Falling Awake(24)
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz

“If you really feel that way,” Isabel said quietly, “would you mind telling me why Farrell doesn’t want me here?”

Leila froze. “Of course he wants you here. Why do you say he doesn’t?”

“Call it a wild hunch but every time I run into him in the hall he seems to be looking for a way to avoid me. I get the impression that it wasn’t his idea to offer me this job.”

Leila’s mouth tightened. “It will work out.”

“Damn. I knew it. I was afraid of this.”

“Afraid of what?”

“You convinced him that he had to give me a job because I’m family, didn’t you?”

“For the past year, Tamsyn and I have been encouraging Farrell to add new courses to the syllabus. Kyler, Inc., must stay competitive. Classes in dreams are trendy. They’ll pull a new market.”

Her sister’s strange mood sent a trickle of unease through Isabel. “In other words, Farrell did not want to bring me on board as a new instructor. You and Tamsyn pressured him into it, didn’t you? No wonder he isn’t acting real happy to see me.”

“I wouldn’t worry about Farrell, if I were you.” Leila abruptly rose to her feet. “It certainly isn’t your fault if he isn’t happy. As far as I can tell, nothing pleases him these days.”

Isabel was shocked by the bitter edge on her sister’s words. “Leila, what’s wrong?”

For a moment she thought she was not going to get an answer. Then she saw the glint of tears in Leila’s eyes. She leaped off the sofa and hurried around behind the desk to hug her tightly.

“Tell me,” she whispered.

Leila said nothing. But the tears spilled down her cheeks.

Isabel rocked her gently. “Tell me, please. I can’t stand not knowing what’s making you so unhappy.”

“Oh, Isabel, I’m afraid that Farrell may be turning into a carbon copy of Dad.”

“What?”

“It’s true.” Leila yanked a couple of tissues from the box on the desk and blotted her eyes. “It used to be Farrell and me. We were a team. But now it seems to be Farrell and the business. That was the way it always was with Dad, remember? The only thing he cared about was the next big deal.” Leila sniffed into the tissue. “And the next beautiful young wife, of course.”

“Leila, you aren’t trying to tell me that Farrell has gotten involved with another woman, because I wouldn’t believe it. Not for a moment.”

“No, of course not.” Leila grabbed another tissue. “Farrell is too honest to cheat on me. But he’s consumed by the business these days. He’s always talking about new directions and goals for Kyler. He spends half the night in his office going over marketing and expansion plans. He even postponed our vacation to Hawaii. Do you know how many dinners I’ve eaten alone in the past month?”

“Leila, hold on here—”

“Farrell is absolutely obsessed.” Leila sighed. “Just like Dad.”

“Whoa, stop right there.” Isabel released her, took a step back and waved her arms to get her sister’s attention. “As I recall, and my memory is quite clear on this point, Farrell has always been passionate about his business.”

Leila shook her head. “Not the way he is lately. He used to practice the Kyler Method. He always claimed that the hallmark of a good executive was the ability to delegate. He was conscientious about keeping a balance in his life. Until a few months ago, we both left the office at a reasonable hour. We took weekends off. Went to Hawaii a couple of times a year. But lately, Farrell seems driven to devote all of his energy to Kyler, Inc. The company is all he cares about, as far as I can tell.”

“I don’t know what to say. I always thought you and Farrell had the perfect marriage.”

“No relationship is perfect.” Leila turned away. “But I am very good at projecting the right image, aren’t I?”

“Leila?”

“That’s what I do, isn’t it? Pretend that everything is perfect. I’ve been doing it all my life. Talk about positive thinking. I was doing the Kyler Method before it was even a gleam in Farrell’s eye. I’m the original Pollyanna.”

Isabel patted her shoulder. “Have you tried talking to Farrell?”

“Of course. But he always finds a way to avoid the subject. He keeps saying that he just needs a little time. I’m feeling trapped. I’m not sleeping well and when I do sleep, I have the most disturbing dreams about—” She broke off, grimacing. “Never mind.”

“Hey, it’s okay to go there with me. Dreams are my thing, remember?”

“No offense, but I don’t need you to tell me that I’m having anxiety dreams. Who wouldn’t in my situation?”

“Sometimes it helps to talk about them,” Isabel said. “It can clarify issues.”

“The dreams are about children, Isabel.” Leila tossed the used tissue into the trash. “I don’t think there’s any clarification needed. I intended to be pregnant by now. You know that. I even drew up plans for the nursery.”

“I know how much you’ve always wanted to be a mother. I thought Farrell was big on having a family, too.”

“He said we should put it off until Kyler, Inc., was established on a firm footing. And I agreed. But things are going well now and he’s still making excuses. He says the business needs his undivided attention. Remember how Dad always used to say that whenever he couldn’t make it to a school play or go on vacation with us?”

“Farrell is not Dad,” Isabel said.

“I keep telling myself that, but I’m starting to feel so alone, the way Mom must have felt when she realized her marriage was falling apart.”

“You’re not alone,” Isabel said quietly. “I’m here. Don’t ever forget that.”

Leila managed a watery smile. “Thanks. You know, I’m sorry you lost your job at the Belvedere Center for Sleep Research but I’m really glad you’re in town for a while.”

“Trust me, I’m glad to be here, too.” She glanced at her watch. “Got to run. My next class starts in three minutes. Kyler Method instructors are never late. Sets a bad example.”

“Isabel, about this Ellis Cutler. What, exactly, do you know about him?”

“Well, he told me that he’s a venture capitalist. Advises start-up companies and finds investors to finance them. You could call him a business consultant, I suppose.”