Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

Crystal

I could kick myself. The perfect opportunity to get to know not just Mayson but Orion as well had presented itself, and I couldn't stay awake. If I had slept on the jet, then I could've attended the gathering. Then again, if I had been asleep, I never would have talked to Kathy like I did. She most likely wouldn't have invited me.

But today was another day, and I was more than just rested. I was determined to see Mayson again. He didn't give me his cell phone number, but I had the next best thing. Kathy's.

It was nine in the morning. That couldn't be too early to call. Dialing her number, I waited. It rang three times, and I anticipated voicemail. But instead, the line picked up.

"Hello Kathy. It's Crystal. I wanted to apologize again for yesterday. I really was looking forward to meeting everyone. Especially after all the wonderful things you told me about Raya. But the jetlag made it impossible. I'm so sorry that I missed it."

"This is Raya, and you didn't miss anything. Well, I guess you could say you missed the same thing Kathy did. Except that she lay on the couch while I went to get her some mint water, and when I returned, she was out cold. Still is. That's why I answered her phone," she said.

"Oh, I'm sorry to have disturbed you."

"No problem at all. I've been up for hours. Normally I'd be at work, but I have the next two days off in preparation for the wedding. But really, everything that can be done is done," she said.

"That's good. Now you can just relax."

Raya chuckled. "When you mean enjoy the fact that Kathy is sleeping, because when she wakes up, she wants to go dress shopping for the wedding. I told her not to worry about colors and to just get something she liked. Nope. She said it is tradition that the bride picks out something the wedding party hates."

I laughed. "I've been a bridesmaid a few times. I would have to agree with Kathy. I hated every single dress. The worst one was emerald, green taffeta. It had these huge puffy sleeves off the shoulder. If that wasn't bad enough, she also had our hair done. You know the big hair that is teased so much it takes a week to get all the tangles out."

"I love the color green."

Oh God. I just insulted her. "Green is a great color. Just not on me," I said quickly, trying to fix my mistake. Please don't let that be the color theme for her wedding.

"I have a green dress, but I must admit, the dress you described to me, well it... it sounds... horrendous. I hope you didn't keep it," she said.

"It was so ugly, that I couldn't bring myself to donate it either. But even though I try to forget what it looked like; I see the wedding photos on Facebook each year in our memory feed." More like nightmare feed.

" Thank goodness we don't have such issues here in Tabiq," she said.

"People don't post pictures?" I asked.

"We don't use Facebook. Actually, Tabiq doesn't use social media."

"Serious? Nothing?" I questioned.

"We use the internet for research. And of course, to keep up with world affairs, but for the most part, we are not tied to it. It was a bit challenging in the beginning. You know being so...disconnected, but after a year here, I love it. I come home from work, make dinner, and get to sit and enjoy it all together with my family."

"Sounds like you're settling in here nicely," I said.

"Yes. Never thought I would. I was happy living in the United States, and really thought that it was where I would raise Joey, my son. But even he has come to like it here. A lot of that has to do with Orion. He has accepted Joey as his own son," she said. "Oh, sorry. I'm rambling now."

"Wedding jitters. Very common," I said.

"Maybe. But since yesterday didn't go as planned, I am officially inviting you to dinner tonight. Are you free?" she asked.

"Oh, I don't want to intrude," I said.

"You're not. You're more than welcome. How about I ask Mayson to pick you up at seven? Would that work for you?" she asked.

This was the second chance that I wasn't sure I was going to get. "Yes, that would be nice. What can I bring?"

"Nothing. We have plenty of food."

"Okay. I will see you tonight. Thank you for the invitation," I said.

"My pleasure. I'll give your number to Mayson if that is okay with you. So, he can confirm the time if he is running late," she said.

"Of course. That's fine," I replied. And if he calls, then I will have his number as well.

I ended the call and placed my phone on the table before getting up. There was nothing for me to do until tonight. The view of the ocean was magnificent. What harm was there in slipping into my bikini and heading down to the beach for a swim? I needed to fill my time with something, and the beach might be a nice distraction.

It would be nice if I had some company to enjoy it with.

I needed to remember why I was here. To deliver a letter from Anya. Even if Mayson and I got along now, once he knew the real reason I was here, he wouldn't be as welcoming as he has been. And depending on what Anya said in that letter, the entire family might want me gone. I had to make sure that I didn't let myself get too friendly, or I might find myself getting hurt in this too.

As I stripped off my clothes to put my swimsuit on, my cell phone rang. Standing in my room naked, I picked my phone up, hoping it was Mayson. But it wasn't. "Hello Mr. Cain. Is everything okay?"

"Yes. Anya wanted me to check on you. Have you made contact with Mayson yet?" he asked.

"I have, actually. He will be picking me up tonight at seven and I will be having dinner with him and his family."

I could hear the shock in his voice. "Really? How did you manage such an invitation so quickly?"

"It was just luck. That's all." And I hope my luck doesn't run out.

" Then maybe you will be able to return sooner than we had hoped," he said.

"That would be nice," I said. "How is Anya doing?"

"She is stable. I believe your being in Tabiq is keeping her holding on. I know it was an unusual request, but she is very grateful you accepted it," he said.

"I will do everything I can to get him to read her letter. But as I said, Mr. Cain, it is Mayson's decision. I can't force him," I said. And in a foreign country, I wouldn't even attempt it. I had no idea what their laws were here, and I didn't want to find out the hard way that I had broken any of them. Especially since I had learned that Orion was the Vice President. If this went bad, it could end really badly for me, and not just Anya.

Oh, why did I agree to do this?

Maybe it wasn't too late to change my mind. I could go back to the States and tell Anya that I couldn't do it. Mayson and I never had the opportunity to talk. But just as I began to have my doubts, I received a text message.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO TONIGHT. SEE YOU AT SEVEN. MAYSON

This really sucks.

" Crystal, you said you were having dinner with the family. If you got them to welcome you in just that much time, then I know you can do this. I will call you tomorrow to see how it went," he said.

And I will be dreading that phone call.

There was something I still needed to do. Reply to Mayson.

I AM TOO. SEE YOU AT SEVEN.

I thought that would be the end, but he asked, WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW?

Standing naked.

GETTING READY TO GO FOR A SWIM. Do I? Should I? Why not? DID YOU WANT TO JOIN ME?

I wasn't sure if I wanted him to accept or not.

I WISH I COULD. I HAVE MEETINGS TODAY. BUT I'M FREE TOMORROW. WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT TONIGHT. HAVE A GREAT DAY.

Well now I knew if I couldn't get him to read it tonight, then maybe I could, tomorrow.

YOU TOO.

Still standing there naked, I looked at myself in the mirror. My bathing suit didn't leave much to one's imagination. And seeing him in his swimsuit was going to do the same for me.

I really should've invited him to lunch or something that required...clothes.

He said he had meetings today, otherwise, I would send him one more text suggesting we do something else. Anything else. But doing so was only going to draw attention to the fact that I was second-guessing my decision. I'd rather find another way to make it less awkward tomorrow.

Might even have to invite Kathy along. With her constant chatter, we might not ever make it to the beach.

I loved the water and if I were really on vacation, I would spend the entire time on the beach, but somehow, it had lost its appeal. Maybe it was the heavy weight of the real reason why I was here that ruined it. Or maybe it was the guilt that was starting to eat away at me. Everyone had been so nice to me, and what had I been?

I am fraud. A liar. And tonight, will just be more of the same.