I reach down into my computer bag and retrieve a file, handing it to him.
“This information is highly confidential.”
He opens it, scanning the first two pages of the document. When his eyes cut back to mine, he’s hyper-alert. “It’s not a rumor.”
“Not to those in the know. Brasher Resorts bought the old hotel on Atlantic and has been quietly redesigning it. The plan is a boutique hotel unlike anything Charleston currently has to offer. I’ve personally seen the layout, construction, and renovation design. It’s going to be out of this world.”
“How’d you manage that?”
“Stephanie took me to one of her legal meetings with Brasher. Darby was occupied, and it was easy to sneak away.”
“You snuck in?”
“Not exactly. Stephanie was invited.”
“How does she play into this?”
I roll my bottom lip between my teeth, thinking how much Miller needs to know. “Let’s just say Evin has been sitting on this information for a while. When I mentioned they were working an angle, this is a part of it.”
“A hotel like you’re describing is going to take years. Are you really pouring your investments and financial security into this? That’s risky, even for you.”
“Not exactly. Believe it or not, the building is solid. The old owner kept everything up to code. The construction is good, and very little permitting has to be done. Most of it is cosmetic and interior design. Brasher is contracting with a local group to create the gardens, landscaping, and water features. They have an aggressive timeline of next spring.”
“That’s virtually impossible.”
“Not with the right amount of money and resources.”
“This is why you bought that damn bakery! You’re going to lure Darby back here.” The light finally dawns as he puts it all together.
“Lure isn’t the right term. I’m doing everything in my power to bring Darby home.”
“You say Evin and Stephanie instigated this?”
“It’s a long story, but yeah. Stephanie tells it like a fairytale coming to life with Darby and me reconnecting.”
“You mean that hard-ass woman knows what fairytales are?”
“Apparently.” I grin. “She says she has a soft spot for me.”
“Lucky you.”
“I’m not lucky yet. This is where the chips fall. Now, I have to persuade Darby we can have it all again. She knows nothing about this. And Maya and Cole are a huge part of this decision. There has to be a lot of acceptance in order for any of this to work.”
“They’re good kids, Pierce.”
“They are, but like I told you, Connie is going to make this hell on me. Now, you know it all.”
“Yeah, I admit, the other night, I still didn’t understand where your head was at, but it’s all clear.”
“Good, because we need to hit the brownstone project, then I’m headed to the bakery.”
“I’ll go to the bakery with you.”
“Not today, you won’t. I woke up with Stephanie on the sofa and Runner laid across the bottom of the bed. Needless to say, I need some alone time with Darby before I pick up the kids tonight.”
•—•—•—•—•
“Where’s your sister?”
Cole points to a group of girls huddled together. I give a loud whistle across the room, and Maya’s head pops up. Even in the distance, I sense annoyance when her eyes meet mine. She takes her time gathering her bag, saying goodbye to her friends, and shuffling to us.
“Hey, baby.” I try to wrap my arm around her shoulder, but she successfully dodges my attempt and goes straight out the door.
“She’s been like this since Tuesday,” Cole explains.
“Is there a reason?”
“She and Mom got into a fight, and they’ve both been critchy.”
“Critchy? Is that a word?”
“It’s like ‘itchy’ with the ‘b’ and cranky combined.”
It takes a second to sink in. “You mean bitchy?”
“Yes, but Grandma said I shouldn’t say that word.”
“Grandma’s right.”
We get to the truck, and Maya’s leaning against the back cab door with her arms crossed. “How about a hug for your dad?”
“Not in the mood.” She cinches her ponytail and flips her hand in my direction.
Connie told me weeks ago about Maya’s mood swings and the fact we were headed into prepubescent years. I wanted to think she was exaggerating, but today is proof.
“Cole, give us a second.” I beep the locks, and he takes off to the other side. Maya makes a move to get in, but I spear her with a look that stops her hand mid-try.
“Want to share why you’re wound up?”
“Not really.”
“I respect your privacy, Maya, but I haven’t seen you for a week. Think you could give me a break and hug my neck?”
“Oh, I know all about why you haven’t seen us for a week! Mom told us your business trip was a lie!” she spews with so much hate it’s like staring at Connie.
“She told you it was a lie?”
“Yes. I know you ran off with your girlfriend.”
“She told you that?”
“Yep.” She pops the ‘p’ with such sass my blood boils.
“Is this why you didn’t want to talk to me the last few nights that I called?”
Her silence is my answer.
“Hop in the truck. Let’s get home where we can talk in private.”
Once on the road, Cole fills the uncomfortable silence by filling me in on their first day of camp. Both are attending a S.T.E.A.M camp two days a week. Obviously, Cole is riding a high, while Maya is stewing over whatever Connie told her.
“Dad, what’s that smell?” Cole jumps from one subject to the next.
“Got you guys something special.” I pass the box of baked goods to them. Before I left the bakery this afternoon, Darby handed me the box with a small smile. She didn’t say anything, but I knew they were for my kids.
