Where the Lotus Flowers Grow (18 page)

“Not me, Ram. The Wilshire funds this project.”

“Yes, with your approval.” He smiled widely. “Come.”

Ram took us into each room, where he made grand introductions in Hindi to announce Liam. The women and children clamored around him. He shook each of their hands and asked them questions about their work. Ram and I took turns translating. An elderly woman bent to touch his feet, a gesture of respect. Liam stopped her, looking a bit horrified. She turned toward me, speaking in rapid Hindi, moving her head from side to side.

“She wants to thank you. She says her daughter is receiving an education because of you. She says they have a proper home now.”

“Tell her she created all that. We only provided a resource. That’s all.”

I repeated his phrase. His humbleness surprised me, but it rendered her speechless.

Many people came up to him. He took his time, listening to all of them. A woman explained to Liam how her son had cancer, and she could not afford his medicines. The center had been a saving grace to her family. As we left, Liam gestured to Ram. “See that her son gets in with a doctor. Make sure it happens.”

“Yes, sir, it will be done.”

“And also, I think we should have a cafeteria that provides at least one free meal per day. Some of the students spend eight hours here. I noticed very few of them leaving for the food stalls.”

“The stalls are rather overpriced, sir.”

“See to it, Ram.”

* * * *

“I can’t believe something like this exists,” I said as we left many hours later.

“There are several projects up and running. We built an irrigation system in a remote African village. We have a school for girls in South America. There are a few other proposals we’re looking into.”

“It’s really an amazing concept, Liam.”

Ram and a few children waved to us as we drove away. “I wish I could take credit, but it was Stephen’s idea, one of his best. He proposed we start a charity for the hotel to sponsor certain projects in the countries where we had property. It’s a way of giving back to the community. Stephen runs the whole thing. I just sign off on them. I have to admit he does an admirable job.”

“Why don’t you get along with him?” my mouth blurted out before consulting my brain.

Liam’s jawline clenched. I’d stumbled onto sensitive territory.

“I have my reasons.”

I thought of Hannah and what I would give up to change a few memories. “He’s your family, Liam. Your only family.”

“Stephen ruined our relationship before it even formed. You see, we’re close in age. He’s always hated me for existing.”

“I don’t follow.”

“Our father had an affair, Mary. I was the outcome. I was sixteen when I moved to the States. Stephen made sure I never felt welcomed in his house. He had all the advantages I never did. He turned people against me. Made up rumors about the kind of person my mother was. Who I was. We’re adults now, and we have a business to run. We do it, but it’s not easy. Mostly, we just divide and conquer.”

“But you were both so young. Surely, you don’t hold the things he did as a teenager against him? He was very concerned when he called to inquire about your health.”

I couldn’t reconcile the man who had sounded so relieved when I told him Liam would be all right, the one who ran this charity, with the same man Liam regarded with such disdain. Were we speaking about two different people?

“Are you sure it’s concern you heard? Maybe he was disappointed I would recover.”

“I’m sure.”

“Let’s drop this topic. It might have taken place a long time ago, but Stephen’s actions are unforgivable.”

“I used to hold anger inside me, too, once. I used to let it rule my decisions. It took a long time for me to realize it was another method of hurting myself. When you forgive someone else, it’s not for their benefit, but your own.”

“Some things cannot be forgiven.”

“Maybe not all things, but most things.”

He raked his hands through his hair and let out a frustrated sigh. I should have moved on. He’d asked me to. He’d respected me when I created lines he couldn’t cross. But there was some deep hurt in Liam. He carried it silently, almost as if he thought showing it would make him weak. He’d let me see that side of him, but only a few quick glimpses before he shut down.

“Mary, understand one thing. If I could cut Stephen out of my life, I would. He’s toxic. I think the only reason my father left me half of the family business was because he figured Stephen would blow it. I’m sure the original plan was for his legitimate son to inherit everything. Stephen holds that against me, too. That I barged into his life, an uninvited guest. As if I even wanted to be there in the first place.” Liam’s laugh was heavy with cynicism. “Or maybe our father did it to punish us both. The old man wasn’t exactly gracious.”

