The idea of marrying Cole sent a small thrill down Indigo’s spine. “Now stop right there, Alyssa.” She tried to sound stern, but the thought of becoming Cole Demetrius’s wife was too enticing, and she couldn’t get angry at Alyssa. She laughed again. “We’ve known each other for about two months and have been dating for less than one. That’s hardly enough time or information for marriage. Let’s get that dress off of you. You can take it home today.”
Alyssa gave a little peep of excited happiness before clambering from the pedestal. Several minutes later, Indigo was handing Alyssa her dress, wrapped in tissue and plastic.
“Promise me you’ll be at my wedding in three weeks,” Alyssa said. “You’ve got the invitation, and I’ll notice if you’re not there.”
“I promise.” Indigo raised her hand in solemnity.
“Good! I’d give you a hug if I could, but … well …” She lifted the dress, indicating that her arms were full. “I’ll hug you at the wedding.”
Indigo opened the door and followed the girl to her car, where she helped her lay the wedding gown in the back before waving Alyssa out of the drive.
Walking back into the house, Indigo was happy she wasn’t plagued with the usual despair that could accompany the finishing of a wedding gown. Instead, she was joyful. She and Cole would be attending Alyssa’s wedding as a couple. The thought filled her with cheerful anticipation.
She almost bumped into Kelsey, who was dressed for work. “Taking an early shift?”
“Yeah. I’ll work a double today.” Kelsey picked up her purse as she moved out of the kitchen.
Indigo grabbed her arm. “Kels, what’s the matter? Ever since I’ve told you about me and Cole, you’ve been quiet. Do you think my relationship with him is a bad idea?”
Misery overshadowed Kelsey’s expression, but she shook her head. “No. Not at all. I haven’t seen you this happy since you and Sam married. I’m thrilled for you.”
A sliver of anxiety and concern burrowed under Indigo’s skin. “Then what is it?”
“It’s several things, I guess. I’ll miss you when the two of you finally decide to marry. It’s made me rethink my own life. I’ve been fairly happy until now, but I’m not sure I want to be a waitress when I’m sixty-five. I’ve wasted a bunch of time, and I should’ve finished school. I’m not sure what to do next. I’ve thought about going back to school, but I’d have to leave Eureka Springs.”
“Not necessarily. Maybe you can find something online,” Indigo began. Relief washed through Indigo at Kelsey’s confession. Finally, they were talking. “I wish you’d tell me these things. Maybe we can figure this out together.”
Kelsey nodded while biting her lip. “There’s more. Even though this is none of my business, I’m concerned for you and Cole.”
Surprise halted Indigo’s heart for a beat. “Whatever for?”
“Indigo … have you told him about Sam?”
Uneasiness bit at Indigo as the relief drained from her. She answered deliberately, hoping to slow the rush of annoyance. “Of course I’ve told him.”
“Does he know everything about Sam?”
Indigo bit the inside of her cheek as her impatience bled into irritation mingled with panic. “What do you mean?”
“Does he know about the debt?”
“I plan on telling him, but we’ve only been together for a few weeks. There’s plenty of time.” Speaking her rationale diminished it. Cole had made a point of telling her he was wealthy, and the target his money put on his back. She hadn’t reciprocated, though.
“You know that’s not fair,” Kelsey said quietly. “Especially since he’s asked you to be a part of his trust. I mean, it’s called a trust for a reason, Indi. That alone should encourage you to tell him the whole truth.”
“You don’t know the span of his wealth. My three-hundred-thousand-dollar debt is nothing to him.” The lie in her words gnawed at her as she recalled his story of Jessica and her embezzlement. She looked down, trying another approach. “Besides, I’m not ready to share all of Sam’s secrets. He was my husband, and I owe him some degree of loyalty.”
“Don’t you think you owe Cole some consideration in all of this? Besides, it’s not just about the money,” Kelsey explained. “And if it was, you know you’re in debt close to eight hundred thousand dollars, not three.”
