Gage, Ronna - Paradise Mine (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Ronna Gage

  “Rae Anne, I have no idea what you’re talking about. I don’t need to write letters of such nonsense.” He looked at her and then to Landy. “I don’t recall writing a letter to you. I most especially wouldn’t accuse my daughter of cheating.”

  Landy opened his briefcase and withdrew the worn paper. He opened the letter and passed it to Robert.

  Robert read the letter twice before he made any comments. “That is a pretty good letter.” He looked at Landy. “But I didn’t write it.”

  Rae Anne grabbed the letter when it reached her fingertips. “It has your signature, and your letterhead, see.” She pointed to the cursive J.

  “Yes, but I didn’t write that letter.” Robert insisted.

  “If not you, then who?” Landy demanded.

  Rae Anne looked at Landy, and then at her father. “Marcus.”

  “Marcus? But why?”

  “To keep you for himself.” Robert answered looking at Rae Anne.

  Landy rolled his eyes and clenched his fists. “I should’ve known.” All these years, he had focused his hatred on Robert.

  Rae Anne looked at Landy. “He didn’t know about us back then. I met him after you were reported…missing.”

  She shook her head and stared at the note in her hand. “When you handed me the note that night on the island, all I thought about was the hurtful remarks about you’re not being good enough for me, but Landy, it’s not my father’s handwriting. It is Marcus’s.”

  Landy squatted beside her. “Are you sure about that?”

  She looked the letter over again. “Yes. I’m sure.” She leaned toward him. “See how the S curves? That one doesn’t match.” She pointed a different S. “I did recognize the handwriting, but like you, I thought it was my father’s. I never dreamed it was Marcus’s.”

  “How did you receive word of my missing status?”

  “I told her,” Robert confessed. “I didn’t want her pining away for you, so I made you disappear.”

  Landy ignored the comment. Looking into Rae Anne’s eyes, he whispered, “How did you find out about my death?” Tears welled up in her eyes, and Landy grabbed her hands. They felt cold and clammy. “Rae Anne, It’s time we face the whole ugly truth of that day. I need to know everything.”

  “I received a telegram—a letter from the War Department.”

  Rae Anne’s tear fell. Landy smoothed over it with his thumb. Her grip tightened on his hand.

  “You have no idea how much I lost.”

  “It’s all right, sweetheart. It will be out in the open, and we can both heal.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the knuckles.

  “After seeing the two of you…I never have known a love to last this long,” Robert said. “I guess, in that honor, to the memory of your mother, Rae Anne, and to the rarity of unbreakable bonds, I will make amends.”

  “How do you proclaim to do that?” Landy asked, dumbfounded by the statement.

  “I will answer your questions honestly.”

  Landy stood and looked at Robert with concentrated anger. “All right. What did you have to gain by telling her of my death?”

  “I had nothing to do with your death announcement. I found out when I got home,” Robert said, defending himself. “In fact, it surprised me, but nothing like the surprise I received at home. I found Rae Anne on the floor; crying and…she had to be taken to the hospital.”

  Landy looked at Rae Anne, and then Robert. “What happened?”

  Robert’s focus drifted to Rae Anne. He looked in Landy’s direction. “She became very ill.”

  “How did my grandfather get word of my death?”

  Robert looked at him. “I have no real idea.”

  “I told him.” Rae Anne’s quiet voice echoed in the room.

  Landy turned back to face her. “My grandfather didn’t tell me it was you who called. He just said that he received a phone call all those years ago saying I’d been killed in action. Why?”

  “I thought he needed to know and wanted him to hear it from me and not some cold message. I tried to wait to find your body—wait.” Rae Anne stood up from her chair. “You said you saw him a year ago. Why didn’t he tell me you were alive?”

  “I guess you didn’t think the old man would keep that from you,” Robert said from his bed.

  The smirk on his face compelled Landy to strike, but he didn’t. He looked at Rae Anne. “He did call you. He left a message for you to call him that he had important news about me.”

  “I never received a message,” Rae Anne said. “When did he call?”

