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Portia rose and glanced at herself in the foyer mirror, checking hair and makeup. She approached the door, but her hand shook on the knob. She paused, took a deep breath. Stay calm, Portia. Maria is a friend.
She opened the door to find Maria smiling warmly, her pretty aqua eyes bright. A sharp twinge tightened Portia’s belly. “Hi, Maria.”
“Portia, it’s good to see you.”
She stepped forward to give Maria a hug. “I’m happy to see you, too. Please come in,” she said, retreating as Maria made her way into the foyer.
She glanced around, noting the high-vaulted ceilings and the living and dining rooms. “It’s a lovely place, Portia.”
She shrugged. “Thanks. It’s a rental. I travel back and forth from coast to coast a lot, so I have a small apartment in New York City, too. I haven’t really made this place my own yet.” She’d never felt settled enough in either place to put too much of herself into them. Aside from her treasured artwork on the walls, the rest of her furniture was simply...there. She had no emotional attachment to it, which had never really dawned on her before now. “It’s not a big place. Would you like a tour?”
“Sure.” Portia walked her through the condo, showing her the home office, the guest bedroom, her master suite and the kitchen. They stopped in the dining room. “Would you like coffee and a pastry?”
Maria’s eyes darted to the dish of fresh pastries. They were impressive. Portia knew the pastry chef at the Beverly Hills Hotel and she’d made a call this morning to have them delivered. “I’d love some. Thank you. It’s good seeing you in your own element here. This is very nice.”
“Let’s have a seat,” Portia said. “Everything’s ready.” Maria sat down across the table and Portia poured them each a cup of coffee. “I was surprised, in a good way, to hear from you this morning. What brings you to California?”
Maria cradled the cup in her hands. “I, uh, I had no real business here, Portia. I came specifically to see you.”
“Me?” Portia halted before the cup touched her lips. “Why?”
“Maybe because I’m a hopeless romantic. Maybe because I found the love of my life in Alex and want my friends to find that same kind of happiness. Don’t get me wrong, Portia, I’m not here to meddle, but I do think Juan Carlos made a mistake with you.”
“He told you?” Portia wasn’t sure how she felt about that.
“Yes, I know you’ve broken the engagement.”
“Who else knows?”
“No one. I don’t think he’s told his cousins yet.”
Portia nodded. Her belly began to ache. “Do you know everything?”
Maria’s expression softened. “I know you’re not a princess, Portia. Juan Carlos told me the entire story. I’m so sorry you were misled all those years. It must have been extremely difficult finding out the way that you did.”
Portia’s eyes squeezed shut at the truth of those words. “Yes.” Oh, God. This was so hard. If only she could blink this entire ordeal away. Too bad life wasn’t that easy. Soon everyone would know her dirty little secret and they probably wouldn’t be as kind as Maria. “It’s been an adjustment. My whole life is a lie.”
“Not all of it, Portia.”
She snapped her eyes open, just as Maria’s hand came to touch hers. She welcomed the warmth of her friend’s gentle touch. “I can’t possibly know exactly how you feel, but I do know you. Portia Lindstrom is a wonderful, sweet, caring woman. She’s smart and funny and she’s terribly in love with a good man.”
Portia shook her head. “No. Juan Carlos...there’s nothing left between us.”
“There’s love, Portia. Don’t discount it. It makes the world go round, you know.”
“Well, I’m spinning fast, Maria. And I’m about to fall off.”
“No, you don’t have to fall off. I know Juan Carlos still loves you. He’s made a terrible mistake. He was in shock, I think, hearing the news about your identity, and he regrets how you two left off. He’s sorry for how he treated you, Portia.”
“I accept his apology. If that’s what you came for, you can tell him not to worry about me. I’m...fine.”
“That’s not why I came. You love him very much, don’t you?”
Portia sat silent.
“I know you’re protecting him, Portia. I know, because if I were in your shoes, I’d do the same thing.”
