CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Leaving Cole alone in the conference room drained me of every emotion I had. I compensated by forcing myself straight into my work.
Contracts don’t talk back.
I thought as I focused on a new project I’d requested. I spent the next several days in the office. I’d get in around 6 a.m. and leave around midnight. It made the few hours I had to myself -which I’d mostly spent asleep- more tolerable. I was getting back into the groove of things and finally not constantly thinking about Cole.
Addison was worried I wasn’t really dealing with the situation, so much so she even had her mom swing by the office to check in on me. “Reagan, honey, are you holding up okay?” She asked, as she wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tight.
“Absolutely, I’ve just been super busy here at work. We have so many projects going on and I’m trying to juggle all of them, did you hear I’m being considered for partnership?”
I could see both the excitement and concern in her eyes as she replied, “Yes, Addison told me all about it. We’re so thrilled, your mom and dad would have been so proud of you,” she took a deep sigh before going on, “but, Reagan, we really are concerned, you can’t just push this entire thing with Cole to the wayside, sweetie. You have to deal with it, have you talked to him about it? I know it’s really none of my business, but you’re like a daughter to me, and I don’t want to see you hurting. If you no longer want to be with him, that’s fine, and we’ll all stick by your decision, but I want you to make sure that is truly what you want before you call it quits for good.”
A smile came across my face as she spoke to me, a real smile. And it occurred to me in that moment that I hadn’t smiled since the evening of the party, before everything happened with Cole and Heather. I loved Addison’s parents and in that very moment, as much as it ripped my heart out to even hear Teresa say Cole’s name, I was thankful that, even though, my mom was gone, I had someone like Teresa who was there for me, no matter what. I contemplated my response before I answered, if there was anyone who could call my bluff it was Teresa, she had known me since I was a born, and she always knew when Addison and I weren’t telling the truth, so I did my best to sound believable.
“It’s hard, really hard, I have no desire to do anything, but figure out a way to make that night disappear, but I can’t. I love Cole, and up until that evening, I really thought he could be the man I’d spend the rest of my life with, but seeing him with Heather proved that his bachelor ways are still lingering in his system. And really, who am I to force him to change the way he has been his entire adult life? I may not like it, but in all honesty, it’s probably better it happened sooner rather than later. I just can’t have anything jeopardize my career right now, and dealing with him, constantly wondering where he is and who he is with, I won’t be able to focus. Before he came into my life I was perfectly content being single, I had priorities and I’m not going to change them for a man.
“I hate that it played out this way, but there isn’t anything I can do to fix it, he was in the wrong, not me. And as much as I’d like to try and deal with it and him, I just can’t take that chance right now. I really am okay, I promise. I hurt, my heart mostly, it literally aches, but it’s all part of life. You just have to live and let live. I’m glad I at least got to experience all of the good with him. Maybe one day, when he meets someone new, this will be a reminder to not screw up.” She sat across from me taking in my every word.
Come on, if I ever needed an Oscar award for my acting skills it was right now.
She got more comfortable in her chair as she thought about what she was going to say and by the look in her eyes I could tell I was busted.
“Let me tell you something not too many people know,” she paused getting up to close my office door. After she sat back down across from me she went on, “when Addison was five years old Theo was on a business trip in Italy. He had been gone for almost two months and we were missing him terribly, so we decided to pack our bags and surprise him. When we landed we went straight to the hotel to see him, the bellhop took us up to his suite and let us in, trying to assist in the surprise. When we walked into his suite I heard a woman’s voice coming from the other side of his bedroom door. I sat Addison down on the couch and told her to play with her baby doll, until I could figure out what was going on.
“When I walked into his suite he was in bed with another woman.” I gasped, completely shocked. From what I had always remembered Theo and Teresa were just as happy as Mom and Dad, I’d never imagined they’d been through something like this. Teresa held her hands up as she went on, “It was utterly devastating, especially knowing our five year old daughter was sitting right on the other side of the door. Of course, my first reaction was to take Addison back to the airport and meet with my attorney as soon as we made it back to the states, but that obviously wasn’t what happened. Addison ran into the arms of her father, as his mistress snuck out of the back door, and as I watched how happy she was seeing her daddy I knew I couldn’t allow this to break up our family. I wouldn’t do that to my daughter, she deserved to grow up in a happy home. It took a long time for Theo and me to work things out, but we did and I can tell you, he never repeated his mistake again after that day.
