Chance Encounters Read online

  Caroline nodded.

  “Good. But you still look like shit, just so you know.”

  Caroline eyeballed her reflection in the mirror. “No, I don’t.”

  Bailey smiled. “Nah, you don’t. Can we please get out of here now?”

  “After you,” Caroline gestured.

  Chapter Nine

  Clay arrived home from work right on time, as promised. Regardless of what Bailey had said earlier, Caroline appreciated the fact that Clay made a big deal out of special occasions. Knowing they’d go somewhere nice for dinner, Caroline slipped into a tan fitted dress that stopped short of her knees. It had barely-there sleeves and a scoop neckline. The dress hugged her body in all the right places and accented her thin waist and gentle curves. She wore black strappy sandals that made her long legs look even longer. Her lengthy blond hair was tossed on top of her head in a sexy and attractive up-do. Random strands of blonde hung down around her face.

  Clay’s jaw dropped when he saw her. “Wow. You look amazing.” He walked over to her, took her hand in his and kissed it. “Happy birthday.” Then he cupped her face and softly kissed her on the mouth.

  She smiled; his kiss felt comfortable and familiar. “Thank you.”

  “Let me change real quick and I’ll be right out,” Clay promised, and ran toward their bedroom.

  Caroline looked into the full-length mirror one last time before she rolled her eyes at her reflection. Sometimes she simply hated getting all dressed up and eating at fancy restaurants. Everyone always seemed so stuffy and boring. She would much prefer going somewhere simple, but she’d never tell that to Clay. She knew how much he enjoyed taking her out to do expensive things. He associated expensive with nice and he always wanted to do nice things for Caroline. She appreciated his thoughtfulness, but sometimes wished he were a little more in tune with her wants.

  When she realized what she thought, she quickly chastised herself for being ungrateful. Then she reminded herself that everything Clay did for her came from a good place.

  He walked out wearing a freshly pressed light gray suit. He had on a white button-down shirt with a blue tie. His dark hair was messy, just the way she liked, and the image of the first time she ever saw him flashed into her mind.

  Caroline couldn’t help but smile at how handsome her boyfriend was. “Talk about amazing.”

  His smile was genuine and he gave her a quick kiss before he led her out the door by the hand.

  “So, where are we going?” Caroline asked, knowing full well he wouldn’t tell her.

  “You’ll see,” Clay teased.

  “Do I get a hint?” Caroline pleaded.

  “Nope,” Clay answered, giving nothing away.

  Caroline let out an audible gasp as they pulled into a gravel parking lot that overlooked the ocean. Clay slowed the car to a stop as the crunch of the rocks underneath the tires cracked and popped. The chill of the night’s air forced Caroline to wince briefly before Clay quickly wrapped his arm around her and tucked her tightly against his side.

  “It’s freezing,” she noted.

  “I’ll keep you warm.”

  They walked quickly toward the white three-story building as Caroline’s eyes sparkled with delight.

  “I’ve never seen so many windows in a restaurant before. It looks like it’s from another time. It’s gorgeous.”

  “Wait ‘til you see the inside.”

  Caroline smiled, marveling at the architecture that appeared almost museum-like. White marble columns and windows that stretched from floor to ceiling adorned the entire structure. Clay held open the oversized glass door and ushered Caroline into the warm lobby where she let out a sigh of relief.

  “Wow.” Caroline looked at black and white photos of the restaurant in all of its incarnations framed along the wall. “Oh my gosh, did you know it survived the earthquake and the fires of 1906 only to burn down a year later?” She looked at Clay, a mixture of shock and sadness in her eyes.

  He smiled and nodded his head as he gave the hostess his name.

  “And then they rebuilt it two years later…but it’s changed five times since then!” She traced the outline of the building from 1909 with her fingers, entranced by its elegance. Then she looked at Clay and added, “I’m glad they restored it. Did you see these other buildings? No charm or magic at all.”

  “I agree.” Clay sweetly took her by the hand and followed behind the well-dressed hostess.

