Chapter Twenty-Five JACKIE
Chapter Twenty-Five
JACKIE
Raw New York energy pulses through the air, bringing a rush of excitement and a familiarity that nurses back my sense of self. The lake house and Silver Lake Falls are gorgeous, in a quaint and cozy small-town way, but this city is where my stride fits.
Here’s where I belong. London was a lie I told myself, thinking I could put down roots there.
I’d never trade New York for anything. Even if I have to stay in my brother’s penthouse until the new place is ready to move into.
I haven’t told Carter yet, but I’m not going back to my house.
It breaks my heart. It was my favorite place in the world.
But all I can see are hands like claws touching my paintings, ransacking my living room.
Stepping on my bed to write on the wall… .
“I missed you so much, sweetie,” Mom says, squeezing my hand, a content smile gracing her features.
Another perk of being here is spending time with Mom. Who all but dragged Eliza and me to our favorite brunch spot in Manhattan.
“And I missed the crab omelet,” I tease her, leaning back on the pink velvet banquette.
Mom smiles into her champagne cocktail, while Eliza’s gaze wanders along the walnut panels that wrap the room from floor to ceiling. She’s mesmerized by all the mid-century details lining the ceiling.
“This place reminds me of those old movies they screened at the library,” she murmurs.
“Next time, I’ll introduce you to the designer,” Mom says. “They reopened this place last month.”
And of course, she even has her own private booth. Mom doesn’t do things halfway. Between that useful perk and the security detail posted around the block and flanking every entrance, Carter finally relented and agreed to this little outing.
The glass of Mamie Taylor barely touches my lips when an all-too-familiar voice pierces through the old jazz and low murmur of the room.
“I can’t believe my eyes,” Blanca croons, Miriam trailing behind her. “I thought you were sequestered in that charming little town indefinitely. Are you finally back?”
The smile I paste on is stiff enough to ache, but my mom is ever gracious, while Eliza is her usual sweet self. “Hey—” she starts.
Blanca air-kisses Mom and me, entirely ignoring Eliza. “Hello, darlings!”
“We,” I stress the word, but Blanca blinks at me placidly, “are just back for a couple of days.”
Blanca taps a slender finger to her cheek, lips pursed. “I wonder if Will would have time to fly over. We could grab a drink?”
“You think it’s a good idea?” I take a sip of the spicy drink. “What if something urgent comes up again? We’d be left missing your company.”
Her smile sharpens. “I was under the impression you’d appreciate a little alone time with Will.”
“I’d prefer to make that decision for myself.”
As always, Blanca changes the subject when she’s on the losing side of an argument.
“Clara, love,” she says, turning to my mother. “You have to do something about this year’s Women’s Gala theme.”
When Eliza tries to say something, Blanca overlooks her again, already digging into the reserve of patience I have for her nonsense.
“Of course, sit for a bit.” Mom pats the seat next to her. “I was talking to Joseph after the board meeting. It’s completely inappropriate.” She shakes her head. “Your heart’s desire?”
I nearly kick Mom under the table. But she doesn’t know about our little heated discussion in Maine. Or about the way Blanca spoke to Adam. She’d be furious, too.
Miriam, at least, has the decency to look apologetic. Of all the women fighting to be in Blanca’s clique, I have the least aversion toward her. She’s not as superficial as Blanca, but hasn’t yet figured out how to develop a personality.
It’s strange how time and history make you overlook someone’s biggest flaws. But I guess I never really got the chance to see this side of Blanca until Adam came into the picture.
I can pretend to be civil for fifteen minutes. But the thinly veiled comments about Eliza “landing” one of the wealthiest bachelors in town make my blood simmer, hot and restless beneath the surface.
By the time Blanca and Miriam excuse themselves for the bathroom, my cocktail is already drained.
“You don’t have to be so nice all the time,” I bite, and Mom recoils.
“What do you mean?” she begins. “You’ve been friends since—”
“And Eliza is your future daughter-in-law,” I hiss low. A Rawlings woman can’t make a scene. Still, the knife screeches on the porcelain plate when I cut into the food more forcefully than necessary.
Eliza drops her gaze, mechanically folding the napkin on her lap. She’s improved her poker face, but her embarrassment burns through. That’s when my mom actually takes her in and immediately looks crestfallen. Good.
“I’ve lost my appetite.” I ball the napkin and fling it onto the table. “Be right back.”
