He looked at his phone again. But she deserved better than this. And typed, I’m not coming.
Send!
He waited. No response.
Turning off his phone, he walked outside. The sun was setting, and it would be beautiful on Hidden Lake. Was she out on her deck, wondering what happened? She’d be upset, he knew that, but was she crying? Probably not, as that wasn’t her style. But, Christ, all he wanted was a little privacy. He thought back to Matka…
He’d ridden the subway out to Greenpoint with her, said goodbye with a promise to call. She cupped his face before she left…
I will not let you go away again, Paul. I will come after you. I thought of hiring one of those…you know, a man who finds people. But I did not. This time, I will. Now, promise me you will not disappear.
I won’t disappear, Matka, I promise…
She kissed both his cheeks and walked down the street. He stood there, hands in his pockets, yearning to go with her, to see all his brothers and sisters. He hadn’t even had time to ask about them. But his father would be home, as he was retired, sitting in that fucking chair, looking down his nose at Paul. No matter what, he couldn’t handle that right now.
He’d just come back inside and poured himself a bourbon on the rocks when his front buzzer rang. The press? Maybe. Hayley wouldn’t have time to get back to New York yet, not that he thought she would come to him. He picked up his phone and checked the doorbell cam. Shit!
He could ignore the visitor. But something compelled him to go to the foyer and open the door. “Hello, Finn.”
“Hello, my ass,” Hayley’s brother said, pushing Paul aside.
He stumbled back because he was surprised Finn could move that fast. Hayley said he was always in second gear. He not only went into the condo, but he made his way to the living room. Paul followed him. He was many things, but not a coward.
Finn, hair windblown, still dressed in a suit, spat out, “What the fuck is going on?”
He liked this man. He cared about Hayley. He’d be as honest as he could. “I’m not going to Hidden Cove this weekend.”
“You were supposed to meet her an hour ago. I thought you were a man of your word.”
Abashed now, he said, “I think I am. I didn’t want to see her yet.”
“Yet?”
“Fuck it, Finn. I’m mad at her.”
“Because she talked to your mother?”
“She pumped my mother.”
Finn had the audacity to laugh. “That is so not Hayley’s style. If you didn’t want to tell her about your background, why did you invite your mother to the ceremony?”
“I didn’t. She just showed up.”
“What the hell’s going on with you? What are you hiding?”
“If I wouldn’t share my family history with her, I certainly won’t with you.”
“We have skeletons, too. For God’s sake, as soon as my father died, my mother changed mine and Hayley’s names. Our brother abandoned us. We never saw our cousins again until we were adults.”
“I’m sorry about that. I’m afraid my situation isn’t quite as innocent.”
Finn looked over his shoulder; he crossed to the sidebar then turned around with a drink in his hand. “Paul, Hayley hasn’t cared about one single man in her life like she does about you.”
“I don’t know what to say to that.”
“I thought you felt the same way.”
“I do. I’m just—”
“Mad, I know. People get mad at each other in relationships. They fight. But it’s shitty that you stood her up.”
Guilt slammed into him. “It is.”
Finn sipped his liquor. “Listen, you don’t have to tell me anything, or tell her, for that matter. Go to Hidden Cove and talk to her. The thought of her there alone, hurting, makes me mad. I’d go, but I have a big author day at the bookstore tomorrow.”
“Call one of your cousins.”
“I’d rather you went.”
“Maybe in the morning.”
“Then listen to this. You’ve got one chance, and if you blow it, I’ll do everything in my power to keep you and Hayley apart.”
“Fuck. You’re Jekyll and Hyde.”
He knocked back his drink and pushed away from the sideboard. “I can be. Remember that.”
* * *
Seth rang the front bell of the lake house and it flew open. Hayley, with a hopeful expression on her face, sighed. “Hey, honey.”
“Hi, Seth.”
“Can I come in?”
“Of course.” He stepped inside; she closed the door and turned.
“I heard you got stood up.”
Though she was disheveled, very unusual for her, she gave a grim smile. “You came to see me one other time when I got stood up. For a prom. Did you hear this from Finn again?”
“Yep.”
“Remember how you took the subway to New York, marched into the ballroom and slugged the guy?”
“He was a little twit.”
“You’re Mr. Pacifist now. Finn and I were shocked by what you did.”
His eyes lit up. “I can go to New York and beat up Paul.”
“Ha.”
They took seats on the couch. She curled her legs under her and faced him. “How much do you know?”
“Finn filled me in some.” He didn’t tell her the expletives his shy, reticent cousin used. Now that shocked Seth.
“I’m not so much sad, Seth, but disappointed in Paul.”
“You’re kidding yourself. You’re sad. And I’m disappointed in him, too.” He’d thought maybe the guy was the one for her, even though he never met the guy in person, only knew him through Hayley’s point of view. “Tell me in your own words what happened.”
“Here are the facts: he told me he wasn’t ready to share all his secrets; I said I’d wait until he was ready; his mother showed up at the Medal of Honor ceremony. I saw her sitting alone, and went to talk to her.”
“Did you pump her?”
“Not for his secrets. All I wanted to know were some stories about his childhood. In hindsight, I guess I shouldn’t have even done that.”
“What you did doesn’t sound bad. Must be Paul’s struggling with all this.”
“Did you come here to defend him?”
“Not at all. I’m seeing the situation objectively, counselor.”
“I know you are, I’m sorry. Can I get you something? I made dinner and Paul’s not coming. Fried chicken and potato salad. It’s your mother’s recipe.”
“Sure, I’d love it.”
As they set out the food, he remembered Julianne making this salad for him after getting the recipe from mom. “Do you want to talk more about Paul?”
“No. Not much to say. I have to see how all this plays out. But I’m very glad for the company.”
After they were seated with food, she said, “Tell me about your date with the model.”
He talked to this cousin at least once a week, like he did to Rafe, Ali and Gideon. Since she met Paul, they didn’t get together as much.
“Her name is Lorna. The date was fun.”