Page 48 of Vincent
"David is in the kitchen munching on cereal with his eyes glued to some silly cartoon. You'd better have a damn good reason to drag me out of bed at the ungodly hour of six in the morning," she hissed as she marched into the living room and confronted him. "By the way, you look like shit."
"I don't have time for your facetiousness," he said curtly. Looking around to make certain he had everything, he reached for his jacket. "David's bag is already packed, and he is insisting on taking the bloody playroom full of toys."
"What's going on? Please talk to me." She caught sight of the overnight case. "You're spending the weekend with Thea." Her eyes lit with pleasure that died a sudden death at the bleak look on his face. "What's wrong?"
"It's over. Whatever it was between us, it's done."
"Why?"
"Did you know she was in love with me since high school?"
"I thought college. My God." She sat on the edge of the bed. "High school? She hid it well."
"You knew and did not see fit to say anything to me?"
She bristled at his tone. "It wasn't my place-"
"That's bullshit. You never usually know your place," he blazed. "I was interested in her, waited for some sign that she wanted to be more than friends." He sucked in a harsh breath. "And to discover that all these years, she harbored feelings for me. When I could have-" He turned around when he sensed the presence at the doorway.
"Daddy?" David was staring at him, eyes wide. "Are you mad at Aunt Jack?"
Before her brother could answer, Jacklyn rushed over to scoop her nephew, crushed dinosaur and all, into her arms. He smelled of baby powder and everything innocent and she just adored him to death.
"Daddy and I were just talking loudly." Easing him away from her, she smiled, eyes twinkling. "Now who's ready for a very fun Thanksgiving?"
"Me! Will there be candies and cookies?" he asked hopefully, sneaking a glance at his dad.
"Limited amount of candies and cookies," Vincent told him firmly. Crouching down, he drew David into his arms and closed his eyes briefly. "I will be checking to make certain that you don't gorge yourself on too much sugar."
"Will Thea be making the 'serts?"
"Desserts," Vincent corrected him automatically. Even the very mention of her name brought pain. "She is." He kissed his son's forehead. "Now, go and get your book bag, your aunt needs to be getting along."
They both watched as he raced from the room.
"Vincent-"
"No." He shook his head. "No more. I don't want to talk about it."
"Then I will have my say. You're an idiot." Ignoring the ominous look on his face, she continued. "She loves you and for a woman to love someone all these years, it means something. You deserve happiness-"
"And I could have had it with her," he interrupted harshly. "I waited for some indication that she was into me, and she never gave me one bit. Nothing." Stepping back, he reached for his jacket. "I'll be at the club. Drive safe."
*****
"You could still come." Jacklyn watched in impotent dismay as Althea packed the rest of the stuff into a large bag.
"No." She shook her head. "I'm having supper with Andrew." She turned to add a few more items. "The mousse needs to be refrigerated and-"
"I already know what to do." Jacklyn had dropped off her nephew at home before turning around to come and pick up the things from Althea. And the woman did not look any better than Vincent.
"He's angry at you. Why on earth you never told him how you felt is beyond me." She sat around the counter with a sigh. "You could have saved each other a lot of complications."
"I did not want to spoil our friendship," Althea muttered. "What did he say to you?"
"Nothing much." Jacklyn sighed again, snagging a delectable pastry and popping it into her mouth. "You know my brother and you do know him. The angrier he is, the more silent he becomes. He has suffered, Thea, more than anyone I know."
"He blames himself for Lizzie's death, which is ridiculous, of course. But now he feels guilty. There's a powder keg of emotions running through him that's threatening to explode." She eyed the girl. "For him to be away from David for so long, this is deep and major."