Anger erupted in Indigo. “Sam couldn’t help the medical expenses. It wasn’t his fault he got cancer,” she spit out.
“No, but it is his fault that he walked away from a good-paying job and benefits that left both of you vulnerable. You were living on credit cards for almost two years.”
Indigo didn’t want to hear anymore. “I get it, okay?! I’ll tell him when I feel ready.”
Kelsey shouldered her purse and raised her hands in the air. “Like I said, it’s none of my business.” She searched for her keys and grabbed them before walking out the door.
The sound of Kelsey’s car leaving the drive diminished, leaving Indigo alone in the quiet house. She picked up her phone but put it down. In the week since Cole had asked her to consider working with his trust, they hadn’t discussed it. But that conversation and the confidence he placed in her constantly hovered, merging with the truth of her debt and the reasons behind it, partially blocking the light of her and Cole’s love like a storm on the horizon.
She picked up the phone again and partially dialed Cole’s number, before changing her mind. Dread and anxiety shouldered into her like heavy rocks, weighing her down. How could she betray one man to another? Sam was dead. She was all that stood between him and a sullied memory. Cole would certainly think less of Sam if he heard of his poor choices. He might think less of her, too. The thought made her cringe. But none of this erased the fact that Kelsey’s concern about Indigo’s and Sam’s debt was well founded. Cole had a right to the truth, especially since he wanted her to participate in his trust.
Doubt crowded her heart like a dark cloud. She would need to tell Cole and hope his thoughtful and patient nature would see beyond the story and continue to recognize the good in Sam, and in her.
She picked up her phone again. Hesitation and fear wouldn’t let her dial. Not now. She needed some time to get used to the idea. Tomorrow after rehearsal would be a better time for this difficult conversation.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Cole checked his phone as nine-forty-five stared at him, his impatience growing with each passing second. Pamela had asked to meet him right before Saturday morning rehearsal. He sat at the little coffee shop next door to the dance studio, seething with annoyance. He had refused her invitation until she’d told him that she had some news he needed to hear and it couldn’t be discussed in a text or a phone conversation.
He looked up from his phone as the tinkling bell over the door indicated that someone had entered the coffee shop. Pamela gave Cole a quick nod of her head before going to the counter to order a coffee. Gone were the skintight clothes and red stilettos. Instead, Pamela was dressed in black pants and a spring pink sweater that draped nicely over her frame. The heels were replaced with a pair of black ballet flats. She picked up her coffee and sat at the table where Cole waited.
“What can I do for you this morning, Ms. Smithers?” Cole took a drink of his espresso.
“It’s more like what I can do for you.” Gone was the teasing, flirty behavior Cole always associated with Pamela. Instead, she was all business. It gave her a certain appeal.
“Okay, then. What can you do for me?” He sat back in his chair.
“I’m glad you chose this corner table,” Pam replied. “I don’t think you’re going to want this news to be spread all over town.”
Cole’s curiosity piqued, overriding his irritation. “Okay. So here we are. What’s up?”
“It’s about Indigo.”
Shock hit him before the desire to protect Indigo and what they shared overrode everything else. Cole narrowed his eyes. “What about her?”
“She’s in debt up
to her ears and beyond. In fact, she’s drowning in it.” Pamela’s expression was unreadable.
Cole stared at her. Shards of his conversation with Indigo over Jessica’s betrayal scraped him raw, no longer staying in the past. Surely, if there was a problem with Indigo’s finances, she would’ve told him. After all, he’d shared everything with her. “What do you mean, she’s in debt?”
Pamela pulled a file of papers from her huge purse. “It’s all right there.” She laid the file open before Cole.
He pulled it toward himself and gazed at the fistful of papers. Quietly, he turned over several copies of statements showing credit cards running into the tens of thousands of dollars. He furrowed his brow and looked at Pamela before returning his eyes to the pages in front of him. Confusion spilled like flood waters. What was going on? He sifted through the credit card statements and other papers, his accountant mind working through the numbers quickly. “There must be close to ten credit cards with a total of around three hundred thousand dollars here,” he murmured.
