Chapter 22: Forgot To Tell You Something: Chapter 22

“Mr. Knowles, there’s someone here to see you.” The aide opens the door to his room, smiling in my direction. “He’s not real talkative anymore. Not since the fall. But he can hear you.”

I nod, pulling a chair next to Tally’s elderly father. He smiles when I say hello, but immediately returns his attention to some distant point.

I know Tally will kill me if she finds me here, but I’ve driven all over this damn city, and I can’t find her anywhere. Somehow, I believe that if the woman I love won’t listen to me, perhaps I can get through to her father.

I reach into my pocket, pulling out my trusty deck of cards.

Mr. Knowles’ eyes focus on my hands as I walk through the motions of the trick. At the end, his face splits into a grin, and I feel like I’ve won a damn war.

But the high is short-lived, as his eyes take on that faraway look again.

I lean back in the chair, letting out a loud exhale. “We haven’t met, Mr. Knowles. My name is Owen Stevens. I’m ridiculously in love with your daughter.” I shift in my seat as I feel his dark eyes on me again. “But I messed up, and she won’t speak to me. She’s really hard-headed,” I chuckle, “but that’s part of what I love about Tally. I love everything about her.”

I look up, meeting the gaze that is so much like his daughter’s. “I was hoping she was here. She loves you so much and judging by the photos,”—I motion at the myriad of pictures surrounding his bed—“you love her, too. I want to marry her, Mr. Knowles, but I’d like your permission first. Then comes the hard part, convincing Tally that I’m not the biggest mistake she’s ever made.”

I dig into my pocket, pulling out the ring. It hasn’t been sized yet, but that can come later. I’ll worry about sizing it when I’m certain she won’t pitch it across the room. I show Mr. Knowles the ring, smiling as he takes the box and tilts it this way and that, the light reflecting off the stone.

“My wildflower loves pink.”

I startle at his voice, shocked that he’s speaking to me. “I know. That’s why I got her a pink diamond. Do you think Tally will like it?”

He motions to a photo. “Do you know my wildflower?”

I nod, unsure what he can comprehend. “I do. I didn’t know that’s what you called her.”

“After a song,” he mumbles, tapping his fingers together, as if scanning his tattered memories for the name.

“I’ll look it up. Thank you. Mr. Knowles, I don’t know if Tally told you—hell, she hasn’t told me—but she’s pregnant. We’re going to have a baby, and you’re going to be a grandpa.”

Mr. Knowles struggles to his feet and I grab his arm, worried he might take another fall if I’m not there to catch him. He pulls a piece of paper from the drawer, pressing it into my hands. “Wildflower,” he states, nodding at me, begging me to understand.

I look at the drawing, and it’s suddenly clear. He understood every word.

I need a drink. Hell, I need a bottle, but I’ll settle for anything alcoholic at the moment. I park my car and head into Wicked Chucks. Maybe, just maybe, Tally is plotting my demise with her friends.

There’s a good chance I’ll get jumped walking through the door. It’s a chance I’m willing to take.

Dan’s eyes narrow when he catches sight of me. There’s no music tonight, so it’s quiet, save for a smattering of locals. “Tell me why I shouldn’t wipe the floor with your ass?”

I hold up my hands in surrender. Apparently he’s heard the good news. “Give me five minutes to explain and if you still want to kick my ass, I’ll give you a free shot.”

Dan passes the bar towel from one hand to the other, weighing his options, before barking one word in my direction. “Talk.”

I slide onto the seat, running a hand over my face. Here goes nothing. “We got past the whole doctor debacle. I apologized and swore I’d never lie to her again.”

“That worked out well.”

“I didn’t lie—”

“What the hell are you doing here?” I turn my head to see Stefani next to me, a pissed off pout on her lips. “You’ve got some nerve.”

“I’ve been all over Fort Lauderdale, anywhere I thought Tally might be. This was my last hope.” I widen my eyes at Stefani in a non-verbal plea for information.

Not happening. Not even close.

“No way am I telling you where she is. Do you know how badly you hurt Lu today? You are a bastard.”

“While I agree with your take, Stef, Owen is trying to explain,” Dan interjects, setting two beers down in front of us. “I told him I’d listen.”

“Fine,” Stefani huffs, settling into the seat next to me. “I can’t wait to hear the latest bullshit.”

Nothing like playing to a hostile crowd.

I pull out the ring box, sliding it across the bar. “I planned to ask Tally to marry me tonight.”

“You believe in bigamy, I see,” Stefani snaps, her gaze falling to the velvet box. “Aren’t you already engaged?”

“I was until a few months ago. But even then, it was a relationship in name only. There were no emotions involved. I didn’t even ask Charlotte to marry me.”

“That’s her name? Charlotte?”

I nod. “Yes. She demanded a ring, and I was so indebted to her father at the time, I agreed. Besides, I thought that’s what you did. You date for a few years and get engaged.”

“Didn’t you want to get married?”

“Not until I met Tally.” I swig back the rest of my beer, motioning for another. Dan can keep them coming. “I designed this ring for her. He only finished it a couple of nights ago.”