“Now, I realize that Theo and I had a lot more riding on our relationship than you and Cole, but I just want you to realize, people make mistakes. It’s not up to us to judge them, rather we have to decide if we are willing to forgive them. It’s not easy, trust me, it can be one of the most difficult things you’ll ever have to do, but in the end it could possibly bring you the most joy you could ever imagine. I couldn’t possibly imagine having shared my life with anyone else. Like I said, it wasn’t easy, but once I fully forgave him it was as if it never happened and we have truly lived happily ever after since.”
I sat there in shock, staring wide eyed at Teresa. She stood up and pulled me into a hug. “Now, don’t go feeling sorry for me, I made my choice many, many years ago and it was the best decision I’ve ever made. There isn’t a day that doesn’t go by that I don’t know Theo loves me with his entire heart, trust me, he’s spent the last twenty some years making up for his mistake.”
I tried to hug her back, still in shock. “Does Addison know?” I asked, hoping I wouldn't have to feel like I was keeping a secret from my best friend.
“Yes, I had this same conversation with her when her first college boyfriend cheated on her, luckily she didn’t listen to her momma with that one.” I chuckled as Teresa held me at arm’s length. “Just remember, once in a lifetime love is hard to come by, when you have it, you have to work hard at it and hold onto it as tight as you possibly can.” She kissed my cheek. She headed towards the door, looking over her shoulder, she stopped and smiled. “That boy’s working hard to win you back, you know, he loves you Reagan, he really does.” And at that she left. I sat there wondering what in the heck she meant when she said he was working hard to win me back. But before I had time to really think about it my phone chimed, it was Addison.
YOU’RE COMING OVER FOR THANKSGIVING, RIGHT?
Holy crap, was it Thanksgiving already? I thought, pulling up my calendar. Not yet, but it would be in two days. I quickly responded back to her.
OF COURSE, ARE YOU TAKING IT ON THIS YEAR OR ARE YOU LEAVING IT UP TO YOUR PARENTS AGAIN?
I’M GOING TO GIVE IT A SHOT.
CASE WANTED TO HAVE IT AT OUR HOUSE THIS YEAR, LUCKILY HIS MOM AND MINE ARE COOKING, I JUST HAVE TO HOST.
WHO’S ALL COMING OVER?
MOM, DAD, MY IN-LAWS, A FEW OF CASEY’S COUSINS.
COUSINS?
WHICH ONE’S EXACTLY?
CONNOR, CADE……..COLE.
I dropped my phone onto my desk. Of course, Cole would be there. His parent’s lived hundreds of miles away, he’d need someone to spend the holidays with if he wasn’t visiting California. A few minutes later my phone chimed again.
I CAN UN-INVITE HIM IF YOU WANT?
“Seriously!” I shouted out loud, thankful no one else in the office heard me. “Oh perfect, make me look like the big bad guy for making Cole spend Thanksgiving alone, while the rest of his family is all together.” I shot back a text ending the conversation.
IT’S FINE, ONE DAY WITH HIM WON’T KILL ME, I HOPE.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Looking in the mirror, I was totally pleased with my wardrobe choice. The cool weather had blown in early and I was thankful, it meant I got to put my boots and scarves to good use. Adjusting my scarf, I smiled at the finished product, dark denim jeans that rested snug on my hips, a loose coral sweater, my favorite leopard scarf, knee high brown boots, and gold chunky jewelry. The combination was one of my favorites, a mixture of sweet and sassy, yet sexy enough, sure to get Cole’s attention and make him stare. I’d thought long and hard for two days about Teresa’s advice, and I’d finally decided it was time to let Cole explain what really happened that night, and if I was going to spend more than five minutes with him I wanted to ensure his undivided attention would be focused on me.
Running into the kitchen, I grabbed the dessert I’d picked up from my favorite Italian bakery the night before. Three dozen stuffed cannoli and full tray of tiramisu, not your usual Thanksgiving dessert, but it had been tradition in my house since before I was born, and something I’d continued every year, even after my parents passed. I got everything settled into the car and took off towards Addison and Casey’s house.
