Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Zane sat with a glass of wine, mulling his future. He had left Driftwood Bay over seven weeks ago.
And he’d been miserable every single day.
He had put on a happy face for Emily and Ted’s wedding.
His assistant had decided to move the wedding up from Labor Day since Barnard’s first day of the fall semester was the day after Labor Day, and Ted would begin teaching with no time for a honeymoon.
Zane hadn’t cared when the wedding occurred, knowing Em would arrange his schedule and have everything streamlined for him during her absence.
She had chosen for the ceremony to take place in Montreal.
Em had done a semester abroad in the city to improve her French and had fallen in love with it.
Surprisingly, Canada had few restrictions regarding a US citizen marrying within its borders, and his assistant had compiled the appropriate documentation, complete with apostilles authenticating her submission.
The ceremony had taken place at Maison Wagner, the premier hotel in Montreal, close to Basilique Notre-Dame.
As he had promised, Zane paid for the entire wedding and reception, from flowers and the officiant to a lavish buffet supper and live band.
Em had asked Zane to give her away, and he had happily done so, knowing she and Ted were going to be blissfully happy.
It had been hard, though, to smile as if he hadn’t a care in the world—when all he wanted was for Kylie to be there sharing in the event with him.
He had toyed with the idea of asking her to come up for the wedding, even going so far as to text her, but he quickly recalled the message.
It was ridiculous to ask her to leave the Bay during high season and travel to Canada for the wedding of someone she didn’t even know.
Besides, he doubted she even had a passport, so even if she could somehow miraculously get away, she wouldn’t have been able to cross the border into Canada.
His emotional state already in tatters, Zane had been hit hard when Sullivan informed him a few days ago that he was resigning from Wagner Enterprises and relocating to the Bay.
Sullivan had also been miserable ever since he’d left Piper behind, and he was turning his life upside down by leaving New York and moving to the Bay, where he would open Sullivan Design Studio.
Zane had told his best friend how much he admired him for making such a radical change to his life.
Sullivan had a woman he loved, as well as a new circle of supportive friends.
Sullivan had also found his life’s purpose.
He would design and craft custom furniture, as well as take on small design projects.
Zane had promised they would always be the closest of friends, and Sullivan had flown to Texas to begin his new life.
He hadn’t heard from Sullivan yet, but he knew it was only a matter of time before he got the call, sharing the wedding date.
Zane would go to the Bay and serve as best man.
There would be no way to avoid Kylie when he did so.
It hurt more than he had imagined, hearing how Sullivan was chucking everything to be with the woman he loved. While he was thrilled at seeing his best friend happier than he ever had been in his life, a surge of jealousy also ran through Zane. He wanted lasting love.
With Kylie …
He reminded himself how his life was based in New York, with frequent trips around the globe, while Kylie was at heart a small-town girl who belonged in the Bay.
As much as he loved her, he couldn’t see himself doing what Sullivan did and giving up his position at Wagner Enterprises to move to the Texas coast. Besides, Sullivan had a skill which would enable him to earn his living in Driftwood Bay.
Zane couldn’t imagine working anywhere but his father’s company, and that couldn’t happen living in the Bay.
He certainly didn’t see himself joining Mayfield Charters.
While it was honorable work and the Mayfields were hardworking people who brought pleasure to many others, it wasn’t how he saw himself living for decades to come.
Not even for Kylie.
“Move on,” he said aloud, desperately wanting to do that very thing but knowing his heart was entangled with the woman he had left behind.
He heard the key in the door and assumed Sullivan had returned from Texas, probably to pack up his things. Zane took another sip of wine to fortify himself, knowing he wished his closest friend well and could never share how he was truly feeling, so he had to put on his game face.
Immediately, he tamped down his surprise as Sullivan, accompanied by Piper, entered the apartment.
“Good to see you again, Piper,” he said, seeing how the vivacious former actress was glowing with happiness.
“You’re addressing the future Mrs. Shepherd,” Sullivan said, grinning shamelessly.
Rising, Zane moved to Piper, hugging her and then kissing her cheek. He released her and latched onto Sullivan, his arms going about his friend as he slapped him on the back.
He didn’t have to muster any happiness because he saw how happy the pair was. Their happiness flowed to him.
“So, when’s the wedding? I’m assuming it’ll be in the Bay.”
The couple looked a little bewildered. Sullivan turned to Piper and then told Zane, “We haven’t worked out the details yet, but we’ll let you know, Best Man.”
Then they left, hand in hand, heading toward Sullivan’s bedroom.
Zane took a seat again, draining the last of his wine.
He was lightheaded. Not from the wine. From the news he’d just received.
Even knowing Sullivan was in love and had flown to Texas to tell Piper and ask her to marry him, Zane still found it hard to wrap his head around the situation.
His conflicting feelings didn’t help. While he was overjoyed at Sullivan’s good fortune and thought Piper the perfect match for his friend, Zane still wallowed in misery.
He was going to have to do something. Start a new project. Move abroad for a while. Shake up his life. Do whatever it took to forget Kylie.
Like that was even possible.
Instead, he poured himself another glass of wine. And then another, his thoughts jumbled as he finished the bottle of wine.
He dropped his head, resting it on the back of the sofa, too tired to get up and go to his bed.
