Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Willow
“Thank you for calling the Whispering Haven Bed and Breakfast. How may I help you?” My words are perfunctory. I’m emotionally and mentally exhausted. It takes everything in me to remain professional.
“Do you have any rooms for a dollar?” a young male voice sounds through the phone. My potential new guest sounds like he’s about eight.
“No, sir. I’m afraid we don’t.” I’m too tired to say anything else. I’m not surprised when he bursts out laughing and immediately hangs up. This isn’t the first, nor will it be the last, prank phone call we receive.
It’s been two days since I’ve been back in Whispering Haven, and it feels like I never left.
It’s as if my life hasn’t changed at all.
I’m back at work, manning the front desk, and feeling like I don’t know where I’m going in my life.
The only thing different now is I no longer have my second job at the Magnolia Club.
They didn’t technically fire me, but there’s no way I’m going back. I never want to see Norman or that coat station again.
“Hey, chica, we just got done cleaning the Jungle Room,” Katherine says as she heads up to the front desk, a broom in her hand and a smile on her face. “Brielle went to empty the trash.”
“Awesome.” I force a smile at her, hoping to stay positive as I can around my friends. I don’t want them to constantly see how badly I am hurting. “Thanks for doing that. I’ve been so tired.”
“Girl, you’ve been through a lot. How are you feeling?
” She observes me with a keen expression, and I know she has more questions for me.
I haven’t really spoken to her about what went on at Sebastian’s apartment.
I definitely don’t want to admit that I slept with him again or that I still had feelings for the man.
They don’t need to know I still think about him.
I’m not sure what that says about me, that I am still, technically, in love with a man who fooled me and basically kidnapped me.
“You know you can talk to me about anything, right?” Katherine asks.
I nod slowly. “I know. Not trying to avoid anything. I guess I just don’t even know where we’re going to go from here.”
“Well, we’re going to buy our own bed and breakfast one day,” she says. “That hasn’t changed. You’re still interested in that, right?”
“I feel like I can’t even see that potential goal in sight.” I shake my head. “We barely have any money in our joint account, and interest rates are going higher and higher. I’ve lost my second job. It’s like I’m going backwards rather than forward.”
“I know, girl, but we gotta have faith. We can do it.”
“Thanks for all your support and the pep talk.” I take a deep breath and look around the lobby.
It’s just as it was before I left. Even the flowers I’d put out the day before Vegas are still in the same pot.
They’ve dried out, but they have still kept their beauty.
There is still beauty in decay, I think ironically.
“What’s really weird is there are things I miss,” I say as she comes to stand behind me, grabbing a pen and notepad.
“You know what I miss? My view of Manhattan. It was like a tower in that room, and I felt like a prisoner, but it was really cool being up so high. I felt like I was flying in the clouds sometimes. Sometimes I would watch people walking down the street like little ants on a mission. Even though they were so far away, and I couldn’t see their faces, I could see their movements.
Sometimes I’d guess how long it would take them to get to a certain place. ”
“You sound like you were really bored.”
“Well, you do know I had a lot on my mind and not really anywhere to go.”
“I know. So... have you heard from Charlotte recently?”
“No.” I shake my head. “I guess she’s still in France doing whatever she’s doing.”
What is she doing?
“And have you heard from Sebastian?”
My heart sinks at her words. “No, I haven’t. But I’m not sad about it. What would he say to me? To apologize again? It’s too little, too late.”
“You understand why he thought what he thought, though?”
I shrug. “If he knew me, if he really and truly knew who I was as a person, then he’d have never doubted me for a moment. And even worse was the fact he wouldn’t even listen to my side. Anytime I tried to tell him anything, he dismissed me.”
Pain claws its way up inside me.
“Yeah, I guess that’s true. And what about that bitch Louisa? Can you imagine that she was the one sleeping with Sergio all along? I mean, it doesn’t surprise me, but the fact that—”
“Wait a second.” I blink rapidly and jerk my eyes to Katherine as a thought hits me so hard it’s like a speeding truck on the highway has slammed into me.
“What is it?”
“Louisa and Sergio are in France.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Who else is in France?”
“The French president? French people?”
“No. Think about it. Who else is in France?”
