Cole leaned forward. “I should’ve Googled you myself. I can’t believe I fell for a brilliant smile and a pair of legs again. I suppose you would’ve been asking me to pay all of this at some point,” Cole retorted, his words heated and punishing.
Indigo’s defenses sprang to her argument as she lit the kindling. “Is that how you see me? A smile and a pair of legs? How dare you compare me to Jessica,” she hissed. “Maybe your billionaire brain can’t take this in, but I didn’t spend money on jewelry, cars, or vacations. I was trying to live! And it never occurred to me to ask you for a dime. I’ve told you what happened, but the truth is, it’s really none of your business. It’s between me and Sam,” she seethed. “These bills are mine, and I’m paying them. What’s it to you how all of this came about?”
Cole’s mouth fell open. “I asked you to work with me on a trust worth millions of dollars. That makes your past debt history my business.”
Indigo leveled her gaze at him. Her voice fell to low tones and controlled anger. “Your request doesn’t give you the right, because I didn’t accept it. In fact, I told you I felt inadequate.”
Cole sat back. “Well, now I can see why.”
Indigo’s breath caught and she raised her chin, the fire finally erupting that would burn down every fragile hope. “I’m finished with this conversation.” She picked up the papers and stowed them in the crook of her arm as she walked to the front entrance. Cole didn’t follow. Flinging open the door, she turned. “Why don’t you ask Pamela to chair your trust?” she spit out. “I’m sure the two of you will be a perfect fit.” Rushing out of the house, she smashed the door behind her and hurried down the steps where she started the car and sped down the drive. Elton barely got the iron gate open in time for her to hurry through.
Once she put Mountain Cove behind her, she slowed and pulled over at Blowing Springs Park. She stared out the windshield. Parents and children played in the greening grass under a canopy of tender leaves. The spring water flowing from underneath the limestone in clear sparkling current offered its soothing song, but Indigo didn’t hear it. Young lovers hovered near a picnic table, their eyes fastened in a sweet expression instead of on their sandwiches.
Indigo turned away from the scene; the cooling green was too much of a contrast to the heated anger that throbbed inside of her like a fire raging out of control. She had hoped to bring Cole here one day, in spite of the worry of ticks. Indigo let out a small laugh before the tears burned her eyes. She pulled a statement from the file she’d thrown on the passenger seat, Cole’s words seared into her heart. How could Sam make choices that put her at such risk? And what was her culpability in all of this?
Even though she’d hoped to leave the difficult part of her marriage to Sam behind, it had followed her here, along with the debt. But in spite of everything, Indigo had somehow begun creating a new life in the middle of the Ozarks and their pastoral beauty with people she loved.
Cole’s questions echoed in her head, his voice drowning out any happy memory of Sam. Instead, the onslaught of their consistent and terrible fighting during their marriage came full force.
“Look, Indi, things will be tough for a while, but if we buy it now, I’ll have the spring and summer fish runs to help pay it off.”
Indigo shook her head. “I’m not against you buying a truck or a boat. But does it have to be brand new? And what about when winter comes? Do you have to quit your job? Why can’t you just go out on the weekends for a while until we see how this is going to go?”
Sam’s blue eyed darkened like frigid winter water right before a flood. “I don’t want to be a UPS driver for the rest of my life. It was supposed to be temporary, remember?”
“Yeah, until we learned about their benefits package. It’s a good job. It will help us start a family.”
“It’s a great job … for someone else. I want to be outside, Indi. I don’t want to be stuck in a truck in traffic. I want to be on the river.”
Impatience flowed through Indigo like the current of Sam’s beloved rivers. It always came down to this: what Sam wanted, as opposed to what they needed or even the babies they’d once dreamed of. “Maybe this isn’t just about you! If this thing sinks, I can’t make enough money to keep us afloat.”
Sam waved his arm in dismissal of Indigo’s concerns. “I can get another job.”
