Cut (20 page)

“He is,” Kendra answered, giving Jessie a curious look. “Would the two of you care for anything to drink?”

“Coffee,” Jessie said.

“Same for me,” Leslie added. “We take ours with cream and sugar.”

They walked together down the hallway and Kendra shot Leslie a tentative glance. “Ms. Cahill, if you don't mind me asking, has someone informed your son Mark about Melanie's condition?”

Leslie nodded gravely. “I have, thank you for asking. Unfortunately, there's nothing that can be done. He is aware, and that's all I can do at this time.”

Jessie should have been thinking about the main reason for their visit. Instead, she twisted her fingers in anticipation to see Brent. She hadn't expected to see him.

They entered the room and her gaze darted to Brent. Poised with a mug of coffee in his hand, he didn't look up from the computer on the desk. Jessie's breaths became light and fluffy like clouds rolling by. The sound of her heart must be so loud everyone could hear it. It took all her control not to run up to him and demand answers about how he'd gotten the note.

Luke closed his laptop and stood up. “Hello,” he said, walking over to Leslie. He shook her hand, followed by Jessie's. “Let's get on with this.”

The bookshelf became the object of Jessie's focus. She took her time, looking at the book spines, a crystal ball paperweight, and metal baskets. Not one framed photo of Melanie or his daughters existed in Luke's office. She thought the room to be boring, cold, and without a heart. No warmth. Not like the attic in Brent's house. She felt heat in his presence and something deep and genuine about his work space. Jessie scoffed at her own thoughts. She kept an eye on the decorations in Luke's office and avoided looking at Brent. He only stood a few feet away, but that was too close, and she refused to make eye contact with him. They'd been brought together by the circumstance of their families, but she didn't have to acknowledge Brent or speak to him.

Leslie elbowed her. “Tell him, Jessie,” she said with anxious eyes.

Jessie snapped out of her I-will-not-look-at-Brent contemplation. She looked from her mom to Luke. “Tell him what?”

Luke cleared his throat. “Your mother is under the impression Melanie will magically wake up as soon as she's transferred to a different unit. She can't know that. No one can,” Luke said, and rubbed the back of his neck. He looked like a man tired from fighting a battle.

She resented his tone. “Show her some compassion, that's her daughter. I might not be a doctor—”

“You aren't a doctor,” Brent cut in.

Brent effectively shut down Jessie. She broke her rule and looked at him. The corner of Brent's lip drew up in arrogance, as if he'd been waiting for her to lose at her own game. She glared at him and she reminded herself he was not good for her. They were back to zero ever since she found Melanie's note had been taken. She wouldn't work with him. She wouldn't even lean towards trusting him.

Luke spoke up. “The fact is we don't know all of our options. We're still in a grace period so to speak. That's what her doctor said. She can stay in the hospital for now. Eventually though, we'll have to think about moving her to a private facility. I asked you here today to put your mind at ease when that day comes. I will handle all financial parts of this equation. Whatever care or therapy she needs, she'll have.”

“I will insist upon contributing something to the care of my daughter,” Leslie said.

“That's not an option,” Luke responded. “We have to all be clear on the fact that Melanie's care might continue for months or years.”

“You sound like a man who's given up.”

Luke threw up his hands. “I'm not giving up.”

Brent stepped in and spoke, “Nobody has given up on Melanie's recovery.”

Leslie ignored Brent and looked to Luke. “Can't you do more? Don't you have connections with doctors and specialists? We should be exploring all of our options. Every single one of them.”

“Melanie is already receiving excellent care.”

“It's not enough.”

“I hate to bring up the fact that really, this isn't your call.”

Leslie bowed her head and wiped her nose with a tissue. She looked ready to crumple up and break down. “You don't even seem phased by the fact that your wife might become a vegetable.”

Luke snapped. He swiped a stack of books off his desk with such force that Jessie jumped off the couch. “Get out,” he seethed. “
Get out now.
”

Leslie put her hand to her mouth. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to push.”

Brent took Leslie's hand and held her steady. “Leave us alone for a minute,” he said kindly, “You and Jessie should go outside and get some air.”