A light dawns in Katherine’s eyes and her jaw drops. “Fuck. You don’t think she’s involved?”
I nod slowly. “Charlotte is in France. Louisa is in France. Sergio is in France. Sergio thought he was dating a ‘Willow.’ Louisa gave information to Sebastian that said I was the Willow. Wouldn’t it make sense that Charlotte is involved?
Because how on earth would my name even come into it?
Sebastian saw my photo when he was presented with evidence.
” I gape at her, my jaw practically unhinged with anger. “Charlotte set me up.”
“Oh shit. What do we do?” Katherine looks as pissed as I feel. I’m not even shocked, just disappointed.
“I don’t know.”
“Oh my gosh, Willow. I just had a thought.”
“Yeah?”
“How many times did you say Charlotte played the lottery?”
I’m not sure where she’s going with this, but I answer anyway. “I don’t know how many times she played, but she won twice. Why?”
“Remember when she ‘won the lottery the first time, we were both shocked?”
“Yeah, because I didn’t even know she was playing.” I pause. “Wait, you don’t think she won the lottery?”
She lifts a skeptical eyebrow. “I mean, what are the chances she’d win millions twice and we wouldn’t hear about it in the news?”
“She said she wanted to be anonymous.”
“Yeah, that’s what she said. But what’s the more likely story?”
“Oh, I didn’t even think about that.” I feel sick to my stomach. “So Charlotte set me up. She was in on it for the money?”
“Girl, I think she put this whole thing together.”
I’m reeling from her words, unable to figure out what this means and where to go from here.
“What should I do? What do we do?”
She lets out a huff. “Well, we can’t let her get away with it.”
“I know, but I don’t even know where to go. This is our livelihood. We have no other jobs.” My phone starts ringing then, and I glance at the screen.
“It’s Sebastian,” I say and my heart jumps. “He has a knack for knowing the worst time to call.”
“Are you going to answer it?”
“I don’t know. I don’t really want to talk to him.”
“He might know about Charlotte and have a plan. You can’t stand him, but maybe you both have a joint enemy.” She gives me a grim smile. “We don’t have the means to do anything here, Willow, but he does.”
I know she’s right.
“I don’t want to see him again,” I utter, pain bleeding into my words.
“You don’t have to see him again. Just work with him. Work with him to get Charlotte back. He loves revenge, right?”
The man practically lives for it. I got to witness it firsthand.
“Fine.” I answer the phone and steel my spine. “Is there something you want, Sebastian?” My tone so cold it could freeze fire in hell.
There’s a beat of silence before he finally responds.
“Why, hello. It’s nice to hear your voice as well.”
“I would say it’s nice to hear yours,” I spit out, “but I don’t like to lie.”
There’s another drawn out pause on the line and I’m glad that I’m getting to him.
“Are you going to speak, or should I just hang up?” I ask with a bite of impatience. “Because I’m working and I don’t have time to be on the phone all day.”
“You’re still mad at me.” His voice is ragged and tense as if he’s distressed.
Good. I hope he’s miserable.
“It’s been two days, Sebastian,” I say through gritted teeth. “Yes, I’m still mad at you. What did you think was going to happen in two days?”
“I miss you.”
My heart reacts with a lurch and then beats wildly. I hate how he still has this power over me.
“Well, that’s a joke.” I swallow down the irritation clawing at my throat.
“Are you trying out your comedy act on me? Because I’m busy.
I’m working. I don’t have time to laugh.
I have money to make, seeing as all of mine is in offshore accounts.
” I laugh sarcastically and feel satisfied when he sighs.
“The house seems empty without you.”
“You can always go out and kidnap someone else. Or marry some other helpless victim. Oh wait, do you have to get divorced from your previous captive first?”
“Willow, can I see you?”
I hesitate before answering. “Why? Is there something you need to tell me that you haven’t already? Anything else you want to accuse me of? Wait, do you think I stole the crown jewels? Or seduced Leonardo DiCaprio and you’re terrified it’s going to ruin your reputation?”
He starts laughing. “Maybe you’re the one who needs to be in the comedy show.”
“Maybe. I have a question for you, Sebastian.”
“Anything you want to ask, I’ll answer.”
“Okay. It’s not about us, so don’t get excited.”
“How did you know I was excited?” he says smoothly.
