Trev softened toward her. Might he kiss her or at least caress her cheek? She parted her lips and moved toward him; the air was pregnant with her hope. More than anything, she wanted this kiss, yearned to taste him and feel his arms wrap around her, pulling her close and giving her faith that the hurtful words they’d flung at each other could be remedied like the storm that began trundling past them, taking its rage in its wake.
She blinked, and Trev’s eyes turned to the color of the storm. “I’m glad to hear you’re quitting,” he snarled. “It saves me the trouble of firing you.”
He turned away from her, and the hopeful spell was broken, taking Leah’s breath from her lungs and any feeling from her heart. She went numb as she threw open the French doors, making her way through the house to the front.
“I’m sorry to see you go, miss,” Sanders said as he handed Leah her purse with one of his paper smiles.
Leah took a deep breath. “Me too, Sanders.” Her voice shook with anger and sorrow as she offered the elderly butler a melancholy kiss on the cheek before opening the door and stepping on the walk. Past the tree line, the storm rumbled on, leaving behind a rain-scrubbed sky and brilliant earth, but Leah saw none of this as she pulled up to Elton’s security hut. She kept her eyes straight ahead and tried to unlock her jaw.
Whatever had made her think Trev was different than any other wealthy man? Her mother was right. Call it a cultural difference or just plain reality, but men like Trev and their families lived by a different set of rules.
Indignant fury surged through her, and she bit the inside of her cheek until she tasted blood. She hated to admit it, but her father was also right. No man was worth the sacrifice she’d have to make for a divided desire. She was going to be a doctor. A very single doctor. School was starting in a month, and she’d forsake any thoughts of having a family and focus on her goal with new vigor and determination. The thought didn’t bring the expected comfort. Instead, the earlier anger turned into an acrid bitterness, sharp and cutting.
She tamped it down as she glanced at Elton inside of his hut, opening the gate to allow her out of The Cove. A new wave of fury made her want to scream, but she choked it down into her churning stomach. At least she wouldn’t have to put up with Elton’s indolent behavior any longer. Jutting out her jaw, she gave a little puff of a laugh. He wasn’t any better than her. They were both nothing more than employees of the wealthy. She’d turned into the very thing Justin’s mother had accused her of being. The irony made her want to laugh out loud. But she’d learned her lesson. Never again would she fall victim to a wealthy man promising love.
Leah tapped on the steering wheel with heated impatience. Finally, the gate swung open enough for Leah to move onto the road. Pulling out of The Cove, Leah gave her hostile anger free rein as she maneuvered around the barrier. Ramming the car into gear, she sped out of The Cove without a backward glance.
Chapter 21
Trev stood at the deck railing, looking out over the lake. He loved the first few moments after a storm with the air cleansed and fresh, but the part of him that always settled into the earth’s beauty had apparently perished with Leah’s departure. He moved back to the chair and dropped into its cushions, running his hand over his forehead in defeat.
He should’ve known Leah had been too good to be true. The way she treated her own father had alarmed him, leaving him aghast. He didn’t appreciate how her father treated him, but Leah’s approach didn’t help matters. Now, she was on her way to APS to spill all of his family’s shameful secrets. Would she tell them about Desiree and how he’d broken up with her just before she’d died? Cold fear ran through him. Did APS talk to the police? What if they reopened the investigation to Desiree’s death? He leaned over, placing his elbows on his knees. His shoulders sagged, and he dropped his head in despair, breaking into a cold sweat.
His phone pinged with a text. Trev drew it from his pocket, hoping it was Leah. Maybe this whole thing was nothing more than a nightmare, and she wanted to let him know she’d changed her mind about calling APS. He focused on the screen. Austin.
A fledgling disappointment dropped into his stomach. His brother wanted to know how the meeting went with the lawyers about the Colorado property. Trev ran his hand over his face. That meeting and the visit he and his dad had shared seemed like another lifetime. Just a few hours ago, Trev’s father had told him how much he and Mom liked Leah.
“She fits into the family,” his father said. “And your mother and I give the two of you our blessing, in case it matters.”
