40. Jiya #2
I spent the rest of the afternoon trying not to overthink everything, focusing instead on the children and enjoying the time with Elle’s family.
That evening, Harper joined us for dinner back at the hotel.
“Wow,” he said, hugging Lucas. “You’ve grown up so much since the last time I saw you.”
“Yeah. I grew, like, ten inches since your wedding,” Lucas said with his chest thrust out.
“You remember? That’s great.” Harper smiled. Then his eyes shifted to Emma. “And who is this little one?”
“This is my baby sister,” Lucas said.
“I’m Emma. I am choo years old,” she announced.
I giggled softly at her attempt to pronounce her words correctly. When I looked up, I noticed Harper watching me with a frown. I mouthed, Later, and he nodded.
“Gosh! You’re almost a big girl there,” he said, turning back to Emma. “Have you guys had dinner?”
They both nodded.
“How about dessert?” he asked.
Their heads shook instantly.
Harper ordered desserts for the children from room service along with dinner for the rest of us.
Within minutes, staff arrived pushing a trolley filled with covered plates, bowls of ice cream, slices of cake, and drinks.
After everything was set out, Harper guided the children to the couch and put on cartoons to keep them entertained. Soon, bowls of ice cream and slices of cake sat in front of them while Geeta happily joined them with a slice of cheesecake.
Satisfied that everyone was comfortable, Harper walked over and joined me at the dining table.
“So,” he asked, “how is it being back in the city?”
I looked around the room before answering. “I’d forgotten how beautiful it is,” I said, cutting into the grilled salmon in front of me. “I’ve been away for almost four years now.”
“You miss it?”
“Terribly.”
“Planning on coming back?” he asked, chewing thoughtfully on his Chicken Florentine.
“I don’t know, to be honest. It’s complicated.”
He studied my face before asking the question I had been expecting.
“Is Emma Caleb’s daughter?”
I nodded.
There was no point in lying to him.
“Does he know?”
“Not yet.”
I lowered my eyes.
“How the heck did all of this happen?” he asked. “The last time I saw you, you guys were in love and happy. How did it end up like this?”
Before I realized it, the words began to pour out of me.
I told him everything—Jeremy, the kidnapping, Cole, Emma, the restaurant, Liam, and Caleb. I watched his eyes widen from time to time as he listened silently, never interrupting. When I finally finished, he exhaled slowly.
“When are you planning on telling him about his mother?” he asked.
“Yesterday was supposed to be the day.” I bit my lip. “But that didn’t work out too well, so I’ll have to come up with another plan soon.”
After dinner, I put the children to bed and returned to the living area where Harper and I shared a glass of wine.
“I’m so glad I bumped into you again,” he said. “It was nice to see a familiar face among a sea of strangers.”
“Same here,” I replied, taking a sip of my wine. “What happened between you and Daria, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Not at all,” he said, swirling the wine in his glass. “Ambition.”
“What do you mean?”
“Daria is an ambitious woman. She always was. I just didn’t see it,” he said, lowering his head slightly. “She could and would do anything to rise to the top, including adultery.”
I watched his face carefully, seeing the pain he was trying to hide.
“So I guess the two of you are two sides of the same coin.”
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
“What do you mean?” He looked at me with his head tilted, his lips pursing.
“When we were trying to make the long-distance relationship work after you moved to New York, I flew there to surprise you,” I said quietly.
Harper immediately set his wine glass down on the table and drew back, crossing and uncrossing his arms.
“Instead, I saw you walk into your apartment building with another woman.”
He swallowed, shifting in his seat.
“You knew?”
I nodded once.
“Why didn’t you ask me or say something?” He scrubbed a hand over his face.
I looked down at my glass and then back at him.
“Because if I had, I would have said words that would have hurt you in ways I didn’t want to,” I said softly.
He squeezed his eyes shut and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“You loved your father deeply,” I continued.
“And I knew how much your mother’s betrayal had broken him.
If I had confronted you, I would have reminded you of that pain all over again.
That choice changed me,” I added after a pause.
“It affected how I trusted people afterward. When I believed Caleb had betrayed me, I walked away instead of asking questions. I didn’t want to feel that kind of pain again. ”
Harper opened his eyes and sighed heavily.
“I’m sorry, Jiya,” he said, leaning forward and taking my hand in his. “I’m truly sorry for the pain I caused you.”
I met his gaze and saw genuine remorse.
“I know. And I accept your apology.”
A small smile appeared on his face.
Watching him now, sitting across from me, I realized that my past feelings for Harper had completely faded.
He was my friend, and he always would be. Even though we had not kept in touch for years, I knew I could count on him if I ever needed help. He was my first… in every way possible. We shared a history that would always matter, but it no longer held my heart.
After he left, I locked the door and walked slowly toward the bedroom.
Standing there, staring at my phone, I finally gathered the courage to type out a message to Caleb.
Me
Hi! We need to talk. It’s important. I’m staying at the Grand Excelsior Hotel, Room 801.
Praying that he would respond soon, I placed the phone beside me and lay down on the bed.
I waited for almost an hour.
The screen remained dark beside me.
Then exhaustion finally claimed me, and I drifted into sleep.