Troubled Waters (The Lake Trilogy, Book 2) (25 page)

I lay there watching Will sleep, recalling how I spent my last New Year’s Eve. Caroline ambushed my solo plans and made the night so much better than it would have been. That was the night she told me about being adopted and how she, more than anyone else, knew what it was like to have to win Gregory Meyer’s favor. It was her reassurance of Will’s love for me in the midst of my confusion that was the first major step in bringing Will and me back together.

I take a final stretch and move strategically off the couch, careful not to wake Will. I make a quiet, but quick, trip upstairs to brush my teeth and pull my hair up into a ponytail and then make my way back to the kitchen to put on a full pot of coffee.  When I close the fridge I’m startled to see Eliana standing there. And while she looks relaxed, young, and happy, she also seems a bit nervous.

She and Wes had what I’m assuming is their first date last night and it appears she never went home. She’s wearing one of Wes’ trademark plaid button-up shirts and an uncontrollable smile.

“Good morning!” I say cheerily.

“Good morning, Layla. I…uh…” she stammers.

“It’s ok, Eliana. I’m guessing you had fun last night?”

“It’s not what it looks like. We didn’t…I didn’t…I would never…we just slept.”

“Oh…well that’s fine, too. Believe me, I understand the value of just simply being close to someone like that.” I smile and she seems at ease. “Wes is a pretty great guy. I’m glad you two are hitting it off. “

“Yes, he’s really wonderful. Very…different, than Will’s father.” Eliana shifts her weight from one foot to the other before deciding to take a seat at the table. “Layla, can we speak candidly?”

“Of course,” I say. I’ve always wanted to have a better relationship with my mother-in-law than my mom had with Gram, and even though our marriage is an undetermined time away, I want to start early on this mission.

“I didn’t fully understand what I was getting into with Gregory,” she begins.

“Oh, Eliana, you don’t owe me any kind of explanation,” I tell her.

“I know, I know. But since you’re going to be Will’s wife, I really need you to understand a few things.” She plays with a napkin ring on the table, not making eye contact with me. She’s nervous and fidgety. I finish setting up the coffee and pour us each a glass of orange juice while we wait for the brew.

“If you really feel it’s necessary,” I say, setting the orange juice in front of her.

“Thank you.” She takes a long sip of juice and puts the glass down. “I met Gregory when I was 22-years-old. He and his wife came into my family’s store in Hickory. My father and brother are master carpenters and they make the most beautiful furniture. My mother and I ran the showroom and worked with customers on design. Will’s inclination toward creating with his hands comes naturally.” She smiles thinking about how connected to her side of the family Will really is. It makes me smile, too.

“Gregory bought every piece I showed him, and took every design suggestion I made. There were so many pieces that it was going to take a year to fulfill the entire order. He didn’t care…he wasn’t in any rush.

“After the order was complete and everything was delivered I received a call from this enigmatic man who seemed to hang on every word I said. He wanted to thank me for all my help and asked me to dinner. I was flattered that this older, distinguished man would show any interest in me. I was just a girl from an industrial town, working my family’s business. I wasn’t anyone special, but he sent a car for me in Hickory and took me to the most extravagant restaurant in Charlotte.

“As we spent more time together, he continued to be charming and charismatic. He complimented me and said all the right things. He gave me anything my heart desired, and then some.

“When I asked about his wife, he told me they were the latest casualty of irreconcilable difference
s. It happens all the time, so I didn’t question it. I had no idea that she was his third wife until much later.” She takes another sip of juice and I use that as my opportunity to speak.

“Will said that, since you’ve been here, you’ve missed his father sometimes.”

“Yes. As terrible as things were, he was my husband, and there was a time I was most definitely in love with him. I know it’s difficult to understand,” she says softly.

“Eliana, I’m sorry, really, you don’t have to tell me this. I understand how manipulative Gregory Meyer is. You don’t have to convince me of that.”

