SEBASTIAN
Ileave the gallery with Ryan and Alicia, all three of us buzzing over Lana’s work.
“You were right, her art is amazing,” Alicia says with a smile, as we get into Ryan’s car. “And she’s so pretty, too. I can see why you’re so hung up on her.”
I catch Ryan glancing at me in the rear-view mirror, but my brother doesn’t say anything.
We drive across town to Ryan’s new house where he lives with Alicia and her siblings, where I’ll be having dinner with my brother and his new family.
When we enter the house, the smell of food cooking fills the hallway, and Alicia’s younger sister, Jackie, pops her head out the door.
“Hey, how was it?”
Jackie is my age and has been working as a receptionist at the resort for a few months now. She seems like a nice woman, and between her and Alicia they take good care of their four younger siblings.
“Amazing,” Alicia replies, following her sister into the kitchen.
Ryan leads the way to the lounge, and I follow along. The house is unusually quiet, making me ask, “Where is everyone else?”
“Dave is at the computing club, and I think Billy is out playing soccer. Tommy and Evie are upstairs, in their rooms. They’re both unwell with a sickness virus.”
“Yeah, Lana said her cousin Monica was sick too. I hope they’re okay.”
“They seem well enough now they’re not throwing up,” Ryan says, and I notice the frown on his forehead.
“What’s up? Is playing house now not as fun as you thought it would be?” I ask, worried my brother is having second thoughts about living with Alicia and her siblings.
“No, it isn’t that. I’m just worried about anyone else getting sick, especially Alicia. I don’t know what effect it would have on the baby.”
“I’m sure it will be fine,” I assure my brother.
“Yeah, I just … God, I never used to be like this. Before I met Alicia, I only cared about you guys, and work. My world has gotten so much bigger. I’m going to be a father. I have other children in my care, and I’ll be an uncle again soon, too.”
“Yeah, it’s crazy how things have changed so much over the last few months. And now Lana is back in town. I keep thinking about our future.”
“Oh yeah?” Ryan asks with a raised brow.
“I want to take her away on a trip soon. She deserves a break after working her ass off to get the gallery in shape.”
Ryan steeples his fingers in front of him in that way he does when he’s thinking. “You’re still serious about the two of you then?”
“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” I start fiddling with the hem of my shirt.
“Oh, nothing, it’s just Tucker mentioned you had some concerns.”
I try not to roll my eyes. “Tucker doesn’t know what he’s talking about. His idea of a long-term relationship is sleeping with the same woman two nights in a row.”
Ryan shrugs. “Maybe, but we are all worried about you. I don’t think you ever got over you and Lana not working out the first time around. We’re concerned about what will happen if you can’t make this second chance work.”
“Who says we won’t?” I bite back hotly, then shake my head. “I’m sorry. It’s just I don’t want you all giving Lana a hard time, and not welcoming her into the family, or anything like that.”
Ryan holds up his hands in a placating manner. “We won’t. We’re just looking out for you. If you and Lana get serious, we’ll support you. Of course, we will.”
I feel myself relax. “Thanks. Because I really think this is it. I know she hasn’t been back long, but well … she’s the one. Why wait?”
When Jackie and Alicia call us all together for dinner, we head into the large dining room.
Alicia’s younger brothers Dave, who is fifteen and somewhat of a genius from what I’ve been told, and Billy, who is eight and absolutely football obsessed, join us and we all settle at the table for homemade lasagne and garlic bread.
After dinner, Ryan and I offer to wash up, while Alicia checks on sick Tommy and Evie, and Jackie helps Billy with his homework.
It’s great to see how the family all work together to support each other, and it reminds me of how me and my brothers came together after our parents died.
I can’t wait for Lana to be part of the growing Braddock clan, too, and then, someday in the future we can have children of our own.
-----
Later, when I’m back home, I’m happy when Lana keeps true to her promise, and calls me.
“Hey,” she says when I answer. She sounds exhausted, but happy.
“Hey yourself. How was the rest of the day?” I ask, laying back in bed.
“Amazing,” Lana says, and even though I can’t see her, I know she’s grinning. “I sold out of everything, and I’ve got commissions for weeks. Things are going to work out here. I know it.”
I smile. “I’m so happy to hear that. You deserve to be successful, and well, if I’m being honest, I don’t want you to have any reason to move away again.”
“East Hampton is my home, I’m not leaving again,” Lana promises.
“Good, because … I know this is fast, and we’ve only been back together a few weeks, but I really feel we have something special.”
“I feel the same, Sebastian. I never thought I’d get another chance to be this happy. Not after what happened in New York.”
The tone of Lana’s voice changes, and I can hear the sorrow and regret. “What happened out there? You never talk about it.”
