Chapter 14
Recognition
Lynn
I puton the sundress with the plunging neckline that Maggie handed to me. It’s cute. I wasn’t sure I was going to like it.
I go to step out of the fitting room as Jess is coming out of hers at the same time. She has on a cute little sundress as well. She’s a curvy little thing. Taller than me, but she’s packing a little figure.
“You look so pretty,” she gushes when she sees me.
“So do you,” I say, causing her to blush.
We both move to the mirror and stand side by side. Jess reaches to lace her fingers with mine and smiles at me in our reflection. I smile back as I notice the nervous look that comes to her eyes.
Today was her day off, no work or school, so I asked her to come shopping with me. It’s been a long week, and I needed some retail therapy.
“What’s up, kiddo?” I ask.
“I like this one. I think I’ll wear it for my birthday. Um, I was wondering. Will you guys come to my party? It would mean the world to me,” she says softly.
“The party your daddy is throwing for you?” I ask.
“Yeah, he won’t mind. You guys were friends when you were younger, right?”
I turn to face her, at a loss for words. I have no clue how to respond. I don’t want to break her heart and say no, but I know I shouldn’t agree to show up somewhere I shouldn’t be.
“Can I think about it? I’m still trying to remain low key and I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be here.”
She drops her gaze. “Oh, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. You’re LG. You can’t just show up at some teenager’s birthday party all willy nilly and what not. I get it.”
I lift her head and look into her eyes. “I’m not making any promises, but I’ll have Matthew and Wilson look into planning a drop in,” I say.
“Thank you,” she says and pulls me into a hug.
She then reaches for the locket resting between my breasts. Her brows furrow as she squints at it. She then begins to blink, seemingly trying to put pieces together.
“My daddy wears a locket just like this one. I’ve never seen him without it. I’ve always wondered who has the other half,” she says absently.
She then lifts her gaze to mine. There are so many questions in her eyes. I stumble back, lifting a hand to my head.
It feels like the room is spinning. I’ve worn this locket every day since he gave it to me. Hearing that he still wears his is a punch to the gut.
“Um, we still have more shopping to do. Come on, we closed out several shops for my visit. We don’t want to be late for any of them. Hand Maggie anything you plan to take,” I say as I move back into my dressing room.
When I get inside, I brace myself against the wall. He still wears the locket? But why?
I never take it off because it holds a part of my sister. I try not to think of Trevor’s words when he gave it to me. I only want the parts of Pook. However, in this moment his words come back like a sledgehammer.
This doesn’t end here. Pook wanted us to live, love, and be happy. Right here, right now, we should promise her that, and as long as we wear these, she can live through us no matter where in the world we are.
I choke back a sob. I’ve been breaking my promise to my sister. I haven’t been living, loving, or happy. For nineteen years, something has been missing. No, I need to be honest. Someone has been missing.
“Pull yourself together,” I say sternly.
I take a deep breath and begin to put my clothes back on. I’m grateful for my hoodie and shades. I still need a bit more time to pull myself together.
* * *
Trevor
“Hello,”Jess answers her phone as I call.
“Hey, darlin’. Did you have to work today? You were gone when I came in for lunch,” I say into the line.
“Oh, no. I’m out shopping with friends. I got a new dress for my birthday,” she says happily.
“That’s good. You sound like you’re having fun. I’ll talk to you when you get home,” I say, not wanting to spoil her time.
I’ve been worried about Jess, but she’s seemed happier in the last few days. I’m glad she’s making friends at school. Jess is a lot like Pook. She welcomes anyone as a friend and wants to make everyone feel welcome.
However, she’s shy. I was concerned with how that would translate in college and the real world. I should’ve known she’d make it work. Looking down at the cupcake holder in front of me, my thoughts go back to how to get it to Cakes.
I had thought Jess might be at work and I could drop them off there. My other option is to camp out in the lobby of the hotel. It’s a long shot, but it might be my only option.
“Um, daddy?” Jess says before I can hang up.
“Yeah, baby girl?”
“Um, if I wanted a locket like yours, where would I get one?”
I chuckle. “I had this one made special for someone while in Paris a long, long time ago.”
“Do you think she still wears it?”
I pause to think for a moment. “It would give me hope if she still does.”
“So someone you care about has the other half?”
“Someone I love very much has the other half. Maybe I can have one made for your birthday. Do you have someone special you want to give the other half to? It better not be Keith,” I tease.
