Unfinished Business(69)

“It doesn’t matter.” She rose and went to her mother. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”

“I knew you would hate me—”

“No, I don’t.” She put her arms around Loretta and brought her close. “I couldn’t. The baby,” she murmured. “Will you tell me what you did?”#p#分页标题#e#

Grief, fresh and vital, swam through her. “I miscarried, just shy of three months. I lost both of you, you see. I never had all those babies I’d once dreamed of.”

“Oh, Mom.” Vanessa rocked as she let her own tears fall. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. It must have been terrible for you. Terribly hard.”

With her cheek against Vanessa’s, she held tight. “There wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t think of you, that I didn’t miss you. If I had it to do over—”

But Vanessa shook her head. “No, we can’t take the past back. We’ll start right now.”





Chapter 12




She sat in her dressing room, surrounded by flowers, the scent and the color of them. She barely noticed them. She’d hoped, perhaps foolishly, that one of the luscious bouquets, one of the elegant arrangements, had been sent by Brady.

But she had known better.

He had not come to see her off at the airport. He had not called to wish her luck, or to tell her he would miss her while she was gone. Not his style, Vanessa thought as she studied her reflection in the mirror. It never had been. When Brady Tucker was angry, he was angry. He made no polite, civilized overtures. He just stayed mad.

He had the right, she admitted. The perfect right.

She had left him, after all. She had gone to him, given herself to him, made love to him with all the passion and promise a woman could bring to a man. But she had held back the words. And, by doing so, she had held back herself.

Because she was afraid, she thought now. Of making that dreadful, life-consuming mistake. He would never understand that her caution was as much for him as it was for herself.

She understood now, after listening to her mother. Mistakes could be made for the best of reasons, or the worst of them. It was too late to ask her father, to try to understand his feelings, his reasons.

She only hoped it wasn’t too late for herself.

Where were they now, those children who had loved so fiercely and so unwisely? Brady had his life, his skill, and his answers. His family, his friends, his home. From the rash, angry boy he had been had grown a man of integrity and purpose.

And she? Vanessa stared down at her hands, the long, gifted fingers spread. She had her music. It was all she had ever really had that belonged only to her.

Yes, she understood now, perhaps more than she wanted to, her mother’s failings, her father’s mistakes. They had, in their separate ways, loved her. But that love hadn’t made them a family. Nor had it made any of the three of them happy.

So while Brady was setting down his roots in the fertile soil of the town where they had both been young, she was alone in a dressing room filled with flowers, waiting to step onto another stage.

At the knock on her door, she watched the reflection in the dressing room mirror smile. The show started long before the key light clicked on.

“Entrez.”

“Vanessa.” The Princess Gabriella, stunning in blue silk, swept inside.

“Your Highness.” Before she could rise and make her curtsy, Gabriella was waving her to her seat in a gesture that was somehow imperious and friendly all at once.

“Please, don’t get up. I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

“Of course not. May I get you some wine?”

“If you’re having some.” Though her feet ached after a backbreaking day on her feet, she only sighed a little as she took a chair. She had been born royal, and royalty was taught not to complain. “It’s been so hectic today, I haven’t had a chance to see you, make certain you’ve been comfortable.”

“No one could be uncomfortable in the palace, Your Highness.”

“Gabriella, please.” She accepted the glass of wine. “We’re alone.” She gave brief consideration to slipping out of her shoes, but thought better of it. “I wanted to thank you again for agreeing to play tonight. It’s so important.”

“It’s always a pleasure to play in Cordina.” The lights around the mirror sent the dozens of bugle beads on Vanessa’s white dress dancing. “I’m honored that you wanted to include me.”

Gabriella gave a quick laugh before she sipped. “You’re annoyed that I bothered you while you were on vacation.” She tossed back her fall of red-gold hair. “And I don’t blame you. But for this, I’ve learned to be rude—and ruthless.”