Chapter 23
I drovestraight to Pearce’s after work. I knew he was home because I texted him before leaving work. When I walked in the door, he knew something was wrong.
“What’s happened?”
I looked at him, and was so furious that tears puddled in my eyes. I abhorred reacting this way, being so angry that I cried.
Not mincing words, I asked, “Why didn’t you tell me the Middletons owned MedSoft?”
His face visibly deflated. His eyebrows slumped and his mouth turned down at the corners. The sight of this told me a million things that his words didn’t.
“I’m sorry, Alexia. I should have and I don’t really know why I didn’t.”
Then I asked the million-dollar question. “Were you responsible for me getting my job?”
“No, absolutely not.”
“Did you have anything at all to do with it?”
“Yes, but very little. Lisbeth called and told me you needed a job. She said you’d lost yours at the restaurant and were searching for one. I had her shoot me your résumé and I took it to my uncle. I said I knew you but couldn’t vouch for anything else. I asked if he could at least see that you got an interview and that you were Lisbeth’s personal assistant. He called Grams and she told him Lisbeth couldn’t say enough about you. That was the extent of my involvement. I swear this to you, Lexi. I would never lie to you about this or anything.”
Those eyes, those perfectly sexy eyes were telling me the truth, as they drilled into me.
“Dammit, Pearce, why didn’t you just tell me? I looked like a fool today when I found out.”
Those stupid tears fell and then gushed down my cheeks like a freakin’ downspout. I frantically tried to wipe them away, but there was a flood of them. I shook my head and bolted out the door. I made it as far as my car before strong arms were hauling me back up the stairs.
He never said a word. He just whispered soft, sweet comforting noises that your mom makes when you’re little and you fall off your bike and scrape your knees. I hadn’t had that kind of comfort from her in I don’t know how long, I just felt my fingers clinging to his shirt and anything else I could grab a hold of.
When the flash flood finally ceased, he handed me a handful of tissues and I wiped my face and blew my nose.
I finally got up the nerve to look at him and was trying to figure out what to say.
“Why do you do this to yourself?” he asked.
“What?” I sniffed.
“Self-torture. Babe, you know me well enough by now to know that if I ever do anything that involves you, I ask you first. I would never take it upon myself to insist on someone hiring you. Do you even know my uncle? The one who runs MedSoft?”
I shook my head because I had no idea what his name even was.
“Uncle Will is the biggest ... let’s just say, he doesn’t do anything that doesn’t serve his interests. He wouldn’t have hired you unless you had something to offer the company even if you’d been related to the Queen of England. I’m serious, Alexia. He’s a tough nut. To say you were hired because you dated me was a joke to begin with. By the way, his name is William Bennington. His mom is a Middleton. Now, are you gonna tell me what happened?”
I didn’t even want to talk about it anymore, but I knew I had to. I told him the whole icky mess.
“I can’t believe those two little fucking twerps ruined your celebration. You are amazing to have gotten that kind of promotion. I’m totally serious. You can call my dad right now and he’ll vouch for me and what I’m telling you. Uncle Will had to approve your promotion, and knowing him, he’s probably even forgotten that you and I know each other. We haven’t had any formal engagement announcement party yet, so I doubt he has a clue. He’s gonna die when he finds out that his new Associate Marketing Director is my future wife.”
Apparently, Pearce’s dad and “Uncle Will” weren’t the best of friends. Not to mince words, as Pearce said, Henry thought Will was a self-serving ass! It was nice to hear that the big boss at the company you worked for was an ass.
Pearce was laughing at me. “Stop it! I have to work for the man and now he’s going to be super hard on me.”
“No, he won’t, Alexia. He’s going to make sure you succeed, because he promoted you without knowing any of this. He’ll want us all to think he found this little gem on his own. And honestly, by all rights, he did. But, honey, I can’t tell you how proud I am of you. I’ve heard how difficult he can be to work for, and to see how you’ve excelled and grown. I’m wowed by it all.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. I knew you had the talent, but you’d buried it down deep, you didn’t know it yourself. I just wanted you to see it too.”
I waggled my brows. “Is there anything else I need to know?”
“Yeah. I love you madly, babe.” And he kissed me.
After a minute, he pulled back and said, “Your lips taste salty from your tears. I’m sorry I made you cry.”
Wrapping me in his arms, he walked me over to the couch, where he sat down and tucked me right next to him. “I know this is kinda lame, and now you probably don’t feel like it, but is there anything you’d like to do to celebrate?”
“Yeah, sit right here and let you baby me.”
“Done.”
We decided to order in from the local Thai restaurant that delivered.
* * *
Memorial Day weekend rolled around,and the Middletons plus one, namely me, planned to hang out on Pearce’s yacht on Saturday. Those plans were nixed though, because we woke up to pouring-down rain. An executive decision was made to move the party over to Susan and Henry’s.
