Page 126 of Irresistible Attraction

She removes her arms from around me, and as she takes a step backward, she fumbles with the silver heart-shaped locket she once received from my father. I wait as my scrambling thoughts try to figure out what she means.

"When Jessica came here, I was still grieving and assumed she was lying."

My mind spins, but when my brain puzzles it together, I stumble backward until my back hits the doorpost.Jessica came to Boston?

36

CARMEN

Fifteen Years Ago

There'sa freezing wind trapped in my heart after you were snatched away from me in a blink of an eye. Now an ache comes and goes, always returning in still moments.

My fingertips stroke over the lid of the brown wooden piano.

Every memory of you, my love, plays like a song in my head, repeatedly.

Months have passed, but the mourning has not run its course. The denseness of the crumbling pain keeps rampaging through my limbs as much as my mind. I lift the photo and speak to him as if he’s here while my fingertips trail over his dazzling smile in the hope it will ease the suffering.

"You should be here, Gregory, making your espresso in your damn expensive machine while complaining about the coffee beans' price. You should be here to hug me goodnight and give me a good morning kiss. I want to touch your lips and stare into your bright blue eyes while you tell me you love me."

My fingers travel over my son's face. "Since your passing, Cole refuses to play the piano. Why is he acting this way, Gregory? I love to hear him play, because then it’s as if I'm watching you, my love. I can't lose Cole too; he's the only person I have."

My eyes dart between my sweet son and my greatest love. "He got accepted into Harvard Business School." I let out a long sigh. "Since he's not playing, at least he's getting an excellent education."

I remove a tear staining the glass frame with my finger. The doorbell's intruding ring makes me shift my head to the door.

"Jeremy, could you answer it, please?"

No response. Oh, I forgot it's his day off. Jeremy deserved it for his hard work. After Gregory's death, he's been taking care of me. Making sure I eat and standing by if I need anything. With utmost respect, I place the photo back on the lid of the piano before strolling to the front door.Okay, Carmen, pull yourself together. Show no weakness.

As I open the door, a young woman with dark blonde hair stands on my doorstep. Her worn-out jeans, simple light-pink v-neck t-shirt, and smudgy sports shoes make me alert. She's transferring her weight back and forward, and her hands cling together.

"Uh, does Cole Walker live here?"

My eyes meet hers as she mentions my son. "Yes, but he's not here."

"Oh… Do you know when Cole will return?"

"I don't give a stranger that information. How do you know my son?"

"Oh, I'm sorry," she says, sticking out her hand. "I'm Jessica Davis. Cole and I met in Los Angeles."

What does she want from my son?

"What is the urgency?"

She lowers her outstretched hand and bites her lip. "Sorry, Mrs. Walker, it's a private matter. But you can trust me. It's crucial I talk to him."

Trusting a stranger isn't in my nature. Too many people have betrayed it in the past. "I'm sorry, Miss Davis, but I doubt Cole would want to talk to you."

I grab the door to close it, but the young lady places her hand and foot in the opening. "Then I will wait right here," she says with her chin tilted up.

"You can sit there, but he won't return until next week."

Her eyes dart sideways as she runs her hands through her locks. "Please, Mrs. Walker. I'm begging you. I need to speak with Cole in person. This is not a conversation I want to have over the phone."

"I'm sorry," I say, before intending to close the door for the second time, but her next words freeze my actions.

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