“There are a few special truffles in there that your mom picked up for your teachers. She said her boss loved them, so I thought we should try.”
It’s underhanded, but mentioning their mom in a non-confrontational way will hopefully ease some of the tension fuming from Maya. I watch in the rearview mirror as she peeks in the box Cole has opened and pokes around until she finds a truffle. Her blue eyes bulge when she takes her first bite, and I think this is a good sign.
Maya goes straight to her room when we get home, and Cole helps me unload the groceries. He sits on a stool, watching me put things away and studying me.
“Got something on your mind?” I hand him a water and open one for myself.
“Your girlfriend is pretty.”
“Thanks. I think so, too. When did you see her?”
“On Mom’s computer.”
“Did your mom tell you she was my girlfriend?”
“Not me. She told Maya when she thought I wasn’t around. I saw the way you were holding her waist and standing close to her. I figured she was your girlfriend.”
I nod and decide to get this conversation started. “Maya! Come down here. And bring your phone.”
She stomps down the stairs, making an entrance and glowering at me as she takes the stool next to Cole.
“We need to talk.”
Cole, being Cole, leans forward, ready to listen. Maya huffs out a breath and makes a gurgling noise from the back of her throat. I slice my eyes to her, lay my hands flat on the counter, and pin her with a hard glare. Slowly, the defiance starts to fade when she realizes her attitude is not going to work.
“I have met someone. Actually, that’s not true. A woman I used to date has returned to town, and we’ve reconnected. This week, I traveled with her on a business trip.”
“So, you don’t deny you were with her?” Maya sneers.
“Why would I deny it?”
“Why didn’t you tell us you were running off wit
h some floozy?”
At the word floozy, a haze covers my eyes, and the image of Connie spouting this shit to my kids fills my head. It’s all I can do to hold down the growl rumbling in my chest. “Where did you learn the term floozy?”
“Mom said it’s a woman that is vulgar and disrespectful.”
“Is that right? Well, from where I’m standing, you’re being pretty damn vulgar and disrespectful to me. Does that make you a floozy?”
The color drains from her face, and her eyes pool with tears.
“Just so you know, that definition isn’t entirely accurate. In a few years, I’ll explain what a floozy is, and your mother should have more sense than that. But for your information, if anyone ever calls you a floozy, they will answer to me.”
“Whatever. You still ran off with her.” The attitude snaps back into place.
“The only reason I went was because it was your week with your mother, and it wouldn’t affect my time with you.”
“Yeah, right. Mom says—”
“Shut it, Maya. Let Dad talk.” Cole snaps his head to her, and I see exactly why people say we’re just alike.
“You shut it, little butt-kissing jerk of a—”
“STOP!” I roar, both of them cringing back. “Who the hell taught you to talk like that? Especially to your brother? I sure as hell didn’t.”
“It’s not a big deal. It happens all the time,” Cole mumbles.
“Not anymore. Don’t let it happen again.”
“Like you care. Mom says you are leaving us to go to live with your floo—” She stops herself.
“Your mom is wrong, and she’s telling you things that should be discussed between adults.”
“I’m not a baby.”
“You’re my baby.”
She holds on to her anger, squaring her thin frame and facing me. “Fine, Dad, tell us about your girlfriend. Explain to us why you flew across the country to be with her, leaving us, and then made a fool of our family by making out with her all over social media.”
At this point, my hand comes down hard on the counter, the slap echoing through the kitchen. “Give me your phone now,” I demand.
She doesn’t move, daring me. So much like Connie. My heart breaks that she’s raising my daughter the way she is.
“Maya Elyse, give me your phone.”
She still doesn’t move.
I shake my head, knowing I’m about to ruin the life of a young girl who has been poisoned by her mother’s hatred. “Fine, you had your chance.” I pull out my own phone, log into our work account, and click on the link to her line.
She whips the phone out of her pocket and watches in horror. “What did you do?”
“I told you when you got that phone that it comes with responsibility. You had the chance to take responsibility and chose poorly. Now, you don’t have anything but calling service.”
“You erased everything!” she cries.
“Well, you saying that you saw me making a fool out of myself on social media means you were not abiding by our agreement.”
“Mom said it was okay.”
“That phone is owned and operated by Kendrick Construction. If your mom wants you on her line, take it up with her. She can pay for it.”
Her mouth snaps shut, and she knows she’s been beat. There is no way Connie is going to take on any extra expense.
“Now, do you want to talk reasonably about what’s happening with me?”
“I do,” Cole pipes in, looking bored with the whole outburst.
I give him a grateful grin and start again. “I’m seeing someone, and she means a lot to me. She knows all about you two. She’s a great woman, and I hope you will give her a chance.”
“She sure is pretty,” he pipes in, and I have to hide my amusement at my son.
“She isn’t anything like Mom.” Maya finally sounds like my girl.
“Darby has nothing to do with your mom.”
“Why can’t you like Mom again?” Her lips tremble.
“Baby,” I lower my voice and try to find the word to explain this, “your mom and I got the best gifts in the world when we had you, but we weren’t meant to be together.”
