Second Chance at Forever Read online

  Without another word, I grabbed my son and held him while tightening my arms around his shoulders. I needed to have things right between us. He didn’t back away, just hugged me back with a silent understanding between us.

  Flying on my company plane made my life easier at times. I had a built-in office and everything I needed to work and still run my company. At the time, I had three major projects going on at the same time. I had been working twelve to fourteen hour days for months now. I missed my son. We hadn’t spent a lot of time together, and with his grandfather dying, it just separated us even more.

  Phillip Reed was a selfish bastard. He was arrogant in his personal and business life. He softened a bit when Jackson was born. He loved his grandson more than he ever loved me. My father’s death had been hard on Jackson, but with this trip to New York, his spirits were brightened. I wanted to see him smile and would do everything in my power to have that smile remain.

  I should have planned to visit with my mother while I was in town, but driving out to the Hamptons was not what I cared to do. I needed to go through my father’s papers; his lawyer had been urging me to do so. I finished up my pressing matters and decided to focus on Jackson for the rest of this trip.

  I changed out of my suit and into jeans and a t-shirt. My son was always reminding me to loosen up a bit. Have I changed that much that I don’t know what fun is anymore? Maybe Jackson and Jenny were right. I did need to relax and live a little. Yeah right, Reed! Doubtful. I sat with Jackson, as he looked up at me from his laptop. He wouldn’t be following in my footsteps, as the Reed men before me, but he sure did look like one, especially when he was concentrating on whatever he was working on.

  “I spoke to Riley. She and her mom will join us at the restaurant for seven. Where do we have reservations?”

  “I had my assistant reserve a private dining room in Brasserie Les Halles.”

  Jackson looked disappointed. “Dad, can’t we eat somewhere more down to earth? We are not dining with your business associates.”

  “Jackson, Brasserie is one of my favorite restaurants I like to visit while I’m in the city. The food is delicious. What’s the issue?”

  “Dad, I just don’t want to come off as this pretentious rich kid from California who only eats at five star restaurants. I want to impress Riley and her mom, but not look like a jerk.”

  “Sorry to disappoint you, son, but you are some rich kid from California, and also the kindest and down to earth person I know. Brasserie is the restaurant, end of discussion. Your girl may surprise you and appreciate what I have chosen. If she cares for you, as you say she does, then why does it matter where we eat? It should be your company that she values most. Now, what can you tell me about her parents?”

  “Dad, there’s something you need to know before we meet Riley and her mom.”

  “What is it?”

  “I haven’t been completely honest with her on who I really am.”

  “How so? What doesn’t she know?” I shuffled in my seat with apprehension. The thought of my son lying for any reason raised alarms with me. “What is it? Obviously whatever you have to say to me is weighing heavily on your mind. Don’t make me ask you again.”

  “I’m sorry, dad, but this is hard for me to say. I can’t ever remember a time when I was angry with you, but when you couldn’t make mother’s hospital dedication and I had to go with grandfather, I just felt lost. I didn’t want to be there without you, and I resented you choosing work over me. I was so proud of the building that was built in her honor, and I knew what you donated would help many people, but I was still hurt and feeling alone. After the dedication, I found myself staring at the portrait of my mother that was chosen for the lobby, and this beautiful girl was suddenly standing beside me. It was Riley. She took my breath away while making me forget why I was sad and angry with you.”

  “Okay, I’m trying to follow, but I’m confused. So how did you lie?”

  “I lied by not telling her who I was, and why I was really there. She was there for her father, and I was there for my mother. We had gone for a walk around the grounds, and then when she asked me my name, the first name that came to mind was Townsend, not Reed. I didn’t think I would ever see her again, and I just wasn’t ready to explain my reasons for being at Johns Hopkins. When she asked me, I told her that I was visiting a sick friend. When I was in New York last summer, I never knew that our paths would cross again until I saw her at the film festival. To meet up with Riley again after a year later seemed like fate, and I all I wanted to do was get to know her better. We had too many coincidences between us. The building that houses mother’s picture is the same building that is meant for Riley’s father and his research.”

  Still trying to get a handle on all that Jackson was telling me, I fought the urge not to overreact at his revelations. “What does her father do exactly? He’s a doctor? What field does he practice in?”

  “He’s a neurosurgeon. He’s pretty famous at his hospital. Riley always downplays it, but I think she is pretty proud of what he does for his patients. You know, rock star of medicine.”

  That’s the second time in a month I have heard the mention of Johns Hopkins Hospital. Now I find out that Reed Global built a building for this doctor who happens to be the father of the girl my son loves. My building…that proudly displays Elizabeth’s name. I only made one trip out to Maryland when I signed off on the project. My right hand man Donovan was completely in charge of it. I don’t believe I even met the doctor. I was completely wrapped up in the design aspect of it, which took all my time and focus. That one and only trip was about getting me to sign on the dotted line. The board of directors was so busy schmoozing me that some of the faces are now a blur. I tried not to think about the coincidence, but my father did mention it while he visited with me. Shrugging it off for the time being, I continued my conversation with my son.