“I'll take care of her,” Jessie said, rushing to her mother. She elbowed Brent in the side to get in between them. He let go. Jessie took control and ushered her mom out of the room. “Do you want to go back to the hotel?” she said.

Kendra met them at the door bearing coffee and a wide-eyed expression. “Is…everyone moving to another room?”

“My mother needs a few minutes,” Jessie answered dismissively.

“There's a sitting room up ahead. I'll show you the way.” Kendra walked ahead of them.

“Take my mom,” Jessie said. “I need to use the restroom.”

“By the front entrance, first door on the right.” Kendra refocused on Leslie. “Here's your coffee Ms. Cahill.”

Jessie followed Kendra's instructions to the bathroom, except she didn't have to go. She rounded the corner and continued to walk. The outburst by Luke afforded her freedom to look around his home. She didn't waste a second. She would see her nieces. They had to be here somewhere. The timing was worth the scene back there, and thankfully, nobody chased after her.

She looked up to the large staircase and took a deep breath. She could do this. It went against everything her mother and Luke wanted, but she didn't care. The girls might be upstairs. The possibility of seeing them doubled the excitement in Jessie's pulse. She couldn't talk to her own sister. She couldn't bring herself to sit at Melanie's bedside. Her daughters, on the other hand, she had more than enough words to say and all the time in the world to sit with them.

The second level broke out to a series of four hallways. Jessie poked her head into several rooms. The first two proved to be nothing more than guest rooms, decorated in dark furniture and drapes; rooms rich in colors like burgundy and navy. They reminded her of her room at the Crowne.

She continued down the carpeted hallway to another set of doors which gave way to a bathroom and another bedroom. The next door led to a large room with leather couches and…a baby swing in the corner! A playroom. Jessie stepped inside and saw the two activity centers, purple buckets full of dolls, wooden blocks, and color-coordinated baskets overflowing with toys. Three miniature chairs formed a line, each one in a different color. An artist easel, a ride-on toy, and a play desk took up space at the end of the room. Jessie took one whiff of the lemon-scented room and breathed in hard. With a smile on her face, she backed out of the room.

The playroom was a sign she was getting closer. She had to be. Jessie closed the door and backtracked to the opposite hallway.

The next door she tried, opened. Careful to not make a sound, she stuck her head in the room. No light got in except the seams of weak sunlight breaking through the curtains. It was peaceful and cozy; the room smelled like baby powder. The outline of two cribs caught her eye and she bit down on her lip. Jessie's heart soared. She knew at once she found their room. They were right here. She took a step inside.

“
Jessica.”

She whirled around.

Brent stood there with a mocking grin. “What are you doing?” he said.

“Looking for something,” she answered.

“Your grandmother's bracelet perhaps?”

“Brent,” she said, fast. “Please, let me go in there. I only want one peek.”

“No.”

“You can't stop me.”

He took a step closer to her. “Yes, I can.”

He'd stabbed a pin right through her hopes of seeing the girls. “Come on.”

“Do you want Luke to find you?”

“Don't tell him.” She stepped to the side and leaned with her back against the wall.

Brent followed her. He stood so close. Close enough to lean in and kiss her. Jessie rolled her lips. She didn't trust herself to say no to him if he did.

“I won't tell him.” Brent's hand grazed her waist. The part he touched left her hungry for more. The slightest tip of his finger on her caught fire and the fact that his intense gaze held hers didn't help her in the holding strong department.

The problem was he got to her, without even trying. The curve of his hand molded to her side. She closed her eyes, ready and desperate for his lips to claim hers. She arched her neck back. The warmth of his breath receded. She opened her eyes.

“You are aware that you're going through Luke's home, without his permission.”

Now she felt stupid. Jessie checked herself and took a step away from him. “You want to discuss private property, fine. Tell me who came into my hotel room and took the note Melanie gave me.”

His face did not waver. “What note?”

“The one you stole from my hotel room.”

His lips twitched. “I haven't been inside your hotel room. You'll have to take up the matter with the manager.”

“I know you have the note.” She let a satisfied smile cross her mouth. “You do realize you won't find the diamond in my room.”

“I'm glad you brought up the subject. Where. Is. The diamond,” he said, trapping her against the wall. “Where are the rest of them?”

