Chapter 16

The friendship Sienna had thought to strengthen seemed to fall apart the second the airplane landed in Lexington. Brian disappeared after dropping her off at home. The daily visits she had come to expect from him stopped completely. When she called him, he would always tell her that he was busy and would call her back. He never did call back.

At the end of two weeks, Sienna figured out that he had chosen to cut himself out of her life to prevent further pain. As one last attempt to gain his friendship back, she went to his home and discovered he wasn’t there. She spent an hour sitting on his porch weeping. Afterwards, she resolved to not feeling sorry for herself and agreeing that it had been best for their friendship to end, especially if it had been causing him such pain. Later, she found out that the fundraiser he was planning was to be held in Atlanta.

“And,” AJ explained, “Leighanne’s co-chairing the planning committee. Brian asked her for help last week. I think he ran into her before the show in New York and asked her the next day. She agreed, and they’re holding it in Atlanta. More press, according to Brian,” AJ added.

Sienna tried not to let her disappointment come through in her voice. “Oh, well, I’m glad they feel comfortable enough to plan the event together. I’m sure it’ll be a success.”

“Sienna? Is everything okay?” AJ asked, concerned.

“Yeah, of course! Really, AJ, I’m glad that he isn’t pining after her like he did last summer, when I met him,” she answered, trying not to sound to fake cheery.

“Right. Well, babe, I gotta get going. I’m planning my own fundraiser for a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center for teenagers in West Palm Beach,” he told her.

“Wow, AJ! That’s fantastic! Tell me when and where it is, and I’ll be there,” she promised.

AJ told her he would then hung up.

July twentieth and Sienna’s birthday rolled around. She didn’t expect much at this stage in her life. She and Liv were going to go for dinner and celebrate. Howie had shown up in Lexington the previous night and would be joining them, too. Despite everything else, Sienna was truly thrilled that Howie made Liv happy and planned to celebrate that, too.

Thinking of dinner that night, Sienna wrapped up a bouquet and handed it to a customer, then cleared off the stems she had cut off. When the bell on the door jingled, she glanced up.

“Hey, Sienna! Happy Birthday! Got a package for you,” Tom, the FedEx delivery man who always delivered to her store, greeted her.

Sienna signed for the package, which was a slim, square-shaped box. She wondered who it was from and tried not to think of Brian. Besides, had she ever told him her birthday?

“Thanks, Tom,” she said and handed him a sunflower as she always did whenever he made a delivery. He grinned then left.

Glancing around the shop to see if anyone needed any help, Sienna quickly undid the brown paper wrapping to reveal a present wrapped in gold and green wrapping paper and a card. She opened the card first, and, despite everything, felt disappointed.

Dear Sienna,

I remembered your birthday was coming soon, and I saw this as I was walking to work a few days ago. It reminded me of you, and I hope you like it. I know we agreed not to keep in touch, so think of this as a final parting present. Besides, I missed that last birthday of yours when we were together, remember? Think of this as a make-up present for that time.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Always,

Joshua

Sienna smiled a little at the thought and carefully slit open the wrapping to reveal a dark blue box. She gasped when she opened it. A lovely gold chain holding a heart-shaped pendant with a diamond in the middle was nestled into the box. She closed the lid and placed the box into a drawer in her desk. The necklace was certainly unexpected, but the sentiment with which it was given was certainly one of the most thoughtful she had ever received.

The rest of the day, she spent with a smile on her face, and, when she got home after a fantastic birthday dinner with Liv and Howie, she noticed another package sitting on her doorstep. It looked as though it held clothing in it, and Sienna lifted it and carried it into the house.

After kicking off her shoes, she carefully slit the package open and plucked out a pair of earrings, delighted. She had wanted to buy them in May but hadn’t wanted to wreck her bank account by buying the white-gold swirls, studded with diamonds and sapphires. The next piece in the box was a portrait she didn’t remember having taken. It was of her and Brian sitting on his porch swing, grinning at each other as though they shared a private joke. It made her eyes sting to look at it and remember, so she admired the frame instead. Finally, she uncovered a videotape sitting at the bottom of the box.

Hopping up, she stuck it into her VCR and pressed play. There was static at first, then Brian appeared on screen. He sat in the grass in front of the garden they had planted together at his cottage. He smiled.

“Happy Birthday, darling. I bet you thought I’d forget, right? But, really, what kind of a friend would I be if I forgot your birthday? I hope you like the earrings. I remember you lusting after them, so I went back and bought them afterwards. Don’t tell me I shouldn’t have. I’m embarrassingly wealthy and have no one to spend it on anyway. And that picture? AJ took it when he was here and gave me a copy when we were in New York. Ah, remember those days?

