Chapter 28
CHAPTER
TWENTY-EIGHT
SOPHIE
Ariel is absolutely mortified. I can tell from the way her shoulders droop. I want to hug her but I know I must smell terrible. And I’m not sure she wants a hug from me.
Liam was engaged. He was in love. There was another woman who captured his heart.
And then she died and he never got over it. Which makes me, what? His Jenny?
She’s a fine woman but she’ll never replace your mom. She was the love of my life.
Of course she was. For a moment I see Liam, years younger and carefree, kissing a bride who’s staring up at him adoringly.
A bride who isn’t me. The woman who broke him so badly he couldn’t commit again.
Until he met me and realized we were compatible and maybe that was enough.
Oh God, I’m going to be sick again.
“Sophie?”
“I just…”
I want to cry. I want to hide. I want to be at home.
I want my mom.
More than anything, I don’t want to be here. I can’t think. It’s like my head is full of thick, wiry wool. I consider banging it against the wall.
“You’re freaking me out,” Ariel whispers.
“I’m sorry,” I tell her, forcing myself to smile. “I didn’t mean to scare you. There’s just this important thing happening at work and they need me to help with it.”
She nods as though she understands. “You work at a TV station, right?”
“Yes,” I tell her. “In West Virginia. I need to go there now.”
“It’s a Saturday night.” She frowns.
“I know, but it’s open twenty-four-seven. And if I get back now I might be able to sort out this problem they’re having.” I have to get out of here. I can’t let them see me break down. I hardly know his family, they’ll all think I’m a drama queen.
Maybe I am.
“Haven’t you been drinking?”
No, thank God. “I had a mimosa about four hours ago but that’s it.” I take her hand. “The thing is, I need your help.”
“What can I do?” she asks me.
“I need you to not tell Liam about this. Or that I’ve gone. Not until the party is over. He’ll want to come with me and that’s not fair to Linda.” Or he’ll want to stop me from going at all and I can’t deal with that now.
I can’t deal with him, more to the point.
“I don’t know…” She pulls at her skirt. “I don’t want to lie to him.”
“I get that.” I nod quickly. “I’ll write him a note. You can give it to him when the party ends. I’ll explain that it isn’t your fault.”
She looks hugely uncomfortable.
“I’m sorry,” I tell her. “I wish you hadn’t come down here.”
“I shouldn’t have told you about Marie,” she whispers. “It’s not my place.”
“This isn’t your fault. None of it is. Just please… help me. Please.”
She lets out a long breath and nods. “Okay. But he’s going to kill me.”
“Thank you.” I hug her. “Thank you so much.”
It takes me five minutes to change into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Another minute to write a note to Liam and fold it into little pieces. Ariel takes it from me and frowns. “Are you sure you’re okay to drive? Even if you haven’t drunk anything you’re upset and it’s dark.”
“I know. But I’ll be fine. I’m calm now.
” I hold my hand out and it’s stable. To be honest, it’s true.
All the fear and anxiety have been replaced by some sort of tranquil knowledge that at least I can do something about all this if I’m in Charleston.
And yes I’ll arrive in the middle of the night but it’s still better than being here.
I’ll call Michael on the way and ask if we can meet first thing.
I take my bag and we walk up the path. She heads back to the party and I skulk around on the grass so nobody sees me heading toward the driveway.
When I get to the front, the men in yellow jackets are still there, and I give one of them my name.
He points at my car, on the far side of the driveway, and carries my bag over there for me.
Then I get in and start up the ignition. Liam’s going to be hurt. Ava’s going to kill me. But I know I’m doing the right thing leaving like this.
It’s my mess and my job to solve it. They don’t need to get involved.
LIAM
“Have you seen Sophie?” I ask Ava, a frown pulling at my brow. I’ve been looking for her since I managed to extricate myself from my mom’s aunt.
Ava’s sitting in the living room feeding Charlie. I feel bad for interrupting her, but I really thought I’d find Sophie with her.
“No.” She frowns. “I haven’t seen her for a while. Did you check the cabin?”
“Why would she be in the cabin?” I ask.
“I don’t know.” Ava shrugs. “It’s just a thought.”
I grab my phone from my pocket. “I’ll call her.”
But when the phone connects it rings to her voicemail without her answering at all.
“Everything okay?” Myles walks in and frowns when he sees me watching his wife breastfeed.
“Liam has lost Sophie.”
Myles smiles. “That’s careless.”
“Have you seen her?” I ask him, sighing.
“Maybe she realized what an idiot you are and ran off,” he says, still grinning.
“Shut up.” I walk out and leave them to it, heading to the kitchen to see if she’s there.
After five minutes, I’m actually starting to get worried. Maybe Ava’s right, I should go and check the cabin. Pulling the kitchen door open, I walk onto the patio. Guests are still milling around in the warm night time air. You wouldn’t believe we’d even had a storm.
I spot Ariel and Clare in the corner, sitting at a table with their mom. I haven’t had a chance to talk with Ria yet, but I will once I find Sophie.
“Hey, have any of you seen Sophie?” I ask them, leaning down to kiss Ria’s cheek.
“Is that your girlfriend?” Ria asks.
“You know it is, Mom.” Clare rolls her eyes. “Sorry, Liam, I haven’t seen her for a while.”
Ariel shifts in her seat but says nothing.
“Guess I’m going to head to the cabin. See if she’s there.”
She nods and looks away.
I’m halfway down the path when I hear my name being called. I turn to see Ariel running – or doing her best in those heels she’s wearing. She’s holding up the hem of her dress and she looks distinctly out of breath.