Curiosity finally wins out. “May I see?”

I flip open the box, watching Stefani’s eyes light up.

“Holy shit. Well done, you. That is a huge rock.”

“It’s not that big,” I argue.

“How many carats is this?”

“Four total. That’s not the point. Tally is worth every penny. She’s worth far more than what I spent on this diamond. I just want to put it on her hand.”

“You men never make it easy.” Stefani sighs, rubbing her neck, her gaze volleying between the ring, the bar, and me. “Let me get this straight. When you and Lu met, you were not engaged.”

“No.”

Stefani and Dan exchange looks, and I know they’re trying to determine if they should forgive me or hang me. After what feels like an eternity, Dan holds out his hand.

“I can’t speak for Stef, but I believe you. Getting Lu to believe you is a different story.”

“I’m not that quick to forgive,” Stefani cuts in. “You weren’t the one holding her while she wept, after being told by your that you two were merely on a break.”

That Tally cried—again—over my actions is enough to make me sick. “We are on a break—a permanent one. The worst part is that I told Charlotte about Tally. I said how important she was to me, and how I needed to get done with this business crap because I had a very important dinner. Then Charlotte answered the door while I’m in the shower, and by the time I’m done, all hell had broken loose.”

Oh shit, not a good random statement to throw out. Time to fill in the blanks. “That sounded terrible, but it was innocent. Charlotte requested that I meet her for lunch to discuss a business opportunity on behalf of her father.”

“I call bullshit,” Stefani cuts in, her lips narrowing.

I’m headed straight to the executioner if I don’t clear things up fast. “You’d be right. Anyway, the server and I bumped into each other and she dropped coffee on me. Thankfully, it was cold. But I went home to shower, and Charlotte followed me.”

“Really?”

Crap, now Stefani doesn’t believe me.

“I swear. I wouldn’t have dropped all this money on a ring for Tally if I wanted to be with Charlotte. I left San Francisco because I realized how wrong Charlotte and I were together. We made no sense. We had nothing in common. I tired of existing in her world, more like an ornament than a fiancée. Trust me, I don’t want Charlotte here. But she’s a very spoiled and pampered woman. She’s not used to hearing the word no.”

“Women can be persistent, Stef,” Dan interjects. Thank God for brotherly camaraderie.

Stefani grumbles before nodding. “You’re right. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. But,” she wags her finger at me, “that doesn’t make this situation any less screwy. I don’t want my friend hurt because your ex can’t handle the truth.”

Didn’t the woman hear a single word I’ve said? “I don’t want to hurt Tally. I fucking adore that woman. And I certainly don’t want her upset. She doesn’t need the stress.”

Another look shifts between Dan and Stefani. Figures. They both know, but my gorgeous vixen won’t tell me a word.

“What? You two have something to say?”

They shake their heads. In unison. Pack of liars.

“She’s very stressed because of her Dad,” Stefani offers.

“She said work has been tough lately,” Dan adds.

Now I know they’re covering for Tally. “Can’t forget that tenacious stomach virus. I’ve never seen one last for weeks before.”

Stefani’s pupils dilate, but her face remains impassive. She will not yield. Tally calls the woman her ride or die. Apparently, she’s living up to that reputation. “It is bad, but she’s under so much stress, I’m not surprised her body is acting out.”

I bite my tongue so hard I taste blood. Time to get out of here, before I hold one of them down and make them talk. I toss a fifty on the bar, nodding at Dan. “Cover Stefani for the night, too.”

“Thanks.”

I gulp down the last of my beer before turning to Stefani. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m not running away, and I’m sure as hell not mad. I love her, and I’ll be there for every single moment. You make certain to tell Tally that message.”

What I really want to scream is that I know Tally is pregnant, but I also don’t want to be wrong. Again. God knows, I suck at reading people lately.

For now, I’ll let it slide.

I drive past Tally’s apartment again, but her car is nowhere to be found. I’m out of options.

Time to call it a night.

I notice a car parked in the visitor’s spot when I pull into the parking garage, but it isn’t Tally. It’s a sparkling white Mercedes convertible.

I’m done playing nice. Storming over to the car, I knock on the window with the force of a police officer.

Charlotte jumps, the phone dropping into her lap as her head jerks up. “You scared the hell out of me. Was that necessary?”

“Is necessary?” I counter, drumming my fingers on the roof of her car. “What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to check on you. Tally seemed very upset earlier.”

“Wouldn’t have anything to do with you mentioning how we are on a break, would it?”

“Aren’t we?”

I bang on the roof of the car, not giving a shit if I leave a dent. “You know damn well we are done.”

“I do now. But, despite any pain that might cause me, I still think this business proposition can behoove you. And Tally.”

“Because of this proposition, I have no idea where Tally is, Charlotte. I highly doubt you’re doing anything with Tally’s best interests at heart.”

“May I come up and explain?”

I shake my head, leaning against the concrete column. “No. You can tell me right here.”

“You’re not making this easy, Owen.” She huffs out a sigh when she realizes I’m not caving. I’m being difficult. Obstinate. Both things that Charlotte can’t stand.