  “Jackson, I’m so sorry that I hurt you by not attending the dedication. I would have never missed that if the circumstances had been different. It pains me to hear this, son, especially knowing you kept this from me all this time.”

  “Dad, please forgive me, I need you to know that it was a knee jerk reaction, and it means nothing. I just didn’t want one more person feeling sorry for me. Every time I get close to someone, they always ask about my family. And when they learn about mom, all I see is sadness and another person feeling sorry for me because I had to grow up without a mother.”

  “I am a Reed through and through dad, so please believe how proud I am to carry your name. But for once I just wanted to be known for me. If I had to explain to Riley about mom, then I feel she would have reacted like every other girl I ever met. I now realize I have to tell her the truth, but first I had to tell you, and say how sorry I am for denying you. Dad, I know what our name represents to you. I swear I am not ashamed of it. Can you understand why I did what I did?”

  Remembering Jenny’s words to be patient with my son, I held myself back from reacting to his news. I let out my breaths and simply nodded at his question before continuing our talk.

  “I now understand why you were so apprehensive about our get together with Riley and her mother. Jackson, you must know that if you have any real chance with Riley, you need to always have honesty with one another. You should prepare yourself for a strong reaction from Riley. You’ve kept something very important from her, and in any friendship or relationship it comes down to trust. Without trust you have nothing. How will you explain the false name?”

  “Exactly how I explained it to you, and I pray she understands. She knows a lot about me already, dad. The missing piece to the puzzle is my real name. But she is amazing, and I hope she understands my reasons for lying to her.”

  “Anything else I need to know before I meet them?”

  Rolling his eyes at me, he quickly turned his head, knowing that would make me angry. “Dad, without meeting her parents, it’s kind of hard telling you about them. I only know what Riley has told me
. One thing I know for sure is that I am crazy about her. I am without a doubt convinced meeting her at mom’s dedication was meant to be. I truly believe it was mom sending me a sign from heaven. Now she’s my girl, and I care about her. Doing the long distance relationship has been tough, but in a few months we will be in the same city, same college. How can you say that’s not fate?”

  I saw Jackson give a quick nod, something he always did when he thought of his mother. It made my heart ache for his loss, but maybe it was his small way of keeping Elizabeth close.

  “Are we okay, dad?” Jackson looked over to me with a very guarded expression.

  “Of course we are, son…we always are.”

  I hugged my son with all that I had. I felt his tension slowly leave his body, as he wiped away a fallen tear. Once again my son had completely beguiled me. He expected me to be angry with him after learning his lie by omission, but he was wrong. Jackson had been my greatest gift in this life, and I vowed never to be the way my father treated me. It would only hurt my son, and I would never risk that.

  I left Jackson to be on his own for a while, as I processed all he had told me. I found solace in my office and took some calming breaths. I opened my wallet and took out a worn picture that I carried with me in secret all of these years. That familiar ache was always present, but it also gave me comfort. After listening to his heartfelt words about Riley, what could I say after that? My son was me, but with almost two decades between us. It was like when I fell in love for the first time. The time I fell in love with Reese Mitchell.

  As soon as we landed, Jackson turned on his phone to call his girl. I just took it all in as we stepped off the plane. My heart began to beat faster. I always felt anxiety when I was in New York. As controlled as I appeared to be, this city held no good memories for me anymore. It would be a long week for me to endure. You would think after all of these years, I would have lain to rest the ghosts of my past, but no…they still haunted me. They seemed to all come crashing down at me at the same time every time I was in New York.

  My driver, Stephen, met us at the gate.

  “Welcome to New York, sir. How was your flight?”

  “Hello, Stephen, long as usual. Has everything been arranged back at the apartment?”

  “Yes, sir. The apartment has been fully stocked with everything you and Jackson will need while you’re here in New York. I will drive you, and I have Richard driving Jackson anywhere he wishes to go.”

  “Excellent. Has everything been sent over to the Four Seasons Hotel?”

  “Yes, sir. Jenny took care of all the arrangements before leaving on her vacation.” Thank god for Jenny. I would be lost without her, but even the most perfect assistant needs a vacation once in a while.

  “Dad, I already arranged a welcome package to Riley’s hotel. What else did you have Jenny send over?”

  “Jackson, you need to relax, son. I arranged for flowers and a basket of treats to be waiting for them upon their arrival. I thought it would be a friendly gesture to welcome Riley and her mother to New York. Now they’ll have two packages, I guess. This is the first time you’re meeting her mother, and good manners always win out. Jackson, I am sorry about missing your mother’s dedication. You have to know how displeased I was having to depend on your grandfather to step in for me. I would have rather had Grandpa Henry escort you, but Phillip insisted. Not being there for you will always be a regret for me, and now that I know how much it hurt you, it will be a long time before I can forgive myself.”

  “Dad, this is one of the reasons why I never shared my feelings with you about this. You take on so much and always put me first above anything else. The first time you couldn’t, I didn’t take it very well, but instead of talking to you about it, I hid it from you. I shouldn’t have done that. You have always been honest with me, so I owed you the same in return.”

