Sweet Reflection (33 page)

My face pales, and he notices and moves swiftly over to the sofa to sit next to me.

“There’s a bit more to this though. She didn’t like the fact I rejected her when she first arrived and has been causing trouble ever since. That’s why she invested, because she was trying to get back at me. She’s been behind the things that have gone wrong at the store.”

“The break-in?” I ask quietly, I can’t feel anything but shock.

He nods slowly, “Yeah, I also think she had something to do with my phone breaking at the awards night. I’d stupidly left it on the table. But now I know what she’s capable of.”

I feel sick, not just that she could cause this trouble but that she was there that night. And I wasn’t. He tries to take my hand but I shrug him off. I see the hurt in his eyes at my rejection but choose to ignore it.

“She’ll deny it if I go to the police but I found her earring in the store that day and confronted her about it.”

The tears come in quick succession and I find it hard to process the information. My business is ruined because of her. She completely deceived me. She didn’t really think I had talent, or a great business, she just wanted to get back at my boyfriend. The only thing that was keeping me going through all this was the fact my store would be back up and running soon and better than ever. But now I’m in partnership with a lying, two-faced, backstabbing whore of a woman, hell-bent on destroying my life. The drama’s just too much.

“Babe, I really wanted to tell you but when you told me you had an investor I didn’t know who it was at first, then when I saw her at the party I knew you’d hate me if I told you who she really was.”

“So all this time, you let me think I had a great investor, who was interested in taking my store to the next level, when in fact, it couldn’t have been any further from the truth. How could you?”

His face drops as he realises I’m angrier than he obviously thought I would be.

“I’ll figure it out, we’ll get rid of her. We’ll sort everything, it’ll all be okay.”

I know he’s just trying to make me feel better, but he’s not doing a very good job of it so I stand up hoping he gets the hint.

“
We
won’t do anything. There is no
we
. I’ll have to clean up your mess myself. After all, there’s no-one else I can rely on now.”

“Please don’t be like that. I can help.”

“I think you’ve done enough. Just go.”

“Babe, plea-“

“I’m not your
babe.
Just go. And when you ring my mother later like you said you were going to, make sure she knows exactly what you did!”

I raise my voice as high as I have the energy for and he gets up off the sofa with a look that tells me I’ve just crushed him. He reaches the door, then pauses and I see him take a few breaths in before turning back round.

“Laurel, my biggest regret is that I didn’t convince you enough of my love. Because if you believed it, you’d realise that there’ll never be anyone that comes close to you. That I’d never leave you like he did. I’d worship the ground you fucking walked on and always put your happiness before anything else.” He shakes his head like’s he’s admonishing himself.

“I didn’t do enough,” he mutters under his breath as he walks away and I’m left standing in the middle of my living room feeling shocked, and sad, and oh so alone.

I fall asleep on the sofa and don’t wake up until the next day. I’ve been sleeping for over twelve hours and as I throw the blanket off, I stand up quickly and rush to find out if mum’s back. I should have been awake in case she needed me. I race upstairs and open the door to her room; the bed is made, she’s not here. I run back downstairs and into the kitchen then breathe a sigh of relief when I find her sitting at the kitchen table.

“You’re back.”

She chuckles and looks down at herself, “Yes it looks like it, doesn’t it?”

“Why didn’t you wake me?” I stifle a yawn and stick the kettle on for some much needed coffee.

“You were sleeping peacefully. You’ve been up with me so much lately, I just figured you’d need your sleep. And I was right.”

I make a drink then go and sit with her in the lounge.

“So I had a phone call last night from a very upset young man. He told me everything darling.”

I fidget with the mug in my hand because I can’t look at her. If we were still together I’d love that he got on so well with my mum. But now it’s strange that they talk. I fell asleep pretty much straight away after he left so I haven’t even had time to think about how I feel.

“And?” I ask, wondering what she expects me to say.

“I have something to give you.”

“What is it?” I ask curiously, but she ignores me and walks slowly and shakily over to the bureau by the window. She ducks her head to search through one of the drawers until she finds what she’s looking for. Her hand pulls out revealing a long white envelope and she comes back to settle on the sofa next to me.

As she hands it to me I’m frowning and wondering why she didn’t answer until I turn it over and my heart falters. The burn in my eyes makes them feel like they’re on fire and tears are streaming before I’ve even read it. My name’s written on the front in a familiar scrawl I saw on cards for over twenty years, but it’s been four years since I saw it last. My hands are shaking and I look up at her confused.

“He wanted me to give it to you when the time was right. And it is.”
I’m nervous to open it, so I just clutch it against me and stare into my cup like it’s going to give me the strength to do it.

“I’m going to make us another drink. Open it when you’re ready honey.” She gives me a gentle squeeze on my arm before getting up to give me some privacy.

My hands are shaking violently as I open the envelope and something falls out but I don’t look at it because I’m too distracted by the handwriting that’s on the paper in front of me. I take a deep breath in, and try to blink away the tears because I can’t read the letter with my eyes so blurry.

My beautiful girl,

I’ve started this letter more than ten times because it’s been such a struggle to find the right words to really get across how much you mean to me. I want more than anything for you to know that I loved you with all my heart. My proudest day was the day you were born. You were perfect, the most amazing little package I could have imagined and it has been the greatest honour to watch you grow into the successful, beautiful, kind-hearted young woman that you are now. It may not appear this way to you, but you taught me so much, and I’m still learning. You have such fire and passion inside of you; you’re strong and courageous and it has come through in everything you have done, please never lose that.

