Chapter 2
Merva Goode-Klein was a handsome and very trim woman in her late sixties who happened to look ten years younger.
She had passed on her good looks and excellent cheekbones to her two children.
She was a retired banker, and her husband had been a lawyer.
She enjoyed the good life and filled her life with charitable works as well as attending the various functions her position required.
She was a woman who enjoyed her success and was proud of her accomplishments, including her two beautiful children.
She had also enjoyed the rare privilege of being with the one man since she was twenty-five years old and fresh out of college.
They had twenty-five years of marriage before he was taken from her when he had a stroke.
She was practical and had accepted the loss even though she had grieved for a number of years.
She now filled her time with travels and was quite busy all year round.
Her only disappointment was that her children showed no signs of settling down and giving her grandchildren.
She had to hear about her friends' glorious reports of 'little John or Kate,' or whatever their names were, and what they were up to.
She was also getting weary of explaining why her children were still single and showed no signs of settling down.
Running her slender, well-manicured hands over her chic lavender jacket, a match for the fashionable pants she was wearing, she lifted her flawlessly made-up face for her son to kiss after glancing discreetly at her watch.
She also took the time to examine her daughter's appearance, and what she saw met with her approval.
She had chosen a table near the window and in full view of whoever walked through the door, and was secretly pleased at the interested looks they were receiving. Her children were beautiful and managed to turn heads wherever they went.
"Mother, you're looking lovely as usual.
" Knowing his duty as the man of the small family, Kyle issued the compliment while drawing out her chair for her to take her seat.
"That outfit is new, isn't it? I don't believe I've seen you wearing it before.
" He pulled out his sister's chair as well and waited until they were seated before taking his.
"It's nice of you to notice, darling." Merva preened, "I just had it delivered a few days ago." Her mahogany brown eyes switched to her daughter. "Kady, how have you been?"
"We just spoke this morning," Kady-Ann reminded her as she unfolded her napkin and picked up her glass of water.
Her mother was a stickler for etiquette, and it had been drummed into their heads as soon as they were old enough to hold utensils, seated around the adults' table, taught the proper way to hold a fork and knife and what spoons to use when eating dessert. "I'm still the same."
A tiny frown of disapproval touched Merva's brow at the response, but before she could comment, their waiter glided over to take their orders.
Conversation ceased altogether as they waited for their meals to arrive, giving Kady-Ann a chance to view the room.
The Tea Room was a very popular place for those who wanted to be seen.
She spotted a few celebrities and politicians as well as some business associates.
She had come here for meals in the past but preferred the privacy booths around the back.
She also knew why her mother had chosen this particular section.
Merva Goode-Klein liked to be seen as much as possible.
The meal arrived swiftly, and the only sound at the table was the subtle clink of utensils on the chinaware. Merva had chosen for them as usual, but Kady had to admit that the shellfish salad was delicate to the palate and went down well.
Bracing herself for the grilling she knew was coming, she pushed away her plate and laid her silverware to the side. Using the edge of the napkin, she dabbed at her mouth and waited.
She did not have to wait long. As soon as their plates were cleared away and the dessert declined, her mother began.
"I wasn't surprised to learn that you were working on a Saturday," Merva said.
"I usually do and so does Kyle," Kady pointed out.
"Your brother is a doctor," Merva said pointedly.
"Which does not mean his career is more important than mine." Tamping down the impatience, Kady reached for her glass of water and took a fortified sip.
"How are you ever going to find a husband if you're constantly closeted in that office of yours?" Merva asked.
"I'm not looking for a husband. Mother, I wish you would stop with this annoying habit you have of trying to fix me up. I have my career-" Kady said.
"Which is no substitute for a family." Merva firmed her lips and took a deep breath. "It's that Landry boy."
"What?" The name from her past had her jolting involuntarily.
"He ruined you. I always said he would. But did you listen? No. I told you he was too wealthy and thinks himself too good for the likes of us, but you went on ahead without listening to me, and now you're stuck in the past and cannot move on," Merva said.