Justin went to pick up Terri, which wasn’t the easiest, because she was still wearing her cast and wasn’t allowed to put any weight on her leg. Of course, he was most attentive to that and made sure she followed her doctor’s orders. Things weren’t great with them, but I didn’t ask, and she didn’t tell.
Henry and Pearce lugged out the giant Green Egg and started cooking ribs and wings. They both loved to cook on that thing and they always turned out award-winning food.
Susan, Ava, Avery, and I sat inside and discussed wedding plans. The following Saturday we were all, along with Lisbeth and Terri, going on a wedding dress hunt. I had several appointments at the top bridal shops in Charleston, making it an all-day affair. I wasn’t sure if I was excited or nervous.
“Ava, can you tell me which wedding dress designer is the best?”
“Oh my God. That’s impossible to say. But don’t worry. You’ll have dozens of dresses to choose from.”
Avery leaned forward and asked, “Darlin’, have you and Pearce thought about the reception?”
“You know, we really haven’t talked much about it. I want to leave it up to him. I don’t have many requirements. You all know my family won’t be involved, so I think it’s more important for Pearce and you all to make those decisions.”
“Why, Lexi, we’ll hear none of that! This is your day, and you get to decide!” Avery exclaimed.
“I think you misunderstand. I want to be involved, but as far as the venue and the number of guests, I’ll leave that up to Pearce. I’ll put in my two cents when it comes to music and decorations and that type of thing.”
“What about the church?” Susan wanted to know.
“I was raised in the Episcopal Church, and that’s where I’d like the ceremony to take place, if that suits you all.”
The three women looked at each other and in unison all said, “St. Phillip’s.”
“You don’t mean that beautiful old church on Church Street, do you?”
“The one and only,” Avery announced.
“Is that even possible?” I asked, doubt lacing my every word.
“Lexi, the Middletons have been members there for generations. You and Pearce will be married there, if that’s what you want, dear,” Avery announced.
I was in near shock. People all over the world would die to get married in that church. Okay, that was a huge exaggeration, but still.
“Oh my gosh yes! I’d love to get married there!” They all let out a big whoop!
Pearce happened to be walking by at that time, stuck his head in the room, and asked what in the world was going on. Avery informed him we were planning his wedding and he laughed, shook his head, and walked away.
I got to my feet and stopped him before he could get too far. “You don’t mind?”
He turned around, saying, “Honey, I’d marry you at the Elvis Chapel in Las Vegas if that’s what you wanted.” Then he gave me a loud lip-smacking kiss, which had me in giggles.
“Before you run off, what are your thoughts about the reception?” I asked.
“Huge.”
“Huh?”
“Huge. I want to show you off to everyone I know. And you’ll have a ton of work colleagues you’ll have to invite, plus all the family connections. Sorry, sweetheart.” He looked at me sheepishly.
“Oh, it’s fine. But where should we have it?”
“I think I’m passing this one off to Mom and Grams.” He backed away and smiled, making a hasty retreat.
Avery, who’d overheard us, said, “Always the pleaser when it comes to you.”
“That he is,” I said under my breath with a knowing smile.
I didn’t get a chance to sit again before we heard several voices and a big commotion. “Terri and Justin must be here.” It was quite a process because along with her came a wheelchair, crutches, and a walker. Her disposition had become quite snarly, and I knew it was frustration over not being able to walk, but I hoped she didn’t show that side of herself today.
Susan pulled me aside and mentioned that it might be good if I spent a little time with her alone at first, since this was her first visit here. I agreed, so I cut Justin off before he wheeled her into the main living room and had him make a detour to the smaller one down the hall.
Once he got her parked, I shooed him away and gave her a hug.
“Wow, quite the place here, huh?” She glanced around the room.
“Yeah, but you’ll love his family. I wanted to talk a bit with you first and then take you on a mini tour since I can’t push this contraption up the stairs.”
“I wouldn’t have guessed.” Sarcasm coated her words.
Getting straight to the point, I asked, “How’s Terri these days?”
Her answer plowed into me like a freight train, and I wasn’t expecting it. “Why the fuck don’t you ask Justin, Lex? He can tell you. He can tell you how I feel about him whoring around.”
I reeled at the vehemence of her words. “Terri, I ...”
“Shut up, Lex. You knew and didn’t say a word to me. I have one question for you. Why?”
“It wasn’t my place to tell you. It was Justin’s. It was his sin, not mine. Just like it was my place to tell Pearce about mine.”
Her face crumbled like a cookie. Then her whole body shook as she started to sob. I put my arms around her and told her how sorry I was. I knew she was hurt, but this was more than just a reaction to Justin’s infidelity. They hadn’t even gotten to the point of exclusivity in their relationship. This had to be coming from some place far deeper.