Who would Liam have been if his mother hadn’t died? I suspected he’d be a passionate artist. A selfish part of me, a part I hated, rejoiced he’d taken a different path. Otherwise, I’d never have met him.

“Why did your father think Stephen would fail?”

“Stephen has a talent for fucking up his life. He’s been to rehab more times than I can count, not that any of them have helped. It’s a miracle he functions as well as he does. His ideas are crazy, but most of them turn out profitable—not just profitable, almost visionary. We are the only hotel chain our size that recycles ninety percent of our refuse, and our energy use is lower than any of our competitors thanks to some innovative construction techniques. Did you know that?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“It’s become a model for other hotels. Despite his ingenuity, Stephen is on a roller coaster. Eventually, it will go downhill, and one of these times he won’t recover from the fall.”

“Maybe he needs family, too, Liam. He had to go through a lot when he found out he had a brother.”

“This is really none of your business, is it?”

I flinched against his cold stare. I’d opened up an old wound that hadn’t healed properly. “I’m sorry.”

The hard ridges of Liam’s face softened. “I’m sorry, love. I didn’t mean to snap at you.” He put his arm around me. His body was so tense he might have been in pain. We were quiet for a long time, watching the high noon sun shed light on the decay and decadence that was Bombay.

Liam’s voice was low. “A few months after I arrived, Stephen invited me to a bonfire with his friends. Foolishly, I thought it was some kind of peace offering. I felt like a complete outcast as it was. I drank a few beers, flirted with a couple of girls, and was having a fairly good time. The fire was already high, burning with intensity. I hadn’t noticed at first, but then I saw what he’d used for kindling. I realized it was just some revolting prank. A rage took hold of me that night. A rage that still exists.”

“What did he use?”

“My mum’s books.”

The rage Liam spoke about had to be contagious, because I felt it, too.

“My God.”

“I became possessed when I saw that. I broke his jaw. If there hadn’t been people to pull me off him, I might have killed him.”

“Why did he do it?”

“He said he was high. But it’s more than that. There’s something evil lurking inside of Stephen. That night, it got inside of me, too. Our father’s solution was to send us both packing. I went to a military school to learn discipline. Stephen went to his first rehab. Military school was good for me, though. Better than that cold mansion. I learned how to use physical activity to calm myself. They had elective classes in art. I’d always enjoyed drawing, but I developed a passion for it there.”

“So you didn’t interact with him after that?”

“I avoided Stephen for two whole years. Then he came to my failed exhibition with our father.”

“To make amends?”

“Probably to gloat. One look at him, and I knew the rehab hadn’t changed him. He was still bitter. I tried, Mary. I tried to put myself in his place. At least I had a caring Mum. My stepmother is a cold woman, and our father wasn’t much better. So I put my own prejudices aside, but again, I realized how fucking naïve I was.”

“What happened?”

“You remember the girl? The one who lived with me in that loft?”

“Yes.” I didn’t want to discuss girlfriends past, but I also wanted to hear the whole story.

“Melanie and I had been together for a few months. She wanted to be an actress. I honestly thought we could have this great bohemian life together. Even though we were young, I was sure she was the one. But I was wrong about us. About her. In a really fucked-up way, Stephen made me realize that.”

“How?”

“He slept with her. He told her he knew people and could get her an audition. After that, I had a hard time trusting anyone. I’ve never had another relationship since. It’s always casual, no strings attached.”

I wondered if he considered us casual. Although we were temporary, casual was the last word I’d use to describe us. It shocked me how cruel his brother was. I had seen cruelty in its purest forms. I could understand Liam’s hatred. I had forgiven more than my fair share, but I was angry again. Angry at this stranger I’d never met. Angry he hurt the man I cared about.

“You’re right, Liam. Some things are unforgiveable. I can’t imagine how difficult it has to be to work with him.”

“We both do our level best to avoid drama. I hate my brother, but we share the same goal, to make the company successful. Sometimes I think our inheritance is our father’s version of a cruel prank on me…or maybe on Stephen.”

“You’ve never talked about all the things that happened?”

