CHAPTER 22

Landon has nowhere else to go. He didn't want to remain at the Palace knowing that anytime soon Lea and her friends would come out of the elevator. He thought of a place to go but failed to think of any. Most of the establishments at the downtown area were not yet opened even Enrico's House of flowers was still closed. Ricky and Alfonso were surely not yet awake. It was still early for them and likewise with Abby. After all the excitement and fun they had last night, Landon knew that they would still be sleeping.

After giving instruction to the front desk regarding the ride of Lea and her friends going to the airport, there was only one place that came to Landon's mind. It's the place he had been comfortable to go to for a month now. It's one of the places he could release all the worries and pain kept hidden inside his heart without worrying about what others would think.

"You told me before that if I found someone, it didn't matter if it would be a day after you're gone or years after," Landon said as he knelt in front of Theresa's gravestone. "I think that would not happen anytime soon," he added.

Landon silently caressed the gravestone with his right hand as he sat in front of it. His mind was still on what he saw and heard from Kevin. He couldn't believe what just happened. Of all the places in the world, why it had to be at the hotel? Of all the people in the world, why it had to be Kevin? Of all the time in the world, why it had to be now when he was ready to open himself again? Landon tried to find answers but couldn't. He couldn't even produce an excuse to explain the mess he got into. His mind has simply shut down.

Landon's mind wasn't the only one that's in a mess. His heart was more in a bad state than his mind. He wasn't angry at Lea. He wasn't even jealous at Kevin. Landon was simply shocked. It was as if his entire body and emotion numbed. He couldn't feel any pain, hatred or any other feelings. He couldn't cry nor smile. He was simply at a lost. He didn't know what to do. He didn't know what to say. He's at a lost.

Though in a terrible state, Landon still has the sense of obligation. He had given his word to Lea and her friends that he would give them a ride going to the airport. Now, he found himself in a dilemma. He's debating to himself whether to go back or not, whether to face them or not.

Landon has always been the type of man who fulfills his every word. His word has always been as sacred as his love. No matter how difficult the circumstances, he always found ways to fulfill his words to various people, from the guests of the hotel, beneficiaries of The Sea Heaven to the simple men and women of Myrtle Beach who're in need of help.

Landon has always exhibited such trait that people of Myrtle Beach have easily loved him. Furthermore, he has always been loved by people of Myrtle Beach not because of his star status but because of the many good deeds both he and Theresa done for Myrtle Beach and for the people. If he didn't decline the offer, his name would have been included at the short list of South Carolina Hall of Fame. Moreover, fame for him wasn't important. What he has been doing for Myrtle Beach, he and Theresa believed, was just returning the love they have been receiving from the people of Myrtle Beach.

An hour later, Landon arrived at Enrico's shop. As he entered the shop, he found Enrico and Abby planning out some details regarding one of Abby's floral concept designs for her client.

"What are you doing here? I thought you would give them a ride going to the airport?" Enrico asked Landon.

Landon didn't reply. He just approached them and sat on one of the empty chairs, wordlessly. He glanced at them and forced a smile. Abby and Enrico immediately sensed that something wasn't right. Knowing Landon for so long, he wasn't the type of a friend who wouldn't reply to a simply question.

"What's wrong?" Abby asked. Landon glanced away briefly before facing her again.

It took a moment for Landon to answer. "Nothing," he finally said, "I just asked the hotel to take care of their ride." He searched for the right words as he tried to escape their meticulous stares. "You know I hate goodbyes."

Enrico reached for his cup of coffee and took a sip, as he and Abby was waiting for Landon to continue.

"I mean, they have been great people. So far among the guests of the hotel whom Mavis had befriended, they're the best companions we ever had. It's hard to see people like them leave."

Enrico stared at him. "Is that the real reason why? Knowing you for so long, you don't back down from your word. And as far s I can remember, you gave them your word that you would give them a ride," he snorted.

"I did. I asked the staff to take care of their ride," Landon tried to reason out.

"What's wrong?" Abby asked again.

Reluctantly Landon considered what Abby asked. "I met Kevin at the hotel lobby," he slowly said.

Enrico held up his hands to stop him from continuing. "Who's Kevin?"

"Is he the same chef you have battled in many competitions before?" Abby asked.

Abby and Enrico had accompanied Landon to several of the culinary competitions he had joined. In some of those battles, they have met several chefs who had competed head to head with Landon. One of them was Kevin.

Landon simply nodded.

"So what's about that guy?" Enrico took another sip of his coffee.

"Wait! Don't tell me he's..." Abby reacted.

Landon again nodded as soon as he sensed that Abby got the whole situation. He turned to her with a sad expression, knowing she'd hit it right on the head. Abby had always an eye for puzzle. With just a few words, she'd uncovered the whole grasp of the situation. "He is," he confirmed.

Abby's eyes widened just a little. "Oh my God! Seriously, how could that be?" She placed her mug back on the table.

Enrico, who was still confused on what Abby and Landon were talking about, interrupted, "Hey, what's going on? Don't leave me hanging."

"Kevin is Lea's fiancé," Landon informed, "He was there to surprise her and give her the engagement ring."

Enrico was in the middle of taking another sip of his coffee and he inhaled a bit of it, causing him to cough four times as he expelled it from the wrong pipe. He brought his handkerchief to his face, his eyes watering. "So he was there to propose?" he asked.

"Not really..." Landon began to clarify, and then trailed off, not knowing exactly how to say it.

"What is it then?"

"I mean, he told me that he had already proposed to her before but the ring didn't fit her finger. Maybe the ring was smaller considering the size of her finger. He then brought it back to the shop for resizing."

Though obviously said in jest, Landon stiffened slightly.

"What the hell! She's just an opportunistic bitch!" Enrico loudly remarked.

"Hey now, watch your mouth." Abby pointed at Enrico. "We don't know yet the whole picture of what's going on."

"What's more to know? She hide that she had a fiancé and worst of all, it's that narcissistic guy, Kevin," Enrico commented.

"Is she to be blamed?" Abby asked conversationally.

"Of course!" Enrico declared.

Abby shook her head. "No! I have to disagree. Think about it for a moment." She paused. "Have we ever inquired about her status?"

"No. But that should already be given at the very start. If you have already agreed to tie a knot with someone, you have to distance yourself from other men."

"True! But was she flirting with Landon at all?" She turned her attention to Landon who was quietly listening to them. "Look, we only assumed that she was single. Did she show signs that she like him? We're the ones who have been pushing them together. In my eyes, she's a great woman. Moreover, I didn't see her initiated something to lit a fire between them."

Abby's right, Landon thought. Lea never projected that she wanted to be with him. Even at the shore last night, she was honest enough to inform him about her connection with Theresa. If she really intended to lie to him, Landon reminded himself, she shouldn't say it at all.

Landon cleared his throat. "Let it go. Besides, no one should be blamed," he began.

Abby and Enrico watched him carefully as he spoke. He was speaking slowly, as if gathering his thoughts, but they could see his reluctance on every line of his face.

"It's her prerogative if she wanted to tell us about her status or not." He hesitated. "I know that sounds defensive for her. But, it's not as if the world would crumble if she kept it from us. I mean, it's not a big deal. After all, we may still be strangers in her eyes." Landon swallowed hard, doing his best to calm them.

In truth, it was easier to defend Lea to them than it was to himself. In truth, he was more troubled than he let on. Even though he showed no expression of it, his mind was still searching for clarifications.

The finality of Landon's voice made it clear that the subject was closed to further discussion, although both Abby and Enrico suspected there was far more left to be said. They sat without speaking for a long time, enjoying the taste of brewed coffee in the morning.