I’ve had a long and happy life, and it was made all the better by you. You and your mother were my reasons for being, and I have a heavy heart knowing I won’t be around to watch any more milestones in your life, but I cherish the memories of those I have been there for. At this moment, you’re going through your first heartbreak and I can tell how much Darren’s betrayal is hurting you right now. You’re doing well at hiding your pain, but I see it. Who knows, you may still be affected by it. But now, there must be someone new who has stolen your heart because that was one of the conditions I had on when you received this letter. When you found ‘him’. I don’t even know this man, but I do know that I love him like a son because he makes my baby girl happy. He will be there for you when I can’t. He’ll be loving, kind, compassionate, charming, (my guess is he’s also a bit of a looker) and beyond everything else I have no doubt that he’ll treat you well. I know this because I know you; you wouldn’t settle for anything less.

You are so much like your mother I cannot believe it sometimes. And as a man who has had to deal with two of the most beautiful yet stubborn, headstrong and determined people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, I will give you a bit of advice: give him a break sometimes. He’ll mess up, we always do. I messed up so many times with your mother I’m surprised she stayed with me. But I love her. More than life. And I’m grateful for all the second chances she gave me. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “To err is human; to forgive, divine.” Forgive and forget because life is too short for all the drama. Get on with your lives and be happy.

Now, lecture over, and back to the rest of the letter. Your mother and I have made some risky but well-informed business decisions in our lives and invested wisely. The result was enough money that I never got around to spending! We put some aside for you. For your future, your dreams and maybe even your children (no pressure, but I always wanted to be a grandpa). So enclosed with this letter, is a cheque for you. Prepare yourself. It’s a big one. But I just want you to be happy. If you want to see the world, quit your job and do it. If you want to buy a house, do it now. It’s yours. Then build a future for yourself and this man of yours and never look back.

I’ve also put another letter in here too. It’s for ‘him.’ Nothing for you to worry about – just going to give him a bit of fatherly advice!

Be happy my girl. I’ll always be with you.

All my love,

Dad

xx

I have no words. My heart aches more than ever before to know he was in the hospital writing this letter to me. The tears haven’t stopped from the first word I read. In this moment I feel close to him, but it gives me a yearning I haven’t felt in a while. I always think about him, but it’s brought back the resentment and bitterness that he was taken from me too early. I pick up the other items off the floor, and start crying all over again at the cheque. It’s way too much.

The door opens and I rush over to mum, taking the mugs off her, placing them on the table and pulling her into a hug. We stay in each other’s arms for what feels like forever until I pull away laughing through the tears. “I can’t accept the cheque mum. It’s too much.” I say, shaking my head and wiping my eyes on my sleeve.

“You listen to me now, Laurel. You will accept that cheque and you will get that woman out of your life, then have money left over to do whatever else you want.”

I look up at her frowning then realise what she’s actually talking about. I can buy out Alex’s share of Proposals. That’s why she was so insistent that it was in my contract.

“So you knew this was in here?”

She looks at me like I’m silly for even asking.

“Of course honey. Who do you think actually controlled all our finances? It certainly wasn’t your father! He showed me the letter and told me what he wanted and I thought it was a wonderful idea.”

It’s an exciting feeling to have a piece of him here with me in this letter, so long after he passed away.

“But what did you mean by now is the right time?”

She covers my hand with hers and wipes away the tears falling on my cheeks. It’s a comforting, soothing gesture that takes me back to when I was a little girl.

“Laurel, re-read the letter and think about it. You need to do what you think is right. I don’t want to involve myself more than I already have. It’s your life, honey.” I sit for a while and read the letter over and over and over. I never want to stop. I can hear his voice reading it to me like he’s really here with me, and when I finish the disappointment seeps through every part of me. But that’s not the reason he wrote this letter. He wanted to speak to me again. He wanted to give me his advice and make sure I knew he loved me. I take a deep breath in, and carefully place it back in the envelope. I take another quick look at the cheque and second envelope and smile wider than I have in weeks. This is my future.

Chapter Twenty Five

James

Cassie’s been telling me to give her time. It’s been nearly three weeks since I first walked away, but I’m starting to get that gut-wrenching feeling that maybe Laurel’s not going to come around. I thought after telling her the truth about Alex, she might contact me but so far she hasn’t. I’m sitting in my office with Blake discussing Cassie’s wedding present. He’s doing up a house for them both to move in to together. It’s still around here; there’s no way Cassie would want to move away from her grandmother, but it’ll be something they can share, rather than just moving into his house.

I’m envious really. They went through a lot of crap last year, but now he’s living the dream. Before Cass he was just like me, different girl every time we went out, meaningless sex that was fun at the time but looking back after having what I had with Laurel, it’s pathetic. He’s happier than he’s ever been and to tell you the truth, I’m happy for them, and proud I can give them this.

I lean back in the chair and clink my bottle against his.

“Do you think she’ll like it?” He asks, and as I look down at the plans on the desk, I think she’s going to ball her eyes out it’s that good, if I do say so myself.

“Mate, don’t worry about it. It looks great. You’ve got everything on here you said she wanted. She’ll love it.”

I put my elbows on the desk and rub my hands over my face. I’m tired. I haven’t had much sleep since Laurel left me. I can’t sleep without her. The bed’s cold without her warm breath on my shoulder, or her soft body curled up against mine. I don’t think I’ll ever sleep right again. I’ve been getting up early in the morning and going to bed really late too, I just keep putting it off.

“Still no word?” He’s got that pity look on his face, and I wish I wasn’t so much of a fuck-up.

“Nope. I think I’m gonna have to get used to the idea that she may not actually come back to me.” It chokes me up just thinking those words, but actually saying them? That was a killer.

“Dude, she will. You’re good together. She knows that, or so I hear anyway. Cassie has complete faith. And I trust my girl. Don’t sweat it.”