Chapter 5
It had been such a long time since I’d been to the Hamptons, or even been in a car for longer than a few minutes. At first, I hadn’t been sure that I would even make it to the event with the wedding planner, since I hadn’t heard from Aurora since our last meeting in my office, and her responses to my messages had been few and far between. So, upon the invitation from my mom, I tried my best to find the time.
The drive over was a much-needed, almost three-hour reprieve from the usually bustling flight travel and the office. So much so that by the time I arrived at the vineyard, I was almost reluctant to get out.
So many things weighed heavily on my heart and in my mind, and as I remained in the car watching as people came and went, I could only imagine that things would get even more strained in there.
But it was my responsibility now to lead the family and to be all that I could for every single one of them. And so, after a heavy sigh, I reached for the door; however, just then, a woman hurried into sight, seemingly from out of nowhere. She was obviously running late and scatterbrained, but then she suddenly stopped, and I couldn’t help but cock my head curiously, wondering why. She turned around, then took a quick look around, and then she stared straight at me.
I was startled. I knew she couldn’t see me since the glass was tinted, but it was almost as though she could, and for some reason, I couldn’t look away.
She hurried back to the glass, and in the next moments, as she used the reflection to fix her curly, messy hair and collared, rumpled shirt, I understood that my car was more or less being used as a mirror to help her fix her appearance. I couldn’t help staring at her then, from the top of her head to the tips of her toes, and it wasn’t hard to realize that she was quite attractive.
Extremely unpolished, but there was something about those eyes of hers that made me unable to look away.
I couldn’t quite explain it, but even though she looked stressed in a way, she also looked and felt as light as the wind. Her eyes were clear and bright and seemed to hold no hidden shadows or grief, and it made me want to roll down the window just so that I could stare further into them. Eventually, though, and after glancing at the watch on her wrist, she straightened, and in no time, had dashed away and straight into the lobby of the vineyard.
I couldn’t see her any longer, yet I didn’t move, perhaps with the hope that she would come out again, but she didn’t. A few minutes later, my phone began to ring, and I looked down to see it was my mother. I could no longer delay, so I picked it up, and after giving a look to James through the rearview mirror, he immediately got out of the car and came over to the side to pull the door open for me.
“Are you here yet?” my mom asked as soon as I picked up the phone.
“Just getting in,” I replied.
”Oh, that’s great news. I didn’t think you’d be able to make it.”
”Aurora?” I asked, and I could hear the smile in her voice even before she replied.
“She”s here.”
“And her mood?”
“She’s been sullen as usual, but she keeps staring at the door, so I know that she”s expecting you.”
This was good to hear, so I ended the call and headed over to the reception desk to ask for directions to the arranged location.