Cole (The Leaves) (19 page)

“They found Marla Redding, Cole.”

A few things happened when I tried to speak, but my mother put her hand up in a stop motion. “Now, when I say they found her, I mean they found what’s left of her. She’s been dead for a while.” She was careful with her tone and that’s how I knew there was more to come.

“What else, Mom?”

“Joe and Serena are missing.”

“Cole?” Anika’s voice coming toward us made me nervous as fuck. As she got closer, it was as if she knew what we were discussing away from everyone else, so when I opened my mouth and lied to her, I knew she would forgive me.

“Wedding crap, baby. You
do not
want to know.” I smiled and gave her a light chuckle. She pulled me down for a small kiss, turned and went back to the house closing the slider behind her.

“When did you find out about Joe and Serena and why am I finding out about it now….
Dad
?” I was pissed that my dad had decided what I needed to know. As much as he was determined to let me live my life without his input and control, he was having a hard time doing just that apparently.

“Cole…” my mother said taking my hand, “this was not your father’s decision. This was mine and mine alone. With everything you and Anika have endured, I wanted to spare you any more drama. That said, you should know that since the day Anika was back in your arms, we have had you both under protection. It’s discreet. I’m only telling you for your peace of mind.”

“Are they watching the house, Mom? Because I got to tell you, you of all people know that Anika and I don’t limit our…
activities
to just the bedroom and I really don’t like the idea of some fuckin’ guy watching my fiancé…”

“Cole.” My dad commanded. He didn’t yell, he didn’t even raise his voice, but it was a tone that demanded my silence. “These people are professionals and they are the best of the best. Stop thinking like that and understand this is for her safety and yours.”

“Fine.” I bit out, knowing that we had an audience of men not far away and none of them stupid. I had to control my temper, both emotionally and physically. “What happens now?”

I knew my parents had reconciled for the most part, but when my dad set his drink on the railing and dropped his Cuban in the amber liquid, it caught me off guard when he wrapped my mother in his arms. It was an intimacy not often, or ever, displayed by my dad.

“Cole,” my mother started, “The Dragos were meant to hear from Serena exactly two weeks after they left here. Joe is intelligent and Serena knew when she left with him, she would have to play a very convincing role in order to carry out her plan. She was determined to act alone and after what he put her through I don’t blame her, but her father wanted to do things differently. She never made contact and you and I both know it’s not because she’s been harboring a secret love for her cousin who molested her when she was a little girl.”

“Fuck, Mom… what happens now?” I said this through a fake smile and waning patience.

“Have you always said fuck this much, dear?”

“Mom,” I said in a warning tone. “Yes, I have always said ‘fuck’ this much. Now tell me what’s next. I need to get back inside and be a good host.”

My meaning was not lost on either one of my parents. My mother had perfected the art of the faux happy person and the faux happy marriage over the years and it was all a show until now. Just then, my dad stepped in.

“They have a lead on Joe, but not Serena. The family fears the worst, but this has nothing to do with you, Anika or even Serena. If he figured it out, seeing as he’s already unstable, his anger will be aimed at
his
family, not ours. They lied about the business to keep him out and away from Serena. He’ll feel betrayed by them.”

“What now, Dad? I mean… what are you doing? I know you, I know what you said to me and to Anika on Thanksgiving… so what happens now?” I was calm, I was in control, just barely, but I hated the uncertainty of what was happening.

“I’ll reiterate; as soon as she sets foot outside the doors of this house, Anika is safe and so are you, son.”

My mother left my dad’s arms and gave my hand a squeeze before she left the two of us alone. “We’ll fix this Cole. You and Anika will not be touched by this, but I wanted you to know and more importantly, if you found out, I wanted you to know it wasn’t your dad that kept it from you, it was me. I’ll round up the others and lead them inside for dessert. Don’t be too long. Anika’s not stupid either.”

She was only a foot away from me when I caught her, “Mom?”

“Yes dear?” She said softly.

“She can’t know… Anika, she can’t know. She asked me, she said whatever happens, she didn’t want to know. You’re right, she’s not stupid, she knew when she looked at me I was lying and her kiss was her way of thanking me for it.”

“I understand, dear.” Her face morphed from a look of sincere understanding and love to party fake and went to the men and their cigars.

