Deliver the Moon Page 22

  Louisa nodded. “That was before they got to know her.”

  “But even then they thought he could do better than a small-town farm girl who wanted to be a PE teacher.”

  “When they realized how much Arty loved her though, they gave them their blessing.”

  Gram sat up a bit straighter. “Yes, they did.”

  Louisa turned and gave her grandmother a long look. “Are you implying—?” She blinked fast several times. “Mother and Dad knew I loved Gabe. I must have told them a thousand times.”

  Gram shrugged. “Maybe you did, maybe you didn’t. But actions speak louder than words ever will, missie.”

  Louisa had to laugh at that, since she’d so recently heard the same line from Gabe. “What is this, Pick-on-Louisa Day?” She rubbed her sore arm again. “I can’t just turn my back on my family, Gram. That’s what I’d have to do if I went back to Gabe.”

  “Says who?”

  “He wants me to move to Chicago with him. If it were up to him, we’d never see you guys again. I can’t do that. It’s not fair.”

  “You’re telling me he asked you to choose between him and your family?” Gram sounded disbelieving.

  “Well, he didn’t say that in so many words, but…”

  Gram massaged the back of her left hand. Her arthritis was obviously acting up again. “Here’s a hypothetical for you, missie. Say you did have to choose. Who would it be?”

  “Gra-am,” Louisa protested. “That’s silly. I can’t choose—”

  Gram waved her quiet. “Indulge an old lady. I could keel over any minute, and you’d spend the rest of your life feeling guilty for not answering my last question on God’s green earth.” She fixed an eagle stare upon her grand-daughter. “Now. When you think of spending the rest of your life with someone, who immediately comes to mind?”

  “Gabriel,” Louisa said softly.

  “So, you’d choose Gabe.”

  Louisa hung her head slightly and nodded. “I’d choose Gabe.”

  “Have you ever told him that?”

  “No, but—” The proverbial light bulb flashed in her head. “Oh, God.” She pressed the sides of her face, as if she could squeeze the sense into her brain. “That’s all he wanted, isn’t it? To know I would choose him over anybody or anything else if I had to.” After a few shaky breaths, she said, “Now it’s too late. He’ll never forgive me. I’ve been such an idiot.”

  Gram patted her leg. “It’s never too late.”

  “Louisa!” Evan bore down on them across the green carpet of freshly trimmed lawn. “Everyone’s wondering where you two disappeared to. Gram’s the guest of honor. She should be inside.”

  Gram leaned closer and murmured, “Funny how Evan’s name didn’t even come to mind in our little hypothetical a moment ago.” She squeezed Louisa’s knee. “No time like the present, missie.”

  Louisa stood as Evan approached the bench. She touched his sleeve. “Evan, would you help Gram inside for me, please? Then could you come back out here?” She took a deep breath. “We need to talk.”

  ****

  Evan’s large-knuckled hand closed around the ring she’d just given him. He looked at his fist a moment, not saying anything. As Louisa stared at the top of his down-turned head, she noticed his hair was beginning to thin in some areas. He obviously was unaware of it or he’d have made an appointment with Hair Club for Men by now. She immediately felt bad for thinking such thoughts at such a serious moment.

  His cheeks were ruddy with anger. “You can’t do this to me, Louisa.”

  “Evan, I’m sorry but—”

  “No. Do you realize how hard I’ve worked these past few years? I’m not going to let your over-glorified expectations of romance ruin everything for me.”

  “What are you talking about? And what do you mean, how hard you’ve worked?”

  “We make a great team, Louisa. You, me, your dad—”

  She held up a hand. “My dad? What does my dad have to do with us? Wait. This is all about politics, isn’t it?”

  “Everything’s about politics. You should know that from growing up in your family.”

  She blinked hard several times. “You don’t love me, do you?”

  He rolled his eyes. “Of course I love you, Louisa. But love isn’t the issue here.”

  “What is the issue then? That with my political connections I’d be the perfect trophy wife? Is that it? You’ve been using me, haven’t you? Our relationship was never based on anything besides what I could do for you, was it?”

