“Really? A business meeting—on Christmas Eve?”
Suddenly, Ethan recalled Brian’s rather odd reaction when he’d told him about his planned proposal going awry. Now in retrospect, it made sense.
He couldn’t believe he’d been betrayed in such a way, and by two people he cared for and trusted. Clearly it didn’t work both ways.
“We didn’t … He doesn’t… Ethan, things are different now. You and I are engaged, whereas before I…I was never sure how you…if you really…” Her gaze dropped to the floor. “Brian and I…we’d known each other for a while, and it was sort of ongoing before you and I met. We bumped into each other a lot socially, and it gradually became a…I don’t know, a kind of arrangement of sorts.” She shook her head, unable to explain it, and Ethan couldn’t believe that he’d been made such of fool of. “Truly, Ethan, it meant nothing, and it’s over now. As soon as you proposed, I told him we were done.”
He wanted to be sick. To think that he’d trusted Brian, confided all his doubts and worries, and all along, his so-called friend had been sleeping with her behind his back. Man, he was an idiot.
“Yeah, you two lovebirds can sort it out in your own time, but speaking of engagements…” Knowles interjected, and if Ethan had any inclination to punch the guy before, he seriously wanted to now. “I take it your missus won’t be needing that anymore.” He indicated the ring, and Vanessa looked at it, puzzled.
“I still don’t know who the hell you are, but what I do know is this is absolutely none of your business,” she said through clenched teeth. “Haven’t you caused enough trouble?”
“I want an explanation,” Ethan said, ignoring Knowles. “If you and Brian were in the cab that day, why didn’t you mention it? You knew I was involved in the aftermath of that accident—I told you all about it—so why hide it, apart from the obvious?”
“Yeah, and why didn’t you stay and try and help out instead of taking off like a rocket?” Knowles queried. “I could have died, you know. The police call it ‘fleeing the scene,’ which I suppose is why your boyfriend finally came to his senses about making a statement.” He grunted. “Fat lot of good it did me.”
Ethan tried to pretend Knowles wasn’t there. “Vanessa, I asked you a question.”
She sniffed and looked away, refusing to meet his gaze, but he could tell from her demeanor that she knew the game was up. “Brian was heading downtown, and I had an errand to run, so we shared a cab back from…our meeting,” she began, her hazel eyes shining with tears as she spoke. “When we reached Fifth Avenue, I spotted you and Daisy on the street outside Tiffany’s. I started to panic, worried that you might see us, even though it was unlikely, but…” She shook her head. “Brian tried to calm me down, and we started arguing, and then—”
“I knew it!” Knowles proclaimed. “I knew that gobshite driver wasn’t paying attention! Walked out in front of him, my foot! Tell lover boy thanks very much. His lies fucked up my lawsuit.”
Ethan couldn’t believe it. “So you were actually there when it happened? What about when you saw Daisy and I trying to help? Did you just…sneak away hoping we wouldn’t notice?”
Obviously, he hadn’t noticed though. Why would he, when at the time, his only concern was for the injured Knowles?
He remembered the cab driver mentioning something about his fare abandoning him, but the last thing Ethan would’ve expected was Vanessa to be in cab, let alone contribute to the very accident that…
And right then, he wondered if up there somewhere that day, darling Jane was having a word in the ear of her beloved universe.
“So about this ring,” Knowles continued.
Just then, Terri reappeared with a perturbed Daisy in tow. “Might I remind you all that this is a restaurant and I have customers to serve.” Her voice was hard. “If you want to continue this, then please do so elsewhere.”
Daisy stared at Vanessa’s stricken face. “What’s wrong?” she asked, and Ethan could sense her anxiety levels rising.
“It’s nothing, darling,” he soothed, reaching down to put an arm around her. “Why don’t we do as Terri says and go back to our table? Did you have fun meeting the chef?” He was trying desperately to keep his voice light, while inside, he wanted to put a fist through the wall.
“Ethan, I—” Vanessa began, but he held up his hand.
“Now is not the time.”
There must have been enough in his voice to warn her not to push it, as instead of continuing to argue, she quietly relented. “I’m sorry,” she sobbed, turning on her heel and heading straight for the ladies’ room.
He and Daisy made their way back toward their table, his legs weak, while vaguely aware of Knowles following.
“Dad? What’s going on? Why is that man here? And why is Vanessa crying?” Daisy looked at Ethan for reassurance.
“It’s okay. She’s just…upset.”
“Is it the baby?” Daisy asked, and right at that moment, Ethan was glad that he’d just sat down.
He stared at his daughter. “What?”
Terri raised an eyebrow. “Gary, now that you’re here, you might as well make yourself useful,” she urged, nudging him. “I’ve got some tables that need clearing.”
“To hell with that.” But something in her tone must have given Knowles pause, as he hesitated for a brief moment before reluctantly moving away, leaving Ethan and Daisy alone.
