Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Chelsea
Seven years earlier
It hasn’t been an easy adjustment settling into Christmas. The day after we had moved into our new homes, Adam went right to work with his dad. I expected him to do so but I didn’t expect it to be twelve-hour days where Adam would stop by for dinner and then fall asleep on my couch.
I didn’t expect to be sitting around waiting for him to call or text me all day. I knew better than to do that, but I found myself waiting anyway for contact that never came.
In order to feel useful and have some kind of tie to him, I’ve been spending the days with his mom.
Janet has been teaching me the administration part of the business, invoicing and reconciling the books.
I was a business major, so I enjoy the work.
Finding discrepancies or streamlining processes for the business is a specialty of mine.
I also really enjoy spending time with his mom.
She has stepped right into a mothering role for me, and it’s been more than comforting, especially since I’ve lost my connection with Adam in the few weeks we’ve been here.
Francesca has been coming home at least one weekend a month from college, so we’ve been spending time together.
She’s filled my friendship needs and I love learning more about her family.
She introduced me to her best friend Farrah.
Add in Britt, and when Adley comes up on weekends, we’re quickly turning into the Fab Five. It’s comforting when I’m missing Adam.
Tonight is our anniversary. I know where our relationship is leading, I’ve been staying at his house more and more.
I’m not really sure why I still have my house but with Adam working all the time, I’m afraid to make that permanent move, afraid to tie that last piece of myself to someone else.
I can hear my therapist telling me I still haven’t learned anything.
‘The smartest thing a woman can ever learn is to never need a man. Remember that, Chelsea.’
Moms’ words linger in my mind. I allowed myself to need Adam when I moved here and it’s beginning to backfire on me now.
Adam sent me a text earlier in the day to say he’d be home around seven tonight, so I ran to the store and got all the fixings to make his favorite–lasagna and garlic bread.
I’m not a great cook but Janet is very patient in teaching me.
I’ve set the table, lit some candles, music is on, and I’m wearing a special set of lingerie I purchased a few weeks back just for tonight.
I wait.
At ten minutes to seven I prepare to hear his big diesel truck coming down the road.
I wait some more.
“Adam, don't do this. Not tonight,” I whisper as I make myself busy, rearranging the silverware and checking the wine in the fridge.
7:33 Adam: I’m sorry CJ, I’m just packing up and will be home shortly.
I’m upset but I won’t let it start a fight. I’ve been here before. I know he’s got deadlines.
7:35 me: It’s ok, I’ve kept dinner warm. But hurry! I miss you
At a little after eight, with no Adam and no call, and dinner long forgotten, I sit on the couch with the bottle of wine aggressively hitting the buttons on the remote control as I search for something to take my mind off my missing boyfriend.
9:07 Adam: I promise I’m almost done; this is just taking longer than I expected.
I didn't reply; it was the last text I got for the night. Sometime after one in the morning I jolt awake in my bed. I don’t remember coming in here but I’m under the covers and Adam is next to me.
I sigh a breath of relief that he’s home, but I hate that I still feel like the rug will be pulled out from under me one of these days.
I realize I didn’t have a nightmare even with the memory of watching my mom sit up waiting for my dad being in the forefront of my mind. I get up quietly and go to the kitchen to get a drink of water.
The stove light is on and under it is a vase of wild flowers and a card, like they’re on display for me.
I smile as I touch the petals. Clearly there wasn’t a flower shop open at midnight which means he was thinking of me before getting stuck at work.
Him missing dinner stings a little less and I remind myself he’s working for us.
Owning your own business is a big commitment and I have to understand there will probably be many more nights like this.
And more nights there were.
I’m sitting at Moose’s waiting for Adam.
He sent me a text earlier to say he was wrapping up at the job site and to meet him here for a quick burger and beer.
I always hated sitting alone but I’m mostly comfortable in the town now.
People know me, the locals anyway and know I’m dating Adam.
They offer me the same hospitality as if I was born here.
I see Grace enter the bar. Adam and I have bumped into her a few times, and he’s introduced us.
She went to school with the Casanova’s. Something about her rubs me the wrong way but she’s always been polite.
Maybe too polite. It’s very clear she has something for Adam, all the brothers actually.
Maybe she’s just a shameless flirt. I give her a quick wave then go back to looking over the menu.
“Dining alone, Chelsea?” She sneers my name, and it’s almost like she’s happy I’m by myself. Her tone of voice is very different from when Adam is around.
“Hi Grace. No, I’m waiting on Adam.”
She huffs a laugh. “Oh God, well, better settle in, you’ll be waiting a while.” She slides out the chair across from me and sits down, laying her purse on the table.
“He said he was finishing up and would be here soon. I don’t mind waiting.” I hold up my beer. “I’m taking the time to relax.”
She leans back in the chair and gives me a look of pity and it makes me uneasy.
“Let me fill you in, woman to woman. Adam and I, we had something a while back. He used to pull the same work nonsense with me. Always running late or never showing at all, right?” she asks, raising a brow.
I study her, not wanting to give anything away but she’s definitely hit the mark. Why didn’t he tell me he dated Grace?
And when was this? He and I have been together since our sophomore year of college.
“Anyway, it never got better, I just learned to deal with it. I let him have his space, let him work, but he always came back. I grew to understand the pressure of being a part of a family run business.” That dig feels like she read my own thoughts.
“And he knows I’m here for him.” Her eyes dart over my shoulder.
She shrugs and leans over the table as she stands. “I’ll always be here.”
“Beat it, bitch, I’m sure there’s another home to wreck in a different part of town.” Britt exclaims as she gets closer to my table. I hate the way I’m feeling right now, and I’m relieved to see Britt.
Grace gives Britt a once over, grabs her purse and heads for the door.
“What the fuck did she say to you?”
I take a breath and a big gulp of my beer to steady myself. “Britt. Always lovely to see you.”
She cracks a laugh then flips her finger toward the door. “Don’t let anything she says get to you. She’s a jealous cunt who wants the Casanova name. Newsflash; she’s not getting it.”
Moving my glass around the table, I ask the question I’m afraid to know the answer to. “Did they really date?”
“What! No! Oh my god, did she say that?”
I nod. “She alluded to it.”
Britt is fuming. “Adam took her to her junior prom because he’s a nice guy. She was stood up at the last minute, Billy was going with her best friend, so he begged Adam to come along. End of story.”
I don’t want to think about this. I make a mental note that Grace likes to stretch the truth, alluding to things that never happened.
It’s never come up because it means nothing.
Right? Adam wouldn’t keep that from me. But something doesn’t sit right with the timeline, and in my gut, I’m praying history is not about to repeat itself.