“You’re probably wondering why I haven’t called or come by to see you in the last couple weeks. I decided to have the fundraiser in Atlanta because there’s more opportunity for press. Besides that, I’ve made it a whole formal event—the wealthier the person, the more they’ll give the Hearts Club. Anyway, so I won’t be back for a while. Plus, I’m thinking about moving back into my estate outside of Atlanta, too. I think enough time’s passed, and I feel good about it.

“Did I ever tell you how I want to do a gospel album? Well, I do, and I’ve talked to a couple record companies about it. Wish me luck, baby,” Brian added with a grin. “So, thanks for the last year, and maybe I’ll see you sometime. Happy Birthday, Sienna. May all your wildest hopes and dreams come true this year!”

And the tape ended, leaving Sienna staring at the screen with a profound sense of loss. Her wildest hopes and dreams? None of them made sense if he were to leave, she thought. I have to get him back—no matter what I have to do. Then, she realized the real reason she needed him back. Because that was it. She needed him just as much as he needed her. There was only one thing to do. It was time for her to go get her Prince Charming—as goofy as he could be.

Sienna called the Healthy Hearts Club for Kids office and asked for the date, time, and location of their fundraiser in Atlanta. She was told it would be held on August 21 in the ballroom at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Atlanta at seven in the evening. Knowing that it was to be a formal event, Sienna bought herself a dress—one that matched the earrings Brian had given her.

Because every flight she tried to book for August twenty-first or the twentieth was full, Sienna ended up driving down to Atlanta on the twentieth and checked into the DoubleTree just blocks away from the Hyatt. The day of the fundraiser, she slipped into the dress, put on the earrings, and placed a check, for ten thousand dollars made out to the Healthy Hearts Club, in her purse. Then, she headed to the Hyatt.

The anteroom of the ballroom was well-decorated with dozens of pictures of children from the hospital, Brian with the kids, and the names of various other sponsors of the organization. Sienna noticed a recent picture of Brian holding a toddler and standing with Leighanne. They looked like the perfect family, and, though she knew Leighanne had her own family, Sienna couldn’t help but be jealous of what the picture seemed to imply.

She made her way into the ballroom where the décor was red Hearts Club balloons, and red and white rose arrangements made up the centerpiece on each table. There was an area for dancing, and, next to a podium set on stage in front of a large, projection screen, a string quartet played. The other men and women milling around were dressed in expensive, fashionable clothing. She found a table towards the back that was mostly empty, save for an older couple, who she immediately struck up a lively conversation with. While she spoke about what she did and how she thought the Hearts Club was a great cause, she couldn’t help but think of when she would see Brian.

Brian stood backstage, tugging at the tie he wore and fussing with his tuxedo again. Leighanne noticed and made a tsk-ing noise and brushed his hands away.

“Honestly, Brian. You need to relax,” she reminded him for what seemed the hundredth time that evening. “Everything is going smoothly. The catering staff is serving appetizers and drinks, and dinner is nearly ready in the kitchens. By the time you’re done with the speech, everything will be in place. So, again, relax!”

“I know, I know. It’s just, well, I haven’t done one of these in a few years. I let Mom do them. I think I’ve lost my touch for being in front of a crowd,” he muttered.

Leighanne straightened the tie and stepped back. “There. You look great,” she reassured him, patting his cheek. “You spent ten years on stage, Brian. Just remember, you’re not doing this for yourself. You’re doing this for the many children who will benefit from the research the donations tonight will fund. Just be yourself, and everything will be fine,” she promised.

Brian nodded and glanced at his watch. “Okay then, pal,” he murmured to himself. “It’s show time!”

When he looked around for Leighanne, she had disappeared. Telling himself that everything would be fine, he stepped out onto the stage and made it to the podium.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Fourth Annual Healthy Hearts Club fundraiser and the first we’ve held in Atlanta. Thank you all for being here tonight for this very worthy cause,” he said, realizing that he was really getting back into the groove again.

He thanked some of the corporate sponsors then introduced a short film, which documented the purpose and progress the Club was making. There were interviews with some of the children from St. Joseph’s Hospital and researchers from the labs Brian directed funding towards.

During some of the more candid and heartbreaking interviews with the children, Sienna looked around and noticed some of the elderly matrons dabbing at their eyes. Good, she thought. At least we can count on them donating generously. At the end of the film, Brian turned back to his audience.

“As you can see, the Healthy Hearts Club for Kids really does benefit children who need assistance to live. Every dollar donated to the Club goes directly towards helping those children who cannot afford treatment and to the Styrius Labs, which work directly with St. Joseph’s and the Club. Again, I’d like to thank you all for being here tonight. If you’d like to donate, there are collection boxes set in each cluster of tables. I urge you all to enjoy yourselves for the rest of the night. I know for a fact that dinner is delicious, so don’t hold back.” When he heard the laughing, he smiled. “Thanks everyone and bon appetit!”