“But I want you to know that
I
didn’t understand that…not at first. I was young and tired of the life I was living. I loved my family but wanted so much more. I wanted to go to college, study design and bring back fresh ideas to my parents’ business. But I had obligations. Gregory promised me a world where all my dreams would come true…then snatched it right out from under me.

“After we married I wanted to go to school but Gregory kept telling me that he wanted and needed me at home. If I was studying all the time, who would take care of him? So I waited, feeling like I was being a good wife. At some point Gregory started growing tired of me. I don’t know what I said or did, but it started becoming clear that I was not enough. He worked later and later, took overnight trips to see clients, and when he was home, he barely spoke to me. I lived for the moments when he showed me any attention. When I got pregnant, I thought things would change. They changed, just not in the way I hoped they would.

“Gregory became obsessive about William from the moment we found out we were having a boy. He chose to name him after his father and himself: William Gregory Meyer. It’s a strong name, though, don’t you think?” I nod in agreement. Everything about Will is strong to me. I can’t believe she’s telling me all of this. I wonder if she’s ever told anyone the whole story.

“I endured all I could for several years, but when William was little I wanted to leave Gregory, go back to Hickory where he could grow up around family. But Gregory wouldn’t allow it. If I left I would never have seen William again.” Eliana lets out a heavy sigh and looks at me with pain in her eyes. “William knows everything, which is why he has worked so hard to be nothing like his father. I tried to convince him ages ago to leave, but he wouldn’t go without me. I thank God every day that he inherited the Hufford genes for kindness, compassion, and love. He’s a protector, Layla, and if there’s anything you need to fully understand about my son it’s that he will love and protect you until the day he dies.”

“Thank you for being so transparent. You didn’t have to tell me anything, and I want you to know how much I appreciate it. I know how incredible Will is and how lucky I am to have found him, and I will love and protect him, too. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for him. And you need to know,
really know
, that Will is the great man he is today because of you. Left in the hands of his father, Will would have turned out very differently. You should be very proud. You’ve endured a lot in your life, Eliana, which is why I’m so glad that you’ve found Wes. I don’t know where you think it might go, but I know that right now, you couldn’t be in better hands.”

Eliana stands and I join her in a warm embrace. She’s opened herself up and let me in in a way I never expected. She has had years of closing herself off, not being allowed to tell anyone about the real nature of her husband, so I appreciate her sharing. I know it took a tremendous amount of bravery to share with me as she has and I’m honored that she found me worthy of carrying her story.

“What the hell? Why are you barely dressed…in one of Wes’ shirts?” Will’s shocked and disapproving face at his mother’s appearance makes me laugh.

“Oh, uh…” Eliana isn’t sure how to respond.

“They had their own prom night,” I tell him. It takes a moment for him to understand what I’m saying and recall our beautiful, non-sex filled night, but when it sinks in he seems a bit skeptical. They are, after all, two grown adults.

“Ok…I guess,” he finally says.

“I’m going to put some clothes on.” Eliana scurries from the kitchen and disappears around the corner back to Wes’ room.

“Good morning, fiancée,” Will says, wrapping his arms around me.

“Good morning to you, fiancé,” I say, followed by a sweet kiss on his sweet lips.

Will is about to go in for a deeper kiss when it seems the masses have awakened and enter the kitchen. Happy New Year greetings are exchanged all around as Will and I break and gather coffee cups for everyone.

“So, Wes…how was your night?” I ask teasingly.

“It was…” he begins, but looks to Will before continuing. I have to give Will a nudge so he stops with the obligatory stink eye. “It was great,” Wes smiles.

“What did you do?” I ask.

“Yeah, Wes, what did you do?” Will asks with only half-teasing chastisement.

“Ok, ok…I’m only going to subject myself to your Spanish Inquisition once. So let’s get it over with.” Wes takes a sip of his black coffee and leans back in his chair. “The answer to your first question: I took Eliana to dinner at Stir, and then we went downtown to walk around and watch fireworks. Next.”

