Taking Tiffany Read online

  I laughed. “I’m sorry to burst your bubble, Colin, but it wasn’t you. Todd came over after the party and straightened everything out.”

  “I’m so glad.” Jain reached over and took my hand. “We were a little worried.”

  “So was I! But we had a long talk, and he told me he has no interest in getting back together with Savannah. I wasn’t sure at first, you know, after their stare-fest and the forgetting of my name, but he promised me, so I feel comfortable with that. I do trust Todd.”

  “You should! Braydon told me Todd assured him he didn’t have any feelings for Savannah. It was shock and confusion that made him freeze like that.”

  “Yeah. After we talked, I felt much bet—” I was interrupted by the doorbell. “Maybe that’s him now!” I jumped off my stool and headed for the front door. A stare out the peephole showed nothing. I looked down and saw a large envelope with my name written across the front had been slipped under the door.

  A little voice told me not to pick it up. But I was curious, so I went against my better judgment. Grasping it gingerly, I carried it back to the kitchen.

  “I have a mystery envelope.” I waved it in the air between Colin and Jain.

  Colin’s brow furrowed. “That can’t be anything good. You shouldn’t open it.”

  “I’m thinking the same thing,” Jain said.

  “I agree. But you know me. I’ll pace around it for the next two hours, wondering what’s inside. I’m sure it’s nothing. Let’s take a peek, shall we?” I took a deep breath and opened it carefully.

  “It’s just pictures.” My breath started to even out. I didn’t know what I was so worried about. But then, when I looked closely at the pictures, I didn’t feel better. I felt sick. “Todd,” I said.

  “Let’s see!” Colin took one of the pictures then stopped and said under his breath, “Oh, shit.”

  “What? I want to see!” Jain held out her hand, and Colin put one of the pictures in her palm.

  Her eyes widened, and she shook her head. “I know this looks bad, but this could be

  Photoshopped.”

  “Yes! Photoshopped! He would never be hugging his old girlfriend on the deck like that. Wait a minute. That is his deck, there’s the table and chairs he always has outside. Oh, there’s the clock.” I pushed the picture in front of Colin because he had the best eyesight. “Can you read the time?”

  Looking a little uncomfortable, he peered down at the picture. “It looks like nine o’clock. I think it’s an accurate time because you can see the sun is about to set in the window reflection.”

  “He left here yesterday at seven. So it is possible.” I looked back and forth between them. “These have to be fake, right?”

  “I think you’re going to need to call him to get straight answers,” Colin advised.

  “That’s a good idea.” I grabbed the cell phone from my purse and speed-dialed with shaking fingers. I tried twice because I pushed on the wrong buttons.

  We all waited as it rang. And rang. And rang some more. I hung up. I didn’t want to leave a message while I was freaked out.

  “Ugh! I can’t stand this! My imagination is doing all sorts of horrible things to me right now. He sat across from me yesterday and promised me the truth. I told him a lie of omission was as bad as a flat-out lie. He didn’t call me last night to tell me she came over. What could that mean?” I was full-on shaking, my heart beat triple time, and I felt light-headed. Deep breathing, I reminded myself. My phone pinged. “It’s a text from Todd,” I said aloud.

  Todd: What’s up?

  Me: I had some pictures delivered to me today. They looked like you and Savannah hugging on your deck.

  Todd: I’m sorry you had to see those.

  Sorry? Is that all he has to say? I almost didn’t reply, but I continued.

  Me: What does that mean?

  Todd: I need to talk to you about this in person. Can we meet?

  Me: I want to know now.

  Maybe I should meet him in person, but I thought I might combust not knowing for another second.

  Todd: You asked me to be honest.

  Me: Yes, go on.

  Todd: Savannah’s moving to Seattle, and we’re going to start over. I know I promised you, but Savannah told me some things I couldn’t ignore.

  I could barely punch in the letters.

  Me: What about your promise? Does that mean anything?

  Todd: I didn’t want this to happen. I will always care for you. But I think it’s best to make a clean break.

