Family Pieces (13 page)

Her visit at the hospital was brief. Her dad had already returned home for the night and her mother slumbered peacefully. Addison pulled a chair beside the bed and sat in the dark. Her mother looked frail. Not the perfectly manicured, upscale wife and mother she’d always portrayed. Lying in bed, she looked powerless. Her face showed her age without the layers of moisturizer and make-up.

Addison’s heartstrings had wavered ever since the day she had learned of her adoption. She reached across the bedrail and held her mother’s hand as she slept.

“I know you love me, Mom.” She paused to see if she would wake. “I just can’t help but wonder if you ever regretted me. You and Dad were always so wrapped up in work and events. I spent more time with Nanny Marie than you sometimes. If my ‘real’ mother could give me away, maybe you wanted to, as well?” There were moments Addison felt her parents adopted her only to complete the family portrait – mother - father – baby – not because they longed to be parents.

Her mom stirred, but did not open her eyes.

“I know I should be thankful, and I am. You’ve given me a life most people can only dream of. But, is it wrong that I still wonder how my life could’ve been different?”

Addison closed her eyes and thought back for a brief moment to the one time she attempted to reconnect with her biological mother. As a teenager, she had even taken a bus across several states. “I went to find her once, Mom. I never told you and Dad.” The twelve-hour trip proved pointless. On the ride there she kept imagining the reunion in her mind. Her real mother opening her arms to embrace her, tears falling as she admitted her grueling guilt over letting her go. Lucky for Addison, the school was too afraid of a scandal. Since she was already back safe and sound by the time they figured out she was gone, they punished her but didn’t tell her parents.

“I thought if she could only see me, that she’d take me in. I was so young, so naive.” The loving reunion never occurred. As Addison approached the house number she’d written down on a scrap of pink paper, she witnessed a scene she hadn’t imagined - a mother in her mid-thirties playing lovingly with her two children. With Addison’s limited exposure to young children, she roughly estimated them to be around the ages of two and four. What was clear to her was that her mother – the mother who gave up one child – had moved on. Addison obviously represented the past, a mistake long forgotten.

“I love you and Dad more than I can express.” Addison held her mother’s hand firmly.

Her head fell forward and her neck responded by snapping it up with a sharp jerk. Realizing she must have dozed off, Addison looked at the time. She was late. She kissed her mother goodnight and silently promised herself she’d visit again tomorrow.

Addison hailed a taxi outside the hospital, an easier feat than on Madison Avenue. As the driver attempted small talk, Addison primped. A dab of berry-stained lip color and a fresh pat of powder refreshed her face. A quick spritz of cucumber melon body spray and she felt awake again.

Her cell phone rang and Emily’s name appeared on the screen. Having initiated the contact, she had to answer.

“Hello?”

“Addy?”

“Hi, Emily. You got my message?”

“Yes. I’m glad you called. I’ve missed you. Adelaide missed you.”

“I’m sorry I pushed you away. But, Em, I still don’t want to talk about it, okay?” Addison waited.

“Okay. Just remember that I’m here if you change your mind.”

“Thanks.” She saw the sign for the restaurant. “Ems, I hate to cut this short but I’m meeting someone for dinner and the taxi just pulled up.”

“No worries, I understand. Is it a date?”

“Actually, yes. It’s with Russell from the charity fundraiser.”

“Well, good luck. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” joked Emily. Addison laughed.

“Hey, Saturday is your birthday right? How about I take Adie and you have a mommy day? I’ll buy you a trip to the spa for your birthday. What do you think?”

Emily typically hated when Addy offered expensive gifts, but she couldn’t help but beam over the thought of a day of pampering. “Sounds perfect!”

“See you then.” Addison hung up the phone. She felt better knowing she and Emily were back on the right track.

She could see Russell waiting as the taxi pulled toward the curb. Recognizing him was easy. His black hair was buzzed into a clean military cut. If there were any hints of gray, she had not noticed it. He was tall and well built. She remembered gazing up at him even when she was wearing five-inch heels the day they met.

She climbed out of the cab and adjusted her skirt, being careful not to over-expose her legs through its slit. Before she could turn to pay her fare, the cabbie drove away. Russell had paid the tab.
A nice gesture
, she thought.

“Hello, Russell. You didn’t need to take care of that, but thank you anyway.”

“My pleasure, Addison. Now shall we?” His hand gently found the curve of her lower back as he guided her through the door of the restaurant.

Typically, Addison felt at ease creating casual conversation, but Russell made her nervous. Her stomach churned with butterflies like a child before a first recital. The giddy feeling was a welcome change.

Luckily, Russell led the conversation throughout dinner. It was exactly the distraction Addison desired. His voice mesmerized her and she could have listened to him for hours. She’d been out with her share of men - actors, doctors, and lawyers - somehow Russell was different. His stories held her interest, far from the mundane resumes and self-indulgent conversations other dates had offered.

Time passed quickly. The restaurant cleared as they lingered over after-dinner coffee. Both seemed content to remain in each other’s company. Realizing tomorrow’s work pace would be relentless whether Addison’s love life sparked or not, she reluctantly started to say goodbye.