Defeat wove its bright red fiber through the tapestry of Indigo’s argument. “But you won’t,” she whispered, her eyes growing large with the truth. “I know you, Sam. Once you get a taste of this, you’ll be willing to live in a tent on the banks of the McKenzie. But not me. I need some degree of certainty. I need to know what your paycheck will be, so I can budget for groceries, gas, rent … I can’t stand the idea of that certainty being washed down the river … literally! And that’s what will happen if you do this.”
Sam rose from the couch and pulled Indigo into a warm embrace. Indigo allowed the comfort because she loved him, and she wanted to believe him.
“I won’t let you down,” he whispered. “I promise.”
Indigo hoped more than believed Sam. But she was tired of this fight. Sam simply outlasted her, and there was something to say for his passion.
Quietly, she nodded into his chest. “Okay.”
Sam kissed the top of her head before gently cupping her face in his large, callused hands and kissing her on the lips. She relaxed into the familiarity of his mouth on hers and the warmth of his body.
Indigo opened her eyes with a gasp, expecting Sam to be with her, but he was nothing more than a memory, a mix of happiness and desperation. She brushed the tears away. The young couple and family were gone, giving her nothing to distract her from the aching reality that had become her and Sam’s marriage—a series of fights over money and work, wants and needs.
Tears flowed freely and unchecked as she sobbed into the sleeve of her jacket. This was where she’d failed. She’d refused to ask Sam the hard questions. How could they come together to make sure this worked out? What could they do if his dream turned out to be nothing more than a ruined promise? Instead, she had simply resisted his every hope with her own fear. She could now see how Sam’s aspirations were as valid as her unease, but they’d both required tough conversations that never happened. Instead, she’d been left with rising anxiety and desperate uncertainty as Sam’s business had failed to garner the customers he was sure were waiting around the bend of his two favorite rivers.
Two years later, Sam was gone, leaving behind a legacy of unresolved hurt and a trail of debt that followed her all the way to Arkansas.
Indigo sighed and fell back against the seat, spent from sobbing. She closed her eyes, her recent tears burning. Cole had asked some difficult questions about Sam and his desire to choose the river over her. She shook her head. Sam had never seen it that way, but it was a fair perspective, one she had sewn up tight in order to keep from looking at it.
Now, the seams were ripped open, exposing an unhappy truth, leaving her vulnerable and frightened. She loved Sam with all of her heart, and he loved her. But love wasn’t always enough. It hadn’t prepared them for the challenging trials of adulthood, and no matter how hard Indigo tried, love was leaving Sam behind as she moved forward into adulthood alone.
She took a deep breath and opened her eyes. Kelsey was right. Sam was the lover of her youth, and it was all he would ever be.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Cole listened to the first of the crickets begin their evening symphony as the sun began its descent behind the bluff, leaving a fire of sunset withdrawing from the lake below. In the gathering dark, his earlier anger also withdrew, leaving nothing more than a cold black hole of disappointment and anguish. The house was dark and silent behind him. In spite of Suzette’s instructions around dinner, Cole hadn’t risen to eat.
His phone lit up with a text. Landon had tried to call him a couple of times throughout the afternoon, but Cole didn’t pick up. He waited. His phone vibrated. That was one thin
g about Landon: he wouldn’t just quit trying to call.
Cole answered. “Hey. What’s up with you?”
“Why does anything need to be up with me? I’m calling about you. How are things with Indigo?”
“Why are you calling now?” Cole didn’t know whether to be irritated or grateful.
Landon was quiet for a moment. “I’m not exactly sure. Just a feeling. Is everything okay?”
Cole considered keeping the break with Indigo private, but he’d tell Landon sooner or later, so it might as well be now. “I don’t think we’ll be seeing each other any longer.”
“What? What happened?” Landon’s voice carried concern.
Cole’s earlier rage rose to the surface. “She’s up to her eyeballs in debt, Landon. Three hundred thousand dollars in living expenses along with a failed business!” He stopped short of talking about Sam’s medical expenses. Some things couldn’t be helped, and Landon didn’t need to know. His thoughts turned to Jessica. “Remind you of anyone?”