  “I returned a year ago in May.”

  “May. Last May? I don’t recall a message. If I had, I would have called him at once.”

  Robert piped in. “Marcus got the message. He came in that day and told me he had heard from a man and was concerned how to tell you that the old man wanted to pronounce Landy dead.”

  Landy and Rae Anne looked at Robert. The apprehension sat in the air. “What are you saying?” Rae Anne begged her father, “Tell us, please.”

  “Just what I said. Marcus said that Landy’s grandfather was going to have him declared legally dead. I advised him not to tell you because you were just getting over Landy’s death.” Robert’s voice and eyes softened on her. “It took you so long to get over him. I didn’t think you would ever get past the hurt.”

  “Daddy,” Rae Anne cried. She took Landy’s hand. “I loved him so much. I was more than devastated. I wanted to die myself.” She looked into Landy’s eyes. “I will be the strong one and break this bad spell between us. I still love you. If anything were to happen to you, I couldn’t live without you.”

  Landy pulled her closer. “Nothing’s going to happen to me. Like you, I have fought hell and earth to be here for you. I love you, too.” That is only the beginning. There is one more fact to deal with.

  Landy sat Rae Anne back in her chair. He took a step closer to Robert’s bedside and leaned in to his earshot so that only he would hear his next question. “Where is my son?”

  Robert’s gaze flashed to his and hardened. “How did you know about that?” The harsh whisper spoke volumes. “No one knows about that.”

  “What?” Rae Anne asked. “What are you to talking—?”

  “Jamie Tompkins did.”

  Everyone looked at Jamie who stood quietly by the door.

  “What does he have to do with what you are talking about?” Rae Anne asked.

  Landy turned to Rae Anne. “Marcus hired him to keep you under surveillance.” “He first met you to tell your father I was missing, due to your father’s underhanded message.” Landy turned to Jamie. “This is where you can fill in some of the blanks.”

  “I reacquainted myself with her during the letter-writing campaign to bring Landy back. I never suspected Landy was the one Marcus wanted to keep you from, Rae Anne. But he didn’t know that I worked for LnL before the war. When Roger came home, he paid me to keep up the surveillance of you and the family.”

  Rae Anne looked at Landy, confusion etched on her face. “How involved are you in my life from a distance?”

  “Because of Roger, it seems a great deal. I own the yacht service you hired to captain your sabbatical.”

  “You what!”

  “Roger sent the job my way. He thought we needed to get this resolved so we could go on with our lives or get back together.”

  Rae Anne smiled. “Good insight.”

  “I helped!” Jamie said with a pout.

  “How do you know about…” Robert asked, breaking the silent bond that built between Landy and Rae Anne.

  “I told Landy,” Jamie stated. “I met them last night on the yacht and told him all about my reports.”

  “But, Landy, how can that be? We weren’t even in California until that morning.”

  “He flew out to meet Roger and me. He filled us in on everything that I didn’t know.” He turned to Robert. “Now, I ask you again. Where is he?”

  “Who are you looking for?” Rae
Anne asked.

  “Our son.”

  Rae Anne’s eyes closed suddenly. She paled and stumbled back into the chair.

  Landy ran and grabbed her. “Honey, are you okay?”

  Rae Anne looked at him. Her cold stare chilled him, and her pulse sped. “You bastard! I lost our baby.”

  Landy squatted down beside her chair. “No, babe, our son lives. Jamie found out about him a few years ago. He was delivered to a couple a few weeks after his birth.”

  Rae Anne turned sharp angry eyes on her father. “Is that true?” Robert turned from her glare. “Is it true?” she yelled.

  “Yes,” Robert shouted back. “I did what I thought was best for you and the baby.”

  Rae Anne sobbed.

  “There was no way you were able to go to school and care for a child.”

  “You told me my baby died when I miscarried.”

  “I did what I thought best for you,” Robert repeated.

  Sobs racked her. “Where is he?” Rae Anne ordered.

  “He’s happy, safe, and most of all, he’s loved.”