Trev grinned with lighthearted joy. “Of course it matters. Desiree and I were never so lucky.”
Paul grew serious. “We didn’t feel Desiree was the right girl for you. I’m sorry to speak of her that way after everything that’s happened, but there it is.”
Trev almost told his dad about his breakup with Desiree. The secret pushed at him from its dark, cobwebbed hole, but he couldn’t quite give in to it. Trev only nodded.
He refocused his thoughts. His parents would certainly change their minds about Leah now. He reread Austin’s query and sent his brother a quick text. I’ll call you in the morning. Your morning.
To Trev’s relief, Austin sent him a thumbs-up emoji. He didn’t want to talk to Austin right now. Most likely, his brother would want to know how things were going with Leah, and Trev didn’t want to talk to anyone about Leah. He had more pressing matters to consider. His family needed to circle the wagons and figure out how they wanted to handle the upcoming APS investigation.
He wished for Leah’s steady approach. Allison wouldn’t be any help. Most likely, she’d be the focus of the investigation. She’d rant and seethe once she heard the news.
Mom would be interviewed, and she’d do her best to downplay what had happened. Would the APS investigator want to talk to him? He ran his fingers through his hair. The familiar helplessness that dogged him since Desiree’s death returned, and it disgusted him.
Leah’s presence had offered him a reprieve from his failures. With her near, the vision of Desiree’s death changed. He’d opened to a new set of possibilities about what had happened instead of locking into suicide, giving his life new vibrancy and color where it had turned to stark. Now, the remembrance of kneeling over Desiree on the muddy shore of the lake haunted him once again. Would he be required to share that terrible memory with yet another impersonal government official and relive the overwhelming inadequacy that lurked alongside that horrible recollection?
The reminder of his incompetence brought on fresh anguish. He couldn’t save Desiree, and he couldn’t save his family from the awful intrusion of police officers, PIs, lawyers, and their intrusive questions, doubting looks, and scribbled notes. Now, he was going to have to face that all over again with an APS investigation. This time, Allison was in the crosshairs.
He closed his eyes and leaned back against the chair. Allison. Leah’s words echoed in his head. As much as he wished to deny her accusations against his sister, they rang true.
The French door behind him opened. Trev turned to see his mother step out onto the deck. “Josie is holding dinner,” she said. “I think we need to have a talk before we eat.”
Trev tried not to let the shock of his mother’s haggard appearance show. He cleared his throat. “Look, Mom, I’m sorry for all of this.”
“It’s not your place to be sorry. We all loved that girl, but the fact that she could turn on us like that is shocking.”
Trev took in his mother’s wearied appearance with fresh worry. Her skin was pale and dark smudges showed under her eyes. “What happened?”
His mother slapped at the air. “It was nothing, really. Allison and I got into a little tussle, and I fell on the bed and hit my head. It’s my own fault, really. I don’t need the money. I should’ve given it to Allison.”
A small alarm went off. “Mom, Allison gets seven thousand a month to spend on her vlogging hauls.” He thought of Leah’s parents just scraping by. “Th
at’s more than most people live on. She doesn’t need your money. How often has this happened?”
His mother shrugged in nonchalance. “She asks me for it every month.”
Trev sat up, his concern mushrooming. “Has she ever pushed you around before?”
“No.”
“Let me see the back of your head.”
His mother moved to where Trev sat and turned away from him. Trev stood and gently massaged his mother’s scalp. It didn’t take long for him to find the goose egg.
His mother flinched, and he dropped his fingers from her skull. Leah was right. There was a sizeable lump on the back of his mother’s head.
Trev’s thoughts began to spin. What would’ve happened if Leah hadn’t been here? He didn’t want to even consider the possibilities. Sweet gratitude toward Leah clashed with his earlier anger.
He steeled himself against any tender grace toward Leah. Maybe it’d be better if he didn’t think about her just now. He focused on his mother. “Mom, why don’t you sit down and start at the beginning?”
