Page 71 of Fragile Love (Fragile 3)
“Sounds riveting. Tell your mom and dad I miss them.” She stretched her arms and headed toward the door. “Thank you, Andrew.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Yes, you did. Just, talking to me about all this. I feel like a weight has lifted off me. You and Cayden have really helped this morning. I’m lucky to have both of you.”
“It’s nothing. That’s what family does for each other.” Andrew propped his crutches under his arm and made his way back to the sofa. “See you in a while, Lillian.”
“See you.” With her arms full of books and binders, she walked out the back door and down the little pathway to the guest house. Over to the side, she heard the loud clanking of weights and Cayden cheering Katharina on. The air felt different today; it felt lighter, just as she did.
I’m only going to get better, she thought, looking at the blue sky. I already am.
Chapter 10
FOR THE LAST COUPLE of days, Lillian had been acting more stoic than usual.
Cayden figured at first it was probably a combination of factors. Being suddenly pulled back to Los Angeles by Katharina showing up at her house, taking Andrew to all his medical appointments while working on her own business full time, being verbally slaughtered by that awful woman in the bar—it was a lot to take in. Not to mention catching Katharina and Andrew making out. He knew the last few weeks had put a weight on her heart and she was more than likely detoxing.
The weekend finally came, and she mentioned needing to go home to check on the cats. Cayden assumed he was going with her, but when she asked if he needed to stay here and see any more clients, he was thrown off. Playing it cool, he said no, he didn’t, that her cats were more important. She found it funny, much to his relief.
She called Andrew, asking if the flight schedule worked for him, and Katharina snatched the phone away from him before he could answer. “Hello, dear,” she purred. “I have plans to take Andrew around this weekend. I’ve booked some marvelous restaurants and a play. So, I’ll be keeping him here in Los Angeles; there is simply too much to show him.”
She and Cayden had exchanged a knowing look. “Yeah, right,” Cayden said after Lillian hung up the phone. “I guess they aren’t at the stage where they can say they want to be alone yet.”
“Andrew moves fast emotionally, but in relationships a slug would beat him to the finish line. I’m amazed she somehow got him to kiss her.” Lillian laughed to herself.
“Really? Come on, Lil. He’s a guy. If a beautiful woman tries to kiss you, and you’re single, you don’t say no.”
She didn’t argue, and rolled her eyes jokingly. “It’s good to see Katharina pushing his comfort zone. We just have to pretend we don’t know anything yet.”
“I forgot to tell you something.”
“What?”
“Katharina got me in touch with her lawyer. The same one she used when Sierra started harassing her. She had a restraining order put in place. The lawyer spoke with Sierra’s agent, and warned them that we would follow the same protocol if Sierra bothers us again.”
“Really?”
“It seems a bit extreme, I know. However, she’s been messaging me constantly, basically stalking me and publicly coming after you. It’s more like a warning. But the texts and social posts have stopped. I’m hoping it’s all over.”
“Me, too.” She leaned over and squeezed his hand. “Let’s go home.”
He sighed with relief. Glad she seemed to be handling the situation better. She was stronger than he gave her credit for. He had to remember that in the future.
THE NEXT NIGHT THEY boarded the plane back home, both feeling a little odd leaving Andrew behind, but glad to have some uninterrupted time at home together.
The plane had many empty seats and no crying babies, much to their pleasure. Until halfway through the flight, there was almost no noise except for the occasional newspaper page turning. The flight attendants came out, offering snacks and drinks, and handed Lillian and Cayden a few small packs.
Cayden looked through them and lit up when he saw the miniature biscotti. “Yes!”
“Does that excite you?” Lillian teased, taking a sip of her cranberry juice and getting out her phone.
“I love these things.”
“You are a simple man,” she replied absentmindedly.
“Now, who told you that?”
“Between your love for hotel continental breakfasts, pancakes, and biscotti...”