After I pulled into their oversized driveway, I studied all the cars that were parked in front of the house, looking for Cole’s black SUV. There was one similar, but it wasn’t his. Part of me was excited I’d beat him there and part of me wasn’t. The part that needed a glass of wine was definitely glad I’d arrived first.
I opened the door and stepped into the house, the smell of all things Thanksgiving sent my nose into overdrive. Case was on the phone in the foyer when I walked in. He came right over to me and hugged me, still talking to whoever was on the other line of the phone. I whispered, “Happy Thanksgiving,” as he smiled and pointed towards the kitchen. Laughing to myself while I walked away, my first thought was Addison would kill him if she knew he was on the phone -probably talking business- on a holiday. I came around the corner and the house was full, all of Casey’s family was there including his cousin’s and their girlfriends, the Cartwright’s were there and even Addison’s uncle, aunt and their families. It was a packed house.
“Happy Thanksgiving, everyone,” I shouted over the commotion of multiple voices holding conversations. They all turned in my direction and I was greeted with shouts from all over, “Happy Thanksgiving!” I set the dessert’s down as Addison ran over to my side. She looked too cute in her fall attire covered by an apron that read, “Taste Tester” in hot pink. I chuckled lightly, knowing she hadn’t cooked anything that would be served for dinner tonight.
She pulled me into a tight hug whispering into my ear, “Don’t worry he’s not here yet.” I smiled at my best friend, as I took the wine glass out of her hand and gulped down her entire glass in one breath.
She laughed at me before yelling for Casey, “Babe, we need more wine. I need a refill and Reagan needs a glass….or maybe a bottle!” She winked at me just before I was passed off to her parents.
Two full hours and four glasses of wine had passed by the time I’d finally made it around to everyone. They’d all wanted to make sure I’d been okay since the breakup. It was torturous, I was grateful to have people who cared so much about me, but it was still making me crazy as I had to explain that I was okay to each person. I felt like grabbing a megaphone and screaming, “Yes, Cole broke my heart, but don’t worry, I’m okay. I’ve been through worse. I’ll survive.”
Addison and Casey were sneaking into the box cannoli when I snuck up on the both of them. “Get out of there!” I hollered in a deep voice as the two of them jumped, guiltily turning around, laughing hysterically when they realized it was me. Case kissed Addison’s lips, licking the leftover cannoli filling that was proof they’d gotten into dessert before dinner.
“So, where is he?” I asked, filling my wine glass, yet again.
Case looked at his phone. “I’m not sure, you want me to call him?”
“I guess,” I responded hesitantly.
Casey scrolled through his address book and then hit Cole’s name. I leaned up onto my tiptoes, pressing my ear as close to Casey’s phone as I could possibly get it, to ensure I could hear their entire conversation, a grin coming over my face as I heard him answer, “Hey, man, what’s up?”
Oh how I’d missed that deep voice.
“Where in the hell are you? Everyone is here, you’re the only person we’re waiting on.”
“I’m sorry, I’m going as fast as I can. I had to come down to one of the construction sites, there was an emergency. We’re wrapping up in a few minutes, I should be there in about half hour.”
“Alright, hurry up, I’m hungry as hell.”
“Is Reagan there?” My heart skipped a beat at the sound of my name on his tongue and I instantly held my breath.
“Yeah, she’s here”
“How does she look?”
Case looked me up and down, “gorgeous as ever.”
I heard Cole sigh. “Fuck man, is she purposefully trying to kill me?” Case just laughed as Cole finished, “I guess in her eyes I deserve it. Alright, let me go so I can finish up. I’ll be there as soon as I can, make sure I have the seat next to her, even if she throws a fit.” My heart skipped again. “Will do, I’ll see you in a bit.” And at that he hung up.
I threw my arms around Casey’s neck. “I love you, Casey Conrad!”
He squeezed me and said, “Love you, too, babe.”
An hour had passed since Case hung up with Cole and all the guests were beginning to get antsy. “Honey, when are we going to serve dinner?” Teresa asked Addison.
“We’re waiting on Cole. He should be here any minute.”