  She gripped the railing by his bed. “Tell me!” Rae Anne yelled, shaking the bed in her fury.

  Landy gripped Rae Anne’s hands and eased them away from the metal siding of the bed. “Calm down, and breathe. We will find all we need to know.”

  “Rae Anne.” Robert called to her, his voice weak. “If you take him away from the only parents he knows, you will be destroying that boy.”

  “You didn’t give her the chance to know her son, to love him, to make him happy,” Landy shot back. “You destroyed your own daughter’s happiness. She thought her baby died because he was born so early.” He pointed to her. “You look at her and tell her again that you did what was best for her.”

  Rae Anne looked at her father. “How could you?” She picked herself up from the chair. “You lied to me. I don’t even know you.”

  “I didn’t lie.”

  “You told me my baby girl died. Now you say my little boy lives.” She stared at him. “How can someone I love and trust so much be so cruel?”

  “Your little girl did die.”

  “That makes no sense. First you say she’s dead, and now you say he lives.” She raved and gripped the bedrails again. “How is that possible?”

  Robert sighed. “Twins.”

  Landy glared at Jamie, who looked at him with the same surprise as he felt and Rae Anne displayed. He stared at her.

  She looked at Landy. “I can see by the look on your face this is a surprise for you too.”

  Jamie stepped up to them. “I didn’t know about the little girl, only the little boy. I’m so sorry, boss. I wouldn’t let a bombshell like this fall on you.”

  Landy’s mind cleared. His concern for Rae Anne took top priority. He searched her face, hoping to find something to hint to her feelings and thoughts. “What are you thinking?”

  She glared. “I don’t know you either. You’re just as full of surprises as he is,” she said, pointing to the bed where her father lay. “I’ve found out more in one night about you than I ever knew. You’re rich, well connected, and intentionally let me think you were dead.”

  She looked at Landy and then her father--the men she loved and who were supposed to love her.

  “Rae Anne, why didn’t you tell me about our little girl on the island?”

  “I don’t know why I didn’t tell you about the baby on the island. Actually, yes I do. I didn’t want to face the prospect that you’d leave me because I lost her.”

  “Rae Anne, that would never happen.”

  “Save it.” She gathered her things. “I have endured more than I need to for love. And you know what hurts the most?” She poked a finger into Landy’s chest. “You’d prefer to hurt me than to let me love you. Well, the hurt will never be healed now.” She looked at her father, and then to Landy. “Both of you took care of that for me.” She walked past him and then out the door.

  “Rae Anne,” her father called from his bed.

  “Rae, baby, don’t leave. This isn’t over yet.”

  She kept walking down the hallway, and never looked back.

  Landy looked at an empty doorway, hoping Rae Anne would change her mind and return. Logically, he knew he had to go to her. She was devastated and hurting. There is no consoling her now. He had to find her son—their son—first. It’s the only thing on her mind right now.

  A silent nod from Landy dismissed Jamie Tompkins to follow Rae Anne. Once the room cleared of everyone, Landy slowly turned toward Robert. “Where is he?” His low tone sounded vexing to his own ears, and he kept a cool, distant gaze on Robert.

  “Why do you want to hurt that boy? He’s happy, Landy.”

  “He wasn’t yours to give away. He’s mine.” Landy took the two steps necessary to Robert’s bedside. “He is your daughter’s. Is your hate for me so strong you would hurt your own child?”

  Landy’s patience grew thin. His eyes welled up with unshed tears of anguish, his heart now heavy with loss of a little girl he knew nothing of until tonight and a son out of his reach. And the look of hurt on their mother’s face tore at him. He couldn’t blame her if she hated him.

  “I don’t hate you, Landy. I just didn’t want my daughter marrying a farmer.”

  “That wasn’t for you to decide.” The control on his anger broke. “Don’t you get it? Nothing in her life is for you to decide.”

  “You’ll understand when you have children.”

  The statement shook Landy. All his suppressed anger and hate exploded within him. He reacted without thinking and pulled Robert up by the night gown’s front, drew back a fist….

