Page 51 of Second Chances (Passion and Perseverance #2)

Chapter Twenty-Four

Beth stepped carefully out of the steam-filled shower, her legs still wobbly from the numerous orgasms that she’d experienced in the past few hours. The time had been a reprieve, a momentary shelter from the storm of craziness that had engulfed them.

At least they had each other.

As they had lain on the couch, both too sated to move, her thoughts had drifted back to the drawing in Caroline’s room, anger pooling in her stomach.

She kept telling herself that it wasn’t Darcy’s fault that Caroline had kept her drawing of him; they had been in a relationship and she couldn’t be angry with him for that.

It just hurt to think of him being with another woman that way, another woman who was currently trying to resume that role in his life at Beth’s expense.

The thoughts finally caused Beth to stir from her comfortable perch resting on Darcy’s chest, getting up to take a shower.

Because showers are one of, if not the best place to sort out problems.

Maybe Caroline had wanted Beth to see it, then again, judging from how brazen she had been already with her threats, she probably would have said something to Beth if that was the case. No, for whatever her insane reasons, Caro wanted to keep Beth in the dark as to who she was.

Maybe to use it as leverage.

Maybe to use it as proof that Darcy doesn’t love Beth, otherwise, he would have told her.

At that thought, Beth began to vigorously towel dry her hair, berating herself for not having faith in Darcy.

He hadn’t told her because he was trying to protect her on so many levels: she knew that.

But, now that she did know, what were they going to do?

They couldn’t just wait around for Caro to make her next move.

Tying the sash on her robe, she left the bathroom in search of Darcy and something to eat - finding both in the living room .

“Feel better?” he asked as she entered the room, taking a seat on the couch.

“Yes, thank you,” Beth replied, picking up the plate of food he had made for her off of the coffee table.

“This is delicious,” she moaned, enjoying her first bite of whatever deliciously concocted panini he had put together, “what’s in this?”

“It’s a secret,” he said playfully, pausing for a moment before answering her. “Chicken with some apple and brie.”

“Mmmm” was the only thing Beth could respond with, her mouth full from her second bite.

“Glad you like it,” he said with a laugh, watching her wipe some melted cheese off the side of her mouth from taking too large a bite.

“I do,” she said softly. “So, what are we going to do about Caroline?”

His face shadowed again at her question, turning to look out the windows in deep thought about the situation facing them.

It had to come back to this sooner or later.

“Are you sure she doesn’t know what you saw?” he asked sharply.

“Yes. She wasn’t home when I was up there and I avoided her most of the party,” Beth explained.

“Right, but do you think avoiding her gave her any indication that something was wrong?”

“I don’t know… I don’t think so. I mean I talked to her and pretended as best I could that everything was ok.

I didn’t know what else to do, but no, I don’t think she could know that I’ve figured out who she is,” Beth replied, swallowing thickly, trying to remember everything about the party, every interaction with Caroline, to see if, in her shock and anger, she gave something away.

“Caroline is the most manipulative person I’ve ever met, and naturally, she assumes that everyone else is as conniving and secretive as she is, so, I’m sure she suspects that something is up if you avoided her, but hopefully nothing more than that… ”

“I tried to play it off as more relationship problems, as well as the party, keeping me occupied. I can’t say for sure, but I really don’t think she can have any legitimate reason to believe that I’ve figured out part of her game.”

“Well, until we figure the rest of it out, I hope that remains the case.”

“I don’t know how to handle her, handle this - I’m barely handling myself at the moment, but I do know that I have to tell Jane…” Beth said, reservedly.

She’d been going back and forth about it for most of the time she’d been in the shower.

Should she tell her sister or not? Knowing how much of an impact it would have on Jane’s personal life, her relationship with her future in-laws, her relationship with her husband, it had been difficult to willingly choose to give her that burden; but, now that Jane knew the issues and veiled threats passing between Beth and Darcy’s ex, there was no way around not being completely open with her.

“Lying about it to her would only go so far,” she continued, “now that she knows about the threats, even if I lied to her, she would wonder why nothing was being done; no, she wouldn’t accept that nothing is being done about it.”

