Facing Redemption (20 page)

Chastity looked him over.  His eyes were twinkling.  He had a boyish quality about him at the moment.  And instead of questioning, she ruffled his hair with her hand.

“Okay.”  She looked him over one more time before he pulled out of the drive.  She held her purse with one hand and grabbed his hand with the other.

Jesse watched the taillights drive off into the wintry night.  He was so happy he had Chastity, and now Timothy, as part of his family. 

Chapter 29

Both Chastity and Timothy had made plans to extend their trip for a few days due to Mr. Banks unexpected medical condition.  Since they’d been in Oklahoma City, the two had spent every spare moment at the hospital.  Today Timothy suggested she sleep in while he went see his father released and transitioned home.  There was a lot to do to finalize his home health care. 

Although Chastity was happy to be by his side through every step, she was glad to still be lying in her bed.  Slowly she stretched as far as her body would let her, allowing every muscle to finally wake up.  Her usual morning ritual involved coffee and a run, but this morning she thought she’d take it easy and sleep as long as she could.  Except here she was at 8:30 a.m., fully awake, bored, and not quite in the mood to run.

After a long shower, Chastity dressed and got out her iPad to check her email and Facebook accounts.  She scrolled through the daily status updates, laughing at some and rolling her eyes at others.  Some people posted way too much information, but at least she still got a glimpse of her friends’ lives.  She loved seeing pictures of their children, families, and vacation photos.  Some day she’d have more of those to post herself. 

Chastity smiled in hopes of what hers and Timothy’s children would look like, then frowned.
I’ve got to stop imagining a life with him without even knowing if he’s going to marry me. 
Chastity’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her cell ringing.  She grabbed it off the charger and smiled when she saw Anne’s face pop up on the screen.

“Hey Anna Banana.  What are you doing up this early?”  Chastity looked at the hotel’s digital alarm next to her bed.  With the time change her friend should still be in the wee hours of the morning.

“I couldn’t sleep and I figured you’d be up and finished with your run by now.”

“Everything ok?”

“No.”  Anne started crying.

Chastity sat straight up concerned.  “Hey.  What happened?”

“I’ve tried not to bog you down with my problems.  I really have.  I know you’ve been nervous about your trip to meet the parents … and now with Timothy’s dad and his health.  I just didn’t know what to do …” Anne blubbered through tears.

“You know you can always count on me!  We’re more than friends…you’re like my sister.”

“I know.  I just didn’t want to bog you down with anything extra.”

“Tell me already.  What did he do to you?”

“How did you know it had to do with Brent?”

“Anne, I’ve known you longer than anyone, and I’ve never seen you cry like this.  If you’re crying this bad, it’s because your heart is broken – and I’m going to kill him!”

“He … he …” Anne stammered.

“Was there someone else?”  Chastity asked quietly. All she heard in response was more crying.  “How’d you find out sweetheart?”

Anne slowed her breathing down and sighed.  She was tired of crying. 
Suck it up Anne!
  She took one final, strong breath before continuing.  “I had an unexpected evening off.  I called him to do something spontaneous … ya know – because we always have our busy schedules to contend with.  My restaurant and his teaching
duties
...” She ended with a bitter note. 

“Yes.”

“Well I called him, and heard her in the background, giggling.  And he made some lame excuse that he had given a student some extra credit and she was just dropping by with her work.  Yeah right.”  Anne scoffed.

“Whoa.  Are you sure?  I mean…”

“Come on Chastity.  Give me some credit.  I know Brent!  He sounded guilty and it was way too late in the evening to be entertaining students unless he was
entertaining
students.”

“Wow.” Chastity paused.  “I’m so sorry sweetie.”

“And ever since then he’s been sending flowers and calling.  Yesterday he stopped by the café with a gorgeously wrapped box.  Jim made him leave.  Chastity, Brent’s not letting me breath.  He’s not letting me go.  And it makes it even harder.”

“Well it’s obvious he wants to have his cake and eat it too.”

“Really?” 

“Sorry…bad analogy.  So what are you going to do?”

“I don’t know.  It’s not just that.  There’s more.  I see how you’re glowing…”

“Look, I’m sorry Anne.”  

“No.”  Anne reassured.  “You’re allowed to be happy.  But it’s finding all your new family that has me aching.”

“I know.  You miss your parents.  I’m so sorry.  I know you must be really missing them at a time like this.”

“It’s not just that.  I mean – yes, I do.  I always will.  But there’s more … more that I haven’t told you.  You don’t know me Chastity, and I’m afraid I’m about to let you down.  And with all you’ve shared with me about your past.  I’ve not been honest with you. That’s why I haven’t called you with my recent boy issues because I’ve been feeling the brunt of all the other information I’ve not been honest with you about.  I didn’t feel it was fair to unload on you when you don’t really know everything about me.  You’re my best friend…you’re all I’ve got.”

Chastity quickly interrupted, “Then let me be yours.”

Anne sat still and quietly said, “I feel like I’ve lied to you.  And for a while it wasn’t a big deal because I was running from my past, but after you discovered yours and were so up front with all your good, bad, and ugly … it’s been eating away at me that I’ve not been completely honest with you.”

“Sweetie, I know enough about you.  I know you lost your parents in a horrible crash.  I know you have a younger sister, whom I’ve never met, but that you love.”

“You’ve never met her because we’re estranged - sort of.”
             
“Okay.  So your recent heartbreak is reopening some wounds then?” Chastity said clairvoyantly.

“You could say so.”  Anne nodded, just now realizing that herself.

“What happened?”

