Page 86 of Tempest

“I…I don’t—” I start but can’t finish. I do know. I know it’s my insecurity rather than his actions.

“Take your trip, handle your business. I’ll be here when you get home, waiting. Missing you.”

26

Odette

Josephine Marcus is the most exhausting woman I’ve ever known. She’s gone now, though. She begged me not to end our working relationship in the end, but it was too late. The comments she made about Fallon were unforgiveable and I’d never put an employee, let alone a partner, through such mistreatment.

She called me a cunt when I said I wouldn’t change my mind. I told her I embraced that because cunts are warm and have depth, two things she sadly lacks.

That sent her out the door and Fallon into a fit of laughter. Then we celebrated over a bottle of rose´ before I crashed in his spare room and caught an early flight back to Seattle this morning.

Mostly, the celebrities I’ve worked with have been pleasant enough. You get a diva attitude here and there, but usually, they’re congenial enough because they want what I offer.

Fallon and I will be weeding out the problematic ones and thoroughly vetting any new clients, so as to avoid situations like this in the future.

I text Gavin that I landed safely but I don’t go straight home. Instead, I go to the school. I missed yesterday, I don’t want to miss today, too.

Gavin asked me to let him know of my flight status while I was gone, and I’ve done that. Though we haven’t talked about much else, besides how he feels. He consistently assures me that he’s fine. There’s been some guilt on my part. It started as a small voice telling me I shouldn’t have left him.

Tori took time off school to stay with him. I made sure he was in good hands before I ran. Because that is what I did. Firing Josephine could have been a phone call.

Gavin was right to accuse me yesterday morning. We’re at some kind of crossroads, I think.

He wants me to finally place my trust in him.

I want him to set some boundaries with Caroline. Even though I haven’t asked him to. Their relationship isn’t normal and none of us know how to navigate it. Yet, I think he is the one that needs to take the reins there. If he won’t, if he can’t, I don’t know how I can ever feel like I’m the woman he loves.

When I get into my office, I check for any voicemails and emails that need to be returned. I’ve called in a ton of favors for the end of the year designer spotlight we have planned. I want all the best stylists and buyers to get these kids the most exposure I can. They’re hard workers and so damned creative, they deserve every bit of attention the industry has to offer.

One email, however, is not industry related.

Can we meet for coffee? I’d like to apologize, if you’ll let me.

Regards,

Caroline

My initial response is to ignore it. Then it’s to tell her no. Then I realize that it’s not my gut that needs to answer her, it’s my heart. Building a life with Gavin will be impossible if Caroline and I aren’t amicable, at least.

We’re not enemies. I don’t hate her. I don’t even know her, honestly.

I can meet this afternoon. Par La Main at four.

She thanks me as if I’ve done some magnanimous thing instead of just accepting an olive branch.

The rest of the afternoon passes quickly, the only student coming into the workroom is Benji and I spend time with him as he explains his vision for his future brand. He speaks without doubts, confident that everything he’s dreaming of will come to fruition.

I keep his attitude close to my heart when I walk into Par La Main to meet Caroline. She’s already waiting for me at a small table in the back corner, a French press pot and two mugs in front of her.

“Hi,” I say as I approach. “Thank you for this, I was up too early today.”

“I figured. Tori said you were on an early flight,” she says, pouring me a cup. “Thank you for meeting me.”

“Does Gavin know we’re here?”

“Only if you told him. He’s upset with me, rightfully so. I fucked up the other night,” she says, then pauses. “It’s not the first time. I fucked up with you when I found out I was pregnant, too.”

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