Page 55 of Second Chances (Passion and Perseverance #2)

“That’s what I don't know. It certainly makes sense, but it’s just not the impression I got from what information Charles did tell me; it didn’t seem like she was back to ask them for money, or that she had asked them for money,” Jane responded, perplexed.

Interesting.

There had to be more going on. Granted, Jane didn’t know everything, but at least she’d been able to give her confirmation that Caro was, indeed, back looking for money.

“So, maybe she wants Darcy back so that she has access to his money…” Beth surmised.

“Maybe,” Jane agreed.

“I’m so sorry, Jane. I know this is hard for you, how much you liked Caro and were looking forward to gaining her as a sister. I hate to have ruined that,” Beth lamented, guilt washing over her for putting Jane in this position.

“It’s not your fault, Beth. You are my sister, and as much as I’m angry and disappointed to lose that connection to Charles’ family, I’m thankful that you told me; I don’t want to grow close to someone who has been so deceitful and cruel.”

“I know, but I’ve still put you in a difficult place,” Beth continued, “and I’m going to ask even more of you.”

Jane’s eyes widened, wondering what else there could possibly be .

“I want you to try to find out from Charles what Caroline’s plan is; I need to know why she is after Darcy for his money instead of just asking her parents.

Unless she’s assuming that they will refuse again, which is a legitimate thought, but if that’s the case, clearly, her lifestyle is more important than her art, so why not just change her subject matter to something that her parents are more comfortable with?

I just have this feeling that there is a layer that we are missing, that you have access to. ”

Beth watched Jane bite her lip at the request. She knew she was asking a lot - to keep this from Charles, to share family secrets with her, to investigate into their family problems for the sole purpose of informing on her fiancé’s sister.

God, she was a terrible sister.

No, Caroline is a terrible sister. You are doing what you have to do.

“Please, Jane. I know it’s a lot, but it’s the only way we can think of to put an end to this.

If we can figure out what she really wants, then we can find some other way for her to get it,” Beth pleaded.

“Of course, we’ve thought of other options, from going to the police, which would estrange either her or me from you and Charles, to explaining the situation to Charles and asking for his help.

But, if money from their parents could solve her problems, she would have just asked them by now, don’t you think?

” Beth paused, taking in a deep breath before finishing her thought.

“Knowing Caroline, knowing what she has done to get her own way, I don’t want to make decisions or involve people before we truly understand what her plan is; I’m afraid of what will happen, what she will do, if we act based only on our assumptions. ”

It was true. Based on what Darcy had told her, what she had experienced with Caroline, she was devious.

If they acted on an unconfirmed assumption, who knows what the response might be?

No, they needed to be sure of what exactly was going on; they needed to be just as calculating as she. Unfortunately .

“No, I understand,” Jane responded, grabbing her sister’s hand again, “I don’t want you to think that I feel bad for Caroline or feel guilty for helping you.

I’m just still shocked that it was her. I know that you haven’t even told me all the details of what happened between her and Darcy, and I’m sure I don’t know the details of the things she has said to you, but until now, that ex-girlfriend has been almost like a concept in my mind, but now, to have that kind of person attached to reality, attached as my future sister-in-law, is overwhelming. ”

“I’m sorry, Jane.” She didn’t know what else to say.

“Don’t apologize, Beth!” Jane replied with a self-deprecating laugh. “I can’t even imagine how you feel, having all of this happen to you and the person that you love; having someone try to come between you two, and then to find out that someone is going to be related to you… I just can’t imagine.”

“We’re going to get through this. Now, I just need to figure out how I’m going to survive the rest of this week and Saturday in Caroline’s presence without strangling her,” Beth said, semi in jest to try to lighten the conversation.

“I’ll try to find out from Charles before then.

Monday is usually our night together until Friday, so it might not be until then.

I don’t want to have to lie to him, so I don’t want to just call him up and ask because he’ll wonder why.

I figured he might tell me more about the situation tonight, but then I canceled on him because you needed to come over, so hopefully Friday night I’ll find out,” Jane said, biting her lip nervously.

“Ok,” Beth said, relieved to finally have some semblance of control over this situation.

“If you don’t feel comfortable, or if you don’t find out anything, don’t stress over it, ok?

We have other options. After the exhibit, Darcy can always talk to Charles and try to deal with Caroline that way; we’ll figure it out. ”

“Ok.” Jane replied with a semblance of a smile.

“But, Beth… just please be careful until then, ok? Knowing now what I do… I don’t trust Caroline.

I know you don’t either, but I’ve been in closer contact with her than you and I’ve heard more about her from Charles than you - things that aren’t relevant to this situation, but… just be careful, ok?”

Beth stared at her sister, taken aback by her ominous request.

If Jane was concerned about Caroline, then she was even more dangerous than Beth had thought.

“Of course. It’s just a few more days before I can really avoid her without issue; I’ll be ok,” Beth replied, standing up to take their trash into the kitchen, trying not to appear as shaken as she was by Jane’s warning.