His mother sank into a chair with a long sigh. “Allison came into my bedroom and said she needed the money for her vlog. Since you put my allowance on the card, it’s easy for her to use online. I told her I had some things I wanted to do with the money this month, and she couldn’t have it. She got a little pushy, and I lost my balance. When I fell back onto the bed, I hit the headboard.”
Trev’s anger toward Allison almost erupted. He bit his tongue to stay calm. How dare Allison bully their mother out of her monthly allowance. His mother tried to soft-pedal the event, but so far, Leah’s story was proving to be true. Allison had pushed their mother, who had the bumps and bruises to prove it. Still, there had to be another way to handle this. Calling APS wasn’t necessary. His frustration flared in the direction of Leah.
His mother continued, “Leah’s threatened to call APS. Has she talked to you about that?”
Trev tightened his jaw. “Yes, she has. I’ve sent her packing.” He cringed. “Well, that’s not exactly what happened. She quit.”
His mother’s face fell. “I’m sorry it’s come to this. Your father and I have grown to love her, but she has no business writing up a report besmirching Allison and this family.”
Trev didn’t want to talk about Leah. So far, her story reflected the reality, and he hated the miserable truth. He changed the subject. “What does Dad think?”
“He thinks Allison needs to be taught a lesson, and if this is the way to go about it, then fine by him. He says bring it on.”
Trev’s mouth fell open.
“Yeah. I was surprised too. But he says Allison’s behavior is inexcusable, and he’s reached the end of his rope. He knows she feels bad about Desiree and all, but that doesn’t give her a paved road to bad behavior. He thinks I coddle her.”
Trev stood. “Where’s Dad now?”
“He’s sound asleep. He said the two of you ate on the plane. I’m glad you took him with you, but the trip exhausted him.”
Trev fell back into his chair with fatigue and self-reproach. “I’m not ready for this.”
Rebecca placed her hand on Trev’s arm. “None of us are ready, son. Allison least of all.”
Trev let out a long exhalation, his anger toward Allison returning. “How long has this been going on?” he asked. “How long has she been taking money from you?”
“Oh, it’s been about nine months or so.”
Trev hesitated, but he had another question. “Does she blame you for Desiree’s death?”
His mother looked down at her hands. “Yes, she does. She believes Desiree would still be alive if I hadn’t forced the move from Seattle.”
Crushing anguish pressed against Trev’s lungs. His shoulders slumped forward, and he caved in on himself. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Oh, honey. You were already so sad after what happened to Desiree. You were trying to take care of the business and manage your own grief. I didn’t want to add to the pressure.”
Bitter heartbreak brought Trev to tears. If he’d come clean with his part in Desiree’s death, would this still be happening? Allison blamed herself and then projected that pain onto their mother. Was that what caused her to act out? Had Leah been correct when she’d stated that Allison carried the burden of unhealthy grief, or was Allison just a spoiled brat? Could both be possible? He ran his hands over his eyes, pulling himself together. It’d be better if his mother didn’t see him cry. “Have you spoken to Allison?”
His mother shook her head. “No. I’ve seen her out and about this afternoon, but she hasn’t spoken to me.”
“Look, Mom. I’m going to spend some time in the office before I have a conversation with Allison, and then I’ll head to bed. It’s been a long day, and I’m not hungry. Can you tell Josie just to wrap up the enchiladas? We can have them tomorrow.”
“Sure thing, son.”
Trev stood. He bent over his mother and kissed her on the cheek before entering the house.
Sanders greeted him. “Is there anything I can get for you, sir?”
Trev saw the look of concern in Sanders’s face. He smiled. “I could use a dose of wisdom right about now.”
“I’m sorry, sir, but I’m fresh out,” Sanders said.
Trev studied the elderly butler. “I doubt that,” he replied. “Did you see what happened?”
Sanders shook his head. “No, but I heard it.”
“What did you hear?”
“I heard Miss Allison shouting at Mrs. Rebecca,” he said. “And then I heard a noise that sounded like a firecracker.”
Trev grimaced in sympathy for his mother. The blow must’ve been both painful and shocking.
