Read Begin Again: Short stories from the heart for Free Online

tomorrow. He wasn’t in the mood to socialize, hadn’t been for months. Three to be exact.
    But Eugenia wouldn’t let up, insisting Jack must attend, until finally he’d relented and agreed to make an appearance. A very short appearance. Richard had been quiet, not participating in his wife’s demand that Jack attend the party. Apparently, he still hadn’t told Eugenia about his failed matchmaking attempt.
    It was just as well. Jack didn’t want her eyeing him with sympathy or worse, pity. Nor did he want her trying to play the savior and attempt to patch things up with Sam.
    There was no patching up to be done. You couldn’t patch a crater and that’s how large the hole was in Jack’s heart. Pain seeped through his brain in dribbles at the thought of her. She’d lied to him. Sure, she hadn’t come right out and denied anything, but by not telling him she was Richard’s niece, she’d lied. He’d almost let himself care about her and just when he’d realized he wanted her, needed her even, he’d discovered the truth.
    And now he had an even bigger problem which lurked in the shadows, jabbing at him for the tenth time that day. Would she be there? Would Sam risk running into him? Of course not. She was probably living it up in the Big Apple, having long since forgotten him.
    He cursed and wished he could say the same.
    ***
    An hour after he arrived Jack was ready to leave. From the moment he’d stepped onto the marble foyer of the Deeling’s residence, he’d been the center of attention. Everyone wanted to see or talk to the new president of Deeling & Associates and Richard seemed quite content to let the crowds swarm around his successor.
    Jack smiled, shook hands, exchanged pleasantries, shook more hands and smiled some more. He even managed to grab a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. But now he needed a break before the walls crashed in on him, one pasted smile at a time.
    Spotting a French door several feet away, Jack worked his way to it and sneaked onto the veranda. Thank God for summer heat and air conditioning. No one wanted to see him badly enough to leave the comfort of cool air. Alone at last. He looked around for shade and decided on a huge, old oak tree.
    Then he saw her.
    She stood in the distance, looking toward the blue horizon. Alone. Somehow it wasn’t how he had pictured her. He walked toward her, stopping a few feet away.
    “Hello, Sam.”
    She stiffened but didn’t turn around. “Hello, Jack.”
    “How’ve you been?” The question was so inadequate after all this time.
    “Fine, thank you,” she said automatically. “And you?”
    “Fine.” He continued the urbane ridiculous pleasantries. I’ve been dying inside since you left. Can’t you tell?
    “Congratulations on your new position. You’ll do a great job.” The softness of her voice wrapped itself around him.
    “It’s a great opportunity.” Did you mean it when you said you loved me?
    “And you didn’t have to marry the ice-princess after all.” Her laugh fell out short, stilted.
    “Sam.” Jack reached for her, turned her toward him. Her face was wet with tears. “Don’t cry. Please, don’t cry,” he murmured as he bent to kiss away the tears.
    His mouth covered hers, offering comfort and tenderness. Sam swayed toward him as he pulled her into his arms, deepening the kiss, trying to wipe away the pain and hurt between them.
    “I’m so sorry,” he murmured against her lips. “I was such a stubborn fool.” He pulled away slightly so he could look into her eyes. “I’ve been miserable with missing you, miserable with wanting you.” His voice was low, aching with need. “I love you. I have for a very long time. I was just too much of a fool to admit it, even to myself. Life’s been hell without you.”
    Sam reached up to stroke his cheek. “I love you too, Jack. That’s why I had to leave.” A stray tear escaped, trickled down her cheek. “I didn’t want you to make a mockery of what I felt