Page 84 of Second Chances
“I’m sorry, Jane, I didn’t know and then when I did, I wanted to keep it from you - at least until after the wedding. I don’t want to hurt you or hurt your relationship with Charles, but the more I thought about it, and talked to Darcy, the more I realized that you need to know. I’m so sorry,” Beth rambled on, biting her lip to stop the words from tumbling out, trying to give her sister a moment to process the information bomb she’d just dropped on her.
Jane still wasn’t responding; her hand had come up to cover her gaping mouth, her brow furrowed in confusion.
“Jane…” Beth prompted softly, really starting to worry if this had been the best idea.
Jane’s eyes darted to hers, finally seeing her sister’s concern.
“I’m sorry, Beth, I just… I don’t understand… How… Why?” Jane’s soft, troubled voice permeated the frozen silence that had overtaken the apartment.
“I know, sweetie,” Beth said, squeezing her sister’s hands again, trying to reassure her, “I don’t understand either…”
“So, she’s the one who…hurt Darcy? God, I just don’t understand…” Jane asked, her brain struggling to accept that it was Charles’ sister who had done those things.
“Yes.”
“And this whole time she’s been back, she’s been the one harassing you?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, my God, and she was… is… your client!” Jane said in shocked concern, “Beth! How can you continue to work with her? Aren’t you afraid of what she might do?”
“I don’t know. I just found out who she really is; I don’t know how I’m going to continue to work with her, but I’m going to have to find a way, at least through this coming weekend,” Beth responded, not having really thought about dealing with Caro as a client.
“I don’t understand. How could Darcy not tell you? Especially once he knew that you were working so closely with her?”
This was even harder than she thought it was going to be.
“He was trying to protect me,” Beth offered, but continued as she saw her sister’s unsatisfied expression. “Jane, you have to understand how much she traumatized him all those years ago. He just wants to leave that part of his life behind him, which is why he didn’t tell me initially - what purpose would it have served? She was in Europe, had had no contact with him for years; the only thing telling me about her would have done would have been to cloud my impression of Charles and his family.”
“Ok, Icanunderstand that - leaving the past in the past, but when she came home? Why not then? When she specifically requestedyouto work with, why not then?”
“Again, it had been years since they’d even seen each other. Why would he think that she came back for him? Why would he think that she only wanted to work with me to get close to me, to be able to harass me? There was no indication, a concern, I’m sure, based on their past relationship, but no legitimate indication that after so many years she would end up doing something like this. From every aspect, she had come home because you and Charles are getting married and she wanted to be a part of that, and what better way to get to know your in-laws than to work with them?” Beth rushed on, trying to make Jane see the situation from their perspective. “On top of all that, what would have happened with my job, had he told me? I probably would have cut her off as my client; I would have had to go to Phil, yet again, and tell him that for personal reasons I couldn’t do my job. I know Phil thinks of us as family, but that can’t happen again without serious consequences. Why would Darcy choose to jeopardize my job, my work, with no basis?”
Boy, having to explain and justify Darcy’s point of view was really giving her some perspective on what he must have gone through.
“Ok, Beth, fine; I’ll accept that, but when she started threatening you? There is no good reason why he didn’t tell you,” Jane responded in frustration.
“Maybe you’re right, there probably is nogoodreason,” Beth acquiesced with a sigh. “But, just like before, he was trying to protect me, as ironic as that might seem.”
“How does keeping you in the dark protect you?”
“It wasn’t just about protecting me; it was about protecting you and me; it was about protecting you and Charles, and him and Charles; it was about protecting everyone he cares about from his past and his mistakes,” Beth replied, her sister still looking at her with disbelief. “Just hear me out, please. First, she only approached him, tried to talk to him and he thought he could handle it - typical man. He swore that she didn’t want him back, that there was an ulterior motive, which is why when she first started contacting me, I didn’t tell him - so that part is on me.”
“I can’t believe you wouldn’t—”
“I know, please, just let me finish,” Beth cut her sister off, otherwise she’d never get through this. “When it finally progressed to threats, Darcy tried to convince me that he could handle it, that the police didn’t need to be involved, and that’s when we fought about the restraining order.”
“How could he want to protect you, but then not do what is necessary to protect you?” Jane interjected angrily.
She wasn’t getting it. She’s blinded by her own desire to protect me, God love her.
“Jane, then who would you have chosen to come to your wedding?” Beth practically yelled, jumping to the point since it looked like Jane wasn’t patient enough for Beth to try to explain the consequences to her gently.
Jane was taken aback by her outburst, her initial shock dissipating as the reality of Beth’s words sank in.
“Oh… no…” Jane whispered, just as a knock sounded on the front door.
Deciding to let that little reality check sink in, Beth stood up.
