Chapter 14 Full Court Press #6
“I always think things through, Greg,” she replied with a faint smile. “That’s how I survived becoming Veronica LaFayette.” She wrapped her arms around his neck.
“And Aunt Janet brought you and I together because she didn’t want us to suffer the pain and heartache she did by closing off her heart.
She saw that same thing happening to both of us,” he mused.
“I’ll have to thank her when I get back to Kansas City.
” He kissed her deeply, pulling her tightly to himself, and was about to speak again after the kiss when they were interrupted by the waiter.
“Ahem,” he said clearing his throat. “I’m your server for the evening. My name is Dante. I have brought the champagne madam has pre-ordered, along with the fried mozzarella sticks and marinara. Shall I pour?”
“Thank you Dante. Please do. We’ll sit down in just a moment. Please bring the courses on schedule.”
“At your pleasure, madam,” Dante replied politely then poured the champagne. “I’ll be back with the salads in a few minutes.” He turned then exited quietly.
Veronica’s expression had softened almost immediately at the mention of Janet.
The interruption had almost broken the mood of the moment, but she looked deep into Greg’s eyes and could see a spark for the first time.
She rested her forehead gently against his chest for a moment before looking back up at him.
“Speaking about Aunt Janet,” she began then took a long breath.
“She blamed herself for so many years,” Veronica admitted quietly.
“Not for giving me to Vanessa and Jacques, but for believing she’d been abandoned and trapped.
” She smiled sadly. “My actual father died just days before he was to come to America for her.”
Greg smiled softly as he remembered Janet telling him this story just over a week ago. “So, you found out that he didn’t abandon her?”
“No,” Veronica softly replied. “He loved her deeply. They both just became victims of fear, pride and family expectations.” She slowly slipped away from him and walked toward the table overlooking the skyline.
“Vanessa used to tell me that sometimes people destroy their own happiness because they’re afraid they don’t deserve it. ”
Greg stood silent for several seconds after hearing the words. “That sounds painfully familiar,” he finally admitted.
Veronica looked back toward him knowingly. “Yes,” she whispered. “It does.” She lowered herself slowly into the chair near the window.
Greg moved toward the table slowly and sat across from her as her fingers lightly brushing the stem of the champagne glass Dante had poured for her. The Dallas skyline shimmered behind her in gold and white reflections against the dark glass. “It’s a pain I’d like to forget.”
“For years Aunt Janet thought she had ruined everyone’s lives just by loving the right man at the wrong time.”
He gazed at her, reading her body posture. “But Vanessa never saw it that way?”
“No,” Veronica said immediately, almost defensively.
“Mom,” she began then clarified, “Vanessa, loved me with everything she had. She used to tell me that I more special a gift from God than any child ever. I had two women that loved me enough to sacrifice parts of themselves for me.” Her expression softened again.
“When Vanessa’s cancer came back, she and Jacques promised Aunt Janet she would always stay in my life no matter what happened.
” Greg listened quietly as she continued.
“All dad wanted was to save mom. He never wanted me to be apart from Janet. She’d already sacrificed so much for his happiness.
” She thought for a moment before continuing.
“That’s why he brought me back to Kansas City after he realized he was dying too.
He wanted me to finally understand everything before it was too late.
” She smiled faintly. “Honestly, I think he was terrified I’d hate my real mother once I learned the truth. ”
“But you didn’t,” Greg observed, nearly at a whisper.
“How could I?” Veronica asked softly. “She gave up being called ‘Mom’ just so she could stay beside me every single day.” She looked down briefly. “Most people would never understand that kind of sacrifice.”
Greg slowly nodded. “No,” he agreed quietly. “Most people wouldn’t.”
For several seconds neither of them spoke.
The soft jazz music drifted through the room while the city lights glittered below them.
“Mom,” she began then corrected herself again.
“Vanessa, prepared me for that without me knowing what her songs and stories really were, plus she had also left me a journal telling me about everything from the beginning.” Then Veronica looked directly into his eyes again.
“You know what scared Aunt Janet the most?”
Greg shook his head lightly. “What scared her the most?”
“That I would become her.” Veronica’s voice nearly dropped to a whisper.
“She was terrified that I would spend my life building walls around my heart because I thought love would always abandon me after what Quinton did in Oslo.” She gave a sad little laugh.
“And honestly? For a long time she was right.”
Greg leaned back slowly in his chair, absorbing the words. “Was she really right?”
“But then you happened,” Veronica admitted. The sincerity in her voice hit him harder than he expected.
“Veronica—” Greg tried to respond, but he saw her reaction and stopped.
“No,” she interrupted gently. “Please let me finish.” She took a slow breath. “Do you know why I kissed you like that downstairs in front of all those cameras?”
Greg blinked slightly. “Because you wanted the media attention?”
She smiled softly and shook her head. “No. I kissed you because for the first time since Oslo, I stopped caring what anyone else thought.” Her eyes locked onto his completely.
“When I’m with you, Greg, I don’t feel like Veronica LaFayette the celebrity.
I don’t feel like a product or a brand or a performance.
I just feel like…a woman. Just me, not the singer or celebrity. ”