“Because it was a nightmare,” Lana says, and the pain in her voice breaks my heart. “I met someone. His name was Theo, and he owned the gallery I worked for. I don’t know, maybe it was a rebound thing, but we quickly became involved.”
Hearing Lana got involved with someone in New York, and especially so soon after we broke up, hurts. But what worries me even more is what did this Theo guy do to Lana to make her sound so defeated. I’ve never heard this tone in her voice before and I don’t like it.
“At first everything was perfect. Theo was devoted to me, and he supported my art. After … Well, after what happened with us, I guess I was more susceptible to his manipulation.”
“Lana, I’m so sorry,” I say, hating myself because in some way, I feel responsible. If I’d had fought harder to make things work with Lana and me, she would never have gotten with this Theo guy.
“It’s not your fault, Sebastian--”
“If I’d just fought harder for us though,” I say, my voice thick with emotion.
On the other end of the line, I hear Lana suck in a breath, and it sounds like she’s holding back tears. Eventually, she says, “We both should have fought harder to make it work. It wasn’t just one person’s fault. And what happened with Theo, that wasn’t on you. I should have seen the red flags.”
“That’s easy to say in hindsight.”
“Don’t I know it. At first, he said and did all the right things. I thought he was my knight in shining armour. He preyed on me when I was most vulnerable.”
I grit my teeth and ball my fists at my side.
“It wasn’t until after we moved in together and were getting serious that he showed his true colors. He hurt me, Sebastian, physically, mentally. Every way you can imagine.”
“Did he hit you? Where is he? I’m going to kill him!”
“Calm down. When I left, I reported him to the police. He was arrested, and a restraining order was put in place. He can never hurt me again. I’m just so ashamed it took me so long to break free of him. He convinced me I had nothing and no one without him. I was too scared to be alone.”
“I’m so, so sorry, Lana. I should have been there for you.”
“How could you have been?” Lana counters. “No one knew. Not even Nana. He cut me off from everyone.”
I feel my anger rising again. “Are you sure I can’t track this guy down and beat the living shit out of him?”
Lana chuckles darkly. “As much as I’d love to see that, you don’t need to lower yourself to his standards. You’re a better man than he ever was Sebastian.”
“You know I’d never hurt you like that. I’d die before I laid my hands on you.”
“I know,” Lana tells me, and I can hear in her voice that she believes me. That she trusts me. Part of me wants to get up and go over to her place this instant. To hold her in my arms. But now I know after everything Lana has been through, I can’t rush her.
This is why she’s been holding back, and why I need to move slowly.
She’s been hurt in the worst way imaginable, and I have to make her see I’m not like her ex, that no matter what, she can always trust me and rely on me.
Part of that is taking things at her pace, and only moving forward when she’s comfortable.
“I know I keep saying this, Lana, but I will wait for however long it takes for you to be completely comfortable with me. You’ve been through so much, it’s no surprise you’re not as open as you were five years ago.
I feel honoured you trust me enough that you told me about your ex.
You can tell me anything. I’ll always be here for you. ”
“Thank you, Sebastian. You don’t know how much that means to me. And things are getting better, especially after today. Today I proved to myself I don’t need to rely on Theo, or anyone else.”
“Don’t ever forget that Lana. You’re one of the strongest people I know. You can do anything.”
“Thank you, Sebastian. I appreciate it, and I appreciate all you’ve done for me since I came home. I wouldn’t have gotten through the last couple of weeks without you. I’m glad we’ve gotten this second chance.”
“Me too, and there’s something I wanted to ask you?”
“Oh yeah?” Lana’s tone turns light and playful.
“Come away with me on a trip. Anywhere you want. You deserve a vacation after working so hard on the gallery. I want to spoil you.”
“Aww, Sebastian, that sounds really sweet, and I’d love to come away with you--”
“Please don’t say but, Lana. I know you’ve got a lot going on, but you need a break. You need to take care of yourself.”
Lana lets out a long breath. “Okay, I’m not making any promises. I’ll need to speak to Monica, and rearrange my schedule, but I will see what I can do.”
I smile even though Lana can’t see me. “Okay, let me know when you’re available. And where you’d like to go. I mean it, I’ll take you anywhere.”
“Anywhere?” Lana asks, her tone turning light again, and I just know she’s grinning on the other end of the phone. “So, if I wanted to go to the other side of the world, or to Mars, you’d take me?”
“Absolutely. Even if I had to borrow Jeffrey Bezos’ ridiculous rocket.”
Lana laughs. “Don’t worry, I won’t make you do that. But I always wanted to visit New Orleans. There’s so much history and culture there. What do you think?”
“I think it sounds perfect. You clear your schedule, and I’ll get some information about hotels, and flights.”
“I will, and Sebastian?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you,” Lana says softly.
“For what?”
“For being patient with me. For looking after me. For loving me.”
“I will always love you,” I vow to her.