Page 55 of No Such Thing as Serendipity

Last night, after our confession of love, I stayed with Robyn.

Our lovemaking had been slow and sensual.

It was full of more emotion than I’d ever felt.

Afterward, Robyn shared more about her breakdown.

I held her while we both cried. We didn’t talk about what happened next.

We couldn’t. There would be time for that later.

I slipped out of her bed at four a.m. At the door of her bedroom, I stopped and studied her face. When she awoke, I feared pain and anguish would replace her peaceful expression. I turned away. I couldn’t think about that now.

The overnight bag I’d thrown together last night sat by the front door.

I’d been able to scrounge up a few items but nothing appropriate for a board meeting.

When I arrived in New York City, I’d have to stop by my penthouse to change into a business suit.

It was a small price to pay for getting one more night with Robyn.

I grabbed my bag and took my keys from the table. Millie snored in her bed. As much as I wanted to pat her head and rub her ears, I didn’t dare. I needed to slip out before I roused anyone.

Tears streaked down my face as I silently closed the apartment door behind me. Fucking Madison. I needed to get back to New York, where the air wasn’t infused with estrogen.

I arrived at the airport and made it through security in record time.

It was one advantage of a small airport.

Now I stared out the plane window, blinking into the brightness of the rising sun.

I was ready to be in the air, but first class meant sitting on the plane longer as everyone else boarded.

Some of my fellow travelers had already ordered a drink.

I considered doing the same if it would ease the pain crushing my chest.

Instead, I closed my eyes. Since I’d gotten little sleep last night, perhaps I could take a nap during the two-and-a-half-hour flight. With the thoughts pinging in my head, I doubted I could sleep.

I kept my eyes closed until after takeoff, but I’d been right.

My mind had no intention of shutting down.

I let out a heavy sigh, pulled my bag from under the seat, and took out the journal I’d stashed there.

I’d picked it up in Robyn’s bookstore a few days ago.

Still, I longed for Auntie Bess’s notebook, but it was in my luggage back at the villa.

I clicked my pen and stared at the blank sheet in front of me.

A flight attendant, seeing I was awake, asked if I wanted anything. I wanted to order a bloody Mary. Instead, I asked for water.

I agonized over the empty page until I finally put the tip of my pen on the paper.

Once I started writing, I wrote nonstop, and I was shocked when the pilot announced our descent into LaGuardia.

After complying with his instructions, I thumbed through the notebook.

I’d filled eighteen pages; however, it wasn’t in my normally precise and orderly way.

Notes were scrawled everywhere, including in the margins and backsides of the pages.

Scribbles, arrows, and drawings filled the page.

The older woman next to me smiled and said, “I didn’t want to bother you while you were working. My husband used to slip into the zone, and I knew to leave him be.”

I glanced at her and smiled. “Yeah, I rarely do this.” I pointed at all the scribbles. “I guess that’s what happens when I don’t have my laptop.”

“He always preferred good old-fashioned paper. He said it made him think better.”

I held up the notebook and shook it. “He might just be right. I haven’t experienced a mind dump like this in forever.”

“Are you working on a project?”

I told her about my notes as we approached the city.

In business, I’d always found talking out my ideas helped bring clarity. Today was no exception. As I chatted with my seatmate, my disjointed ramblings coalesced into something coherent. Emma would deem this another moment of serendipity.

By the time we landed, I thanked the woman and hurried from the plane. I still had three hours before I needed to be at Ironclad’s offices. Ample time to follow through on my first agenda item.

Before climbing from the cab at 740 Park Place, I gave the driver a generous tip.

I’d considered stopping by my penthouse to change into the business suit I planned on wearing for the board meeting later, but I decided against it.

I glanced down at my blue jeans and V-neck T-shirt and grinned. They’d have to take me as I was.

I presented my ID to the doorman, who studied me for some time before waving me inside. I’d visited here often but never dressed this way. Once in the elevator, my palms began to sweat. Was this a bad idea?

Too late now since the elevator door slid open. A smiling Sylvia McClinton greeted me and threw her arms around me before I could react. Once I got my bearing, I returned her embrace.

“Blake, I’m so glad you called.” Sylvia released me but continued to hold my hands in hers. “I didn’t tell Terrence you were coming. In case….” Her voice trailed off.

“In case I changed my mind?”

