Kendall
(Sunday Morning)
I awoke in my spectacular bedroom, that I have come to think of as my room. I dreamt of Greyson, and the way he was my night in shining armor last night. He truly defended my honor. I still can't believe he flew home to be with me at the party.
I could never have gotten through that experience without him. I'm finding my life impossible to imagine without him in it.
I'm looking forward to going to White Rock Lake with him today after breakfast. This should be an interesting day—I can't wait to tell him my whole story. I'll start from the beginning, with growing up as a little girl in Austin, Texas, dreaming of owning an art gallery and ending with my broken engagement to Mark West. He deserves to hear the details from me.
I rose out of bed to get dressed and ready to take on this day. I was hoping today would be a better day and a new start, with only honesty between us. I'm allowing myself to be completely vulnerable. But I owe him the truth, especially after last night.
I descended the stairs with a little hop. I was super excited for my day at White Rock Lake. I heard Greyson on his cell phone in the foyer. He was talking to someone in a somber tone. I paused so he wouldn't see me. He was pacing back and forth, raking his hands through his thick dark-brown hair.
"I can't believe what you're telling me. I feel like I'm having a nightmare. There has to be a mistake! Noah is a great pilot. They'll find him, Savannah. Don't apologize for calling me—I'm glad you let me know. Noah was my best friend growing up. I knew him since I was three years old," I heard the smile in his voice as he reminisced. "I had plans today with a friend, but I'll cancel them and be right over." He quickly ended the call.
Who is Noah, and what happened to him? Who in the world is, Savannah? At least I know where I stand with Greyson. I'm the friend, he's going to cancel his plans with. He made me of no importance at all.
"Good morning, Greyson. I'm ready for our trip to White Rock Lake today." I acted my normal self. Not alerting him to the fact I had heard his conversation on the cellphone.
"About that . . . Kendall. I'm sorry, but I have to cancel our plans for today. I just got off the phone, with an old friend. Her husband, Noah Montgomery, was my best friend growing up. His airplane went down in a bad storm last night. His wife, Savannah, called to let me know they are conducting a search and rescue mission right now."
I hugged his neck. Being positive, I said, "They'll find your friend. Was he on a commercial plane?"
He blew out a loud anguished breath. "Noah owns his own plane and is a great pilot. He's loved airplanes and wanted to fly since we were little. The weather he was flying through was treacherous. They found pieces of his plane, and it doesn't look good."
He rubbed his stubbled face. "Savannah said soon they are going to start a search and recovery mission. Noah's parents have both passed away, she wants me to come sit with her to hear any news."
"You never had a chance to mention this best friend, before now." I remarked.
"Well, that makes two of us. We've both left out revealing important people in our lives." He winced right after he said it. He knew he was lashing out at me. But I knew he meant it. "Kendall I'm sorry. I didn't mean that, the way it sounded. Noah married my childhood sweetheart, Savannah. She was the love of my life. I never imagined she would get tired of waiting for me, but she did. It was a painful experience. My best friend married my childhood sweetheart. So that makes two of us, that have suffered heartbreak."
"So, why are you going to be with her?" I sounded embittered to my own ears. It was more of a rhetorical question, because I already knew the answer. I want to be understanding. This made no sense at all—after what Savannah had done to him.
"I know it's sounds crazy, but I still love Noah. He was like a brother. He's in trouble and he would do the same for me." Greyson was deluding himself. He was going for her, and not for Noah.
Noah isn't the problem. It hurts that he is going to be with Savannah. She was the one that got away. He's going to sit with and comfort her. I hope they find Noah alive. Because if they don't . . .
Greyson pulled me to him and kissed my forehead, lingering. He said he would call me tonight. He grabbed his car keys out of his jacket pocket and darted out of the door. He was headed straight to Savannah Montgomery.
I felt an intense, raw jealousy enveloping me. He chose to be with her over me. I was a friend he could cancel his plans with. Even after our shared kisses and last night's engagement party.
This is all too much to process. Before that phone call this morning—I thought there just might be a future for Greyson and me. But I can kiss that goodbye now. I went in the kitchen, where the rest of the family was gathered for an informal Sunday breakfast. The mood was extremely somber.
"Oh, sugarplum, I guess Grey told you the news about Noah Montgomery. It's just so awful. I hope they find him alive." Her eyes glistened with fresh tears. "He and Grey were like brothers, until he married Savannah. Grey was betrayed, by the two people he loved the most. It tore him apart, and took him years to recover." Ava was distraught and put her fork down, crying into her linen napkin.
Colton was visibly shaken, with his head in his hands. Andrea was comforting him and rubbing his back. I decided it was time for me to pack my things and go home. No one seemed to think it was strange that Grey was going to be with Savannah, except for me.
Ava tried to get me to stay, but I knew I needed to go home and be alone with my thoughts. Andrea gave me a sympathetic look. She knew what was really going through my mind. Ava had Mr. Carrington and Colton had Andrea.
The man I needed, was off comforting another woman and letting her cry on his strong shoulders. There was no one for me.
I went upstairs and packed my suitcase. I felt like I was at a funeral—I said my goodbyes and left. I waited, hoping Greyson would call. I got home and I cried until there was no liquid left in my body. I kept checking my phone and my voice mail.
I wanted so desperately to call him, but he said he would call. No phone call ever came like he promised—I cried myself to sleep. I woke up Monday morning still dressed from Sunday, with my cellphone clutched in my hand. He never called.
