Page 54 of Second Chances (Passion and Perseverance #2)

“Again, it had been years since they’d even seen each other.

Why would he think that she came back for him?

Why would he think that she only wanted to work with me to get close to me, to be able to harass me?

There was no indication, a concern, I’m sure, based on their past relationship, but no legitimate indication that after so many years she would end up doing something like this.

From every aspect, she had come home because you and Charles are getting married and she wanted to be a part of that, and what better way to get to know your in-laws than to work with them?

” Beth rushed on, trying to make Jane see the situation from their perspective.

“On top of all that, what would have happened with my job, had he told me? I probably would have cut her off as my client; I would have had to go to Phil, yet again, and tell him that for personal reasons I couldn’t do my job.

I know Phil thinks of us as family, but that can’t happen again without serious consequences.

Why would Darcy choose to jeopardize my job, my work, with no basis? ”

Boy, having to explain and justify Darcy’s point of view was really giving her some perspective on what he must have gone through.

“Ok, Beth, fine; I’ll accept that, but when she started threatening you? There is no good reason why he didn’t tell you,” Jane responded in frustration.

“Maybe you’re right, there probably is no good reason,” Beth acquiesced with a sigh. “But, just like before, he was trying to protect me, as ironic as that might seem. ”

“How does keeping you in the dark protect you?”

“It wasn’t just about protecting me; it was about protecting you and me; it was about protecting you and Charles, and him and Charles; it was about protecting everyone he cares about from his past and his mistakes,” Beth replied, her sister still looking at her with disbelief.

“Just hear me out, please. First, she only approached him, tried to talk to him and he thought he could handle it - typical man. He swore that she didn’t want him back, that there was an ulterior motive, which is why when she first started contacting me, I didn’t tell him - so that part is on me. ”

“I can’t believe you wouldn’t—”

“I know, please, just let me finish,” Beth cut her sister off, otherwise she’d never get through this. “When it finally progressed to threats, Darcy tried to convince me that he could handle it, that the police didn’t need to be involved, and that’s when we fought about the restraining order.”

“How could he want to protect you, but then not do what is necessary to protect you?” Jane interjected angrily.

She wasn’t getting it. She’s blinded by her own desire to protect me, God love her.

“Jane, then who would you have chosen to come to your wedding?” Beth practically yelled, jumping to the point since it looked like Jane wasn’t patient enough for Beth to try to explain the consequences to her gently.

Jane was taken aback by her outburst, her initial shock dissipating as the reality of Beth’s words sank in.

“Oh… no…” Jane whispered, just as a knock sounded on the front door.

Deciding to let that little reality check sink in, Beth stood up.

“I’ll get the food, you stay…” Beth mumbled as she headed to the door, paying the delivery man and bringing the food back into the living room.

Setting the bag down on the coffee table, Beth looked at her sister, who was staring up at her in a daze.

“Oh, my God, Beth, what are we going to do?” she whispered, clearly stricken at the thought of one of the sisters not being presents on her wedding day .

“Shh, Jane, it’s going to be ok; that’s why I’m here. We’re going to figure this out,” Beth reassured her, opening up the bag of food and taking out a carton of lo mein noodles for each of them.

“This is why we haven’t gone to the police because one of us wouldn’t be able to attend your wedding, and I can’t… won’t… do that to you or Charles,” Beth continued, taking a bite of her food.

“So, that’s why he finally decided to tell you…” Jane mumbled, opening up her carton.

“Well, not exactly,” Beth said, raising her eyebrows at that unfortunate fact. “I found out before he could tell me.”

“How did you find out? Did Caro…” Jane trailed off, fork paused halfway to her mouth, waiting for Beth’s response.

“No, she didn’t say or do anything,” Beth reassured her, “it was right before your party. I went upstairs to look for the party favors and went into Caro’s bedroom by mistake.

She has a drawing of Darcy on her wall…” Beth took another bite of her dinner, trying to mask the nausea that still accompanied that memory. “She doesn’t know that I know.”

Jane didn’t need to know everything about the drawing; it’s definitely not pleasant to admit out loud that her future sister-in-law has a drawing of my boyfriend, naked, on her bedroom wall.