She gave me a partial smile, and her pale blue eyes misted. Seeing her on the verge of tears brought a lump to my throat. Fuck.

Her expression changed from sadness to curiosity. Still holding my hands, she took a step back. “You look good. Fantastic.”

I glanced down at my outfit and crinkled my nose. “You think so?”

Sylvia chuckled. “I wasn’t talking about your interesting wardrobe choice. But there’s something else. Something intangible.”

Unsure how to reply, I responded. “You’re looking good, too.” I studied the poised woman who I’d come to love over the years. Her clothes were immaculate and her hair perfectly styled, but there was a tightness around her eyes and mouth.

She let go of one of my hands and swept her hand along the front of her body. “The exterior must be flawless.”

Previously, the comment would have made me uncomfortable. I squeezed her hand. “But how is the interior doing?”

Her eyes widened before she nodded and smiled. “Yes, you have changed, haven’t you? It’s not just the clothes.”

“No, it’s not,” I answered honestly. In all the years I’d known Sylvia, I never expected to be having this conversation with her. “But you never answered my question.”

She gave me a half smile. “It’s been hard.

Really hard. I love that man. I’ve loved him since the first time he kissed me.

I don’t know how to do life without him.

” She looked toward the ceiling. “The kids resented he wasn’t around, and he missed milestones in their lives, but there’s something they never knew.

” She met my gaze. “When he was away on business or working late, no matter what, he called me at ten o’clock, and we’d talk for as long as we could. ”

“What the hell?” I shook my head. “I always wondered where he disappeared to.”

This time, Sylvia gave me a full smile. “Did you think he was having an affair?”

I fidgeted, but I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to have a genuine conversation with Sylvia. “At first, I’d wondered. Then I noticed how his eyes lit up whenever you walked into a room, so I never believed it.” I scowled. “Why didn’t he ever tell me?”

She smirked. “It was our secret. We never even told the kids.”

“But why?”

“You’ll think it silly.” The tightness around her mouth and eyes had disappeared, and she looked years younger.

“No, I won’t. Please, tell me.”

“My parents didn’t think he was good enough for me, so they tried to keep us apart. They were old school and were always in bed by nine o’clock. I waited until ten, after they were sound asleep, and then I’d call him.”

I gaped. “You mean you’ve been doing it for fifty years?”

“Fifty-four.” She squeezed my hand. “Enough about our silly love story. He’s going to be thrilled to see you.”

I took a deep breath, unsure if I was ready for this.

Sylvia looked deep into my eyes and said, “Honey, will you forgive him?”

I paused for several beats, thinking of everything I’d written in my notebook on the flight. Though I wanted to break eye contact with her, I held her gaze and said, “I already have.”

Her shoulders slumped, and tears welled in her eyes again. “Thank you. Thank you so much.” Without warning, she wrapped me in another hug. Her shoulders shook. The Blake from a month ago would have done anything to escape. Instead, I held her for some time, letting her have the release she needed.

My heart raced as Sylvia pushed open the door to Terrence’s study.

“Sweetheart, you have a visitor,” she said.

I didn’t know what to expect. When I walked into the room, Terrence sat in his favorite armchair reading a book. While he was paler than when I’d last seen him and had lost a little more weight, he didn’t look as bad as I’d feared.

He dropped his book to his lap, and his eyes widened. “Blake?”

I glanced at Sylvia in a panic. She hadn’t mentioned he’d lost his faculties.

Sylvia laughed and grabbed my hand. “He knows who you are.”

He tossed his book on the table and rose to his feet. “Of course, I know who you are. I just never thought… I mean, I didn’t think I’d ever see…” Tears rolled down his cheeks, and the rest of his words caught in his throat.

Not knowing how to respond, I held up my hands and shook them. In a moment like this, jazz hands might be inappropriate, but I wasn’t sure how to react. “Here I am.”

For the next two and a half hours, the three of us talked.

Terrence and Sylvia shared stories I’d never heard, and I told them about Blissful Breeze and Robyn.

The time sped by too fast, but I needed to leave for Ironclad or I’d be late.

Already, I wouldn’t have time to stop by my apartment to change my clothes.

Terrence insisted on walking me to the door with Sylvia. His gait was slightly shaky, but I suspected it had as much to do with me as it did his cancer.

“Thank you for coming, Blake,” Sylvia said.