Landon’s reply was immediate. “No. Why should it?”
Cole stood and began to pace along the deck. “Oh, c’mon, Landon. This is Jessica all over again.”
“How do you figure that? Jessica stole from you. Indigo had a life before you. And for reasons that don’t have anything to do with you, she owes a ton of money. It’s not the same, Cole. Not even a little bit.”
Cole held his fury as he told Landon the story of Indigo’s debt as outlined by the credit card statements. “It’s all there in black and white.”
Landon was quiet for a long minute.
“Well?”
“It sounds as if there were some poor decisions made, that’s for sure. But Cole, we’ve all made poor choices. You’ve made a few, and I’m beginning to think maybe I have too. What gives you the right to judge hers or even Sam’s?”
Irritation pounded through Cole with each heartbeat. “You don’t understand! She didn’t tell me about any of this.”
“Ahhh. This isn’t about the money.”
“Yes. It is!”
“No. It isn’t,” Landon insisted. “It’s about feeling betrayed … again.”
Cole leaned against the edge of the outdoor table, his legs turning to rubber bands as Landon’s words cleared all of his earlier arguments away. His shoulders sagged and he made his way to a chair, where he rubbed his face with his free hand.
Landon continued, “You told Indigo everything you wished you could’ve told Jessica but never did. That’s my fault, really. As the family’s lawyer, I never allowed the two of you to have a private conversation after we figured out the embezzlement. This has been stewing in you for a long time now, and Indigo got the brunt of it.”
Anger leapt in Cole like flames. “How can you make her completely innocent in all of this?”
“Look, I agree. She should’ve told you. But I bet she has her own reasons why she didn’t. Did you ask?”
Cole had replayed his conversation with Indigo all day. “No.” The earlier heat of anger retreated as the last of the blazing light left the lake.
“Well, that needs to happen. And maybe you need to have a conversation with Jessica,” Landon suggested. “Clear your conscience of that so the other women in your life don’t have to make payment for the rest of theirs.”
“I don’t want to talk to either one of them, and I’m not sure I want to talk about this any longer.” Cole changed the subject. “What did you mean when you said you think you’ve made some poor choices.”
Landon hesitated before speaking. “It’s Ashely. I’m not sure we’re going to make it. We had another conversation about moving to Kestrel Landing, and she put up a lot of resistance. Her family is here, and she loves LA. She’s not open to the move, especially when I told her I wanted to sell the condo. She loves this place. She’s been giving me the cold shoulder and silent treatment since our discussion a few days ago, and I hate that. Surely there’s a better way to resolve an argument than trying to bend me to her will through frigid silence.”
“You know my thoughts about Ashely, so I won’t venture an opinion here.”
“I appreciate the consideration,” Landon replied. “But I still have an opinion about Indigo. I think you’ve been grossly unfair. You threw an old debt in her face. Did it ever occur to you that she could’ve claimed bankruptcy? Most people have done it for a lot less.” He paused. “Who knows what this brought up for her about her dead husband?”
“That’s another thing,” Cole started. “She’s always made him sound like such a great guy, but I’m not so sure about that. I think this man put his own desires before the well-being of Indigo, who was his family.”
“No wonder she didn’t tell you.”
Cole exhaled in impatience. “What do you mean?”
“Can’t you see? She’s choosing to remember the good while trying to pay off the bad. You ripped a bandage off of a wound before it was healed. Really, Cole, you owe her a major apology. You walked where you had no business being until she chose to share it with you.”
Remorse filled Cole as he recalled Indigo’s comment about her choice to disclose this information. She’d been going to tell him. If he’d just waited for another day, the conversation would’ve turned out differently. He withered inside. Maybe that was on him.
Landon continued, “How did you find this stuff out, anyway?”
His shame grew, completely dousing his earlier anger. “I’d prefer not to tell you.”