When he awoke, his mouth felt like cotton.
His head throbbed painfully. Usually, he was a light social drinker and didn’t consume much alcohol, especially when he was training for a marathon.
Forcing himself to rise, he padded to the kitchen, pulling a glass from the cupboard and filling it three times as he greedily guzzled down water.
Leaving the kitchen, he went to his bathroom, stripping off his clothes and standing in a cold shower until he shivered.
He toweled off, taking two ibuprofen, and then dressed in running clothes.
After stretching some, he hit the darkened streets of New York, pounding the pavement for close to two hours.
Zane returned to his building as the sun was rising at a quarter past six. He hit the shower again. The run and second shower really cleared his head. He drank more water and then two cups of coffee, feeling the caffeine running through his system, sharpening his focus.
When he reached the office, he told Em, “I’m going to Martha’s Vineyard for the weekend. Dad mentioned that he’s going down to Kentucky to look at a thoroughbred he’s considering purchasing, so the family place will be unoccupied.”
“Shall I make arrangements for you?” his assistant asked. “I can also contact the caretaker so the kitchen will be stocked.”
Relief filled him, not having to worry about details. “That would be great, Em.”
She consulted her calendar. “You don’t have any meetings today. With it being Labor Day weekend, most of Manhattan has already emptied out. I’ll try to book you a flight since that’s the quickest. If not, I’ll do a train and ferry package. How long do you want to stay?”
“I’ll come back Monday if you can make that happen. Tuesday at the latest.”
Em cracked her knuckles. “Let me get to work. I’ll let you know when I’ve got something solid. Why don’t you go home and pack?”
“Good idea. Let me check my email first.”
“Nope,” she insisted. “You can do that on the way. Go tell your dad you’ll be out of the office.”
“Copy that.”
Zane went down the hallway and asked the assistant, “Is he available?”
“Go right in,” she told him.
He tapped lightly on the door and entered, seeing his dad was on the phone. Dad motioned for him to sit.
“Thanks for lining that up. I’m leaving the office around noon. I should be at Teterboro, wheels up, no later than one o’clock. That’ll put me in Lexington around three-ish.” Dad paused. “Okay. I’ll see you then.” He hung up. “Good morning, Zane.”
“You excited about the horse?”
Dad smiled, pulling up a picture on his cell and handing it to Zane. “He’s a two-year-old. His Arabian blood is obvious. The refined head. Widely spaced eyes. Deep chest. And look at those long legs. The tendons are clean and pronounced. He’s got solid muscling and a great stride length.”
“You seem to know a lot about this horse. I didn’t realize you were so into horses and racing.”
Dad shrugged. “It’s a new hobby. I’m taking a chance if I buy this one.
He’s a beaut. His sire wasn’t the fastest on the track, but he’s slowly making a name for himself.
Still, it would be part of a partnership, so I wouldn’t be the sole owner.
And he turns three soon, so there’s the possibility of getting him in the right races.
If he makes a splash, I might be at the Kentucky Derby the first Saturday in May. ”
“I hope you enjoy your trip. I think I’m going to go up to the Vineyard for the weekend.”
“Good for you, son. You work too hard. Why, ever since you got back from the Bay, I’ve hardly seen you.”
“I need a little R&R,” he admitted. “I’ve got some thinking to do.”
“Let’s talk when you get back,” Dad said. “I’m coming home Sunday night. You?”
“Em’s making my travel plans now. I hope to be back Monday and in the office on Tuesday.”
“Even better. I have something to run by you when you return. It’s a new position I’m thinking about creating. I believe I have the perfect candidate for it.”
Zane rose. “Okay. Let’s talk Tuesday.” Then he paused. “It just hit me. Harris might be using the family place this weekend.”
The thought of running into his brother and Amanda made his stomach sour. He supposed by now that they were married.
“No, they’re in Lisbon. Will be for another few days, and then they’re off to Madrid.”
“Good. It would have been uncomfortable sharing space with them.” He rose. “Have a good trip to Kentucky.”
“Eat a lobster roll for me,” Dad said.
“Now, that’s something I can sink my teeth into,” Zane joked, leaving the office and returning to his own.
Em hung up the phone, jotting a note before looking up at him. “Got you the last seat on an eleven-thirty flight. A car will pick you up in forty-five minutes at your building. Caretaker will meet you and have basics in the pantry and fridge. You better hurry home and throw a bag together, Zane.”
“Yes, Mom,” he teased.
He walked the few blocks to his apartment, finding it empty.
He wondered how long Sullivan and Piper would be in town.
Zane packed quickly, knowing he had things he’d left at the Vineyard which he could wear.
He slipped his tablet and a few, pre-packed toiletries into a backpack, which he slung over his shoulder, and rolled his carry-on to the elevator. The car was waiting for him downstairs.
On the way to the airport, he texted Sullivan, letting his friend know he would be gone for the weekend. That way, if he and Piper were staying in town, they would know they had the apartment to themselves.
Just over four hours later, the caretaker met him at the airport and drove him to the house. Zane thanked him for everything and said he wouldn’t need him for the rest of the weekend.
Once he was alone, Zane changed into swim trunks and hit the beach, diving into the cold surf, hoping this weekend away by himself would provide the answers he so desperately desired.