“Give me my note back and we can talk. Do you mind? You're in my space.”

“You've been in my space since I kissed you at the bar.” Brent brushed his lips against hers. His arm wrapped around her waist. “Don't deny that you want me to kiss you now.”

She yielded to the soft yet firm motion of his lips over hers. She forgot to not want him; to stay away. Heat rushed down her midsection to her thighs. She parted her lips to welcome his. They fit perfect against hers.

Footsteps sounded up the stairs.

Brent yanked his body away.

Luke appeared like a bull coming out of the gates. Which made her the matador. And in danger. She gulped back her nerves.

“Help me,” she said to Brent.

“Give me the diamond,” he mouthed.

“What the hell are you doing up here?” Luke shouted.

She looked to Brent for rescue and he said nothing. That's when she found herself mad at Melanie. Yes, mad at her own sister, lying in a coma in a hospital. No she was furious with her for giving her the diamond in the first place. All of this could have been avoided. This thing with Brent. Luke's temper. Her mother's ignorance. Jessie found her courage embedded in her anger. She didn't care what Luke had to say. Jessie stood up straight and addressed him. “Do my nieces have any idea what's happened to their mother?”

Brent lunged between Luke and Jessie. “It's not worth it,” he said.

“Jessie!” Leslie said, running up the stairs with big eyes and a heaving chest. “What are you doing?”

“What you won't do,” Jessie said. “I'm standing up for our family. Melanie would want us to see her daughters.”

“You're the reason Melanie doesn't want your family to see them. You drove her away.” Luke's lips curled into an ugly grin. “She hates you.”

“She does not,” Jessie said, fighting back.

A cry broke out in the room behind her. Everyone stilled. The child cried again and Luke rushed past Jessie and opened the door. “Get out of my house,” he called back and slammed the door in her face.

“We're leaving,” Leslie said, yanking Jessie's arm.

Jessie twisted out of her mother's grasp and she ran downstairs. She kept going, right out the front doors. Hot tears tumbled down her cheeks the second she reached the driveway.

She didn't look back at the house. Instead, she walked straight ahead. The wind picked up at the wrong time and bit at her face and neck. Her mood felt as frigid as the weather. The shirt she wore was useless against November in Belvedere. She left her jacket inside by mistake. Luke could throw it out for all she cared. She wasn't going back in there. She wanted to go home. No, she wanted to go back to this exact time last week, before everything had happened. Back to her normal life. This wasn't normal. It was crazy. She was stuck in some kind of hell, living in a hotel, spending time at a hospital, or forced to visit this mansion.

“Thirty minutes by foot to get to the nearest shopping center,” Brent said, jogging up alongside her. He slowed to a walk next to her.

She didn't slow down. “I'm not going back inside,” she said.

“You don't have to go back. Come with me.”

She stopped and faced him. “You can't be serious. I won't go anywhere with you.”

Brent touched her arm. “I'm offering a ride, that's all.”

“I'll find my own.”

A hard expression overcame his face. “You're actually blaming me or Luke or someone else for what happened in there. Aren't you?”

“I don't know what you're talking about.”

“You haven't done one unselfish thing since I've met you.”

“I didn't ask you to judge me.”

He got in her way. “I'm not judging.”

She began to walk away.

“You kissed me while engaged to another man,” he shouted.

Jessica stopped. A shiver ran down her spine. She turned back around. “So you've told me. You know, you didn't exactly take the moral high ground either.”

“You pursued me at your bachelorette party, not the other way around. Trust me, had you not been engaged, I would have paid for your drinks and taken you back to my house. I would have gone ahead with taking off that dress you wore. I kissed you and let you go, so you could walk away with a clean conscience. But you persisted. You had to make sure I knew your name—a name I already knew. I gave you an out and you came back for more. I brought you to the hospital to see your sister, and afterwards, I gave you a room in my house so you could have privacy and sleep off the alcohol. In return, I find out that you have kept from me the most important diamond of my life, and quite possibly, the last connection to the other six. You have evidence you're withholding from the police and you refuse to give up the one piece of this that could bring us closer to finding Melanie's assailant.”