“I’ve done a bit of research on your girlfriend.”

“You’re checking up on her?” My blood boils in my veins. Fucking with me is one thing. But messes with my tiny vixen.

“Despite what you might believe, I wish her no ill will. But Daddy and I have a vested interest in you. You have an interest in Tally. You see the connection.”

“Get to the point,” I grit out, unsure how much longer I can hold my tongue.

“Since you’re behaving like a barbarian, I’ll give you the lowdown in a parking garage,” Charlotte snaps, waving her hand at the cars surrounding us. “You and I both know that a robotics cath lab is the way of the future. It enables an entirely new playing field for patients and the medical team. But they cost money. A veritable fortune for the facility, the equipment, and the training.”

I nod. This is not new information. The costs are prohibitive, and most hospitals can’t budget tens of millions of dollars for a cardiac cath lab that only one or two doctors can operate. The hospitals that need them the most—inner city and rural—aren’t even in contention. “What does your father suggest?”

“You and I work together to establish another training facility. The first one will open in South Florida. We rustle up funds from the wealthy here and in the West Palm area, network them with our San Francisco connections, and open up avenues for several future locations across the country.”

I hate how good this sounds. The concept of the ultra-rich, all with their eyes on the same prize, is the ultimate aphrodisiac. “What are you going to offer? Naming the facilities after the largest donors?”

“Obviously. I’m not stupid. I have to pet their over-inflated egos. But do you care? Honestly, Owen, with everyone working together, we might open a dozen robotics cath labs within the next two years. But it was you who spearheaded the original project. We need you as the face of the company. Besides, we both remember when I tried to discuss a cholecystectomy with the orthopedic surgeon.”

I bite back a laugh. It was one of the few times that Charlotte ever appeared flustered. Or human. “I recall that dinner. However, in your defense, you held it together beautifully.”

Charlotte smiles. She needs to do that more. Real, genuine smiles, not the fake crap she flashes for the camera. “Thank you, even though I know you’re lying. We have to target the top cardiologists and surgeons in this area. You not only speak their language, you can empathize with them, get them on our side. We need them to bend the ears of the local politicians.” She grabs my forearm. “I know you hate this dog and pony show, but it’s the only way. Daddy can crawl the backs of his friends, but then it’s more his baby than it is yours. You deserve the accolades, Owen. I want to help you get them.”

My back stiffens at her direct offer of help. Her deal makes sense, and I think it will work. It will require a ton of effort, but what price do you put on saving lives? I can muddle through a dozen meetings, presentations and banquets, if it clears the way for the cath labs to open for the patients who need them. “Why are you doing this, Charlotte?”

She focuses her emerald gaze on a distant point, and for the first time, I see the hesitancy in her face. “Let’s just call it my personal apology for the way I treated you. I’m not very good with emotions, but I’m an amazing businesswoman. Use me, use my connections. Let’s get this done.”

“You also said this would help Tally, but I see no connection.”

The softness in Charlotte’s face disappears as she rounds her shoulders. Back to business as usual. “She’s in a very unstable financial predicament, as I’m sure you’re aware. She pays thousands for her father and donates what little time and money she has to the women’s shelter. She’s broke, Owen.”

I stare at the ground, feeling sick to my stomach. I knew it was bad, but I didn’t know the details. She didn’t offer, and I didn’t push. Charlotte, apparently, has no such qualms. “I make plenty of money. I can take care of Tally.”

There’s that famous tongue click again. I know this discussion is difficult for Charlotte, but so is the fact that the woman I planned on proposing to is MIA, and I don’t have the first clue where to look. “She doesn’t seem the type to accept charity. With the training center open, there will be many positions available. Agree to this deal, and I’ll see that Tally gets a suitable position, with all the perks.”

“Here, in South Florida. You’re not sending her to Kansas.”

Charlotte chuckles. “I’ll give her a choice of locations. Where she goes will be up to her, not you.” She extends her hand. “Do we have a deal?”

I hesitate, realizing that my plan to have a one-and-done lunch with my ex has now turned into an extensive project. Still, it’s for the greater good, and she’s willing to help my Tally. “This is not a reconciliation,” I reiterate.

“This is a business deal, Owen. That’s all.” She pulls her hand back, grabbing a stack of paperwork. “Here is the business plan for you to peruse at your leisure. Please make any adjustments. I’ll be hosting a dinner in ten days, to introduce the concept of the training facility. I’ve invited all the bigwigs and their deep pockets. You’re expected to attend.”

“Can’t wait,” I mutter.

“Owen, I know that you’re upset about your fight with Tally, but this is an enormous opportunity. It goes far beyond what you or I want. Besides, you need to realize that this isn’t a cakewalk for me, either. I didn’t expect to find you with someone new. We all need to be adults in this situation.”

I nod in agreement, but I pray that Tally understands. It might be too far gone for her to even consider. Then I think about what Charlotte said, how Tally spends her few leftover dollars on the shelter. That’s her baby, and this is mine.

If anyone can understand why I need to do this, it’s my tiny vixen. She has the most giving heart I’ve ever known. Now I just have to convince her to give that heart back to me.