  “Jackson, telling me then wouldn’t have changed how I feel. I can’t stand the thought of hurting you…ever. The one true thing in my life is you, my son. Your opinion means everything to me, and I will never disappoint you again.”

  “You could never disappoint me, dad. You’re amazing in everything you do. I know mom was shining down on all of us. You worked so hard to see your vision come alive in that building. Dad, I am so proud of you and honored to be your son. I love you, and mom would have loved it too.”

  “Thank you, Jackson. I needed to hear that.”

  “I’m happy I told you the truth, dad. I promise I will never keep anything from you again. I’m going to have Richard drive me over to Riley’s hotel, so we can go grab some coffee. Wish me luck?”

  Giving him a friendly slap on his back, I said, “Everything will be fine, son. You’re incredible, and you already know Riley thinks so. When you tell her the truth, give her time to process it, and let her work it out on her own. I think Riley will understand. Hell, if I could, then she could.” My son laughed at me. I guess we needed that to lighten the storm we just survived. “Once you kiss and make up with your girl, it will only be a matter of time before her mother loves the Reed charm too.”

  “Let’s hope so. I’ll be back soon.”

  I couldn’t help but be jealous of Jackson. He was so happy and in love. I hadn’t had feelings like that for many years now. I still couldn’t find someone to share my life with, but I still only desired one woman who still remained bonded through the deepest depths of my soul.

  I thought my world had shattered the day I discovered the note left for me by Reese. She explained why we couldn’t be together, and I should move on without her. I clutched the note to my chest and wrapped myself around a bottle of scotch until I couldn’t feel anything.

  She left me, and all I was left with was a note. I didn’t know what I had done to make her decide to do that. I searched for her all over the city, leaving no stone unturned. Her apartment had been emptied, leaving no trace of Reese. I banged on the doors of the few friends she had known, but they were all shocked as much as I was.

  The only person I knew who would have known something was Freddy, as he was her roommate when she first arrived in New York. They were very close, and he had to know something. Arriving at his apartment left me with another dead end. He had left town days before, and no one knew when he would return. Freddy’s uncle had been there cleaning the already abandoned apartment. He was my last hope, and I was at a loss.

  I left numerous messages on her voicemail until her inbox was full. She never returned any of my phone calls. Why, Reese? Where are you? I was angry and hurt by her betrayal. My actions only proved to my old man that he was right about her and I should forget I ever knew Reese Mitchell. I tried my best to keep Reese isolated from my family. My mother was always kind, but Phillip was another story. He had a plan for me that didn’t include Reese. I argued constantly with him and told him to mind his own business. Now after Reese left me, it gave him the opportunity to say, “I told you so, Walker.” Oh, how that killed me.

  The months that followed, I found myself lost. I was just merely existing, and my full life that I had was reduced to an empty shell. I retreated from everything that mattered. I was nursing my broken heart the only way I knew how…alone. This should have been a happy time for me; I was about to graduate and begin working with my father. Reese had planned on joining me in California; she was going to continue with graduate school and model part-time.

  My last night I spent with Reese was amazing. We had dinner delivered and made love through the night in front of the fireplace. I knew every inch of her body, and she knew mine. We worshiped each other as I made her mine over and over again. I could never get enough of Reese, especially when we made love. Reese willingly gave herself to me in every way possible. We made promises to each other that night and planned our future. I believed with my whole heart that she loved me and that we would be together forever.

  The next morning while she was still asleep, my phone rang. I answered it quickly, not wanting to wake her. It was my father’s ass
istant asking me to come down to the office. An emergency had arisen, and my immediate attention was needed. I was hesitant at first but was assured that it shouldn’t take long. How wrong she was. If I hadn’t left Reese that morning, then she wouldn’t have left me.

  My biggest regret was leaving her, as well as the events that followed. I had other plans that were occupying my mind, but if I could hurry and finish up with whatever was happening at the office, then I could return home to Reese. I leaned in and kissed Reese on her forehead and whispered “I love you” close to her ear. I had left my beauty sleeping soundly. When I finally did return home, she was gone. The lights were off. The darkened room was cold. Something felt not right. I searched and called out for Reese, and only silence greeted me back.

  “Where are you?” I whispered, as panic rose in my chest. I entered my bedroom to find her letter left for me. The sight of the letter instantly sickened me. Bile was rising up into my throat as I reached for it. What the hell happened? I began pacing the bedroom as if she would materialize at any moment.

  My eyes traveled the room looking for her once more, now seeing that her things were gone, and confirming what I had known the minute I stepped inside my apartment. Reese had left me.

  I held her note with my shaky hand. It read…

  Her words left me emptied and broken. Why did she think that leaving me was better? Her goodbye letter shattered me and splintered my heart into thousands of pieces. I was left to question every detail of our relationship from the moment I laid eyes on my beautiful girl. Why did she leave me? And in the manner she did? Reese vanished without a trace. No matter who I hired to find her, it was always a dead end. She was a ghost that just vanished. Her actions proved to me that she didn’t want me to find her.