Chapter 54 Annabelle
Annabelle
The meetings had gone well. They finished the last one and were headed back to the hotel. The agency had arranged a car for them, and Annabelle felt herself relax for the first time that day when she climbed in the back and rested her head against the seat.
“They really know how to make you feel like a star,” Chase said, laughing. “If you hadn’t prepped me on Hollywood-speak, I might have gotten a big head.”
Annabelle smiled. “They definitely lay it on thick, but all kidding aside, they seem very excited to work with you. Any team you felt more of a connection with than the others?”
He nodded. “I liked the first two groups. We still have that last meeting in the morning though. By the way, were you able to book an earlier flight out now that the afternoon meetings are canceled?”
“No. My two o’clock at our L.A. office is still on. It’s fine. I’ll sleep on the flight and be home in the morning.”
They made small talk on the drive. It was close to six when the driver dropped them at the hotel.
“Feel like grabbing a drink?” Chase asked.
She had already decided that she wasn’t going to allow any opportunity for things to progress between them. “I’m pretty beat. I’m going to order room service and make it an early night.”
“Oh,” he said, his disappointment obvious. “No worries. I’ll see you in the morning.”
When Annabelle got to her room, she kicked off her shoes and called James.
“Hey you,” he answered.
“Thanks again for rearranging your schedule to accommodate my trip. What’s going on?”
“The girls are in their rooms. Parker’s at my feet, and I’m about to watch a crime drama on BBC.”
She was suddenly homesick. “Wish I was there.”
“Me too, babe. Only one more night.”
“My meeting tomorrow goes until four, so I’ll have to take the red-eye. I’ll get in at seven a.m. ”
“I’ll be there.”
When Annabelle ended the call, she sent a text to each of the girls telling them good night, and then called room service and ordered a glass of wine and a scallop entrée.
While she waited, she sorted through her work emails.
She got up when she heard a knock on the door, expecting room service.
When she looked through the peephole, she was surprised to see Chase. She opened the door.
“Hey, what’s up?”
He was dressed casually in shorts and a T-shirt and was beaming from ear to ear. In his hands he held a bottle of champagne. “We just hit half a million subscribers!”
She broke out into a wide smile. “Seriously?”
“Yep! I just found out. You have to have a celebratory drink with me.”
She was about to answer when she saw the room service cart coming toward them.
“I’ll wait on the balcony,” Chase said. Before she could respond, he walked past her.
After the food was left, Annabelle stood still, indecision filling her. Another dream coming true. But what could she say to him? She took a deep breath and joined Chase outside. He’d already poured a glass for each of them, and he handed her one.
“Thanks for everything you’ve done to help. This is a dream come true. Cheers.”
“Cheers,” she said, touching her glass to his and taking a sip.
Her eyes lingered a moment on his mouth, and she found herself wondering what it would feel like to kiss him.
She brought the glass to her lips and took a gulp, forcing herself to look away.
They sat down in the chairs facing the beach, and she was overcome once again with that same sense of déjà vu.
She tried to shake it off. “Congratulations. It’s quite an accomplishment. ”
“Thanks, I can hardly believe it myself. This should help with the adaptation discussions.”
“Definitely! Your family must be thrilled.”
A cloud came over his face. “My son is psyched, but Tara doesn’t really get it. The only comment she made was that she hoped this didn’t mean I’d be gone all the time now.”
Annabelle didn’t know what to say. Was this the classic “my wife doesn’t understand me” schtick? “I’m sure she’ll come around. And it is hard when someone has to travel a lot.”
“I’m sorry. I must sound like a real jerk; I don’t mean to complain about her. Do you ever wish you could go back and change things that you had no idea at the time would have such a profound effect later?”
She thought back to that last year in college. She blew out a breath and turned to him. “Like what?”
“All I ever wanted was a family. Maybe it’s because growing up, I didn’t have much of one. Like your situation, my dad took off when I was young, and it was only my mother and me. I always dreamed about having a big family.”
“I didn’t know that. Why didn’t you say anything before?” she asked.
