Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Tatiana
I hug Jazz when I meet her outside the Italian restaurant. “I missed you. How are you doing?”
She glances at Dante’s men who keep a short distance.
I follow her gaze. “They’re just here for protection. Pretend they don’t exist.”
She frowns.
Taking her arm, I lead her inside. “Don’t worry. Reino isn’t with them.”
She stiffens at the sound of his name.
The men trickle in behind us, which makes it difficult to ignore them.
The owner comes over when he spots me from the open kitchen. Dante introduced me to him when he brought me and Noah here for lunch.
“Tatiana.” He air kisses me, knowing better than to touch me. “And who is your lovely friend?”
While I make the introduction, Jazz remains distant and barely smiles, which isn’t like her.
“My best table for you,” he says, installing us next to the window.
After I’ve thanked him, he hands us menus and scurries off to show Dante’s men to two tables at the back.
I study my friend as she bows her head over the menu. Her face is pale, and her eyes are red-rimmed. Concern tightens my chest.
Leaning over the table, I touch her arm. “What’s the matter. Have you been crying?”
She shakes her head and bites her lip.
“Jasper Everson,” I chastise. “I know you. You can’t lie to your best friend.”
She drops the menu and looks at me with haunted eyes. “I’m out of the musical.”
Startled, I withdraw my hand and sit back. “What do you mean you’re out? The auditions haven’t even started.”
“I quit.” Her bottom lip quivers. “I’m not going to audition.”
“What? Oh, Jazz. Why? I thought this was your dream.”
She wrings her hands on the tabletop. “It was.”
“What happened?”
Glowering, she says, “Reino.”
“Reino?” I frown. “What does the musical have to do with Reino?”
“Everything.” She clenches her fingers, making fists. “He set it all up.”
“He did what?”
“He threatened the director into giving me the role of Roxie Hart.” Tears glimmer in her eyes. “That’s why the director invited me for the audition.” Her voice breaks. “It was never because he saw me auditioning for Arabian Nights and thought I was good.”
The statement sounds outrageous. I have a hard time believing it. “Why would Reino do that?”
“I don’t know.” She purses her lips. “I guess to get rid of me.”
“But it doesn’t make sense.” Why would he want to get rid of her? “Are you sure about this?”
Sniffing, she wipes away a tear that has slipped free.
“Some of the regulars in the theatre company had drinks with the sponsors one evening after a rehearsal. As we were there for a pre-audition run, they invited us to join them. The alcohol was flowing, and well…” She waves a hand.
“The director got a little drunk. He didn’t mean to tell me, but it all came out. ”
“Are you sure he’s not lying?”
“He has no reason to. If he really invited me, he wouldn’t have made up such a story. Plus, he mentioned Reino by name. How else would he know him? I’ve never mentioned the guy to anyone.”
“Oh, honey.” I cup her hands. “This is terrible. I’m so sorry.” I continue in a harsh tone. “And so angry.”
She glares at the waiter who appears at our table as if everything that happened is his fault.
The young man clears his throat. “Are you ladies ready to order?”
“No,” we say simultaneously.
He taps a pencil on his notepad and says, “I’ll, um, give you another minute,” before hurrying away.
“Here.” I pour water from the carafe into her glass. “Drink something.” Heatedly, I add, “I’m going to have a word with him.”
“No,” she says quickly. “I don’t want to make things worse. I just want to forget about the whole humiliating situation.”
“You can’t let him get away with it. He owes you an explanation.” I pause. “Maybe he did it because he likes you, and in some twisted way, he thought he was doing good.”
Her eyes flare. “He definitely doesn’t like me.”
I raise a brow. “I saw the way he looked at you.”
She crosses her arms. “He just likes messing with me. I think he enjoys getting a rise out of me.”
“I’m not so sure.”
“Just…” She holds up a hand. “Don’t go there.”
“Oh, Jazz.” My heart hurts for her. I know how important this role was to her, and I can’t even begin to imagine how devastated she is. “Are you sure quitting was the right decision? You totally have the talent to make a phenomenal lead.”
“It wouldn’t have been right to stay on, not under the circumstances.
” Anger flashes in her blue eyes. “Of course I couldn’t tell anyone why I pulled out.
I used that lame old excuse, for personal reasons, and now every person in the company is speculating and imagining the worst.” She covers her face with her hands.
“This is so bad for my reputation. Declining an invitation is like throwing an opportunity back in a director’s face.
No one survives a stain like that on their performing careers. ”
“You do.” I make my voice stern. “Jasper Everson never gives up. This is your dream!”
She utters a wry laugh. “I think it’s time to admit it’s not going to happen.” Shrugging, she stares through the window. “Maybe it’s time to move on to something else. I’m not getting younger.”
“Try to convince yourself with that clichéd speech, but it’s not working for me.”
The waiter returns. “Have you decided?” He gives us a hopeful look, but when neither of us replies, he asks in bright voice, “How about the house special?”
“That sounds good.” I smile at him, grateful for his effort. “And two glasses of wine.”
When he buzzes off to put in our order, Jazz cocks an eyebrow. “Wine? You never drink at lunchtime.”
“We need a drink. Besides, we’re not driving.”