  Me: What?

  Todd: Tiffany, you have to know I’d never purposely hurt you. I’m so sorry, but please don’t call or come to my condo.

  I pushed the phone across the table toward Colin and Jain. “Well, that clears up that mystery.”

  Colin picked it up and waited for my permission. I nodded. I watched as he read the conversation. His face turned red, and he looked like he wanted to throw the phone.

  I was in complete and total shock. He was so convincing yesterday. But remember how convincing Fletcher was? “I’m such a fool. I really believed him.”

  It was Jain’s turn to read the message. She stood up suddenly.

  “Braydon is going to kick some ass! Todd told him the same things he told you. What the hell?” She placed her hands on the counter and stared at the phone.

  She could stare at it all day, but the message wouldn’t change. Colin got up from his stool and began to pace. I was glad I wasn’t alone for this, but I’d need some space to work through what I knew would be a massive heartbreak.

  Why was I so dense? I saw the way he looked at her.

  I was angry, mostly at myself.

  “This is why I’ve avoided a relationship all these years! Is every man like Fletcher? Why would he go back to her? She left him four years ago! That’s not nice. She’s not a nice person; I know it!” I’d crossed over to irrational.

  Jain quit staring at the phone and came over to hug me. Colin joined in with a, “Group hug!” and it worked, calming me for about two seconds.

  “Wait, you guys. Maybe someone took fake photos, stole his phone, and sent the messages. Remember those incidents from a few months ago?”

  They seemed to consider it for a moment. “Yeah. I suppose all those things could be connected,” Colin said.

  “I’m grasping at straws here, aren’t I?”

  “No, no,” they both responded.

  I could tell they didn’t want to discourage me. But it was a longshot at this point.

  “I’m going to his condo. I want him to tell me to my face.”

  “I hope it’s all been a misunderstanding.” Jain rubbed my back.

  “If it isn’t, I’m going to go home.”

  Colin’s eyebrow rose. I knew why. He didn’t want me running home when things got hard. I didn’t blame him, but that wasn’t why I wanted to go home.

  “It’s not like that. My parents are in Los Angeles, attending some conference. I’ll have the entire house to myself.” I didn’t mention it was mostly because I wanted to be alone. I loved them, but I didn’t want them to feel like they had to change their plans to hold my hand.

  They both studied me with concern. Or was it pity?

  “I’d come stay with you, but as you know I’m headed to the airport in a couple minutes. It’s my week to fly down to Palm Springs.” He didn’t look happy about it.

  “Well, I hope things are going well for you two at least.” I tried to act normal, but tears threatened, and my heart raced. I wanted to go. Now.

  “That’s a different subject,” he shrugged.

  “What?” I hoped it wasn’t anything serious.

  “Charlie’s been acting off lately. He isn’t available half the time, and he’s been distant. That’s why I’m going down. After this trip, who knows, we might both be single.” He corrected himself. “I mean, I might be single.”

  “It’s okay. Ugh! I don’t like love anymore. If this doesn’t work out, I’m never doing it
again.” I forced the unshed tears back where they belonged. I will not cry. There was still a chance.

  Jain studied me closely. “Braydon is taking us to the ocean today, but I can call it off if you think you’ll need me, or need my help?” Jain’s mouth turned down and she blinked rapidly.

  If Jain had a hard time keeping it together, what chance did I have? I’d make sure she knew I’d be okay and send her off with her family. “No, Jain. I’ll be okay. Nothing is certain. Once I talk to Todd in person I’ll let you know. I’ll feel better knowing you haven’t cancelled your vacation for me. ” I forced a smile.

  “Yeah, I want to know also. If those pictures and text are correct, my fist will become acquainted with his nose,” Colin assured me.

  I smiled at that visual. Colin was the most laid-back person I’d ever met. He’d never punch Todd or anyone else.

  Jain and Colin reluctantly left a few minutes later. Jain was his ride to the airport. Soon after, Jain and her beautiful family would be headed for the beach.

