Cold Feet novel Chapter 33

VIOLA

When life has a plan for you, it has a way of bringing you round to it’s plan sooner or later. That chance meeting that totally surprises or upsets you. That’s life’s way. We seldom see it or accept it for what it is but it sets the trajectory for our life that follows.

I have a meeting with Lara at her office. When I arrive she’s in a client meeting and I wait outside her office making small talk with her secretary.

When Lara opens her office door, I don’t see who her client is immediately. She’s looking back at her client as she talks to them and then she turns and sees me.

“V, sorry I’m running a bit late. I’ll be with you in a minute.”

I open my mouth to answer but then I see him. The first thought that runs through my mind is, Oh, Shit! Shit! Shit! No! WTF?” I can’t speak and simply nod as my eyes meet her client.

It’s him.

Rick.

He looks at me and seems about to say something. Lara is looking back at him and I quickly shake my head. He gets the message and says nothing. Lara realizes he is looking at me and introduces us.

“This is V, Viola. She runs our elopement services business I mentioned to you. V, this is Rick.”

“Um, hi,” I say as I hold out my hand. He takes my hand and shakes it firmly. “Pleased to meet you,” he says smiling.

“Likewise,” I add lamely.

“Okay, well call me when you’ve considered the options we’ve discussed and then we can move forward with bookings, and so on.”

“Great, thanks Lara,” Rick says. He throws me a quick glance and then greets us before leaving. I can feel his eyes on me as I enter Lara’s office. Despite my golden brown skin, I’m sure I must be glowing bright red.”

Lara doesn’t need to explain but she does. “He’s getting married to my best friend, Christine and he’s making all the arrangements. I think it’s so romantic. She’s said yes to marrying him but the whole wedding, even the date, is going to be a surprise.”

“Christine Jackson?” I ask.

Lara looks up quickly from her desk as if I’ve just dropped a bomb.

“Actually yes. Do you know her?” Lara asks.

“Not very well. I mean I know she’s famous in the industry but we’ve only met once or twice.”

Lara looks at me as if she’s trying to decide to believe me or not. Then she seems to brush aside her curiosity and sits down. “Anyway, how is our baby doing?” she asks referring to the business.

I do my best to keep it together but a few times, Lara has to repeat herself. I apologize and tell her I’m not feeling too well and that maybe I’m coming down with something. My mind is stuck on Rick. He’s marrying Christine? WTF? How in God’s name did they meet? I feel hurt, lost, adrift, angry. My thoughts are also stuck on the fact that Lara is best friends with Christine. Doubts begin to creep into my mind. I’m sure Christine must know I’m working for Lara. Can I trust Lara I ask myself?

Eventually, my meeting with Lara ends and she greets me with a look of concern. “Go home and get some rest. You’re burning the candle at both ends,” she says.

‘Thanks. I will,” I say.

I leave Lara’s office and take the subway home. I can’t stop thinking about Rick. How can the world be so small? Where is the justice in this world, I wonder? I meet the most gorgeous man in the world and we almost get it on before he tells me how skewed his views of love, relationships and marriage are. Then, when I meet him again, he tells me he’s seeing someone. Why not me? Then in a matter of weeks he goes from seeing someone to getting married?

I can’t believe it. I’m angry. It’s as if the universe keeps rubbing him in my face. You like him. You want to see him. You want to be with him. You can’t have him.

I’m so distracted in my thoughts I can’t find my keys. I search for them in my bag my digging and scratching getting more and more frustrated as I near my door. I’m so busy looking for my keys I don’t see him.

“I think it’s harder for men to find things in a woman’s handbag. We all agree those things are magical with endless bottoms, but I’ll try if you let me.”

I stop digging. I know that voice. What is he doing here? I give up and straighten meeting his eyes. I hold up my handbag and he takes it.

“I don’t normally dig in women’s handbags,” he smiles.

I say nothing but look away for a moment. Then he fishes out my keys and holds both the keys and my bag out to me. I take them both.

“Thanks.”

I brush past him and unlock my door. I step inside and he follows me but I block the entrance. “Sorry, did you want to come in?”

He stops. “I was hoping we could talk.”

“There’s nothing to talk about,” I say.