“Liam,” she says, puffing out a mouthful of air. “There’s something you need to know.”
“What?” I smile at her. “Hey, take a breath or two. We don’t want any fatalities at this party.”
She doesn’t smile back. In fact, she can barely bring herself to look at me. “Ariel? Is everything okay?”
“Sophie’s gone.”
“Huh?” I wrinkle my nose. “What are you talking about?”
“She left. There’s a problem at work she had to get back for.”
“That’s not right. She’s not working this weekend. She’s probably in the cabin.”
Ariel puts her hand on my shoulder. “Liam, she’s gone. She left a note.” She scrambles through the silver purse that’s hanging on a chain from her shoulder. “Here.” She passes me a piece of paper folded into four.
Liam,
I’m so sorry, I have to go. Don’t blame Ariel. This isn’t her fault. I just asked her to cover for me. I’ll explain when… I don’t know. I just need to make things right.
I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.
Sophie
I stare at her words for a moment. It doesn’t even sound like her. “What’s going on?” I ask softly, looking up at Ariel.
She shifts her feet. “She was really upset. Something happened but she wouldn’t tell me what. I wanted to get you but she begged me not to.”
“Why wouldn’t she want me?” I try to ignore the tightness in my chest.
“I don’t know.” Ariel grimaces. “But there is something else I have to tell you.”
I don’t say anything. Just lift a brow. I think she knows I’m getting pissed.
“I’m so sorry, Liam, but I told her about Marie.” She reaches out for my hand. “I didn’t realize she didn’t know about her. I thought…” She trails off, shaking her head. “I opened my mouth and it just came out.”
Fuck. “What did you say?” I ask, my voice gritty. “Tell me exactly.”
“That we never thought you’d love somebody again. But I was so glad you’d found each other. It was good stuff, Liam. Nothing awful. But her face…”
“What about her face?”
“She just looked so upset. And I think she threw up.”
“And you let her drive in that condition?” I thunder, because what the hell is going on here?
“You really thought that was a good idea?” I tug at my hair, trying to work out what to do.
She could be in a ditch somewhere, hurt or worse.
No, I can’t think like that. I pull my phone out but once again when I call her it goes straight to voicemail.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t want her to go. She made me promise not to tell you. She was so upset. I just wanted to make it all okay.” Her face is crumpled as she looks at me and I feel like a piece of shit.
“It’s okay,” I tell her, putting my hand on her arm. “I know this isn’t your fault. I’m just worried.” That’s an understatement. “How long ago did she leave?”
“About half an hour,” Ariel says, her voice full of misery. “I made sure she hadn’t been drinking. And she seemed a lot calmer once she’d made a plan.” Her eyes meet mine. “She’ll be all right, won’t she?”
“What’s going on?” We both turn to see Myles walking toward us, lit only by the soft glare of the moon. “I heard shouting.”
I feel bad because I never should have shouted at Ariel. “Sophie’s left and gone back to Charleston.”
Myles blinks. “Why? Did you do something to her?”
“No.” I can’t even be bothered to play this game right now. “She’s having some work issues.”
“At the station?”
“Apparently,” I say, my voice tight.
“And she didn’t come to see you before she left?” Myles looks confused. “Why wouldn’t she?”
“She was upset and didn’t want to ruin the party,” Ariel tells him. “I promised I’d tell you all afterward.”
“So she’ll be driving for hours in the middle of the night?” Myles’ eyes are clouded with thoughts. I’m kind of gratified that he sounds as worried as I do. “Have you called her?” he asks me.
“Yes.” But I try again anyway. And again it goes straight to voicemail. “I need to follow her. I can probably catch up with her if I leave now.”
“You can’t drive,” Ariel tells me. “I definitely saw you drinking earlier.”
Two beers with my brothers. And some champagne. Shit. “Have you been drinking?” I ask her.
“Yes.”
I look at Myles and he shrugs. I know for sure that our other brothers aren’t fit to drive either. And there’s no way I can ask any of the guests to give me a ride for four hours just to find my girlfriend.
“I’ll call a taxi,” I say.
“In the middle of nowhere at this time of night?” Myles shakes his head. “That’s not going to happen.”
He’s right. I kick the dirt with my polished shoe, frustrated. “Should I call somebody in Charleston?” I ask him. “Her dad or Lauren?”
“Not now. You’ll panic them for no reason. Wait until morning, then you can leave first thing.”
“That’s too much time to wait,” I tell him. I can’t stand the thought of her driving out there alone.
“What choice do you have?” he asks. “I’ll come with you in the morning. You were there for me when I needed you.” I know he’s referring to the night he thought he’d lost Ava. But he never really had.
He hadn’t lied to her. Hadn’t hidden a dead fiancée from her. Christ, what was I thinking?
Ariel takes my hand again. “He’s right, Liam. I know it’s hard. We can keep calling her until then.”
I nod because there’s no other way. And Myles is right, no car service would get here before morning at the very least. So I call Sophie one more time and actually leave a message this time.
“It’s me. Please let me know when you get back to Charleston safely. It doesn’t matter what time it is, I just need to know you’re okay.” I end the call and look at them both. “I’m going to head back to the cabin.” The last thing I feel like doing is socializing.
Myles nods. “Of course. I’ll cover for you at the party. I don’t think it’s going to last much longer anyway. Let me know if you hear from her. Ava’s going to go apeshit and I’d like to be able to reassure her.”
“I will,” I tell him. “And thank you.”
He nods for a second, but then he steps closer and hugs me. I blink, surprised, but hug him back anyway.
“I love you,” Myles tells me. I must look more upset than I thought. “And Sophie does, too. I hope you know that.”