Avery thought a moment before answering the question concerning Blake.  She wanted to be truthful with Rena and not scald her anymore emotionally.  This was tough.  Pull the bandage off slowly, she thought.  "He's content to be with Courtney, sick of Ian, and would do anything in the world to get your mother to slow down."

Could that even be possible?  Rena didn't want him contented.  She wanted him absolutely as miserable as she was.  God I miss him.  Every time their eyes met part of her heart painfully ripped.  She would never allow anyone to see her crack.  "That's a pretty fair assessment."

"I know you're here for the details, so let me just give them to you.  Everybody in this community hated the day that Clarissa packed her stuff and moved it to storage, but we all knew she was not well enough to be in that big house by herself.  It hasn't turned out all bad because Dr. Clark pays good rent for that house and that's helping the restaurant.  Ian is Ian.  Clarissa is Clarissa.  You know I don't need to say anything more about that.  Eldred is very good to Clarissa."

"I finally figured that one out today.  How'd that happen?  You must know I was shocked."

"Everybody was shocked.  This is what I heard.  A lot of women in this town were after Eldred.  He was tired of it and had just broken up with some woman.  He's always been a friend of Blake's.  One day, he called him and told Blake that young women were so shallow; he'd rather be alone.  He needed some time to recover from the last relationship, so he left from the Charleston, SC port and went on a cruise."

"Are you about to tell me that my mother was on a cruise with Dr. Eldred Clark?"

"Now, can you imagine why the whole town was shocked?  They got off that boat and have not been separated since...and that was 5 years ago."

Rena burst out laughing.  This was the most joy she had experienced for a long time. 

"My mother would never take a cruise.  It had to be something major for her to do that."

"It was major.  It was Ian.  She took the cruise to get away from Ian and Debbie, because she'd just found out about the second mortgage.  She was so stressed that she needed to get away.  She struggled for two years trying to keep the restaurant afloat.  Then she got sick, and that's when Blake stepped in."

Rena got up and started pacing.  "This is incredible.  Do you mind if we walk for a little bit.  My nerves are all over the place."

"I can imagine that you're all up in arms about Blake, and you know that's where this story is about to head."

***

After Blake returned from the attorney's office he had one more thing to do.  He dreaded having to do it.  He needed to call Courtney and tell her that Rena would not be able to do the wedding planning, and that she needed to take on the responsibility of finding another wedding planner right now.  He knew that would be nearly impossible to do, based on her business needs in Atlanta.  They'd postponed the wedding before due to business conflicts and Blake surely didn't want to postpone it again, creating fodder for the gossip mill.  There was enough buzz going on about him and the Blackshears.  If word got out, they would certainly say that Rena had something to do with it.  Despite what he was wrestling with, he didn't want to hurt Courtney. 

She picked up the phone on the first ring. "Hey, baby.  Glad you could call."

"How are things progressing?"

"We closed on one commercial building and the shopping mall is scheduled to close next week.  After that, I will be here getting the contractors and designers in place to do the renovations.  This is going to be a fantastic flip for my company.  How's everything going in Savannah land?"

"We had a few issues today, but they are all under control.  But there is one where I need your help."

"What?"

"I need you to find a wedding planner. Rena won't be able to do it."

"Oh no, Blake.  Did she say why?"

"No."

"I was really looking forward to it when I figured out who she was.  I got on the Internet last night and was surprised that she has celebrity status in the hotel industry.  I couldn't believe that the lady I saw in the images was the same lady I saw in Clarissa's office in blue jeans and a T-shirt.  When she's in her element, she's dripping with diamonds and pearls."

"She's just Rena to all of us."

"I see."

"We're not going to postpone the wedding.  I know you're busy.  But I really need you to work this into your schedule."

"Don't you worry about a thing, Blake.  I'll take care of it."

***

Rena and Avery were midway around the park before Avery got to the details Rena wanted to hear.  By the time Avery had finished what she said up until this point, Rena truly felt awful for not coming home three years ago.  Avery had said something about Clarissa that she'd never known, which might have changed things.   Right now, all of the information was hearsay and she couldn't go by that.

"I don't think Blake will ever be over you, but Courtney is a good substitute.  She's driven just like Blake and very successful in real estate.  We all think she's spoiled and she's got some ways that I don't like.  She's close to Ian.  That's an odd combination, but I think she befriended him after Debbie left.  He needed to talk with someone and since she'd just come along, it was probably easier for him to talk to a stranger.  But she and Blake seem to get along well.  They don't fight.  I've never heard about them being upset.  There's some chemistry there."

"Avery, I'm wrestling with all kinds of feelings for him that I thought were over.  With all this other stuff that's going on, it's just crazy."

"I understand, but you can't turn back time, Rena, and you know he waited for you."

"As much as I don't want to admit it, I know."

"So, what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to stabilize my family's situation and go back to New York."

"But what about you and Clarissa?"

"I need to really soak in what you said today before I can determine how to handle that."

Rena's cell phone rang.  It was Blake.  She didn't answer.

***

It was late when Rena got back to Ian's house.  He'd given her a key and she was glad so that she wouldn't wake them. 

As she walked down the hall, she heard music coming from her mother's sitting room.  There was a small crack in the door, the lights were dimmed, and she saw her mother cradled in Eldred's arms, slowly dancing.  She didn't mean to pry, but couldn't resist watching, because it showed her an image of her mother that she didn't know existed.

She saw Clarissa vulnerable and with needs.  Was it possible that she'd acted out of a dire need when she sent her away?  Rena had an image of her mother as unloving and insensitive.  As the couple drifted around the room, eyes closed and embracing, Rena felt their love and intimacy.  If she could love a man, how could she not love her own child?  The thoughts troubled her.  She slowly tiptoed past the door and made it to her room without being noticed. 

Rena knew this was going to be another sleepless night.  Who was the real Clarissa Blackshear?  How was she going to get that kiss and the man who gave it to her off her mind?

***

When Rena got up the next morning her mom and Ian had already left for the restaurant.  After what happened yesterday, Rena decided that she wasn't going in today.  She took a quick shower and got dressed.  She checked the messages on her cell phone and they were all from Blake, asking her to call.  Then, to her alarm, she had one message from Courtney, also asking her to call.

All types of thoughts were racing through her mind.  Had she found out about the kiss?  Had an employee seen it and called her?  Did Blake admit it to her and that's why he'd called so many times?  She was nervous, but she called Courtney back.

"Hi, Courtney, this is Rena Blackshear returning your call."

To My Beloved Readers:

Each week I get kind and encouraging words from so many of you. I would like to thank you for being a part of my journey. Wattpad is a very unique community that allows authors and readers to communicate and that is a blessing to me.