  “The outside sort of reminds me of the Getty Center back home. You know, the old one in Malibu, not the new one.”

  Clay’s face lit up. “You’re totally right. It does.”

  “Will this be okay, Mr. Matthews?” the petite hostess asked softly, not wanting to interrupt the other diners.

  Clay surveyed the corner table with its panoramic ocean views and replied, “It’s perfect. Thank you.”

  Caroline immediately looked through the glass and noted small lights illuminating the outdoor balcony and pathway down to the water.

  “I’ll never get used to all these rocks,” Caroline said as her mind drifted to the sandy beaches back home.

  Clay’s brows knitted in confusion momentarily before they relaxed. “Oh, in the water you mean. It’s weird, right?”

  “It’s just different. We don’t have giant boulders jutting out of the water at home. I mean, look! They’re all over the place. How does anyone surf here?” she laughed.

  “Good question.” Clay responded, his voice shaking.

  “Are you okay?” Caroline asked, overly aware that his responses were short and somewhat odd for him.

  “Of course. I’m just a little tired is all. You okay?”

  She grinned with sincerity. “I’m fine.” She stared out the window and watched as the water crashed onto the giant boulders, sending parts of the sea hurling in all directions. She thought how the water seemed angrier up here than it did at home. In Southern California, the ocean lapped at the sand. It rolled softly onto the beach and then lulled itself back out again. It never appeared mad or angry, the way the ocean waters seemed to up here.

  “Do you remember when we first met?” Clay asked and interrupted her mental comparison.

  “Of course I do.” Her eyes softened at the memory.

  “My little social butterfly,” Clay reached across the table for her hand.

  “My little wallflower,” she responded with a laugh.

  “Good evening,” a voice boomed between them. “I’m Becky and I’ll be your waitress tonight.” Her smile was big and her teeth, a perfect shade of white. Her long black hair was pulled into a slick ponytail that accented her cheekbones. She wore a white button-down shirt and black slacks. Caroline noticed that she wore a black bowtie as well and thought to herself how cute it looked.

  Becky gently placed a small wicker basket in the center of the table before asking, “Can I start you off with something to drink?” She looked from Caroline then back to Clay.

  Clay looked at Caroline. “Care, would you like some wine?”

  Caroline took a quick breath. She hadn’t even looked at the wine menu yet. “Um, sure. Do you have any recommendations? I like the sweet stuff,” Caroline said with a chuckle.

  Becky smiled and her large hazel eyes seemed to smile as well. “We have a really nice Riesling or a Gewürztraminer. They’re both really sweet.”

  “Which one do you prefer?” Caroline wondered.

  “Um, personally, I like the Gewürztraminer the best.”

  Caroline eyed Clay who nodded his head in approval. “Okay. Let’s do that,” she chirped.

  “Would you like a glass or a bottle?”

  “We’ll take a bottle, thanks,” Clay answered.

  “Great, I’ll be right back.” Becky turned to walk toward the large oak bar.

  “Happy birthday, baby.” Clay looked longingly into her eyes and Caroline felt herself get uncomfortable as thoughts of Jackson invaded her mind with a vengeance. She struggled to fight them off.

  “Thanks, babe.”

  Caroline peeled back the forest green cloth napkin in the basket and revealed a small loaf of fresh bread. The warmth rose briskly to her fingertips and she pulled her hand back.

  “Ah, that’s hot,” she waved her fingers back and forth.

  “I’ll get it for you.” Clay gestured politely as he tore a chunk from the loaf and placed it on a small plate. “Here you go, baby.” He scooted the plate toward her.

  “Thank you.” Caroline reached for the glass that held olive oil and poured a small amount onto her plate. “This is cute,” she said, referencing the hand painted olives and sunflowers that adorned the bottle.

  Becky quickly returned with the wine and two glasses. She placed a glass in front of each of them and proceeded to pour a small amount of wine into each one. Clay swirled the wine around in the glass and then sniffed it before trying the sample.

  Caroline grabbed her glass and took a sip. “It’s so sweet. I love it!”