“Three hundred thousand and some change.” Pamela shrugged. “I added it up. She makes the minimum payment on each account as if she’s biding her time on them. There are medical expenses, too, but I couldn’t get access to those. I did learn that her husband died quickly after some kind of diagnosis. So these bills aren’t about his illness. They bought a seventy-five-thousand-dollar truck and a new boat along with a bunch of fishing gear. If you check the dates, you can see they were living on these cards for close to two years.” She paused before slowing her words. “She’s going to need help with this at some point. She may not ask you for it right away, but she’ll ask.”
Cole’s mind went into a tailspin. There had to be an explanation for all of this. Why hadn’t Indigo told him? The coffee rose up in his throat, burning him with its bitterness as he turned his attention to Pamela. “How did you get access to this?” His eyes bored into hers as Indigo’s betrayal knocked the wind out of him.
Pamela returned Cole’s hard look. “My husband cheated on me. I learned what to look for and how to find it.” She shrugged again. “I’m not making any sort of judgment call on this. I’m just saying you have a right to know, and I’m betting you didn’t. That’s all.” She stood. “I left Isabella in the car, and I don’t want her to be late for rehearsal. Do what you want with the information.” She picked up her coffee and left the shop, the little bell tinkling behind her.
Cole’s breath shallowed as he studied copies of old credit card statements. Indigo wasn’t even making a dent in the principle with her effort at minimum payments. He sat back in his chair, raking his fingers through his hair. With all of this debt, getting a lease for her business, the Silver Stitch, would be nigh to impossible.
But all of these thoughts were just distractions from his main concern. Why didn’t Indigo tell him about this herself? Did she think it didn’t matter or that it wasn’t any of his business even after he’d shared his every emotion around Jessica and asked her to help him with the trust?
The trust. The very thought of it mocked him.
Cole’s pulse raced as his thoughts returned to Jessica as if rising from the grave of his broken heart that he thought he’d buried when meeting Indigo. He pictured his ex-girlfriend sitting on the witness stand, tamely dressed and coiffed, her head held high, still confident of an acquittal.
He tried to push the memory away and focused on the statements in front of him. Most of the big-ticket items were for Sam. The boat. The truck. But what about the living expenses? If Pam was to be believed, Indigo and Sam lived on credit cards for close to two years before he got sick. Did he lose his job?
His breathing slowed. Maybe there was a decent explanation for all of this. Maybe he just needed to talk to Indigo, to find out what had happened. But then, he might not like the answer. What if there was a side to her he hadn’t seen and she’d been baiting him all along? He hated to admit it, but Pamela was right. Indigo would need help with this debt if she expected to get a lease for her business. He sent Indigo a text, telling her he wouldn’t be at the rehearsal but asking if she could come to the house after she finished work.
She answered immediately in the affirmative with a heart emoji rounding out her message.
Gathering the papers, Cole drove home, where he dismissed Trey and Suzette for the day.
Suzette eyed him suspiciously. “What about dinner?”
“Are there leftovers from last night’s soup and bread?”
“Yes,” she answered slowly. “Cole, is everything all right?”
“I need a couple of days alone.” Cole’s head throbbed as the weight of what he’d learned pressed down on him.
Suzette didn’t pry. Instead, she gave him directions for the pot of soup and hurriedly made a batch of overnight oats for his breakfast before slipping out of the house.
He studied Indigo’s credit card statements with a discerning eye to make sure he hadn’t missed anything, but it was all there. Utilities. Rent. Groceries. Gas. Everything needed to live was charged to plastic with only minimum payments made to cover it. His stomach ached.
Now, there was nothing to do but wait for Indigo to arrive, and hope that whatever explanation she offered would make everything right.
* * *
Indigo brought the Subaru to a stop and noticed a quiet air about the house. She watched for a moment, wondering about the difference. Trey was gone. Maybe he needed the day off. She skipped up the front porch stairs and quietly knocked. Cole answered the door, but usually, Suzette greeted her.
“Where is everybody?” she asked.