“Just once. He apologized to me at our father’s funeral. He said there were many regrets in his life, and three of the biggest involved me. How he treated me when I arrived. Burning my mum’s books, the only thing I had left of her. And sleeping with Melanie. I told him to shut the fuck up or I’d break his jaw again.”

“I’m sorry I pried.”

He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I kissed the corner of his mouth and said a little prayer for him. We both struggled with our past. Although we came from completely different walks of life, we carried the same heavy burdens.

“I’ve never told that story to anyone. I don’t know what it is about you, Miss Costa. You disarm me of my shield.”

“Don’t look to me for answers, Mr. Montgomery. I’m facing the same dilemma myself.”

Mary

Liam suggested we spend his first free day at Elephanta Island. I’d never been there either. I gripped the railing of the ferry as the ship jostled against the choppy waters of the Arabian Sea. It carried us away from the bustling crowded city that was Bombay. The humid day created a smoky haze, concealing the island.

“Are you seasick, love?”

“A little bit, but I don’t want to miss anything.”

“Why don’t you sit for a while?”

All the benches lining the boat were full, but Liam narrowed his eyes at a group of men taking up an entire bench. “The lady requires a seat.”

I didn’t know if it was chivalry or Liam’s sharp gaze, but several of them rose to offer me their seats. Liam remained standing. He took a bottle of water from his backpack and handed it to me. I made an exaggerated show of checking the cap. He shook his head, his shoulders trembling with laughter.

A herd of tour guides gathered around us once we reached the island. Rather around Liam. They sensed a rich American tourist and used all the guile of snake-oil salesmen to win his attention.

“No guides. We can see it on our own.”

Their insistence grew as they warned of mischievous monkeys and the dangerous perils of going into the caves on our own. They ushered us toward the toy train, insisting we should avoid climbing the steep steps.

Liam tilted his head at me, a challenge sparking in his emerald eyes. “The decision is yours, Miss Costa.”

“I think we should go for the stairs.”

“Excellent choice.” Liam waived away the man’s insistent warnings. “I have very good sunscreen.”

He stopped before we began the climb, pulling me to the side of the stone steps.

“What are you doing?”

He reached into his backpack and pulled out the bottle of sunscreen, the one I’d gotten for him. “You didn’t put any on, did you?”

“I forgot.”

He squeezed a generous portion on his palm. “Come here.”

It was such a little act, the way he covered my exposed skin, yet it caused the heat swelling inside me to match the rays of the scorching sun. Tourists milled around us, but I barely noticed.

“Thank you.”

“I’m happy you’ve never been here, either. We get to do this together.” He took off his navy blue cap and placed it on my head, adjusting it until it was snug. “There now. I think we’re set for our journey.”

He allowed me to set the pace. Gone was the commanding businesslike Liam who made me squirm with heat. This boyish version, in ripped jeans and a faded v-neck T-shirt, stole my breath. We held hands climbing over a hundred stone steps, passing by the chair taxis, where four men hoisted a traveler by painted chair. By the time we reached the top, we were drenched in sweat.

Why me, I wanted to ask. Why do you want me? Why do I want you? What crazy primal desire made us find each other? Was it fate, magic, lust…or a combination of all three?

“Why here?” I asked instead.

“I wanted to see the caves. It’s an artistic marvel of sorts.”

I’d grown up in Bombay and heard of them, but it was one of those tourist attractions locals didn’t pay much attention to. The slabs of stone reflecting the point of the right through my sandals and burned the bottom of my feet. I let out a sigh of relief when we entered the cooling shadows of the caves.

“Wow,” I whispered, afraid if I said it any louder I’d disturb the moment.

“Bloody amazing,” he agreed, running his hand over one of the massive stone pillars at the entrance. He turned to me, his smile full of excitement. “It reminds me of the pillars in Rome. Funny how architecture crosses borders.”

“Yes.” I wanted to ask him more about Rome, but he was yanking my hand, itching to get inside.

The caves were a labyrinth of chambers, where Hindu gods and goddesses were intricately etched into the hard rock. Liam squeezed my hand. “Can you believe someone made this? Carved it into hard rock centuries ago using the most rudimentary tools? I can’t even imagine it.”