  Becky stifled a laugh and turned her attention toward Clay, who smiled at his girlfriend. “It’s good, thanks.”

  Becky filled their glasses. “Are you ready to order or would you like a few more minutes?”

  Clay eyeballed Caroline. “I’m ready if you are.”

  Caroline nodded before ordering the seafood and pasta special. Clay waited until she handed the waitress her menu and then ordered some sort of fish dish that made Caroline laugh.

  She looked up, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “Sorry, that’s just a funny name.”

  Once Becky turned her back, Clay grabbed his wine glass and lifted it from the white linen tabletop. “Happy birthday, Caroline. I love you.” He smiled before glancing upward. “And cheers to you, Johnny. We miss you, brother. Wish you were here.”

  Caroline felt her chest deflate. “To Johnny. I miss you so much.” She tried to focus on her smile, but felt the moisture rushing to her eyes.

  “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make you sad.” Clay reached for her hand across the table.

  “It’s okay. It was a really sweet gesture.”

  “Know what you want for dessert?” Clay changed the subject, his voice bright.

  Caroline knew he was desperate for her to be happy on today of all days, so she went along. “I didn’t even look at the menu yet, but definitely something chocolate-y!” Her mind bounced around from thoughts of Johnny to thoughts of Jackson; two people who brought pain to her heart for vastly different reasons.

  “Chocolate it is, then,” Clay agreed.

  When dinner was over and Caroline had convinced Clay she couldn’t eat another bite of their chocolate lava cake dessert, he stood from the table and helped her to her feet.

  “I think that was the best meal of my life,” Caroline commented. “Thank you so much for dinner, Clay. This place is beautiful.”

  He kissed the top of her hand. “You’re welcome. Happy birthday.”

  As they walked hand in hand toward the exit of the restaurant, Clay started to reposition the jacket he was holding. “Here, take my jacket,” he said as he wrapped his suit jacket around her shoulders. “I want to show you one more thing.”

  “What is it?” Caroline asked, intrigued.

  Clay walked her toward the cliff edge of the restaurant as the sound of water crashing filled her ears. She listened to the ocean ebb and flow with harsh intensity and marveled at how much peace it brought her senses.

  Clay stopped at the balcony that overlooked the bluff and held her in the warmth of his arms.

  “You know how much I love you, don’t you?” he whispered into her ear.

  Caroline turned to face him. “Of course I do,” she told him convincingly, completely unaware of his intentions.

  Suddenly, Clay dropped down to one knee, and Caroline’s stomach turned with equal parts excitement and fear. He held open a dark box; even in the moonlight Caroline saw the contents sparkle wildly. He spoke words she barely heard over the sound of her own heart pounding in her ears.

  “Caroline Weber, will you make me the happiest man alive and do me the honor of being my wife?” She heard those last words loud and clear before the silence that followed.

  She was shocked and caught off guard. Then disbelief, happiness, sadness, excitement, fear, and elation dashed through her very being. Her mind raced through what felt like a million thoughts and questions simultaneously.

  He wasn’t supposed to be proposing already. It was too soon. She wasn’t ready. Did Clay really want to marry her? She didn’t deserve him. She was lucky to have him. Was this even what she wanted? How could this amazing guy want to spend the rest of his life with her? Was he crazy? She was definitely crazy.

  And then guilt crept inside her mind, quickly followed by images of Jackson.

  Jackson.

  The thought of him almost stopped her heart completely. Her knees started to shake forcefully and she reached for the cold iron railing, bracing herself against it. Another thought of Jackson caused her stomach to lurch violently and she briefly contemplated the notion that she might actually get sick right there on that balcony.

  How had she come so far from where she had always intended to be, which was right here, in this moment with Clay? She knew she couldn’t possibly tell him ‘no.’ How could she? Oh sorry, honey, but I’ve been talking to some other guy and I think I might really like him? Of course she had to say ‘yes.’ What other choice was there?

  It seemed as though minutes passed in Caroline’s hesitation to answer, but they were mere seconds in reality. She looked down at her boyfriend, who looked uncomfortable being on one knee, and told him with a smile, “Of course I’ll marry you.”