Yelling at Mom won’t solve anything. Better to let her stew in her own guilt. I step into the small waiting room outside the women’s bathroom and stop cold at the conversation leaking through the door.
“Did you see the wedding announcement?” Blanca’s tone drips with disdain.
“Yeah,” Miriam replies with an edge of caution. “She looked pretty in those engagement photos.”
“Give me a break.” Blanca’s disdain echoes in the bathroom.
“A polished turd is still a turd. I should’ve spent more time at their place before Jackie moved out.
Carter would’ve clearly seen I was what he needed in a future wife.
Imagine if it were me. Exclusive photos in People magazine,” she giggles.
“Who knows. I might still have a chance. Men like Carter get bored.”
My knuckles are white around the doorknob. Smashing Blanca into the gilded mirror would be satisfying. Tearing into her, too. But then I imagine the aftermath and Carter’s wrath for not lying low.
Against all my violent impulses, I choose to be rational and go straight back to our table. But before I let the door quietly close, Blanca’s next words open the ground under my feet.
“That woman doesn’t belong among us. Even less than that Adam.” It sounds like she’s rummaging through her purse. “I thought I’d managed to get rid of him. Poor Jackie. He’s circling her again.”
In a daze, I return to the table, my mind running through her words on a brutal loop.
“It’s time to leave,” I say flatly.
“What?” Whenever she does something that could be considered uncouth, Mom flusters. “They haven’t brought the second course. It would be rude to disappear on the girls.”
“The girls,” I tell her coolly, “would be lucky not to cross my path right now.”
Her protests fall on deaf ears, but the relief on Eliza’s face, more than anything, seals my decision. Outside, the city hums, loud and alive, and the rush under my skin settles into something like resolve.
Alone at the penthouse, Eliza doesn’t wait to pounce. “What was that about?”
I certainly don’t want to tell her what I overheard in the bathroom. “Do you know when Carter is coming back?”
“Very subtle, Jackie.” She returns from the kitchen with two steaming cups of tea. “Tomorrow, I think.”
He’s been more hands-on with Logan since the car chase. Traveling around all the Rawlings facilities, securing the labs, and reinforcing the new headquarters. Protecting everyone. Protecting me.
The soft couch cushion swallows me whole. “I’m sorry for keeping Carter away from you.” This tea is heavenly. Bet it’s from her garden. “You should be getting ready for the wedding, not babysitting me.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” I meet her warm eyes, fierce under scrunched brows. “You, personally, are a target. We’ll protect you and make sure nothing like this ever happens again.”
Her arms come around my shoulder, her head resting lightly on top of mine. “I love you, Jackie. You’re my sister.”
She gives love so freely, and it settles in my chest so gingerly that my nose begins to sting. Bringing her into my life is the best gift my brother ever gave me. Her embrace feels like the safest place to be vulnerable. To finally admit to myself, I’m scared.
I grip her arm and fold into her, letting myself lean on her. Constantly proving I’m strong enough, smart enough, takes more out of me than I let them see.
We sit in silence for a while, until the heaviness in my chest begins to ease. When my muscles relax, and I don’t feel so brittle anymore, I finally let go and manage a small smile.
“Where are you with the planning? Haven’t seen you having a meltdown over the binders lately.”
Eliza looks past the large windows, into the skyline. “Carter was apparently serious when he agreed to my idea,” she says quietly. “I hope Clara won’t hate me too much for wanting a backyard wedding.”
Laughter bubbles out of me. “It’ll be beautiful. Don’t you worry your pretty head about Mom. She needs to learn to get her priorities straight.”
“I was thinking about something else, too.” She hesitates, then twists her fingers into her lap. “We should get a prenup.”
My brother is always calculated, and it’s not uncommon in our circles. I approach the subject cautiously. “Did he suggest it?”
She shakes her head, strands flying in every direction. “No.” She worries her lip, less bubbly than before. “But after meeting your friends today…” She trails off.
I shake my head. “Hardly friends.”
“I’m not eating bad canned beans anymore.” She waves her hand in the air, grasping for the right words. “But there’s still a huge gap. I want Carter to trust my feelings for him.”
It takes me aback. I study her, struck by how much she means it. “I didn’t think it was an issue.”
“Not now…But I don’t want to risk another misunderstanding. All I want is for us to be happy.”
When she puts it like that, love sounds so simple. I mean, there was nothing easy about their story. They fought like hell to find their way back together. And when they did, they just chose each other. No games, no pride.