“I couldn’t imagine who you were when you walked up,” Regina said. “But the way the guys reacted, I knew you were someone special.”
She smiled at the statuesque redhead. “I was really nervous coming over here. I had no idea if any of them would remember me, although I admit I was a constant pest when I was younger.”
“Oh, my dear, you were never a pest,” Miss Ethel said.
Rolling her eyes, she laughed. “The first time I came over, I met Cas as he was sitting under a tree, whittling. He was thirteen years old, and I asked if he wanted to play with me. Then I heard his brothers in the back yard shouting, and he told me he had seven brothers. Somehow, I imagined they were much younger, and I told him it would be like living with the seven dwarfs. He didn’t correct me, and then the next day when I came over and met everybody, I called them the seven giants.”
The other women burst into laughter, and Rosalie exclaimed, “That’s so funny. I’ll have to call Zander my little dwarf the next time he gets on my nerves.”
“Oh, please, don’t. I don’t want him to hate me.”
“I don’t think you have to worry about that. Like Regina said, the way all the guys reacted when they realized who you were, you’re definitely like their long-lost sister,” Eleanor said.
Cas had told her a little about each of them, and she was amazed at their stories. Tales of bravery, overcoming obstacles, triumphs, and independence.
She discovered that Morgan was the Olympic swimmer who had an accident and had reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation on her arm. Rosalie had suffered a brain injury and spent time in the hospital not remembering who she was. Eleanor had suffered severe burns when she was a nurse in the military and had undergone agonizing hospital stays, surgeries, and rehabilitation. Regina was a cancer survivor. Even Penny had been involved in a car accident as a child and suffered greatly through multiple surgeries and treatments.
She found camaraderie with Ruby when she heard that she had been in an abusive relationship and also with Cynthia’s experiences with her own stepmother.
The women talked and laughed, and Miss Ethel promised to share her fried chicken recipe with Bianca as long as she shared a few of her knitting patterns in return. As the others were chatting, she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She ignored it for a while, then, when she could do so discreetly, she pulled it out of her pocket, glanced at it, jabbed a few buttons, and shoved it back into her pocket. Glancing over at Cas, she found his eyes pinned on her.
“Is everything okay?” Rosalie asked.
Nodding, she forced a smile and said, “Sure. No problems.”
“I hope I’m not overstepping my bounds,” Ruby said, “but Cas is looking over here like he’d like to rip your phone into pieces. Are you sure nothing’s going on?”
Having already mentioned Lucille and Lionel when talking about her time in California, she sighed and said, “It’s now been over a month since the judgment was handed down, and I’m afraid that for the past week, Lionel has been sending me texts saying that he’d like to talk to me. I’ve tried ignoring them, but that doesn’t seem to work.”
“Perhaps you should talk to Cas about it,” Penny suggested.
She shook her head. “He knows, but it’s my problem, and I’ll handle it. The last thing I want to do is drag Cas into something unsavory.”
“Well, take it from us, our men are super sweet but definitely alpha. I don’t think Cas would be very happy to find out that this is an ongoing problem,” Morgan advised.
“I’ll think about it, but I’d still rather just handle it myself.”
As she was talking, she noticed Rosalie’s eyes growing wider, but it was not until she heard a voice directly behind her that she realized why.
“What’s the problem?”
Hearing Cas’ growl behind her, she whirled around. Placing her hands on her hips, she said, “You shouldn’t sneak up on people!”
By then, the other men had moved back to the group of women and she could feel all eyes on her. Heaving another sigh, she said, “Just another message from Lionel.” Looking at the others, she said, “For the past week, Lionel’s been sending me messages. He says he wants to meet with me, but I told him that I have nothing to say to him. Since then, I’ve been ignoring his messages.”
“I told you that it’s time for someone else to get the message across to him,” Cas said, and she blinked in surprise at him as the other men’s heads nodded in agreement.
She placed her hand on his arm and said, “Not now, Cas. We’re having a lovely evening, and I don’t want it ruined.”
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead. “I’ll give in for now, but if he keeps bothering you, I want to know.”
“I can handle it myself, you know,” she argued while whispering.
He kissed her once more. “I know. But I can have your back while you do it.”
Smiling, she had to admit that sounded good. It had been a long time since anyone had her back. Leaning into him, she melted into his embrace as they continued to enjoy the rest of their evening.
20
The weeks flew by. Weeks of absolute bliss. When Cas was working at the garage, Bianca spent her days in her cabin, the words flowing as she worked on her next book. When he had a day at home, she took her laptop to his workshop and found that his creative process with the wood seemed to spark her creativity as well.
She had already had lunch several times with the women and visited with Miss Ethel, showing her the knitting patterns she used to create her blankets.
It was hard to believe that two months ago she was still embroiled in the fallout from her father’s will and Lucille’s attempt to get more money. Lionel’s texts had stopped, and for the first time in many years, she felt as though she could breathe freely.
She and Cas spent their nights in his house, Princess keeping them company, curled up at the foot of the bed. The realtor had contacted her to see if she was going to renew her lease for another month, and she readily agreed. Cas had questioned if she needed a place separate from his, but she had not wanted to crowd him. Plus, the small cabin gave her a place to spread out and use as an office.
Today dawned bright and sunny, and Cas had gone into work at the garage, having finished two more beds and a table that he had been working on. She had relished the long goodbye kiss he had given her, excited that each morning started that way.
She was so close to the end of her manuscript that she hoped to get it finished soon but also had several errands she needed to run. Stepping out onto her back patio with her morning cup of coffee, she could not believe how her life was finally turning around. She only hated that her father was not here to see what was happening. She knew that if he had not gotten sick, she would have come back to Virginia after college. But would she and Cas have gotten together then? Maybe they still needed more years of life experiences before they would have been ready for the relationship that they now so quickly jumped into.