  I made the excruciatingly long trip from my condo to Todd’s in downtown Seattle. Traffic was light, but each minute that passed felt like an eternity.

  Parking the car in the building’s visitor section, I exited and crossed the lobby to the penthouse elevator. I punched in the code before the doors closed.

  A dainty manicured hand stopped the doors. In walked perfection by the name of Savannah.

  “The code won’t work, Todd had it changed last night,” she said, smiling as though she held a secret.

  “Oh?” God, I was so stupid.

  “Yes. He said he didn’t want any uninvited visitors if you know what I mean.” She was inches shorter, but managed to look down her nose at me anyway. “You’re Tiffany, right?”

  I wanted to leave, but I stood frozen and nodded.

  “You might as well give up now. When I want something, I get it. In this case, it's Todd.”

  I know. He already told me.

  “He gave security a code just for me. I left some items in his condo last night.” She flashed a satisfied smile. “You’ll need to leave the elevator so I can go on up.”

  “My pleasure.” With head held high, I marched out and turned around. “Oh, Savannah?” The doors started to close. “You’re a bitch.” I watched her insincere smile turn to a scowl. The doors shut before she was able to respond. Childish, I knew, but it felt good.

  It was confirmed. Todd was an idiot.

  I texted both Jain and Colin.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Tiffany

  “ANYONE HOME?” I shouted.

  Silence. Good. I could scream and cry all I wanted, but I wasn’t ready. Everything felt bottled up, ready to explode, but I stuffed my feelings in, unsure I could handle them yet. I’d spent a good part of my twenties with my barriers up, and that habit helped me now. Or hurt me. Maybe I wouldn’t cry after all. I didn’t need to cry because I was strong. That’s right. Also, I hated doing it. It was messy and …sad. Instead of going to my old room in the gardener’s cottage, I decided to stay in the guest bedroom. I didn’t want to feel like I’d regressed, even though I had, just a little.

  I flopped my suitcase on the bed, opened it, and proceeded to lose control. Grief got the better of me as the tears plopped onto my folded clothes. There goes that plan. The problem was, after that first kiss with Todd, I’d thrown all my self-preservation skills out the window. I let myself love him. He threw it away. He threw you away. Why had I allowed myself to fall so deeply, so completely for him? Why didn’t I guard my heart? He made dust of the walls I’d so carefully constructed.

  I was so stupid.

  I wanted to throw something, to hit something. Scream, cry, yell, then throw and hit something all over again. But I didn’t bother because it wouldn’t fix anything. It wouldn’t fix me.

  I sat on the bedroom floor and cried. I cried for the woman who wanted to trust again. The woman who loved Todd with everything in her. I was angry at Todd for being everything I wanted and couldn’t have. I was angry at myself because I knew I’d never be that person again. I’d never want to put myself out there again. I grieved for the loss of Todd, but I grieved for myself, too. I would spend my life alone.

  Well, maybe not entirely. I still planned to adopt cats. Lots and lots of them.

  I sobbed while I unpacked. I cried when I ate dinner, between bites, and I wept when I turned on Netflix. I still want him. I got up and paced. How could he do this? I knew he loved me. I knew it!

  I looked at my phone. I wanted to call him and yell. I would tell him he loved me, not her! He was making a mistake. She wouldn’t make him happy, with her little dimple and “look at me, I’m so pretty!” beauty pageant demeanor. How could he be fooled with that sugar-sweet accent and her fake, I-can’t-live-without-you, eyes? She was playing him.

  He doesn’t deserve me then.

  If he went back to her, then that’s right, he doesn’t deserve me! He can go to hell! I won’t get cats; I’ll go marry someone else—and then he’ll be sorry!

  I flung myself on the sofa feeling glad I was alone. I didn’t want anyone to witness this. It seemed like I had two personalities. The first one hated Todd and wanted him to suffer. The second wanted to beg him to wake up, to love me like I loved him. The second one wanted forever with Todd.

  Forever.