  Clay’s eyes lit up as he gently slipped the diamond ring onto her finger. Caroline marveled at how large the square diamond looked on her hand. She immediately understood why women fell in love with them. “So sparkly,” she said out loud, transfixed by its shine.

  Clay hesitated and then asked, “Do you like it?”

  “It’s unbelievable,” Caroline admitted, her eyes still glued to her left hand.

  Clay picked Caroline up in his arms, breaking her gaze. No longer bewitched by its sparkle her mind quickly returned to the image of Jackson’s face. Unable to fight her emotions any longer she allowed the tears to spill out.

  Clay kissed the side of her wet face and repeated, “I love you so much.”

  “I love you too,” she told him, as her heart sank.

  Chapter Ten

  Jackson looked down at his phone and felt his heart race as he saw Caroline’s name flash across the screen. He pushed the Talk button and said, “It’s stupid how happy it makes me to see your name on my phone.”

  She laughed slightly. “Hey, Jackson,” her tone of voice was apprehensive and he knew immediately that something was wrong.

  His heart raced wilder now and his stomach felt like it had dropped to his feet. “What’s up?”

  The pause between his question and her answer made his brow start to bead with sweat. He breathed quicker as he heard her blurt out, “Clay asked me to marry him last night.”

  Jackson leaned the back of his head against the wall harder than he had intended. He took a long, deep breath. “Well, what did you say?”

  She didn’t respond and the silence between them made Jackson nervous. His voice shook when he asked her again, “Caroline. What’d you say?”

  He heard nothing except the sound of her breath in his ear. He slammed his free fist into the floor beside him and shouted, “Caroline!”

  His voice broke as he pleaded one last time, “Oh, Caroline, what did you say?”

  He heard her swallow hard. “I said yes.”

  Jackson blocked out the sound of her tears as his heart felt like it stopped working and he struggled to catch air. His shock quickly turned to anger as he slammed his head against the wall one last time with such force that it knocked a picture down. It crashed down violently a few feet from where he sat, but he didn’t move an inch. “I have to go.”

  “Jackson, wait! I only…” He hung up before she finished.

  Dazed and heartbroken, Jackson walked somberly into the living room. He grabbed an old record and slid it from its protective white paper wrapping. Gently, he placed it on the now antique record player his grandfather used to own. He watched the record spin for a moment, fascinated by the way the needle of the player bobbed up and down with the grooves of the track.

  Then he walked into the kitchen, grabbed a shot glass out of the cabinet and a bottle of tequila. Jackson rarely drank to the point of getting drunk, but tonight—there would be no stopping him.

  Jackson lost himself in the old records, appreciating the music and songwriting of the past. Lyrics about heartbreak spilled from the speakers and Jackson did little to stop the tears. The picture of him and Caroline from the flight that day sat on top of the wood, a glaring reminder of what he’d just officially lost.

  “How could you?” he asked the picture. “You can’t want to marry him. You just can’t.” He poured the amber liquid into the tiny glass repeatedly, wincing with each one he threw down his throat. He rested his head on his forearms and let the tears spill out around him.

  Just then, his roommate Alex walked through the door. He heard the song blaring while outside and knew something was wrong. He saw Jackson sitting at the table, his head buried.

  “Parks?” Alex said, calling Jackson by his last name. “Man, you okay? What’s going on?” Alex walked toward the table and leaned against a chair.

  Jackson looked up from the table slowly. His eyes were beet red and his face was flushed. Pieces of dark hair appeared to be glued to his forehead. He poured another amber shot and chugged it without saying a word.

  “Enough with the tequila.” Alex grabbed the bottle, glanced at how much was gone and quickly put it back in the cupboard. “What happened, man? Talk to me.”

  Alex watched Jackson stare at the picture of him and Caroline, refusing to look away from the green eyes that looked back at him. Jackson rubbed her image with his thumb and started to tighten his fist. Just as quickly as the photo had started to ball up, he slammed it down against the flat table top and pressed his palm across it to smooth it back out.