Chapter 31
Green and grey blurred past as the truck merged into the traffic speeding down the interstate. Mary stared out the window, wrapped her arms around her middle, kept herself pressed against the passenger side door. Partly to hold herself together and partly so Simon won't touch her. Because if he did touch her, put his hand on her thigh like he had at the beginning of the trip, there would be no way she could stop the onslaught of tears threating to spill from her.
She knew she was being cold. Couldn't help it. Her only defense. Only option. The cab of the truck too small, filled with the scent of his aftershave.
Simon let her be, didn't push. Why didn't he push?
Trying to keep her voice as calm as possible, she excused her standoffishness by telling Simon she was tired.
"Close your eyes, baby. I'll let you know when we are home." Simon cooed.
Home. She felt like she was leaving home, not returning to it.
With closed eyelids, she tried to find her composure; her resolve. But images of the perfect morning they'd spend together fought for dominance, her heart in conflict with her head. Everything was so easy, so right. She let her guard down, been herself with Simon.
But it couldn't last. The bubble burst back at the gas station. Simon was in paying when Mary looked over and saw Angela Kessel at the pump beside her. Mary lowered her head, turned away, and leaned on the hood of the truck, trying to avoid her. Thankfully, the woman didn't notice her, too focused on the precious bundle in the back seat of her car, her three-month-old baby. If she had, if Angela had seen Mary with Simon, everyone in Bridgetown would have known about it the second the gossip returned to town.
A knot formed in Mary's stomach. Simon was a good guy. No, he was a great guy. Just not for her. He'd make some local townie a great match, a wonderful husband. She didn't fit into his world, and he didn't fit into hers. There were plans, expectations, promises made. Her father required his daughter to make something of herself, and being with the local bar manager was not on the bill.
Hunter, the man who was going places, he was who Mary was supposed to be with. Her father liked Hunter, admired his politics, had high hopes for this career. Hunter was big city, an influencer and checked all the boxes. He and Mary made a good match. They looked good together on paper. They would have perfect children together.
Simon's child would be adorable. Visions of a little boy with his floppy hair running around made her smile. No, she had to push the thought away. No matter how much she wanted Simon, it couldn't happen. She couldn't disappoint her father, the family.
They were a little over an hour away from town and as lovely as this escape had been, the sight of Angela reminded Mary it was time to face reality. Return to the life she was supposed to live.
But before she closed the door, Mary had wanted one more moment, one more kiss.
Watching Simon stroll back to the car, Mary allowed herself to appreciate his every move. In the past, she'd been forced to rely on stolen glances at him. But here, now, she blatantly ogled Simon. Admiring how his muscles flexed under his light blue T-shirt, how his face broke out into a smile when he first saw her. How the smile morphed into concern when he approached and asked if everything was okay.
Wanting to erase that look of concern etched onto his face, she practically attacked him when he got close enough. With everything she felt yet couldn't say poured into the kiss, she made it the best last kiss ever. Clinging to him, she didn't want to let go, didn't want this time with him to end.
But she knew it had to. So, she'd crowbarred herself away from him, climbed into the truck and asked him to take her home.
"Mary?" Simon gently touched her arm. "We're here."
Not wanting to, Mary opened her eyes. Sure enough, Simon had turned into the driveway, the white brick house with its bright red door came into view. She picked at a loose thread on the sundress she'd loved in New York; the outfit looking cheap in the late afternoon sun. "Good."
Not so good. Beside Emily's SUV sat an environmentally friendly electric Audi, the bright blue reminiscent of the ocean. The sight of the all too familiar car made her bite the inside of her cheek. Her eyes darted to Simon, who was pulling up behind the car and then back to the house.
The red door her mother had added to the lake house the year before she died opened as Simon pulled the truck to a stop. Emily stepped onto the interlocking brick and embraced Mary in a hug as soon as she climbed out of the passenger's seat.
Her sister pressed her mouth into Mary's hair and whispered, "I didn't know. They just showed up a half an hour ago."
Mary didn't have time to register the words before Hunter and then her father poured out of the gaping space where Emily had left the door ajar in her rush to get to her sister.
"I texted, but you didn't reply." She'd felt her phone vibrate in her purse at her feet, but ignored it. How could she be so stupid? Emily had tried to warn her, help her. Mary could have suggested Simon stop at the Waterfront Café and had Emily pick her up there. Avoid this awkward situation. Avoid being seen with Simon by her father. By Hunter.
Both men would have questions.
"I..." Mary didn't know what to say.
