After assuring Bianca that she wouldn't crawl into bed and give up again, Kendall was able to make her leave with Miranda. She needed to marshall all of her energy towards finding Zach… and the first order of business was to find out what had made him decide to leave in the first place. She placed a call to London and left messages for the Cambias attorneys, but couldn't reach anyone in person due to the time difference. She checked the voicemail for her cell phone and at the office, but found no messages. Finally she called Edie to see if she had spoken to Zach.
After Edie had answered the phone and Kendall identified herself, Edie commented, "I'm surprised you have time to check in, Kendall. I figured you and Zach wouldn't even think about this place."
"What are you talking about?" Kendall asked, feeling a combination of irritation and hopefulness that was hard to define. "When did Zach call you?"
"He didn't call… he was here. Didn't he tell you?" Edie answered.
Kendall frowned and carefully phrased her next questions, "No, he didn't mention it. Did he say why he came by? I never saw him there yesterday."
"I know… he went up to the office to see you, but he came back down and said that Miranda was upset and he didn't want to disturb her. Then he left. Did he remember to put your rose in water?" Edie said conversationally.
"My rose? No… he must have forgotten…" Kendall said musingly. He was at the casino yesterday. What were Bianca and I talking about? He heard Miranda crying.
"Kendall? Are you still there?" Edie interrupted her reverie.
"Yeah… I'm sorry, Edie… I've got a call coming in on the other line. Thanks," Kendall said absently and before severing the connection.
She sat on the sofa lost in thought, trying to remember exactly what she and Bianca had said before Miranda started to cry. She couldn't remember the conversation, but she did remember hearing a noise in the reception area… That was ZACH! She realized that he must have overheard something… something that made him think she wanted him to leave. What did we say?
As she sat there wracking her brain for the lost conversation, she noticed a piece of glass lying on the fireplace hearth. She walked over and picked up the piece of glass and looked around for more. Something that hadn't been there, she was sure. When she was certain that there was no more glass, she walked into the kitchen and pulled out the trash can…to find a treasure trove of information. Buried beneath several crumpled pieces of paper were a wilted pink rose and the remains of the frame that had contained their wedding picture. She lifted the container and pulled out the papers before carefully removing the flower and examining the frame. She used a long wooden frame remnant to pick around the glass and found a jeweler's box nestled at the bottom of the receptacle, but no sign of the photograph. Wrapping her hand in a towel, she reached in and pulled out the jewelry box and placed it on the table next to the flower, broken frame and crumpled papers.
She seated herself at the table and looked over her discoveries, uncertain of exactly where to start… but sure that the answers she sought were sitting in front of her. She closed her eyes and said aloud, "Please… help me find him." The she opened the velvet box and smiled at the delicate bracelet that matched the necklace she wore. She took it from the box and clasped it around her wrist before examining the remaining items. The flower, the bracelet and the missing photograph told the story of a man who had left without planning to… and who had left in anger… or in pain. Perhaps the crumpled paper orbs would tell her what she needed to know… maybe containing flight information or something else she could use to follow him. Because she believed from those few items that he had not left because it was his choice, but because he thought it was her choice. She held her breath as she unfolded the first of the notes that he must have agonized over.Sometimes he had crossed out words and changed them before obviously deciding to start over. She sighed deeply as she began to read:
Kendall,
With Ethan's death, our agreement is at an end. I've (loved) enjoyed my time as your husband. I wish
She placed it face up on the table and pulled another one out to read:
Kendall,
The condo and the loft are yours. My attorneys have already put both casinos in your name. I hope you
Once again she repeated the action, finding a few more notes with variations on the statements in the first two notes. She pulled out another one with more writing on it:
Kendall,
Thank you for (making) our (business arrangement so very) pleasant marriage. I know that both casinos will (do well) thrive under your leadership. I am leaving (them in your capable hands as well as) you my condo and the loft (in Pine Valley). Do with them as you please. When you are ready to initiate divorce proceedings, please have the documents sent to my attorneys in New York. (I have enjoyed every moment of being your husband and wish you much happiness in your future. I hope that you find the love you so richly deserve.)
(Fondly,) Zach
After reading that note, Kendall stood and walked about the room… the tears on her face flowing freely. The pain he must have been feeling was evident in the way he had tried over and over again to write her a note that was civilized. She used some tissues to wipe her face before sitting down to read the rest:
Kendall,
I'm sure you and your family will be relieved at the departure of the last Cambias. Tell your mother and Bianca not to worry because I won't be back. My attorneys will be in touch about the prenup.
Z
Anger… she felt an almost physical blow at the venom of that note. But he hadn't left it… no matter what he said in that note, he had crumpled it up and rejected it… choosing not to leave it as his goodbye message. Unwilling to read another angry note, she held her face in her hands and sobbed for a moment while trying to remember what she had said that made him leave so abruptly. Finally… after several moments… she remembered telling Bianca that the agreement was over, I guess there's really no business or financial reason to stay married… which ought to thrill Mother. She gasped and sat up in the chair when she remembered that comment… No wonder he left. He thought I was telling Bianca that I was going to end our marriage – not that I loved him so much I wanted to release him from the bargain.
She continued to unfold notes, found a couple more angry ones and then another cold, civilized one. Not expecting to find anything more that was helpful; she nevertheless forced herself to read them all. As she opened the last one, her breath caught and held as she read:
Kendall, I love you. I'm sorry.
She held that note to her breast and cried… tears of sadness that he had left without knowing the truth… tears of happiness that he had realized his love for her… and then she decided to shed no more tears. She knew in her heart where he was, the only place he could go when he felt so sad and alone… the place where she would go to be with him. Wiping the last of her tears, she left the condo and drove to the hospital for the second time that day.
Kendall burst into Maria Grey's office without knocking, and was inwardly relieved to find the woman alone, "Maria, I need…"
"Kendall… you're not my patient. And I'd really rather that you didn't keep coming to see me like this," Maria interrupted her in irritation.
"I know… I'm not here as a patient. I need your help," Kendall said frantically.
"What… I can't help you Kendall. Go home to Zach," Maria said sadly.
"No… you're the only one who can. I need directions… to the casita. Zach left and I know that's where he went. But I don't know how to get there," Kendall said urgently.
"The casita… Zach left… I don't understand," Maria said in confusion.
"He's being all noble and selfless… saving me from the last Cambias. Now that Ethan's gone he's trying to give me my freedom," Kendall explained impatiently.
"But the baby…" Maria started to say.
Kendall shook her head, "He doesn't know about the baby. I didn't get a chance to tell him before he left." At Maria's blank look, Kendall continued, "He went to London to find out the truth about Ethan and I didn't have a chance to tell him before he left. He doesn't know about the baby… and I need to tell him. He's at the casita… I can feel it. Will you tell me how to get there?"
Maria sat for a moment before asking, "Have you been there? Did he take you to the casita?"
Kendall nodded her head, "Mm-hmm… the last day of our honeymoon. I'm sorry, you probably don't want to know that. But I'm desperate, Maria… I don't know how to get there… please… if you ever loved Zach… do this for him."
Slowly the other woman nodded her head, and Kendall breathed a sigh of relief.