“I should probably get going,” she said, reaching in a sharing gesture toward her purse.

“Oh no, you don’t. Tonight is on me. You can’t seriously think I’d let you split the bill.” Russell motioned to the waiter for the check.

“Next time then,” she said, thanking him.

“Next time. I like that.” He smiled. Addison noticed his lips parted slightly crooked and wondered what other small details she would discover about him.

“Saturday?” he questioned, offering date number two.

“Can’t. I already have a date.” She could see his expression tighten. “A play-date.” She corrected. “My goddaughter. She’s awfully cute. I’d invite you, but she might smother you in kisses and I’d be jealous.”

“Really?”

“Don’t get too excited. She’s two. Her taste in men has not yet developed. She’s especially drawn to the four men who play the Wiggles.” They both laughed at the thought of four grown adults prancing around gaily in primary colored shirts.

The staff attacked their table like vultures the moment they stood up.

“Guess they want to go home.” Russell winked as he helped her on with her coat.

“Me, too. I’m exhausted.”

“In that case, let’s get you to bed.”

Awfully forward
, Addison heard her own voice in her head.

Noticing her caught-off-guard expression, he added, “I didn’t mean with me.” Her lips pursed in an embarrassed smile, showing a glimpse of her softer side. At the same time a warmth rose within her as she imagined what he’d be like in bed.

He assisted her into the next available cab. As she settled in, he leaned in and brushed her lips with the lightest kiss. She longed for more. He slipped his business card into her hand.

“Text my cell when you’re home so I know you’re safe. It’s on the card.” She nodded in agreement.

“Goodnight and thank you.”

“The pleasure was all mine, Addison. I’ll call you,” he said, shutting the door. She rather hoped he would.

Karsen didn’t know where to turn when she arrived back at her apartment. She tried Hanna’s cell. No answer. Her mom was gone. Her dad would sympathize, but not really understand and he had enough on his shoulders anyway. Brad. She’d dialed his cell then hung up. She didn’t want to hear I told you so. He’d never really expressed that before but she was certain he felt like it. Especially the time in high school when she’d found herself in a precarious situation at a party involving too much alcohol and a less than reputable male classmate. She and Brad had attended the party together. Yes, she had flirted with the guy and, yes, she shouldn’t have been drinking but he was forcing himself on her. She felt helpless, at least until Brad burst through the door and pulled the guy off. That moment she remembered vividly. The moment Brad saved her. And he had always been there to save her ever since.

Brad was driving when he saw her missed call. He immediately pressed her speed dial number.

“It’s over,” he heard through a muffled wheeze. He knew what she meant without any further explanation.

“I’m on my way.”

Brad flipped his phone closed.
Never mind the audition.
Irritation rose within him and he was uncertain whether the source derived from James or Karsen.
Family first.
There would be other auditions. He only had one sister and she needed him. At the next available opportunity, he made a U-turn and drove away from his dream.

Karsen had left the door unlocked. Brad entered, speaking soothingly.

“K, are you okay?” There was no reply. He could hear her sniffles from the bathroom. He moved quietly, trying to side-step the balled up tissues that covered the floor like a layer of fresh fallen snow.

“I’m sick. Physically sick.” Karsen’s knees were curled underneath her while her head hung over the toilet. She held her hair back with one hand, steadying herself against the rim with the other.

“It’s just your emotions taking over. You’ll be okay, sis.”

Brad grabbed a towel and wiped his sister’s face. He stumbled through tying her hair back like a father trying to put up ponytails for the first time.

“I thought he was the one.”

“I know.”

“I picked out a dress. I mean, not that he proposed. But two years we’ve dated. We’ve talked about it. He’s such a f’in liar!” Her sobs rose again.

“I know you don’t think so now, but this will all work out. It always works out for the best.”

“I wanted to call Mom. She knew, too. Why did everyone know he was wrong but me?”

“Because you loved him. He just wasn’t smart enough to know what he had.”

Brad helped her up and tucked her into bed still in her jeans and tank top. He pulled a chair from the kitchen table and sat watching over her until she finally drifted to sleep.

A light knock tapped against the front door and Hanna peeked through. “Karsen?” she whispered.

“In here,” Brad called softly. “She fell asleep.”

“Oh.” She kept her voice hushed. “I can take it from here.” She said in an effort to relieve him.

“It’s okay. I mean… I was on my way to an audition when she called, but she needed someone. I couldn’t not come.”

“Audition? What audition?”

“Nothing really.”

“Brad, what audition?” Hanna pressed.

“Well, there’s a new show coming out. A reality competition for stand-up comedians.”

“What? What are you doing here – go!” He looked perplexed. “I’ll handle this. We all knew it would happen sooner or later.” She quieted her voice even further to assure Karsen couldn’t hear. “I mean not in the beginning, but with his history and behavior lately… I just had a feeling.”

“I know. Me, too.”

“So, then what are you waiting for? Go!”

Hanna pushed Brad toward the door. He turned and spontaneously kissed her slightly, hitting the corner of her lips. Her eyes danced and her cheekbones lifted into a smile. “Go!”

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