"It'll be okay. We'll figure it out." Emily gave her sister a squeeze and then pulled away. "Simon, thank you so much for rescuing my sister." Emily darted around the front of the truck, bee-lining for him. Mary tried to follow, catch his expression, but her world tilted as firm arms scooped her up, pulling her into an embrace.
"At last." Hunter picked her off her feet and twirled her around. Simon in the arms of Emily swirled by as Hunter rotated her 360 degrees before putting her on her feet again. He swung his face down for a kiss and at the last minute she managed to turn her head, so Hunter's lips landed on her cheek.
"Hunter. How are you here?"
If he noticed the diversion, Hunter didn't show it. "Your father and I had a breakfast meeting this morning, and he mentioned you didn't come back to Washington last night. I'm only in town tonight, so he suggested we drive up and surprise you." His golden eyes reflected the sunlight of the summer afternoon. "Good surprise?"
Mary gulped. "Yes." The word sounded hoarse. She tried again. "Yes. Of course. I'm so glad to see you." She glanced at her father. "Thank you, dad."
Philip Montgomery's mouth turned up, an expression Mary knew only too well, having seen it plastered on his face over the years and used it herself. The politician's grin. Her father was not happy, but wasn't about to let anyone know. "I only want what's best for my daughter."
The words cut across her skin, like a diamond on glass. Her father's eyes focused over Mary's shoulder. She turned to see Emily, arm in arm, leading Simon around the truck. Phillip cleared his throat. "And thank you Simon for bringing my daughter back safe and sound."
Mary searched her mind for something to say, something to stop Simon from spilling the events of last night. That she'd stayed with him in his hotel room. But the words wouldn't form, unable to hurt Simon that way.
Emily saved the day. "What would we do without you, Simon?"
Simon's eyes scanned Hunter, his hands still on Mary's waist and met Mary's, a sad smile graced his lips. "You tell me."
Hunter released Mary and stepped forward, extending a hand. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Hunter Locklear." A pang of something, guilt or hurt, she wasn't sure, jolted through her chest as she watched Simon accept the gesture with grace.
"Simon Wainwright."
"Finn's brother, right?" Hunter moved back beside her and slid his hand around Mary again. She resisted stepping out of his grip.
Simon nodded before his eyes fell to his empty hands. Emily jumped in, taking Simon's hand and moving him toward the front door. "Finn'll be back any moment. Come inside, I know he wants to see you."
Her sister didn't give Simon a chance to resist, and Mary wondered what Emily had planned. How was inviting Simon in going to make things better? Feet routed to the ground; Mary delayed the inevitable.
"You look tired." Her father's voice matched his strained expression, low and lacking any warmth. "Did you not sleep well?" His eyes darted toward the back of Simon and returned to her, expecting an answer.
Mary wanted to scream. It felt like she was in one of the corn mazes they used to play in as children, except the walls were shrinking around her, her options closing off with every turn. She offered her father a smile and shook her head, not trusting herself to speak.
"Emily's preparing dinner, but maybe we should be getting back to Washington?"
"No." The word escaped her before her mind could suppress it, the suggestion causing a panic to prick at her insides. She cleared her throat. "No, I'm fine. I wouldn't want to disappoint her if she went to all the trouble."
"If you're sure." Her father's pale blue eyes bored into her, and Mary was forced to look away, guilt clawing at the back of her throat.
"Just give me a minute to freshen up."
Hunter pressed a soft kiss against her temple. "Of course."
Once inside the foyer, Mary peeled off from the men headed toward the kitchen where Emily and Simon were talking and ran up the stairs to the safety and solitude of her room. Pulse pounding, she leaned against the door and clamped her hand over her mouth to suppress a sob.
Something must be wrong with her. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't find the cold composure that had been her constant companion for years. Her coping mechanism that got her through social faux pas, breakups, and awkward situations. Every emotion felt like it was swimming just below the surface, waiting to break free at any moment.
Stamping her feet, she pulled at the sundress as she crossed to her closet. Fingers skimmed across the few items of decent quality she had at the lake house until she came across a deep pink dress with a built-in corset. She looked great in the dress, but the thin strips of steel tended to dig into her skin, making it uncomfortable to wear. Plucking the outfit off the hanger, Mary deemed it a perfect way to keep herself distracted from the torrent of feelings swirling inside her chest.
Hair and make up fixed, new dress and matching heels adorned; Mary made her way downstairs. When she entered the kitchen, she found Hunter, her father, and Emily in the kitchen. Simon was nowhere in sight.
Her head relaxed. Her heart ached.
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