, Lyssa listened to Karin’s rollicking account of buying her a wardrobe on her lunch hour in London. “The only place for it was Selfridges, so I haven’t got your favorite knickers.”

Lyssa laughed from her belly. She spotted Tommy’s Jeep then, weaving toward her through the crush of vehicles at Heathrow picking up friends, family, and business associates. She gave a wave in case they couldn’t see her.

The passenger door swung open and Karin bolted out. She ran to Lyssa and crushed her in a hug. “I’ve missed you so terribly. Fancy you and Kyle getting back together. I knew you were meant for each other.”

Lyssa’s tears fell unchecked. “We made it hard for ourselves, didn’t we? I absolutely love you as a platinum blond, Karin.”

The Jeep’s front tire scraped the curb, and Tommy wrapped the two weeping women in his long arms. “The bobby’s got his eye on us. Into the car with you. Seriously, luv, is this what you call a proper suitcase for a week in Cornwall?”

Lyssa grinned as he lifted her weekender with two fingers. “I was in New York for exactly one night when all this went down.”

“Lucky. You’d have had a hell of a time arranging flights from that backwater town you live in, I should imagine. We’re off to Cornwall straightaway. I’ll stop for food in an hour. And that’s the last I’ll interfere with the non-stop talking I expect from the both of you.”

Lyssa planted a kiss on his stubbled cheek. “You look amazing with that overgrown five o’clock shadow.”

“Doesn’t he?” Karin agreed. “That’s what made me accept his proposal last weekend.”

Lyssa shrieked with joy as she climbed into the back seat. “Tell me everything.”

It was nearly ten o’clock when the Jeep wound up the drive to Pennington House. The great stone house seemed to hold its breath.
He’s not here
.

One light burned in the entry and another in the upstairs hall.