“Good point.” She leans forward and rests her elbows on the table. “But I didn’t come here to chew off your ear about my problems. I want to know how you are doing.”
“I’m good.”
It’s both true and it’s not. Not remembering what happened to me bothers me more than I’m admitting to anyone.
No, that’s an understatement.
It’s driving me insane.
I’m paranoid, constantly looking over my shoulder.
But Dr. Chad is helping a lot, and I’m trying to be patient.
I’m trying to focus on everything beautiful in my life and all the gifts I’m grateful for.
And I’m trying not to think too much about the conclusion I came to when Dante took me to the guesthouse.
“Just good?” she asks with caution.
“Great.” I put on a happy expression. “Dante is wonderful. He’s very considerate and sweet.”
“Is he?”
Is it me, or did she say that as if she doesn’t believe me? “Always.”
Her eyes light up. “How’s Noah?”
I make a puppy face. “I’m besotted with that child. He’s so happy, Jazz.”
Her face softens. “I’m glad to hear that.”
“Dante got him a dog.” I avert my eyes, not wanting to admit why we adopted the pet. “Noah is completely taken with Flash. They’re inseparable.”
“That’s great.” Her look turns a little wistful. “Noah deserves all that happiness. Why didn’t you bring him?”
I laugh. “I wanted to, but he insisted on staying with Flash. Emily offered to look after him so that I could enjoy some quality time with you.”
Jazz’s expression shifts. “When is Emily going back to the condo?”
“I told her there was no rush.”
Her mouth pulls down.
“What?” I watch her closely. “Don’t you like her?”
“Just be careful, Tiana. Don’t place too much trust in Emily’s loyalty.”
“She’s good with Noah.”
“I don’t doubt that.” Jazz hesitates. “I’m just saying she has two bosses, you and Dante, and if she has to choose, it won’t be you.”
That’s harsh. “Emily is like family. She’s been with us for just about forever.”
Jazz’s mood seems to blacken. “All the more reason why you should be careful. It hurts when people you trust betray you, and we both know how fickle people can be.”
Trying to pull her out of her morbid state, I change the subject. “We don’t see each other enough. We should do lunch more often.”
Picking up her glass, she holds it out for a toast. “I’ll drink to that.”
“To the best friend in the world,” I say just as the waiter arrives with our food.
For the rest of the meal, we talk about her roommate who decided to move out and her quest to find one who’s not allergic to cleaning.
When we hug each other after lunch, I’m not ready to say goodbye to my friend.
“Promise me you’ll come visit us,” I urge.
“Sure.” She adds with sarcasm, “If Reino isn’t there.”
All the way home, I think about what she told me. Reino is playing with Noah and Flash in the backyard when I arrive at the house. They’re throwing a ball for Flash and teaching him tricks.
I go over and kiss Noah’s cheek. “Did you miss me?”
“Look, Mommy! Flash already knows how to sit.” He points a finger at Flash and says in a serious tone, “Sit, Flash.”
Flash sits down and looks expectantly at Noah.
Noah takes a treat from his pocket. “Good boy.” He holds out the treat. “Gently. Don’t bite my fingers.”
Flash takes the treat from Noah’s hand carefully.
Kent trained him well. I feel terrible about the whole business with Kent. Poor Flash. He must miss his owner. I only hope we can fill that hole for him.
Reino comes over and brushes a hand over Noah’s head. “You’re a natural. Tomorrow, we’ll go out for a walk. You can hold the leash.”
Noah expresses his excitement by jumping up and down.
Reino glances at me. “If that’s all right with you, Mrs. Morici. It’s important that he learns how to handle his dog at home and between people and traffic.”
“I’m not sure Dante will allow that.”
“It was Mr. Morici’s idea. He’ll take Noah himself. I’m just going along as backup.”
As a bodyguard, he means. I’m sure another six will follow.
“We’ll stay in the neighborhood,” he continues.
“I think we should practice in the park first, but I’ll take it up with Dante.” I look at Noah, who’s throwing a ball for Flash to fetch. “Can we have a word in private?”
Reino indicates the deck from where we have a view of Noah.
We’re out of earshot next to the pool, but I lower my voice just in case. “Did you threaten a director to give Jazz the leading role in Chicago?”
The look that comes over his face gives me my answer.
“Reino! How could you?”
He scrubs a hand over his face. “How did she find out?”
“It doesn’t matter. What matters is that she’s devastated.”
“That wasn’t my intention.”
“What you did was wrong in so many ways. She had to pull out without giving them a reason. You might’ve just ended her career.”
His jaw flexes. “Not if I have a say in it.”
“You’ve meddled enough. I don’t know why you did what you did, but don’t make it worse. It will be better if you stay away from my friend.”
“Just for the record,” he says when I turn to leave, “I saw her practice run for the audition, and she’s cut out for that role.”
I stop and look at him. “You did?”
“I was invited.”
I narrow my eyes. “Let me guess, by the director you threatened. Did she see you?”
He shakes his head. “I sat in the back row. I didn’t want to distract her with my presence. I know she doesn’t like me.”
“Just as well.” I continue on my way, heading back to Noah. “Your presence definitely wouldn’t have helped.”
“For what it’s worth,” he calls after me, “she deserved that role.”
I look over my shoulder at him. “I guess now she’ll never know.”