Tiptoe Kisses

Chapter 27

Chapter 27

~Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does. Love is a battle, love is a war; love is a growing up.  ~James Baldwin

Taylor is anxious to return to work.  She goes to the conference room area ready for her and Santo's nine o’clock Skype appointment with their Miami division and Rhea comes in to bring her a file.  She lets Taylor know that Santo won't be back until Wednesday.  He’s stopped in Washington D.C. to visit Everett.  His cancer has returned and he’s really ill.  Taylor is sorry for Everett but she knows this means he’s with Alina and it turns her stomach.  She’s sure Alina is wasting no time crying on his shoulder and more than likely waiting for her husband’s demise.

Wilton comes in to assist on the conference call.  One of La Croix’s long term clients is threatening to pull his account.  He buys shoes from them for his beauty pageant contestants in Miami.  Their people in Miami have met with him several times but he wants the personal touch expecting Santo to come down.  Taylor decides she will go and Wilton is resistant to the idea but refuses to let her go alone.

Wilton insist they take two additional security guys with them and Taylor agrees.  He has already contacted Santo and although he’s doing what Taylor wants, Santo is suspicious of the situation.

They arrive in Miami the following morning, check into the Fontainebleau Hotel and change.    Wilton meets her in the lobby and they are driven to one of their boutique stores on Ocean drive to meet with the boutique staff and management. They end up spending more time than they anticipated with their Miami staff and decide to walk to their meeting with the beauty pageant client instead of waiting for their driver to take them.  The building they need to get to is several blocks away and Wilton makes a few calls as they walk along not realizing they are being watched the entire way.

They conduct their business promising to fix any problems with merchandise.   Both find it unsettling that the problems the client's company is having could have been resolved by phone.  Their meeting is over in less than an hour and they stop at the restaurant located in the building to get something to eat.

 “You know I’m surprised you agreed to have lunch with me.”  Wilton grins at her.

Taylor reaches across the table and grabs his hand to squeeze it.  “I miss you.”  She grins at him and she can see him physically relax.

“Are you sure, you’re not mad at me?”  I can’t take this anymore.  Wilton rubs his forehead.

“I know.  None of this is your fault.  Santo and I….our relationship is complicated.”  She shrugs.

“So un-complicate it, he cares about you.”  Wilton quietly tells her.

“You know, I keep hearing that from everybody but him.”  Taylor shoves her food around on her plate.

“Ok, so let’s be fair, how do you feel about him, have you told him?”   Wilton asks her.

“I…like I said it’s complicated.”  Taylor frowns.

“Taylor, don’t let it drag on.  It’s not good for either one of you.  You know there are rumors that you’re seeing Nathan again and that’s why you and Santo stopped seeing each other but you’re forced to work together.”  Wilton grins as he takes a bite of his food.

“That’s not true, any of it.  Where do people get the idea that Nathan is still in the picture.”  I haven’t seen him since we attended that foundation dinner.” 

“I know, but I suspect he’s the one keeping the rumor going.  He hangs around on the lobby level hoping to see you.”  Wilton has finished his meal and Taylor has lost her appetite.