Page 14 of Third Time is the Charm
“I just wish there was something I could do to help you, that’s all.” When she hurt, Jane hurt for her. Another reason why she hesitated to tell Jane what had happened. “Can I ask you something?”
It depends…
“Of course.”
“Is it Patrick?”
Beth felt the cool breeze of relief blow over her. “That I’m bringing? No; it’s his twin brother, Colin, who I’ve been working a lot with up here since I moved. Why did you think it was Pat?”
“Well, Lydia called me this morning and asked me if there was something between the two of you.”
“What? Why would she think that?” Beth asked in shock. She hadn’t talked to her younger sister since before she’d left New York.
“She saw a photo online of the two of you at dinner.”
Oh God, no.
The photos that the paparazzi took last night were already surfacing.
“That’s not quite right. The photo didn’t say who he was having dinner with, but of course, Lydia recognized you, but she must have mistaken Colin for Patrick.” Beth felt her heart start beating again with that piece of information. Although, it was only a matter of time before they found out her name and her very private escape would turn into very public entertainment.
Beth groaned into the phone. “Well, they are twins so I’m sure it was easy to confuse them in a photo. I didn’t even realize that they would be there… And, Col assured me that they probably wouldn’t even use the photos; I guess he was wrong…”And she needed to talk to him.
“I just wanted to mention it – obviously, I didn’t tell Lydia anything, well, mostly because I didn’t know anything at that point. I know you don’t really keep tabs on the tabloids, but I thought you should know if you want to be more careful. At some point, they might become public knowledge and I know you’re trying to stay under-the-radar up there. I’m not sure how long that’s going to be feasible if you’re going to start dating a movie star.”
“Ugh, I know. We’ll just have to be more careful – no more crazy fancy places. I don’t want this to get out there – whatever ‘this’ is; I don’t want anyone to know.”And by anyone, she meant one specific person.And Jane knew it.
“Have you talked to him?” Jane asked hesitantly. She didn’t need to say his name or elaborate on who she meant. There was only onehim.
“No.”
And she’d done everything to prevent it from happening, too – a new phone, a new number, blocking every number that she knew of his, and ultimately, never answering her phone for an unknown number.
“Do you think it might help? Just… I mean… because he will be at the wedding,” Jane forged on nervously. “You’ll have to walk with him down the aisle.”
Beth steadied herself on the counter as a wave of nausea rolled through her at the reminder.
“I know,” she replied hoarsely, drinking the last sip of her tea to try and soothe her suddenly parched throat. “It won’t help. You know him just as well as I, Jane; if Darcy couldn’t bring himself to show any emotion before, I doubt now, after he’s decidedly moved on from me, would be the time for him to start.”
It was the first time she’d said his name in months. Sure, he had roamed freely around her mind during that time, interjecting himself into whatever thought or situation he felt like. But, she’d refused to bring him to light, to bring him into her physical world – until now. Maybe this was a step in the right direction, being able to say his name without another piece of her heart dying inside.
“Are you sure he’s moved on?” Jane asked, softly.
Well, he slept with your soon-to-be sister-in-law the night we broke up. So, yes, I think that means he’s moved on.The pain of that morning when she realized burned through her.
“Jane, I know that I’ve told you how Darcy likes to say one thing and do another, how he insists on changing his mind and expects me to just realize it on my own. But, if there was one thing that I was ever completely sure about, it’s that he’s unequivocally and indisputably moved on from me,” Beth answered firmly, frustration blooming into her tone as she caught sight of the flowers that Colin had brought her – another painful memory of Darcy assaulting her. “I know I’m better off all alone than needing a man who could change his mind at any given minute, which is why I’ve been alone for months now. But, it’s not enough to rid myself of him. I know you are concerned that I’m moving away from the situation too quickly, but if I don’t, I’m afraid I’ll stay stuck where I am, tormented by thoughts and memories of the man that I love and how he completely shattered my life.”
End rant.
Beth dragged in a breath, winded from the words and emotions that had just been released. Along with the oxygen came the twinge of remorse for letting herself become so irritated with Jane when her sister was only trying to look out for her.
“I’m sorry, Beth. I don’t mean to push you, but I just want to make sure you know what you are doing, because to me it seems like you are running, and not from Darcy, but from yourself and the feelings you don’t want to admit to having.” Beth knew she’d gone too far because Jane’s voice was now heightened with aggravation; she didn’t know the last time she and Jane had argued.
“You’re right, Beth, I don’t know what happened because you won’t tell me. But I don’t see how, without talking to him, that you can know with absolute certainty that he has moved on. I don’t know him that well and I won’t pretend that I’ve pressed Charles about it, but I’ve seen him since you left. He doesn’t look like a man who’s moved on – no mask can hide that. And he isn’t bringing a date to my wedding. So again, from my limited knowledge, I think you are only making the situation worse for yourself, believing things that may or may not be true.” Jane cut off here and Beth heard some commotion in the background. “I have to go, mom just got here. I love you.”
Click.
Beth set the phone down numbly on the counter, a million thoughts fighting for the stage in her mind.