When things started to subside, she finally wheezed out, “Look how the tides have turned, huh?”
“Doesn’t matter, Terr. You were there for me, and I’ll always be here for you.”
“I’m fed up with this leg thing.”
“I’m sure and patience never was your virtue.”
“No shit, Herman.”
“Um, Terri, I think it’s Sherlock.”
“Oh.” Then she giggled and we both started laughing. And then it got worse. It turned into one of those “remember when” moments. We were howling before it was all over.
“Damn, Lex, I shoulda come for a visit a long time ago.”
“I tried, but you wouldn’t leave your house.”
I noticed the lines etched around her eyes that weren’t there before and it seemed the sparkle that was always present wasn’t quite as bright as it used to be. “I’m sorry this has all been so awful on you. But maybe next week, when they take this tree trunk off your leg, things will get better.”
“I’m really scared, Lex. What if I can’t walk right? What if I can’t run anymore?”
“You need to take it a day at a time. What does Justin say?”
“We don’t talk much really. As soon as this mess is over, I’m done with him.”
I knew things were rough between them, but I didn’t know it had come to this.
“Does he know?”
“Yep. He still blames himself and he overcompensates and then there’s that whole thing with those women.”
I sighed and didn’t know what to say. If she felt that way about what he did, then she really must have thought I was a scumbag. Throwing caution to the wind, I addressed that gray elephant.
“Did you think I was that low when I was behaving like that?”
“You had a reason to.”
“And you don’t think he does? You think while he sat and watched you go through surgery after surgery that he didn’t have reason to? He saw you in pain and agony for days. And may I remind you, he was familiar with those procedures because he performs them himself, and knows what they entail.” It was my turn to act snarky because I was angry. Angry for what she had gone through. Angry for how she was dealing with it, even though I had no right, and angry with Justin for what he’d done.
She looked at me like a deer caught in the headlights. But I didn’t stop.
“That’s right, Terri. He’s watched you suffer now for three solid months and blames himself every time he looks at you. He’s seeing a psychiatrist, you know. You know how I know? I made him an appointment with the one that I go to. And right now, I’m thinking you also need to see Phil. By no means am I justifying his actions, but I am telling you that, given the circumstances, you were willing to cut me some slack. Why don’t you do the same for him?”
She dropped her head and held it with a hand. “I don’t know,” she said.
“Look, if you’re just not into him, that’s one thing, but if it’s this whole accident thing, then maybe you need to reevaluate the situation.”
“Maybe.”
“Well, I’m giving you a goal to shoot for.”
She looked at me oddly and asked, “What are you talking about?”
I grinned an evil grin. Well, as evil as I could muster up, which wasn’t all that evil really. “Pearce and I want to get married in late October. We talked with Justin, and he doesn’t see any reason why you wouldn’t be able to walk down the aisle then.”
“So?”
“So that’s your goal! To walk down the aisle at my wedding as my maid of honor!”
“No kidding! I think I can manage that.”
“You’d better ’cause I’m not canceling this wedding. You’re still planning on coming with us wedding gown shopping next Saturday, aren’t you?”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world!”
* * *
We werehappy to wake up to a sunny morning. Pearce hopped out of bed and was eager for me to get a move on. I got suspicious when he wouldn’t tell me anything. He just kept saying it was a surprise.
“Wear a bathing suit and bring a change of clothes.”
“Aren’t we spending the day on the boat with your family?”
His only answer was to quirk his brows. The glint in his eyes told me how amused he was.
Thirty minutes later, we pulled up to the marina. I still couldn’t figure out why he was acting like a little kid on Christmas morning. He jumped out of the car and jogged around to my door to help me out. Then we both went to the back to get our things and walked toward the slip. The grin he wore grew even larger.
When we finally got to Pearce’s yacht, the whole Middleton clan was there, and Henry held a bottle of champagne. Everyone wore goofy grins. I felt completely left out of the joke.
“Okay, what’s up?”
They all stared at Pearce, and he kept glancing at the back of the boat and smiling. I just kept looking at him, not understanding.
In frustration, I finally said, “Would somebody let me in on the joke?”
Pearce took me in his arms, kissed me quickly, and whispered, “Babe, this is no joke. It’s a thing of utter beauty. Look!”
He turned my body in the direction of the back of the boat. I finally noticed the words, “The Alexia.” He’d renamed his yacht after me. My eyes pooled up.
“We’re rededicating her today. It was supposed to be yesterday, but the weather didn’t cooperate. Come on.”
Henry said the dedication words, but I wouldn’t let him ruin a perfectly good bottle of champagne or put a scratch on the stern of The Alexia. Everyone laughed at me. But when Pearce made mimosas with the champagne, they said that I had used my head on that one. It turned out to be a perfectly beautiful day.