“Are you sure?”

“No, but I don’t know that surety in this situation is possible.

I know it’s going to hurt her, but not even Charles knows about your relationship and based on what Caroline has said to me, she won’t hesitate to go after Jane if I don’t leave you which puts Jane in danger, especially if she is blindsided by it.

Telling her is going to be difficult, but it’s not going to be as dangerous as keeping it from her. ”

“Ok,” Darcy replied, solemnly.

“Ok? That’s it?” Beth asked, flabbergasted by his lack of input, lack of direction .

“Beth, she is your sister; you know her best. Not only do I think that you are the only one capable of making the most informed decision on this part of the issue, I agree with you,” he explained coolly.

“I’ve kept this from so many people for so long, and look where it has gotten me.

I really thought that when she left me, she left my life for good, that I would never have to deal with any more repercussions from that relationship, but I was wrong. ”

He paused, his hands coming up to run over his face, trying not to let his anger and frustration overwhelm him.

“I tried to protect you, protect your family, but I failed,” he said bitterly.

“Darcy, you didn’t fail. How could you stop her? You can’t control her, so it’s not your fault. We need to come up with a plan together, now that everything is out in the open and just move forward.”

“What did you have in mind?”

“Well, first, I need to tell Jane. It’s just gotten beyond the point where I’m able to keep it from here, where it’s safe to keep it from her,” Beth began, thinking out loud. “Then, I want to ask her what she knows about Caro’s relationship with their parents.”

“Why?”

“Just some comments that Mrs. Bingley made at Jane’s party. There’s something going on, something I think that has to do with why she’s suddenly back in the states and trying to get back into your life,” Beth mused.

“What did she say?”

“Nothing specific, but my mother and she were commiserating about daughters who don’t listen.

I mentioned Caro’s exhibit next weekend and Mrs. Bingley said that they wouldn’t be going, that she’d hoped Caro returning was to mend things with her family, but that it was actually financially motivated. ”

“I see,” he responded pensively, his jaw flexing as he processed what she revealed .

“I know it’s not much, but Jane was telling me the other day how Charles has been putting out fires between his parents and sister and I just have a feeling that Jane either knows or could easily find out why she is here, why she wants you back so suddenly.”

This time he didn’t respond, his eyes closed as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“What do you think? Do you think she could be after your money?”

“Honestly, I have no fucking clue,” Darcy laughed harshly.

“I mean, you know their family; they aren’t poor by any means but then again Caroline doesn’t really have a job aside from her art so, if she has a falling out with them, she may be left without anything, and although I can’t see them doing that to her, you never know. ”

“Well, she did move to Italy and live there for years only by selling her art - that I know of, so she must have been getting funds from somewhere for living expenses; most likely I would assume her family.”

“I was never privy to much about her relationship with her family before she left. She was with me for one reason, and one reason only,” he said acidly, disgust contorting his gorgeous features as he remembered how foolish he had been.

Beth stood and walked over to kneel in front of the chair that Darcy sat in, pulling his fisted hands between hers, forcing them to open so that she could hold them.

“I’ll ask Jane,” she replied calmly, squeezing his hands supportively.

“I have to tell her about Caroline and I just have this feeling that there is more to Caro’s return.

If you could have heard the way that her mom talked about her…

trust me, I’ve heard my mother insinuate about my sister and me enough times to know when there is something serious hidden behind a critical and sarcastic comment. ”

“And if it is money, then what? How is that going to help, knowing that she doesn’t actually want me, again?”

“I don’t know,” Beth replied honestly, not having thought that far through her plan yet .

After a moment of thought, she continued, “Well, if that is the case, then maybe Charles would be able to talk to their parents, tell them what Caroline is doing and convince them to give her whatever she must have already asked them for?”

His eyes flared at her suggestion.

“Darcy, it’s ok to need help, to ask for help. Some things are more important than making sure you are the one in control,” Beth continued, hitting on exactly what his silent frustration was stemming from.

“I know, just… fuck,” he whispered, his head dropping for a moment before rising to catch her eyes, “you are the most important thing to me. So, whatever needs to be done to make sure you are ok, I will do.”