“Are you going to go out again?” Claire asks, joining in. She is a hopeless romantic so I know she’s totally into this.

“Yes. Next,” he smirks.

“Did you kiss her?” I ask, making my voice sound sugary sweet.

“A lady never tells,” Eliana says as she enters the kitchen with a full set of clothing on.

“Yes,” Wes says smiling.

“Wesley!” Eliana protests.

“What? You said a lady never tells. No one said I couldn’t!” Wes’ smile spreads across his face as he stands and gives Eliana a sweet embrace and an honorable kiss on the cheek.

“But, in all seriousness,” Wes begins. “We want to know that you’re ok with this, Will. It’s important to us.” Wes puts his arm around Eliana’s waist as they both look hopefully at Will.

“Are you happy, Mom?”

“Yes. I am very happy,” she says looking into Wes’ eyes.

“Well…it might take me a little while to get really used to it, but…if you’re happy, then I’m happy.” Will smiles genuinely, giving his blessing to wherever Wes and Eliana’s relationship takes them.

The months come and go and for the first time since before my parents died, I feel normal. I’m a normal college student with two parents, a fiancé, an uncle, and a whenever-to-be mother-in-law. Life is utterly ordinary…just the way I like it.

My and Will’s class schedule didn’t sync up the way we had hoped it would this semester. I’ve got a full day on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Will’s working with a packed schedule on Monday and Wednesday. While we’re both on campus every day, we literally have 30 minutes in the middle of the day to see each other. It’s not ideal, but Will makes up for the time by practically living at my house.

It’s been so busy that we haven’t even had a real date since…well…we’ve actually never had a real date. When we were in Davidson, all the time we spent together was in secret so while I was always excited to spend time with Will, it just always felt off. On our first
date
, Will brought me back to Luke and Claire’s for a picnic on the dock. It was beautiful and I wouldn’t change a second of it, but we were always hiding in the shadows. And up until Christmas, Wes followed us everywhere. It would just be nice to have Will ask me out on a date, come pick me up at my house, and have me home at a reasonable hour.

We haven’t set a date for the wedding either. Will wants to get our wedding date on the calendar but I’ve just wanted to enjoy being engaged. Now that all the drama in our lives is over, it’s nice just existing. But, I know Will is getting impatient, so I’ll have to woman-up and set a date for the happiest day of my life.

I’ve wanted to plan something special for Will since his birthday, too. He turned 19 in December and the occasion got totally overshadowed by the situation with Marcus. In fact, it was days after that Eliana insisted on a special birthday dinner. I suppose 19 isn’t a big deal but I think his next birthday is monumental, so I’ve got to catch him by surprise. I’ve got about 20 minutes to kill before I get my 30 minutes with Will so I’m making lists and jotting down party ideas in the campus coffee house. A hoard of people rush through the door and startle everyone already seated and casually enjoying a cup of joe. When I look outside I see that the sky has opened up causing the stampede. I notice one of the last empty seats is next to me when a guy I don’t know starts making a beeline in my direction. He looks at the seat and then looks at me as if to say “Please, for the love of God, save me that seat!” I smile at him and put my hand on the seat of the chair so I can ward off any other takers.

“
You
are a life saver!” he says as he sits. “This is nuts!”

“No problem,” I say. “Yeah…the coffee house suddenly becomes cool to everyone when getting soaked is on the line.”

“Tell me about it! I’m Eli, by the way.” He offers his hand after wiping on the dry part of his cargo shorts. “Eli Briggs: journalism major.” Eli isn’t tall like Will, but still taller than me, like everyone else. He’s got shaggy brown hair and brown eyes. He’s cute and I immediately think that Dana would like him.

“Layla Weston: undeclared but leaning heavily toward psychology. It’s nice to meet you, Eli.”