"Mother-" Kyle began, but Merva lifted a hand to cut off her son's warning.
"And now he's back. If you're thinking of taking up with him again-"
"What did you say?" Kady felt the sickness at the pit of her stomach and unconsciously pressed a hand there.
Merva eyed her daughter curiously. "You didn't know the entire family is back in town. Oh yes. I saw that uppity Jessica at a luncheon to honor the veterans just two days ago and heard her talking about how they were back for good. I wished they had stayed away. That boy ruined your life."
"Mother!" Kyle's sharp tone had her lapsing into silence.
"It had to be said." She continued after a while.
"I-I need to go. I have-" Kady pushed back her chair. "If you're staying, I'll call for a ride. Thanks for lunch."
"I'll take you. Mother, we'll talk," Kyle said.
"Make sure she's all right," Merva muttered, feeling the guilt slicing through her.
"I will make certain of it," he said.
***
He gave her space and time to reflect. Not even bothering with music, he drove in silence until they were at the high-rise building where she lived.
Parking the car beneath an old oak tree, he stepped out and rounded the hood to open her door.
"You don't have to come up. I'm fine."
"I'm coming up."
Shrugging carelessly, she wrapped her coat around her and walked ahead of him. The concierge greeted them cheerfully and handed her some messages.
Tucking them into her purse, she pushed the button for the elevator.
She had chosen this particular building because of its central location to the theaters and some very good restaurants. It was also a secure and sturdy building. She was a woman who lived alone and worked odd hours; one could not be too careful.
She was not helpless, not in the least. Her brother had seen to it, insisting she learn some sort of self-defense techniques. It had started out as a way to defend herself, but she had taken an avid interest in jiu-jitsu and was quite good at it.
Punching in the code, she pushed the door open and stepped into her narrow foyer. The scent of freshly cut flowers swirled through the air as the warmth from the central heating kicked in.
Shrugging out of her jacket, she hung it carefully on the coat tree and kicked off her shoes.
Not even waiting to see if her brother was following, she went straight to the kitchen and opened the wine cooler.
"Whiskey's in the cabinet."
"Wine will do." Kyle sat at the immaculate counter and watched as she fetched two glasses from the cupboard.
"You knew." She gave him an accusing look as she handed him the glass.
"I thought you were over him."
"You knew he was back and didn't say a word. I had to hear it from mother."
Sighing softly, he put the glass down and faced her squarely. He wondered if she was aware of how desolate she looked. "I thought you heard. I saw it in one of those society rags and didn't think much of it until Mother mentioned it."
"She did not 'mention' it, Kyle. She bludgeoned me over the head with that piece of news. How long have they been back?"
"Two weeks, at the most. I don't know." He lifted broad shoulders in frustration. "Why the hell do you care? And don't tell me you don't, because I saw the stricken look on your face when you heard.
"Christ Jesus, Kady! How are you still hung up on that low life? He left you with just a note sent by a servant to say it's over. It's been fifteen years, for God's sake!"
"You don't get to talk to me that way," she told him stiffly, feeling foolish, desperate, and ashamed. She should have been able to control her expression, but she had been blindsided.
"I get to talk to you this way because I was the one who had to pick up the damn pieces after he left and broke your heart in two.
You could not function for months after he left.
I had to be there for you, so don't bloody well sit there and tell me how to talk to you. Move on, dammit. I'm sure he has."
"I'm not-" She took a deep cleansing breath and wished he would just leave so she could process this devastating news. "I'm just in shock, that's all."
"Why?" he demanded. He knew her well enough.
After all, she was a part of him. They had shared a womb for eight months, and there was no nuance, nothing about her expression he was not aware of.
She could hide from anyone else, but he knew her too well, and he realized with a sinking heart that she might still be in love with that bastard.
No wonder she wasn't in a relationship. "This is their home. Surely you expect them to return to it at some point."
"It doesn't matter."
"Tell that to someone else." His expression was grim. "The way you looked when you heard he was back told a different story."
Picking up the glass, she took a sip and then another. "It's just shock." She glanced at her watch. "I have some calls to make-"