  “Nobody does anything without expecting something in return.”

  Louisa shook her head, stunned she hadn’t seen this before. “Does my dad know about this?”

  He stared at her as if she were stupid. “He’s a United States Senator, Louisa. The best political marriages are built on what you and I can offer each other. Look at any powerful couple. Each person wants what the other can offer: power, prestige, and status. Look at your parents. Now, it’s obvious that’s the reason they’re together, too—”

  Louisa slapped him across the face, the sound echoing through the back yard.

  “You know nothing about my parents,” she snapped. “Don’t you dare presume that you do. Now get out before I march inside the house and tell my father what a snake you are.”

  He rubbed his cheek where she hit him. “You’re being a little melodramatic about this.”

  “You want to see melodramatic? I’ll show you melodramatic unless you leave. Now.”

  He lifted his hands in a defensive posture and backed up a step. “Okay, okay,” he said, his voice softening. “I’m sorry, Louisa. Really. I thought we understood each other. You’d been hurt so badly in your last relationship and were quick to tell me at the beginning of ours that you wouldn’t let yourself be hurt again. That you wanted something safe and stable.” He shrugged. “That’s what I was offering you. I guess you want more, eh?”

  Louisa closed her eyes and took a deep breath, hurt washing over her. “Yes, Evan. I want more. I need more than that. Now, please.” She met his eyes. “Go.”

  He nodded once and spun on his heel, disappearing into the lengthening shadows of the yard and garden. When the gate latch clicked, Louisa dropped onto the bench and buried her face in her hands.

  “I would take great pleasure in castrating that boy with a dull blade.”

  Louisa’s head popped up, and she saw Gram standing a few feet away. She laughed.

  Gram grinned and came to sit beside her. “Ah, I knew that would make you smile.” She rested a hand on Louisa’s forearm. “Are you okay, Lou-lou?”

  “Did you hear?”

  “’Course I heard. I was eavesdropping.”

  Louisa blew out a long string of air and watched a fuzzy caterpillar inch its way across a piece of bark near her right foot. “Throughout this whole thing with Gabe, I’ve been trying to be fair to Evan, not wanting to hurt him, but this whole time, he has never even loved me.”

  “I think he loves you in his own way.”

  Louisa shot Gram a dubious look. “Mother and dad will flip out.”

  “So?”

  Louisa chuckled and wiped away another tear. “Yeah. So what?” She stood.

  “Where are you going?” Gram asked.

  “I’m going to call Gabe.”

  “Missie. Sit down.” She patted the wooden sit beside her.

  Louisa sat.

  “Let Gabe cool off a bit. He seemed pretty riled up when he left. And let yourself calm down, too. Go have a good cry, and see if that doesn’t make you feel better. Gabe’s not going anywhere.”

  ****

  Gabe yanked the clothes from his closet and hurled them into the suitcases on his bed. He didn’t bother folding or arranging tem in a certain order, just shoved them in where they landed.

  He eyed the honor bar, thinking how nice it would be to drink himself into a blissful oblivion. But he would still wake up without Louisa tomorrow, with one heck of a hangover to boot, so
what would be the point?

  When he’d finished his haphazard packing, he checked the room for anything he might have forgotten.

  It was going to be a long flight back to Chicago tonight.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Louisa lolled against the back of the tub, up to her chin in frothy bubbles. Raindrops pitter-pattered on the roof, the sunny day having reverted to a light evening storm. The sound caressed her soul like gentle fingers through her hair. Her heart finally felt free.

  Her eyes were open—really open—for the first time in her life. The reason a relationship with Evan had felt so safe was because there was no risk. She’d never truly given him her heart, and she knew now he’d never given her his.

  Despite Gram’s suggestion, she’d tried calling Gabe, but it went right to voicemail as if he’d turned the phone off, which he probably had. Gram was right. She’d give him time to cool off, then she’d try again. Then if she still couldn’t reach him, she’d march straight over to his hotel and pound on his door until he let her in.

