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“I understand that, but I imagine she might have been grieving other things. The death of your father may have really brought it home to her that her sons would never have a father who loved them. Maybe she’d experienced some denial over that previously or hoped and prayed he’d change. She could have been grieving the loss of her family dreams. She’d invested so much time, and energy, and love into building a family for herself and her sons. It had to be hard to let that go.” I search his eyes. “It might help her if you give her the space to share her feelings with you. And it might help you too.”
He processes that for a few moments before finally saying, “We’ll see.” He looks at me questioningly. “Are you hungry?”
“I’m starving.”
“Would you prefer to eat in or go out?”
“I don’t want to go out.” Vegas is too busy for me on Christmas Day. Also, I’m feeling raw; I just want to snuggle in and forget the world exists tonight.
He walks me to the car and twenty minutes later, we arrive back at the hotel. Jameson takes two calls on the drive, and from what I can ascertain, they’re both calls from investors with concerns he’s working hard to ease.
When we reach the penthouse, he receives another call. Looking at me with apology, he says, “Can you order dinner while I take this?”
“What do you feel like eating?”
“Anything. You choose.”
“Okay.”
He heads out to the terrace, and although it’s cold outside, he takes the call out there. I can’t help but think he doesn’t want me to hear these conversations. I got that impression while he took the calls in the car, and I’m getting that impression now.
I call the butler and order Pad Thai for dinner. It’s one of Jameson’s favorites and I’ve begun to really enjoy eating it too.
He doesn’t end up eating with me.
He receives call after call and sits at the table working on his laptop late into the night.
Shantel messages me around 9:00 p.m. to advise she’s fixed the clash on our schedule she mentioned yesterday.
Shantel: I’m delighted to let you know Jameson can now attend that club party with you.
Adeline: LOL. I’m delighted at that news.
Shantel: As I knew you would be.
Adeline: Merry Christmas, Shantel.
Shantel: I don’t celebrate Christmas but thank you. I’ve had a great day by myself, although the next time your husband decides it’s a good idea to leave town when we’re in the middle of a work shitstorm, please tell him that taking a fun trip to Vegas is not a valid reason for this. Also, I apologize now for the fact you’ll hardly see him when you get home, but it was unavoidable due to him not being available tomorrow for those meetings. Please don’t hold any of this against me.
She thinks Jameson came to Vegas for fun?
I don’t correct her. That’s not my place.
Adeline: I won’t hold anything against you. Glad to hear you had a great day.
After messaging with her, I get in the deep-soak tub in the bathroom. I turn the jets on, lie back, rest my head, and close my eyes.
It’s heaven and I think about sleeping in here.
I stay here for an hour or so. After, I moisturize my body, put on my pajamas, and crawl into bed to read for a while.
My thoughts are darting between my father and Jameson. I can’t help but wonder about those meetings he pushed so he could come to Vegas. Not to mention, the fact he came when he’s got a million headaches at work.
When I’m still fixated on these questions at midnight, I go in search of him.
I find him sitting in the leather armchair in the corner of the living room, working on his laptop. He glances up when he hears me and watches intently as I walk toward him.
His gaze reaches to the deepest parts of me with ease. With heat. With need.