Pulling out her phone, she realized how late it was getting - almost nine-thirty.

Leaving soon - she texted Darcy.

“I think I’m going to head out soon. I’m sure Darcy is wondering how everything went.” Or more like freaking out on the inside worrying about what the outcome of this conversation was.

“Ok. I mean, you’re welcome to stay for a little if you want,” Jane offered.

“I know. I just…want to get home to him. This has been so stressful on us…” Beth trailed off, biting her lip and hoping Jane would understand her need to be with Darcy now.

“Of course, I understand,” Jane replied empathetically.

“I’ll do what I can to help, Beth, I want you to know.

As…shocking…as all of this is, I’m glad that you told me and I hope that Darcy decides to tell Charles soon.

It’s not easy to hear these things about someone you’d hoped to grow close to, but I can’t see myself wanting to be close to someone who thinks it’s ok to treat people the way that she does. ”

“Thank you, Jane. I…we…really appreciate it,” Beth said, coming over to give her sister a hug.

“I guess I will talk to you on Friday then. Hopefully, we can get a handle on everything before Caro’s show.

I don’t even know how we are going to make that work…

” Beth shuddered at the thought, but quickly continued before she managed to worry Jane any further, “but, I’m sure we’ll figure something out. ”

“Let me know if there is anything else I can do, sis.” Jane hugged her back. “Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

Beth grabbed her things and headed back downstairs to the car that she knew had probably been waiting for her moments after she texted Darcy that she would be leaving soon.

“What did she say?”

Beth had barely made it through the door before Darcy’s concise and demanding question stopped her in her tracks.

He was leaning over the entryway table, shirtless, wearing his sweats that rode low on his hips; his palms were planted flat on the wooden surface, fingers gripping the edge, agitation written all over his body.

His eyes dark and brooding, stared at her as if he could see right through to her mind to learn what had happened between her and Jane.

This is tough for him - not being in control.

Beth reminded herself as she calmly took off her shoes and turned, walking over to Darcy.

She stopped just in front of him, her hands coming to the sides of his face, pulling his mouth to hers.

They both sighed into the kiss, the surrounding stress evaporating for that moment.

She didn’t want to torture him, though, any more than he was probably already doing to himself.

“Come with me. I’ll tell you what happened,” she whispered, pulling back from their embrace.

Grasping his hand that was still firmly secured to the table, she disengaged it in order to entwine her fingers with his, leading him into the bedroom.

“Relax. Lie with me,” she instructed .

It had been an emotional night already; she wasn’t about to get into this discussion with him already on edge. She waited for him to climb onto the bed, on top of the covers, before she stripped down and snuggled up next to him.

“Jane was shocked, as I’m sure you can imagine,” Beth began, explaining how their conversation had begun, emphasizing how Jane was hesitant to keep this from Charles.

“I will tell him,” Darcy responded, gruffly.

“I know. I told her,” Beth reassured him. “Unfortunately, Jane doesn’t know exactly why Caroline is here.”

“Fuck,” Darcy interjected.

“Just, wait. Let me finish,” Beth said, coming up on her elbow, placing a steadying hand on his chest. “She knows that Caro is here because her funds ran out, something to do with her grandmother. Jane also said that she doesn’t think Caro has asked their parents for any money which means that, as you suspected, she has some other plan for getting those funds; and by ‘other plan,’ I mean you.

Jane said there was more to it than that, though, because why come back to you - a bridge that she clearly had burned, when there are other routes she could pursue, like her parents, her brother…

something. So, we know it’s about the money but Jane is going to find out the rest when she sees Charles on Friday. ”

“I see,” Darcy replied tightly, his brain processing the facts that were now confirmed for them, as well as the news that they would need to wait four days before they would know more. “And what am I supposed to do until then, just wait for her to try some other shit? ”

“What else can we do?” Beth returned, rhetorically.

“Confront her? How is that going to affect the rest of our relationships? She has a plan, that’s true, but part of that plan involved getting close to me by working with me; I don’t think she will try anything the week before her exhibition.

As much as she wants you, furthering her career is first in her mind; otherwise, she wouldn’t be going through all of this - she would just give up her art and ask her parents for money.

She wants the exhibit to be a success, and revealing herself to me, or doing any serious harm to me before then is going to cause a problem for her.

So, yes, until Friday, we hold off and regroup. Got it?”

She smiled a little at her dictatorial tone, knowing she was using it to try to relieve some of the tension in the air.

“Yes, boss,” Darcy replied, returning her smile, “so, is there anything that you want me to do?”

“Hmmm…” She paused for a moment. “Well, I can think of a few things…” she finished seductively, knowing that he caught her drift, and matched the fire burning in her eyes.

“Now that, I’d be happy to do,” he said hoarsely, the heat of desire searing through both of them.

His gaze held hers as he leaned over and captured her lips, relishing the moan that she released as her mouth opened to welcome him inside.

And that effectively put an end to any and all thoughts of plots, ploys, and pushy ex-girlfriends for the rest of the night.