During dinner, Sienna watched as Brian made his way around to various tables, but, before he could make it to her table, he was called over to a group of important-looking men and women. Sienna shrugged and thought it was probably a good idea he hadn’t seen her yet. It would ruin the well-rehearsed speech she had prepared for tonight.

After dinner, couples began dancing, and Sienna made her way towards the front where she could see Brian talking animatedly with another couple. As Sienna watched, a petite blonde woman came up to him and whisked him onto the dance floor. When she got closer, Sienna realized it was Leighanne who danced with Brian, and her steps faltered.

“Excuse me,” a handsome man leaning on a cane interrupted her panicky thoughts of leaving. “I know it doesn’t look like it, but I can dance pretty well. Would you please dance with me?”

Sienna smiled. “Of course. I’m Sienna, by the way,” she introduced herself.

“I’m Daniel,” he told her as he set the cane down and led her onto the dance floor.

They had been dancing for about a minute and talking about the imminent success of the fundraiser when they were interrupted.

“Dan, you crazy man! What are you doing dancing with a woman who’s not your wife?” an amused female voice said.

When Sienna turned around, she realized it was Leighanne, and Brian was with her. He simply stared at her in shock. When Sienna smiled at him tentatively, his look turned easygoing again.

“I’m Leighanne,” Leighanne introduced herself to Sienna. “This one, who shouldn’t be dancing, is my husband,” she explained, jerking a thumb in Daniel’s direction.

Sienna forced a smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Leighanne. I’m Sienna.”

“Wait! You’re not Sienna McKinnon, are you? Brian told me about you,” she explained. “You didn’t know who he was, which thrilled him the first time he met you. You own the flower shop in Lexington, right? Jackie Littrell tells me you do a wonderful decorating job.”

Sienna nodded. “Thank you. And, yes, I really didn’t know who he was the first time I met Brian. Now I do, and, to be honest, it doesn’t make any difference to me.”

“Well good,” Leighanne grinned. “Would you mind switching partners, so I can dance my husband into a chair?”

Sienna barely nodded before Leighanne had whisked her husband away. Then she turned to look up at Brian.

“Well, I guess I’m dancing with you, now,” she said and fitted herself into his arms.

Brian said nothing for a few moments as he took in how she looked. Her hair was curled up into a bun, leaving some of it down to frame her gorgeous face. She wore a deep blue, strapless gown with the back mostly bare. Brian could feel her warm, smooth skin and tried not to think about how much he’d missed her during his self-imposed separation from her. Then, he noticed the earrings she wore and smiled.

“I guess you liked the earrings, huh?” he murmured.

She grinned up at him. “You shouldn’t have, but I must say I love them. Thank you, Brian. Really. I’m sorry to hear you want to stay in Atlanta.”

“Yeah,” he sighed. “I think it’s best. I like the cottage, but I missed my place here. It was the first home I ever bought. It has some good memories there.”

“Like Leighanne?” Sienna wondered. “How did you manage to resolve your feelings towards her and ask her to work with you on tonight’s event, anyway?”

Brian spotted Leighanne scolding her husband and smiled. “It was easy, actually. I saw her when I was getting AJ coffee before Chicago, and we talked for a bit. It wasn’t awkward at all. I met her daughter, who is a very adorable baby. She smiles all the time. Anyway, I realized that I felt nothing but a friendly caring for her, and I called her the next day and convinced her to help me. She and I planned the first fundraiser a few years ago, so it was like slipping into a familiar routine, and ta-da! Tonight’s fundraiser was successfully done.”

“Yes, it was,” Sienna agreed. “Everything went smoothly. Nice touch with the heartbreaking stories, by the way. I saw quite a few older women crying. I think you can rest assured that you raised quite a bit of money tonight.”

“Thank you,” Brian said, then frowned. “Sienna, what are you doing here?”

She blew out a quiet breath and smiled up at him. “I wanted to help out a friend, Brian. Why wouldn’t I be here?”

Brian shook his head. “No, really. Why are you really here?”

“Because I wanted to see you. I needed to see you, Bri. Just like I need you in my life,” she whispered. “The last few weeks have been horrible without you. It was like losing a limb, and I ached.”

Brian absorbed her words and the genuine feeling behind them. Finally, he thought, finally she admitted that she needed him. But, before he could reply, his walkie-talkie buzzed.

“Sorry,” he said to Sienna with a tight smile. “I need to take this.”

And he walked away, leaving her to stand alone on the floor, among dancing couples.

***

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