Page 4 of A Family Affair: The Plan
“I do. In fact, I think it could be a jackpot.”
2
Sam Harrington was a long way from Chicago. The multimillion-dollar condo, the cars, the who’s who client list. The wife. They were all gone, necessary choices required before he couldn’t recognize himself anymore. The wife—now the ex-wife—had been the most difficult and biggest surprise. He’d believed they shared common goals, values, a future. What he hadn’t understood back then was Celeste’s ability to persuade him thathervalues andhergoals were his.You could become the veterinarian to the most elite group in the city, she’d gushed, stroking his arm, her smile bright.People will do anything for their animals, and my friends will do anything for the doctor who takes care of them. Season tickets to basketball games, football, and baseball. Theater tickets. I do adore the theater. Anything you want, darling, just name it and I’ll get it for you.
And then there were the trips. Napa Valley, the Hamptons, Laguna Beach. We’ve been invited to Tahoe for four days. Let’s go. It will be great fun to hang out with the rest of them.
Ithadbeen great fun. Thefirsttime. By the fourth, it had turned boring. He missed working in a real clinic where he couldhelp animals: healthy, sick, injured. He missed the staff, the surgeries, having a purpose. A person can only drink so many scotches, attend so many events with back-stage-passes, eat so much caviar before it becomes tedious. Celeste loved it, and the more trips they took with her friends, the more celebrities they hung around, the happier she was.I love you, Sam. You are my whole heart, my soul, my very breath. You are my everything.Those words had mesmerized him, pulled him in, made him believe, especially when she eased her fingers around his neck, leaned on tiptoe and placed the gentlest kiss on his mouth.
Forever.
The chance of forever with Celeste had propelled him to leave the practice in Ohio, move to Chicago and start working for a friend of hers who owned an animal retreat and wellness center. Why hadn’t he asked for clarification on exactly what that meant? Why had he assumed it had to do with recovering from injuries and helping the animal heal—often after surgery? Why had he not evenconsideredthere would be bubble baths, painted nails, photoshoots, and aromatherapy? By the time he realized how miserable he’d become, he and Celeste were married, living in a place that was four times as big as the one he’d grown up in, with a personal chef, a housekeeper, a gardener, a dog walker, and a driver.
It had been useless to talk to Celeste about how he’d never pictured their life would look like this, how he wanted downtime and a career that mattered—how he wanted to spend time withher, minus her entourage and never-ending calendar of events. The woman he’d vowed to love forever couldn’t fathom why he wasn’t in love with their lives. She’d smiled up at him, pressed her small body against his, and whispered,Isn’t it all just magical?
Magical? No, he wouldn’t have called it that.
They’d been married ten months when Sam realized he needed to slow down and figure out where he was headed. Christmas in Magdalena could help him do that. The town where he’d grown up and the people who knew him would serve as solid ground to plan the next step of his life—one that did not include dog pampering and fake friends with nonstop social calendars. Besides, Celeste had never been to Magdalena and he wanted her to experience the quaintness of the town where he’d grown up and where their future children would one day visit. But when he mentioned the possibility, she’d scrunched her nose and shook her head.Sam. We have ski plans in Jacksonhole. Remember? You’ll get your snow and plenty of quiet time. You’ll have everything. We can’t turn down the offer again. Last time you had the flu, but this time we have to go.When she spoke in that sultry voice, her fingers trailing along his thigh, eyes shimmering with promise of what she’d do to him once he said “yes”, how could a guy resist?
He hadn’t been able to for a long time, but when the sleepless nights and the upset stomach started, followed by the nagging headaches that would not go away? He knew why, knew he had to do something about it, but it was his mother’s emergency hospital visit that brought it all into focus. Six days before Sam and Celeste left for a trip to Rome, his mother suffered a ruptured appendix and had to be rushed to the hospital.Cancel the trip,Sam had said.We’ve got to get home.
Home? Your home is here. With me. Your mother’s in the hospital and your sister’s on her way. They’ll take care of her and report back. She’d huffed, let out a harshAnd I’m sure your sister will have a thing or two to say about it.
Yes, his sister would have a lot to say about Sam no-showing, and he pictured his father’s scowl, but he’d ignored both and listened to his wife…gone to Rome…drank wine and ate pasta…explored the Sistine Chapel and attended Mass at the Vatican.But he knew before the plane took off for Italy that he’d made a bad choice, worse than wrong. He should have headed to Magdalena. Of course, his mother insisted she understood, said he needed the vacation, especially when he was so busy with work. What work? Catering to dogs and cats who weren’t allowed tobedogs and cats because of their neurotic owners? Sure, he got money and upscale dinner invitations from a list of who’s who, but so what? It was all fluff and he’d never felt more useless in his entire life, not even when he broke his arm and couldn’t work the summer he turned sixteen.
He shouldnothave listened to Celeste. No, he should have gone to Magdalena, with or without her. But he couldn’t one-hundred percent blame her because he’d let her convince him she was more important than his family. Had he dreaded facing his father again and had that played a part in staying away? If he dug deep enough and examined the possibilities, he’d have to admit that was part of it. His mother’s emergency and his reaction to it, forced him to open his eyes and take a hard look at the woman he’d married—what was important to her, what she held onto, and what she could discard—including her own family. If she could ignore herbloodrelatives, then what abouthisfamily?In-laws are a necessary yet unappealing inconveniencehe’d once heard her tell a friend. But maybe he would have convinced himself they could get through their differences if the truth about her expectations hadn’t leaked out one dreary winter night.
I’m so excited to try out this new restaurant. Everyone says it’s on par with the Oak Bench.
It was the fourthmust attend and can’t be missedin eight days. When was it going to stop? Would iteverstop? He’d sunk onto the king-sized bed, tie in his hand, shirt unbuttoned.
Sam, what’s wrong?
He’d looked at her and told her what had been resting in his heart for the past five months.Everything. Every. Damn. Thing.
She’d stood next to the bed, beautiful and elegant in a black dress and pearls, pink lips pulled into a frown. I don’t understand.
I can’t do this anymore. I just can’t.
Celeste opened her mouth to speak, closed it. Small groan and then,Is this about your mother?
Yes, it’s about my mother, but it’s about everything. Our life. This life. How can you stand it?He’d slashed his hand in the air, pointed to his suit jacket hanging a few feet away.It’s like we’re on display. Why do I feel like I’m always auditioning for a part, one you’re trying to get for me? I just want to be myself.
Yourself? And who is that? Do you even know?
She’d stepped back from the bed, green eyes signaling an “unhappy” look.We’re so close to the life we’ve always wanted and yet I feel you’re always fighting me. Why can’t you just accept the help and let people in? Become part of the team? Is it so much to ask?
I became a vet because I loved the animals, helping them and giving them a better life. I didn’t become one to turn them into four-legged humans in designer outfits. I don’t want this job anymore. I’m going to find something meaningful, something real.
You mean like your father’s practice in that little town you call home? Your home is here, Sam. Here, with me.A huff as she stepped into one black pump, then the other.And you can’t just quit. Stan did us a favor and you plan to show your gratitude by quitting?Those green eyes sparked, her voice sizzled with anger.I don’t think so.
It was then that he realized he didn’t belong with her, despite the fact that he’d never bailed on his commitments or quit whenit became difficult.Where are we headed, Celeste? What about us? What about a family?
She’d grown very still, her face pale, hands clutching her middle. Seconds passed before she spoke the words that would mark the end of their two-year marriage.I don’t think children are in my plan anymore.
Not in your plan? Were they ever in your plan?
She’d looked away, shrugged.I’m sorry, Sam.