  “Landy, no!”

  Jamie’s voice penetrated the red cloud of anger.

  “I found him. I found your son.”

  Landy threw Robert back onto the bed. Slowly, he turned toward Jamie. His eyes sparkled with excitement. “He’s with your Aunt Denise, Landy. Robert kept him in your family.”

  “Let’s get Rae Anne.”

  “I’ve already sent Roger to the farmhouse to keep tabs on him.”

  Jamie and Landy left the room. He didn’t bother look back at Robert.

  * * * *

  Robert watched Landy and Jamie leave at an excited pace. He called out to Landy to beg his forgiveness, but Landy didn’t hear him. “Forgive me, Landy, for the awful choices I made so long ago.”

  Heart-stopping pain in his chest gripped him. Robert took one gasp of air. His last thought comforted him before the final ballot was cast.

  The truth is out, and it has set me free.

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  Landy took the steps to Rae Anne’s apartment two at a time. He had to make things right between them. Ten years had embittered him, but three months on an island paradise with her had changed him to the man he wanted to be for her. He pressed the doorbell and waited a few seconds before a swollen-eyed, red-nosed Rae Anne answered the door. She turned and walked away, leaving the door open for him. Landy entered and closed the door behind him and waited silently to let her mourn.

  “What do you want?” she asked. Anguish laced her voice.

  “I promised you I’d never let you go that easily, and I intend to keep that promise.”

  “What if I don’t want you here?”

  “I figure if you meant that you wouldn’t have answered the door. Not that it would have stopped me.” He followed her into the darkened living room. Again, he stood quietly and waited in the dark. She turned to him, her pain marring her face.

  “Why should I let you stay?”

  “Baby, we found him.”

  Rae Anne furrowed her eyebrows.

  “Jamie found our son.”

  Rae Anne’s eyes sparkled with understanding. “Where is he?”

  “He’s in Texas. My aunt Denise had him all along.”

  Landy took a step toward her, but she withdrew a step. He stopped, giving her the room she needed.

  “Landy, that’s wonderful. W
e can go get him.”

  “There is one problem.” The elation in her eyes fizzled just as quickly as it had come. “He thought I was dead and you…” he trailed off.

  “What? I… what?”

  “You were too grief-stricken to care for him. He thinks you gave him up because…” His eyes welled up with tears. “He looks like me.”

  Rae Anne burst into tears on the couch. Landy took her in his arms and held her until her tears subsided. Rae Anne talked as he held her.

  “Since the day you left, I felt alone. The day I found out I was pregnant was the happiest day of my life. I had something of yours that was so special. I would talk to the baby and read to it every day.”

  Rae Anne stroked his arm, recalling her daily life in her early pregnancy. He rocked her with a gentleness of a parent. “The day Daddy told me you were missing, I knew I had to be strong for the baby. I promised him that I would find you and bring you home. I worked so hard on letter-writing campaigns, letters to the press, whoever I could write to find out about your whereabouts. Jamie Tompkins would stop by and help me once in a while. He would tease me about the weight I gained. He used to say I was expecting twins, but the doctor never said anything like that to me.” Rae Anne laughed. “Then, I found out you died.” She squeezed his arm so tightly it tingled in his fingers. Her tears started all over again.

  “Tell me, baby. What happened?”

  “I fell to the floor. I lay on the rug until my dad and Marcus came home. They found me crying in a puddle of blood.”

  Landy closed his eyes to the horrific scene forming in his head. “Then what happened?” his voice cracked on pent up emotions.

  “My father said I had to be rushed to the hospital. He figured that since I was so pale, I’d lost a lot of blood. I was taken to surgery. When I woke up, he told me that my little girl had died. No one said anything about my little boy. I never knew he existed.”

  Landy swallowed a large lump stuck in his throat. “Why didn’t you tell me that on the yacht, or the island?”

  “Why dredge up hurtful memories that I couldn’t fix?” She looked at him with pleading eyes. “I would have told you. You did need to know, and mourn, but not then. We had to wait.”