  Swiping the damp hair from her forehead and getting bubbles on her eyelashes in the process, she glanced at the clock on the wall beside the bathroom mirror. Okay, that was long enough.

  Climbing out of the tub, she wrapped herself in a thick, terry towel and reached for the phone. She released the clip that held up her hair as she dialed his number. An excited rumble stirred within her as she waited for him to answer, anxious to hear his voice, anxious to tell him everything. A furrow knitted her brow as she remembered their last conversation. He’d understand. He had to.

  Straight to voicemail again. This time she didn’t bother leaving a message. She blew out a frustrated breath. She glanced at the clock again and calculated how long it would take to dress and get to his hotel. Hmm. Way too long.

  She looked up the number to his hotel on her phone. “Gabe D’Angelo’s room, please,” she said, when someone answered

  After a slight pause, the man said, “I’m sorry. He’s checked out.”

  A wave of nausea swept through her stomach. “No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “He checked out tonight?” Her voice was more of a squeak.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “What time?”

  “I’m sorry, ma’am. We’re not allowed to indulge—”

  “Please.”

  It was just one word, but the operator must have heard her desperation. After another pause, he said, “Seven-thirty.”

  Louisa slowly replaced the receiver in its cradle. Gabe was on his way back to Chicago. He’d given up. After a few moments of feeling sorry for herself, she scrolled through the address book on her phone and found the number for a travel agency she and Evan had used in the past.

  “Are there any flights leaving SeaTac for Chicago this evening?” she asked the agent.

  “I’m sure there are…” The soft clicking of a computer keyboard came over the line. “Let’s see, there’s one leaving…right about now, actually.”

  Louisa blew out a loud breath. That had to be the one Gabe was on. “You mean, right now, right now? As in there’s no hope of having one of its passengers paged?”

  “Sorry. I would imagine they’re on the runway already. Is this an emergency?”

  Yes! “No, it isn’t.” She tapped her fingers against her forehead. “Are there any others leaving tonight or first thing tomorrow with an available seat?”

  She waited another few moments. “I can get you a First Class seat on a 9:25 flight. If you go ticketless and don’t need to check luggage, you might be able to make it.”

  “First Class?” Gulp. “How much?” Louisa grimaced when she heard the amount. Evan always flew First Class. He could afford it. She, on the other hand, could not. “Okay. I’ll take it.”

  A few minutes later, she sat on the edge of the bed, her excitement returning. She was going after him. This time she would fight for him. She grinned. That should prove to him how much she loved him.

  She called a cab to take her to the airport and made a mental note to call Jody Woods, her boss, when she got to Chicago. Not that it mattered. Her walking papers would surely be on her drafting table once Evan spoke to his sister. Amazingly, Louisa wasn’t upset about that. She was a good designer. She’d find another job. Maybe one without so much pressure, leaving her more time for her art.

  A glance at her watch told her she didn’t have much time to get ready. She quickly packed a small suitcase and an overnight bag. She threw on a pair of jeans, a T-shirt and a yellow blazer, and shoved her feet into canvas slip-ons. A swipe of lipstick and a flick of mascara, and her make-up job was complete. She brushed her hair back into a low ponytail and pulled on a yellow baseball cap.

  Her gaze went to her jewelry box. Opening it, she pulled out her wedding ring from Gabe. She slipped it onto her right ring finger. She wouldn’t wear it on her left hand. Yet.

  Fifteen minutes until her cab arrived. She hoisted her purse and overnight bag onto her shoulder, and picked up the suitcase. She looked around her small place and gave a sigh of satisfaction.

  Time to do one last thing.

  ****

  She expected to find her parents straightening up after the party, but instead they were seated at the kitchen table, cups of steaming tea before them. They both looked up, startled, as she burst into the room.

  Their eyes immediately focused on her luggage. “Louisa,” Arthur said. “What are you doing with—?”

  She held up her hand. “Dad, Mother, I have something to say, and I don’t have a lot of time to say it in. My cab is going to be here in a few minutes to take me to the airport.”

  “Airport?” Beverly said. “Where are you going?”

