CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE
Jessica fumbled through her work day in a daze. Why had Mark lied to her? What had really happened to his parents? Was his dad alive too? Her heart still broke for him because, whatever had happened, his mom was alive but not part of his life. He’d grown up in foster care, for all intents and purposes an orphan. She’d known him long enough to know that much was true.
She desperately needed to talk to him, needed to hear his side of the story. Because he’d told everyone in his life that his parents died in a car crash, not just Jessica, and he must have had a good reason for it. But she was having an awfully hard time with the fact that his mom had been here in Haven this fall because, despite all the intimate conversations he and Jessica had shared, he’d never mentioned a word about his mother to her.
And that felt an awful lot like the way he’d treated her in high school, holding her at arm’s length and keeping secrets. Maybe he couldn’t help it, growing up the way he did, but she couldn’t plan a future with him if he couldn’t trust her with his past. They needed to talk after she got off work. It would probably be the most important conversation they’d ever had. And right now, she could hardly breathe past the lump in her throat.
By eight o’clock, she was the last person left at the spa. She sat in her office and stared at the three missed calls from Mark on her phone. They couldn’t do this over the phone. His condo was on her way home from work so she’d go straight there and hope to catch him. And God, she hoped he had a good explanation for this. Her heart was so heavy she could barely stand. Sucking in a shaky breath, she headed for the front door. She was so tired, so numb, sohurt. And desperate to get to Mark’s condo to see him.
Instead, she found him waiting at the front door of the spa, a smile on his face. “Good news,” he said as she pulled the door open. “The fire damage was minimal. Water damage from all the fire hoses is worse. Our computers are toast, but we should be able to have a makeshift reception desk in place by next week.”
“That is good news.” She tried to smile, but her face just wouldn’t cooperate.
Mark’s smile faded. “What’s wrong?” He stepped forward, arms extended, but she backed away.
“I, um…I found the note from your mother.” She held her breath, hoping against hope that he’d have some kind of rational explanation for the whole thing.
He dropped his hands to his sides, his expression gone totally blank.
“I called her,” she whispered.
“What?” He’d gone into military mode, his eyes dark and unreadable.
“I talked to her on the phone.” She hugged herself to keep from falling apart. “Mark, why did you tell me your parents died in a car crash?”
“Easier that way,” he said.
“How? Talk to me. Please.”
Mark shrugged, but there was nothing casual about the gesture. The tension rolling off him was so thick it enveloped her too, sending a shiver across her skin. Why had it been easier for him to tell the world his parents died? What could be worse than that? Heart in her throat, she flung her arms around him.
He didn’t hug her back.
“Dammit, Mark, I’m so sorry. Whatever happened, it’s awful and you didn’t deserve it.”
He stepped out of her embrace. “Doesn’t matter. It’s ancient history.”
“Of course it matters,” she said. “You grew up in foster care. That shaped your whole life.”
“And there’s no changing it now.”
“But your mom was here in Haven this fall. You saw her. You talked to her. That matters. That’s huge. Why didn’t you tell me?”
A muscle ticked in his cheek.
“Say something,” she whispered.
But he didn’t. He just stood there, still and silent as a statue.
“Help me understand. Please talk to me.”Please let me in this time.She swiped a tear from her cheek.
Mark looked away.
“Don’t shut me out, Mark. When you’re in a relationship, you share things, all the things you’re going through…even the hard ones. Even the painful ones. I shared all of mine with you.” Her breath hitched. “And I totally understand if this thing with your mom is too painful to talk about yet, but at least say something. Tell me we’ll work through this together.”
He sucked in a breath, and her heart stopped. She held her breath, waiting to hear what he’d finally say. But in the end, he said nothing.
Goddammit.