“I guess I didn’t want to sound like I was comparing my heartache to yours.”
She took another sip of her champagne. “I’m sorry you went through that too. Do you ever hear from him?”
“No. I don’t even know where he is. And I have no desire to.”
“I get it,” she said.
“I feel like you get a lot of things about me. It’s the strangest thing, but I feel like I’ve known you forever.”
Annabelle was tempted to tell him that she’d dreamed about him, but hesitated. “I know what you mean. It does seem like we’ve known each other in a past life or something.” She forced a laugh. She didn’t believe in past lives but didn’t know what else to say.
“Maybe we did.”
“Actually, I have something to tell you.” She bit her lip and looked down at her feet, too shy to meet his eyes. “You know those dreams I told you about? Well, you were in some of them.”
He touched her arm, sending a frisson across her skin. “Really? Tell me more.”
She looked at him. “I dreamed about us being here. And drinking wine on the balcony.” She laughed. “We even took a dip in the ocean, which obviously hasn’t happened.”
“Were these dreams before or after we met?” Chase asked.
“That’s the thing. Before. That’s why I dropped that glass the day at lunch when I saw you. I’d already seen you in my dreams.”
Chase whistled. “That’s wild. What else?”
She shook her head. “That’s it, essentially. Us here. Talking. Nothing inappropriate,” she hastened to add.
He cocked an eyebrow. “That’s a little disappointing.”
Now she felt uncomfortable again. “Obviously, we’re both married and not looking for anything. I think we’re meant to be good friends. So tell me. Did your wife want a big family as well?” Annabelle needed to steer the conversation in a different direction.
Chase leaned back in the chair. “Tara and I got married right after college. I thought we wanted the same things. Both her parents are still together, she’s also an only child. I don’t think her desire to have kids was as strong, but still, she agreed that we’d try for three or four children.”
Annabelle didn’t speak, letting him continue.
He swirled his glass, quiet for a moment. “She got pregnant before we were married. The truth is, I had been ready to break up with her, but then I thought I could make it work for our child. Then in her fifth month, she lost the baby.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“We tried again, and same thing. Five months, and a miscarriage.”
“That’s terrible. How devastating.” She reached out and put her hand on his, squeezing gently.
“We had more losses, and it became too much. She didn’t want to try anymore, and I understood.
I talked about adoption, but she refused.
” He stopped and took a sip of his champagne.
“I don’t want you to think this is a come-on.
I feel so comfortable talking to you. I hope it’s okay that I’m being so transparent. ”
Annabelle didn’t know if it was the champagne getting to her, or the intoxicating way Chase was starting to make her feel, but she wanted to know more. “Please, go on.”
“It took a toll on our marriage, which was never that solid to begin with. I was about to leave her, and then she got pregnant again. This time it took. And then we had Lucas. He’s our miracle child, the light of my life. I’d do anything for him.”
“How are things between you and Tara now?” She was in dangerous territory, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself.
He raised his eyebrows. “Not good. She’s erratic, gets angry easily.
Lucas and I both walk on eggshells a lot.
But once he came along, I couldn’t leave her.
She would fight me for full custody; she has a vindictive streak.
Honestly, I never felt okay leaving Lucas with her. I’m the peacemaker in the house.”
“Are you saying she’s abusive?” Annabelle was horrified at the thought.
He shook his head. “Not abusive exactly, but emotionally unstable. She would never intentionally hurt Lucas, but she’s not a great mother. I do the lion’s share and try to make up for what she lacks. I guess life takes us on paths we don’t expect.”
Annabelle didn’t know what to say. Chase looked so vulnerable that it broke something open in her, and she told him all about Randy.
He listened quietly, letting her get every detail out.
Then she told him about the other loss. The one that still defined her.
With each word, she felt herself unburden a little bit more.
It felt so healing to share what had happened.
Her tears flowed as she spoke. When she was finished, a peace came over her, unlike anything she’d known in years.
They stood up, and he embraced her. They stayed that way for a long time, holding each other as if they were mending all the broken parts inside each of them.