I roll my eyes, even though he can’t see me. “Be serious.”
“I am being serious.”
“Is Charlotte involved in this? Does she know Louisa? Does she know Sergio?”
“Why do you ask me that?”
“Because she’s in France and suddenly it just clicked. She’s in France. And so are Sergio and Louisa. Louisa gave you my name and my photograph. Where else would she have gotten it? It’s not like I’m some reality TV star or social media influencer. No one knows me.”
He lets out a deep sigh. “That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about.
We do think Charlotte is involved. It’s likely she and Louisa have been in some sort of polyamorous relationship with different men, where they con them and rip them off.
I don’t know why she used your name, but I’m worried—”
“You don’t have to worry about me. I can take care of myself.”
“Can I come see you?”
“Look, Sebastian. It’s not personal. I just want to discuss what we can do. Now's not a good time.”
“I don’t have to come today. I can come tomorrow.”
“I have something to do tomorrow,” I say quickly. “I’m sorry, but that’s not going to work.”
“What about the day after tomorrow?”
“That’s fine,” I say reluctantly. “Come up to the bed and breakfast, and we’ll talk.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet, Sebastian. I may forgive you, but I’m not going to forget. But if you have a plan to get back at Charlotte and Sergio and Louisa, I may be down to hear what you have to say.”
“And that’s all I ask.”
“Good. Because that’s all you’re getting.” And with that, I hang up the phone.
Katherine’s eyes are wide and pinned on me, a questioning look on her face.
“He’s coming up in two days,” I say. “He wanted to come up today or tomorrow. But I’m working today, and, well, I have something to do tomorrow.”
She rubs my shoulder and nods. “I know. And I’m sorry.” Then, she gives me a big hug. “You okay?”
“I’m going to be fine. Thank you.”
The next morning, I rise early, drive to the flower shop, and pick up the two bouquets I’d already ordered.
I make my way down the country road toward the cemetery and drive in.
Once parked by a willow tree, I make my way to my parents’ joint grave and place down the flowers.
Glancing around, I make sure I’m alone. Then, I can’t stop myself from falling to my knees and crying.
“I miss you, Mom. I miss you, Dad,” I whisper.
I look around again to make sure there’s no one else in the cemetery. I don’t want anyone to think I’m crazy. Tilting my head up, I gaze at the sky and wonder if they’re looking down at me. I close my eyes and wrap my arms around my body, pretending that it’s them.
“I feel so lost, Mom and Dad. I feel like I have no hope and like I don’t know what I’m doing with my life. I’m in desperate need of some guidance. Please look out for me. Please love me. I feel like I have no one.”
If Charlotte really did this to me, she’s betrayed me on a level I could never have imagined. How could my own cousin do this to me? And how could the man I love believe I would do something so horrific?
I don’t even know what to do anymore.
The tears stream down my face. I feel such sorrow—sorrow for what I lost, for what I never had, and for what I’ll never know. I want my parents to be here and to protect me. But I know I have to be strong.
I stand up and square my shoulders. Then, I offer a small smile to the universe and blow kisses out into the air, up to the clouds, up to my parents in heaven.
“Don’t worry,” I say softly. “I’m going to be okay. I have Katherine and Brielle, and they’re my family. Doesn’t mean I don’t miss you, though. Doesn’t mean that every day I don’t wish you were here or think about what I’d do to have you back in my life.”
I remain in place for a few more seconds and sing a song my mom taught me when I was a little girl.
It still amazes me that I remember the words.
I close my eyes, and I can hear her voice singing along with mine.
I smile as calmness fills me. I don’t know how I know, but I know it will be all right.
I just have to have faith. I just have to believe.
All my life, I’ve waited for a prince charming to come and save me, but there’s no prince charming who will change my life. That does not mean it can’t change, though. I just have to be strong for myself. I have to find a way.
As I walk back to my car, I feel a renewed sense of vigor. A renewed sense of self. Charlotte betrayed me in the worst way, and I’m going to make sure she’s paid back. I’m going to make sure she knows she betrayed me for the last time.
In that moment, as I think of Sebastian and everything he did, all I can feel is sorrow because he was broken too, but in a different way. The smarter part of me knows I could never fix him, though.
He will have to do that for himself.