Sanders continued, “Soon after that, Miss Leah asked me to get the car. She needed to take Mrs. Rebecca to the doctor.”
Trev stood silent for a moment as he tried to figure out his thoughts and emotions but everything churned in turmoil. “And Miss Allison?”
Sanders voice dropped a notch. “I’ve heard her crying this afternoon.”
Trev took in a long breath. Allison wouldn’t be able to hide behind her tears for long. “Anything else?”
“Miss Leah was right to take Mrs. Rebecca to the doctor. She looked terrible.”
Trev gave Sanders a small smile, once again grateful for Leah’s presence of mind. If his mother looked as frail as she did now, Leah’s choice to take her to the doctor made perfect sense. He let the appreciation stay lodged in his heart. “Thank you, Sanders. I’m sure you’re right.”
Sanders moved away, leaving Trev standing at the foot of the stairs. He shuddered at the conversation that needed to take place with his sister. He didn’t like who his sister had become since Desiree’s death. He didn’t like himself that much, either. Leah had brought a sweet relief to all of that, but now she was gone. Trev leaned against the handrail as the full anguish of the secrets his family had kept from him revealed themselves. But his misery turned to agony as the secrets he’d kept from his family whispered around him. This was his fault.
Chapter 22
Once in his office, Trev spent an hour researching APS with growing angst. He rose from his desk and began pacing. It was time to speak with Allison. Hurrying to the hall, he began making his way to her room when she stepped out.
“I smell enchiladas,” Allison said. “Dinner sounds good.”
Trev barely contained the anger at the sight of his sister and her nonchalance over the day’s events. “Come into my office for a minute.”
Allison gave him a hard look. “If this is about Mom and that caregiver--.”
Trev cut her off. “This is about you, Allison.”
Allison pursed her lips before turning to walk in front of him. Trev followed her until they reached his office. He opened the door and ushered Allison in. She took a seat in one of the large leather chairs.
Trev moved behind his desk and sat, trying to keep his composure. He leaned forward, facing his sister. “What happen
ed?”
Allison’s lip curled. “It’s not what that stupid health aide claims.” Allison jutted her jaw. “She walks around here like she’s queen of the castle. I can’t stand her.”
“You wouldn’t like anyone who isn’t Desiree,” Trev countered coldly, barely containing his distaste. “But we’re not talking about Leah. I want to know what happened between you and Mom.”
Allison looked heavenward. Contempt rolled from her like heat waves. “I needed a little extra money this month.” She shrugged. “Mom doesn’t need her allowance. I mean, what’s she going to do with it? She just sits around here all day. I’m trying to get this business up and running. You think she’d be happy to help.”
Trev didn’t care about Allison’s vlog or the money she claimed to need. His only concern was their mother and the looming APS investigation. His rage exploded. “What happened?”
Allison rolled her eyes. “I asked Mom for her allowance card. She told me no. I went to grab it from her hand. She lost her balance and fell back on the bed in an awkward position and tapped her head. I realize I shouldn’t have been so bossy with her. I’ll be more careful from now on.”
Fury ran hot through Trev’s veins. “Our mother has a bump on her head the size of a dinosaur egg, Allison. She didn’t just tap her head. She smacked her skull on the headboard.” He sliced his hand through the air. “And forget about Leah. I have felt the back of Mom’s head myself, and she says you pushed her.”
Allison’s mouth dropped open. “It was an accident, okay?”
Allison’s dismissive attitude provoked Trev. “No! This is not okay. You pushed our mother.”
“She was supposed to land on the bed.” Allison’s voice rose.
Trev jabbed his finger at Allison. “Why don’t you explain that to APS when they come for their visit?”
“AP who?”
He took a deep breath to calm down. “Adult Protective Services. Leah is making a report because you tried to take Mom’s money by force, and in that process, you hurt her. It’s called elder abuse.” The fury rose again. “Don’t you get it?”
The Billionaire's Family Secret (Billionaire Bachelor Mountain Cove Book 15) Page 17