I stood there with my dad and tried to take a deep cleansing breath. It didn’t help. “If he felt anything close to what I feel for Anika, for Serena… this is not over, Dad. It’s Christmas Eve and we’re standing here talking about this. Fuck.”

“Cole…” He tried to interrupt, but I continued.

“I’d want to die. I wouldn’t want to go on. It would be like walking around blind and one day waking up to see a blue sky and clouds and this ocean… to lose it, then live every day with the goal of finding it again just to learn it was all a lie… everything you dreamed about was a lie.”

“Cole…” He tried again.

“Maybe it’s wrong, to try to put myself in his shoes, but I would hope if I couldn’t have the love of my life, someone would just put me out of my fucking misery.”

“You’re a better man than I am, Cole.” He quickly interjected.

“How do you figure that?” I asked surprised by his remark

Looking at the water, I watched his eyes take in the scenery even though there wasn’t much to see at night. “Look at that, Cole.”

“Where are you looking?” I scanned the water in front of me, but only saw the blue light of a small fishing boat.

“That night, the night we all waited, I watched you. I watched you prepare for the possibility she might not be returned and I knew, if we lost her, we lost you. I couldn’t risk that happening twice. But I learned two things that night. One, if Serena was my daughter, niece, sister, aunt or cousin, I would have killed Joe with my own hands. Two, I went to the Gillies when they were setting up. I knew you made a purchase and I was determined to find a way back to you and your mother. I stared at that painting, men moving around me, I felt her pain Cole. Don’t ask me how, I did not know her, I did not know her personal history, nor did I know what had happened between the two of you, but I felt it.”

I didn’t know what to say to that. Again, my dad and I had come a long way in a short while and Anika had a great deal to do with that, but I was getting to know someone that was a complete stranger to me for thirty years.

“Cole… they’re close to finding him. Don’t waste another second, life is short. I wasted so much time with the woman who holds my heart like it was the rarest gem wrapped in the purest gold. I didn’t appreciate it and I almost lost it. That love is a gift so few get to experience, let alone keep it.”

With that he turned and left me alone, looking out at the black water… speechless.

Anika

My dad, brother, and Gus returned to the living room and made a beeline for the array of desserts around the large table. I knew something had happened outside and that something had to do with either my mom, Joe, or both. I also knew Cole had lied to me, but it was a lie I asked him to make, and I was grateful he did. Whatever happened, I wanted him here by my side, not out with his dad.

I saw that everyone else was busy, mingling and eating, so I made my way out to Cole again. I didn’t want him to worry, I didn’t want to watch him tear himself apart over whatever it was Trish and Richard had told him. Just as I closed the slider behind me, Richard looked down to me and said, “Merry Christmas, Anika,” and went into the house.

Cole’s hands gripped the railing, white knuckled, pensive. I approached quietly and slid my small hand over one of his and wrapped my other hand over his shoulder. “Baby…” I whispered. “Thank you.”

I didn’t need to say anything else, he understood. It was finished and I knew this for sure when his hand moved up and laced his fingers with mine on his shoulder. “Merry Christmas, Anika.” He said and kissed my fingertips.

I pulled my other arm around his waist, “Merry Christmas, Cole. You think they’ll miss us if we go for a walk?”

“Maybe, but they’ll understand.” He smiled. It wasn’t huge, there was sadness behind it, worry, I assumed, but I chose not to focus on that. I needed to give him the support and confidence that everything was going to be okay, just as he’d always done for me.

“Cole?”

“Yeah, baby?” He answered on a sigh.

“I know it weighs heavy on you, the worry, but it’s our first Christmas and in six short days we’ll be married and in seven short days… a week from today… we’ll be in your cabin as husband and wife. Just you and me. So, let’s go inside with our family and friends, drink some strong cocktails, and after they leave you can use me as your very own dessert platter. We’ve had enough drama to last a lifetime.”

He pulled me close, looked down at me, no expression at all and burst out laughing, “Thank you, Anika. I was not expecting that at all. You’re right and actually, please don’t worry. Okay?”

“Okay.” I said softly.

