A Silken Thread - Brenda Jackson [110]
She was about to go into the kitchen and prepare something for lunch when her doorbell rang. She moved to the door and glanced out the peephole and saw her visitor was none other than Griffin Hayes.
She opened the door and smiled. “Griffin, how are you?”
“I’m fine, Erica. May I come in?”
“Sure.”
She stood back and let him in and then she saw the strain surrounding his eyes. He appeared deeply worried about some thing. “Griffin? Is everything all right?”
He drew in a deep breath. “No. I’m trying to find April. Do you know where she is?”
“April?”
“Yes.”
Erica fell silent for a few moments as she contemplated his response. Of course she knew April and Griffin were acquainted but had never considered them as even friends. She did know April had had a crush on Griffin for years, although she was certain April wasn’t aware she had figured that out years ago.
Why was Griffin looking for April? She decided the only way to find out was to ask him. “Why are you trying to find April?”
He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand and then said, “April and I have been involved for about four months, and a few weeks ago she sent me a letter saying she needed space and didn’t want to see me.”
Of all the things Erica had expected to hear, that wasn’t it. “You and April have been involved?”
“Yes.”
She shook her head. “This is news to me.”
“She didn’t want to tell you until after your wedding.”
Erica was confused. “Why?”
“She was obsessed with not letting your mother find out. She figured as long as you weren’t married Mrs. Sanders would still harbor hope that something would develop between you and me. She thought once you were happily married then it would be okay to let everyone know.”
Erica nodded. She could see April thinking that way. For some reason April had always been afraid of her mother’s wrath. It was sad. “April should not have let my mom affect her happiness. Gosh, she’s loved you forever.”
The tightness around his mouth eased into a smile. “She said she has.”
“She’s not lying, although again because of my mother, she never wanted me to know. I figured things out on my own years ago, while we were still in high school. That’s the reason I made sure we called things off in your senior year before you left for college, in case you would be bold enough to let April know you were interested in her, as well.”
This time Griffin threw his head back and laughed. “You figured that out, too?”
“Yes, and to be honest with you, I really don’t know where April is, which is unusual. She hasn’t contacted me in a few weeks, and I’m concerned. In fact, I’m going to pay Ms. Connie a visit. Now your visit explains some things.”
“Like what?”
“Why April doesn’t want to be found. In her mind she’s probably thinking that since I didn’t marry I’ll pose a threat to your relationship with her, which isn’t true.”
Griffin nodded. “Yes, she actually thinks your mother can wield that much power.”
Erica shook her head. “Trust me, my mother has enough of her own problems to deal with at the moment.”
Griffin nodded again. “I heard about your parents. I’m sorry, Erica.”
“Me, too, but someone told me I had to realize their problems aren’t mine,” she said. “In fact I was told it really wasn’t any of my business.”
He gave a slight smile. “And I can just imagine who told you that.”
Erica smiled, as well. Yes, April had been the one to tell her that. So had Brian. Thoughts of him made her heart ache.
“I love her, Erica, and I’ve got to find her and convince her that no one is a threat to us. Do you know where she might be?”
Erica nibbled on her bottom lip. Yes, she had an idea. A few years ago she and April had purchased a house together in Hawaii. It was their “girlcave.” Under normal circumstances she wouldn’t divulge her friend’s whereabouts to anyone. But Erica had a gut feeling that this time was different.
“Erica?”
She looked up at Griffin and made a quick decision.
“April and I bought this place in Maui a few years ago and I have a feeling that’s probably where she is.”
An appreciative smile lit up