“Oh, Beth…” The sympathy in Jane’s eyes almost brought her to tears.

“It’s fine. It was a long time ago; I can’t blame him for it.

Either way, this is where we are. I know who she is, but she doesn’t know that I do,” Beth powered through, “right or wrong, this was the exact situation that Darcy was trying to save me…us…from. Now, we have to figure out how to stop her, without going to the police, otherwise, either you or Charles are going to be without a sister on your wedding day.”

“I don’t understand how Charles could be ok with what she did,” Jane said, perplexed, her mind still drifting through all the implications of Beth’s confession.

“Jane… Charles doesn’t know,” Beth said softly, “he can’t know; at least not right now. ”

“Wait, what? How could he not know? Oh, my God…” Jane trailed off to a moment of silence before continuing, “all this time, he’s admired her, looked up to her, all the while she was using and tormenting those he cared about most.”

Her last words came out choked, stifled by her shock and grief at how this news was going to affect her fiancé.

“No one knew about their relationship; Caro insisted it be that way. So, Charles has no idea and, before you ask, no, Darcy never told him even once she had left for Italy. Charles had just lost his sister. What would be the point in dragging his opinion of her through the mud? No matter how much she deserved it…”

“Are you going to tell Charles? I can’t keep this from him.”

Beth could see the pain written all over Jane’s face at the thought of keeping something from her future husband.

Now, if only Darcy and she could think like that…

“Yes, Darcy is, but not yet. So, please, if you could just not say anything for a little while. We want to try to handle this with the least amount of damage to others’ relationships as possible.”

“I don’t know, Beth…” Jane started. Beth sent her most desperately pleading stare, praying Jane wouldn’t fight her on this. “I guess, for a little while…” Jane finally agreed.

“Thank you. I just think Darcy needs to be the one to tell him and that’s a pretty big secret to have kept from your best friend, especially when it involves his sister; Darcy’s worried it will irreparably damage their friendship,” Beth confided.

“Yeah, I don’t know… I’m sorry. I’m just still so in shock that it’s Caroline that we are talking about; I don't even know how Charles will react.”

“So, moving forward,” Beth began on a new breath, ready to steer the conversation in a different direction, “we have a plan. Sort of.”

“Ok… ”

“Darcy is adamant that Caro isn’t really back for or interested in him, no matter what she says to him or me; he is convinced that it is all part of a charade, that she is trying to get him back for another reason,” she said, laying the groundwork.

“I really was struggling to believe that because what else could she need him for, but then at your party, when I was talking to Mrs. Bingley, she alluded to the fact that Caroline had returned to the states for financial reasons.”

Here Beth trailed off, watching intently for Jane’s response. The mention of financial struggles brought a flicker of recognition to her sister’s eyes, a shadow of a thought crossing her face.

“If we can find out what that reason is, then maybe we can figure out a better way to deal with this situation than by going to the police or just waiting like sitting ducks for Caroline to move forward with whatever her plans are.”

“I see…” Jane said.

Beth was really hoping her sister would have offered more information, but she should know Jane better than that by now.

“Jane, I know I’ve laid so much on you, and asked so much of you already, but I have to ask, do you know why Caroline is back?”

Jane’s face shuttered away for a moment before she responded, “I…I’m not sure.”

“I know what I’m asking of you. I know that these are your future in-laws and it’s their family business whatever is going on, but I’m begging you; you know what she has done to Darcy, what she has done and threatened to do to me, we’re just trying to end this with the least amount of damage possible.

Please. If you know why she is here, please, tell me. ”

Jane let out a deep sigh, her face falling momentarily into her hands, “I’m sorry.

I understand why you are asking and I… I want to help.

I don’t know everything though; Charles never finished telling me the other night.

All I know is that yes, she is back because she couldn’t afford to stay in Italy any longer. ”

“Did her parents cut her off? ”

“No, it wasn’t like that. When they refused to back her art all those years ago, she left and they haven’t given her any money since then.

I think Charles’ grandmother was supporting her, and then left her money, I’m assuming after she died.

I don’t know what happened though if the money ran out or what, but I do know that Caro came back because her art, while popular over there, wasn’t making enough to support her lifestyle. ”

“So, she came back to ask her parents to support her?”