“Why not? Did you check her out on the internet, or did you hire a PI?”
“None of that.” Self-contempt settled like a hot stone in the pit of his stomach. “Pamela gave me the information.”
“Pamela!? You mean ‘flirt ’til you drop’ Pamela? The one person who has been cruel to Indigo since she walked into the dance studio?”
Cole’s mouth went dry. He was such an idiot. “Yeah.”
“You owe Indigo a double apology. How could you listen to Pamela when it comes to anyone, much less Indigo? That woman has been nothing but a thorn in your side since you met her. Do you really think she’s interested in doing you a favor now? And she’s certainly not interested in Indigo’s happiness.”
Cole thought back to the ruination of Isabella’s costume. “I agree. Pamela does come with an agenda, but the information speaks for itself.”
“Sure it does,” Landon said. “And so would an explanation as to why she waited to tell you, if you’d given her the chance. I hope you’ll consider doing that, Cole, along with a heartfelt apology.” He paused. “Listen, relationships are hard enough without them being sabotaged by a past experience and a woman with a motive.”
“I knew there was a reason I didn’t want to talk to you,” Cole said sourly.
“Why? Because I’m your older brother who’s always right?” Landon laughed.
“No, because you’re my older brother who always thinks he’s right. I’ve got to go. It’s late here, and I want to get some sleep.”
“Sure thing.” Landon’s voice softened. “But give this some thought. You need to fix this, and you’re the only one who can. I’ll talk to you later.” He rang off.
Cole put the phone down and took in the sound of crickets. The matching indignant response he’d expected from Landon had turned into something unexpected. He loved his brother and relied on his expertise. Could Landon be right? His brother was a lawyer and loved to play devil’s advocate. But then again, he wouldn’t sell out Cole just for the sake of an argument. No matter what, brother loyalty was at the top of Landon’s priority list.
As the night wore on, the song of the crickets became bold in the free and open space, while Cole’s argument for not apologizing to Indigo retreated to the small confines of regret.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Indigo fiddled with her spoon as her cereal grew soggy.
“Okay,” Kelsey said. “Out with it. What happened between you and Cole?”
“Who says something happened?” Indigo b
ristled.
“You and your mushy breakfast.” Kelsey made a face. Her voice softened. “C’mon, Indi, tell me what happened.”
“You were right.” Indigo dropped the spoon into the cereal bowl with a splash of milk.
Kelsey grinned. “I’m always right, but tell me what about. I lose track.”
Indigo gave her a timid smile. “About Cole. I should’ve told him about Sam and all that debt. He found out another way, and … he didn’t take it so well.”
Kelsey leaned forward. “What’d he say?”
Indigo told Kelsey the whole argument. “There was some yelling on both sides, and I slammed his door on my way out.”
Kelsey’s eyes grew large. “Look, I do think you should’ve told him, but he doesn’t get any points for how he handled this.”
“What do you mean?” Indigo sat up, her curiosity piqued.
“He gets this information from the clinger and threw it at you like some personal attack on him? Give me a break. This had nothing to do with him.” She paused. “I thought you should’ve told him because I didn’t want it to come between the two of you, but he behaved badly, Indigo. And I’m sorry. I thought he was better than that.”
Indigo shook her head. “Maybe. Yeah, but this thing with Jessica has deeper roots than I imagined. I don’t think it’s about the money so much as it’s about the fact that I kept something from him when he told me everything about Jessica. That must’ve hurt.” Indigo surprised herself with her defense of Cole. Her earlier indignation and anger had disappeared in the face of a possible explanation and greater understanding. Her exasperation returned, but at a lower ebb. She folded her arms. “Still, it’s not really an excuse.”
Kelsey sighed. “I agree. But why didn’t you tell him? I mean, between the living expenses before Sam got sick and the medical expenses, you owe so much money. It’s something anyone you choose to get close to would need to know.”
Her Billionaire Betrayal (Billionaire Bachelor Mountain Cove Book 3) Page 18