“Mom says you love this woman more than us, and we’re going to be a nuisance.”
“Well, she’s wrong. That’s why I wanted to tell you about Darby on my own terms. Maybe I should have pushed this conversation before I left town, but the timing didn’t seem right.”
“Darby is such a snazzy name.” Cole surprises me.
“Snazzy?”
“Mom and Maya watch those silly talent shows. I’m suffering through life with women.” He falls to the side dramatically, totally changing the mood of the conversation.
Maya starts to giggle, I find a smile, and Cole pretends to convulse on the countertop. It’s a good place to end this discussion, for now.
“Okay, talk done. Cole, I need you to get the grill ready.”
He scrambles away quickly, relieved to get away from the two of us. When he’s outside, I look at Maya, who is struggling.
“Maya, no one will ever replace you.”
She nods apprehensively.
“Come around here and help me start the salad.”
She comes around and, instead of going to the refrigerator, throws herself at me, her arms around my waist. “Daddy, I’m confused. Mom is mad.”
My mouth goes to her head, and I wrap my own arms around her shoulders. “You need to know I love you with all my heart. I’ll talk to your mom.”
She squeezes me and lets go. “Darby is a snazzy name,” she mumbles.
Chapter 18
Darby
“Sweetie, I’m not sure you’re in the state of mind to meet with her. Maybe you should give it a few days.” I cup Pierce’s cheek, running my thumb along his bottom lip.
“I’m rarely in the state of mind to deal with her, but it’s got to happen.”
When Pierce called last night after the kids were in bed, it was obvious something was wrong. He gave me a brief and vague version of what happened with Maya and Cole. I wanted to press for more details, but it didn’t feel right.
It wasn’t until he showed up at the bakery this afternoon that I knew how bad things were. One look at him told me he was struggling with his temper over Connie’s tricks. He took Runner out while I finished what I was doing, and when they returned, he pulled us to my small sofa and started to unload.
Now, I’m fighting my own anger issues.
“She gave my daughter permission to upload Instagram, then dropped hints on how to dig around. Maya’s a smart girl. She listened to her mom on the phone with Blaire, Googled you, and then did the research. Following your social presence, she got to Scottie’s page and saw the picture of us kissing. That was something Connie hadn’t seen, but Maya showed her.”
“Is that when she called me a floozy?”
“Somewhere in the tirade.”
“I’ll talk to Scottie and ask him to delete the shot.”
“Don’t,” he snaps. “I’m not living my life in hiding, Darby, and neither are you. Scottie has the right to post what he wants. Maya has no business on Instagram at her age.”
“It sounds like Connie did enough to plant the seeds of curiosity in Maya’s mind.”
“She did more than that. She manipulated my fucking eleven-year-old.”
“Pierce, I think that maybe we should look at the bigger picture here. You, the children, Connie, it’s already a challenging situation. Adding me to the equation is only going to—”
“Don’t finish that sentence. I swear to God, Darby, don’t try and use this as another reason to convince yourself that we can’t work.”
“But don’t you see the problem?”
“The problem is Connie, not you or me. For some crazy reason, she can’t get it out of her head that I’m not hers. Out of respect and simplicity, I’ve never flaunted my personal life in her face, even though I’ve had plenty of women over the years.”
“Baby, I didn’t say that to make you sad. I’m saying it because there’s never been anyone in my life. She knows I’m not celibate, but she hasn’t ever been faced with seeing me with anyone. She took note of that and kept holding on, using my kids as leverage. Now that you’re back in the picture, it’s done. There is no one else in this world I’d go to battle over but you, and she knows it. Fuck, everyone knows it. Whatever she’s conjured up in her head is dying fast, and she’s drawing the lines with my kids in the middle. They’re torn up over it.”
“How do you know?”
“Maya admitted to being confused, so I decided to approach my relationship with you at a later time. But Cole had other ideas. He wouldn’t shut up with questions about you. He already thought you were pretty, but when I explained why we were in Aspen, and you’re the Darby behind DG Creations, he was out of his mind. Maya tried to act disinterested, but it was obvious she was curious.”
“Her curiosity is understandable.” I think of the poor girl whose mom has filled her head with unimaginable lies.
“What would you tell her?”
“I’m not the right person to ask.”
“You were a young girl once. Give me advice on what to say to her.”
“Pierce, don’t ask me to do that. I’m not going to give you suggestions on how to raise your and Connie’s daughter.”
His jaw goes hard, and I know I’ve hit a nerve. He takes my hand in his, bringing it to his chest and clutching hard. “Darby, there are a lot of things in this world I can change, but that is not one of them.”
“I know that, but it’s not going away.”
“I went to bed last night, wishing like hell you were by my side, and woke the same way. I spent twelve years without you, and now that I have you back, I’m not fucking around. I’m also a dad with a daughter who is at an influential age and has a mom who’s a bitter bitch. Can you take Connie out of the picture long enough to help me?”
Pierced Hearts (Southern Charmers Book 1) Page 18