Did he change or did you?
After their dinner, Amber Ann and Dan sat in comfortable silence enjoying after-dinner coffee. The valets were dismantling the deck behind them, and they sat on a part of the deck further out over the lake. They sat on comfortable outdoor armchairs, the lake calm and quietly rippling around them.
It was a beautiful calm that the couple had never experienced together, and the thought of that hit Dan hard. His jaw tightened as he thought about how he truly took his wife for granted. He took a sip of his cappuccino, his eyes moving over to Amber Ann.
"Amber, I really want to apologize to you." She looked over to him, her head cocked, a slight frown of curiosity on her face. "I mean… I realize just how much I took you for granted." He looked into his mug. "You know how my mother is. Being with you quieted her down. She stopped nagging. And I never really gave you a chance. I am so sorry, Am; I used you and never got to know you. Can you please give me a chance to know you now?"
He had begun slow and nervous, and Amber Ann was curious and amused. Then he began to speed up, and she began to understand how honest he was being and how difficult it must have been for him.
Dan Trace apologized and admitted he made a mistake—two things Amber never thought could happen. She looked down at her chai tea latte for a long moment, then she sighed.
"Dan, I really appreciate your honesty. I will admit that you have changed, but I cannot see how we—"
"Please Amber Ann, let me show you. Give me one day a week, to start. Just me and you. Let me truly get to know you and let me truly prove to you that I have changed."
He had moved to the edge of his seat, and Amber's heart raced with fear as she thought he would get on his knees and beg.
"Okay Dan, okay." She stood, a bit rattled and ready to go. "Can today count for this week? I only have mornings free for a while."
"Perfect. We can meet tomorrow morning for this week. What time is good for you, and can I have an hour of your time?"
Amber looked at him in shocked silence, her hand going to the diamond tennis bracelet as if she felt she may be in danger. She forced herself to calm as she slowly nodded.
"Okay, Dan. But I cannot make you any promises. We can take things slow and see what happens."
A wide smile bloomed across his face as he fought his desire to grab her in an intense hug.
"Thank you for the chance, Amber. You will see I have changed. What time tomorrow?"
She looked at him for the briefest of moments. "Is six too early?"
Dan smiled wide as he shook his head vigorously. "Not at all."
Amber finished her latte and handed the glass to the hostess. "Thanks, Dan. I had a good time." She turned and walked down the deck and around the house to the driveway. Dan watched, but he did not fully register it. All he could remember was her smile; it was burned into the back of his mind like the sun when someone looked toward it, and he was working out what he would do tomorrow.
An idea slowly formed in his mind. He insisted on tipping the host, hostess, cooks, and valets—if it weren't for all of them, he would not have this chance—he locked up the villa and went up to his laptop. He needed to make sure that Amber knew he was now paying very close attention.
That same night—in the Patrick house—Christopher Patrick, his wife, Gladys, and their surrogate, Nina, ate a casual meal together. Ever since Gladys found out about Nina, she made sure the surrogate ate with them at least three times a week. She had already gone to three doctor's appointments with her, and the two women had gotten to know each other well.
At first, Gladys had been upset that Christopher had started things behind her back, then she got to know Nina, and she knew her husband was right—if they would have tried and Nina had not conceived, she would have been devastated. She hadn't told him her suicidal thoughts, but she knew her husband knew her too well not to know.
The evening news interrupted her thoughts and Christopher frowned.
"I am sorry. I guess I forgot to delete the schedule today." Christopher Patrick always had his TV turn on for the news in the evening. Only the TVs in the breakfast room and his study, because these were the two places he would likely be in, and he always needed to hear world news.
A report about Blue Serene and city council corruption came on and Gladys looked up intently. Amber Ann had been a childhood friend. She could no longer look her old friend in the face anymore—not after knowing what Jessica Lance had been to her husband.
"Wait. Let's watch this. Didn't you pull out of a deal with Blue Serene Resort?"
Where Christopher Patrick was infatuated with Jessica Lance, he loved his wife with a passion. She was the smartest, most honest person he had ever known. He and Nina glanced at each other briefly, and he found himself wondering how much Jessica had actually told the woman.
"Yes. But it was too risky."
Gladys nodded distractedly as she chewed her food and focused on the news report. Christopher watched her eyes go wide and then she looked to him with a question in her eyes. He looked at her as calmly as he could and maintained eye contact—she couldn't suspect anything; he wouldn't be able to bear it.
"I didn't know Amber Ann owned Blue Serene Lake. I missed that somehow."
Christopher breathed a sigh of relief—he hadn't been caught. He forced himself not to clear his throat and responded to his wife.
"Yes. She owns it. She bought it through one of her environmental groups."
He watched his wife nod and then forced himself to resume eating so he did not break the rhythm of the dinner. When she spoke, his heart twisted in his chest.
"You should have known better, Chris. Amber Ann is too brilliant to have an endeavor that is too risky." She looked at him with a frown. "What was the risk score?" She put a fork full of salmon in her mouth as she waited for a response.
Christopher almost sank in his chair when Nina interrupted them.
"I am sorry, Ms. Gladys. I forgot to tell you about a doctor's appointment. My blood pressure was high so I have to go to the doctor twice a week now for a while to monitor."
The distraction was enough and Christopher was grateful, but he had to get out of this mess. He was already tying himself to Jessica forever, but now he was tied to a scandal. He only slightly listened to his wife fuss over Nina, talk about a new diet, and that they would go grocery shopping tomorrow.
He was going to "go over the risks" and announce his mistake and invest in the Blue Serene Lake project. He watched his wife and his heart swelled in his chest—he loved this woman so much. He needed to take care of the risk in his own life.
As Christopher thought about how to ensure he was never found out, Jessica was in her home sitting in the dark. She had a horrid day. She had to use the last of the money she got from the sale of her house to set things straight. The council merely admitted to a mistake and denied all corruption allegations.
Jessica had to pay off the original three council members, two more of them, and some law enforcement officers. She was not happy. Her money was gone—once again—Dan was upset with her, and she was pregnant.
When she was out of the country, everything was so easy. She didn't have to worry, she didn't have to think about her needs. Then she got too carefree, she didn't keep up with the business side of her schemes, and suddenly people wanted to ensure she was giving as she should.
She heard a small sound and she sighed. "I thought I told you not to come back."
She never looked up as Anthony Shaw entered the dark room and sat across from her.
"Why won't you let me take care of you, Jessica?"
She didn't answer, but she paused and slowly turned to him. He smiled and pulled the bag of food out.
"I will always take care of you, Jessica." He handed her the bag and leaned forward. "Now tell me what you need."