  “Chicago.”

  “But Louisa—”

  “For God’s sake! For once will you please let me speak without jumping in to criticize?”

  That silenced them. Arthur set his mug down, and Beverly sat back in her seat, looking sufficiently put in her place.

  Louisa deposited her bags near the door then plopped into the chair across the table from her parents, only to spring right back up, too restless to sit. She paced the tiled floor in front of the table a couple of times before finally stopping with her hands on her hips.

  “I’m not going to marry Evan, I love Gabriel, and I’m flying to Chicago to get him back.” Whew. She’d said it. A heavy weight lifted from her shoulders.

  Her mother’s face turned pale, and her father’s reddened. “But Louisa,” Arthur began. “Gabe is not—”

  “Dad, please.”

  He raised a hand and nodded for her to go on.

  “Okay,” she said, taking a deep breath. “Okay.” She paced the length of the table again then checked her watch. “I have ten minutes to get this out.” She bit her lip. “I know how much you both like Evan, but the thing is…I don’t love him. I thought I did—I never would have agreed to marry him if I hadn’t—But…”

  She cleared her throat and made the snap decision not to tell them how he’d used her. Unless they put up a big stink about her decision, it really didn’t matter anymore. “I just wanted so badly to do something you both would be proud of. My being with Evan made you so happy, I guess I kind of overlooked the fact that I wasn’t happy with him. I never felt about him the way I did about Gabriel.” She took a deep breath. “The way I still feel about Gabriel.”

  “Louisa, you really don’t need—” her dad started.

  “Dad, please let me get this out.” She stared, unfocused, at her shoes, then she sat down.

  Her mother peered beyond Louisa’s shoulder, as if she couldn’t bear to look her in the eye. Her face was pinched and flushed.

  Louisa continued. “Letting Gabriel walk out of my life five years ago was the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.” She saw the look her parents exchanged. “I know, I know. He was the one who left. But you know what? I could have stopped him. I should have. But I didn’t. I just let my stubborn pride and the fact that you never liked him get i
n my way. I’ve blamed him just as much as you both have. But the simple fact is, Gabriel and I were both hard headed. Both of us screwed up, it wasn’t just him.” She checked the time. Yikes.

  She cleared her throat. “All I can say is thank God Gram had the foresight to play matchmaker. Otherwise I might never have realized—” Her voice choked up and a horn honked outside. She craned her neck and peered out the window toward the street. The top of a Yellow Cab was visible over the fence.

  She wiped her eyes and sniffled. “There’s my ride.” She took another deep breath and met her parents’ eyes squarely. “Look, I know you’ve never been a big fan of Gabriel and vice versa, but I’m not going to let that bother me anymore. I’m going to Chicago to get him back. I’ll throw myself at his feet and beg if I have to, but I’m getting him back. I don’t expect you to like it, but you’d better accept it, because, frankly, you have no say in the matter. Not anymore. This is what I want.”

  Her parents said nothing, obviously too stunned to speak.

  She softened her tone. “I’m sorry if I’ve disappointed you, but I have to do this for me. I hope someday you’ll understand and that you’ll welcome Gabriel into this house with open arms.” She wiped her eyes again, but the tears kept coming. The cab honked again. “I have to go.” She sniffed. “You know, he’s on a plane right now, thinking I’m going to marry Evan.” She laughed through her tears. “I can’t wait to set him straight and tell him I want to spend the rest of my life with him.”

  Two strong hands grasped her shoulders from behind. “You just did.” Gabe’s soft, deep voice whispered in her ear, his warm breath stirring her hair.

  Louisa spun around in her chair, its legs scraping against the tiles like fingers on a chalkboard. “Gabriel! What are you—? Why—?” No coherent sentence occupied her brain at the moment. She leapt up and searched his eyes. They looked weary and a bit bloodshot, but the moisture rimming them made his dark eyes sparkle like freshly polished mahogany.

  She touched his cheek tentatively, as if to make sure he really was standing in front of her. “I thought you were gone,” she said. “I thought you’d given up on me.”