“Okay. Here goes.  Just know that I didn’t tell you any of this because I didn’t want to be a part of any of it.  I wasn’t trying to being deceitful or dishonest.”

“Nothing you say could change what I think of you!”  Chastity stressed.

“Okay – here goes.  After my parents died, it was hard.  We were so young.  I thought we’d be orphaned and split up, but family stepped forward to gain custody that I wasn’t even aware we had.”

“Really?”

“Yes, it was my mother’s parents.  Have you heard names Andrew and Lilah Aundine?”

“Who hasn’t?  They hold interests in about six different companies and have a huge home in the Hamptons?”

Anne sighed.  “That would be my grand-parents.”

Chastity choked.  “What?  Your mom is the missing heiress?”
             
“Yes.  She defied their wishes and married a commoner instead of someone they’d hand picked for her.  They chose a man who would have brought another millionaire branch to the tree, and instead of marrying for status, my mom rebelled, ran off, and married for love.”
             
“Oh my gosh!  And you knew none of this before your parents’ death?”

“No.  Once was my mother married – I guess she tried to mend fences.  She thought they’d eventually accept my father.  But my grandmother disowned her and swept it all under the rug.  She let the media think she ran off and was never heard from again.  After that, she never spoke to her parents or siblings again.”

“So how’d they know about you and your sister?”
             
“Oh my grandmother Lilah is one controlling piece of work.  She kept tabs on my mom, and us.  Even though she was mortified we were from common blood, we were still family – just family that was swept under the rug.  I think it was her way to make sure we didn’t make any trouble for her and the family.  She watched from a distance to make sure we kept our distance so that no one could tie us to them.”
             
“I had no idea.  ”

“I didn’t either.”

“So why would they claim you after all that?”

“I don’t know.   Part of me feels it made her look good in the spotlight.  Lady Aundine saved her orphaned grandkids from starvation.  She was doing her civic duty I guess.”

“Come on.  She can’t be that heartless?”

Anne half laughed.  “You have no idea.  We went from being devastated by our parents’ death, to being swept up into the center of an elite spotlight.  We were forced to take etiquette classes, taught how to walk, and instructed on what was proper to speak of.  And our parents were on the taboo list.  We weren’t allowed to speak of them at all.  It was so hard.  As kids, all we wanted to do was have our parents back and then we weren’t even allowed to remember them.”  Anne sighed.  “I, of course, rebelled.  My sister, who was too young to understand, took any comfort she could find.  I don’t blame her really.  She was a baby.  And that comfort came in the form of my grandmother’s guidance.”

“So you were the rebellious side of your mother, a reminder of the betrayal.  And your sister allowed herself to be molded, like your grandmother wished her daughter would have.”

“Exactly.  So as we grew up - Grace was the socialite and I was the black sheep my grandmother swept into the shadows.”

“Grace Aundine?  That’s your sister?  I knew her name was Grace, but always assumed it was Grace LaSal!”

“Well, it was until my sister and I were adopted by our grandparents.  When I turned eighteen, I legally changed it back from Aundine to LaSal.”  Anne paused.  “Whew!”  She started tearing up again.  “I’ve never told anyone about this.  I just changed my name, moved out for college, and never looked back … with the exception of trying to stay in touch with my sister.”

“And she’s upset with you why?”

“She feels I deserted her, like our parents.  I left, changed my name, and then my grandmother took over with her input.”

“Which leaves Grace to be manipulated further against you?”

“Yes.”

“Sweetie.  I’m so sorry.  What about your grandfather? I’ve only heard you mention Lilah.”

“He loved us and our mom in his own way, but Lilah is very strong willed.  He knew better than to tangle with her, but the day before I left he came to me.  He told me he knew I was a good girl and he’d opened an account for me without Lilah’s knowledge … so I wouldn’t hurt for anything.”

“So that’s how you bought your restaurant?”
             
“No.  I had some life insurance money from my parents, which I’d invested throughout college.  After graduation, I had enough to buy my business.  I haven’t touched the account my grandfather opened for me.”

“You what?  Why not?”

“I haven’t resolved what to do with any of that yet.  It just sits there.  And I let it.  I figure its guilt money.  I’m not saying I won’t use it.  I just haven’t yet.  I’m more concerned with reaching my sister.  I call her every week or text her with no avail.”  Anne paused.  “So are you mad at me?”

“Mad?  No!  I’m mad for you!  I can’t believe what you’ve endured.  I’m proud of you for standing up for yourself and for standing on your own!” 

“I feel like I’m in a pit and I can’t get out.  I’m so tired Chastity, of being let down.” Anne sobbed silently for a few seconds.

“I know.  I know.  Shhh.  It’s going to be okay.  I’m going to come home in a couple of days and I’ll come straight over.  We’re going to go out, do some shopping, and have girl’s night out.  Okay?  Would that cheer you up?”

“Yeah, maybe.  At this point it is an effort to put one foot in front of the other.  Cherish what you have Chaz.  Life goes by so quickly and can change in the blink of an eye.  I know you said you want nothing to do with your dad, but I don’t know if I could do it.  Even with his checkered past, if I had someone that loved me and was truly sorry, I’d want to figure out how that would work.”

Chastity looked over at her purse, where the stack of letters sat inside.  “I know.”  She nodded her head.  “Listen, I’ll call you when I get back.  Okay?”

Anne said her goodbyes and hung up.  Even in the midst of despair, she was glad she was finally honest with Chastity.  It felt good to have finally shared her past with someone. 

Chastity put her phone back on the charger, and stared a hole in her purse for the next thirty minutes.