  I lay down on the sofa and stared at the ceiling. The tears poured from my eyes, down the side of my cheeks, and plopped onto the sofa cushion. I love him so much. Could I do this? Could I withstand the pain?

  Yes, a voice said.

  “Is that you, God?” I asked aloud. “Because I think I’m going to need you for a little while, okay?”

  That started a new crying jag. I believed in God, but I knew it wasn’t a matter of a divine power swooping down and making everything better. God helps those who help themselves.

  “I know!” I shouted. “But what if I don’t know how to help myself? What if I can’t do this?” Don’t get angry with God, it won’t help.

  “I don’t know what to do,” I cried out. Loneliness echoed deep within me. I was empty—alone.

  I fell asleep sobbing while hugging the pillow. I didn’t know it was possible to be actively crying while dozing off, but I managed to do it. Too exhausted to move to the bed, I ended up sleeping on the couch. I woke up a few hours later with swollen eyes and salty tear tracks down my cheeks. It was three a.m.

  I was heartbroken. That word, it was right. I didn’t know who came up with it, but that’s how I felt. The center of my chest throbbed with daggers of pain slicing deep. Almost like open heart surgery had been performed, and someone hadn’t bothered to put me back together.

  I forced myself off the couch and went to the kitchen for some water. Every tear from my body had been expelled and I felt light-headed—probably from dehydration.

  I opened the refrigerator and started to grab for some bottled water when I noticed my parents had left a bottle of wine in the door.

  Should I? It might take away this horrible, aching feeling for at least an hour or two. I wanted to escape from my misery, if only for a moment.

  No. Don’t numb yourself.

  I occasionally drank wine at parties, or sometimes when I’d go out with friends. But I’d never used it as emotional medication. Making up my mind, I grabbed the bottle of water instead. The only way through this thing would be to face it head on. I’d be sad. I’d be lonely. But I wouldn’t lose myself. Even if I wanted to right now. If he could toss me aside so easily, he wasn’t the person I though he was.

  I could do this.

  I wiped my nose on my sleeve, changed into my PJs, and went back to bed. This time I did it without crying.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Todd

  SLEEPING UNTIL ELEVEN a.m. was unusual for me. Still in bed, I stretched a little before finally throwing off the sheet. I let my mind clear and thought about Savannah. The visit with her last night was life-changing.

&n
bsp; I always wondered about her, why she’d allowed things to happen as they did. As a result, I remembered and held onto all the good times with her, and prevented the pain from the break-up to overwhelm me again. I refused to conjure up the specific memories. They were blocked from my mind for good reason. Until last night.

  With her visit, every word I buried into the back recesses of my mind came storming back.

  “Take the money, Todd.”

  The memory around those words were now crystal clear. I’d gone to her parents’ home to ask for their permission to marry Savannah. I thought it would be a formality. A tradition a family from the south would appreciate. I had no idea what was in store for me. I entered her father’s office, and he asked me to sit.

  “I think I know why you’re here, and I want to stop you before you begin. We have tolerated Savannah’s friendship with you for far too long.”

  I had been shocked. I’d been to her parents’ home many times. They hadn’t given me a clue to how they really felt.

  “People like us, well, we need to marry in our class. I’m sorry, Todd, but we have other plans for our daughter. It was bad enough that you don’t have money or breeding, but you also have the stigma of an accusation of murder hanging over you.” He raised his palm. “I know you were cleared, but we can’t have that type of scandal touching our family. We come from a long line of Hammond’s and have a reputation to uphold. We put off this decision, hoping she’d lose interest and move on to a more appropriate match.”

  “I’m sorry you feel that way, Mr. Hammond,” I told him. “But we love each other. Savannah wants to be with me. We’ve talked about it.”

  “I know. She informed me a few days ago. Listen, we don’t wish you any harm. If you go away without causing a scene for Savannah or our family, I’ll make it worth your while.”

  “Worth my while? I don’t think you understand. I mean to marry Savannah, and nothing’s going to stop me. Not you or anyone else.”

  “A hundred thousand dollars. That’s my offer. That’s a lot of money for a person like you.”