“It’s not Keith, Daddy,” she giggles. “It’s someone I want to know how much they’ve meant to me. Someone who didn’t deserve to be fooled. Um, Daddy, I need to go. My friends are waiting for me.”
“Okay, baby. We’ll talk about it more later. I love you, baby girl.”
“I know. I love you too. You’re a great dad. No matter what, you should aways remember that,” she says, her voice filled with emotions.
I want to ask what’s wrong. This isn’t the first time I’ve felt like I’m missing something. However, I don’t want to hold her up if her friends are waiting.
“Jess, you know you can always come to me, right? No matter what, I’m always here,” I say, unable to let it go.
“Jess, we need to get going,” someone calls in the background.
“I’m coming Miss Elise. Tell Auntie Cakes I just want this,” Jess says away from the phone.
“You sure? She’ll get all the rest if you want. Just give me your fav pile. She wants to treat you for your grades,” I hear the woman in the background say.
“Okay, thanks. I’m just going to finish up my call with my daddy and I’ll be right out, promise.” Some shuffling happens before Jess returns to the call. “Hello, Daddy. I’m sorry. I know I can talk to you. I promise I’m okay. I just have a lot on my mind. I’ll come to you when I have it all sorted out. I love you. I have to go. Later.”
The line cuts before I can say anything else. She’s with Lynn. My curiosity is piqued. This is the second time I know of that she’s been with Lynn.
Then it hits me—if they are out shopping, they have to return to the hotel. Maybe waiting in the lobby or hotel bar isn’t a bad idea. With a grin, I pick up the cupcake holder and start for my truck.
I can’t wait to see her face. It’s going to be a fight to keep my hands to myself, but I know I need to set eyes on her.
***
I sitnervous as a schoolboy waiting for his prom date to come down the stairs. The cupcake holder sitting in my lap as my sweaty palms rest on the sides of my thighs.
“Do you think it’s true?” A young girl says on the other side of the seating area I’m sitting at.
“I hope so. I just want a picture.”
“Don’t worry, it’s true. My source works here.”
My ears perk up. I’m starting to get the feeling I’m not the only one waiting for Cakes to arrive. Her team is good. She’s been in this hotel for two weeks and the area hasn’t been buzzing about it. That means people still don’t know.
Just as I think to move to the bar, a group moves into the front door. A big guy holding bags leads them in. Then four women follow with more bags as another big guy bring up the rear holding more shopping bags in his hands.
I would know the way my daughter walks from anywhere. She’s the taller one with the pink sweatsuit and flip flops on. Her hoodie is pulled over her head as are all the other women’s.
I lock in on the smaller figure next to her with the gray sweatsuit and hoodie pulled over her head and shades on. As she and Jess laugh and throw their head back, I know that’s my woman.
I would know that smile anywhere. I stand and get ready to move toward them, and that’s when all hell breaks loose. I’m knocked forward as a group of girls run by me.
“LG.”
“Oh my God, it’s her.”
“LG, LG.”
“LG, over here. The Real Texan Daily. Can we get a few questions?”
“What brings you to Texas?” Another shouts.
“Why haven’t you been back in all these years?”
“Is it true your home for love? Who is he?”
The men with Cakes and her group snap into action. Jess looks like a dear in headlights. I push forward to get to her, but one of the guys shields her and moves her with the rest of the group after she’s nearly trampled.
I’m blocked by hotel security before I can follow after them. I sigh and turn back, not wanting to make this harder for Jess, Cakes, or her team. All at once, it settles in that this isn’t the woman I lost nineteen years ago.
She’s a star, and this is her life. I begin to think of all the things that have changed for her. I remember how hard things were for Brad when he returned to Texas and found his family.
His and Tam’s lives were turned upside down. I can’t help but wonder if it’s too late for us. I have four teenagers.
Maybe I’m the delusional one, thinking we could go back to the way things were. I head back to my truck and toss the cupcakes into the passenger seat feeling like a fool. Cakes probably has men bringing her diamonds and buying her homes and cars. I show up with fucking cupcakes I made with my fourteen-year-old.
I climb into the driver’s seat and place my head in my hands. This is the one time I think I need to let go of my stubborn streak. We might be too far apart to get back there—to us.
I pull my phone and blink through the moisture in my eyes as I text Jess to ensure she’s okay. Looking out at the hotel entrance, I shake my head. The crowd has only increased, and media vans are starting to pull up.
We are definitely worlds apart.