I decided to stop torturing myself. I needed to stop thinking about him . . . it was too painful. I decided to have a new attitude for work this morning. I did a wardrobe makeover and went into the gallery.
~***~
There was one benefit from the engagement party. Business has never been better. Curiosity seekers came to the gallery to see me, once the news spread of Saturday night's events. I'm glad I dressed up for work today.
Sheila was trying to figure out why business was booming today. This is the best we've ever done, besides an art exhibition. People made large purchases, and it was remarkable how busy we were. Just when I was trying not to think about Greyson . . .
"Did you see the news today?" Sheila was inquisitive, more so than usual.
"No, I've been too busy. Why do you ask?" She had my curiosity piqued.
"Your friend, Greyson, was on the local news. He was with Savannah Montgomery. Apparently, her husband died in a plane crash on Saturday night. She's from Dallas, and they were interviewing her. Greyson was by her side during the interview," Sheila informed me, while bracing for the fallout.
My face turned white as snow, and the room was swallowed up in my vision. I was gasping for air, but it felt like there was no oxygen in the room. I started to hyperventilate, and I lost consciousness. I woke up to Sheila and the rest of my concerned staff standing over me. Sheila called 9-1-1, and the paramedics were on their way. She didn't know what else to do.
The paramedics checked my vital signs and felt I was fine. They instructed me to go to the Emergency Department—if I have anymore fainting spells, or feel strange. I promised them that I would.
I know that I blacked out from the news that Savannah's husband died. And Greyson is right by her side. He never called me like he said he would, not once. It was all too much for me to handle.
The paramedics left, and my staff got back to work. I asked Sheila to stay for a private conversation. I told her my story about me and Greyson. I started with what happened at the Carrington Ranch picnic. She was shocked to hear about Mark and Victoria's engagement party. I told her about Sunday morning when Savannah called Greyson. I didn't leave out a single detail and I swore her to secrecy.
I desperately needed a confidant and a good friend.
"Oh, you poor thing. This story sounds like a romance novel—except they usually have a happy ending. I'm on the fence with the ending to this story." Sheila burst into tears. She is such a hopeless romantic and believes in happily-ever-after.
This story definitely didn't have a happy ending for me.
Then, I was called to the front desk for a surprise visitor. Sheila helped me reapply my makeup, and get myself together. I assumed, Greyson had come to see me. I excitedly walked out to the front of the gallery. An unexpected familiar face greeted me.
"Kendall I came to give you a comforting hug, as soon as I saw Grey on the News with, Savannah. It's so sad that her husband's plane crashed. I'm sure Grey will help her through this very difficult time. I was so worried about you." She took a breath. "How are you handling Grey being with his high school sweetheart. She will need a lot of Grey's help and his shoulder to lean on." Victoria was so fake.
"Thank you Victoria for your concern, but you can save it." I folded my arms. "I really don't need it and certainly not from you." I glared at her. The audacity of this woman never ceases to amaze me.
"I tried to tell you that all you will ever be is Grey's friend. Well, now you may not even be that." She had a good laugh. "Not if Savannah has anything to say about it. You just can't seem to keep a man, you poor thing." Victoria tsk'd, as she strolled out of the door.
"Hold me back Kendall—that girl is so spiteful. I'd like to put her back into whatever viper hole she crawled out of." Sheila was angry and ready to pounce on Victoria. She is truly a snake . . . she even has a slithery walk.
"She's right Sheila. I can't believe I'm actually agreeing with Victoria, but she's right! I've lost any chance of a future with Greyson by the changing of events." I struggled not to cry in front of everyone at the gallery. I held myself together.
Everything Victoria said was true. All that played in my head at that moment was the song by Shawn Mendes, Mercy. My poor heart can't take it anymore. The one man that I didn't want to fall in love with—holds a power over me that consumed me. Now, he has ripped my heart into shreds.
My cellphone ringtone abruptly ended our conversation. "Hi Kendall, it's Andrea. How are you holding up? I know this whole Grey and Savannah thing has to be tough for you."
"Hi, Andrea. I'm fine, I realize me and Greyson are only friends. I knew he never intended to get married, when I first met him. I'll be fine, thank you for checking on me. Please tell Ava and Mr. Carrington, I said hello." I kept the conversation short with Andrea. I didn't want anyone to know how I really felt. I wasn't ready to discuss this whole situation. Andrea is busy with her wedding preparations. Our friendship hasn't been the same since she got engaged. She is busy most of the time. I don't want to be selfish or seem jealous, but it is difficult. I had hoped my relationship with Greyson would have turned out differently.
I wouldn't let Andrea know my true feelings, just in case she mentioned our conversation to Colton, or the rest of the Carringtons.
At least I knew where I stood with Greyson. I got over Mark who was my fiancé. Greyson is my friend—I'll get through this, with lots of therapy. I never imagined Sheila being so sweet and supportive.
"Are you okay, Kendall? Do you want to grab some dinner?" Sheila was very concerned and gave me the most endearing hug. She was proving to be a true friend.
"I don't have much of an appetite right now, but I appreciate the offer. I'm going home to get some rest." I felt exhausted mentally from the events of the day.
I didn't hear from Greyson at all for the entire week. I guess he was so occupied with Savannah Montgomery. I kept myself busy with work and planned another art exhibition for next week. I did everything I could to keep busy and keep my mind off of him.
~Votes and Comments Appreciated~
Were you surprised about this twist with Savannah Montgomery? 🤔