Page 60 of The Heiress
The Leo Jacques Pavilion which housed the indoor courts at the Country Club was named after Alize Jacques’s late husband. A stalwart at the Club, she was a keen club player and follower of tennis and had taken Taylor under her wing. Shedidoffer me a glass of iced tea and insisted I sit and talk tennis with her. Apart from telling me how well I looked, she didn’t dwell on my return to the sport, instead discussing the latest tournament results.
As I waited for Max to finish up, I checked my phone. I’d texted Mom that I was with Max, assuming she’d relay the message to Elisha. I didn’t say to specifically tell Elisha, but hoped she would. I didn’t want Elisha thinking I’d ditched her. Mom’s reply was a thumbs up emoji, so I was none the wiser.
Max wanted me to go to lunch with him and Taylor, and though I was in a hurry to get home to see Elisha, I relinquished. It would seem weird if I declined, he’d want to know why and ask too many questions. I texted Mom that we were going to Peter’s Ice Cream Shoppe over in River Valley, and once again she sent me an emoji in reply, this time a smiley face.
Trying to leave Max and Taylor was harder work than I realized. It was like I was stuck to them like glue.
As soon as I’d finished my burger, I said, “I should get going, give you lovebirds some alone time.”
“Hey, no,” Max said. “We can hang out some more.”
I eyed Taylor, trying to gage her reaction, but she was in full support of Max. “Yeah, we can hang out. We could play some tennis?”
“I’m seriously still sore from yesterday.” I wasn’t afraid to admit it if it meant I could get home sooner. “I think I need a rest day.”
“Yeah, of course, sorry,” Taylor said. “But you’re okay? No injuries?”
I shook my head. “My muscles are just not used to it. I probably should rest,” I said again.
“We can just hang at home,” Max said. “Play some games?”
I could see what he was doing—still doing—and I needed to put my foot down. “Hey, I don’t need babysitting,” I said, “you two go and do...” I rolled my eyes in a mocking way, “...whatever it is you do when you’re alone.”
I think I embarrassed Taylor because her cheeks turned pink and she lowered her head and said, “Like discuss tennis stats?”
“Sure,” Max said with a laugh, draping his arm around Taylor’s shoulders and planting a kiss on her cheek. “Tennis stats, babe.”
In that moment, I was insanely jealous. One, because he called Taylor babe, and two, he’d kissed her so easily, so naturally. My heart ached for Elisha, for what we’d shared last night, and what I hoped we’d share again.
My getaway wasn’t quick. I’d forgotten Max had ordered an ice cream sundae which I was forced to eat. Well, forced is a strong word—I ate it willingly, Rocky Road being one of my favorite flavors.
Nerves were rife as I drove home, similar to the first time I’d driven on my own after the accident. The anticipation of seeing Elisha had my stomach churning, my heart racing and my hands sweating as if it was a summer’s day.
Mom’s car wasn’t in the garage, and that sent me into a near state of delirium—Elisha and I would be alone! Maybe we could hit the plunge pool again. I walked into the kitchen, catching sight of a large bouquet of flowers on the dining table as I dropped my keys on the counter. I smiled, wondering if it was a gift from Mr. Frank. Though Max’s suggestion that Taylor could become my step-sister seemed pretty fantastical.
I made a bunch of noise, opening the door out to the patio, going into the gym and loudly closing the door, hoping to draw Elisha out of her room. I stood quietly at the bottom of the stairs, ears alert, but was met with a deafening silence. My heart dropped as it seemed likely Elisha had gone out with Mom.
I changed into my workout gear and started pedaling gently on the exercise bike, not too much effort or strain on my hips, filling in time. A text to Mom remained unanswered, and every time I heard a noise I held my breath in the hope Mom and Elisha were returning. With the sound of the garage door opening, my heart raced to somewhere in the danger zone.
I jumped off of the bike, meeting Mom in the hallway.
“Hi,” I said, surprised to see she was alone. Well, not surprised—more upset, distressed, confused. “Uh, where’s Elisha?”
Mom’s brow furrowed. “She’s not here?”
“I don’t think so. But I haven’t been upstairs.”
I followed Mom down the hallway, willing her to go upstairs and check Elisha’s room, but she moved through to the kitchen. Settling her handbag on the counter, she rummaged in it for a second before saying, “I went to see your father.” Only then did she establish eye contact. “We talked about the lawsuit.”
I blinked in stunned silence, recognizing the courage it had taken Mom to confront Dad.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I eventually managed to say.
“Because it’s not something I want you to worry about.”
“But I don’t want—”
“Shhhh,” Mom hushed me, holding her finger up to her pursed lips. “Phoenix, it’s for your father and me to deal with. Not you.”