Cole turned away from her before she could kiss him. “They have the day off.” He moved from the entry into the living room. “I have something to show you.”
A thread of panic wove its way through Indigo as she followed him, sitting kitty-corner from him on the couch. He didn’t appear happy to see her like usual when they met, and there was a darker look to his brown eyes, like a storm brewed in his soul. His rejection of her physical affection left her feeling shunted. She pointed to the file. “What’s that?”
He slid it across the coffee table. “I’d like to ask you that same thing.”
Dread pushed Indigo’s heart into her throat. There was no doubt what this file contained. Slowly, she opened the folder and sifted through each familiar statement. Tears burned her eyes, but she refused to cry.
“Can you explain this?” Cole asked quietly.
Indigo clamped down on the shame that mingled with irritation. “It’s the debt Sam and I incurred.”
“But this was before he got sick, so you were living on credit cards long before he died. What happened?”
Indigo kept her voice even. She hated having to show the underbelly of her marriage and the debt that came with her and Sam’s poor choices. “If it makes you feel any better, I was going to tell you about this today.” She swallowed, not daring to look up at him to see if he believed her. “Sam wanted to start his own business as a fishing guide. He quit his job and tried to work the rivers, but business was slow. I was earning money, but it wasn’t enough to pay bills. Oregon is expensive. We lived on credit cards for a while.” Her throat hurt—like she had to squeeze every word out.
“What did Sam do before he quit?”
Indigo hesitated as she pushed down the anger that tried to bubble to the surface. This conversation wasn’t going as she’d hoped, and everything about it was harder than she anticipated. “He was a delivery driver for UPS.”
Cole stared at her in disbelief. “That means he not only gave up a paycheck, but benefits too.” He shook his head. “What made him do such a thing?” Cole shifted in his seat. “Maybe this is old-fashioned, but if he was the main breadwinner, it was up to him to look after you. How could he have left his job with a wife to support?” He continued, “I supposed there are medical expenses, too. Since he didn’t have any insurance.” His eyes bored into hers. “And what about you? Did you agree to this?” He
jabbed the statements with his finger.
Indigo’s eyes widened. “Of all people, I think you’d understand what made Sam want to start his own business. Your great-great grandfather did it. Your folks had to take chances if they were going to grow the business into what it is today. Every business venture involves risk. Sam’s idea was no different. Most businesses fail their first year. How can you judge him for trying the same thing that brought such success to your family?”
“It’s not the same thing, Indigo. My great-great grandfather had nothing. He worked in the orange groves for pennies. He certainly didn’t have a good-paying job with benefits. That’s for sure.” He paused. “And he didn’t have a wife or family. He was only risking himself.”
Indigo picked up the papers, regret adding to her burden with each statement. She’d wanted to tell Cole about all of this, but she’d wanted to explain things calmly, not defend herself against an attack or listen to him besmirch Sam’s memory. Shuffling through the papers, a slow thought beamed through her need to protect Sam. Looking up, she gave Cole a hard stare, her voice steely and calm. “Where did you get these? Have you been spying on me? Searching me out on the internet? Did you have your brother do a background check?” Her words came out with a staccato rise.
“No!”
Indigo held the papers up, a scream starting in her throat. She pushed it down. “Then where did you get them?”
Cole placed his elbows on his knees, looking at his hands. “I got these from Pamela.” Looking up at Indigo, he continued, “I didn’t ask her for this. She delivered it to me this morning.” He slumped against the back of the couch.
“Pamela?!” Disbelief ran through Indigo, the earlier thread of panic breaking into a snag across the smooth fabric of their hopeful relationship, ruining everything. “You talked to Pamela about me?” Her voice rose an octave with her outrage.
“Like I said, it was more like Pamela talked to me.”
Indigo threw her hands up. “Same difference.” She narrowed her eyes. “How could you even think of listening to anything Pamela would say about me?” She spit her words out like sparks ready to start a fire.
Her Billionaire Betrayal (Billionaire Bachelor Mountain Cove Book 3) Page 17