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The Tessarae Inn |
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Regrets In Jade Tones
CHAPTER 26 She had spent way too much time in hospital rooms in her life. Why she was here this time, though, was even more disturbing than usual. “I’m okay if that’s what has you worried,” said Wyatt. Blair let her gaze wander to his face. He really was the most extraordinarily handsome man. How had she not noticed the face that he was hiding from her for so many months? How could she not have picked up on the egomaniacal vibe? Was she really that naive? How could she have let him near Starr? “I’m not the least bit worried,” she said as she forced herself to focus despite her escalating rage. “And a word of warning. I may be content for now to let the legal system take care of you but I will be watching you.” “You know why I waited?” “What?” “Why I waited to take Starr?” Blair glared at him. She couldn’t find the words to respond to him. Her rage was threatening to burst through. She stood up and moved toward the door. She could see Dorian’s anxious face peering through the glass in the door. Dorian promised to wait outside but it was killing her. “I could have taken her two days after I got into town. I didn’t take her because of you.” Blair stopped and turned toward him. “What are you saying?” “You make a man want to change, Blair. I swear more than once I thought about abandoning my plan to stay in your orbit.” She crossed her arms and frowned. She was not going to let him drag her into a stupid discussion. “Wyatt, why did you want to see me?” “I hated how you and Toni became immediate buddies. I hated how you let her close to you so easily.” “I don’t see how any of this is relevant.” “If I had fought him for you. I would have won. Considering how things turned out that was probably would have been a better strategy.” “There is no way I would have ever been in a relationship with you.” “Believe what you will. I’m just trying to put my cards on the table. I could have had you and Starr the smooth way with no hard, ragged edges and I would have been good to you.” “You tried to rape me.” “Rape is such a relative term.” “You are a bigger fool than I thought if you believe that.” “You doth protest too much.” Blair threw up her hands and walked toward the door. She could see Dorian waving her out. This was stupid. Why had she believed him when he swore he had something to tell her that was life and death? She cringed when she heard those words. Although everyone assured her that Starr was fine physically, she couldn’t shake the fear of something turning up unexpectedly. We’re sorry, Mrs. Manning. We missed the signs, Mrs. Manning. Your child was hurting all this time and we mislead you into thinking everything was fine, Mrs. Manning… “Blair, I did kidnap her.” She looked over her shoulder. “I know, Wyatt.” “The other one. I did it.” Blair turned toward him slowly. “Did you kill rape her? Did you kill her?” “I thought you knew me by now. I would never hurt a child.” “What happened to her?” “I gave her a better family, is all. Her biological parents are robber baron scum. They ignored her ninety percent of the time. I gave her a life as something other than an object of legacy. She’s happy.” “Where is she?” “That’s what I’m going to tell you. I’m a changed man, Blair. This is for you.” He stretched out his hand. There was something written on heavy paper in an elaborate script. “This is the address. Her name is Diana Carlton, now. Used to be called Amanda Barstow Paige.” Blair walked as close as necessary to take the sheet of paper. “Why are you doing this?” “You’re a rainmaker, Blair.” “Stop talking in riddles.” “That’s not a riddle. That’s a blues song. You’re a rainmaker. You make a grown man wanna cry. Keb Mo’.” She just glared at him and fingered the sheet of paper in her hand. “Nothing I’ve told you will hold up in court. Don’t bother. I have a way with the legal system especially attorneys in tight short skirts.” “Does she know?” “Why would I tell her?” She walked closer to him. “I will take your information and I will make sure the parents find their child. No one deserves what you did to them--not knowing whether their child is alive or dead. But I will not be your weapon against Téa. No more wars. Understand? I will not be caught in the middle of someone else’s drama. And if you ever come after my family again, I won’t be so careful where I aim next time.” “Well, ouch there, Blair.” She stepped back from the bed, folded the piece of paper and started to leave. “I didn’t get what I wanted. It was all for nothing.” Blair stopped. What was he talking about? Wyatt looked down at his hands. “She sent me that picture to let me know she had found a quote-unquote great love. She informed me that she had gotten married and had a baby. She asked me to stop writing to her. Even though when you’re in prison you live for mail. She knew I lived for her letters.” Wyatt looked up and directly at her. “I love her, Blair. She hurt me. I hurt her. That’s the way we play it.” Blair flinched. The words had an unpleasantly familiar resonance. “I’ll tell you from experience then. Save yourself some grief and stop looking for weapons. Love her or let her be.” He dropped his head. “She didn’t even come in the room to see me. I did it all for her and she couldn’t even come into the same room with me.” “Let her go then. Love is not the answer.” His head shot up. “Do you even know what the question is?” “Whatever it is, love is not the answer.” “Exactly when did you give up on love? Was it when he married her while you were in a coma? Or was it when she took your child for the second or the third time? Or was it when he gave the police evidence against you in an attempted homicide? Or was it when…” “Shut up.” “See I finally did my homework. Could have saved us all a lot of trouble if I’d done that earlier. Still I can list things for the next hour or so.” “I’m not interested in your list. I lived it.” Wyatt smiled it her and nodded his head. “The question is: How can you forgive someone? If the answer isn’t love, what is it?” Blair walked out of the room and didn’t look back. Dorian refused to move back into the house on Lincoln Street until they moved out and given her relationship with Todd that was probably a good thing. Dorian, therefore, was still holding court at The Palace. She dropped Dorian at the hotel then she drove toward the house but the closer she got the more agitated she became. Finally, she turned left onto Spring Garden and headed for the interstate. The traffic was light and for once the road seemed clear. She opened up the Audi and let the horses run. She felt like she was flying. Her heart was getting lighter. The ugly truth was that Téa had fallen in love with the “wrong” man and hadn’t been brave enough to live it or let it go. Too many people paid the price for her cowardice but in the end there was some retribution because as a result nothing would ever bring Tea peace or happiness. She would live her life on the outside of love, always trying to slip into someone else’s life because she was too weak and too much of a coward to take her own risks, to take responsibility for her own heart. Blair took a deep breath then increased the pressure on the accelerator. The last wound between she and Todd had finally been exposed to air. It was healing. She could feel it. Maybe if she drove fast enough she could outrun whatever shoe was still waiting to drop. |