***

About an hour later, my brother and I sat close to each other on the dining chairs I had lined up against the back windows. The pool and deck behind us, the tree and family in front of us, a fire burning, Christmas lights twinkling, and I had no idea what to talk to him about. Luckily, he decided to break the silence first.

“Are you drunk?” he enquired. “I only ask because you’re really quiet and you’ve had four of those Snowball things and I can smell the alcohol from here.”

I didn’t know him well enough to know if he was offended or what, but I was learning my brother had a no nonsense abruptness about him that could be seen as totally rude. “Uh, I admit, I’m definitely feeling this drink but honestly, I don’t care.” I giggled, “I’m surrounded by family and friends, I’m getting married in six days, my fiancé is awesome… and hot…” he raised his eyebrows, but his expression remained neutral, “have you seen him? Cole is
hot
-hot… and look!” I held my right hand in his face, “Finally, I have fingernails!”

Then he took my hand, held it in his, smiled and said, “That is good news.”

“So, what’s your story? You’re kind of intense.” The alcohol was definitely allowing me to be more of what I used to be. I used to be more brazen, especially when I first met Cole, not to mention the run-ins I’d had with his dad.

“Yeah, I get that a lot.” He smiled. “You haven’t asked me what I do.”

Oh my God, he was right. I hadn’t asked my brother anything about him. “I am so sorry, David. I’ve been so wrapped up in everything, I never even took the time to ask you about… you. I’m an asshole.”

“No, you’re not. You and I are the same, Anika.” It was then I saw his teeth, when he smiled at me. It was a devil grin and I liked it. It made me feel warm and fuzzy and I assumed it wasn’t something many people had the honor of receiving from him. “We’re artists. I’m actually a concert pianist. It’s why I don’t drink much. I live in my head most of the time. I have a good guy friend and a girl I… well, a girl I get together with now and then, but I don’t have the time nor do I have the inclination to date.”

Wow. That seemed kind of final. “Did someone break your heart, David?” I asked gently.

“I broke her heart. She was, is a cellist. Beautiful. She plays with such grace it’s like watching a dancer, and she has a talent far beyond a lot of professionals twice her age. Anyway, she wanted me to go to London with her. I wanted to stay close to home. When I compete, I always come home when I can and the same when I tour… right now I’m touring which for my age, to be invited to tour internationally like this, that’s pretty fuckin’ cool. But not only does it strain a relationship, I wanted a home base. I need to have a place I always come home to or I go crazy and that home is my mom and dad. I also have a tutor in the mountains. You know that music camp in Idyllwild?”

“I’ve heard of it, yeah.”

“He, Mr. Miers, used to tour, played with great orchestras, great directors, recorded with them but we’re a lot alike… he hated the road. Then he was on the jury for a competition I entered. I took a master class with him, we hit it off, so now he lives there. I drive up, stay at my parents’ cabin, have a rehearsal day or two with him… prepare for the next… whatever, practice, and back down again. There’s no room for anything else in my life now, but there will be soon.”

“What does that mean? Are you ready to settle down at the age of nineteen?” I laughed, but he did not.

“No, Anika. I’ll be twenty next month, but no. I broke my thumb and first finger last year on my right hand. Not my dominant hand either, so I’m already at a disadvantage. That’s when I ended it with the cello player, Anna. It’s why I don’t drink. I was shitfaced, lost my footing, and broke my fall with my hand. No one knows but her, Mr. Miers, the specialist, and now you. Anna was pushing me to get surgery, knowing I didn’t want to. I realized then that without the touring, the playing, the entire scene, she and I didn’t have anything else in common. At the moment this is all I know, but I need to decide what I want to do, and who I am without all of that. So stupid. I wish it wasn’t because of something
I
did, like a car accident or something. Anyway, no one knows but you, okay?”

“I get it.” I said quietly.

“My parents invested a lot in me… not just money, time, hope… everything. I’ve been an only child ‘til now, so all the dreams they had for me, you know? Now I get pain, like arthritis. I went to see a specialist and he thinks I have bone spurs from the break and yes, I could have surgery, rehab, but it’s risky. I could lose these next two years and never regain my ability. I would be happy playing in a hotel lobby five nights a week, I could tour with a band but, I can’t keep this schedule and as much as I love playing with an orchestra…”