Bianca’s phone rang, and she did not recognize the number. She had all of the women now programmed into her phone but answered it anyway. “Hello?”
“Bianca? Please don’t hang up!”
She recognized Lionel’s voice, and her thumb hovered over the disconnect button. She thought about what Cas had said, but the last thing she wanted was for him to get in trouble for threatening Lionel. Squeezing her eyes tightly shut, she willed away the nerves shooting through her and moved her thumb. “Lionel, we don’t have anything to say to each other. By continually trying to get hold of me, this is considered harassment. I don’t understand why you can’t get it through your head that when I left California, I left everyone from California as well.”
“I know, I know. I’m not trying to harass you, but I just cannot get it out of my mind how everything went so wrong.”
Not understanding his words, she repeated, “Everything went so wrong? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I know now
that taking you to court was wrong. I admit that I listened to Lucille and initially wanted part of your inheritance. She always told me I would get more from your father. Looking back, I realize I’ve foolishly allowed Lucille to lead everything… for most of my life. That was weak, and I know it. Since the time the judge blasted us on the day he threw out the suit, I’ve taken a hard look at what she’s been doing. I’m afraid if I don’t make changes, it’s going to ruin my life.”
“Ruin your life?” Furious at his words, she could not understand why he was calling or what he wanted.
“Please let me explain,” he begged. “I discovered that Lucille has been using my phone to send messages to you. Obviously, it looked like they were coming from me. She thought she was erasing them or deleting them… hell, I don’t know what she was thinking. I’m not stupid, Bianca, although I’ve done a lot of stupid things in my life. Since that day you left California, I told Lucille I was done with her. Done with her machinations. I’ve got a job interview coming up… away from California and away from Lucille. It’s only a low-level entry job that a friend helped me get. The last thing I need is any trouble with the police, so I got a new phone and canceled the old one to keep her from doing that again. I just needed to let you know.”
His anguish sounded sincere, but not being able to see his face made her doubt. She was quiet for a moment, then sighed. “Okay, if you’re just calling to apologize, then that’s fine, and we have nothing further to talk about.”
“I’d really like it if we could meet—”
“Oh, no!”
“Please, hear me out, Bianca. I’m here in Virginia. I came to the East Coast for the interview, but also because I just want to see you to apologize in person. I know you don’t want to be alone with me, so we could meet in public. There’s a restaurant in the hotel where I’m staying. It’s big, well lit, with lots of people around. You’d be perfectly safe to meet me here. I need to get on with my life, Bianca. My life away from Lucille. But I need to do it starting off with the apology to you. Please, let me do this.”
She sighed heavily, not wanting to have this conversation with him. She could easily see how Lionel, practically raised by Lucille, had his ideas about money and lack of work ethic indoctrinated from his sister. It was so hard to decide if his words were true, but before she had a chance to answer, he continued.
“I need to learn to stand on my own. I need to learn to be my own man. Hell, I need to learn how to be a man. I knew it on that day we walked out of the courtroom that I wasn’t who I wanted to be. I told Lucille that I didn’t want to see her again. I never got the chance to be the kind of man your father wanted me to be while he was still alive.”
Bianca closed her eyes and thought of her father and how often he had sat and talked with Lionel, hoping to teach him how to stand on his own. Maybe, just maybe, her father’s lessons were taking hold. “Okay, I’ll meet you, but only in public, and only for coffee. What hotel are you at?”
“The Belvedere. It’s pretty old, but the rates were good. I’ve been to the restaurant, and it looks very nice.”
“I’ll be there at two o’clock this afternoon.”
She heard the relief in Lionel’s voice. “Thank you, Bianca. Thank you so much.”
“Don’t make me regret this, Lionel.”
Hours later, she parked down the street from the Belvedere and sat in her car for a few minutes. She had sent Cas a message to let him know where she was and what she was doing. He often did not have a chance to check his phone when he was working on a car, and so far had not sent a return text. Climbing from her vehicle, she walked toward the hotel. It was an old brick hotel in downtown Richmond that had probably seen better days, but the tall first-floor windows and stately doorman in the front gave it an elegant feel of times gone by.
Once inside, she walked briskly to the restaurant that was at the front of the hotel. The hostess smiled at her and she glanced around, seeing Lionel sitting at a table for two near the front windows. He was dressed in slacks and a polo shirt, his hair neatly combed. He had always been handsome, and she often thought that if he was not so influenced by Lucille, he might have been a good catch for someone… but not me! An air of nervousness surrounded him as he fiddled with the stem of his water glass.
She indicated to the hostess that she was meeting someone and headed to the table. Halfway there, he looked up and saw her, a hesitant smile on his face. He stood quickly as she approached and reached his hand out to shake, then pulled it back as though uncertain if she would want to have contact with him.
She walked to her seat and he hustled around to hold her chair for her. As soon as she was seated, a server came to ask what she would like to drink. Seeing the goblet of water on the table and glad that Lionel had no alcohol present, she murmured that coffee was fine.
“Are you sure?” he asked. “Would you like something to eat?”
Shaking her head, she said, “No, I don’t think so. The water and coffee will be enough.”
Feeling the need to do something with her hands, she picked up the water goblet and sipped while waiting for her coffee. Her attention was snagged for a few minutes as a rather large and noisy party seated near them was getting ready to leave. She was glad for the distraction, not having to stare at Lionel, waiting to see what he would say.
The server came, bringing their steaming cups of coffee and placing a plate of small scones in front of them. After fixing her coffee, she focused her attention on him and said, “I have to admit I’m very surprised you came to Virginia to see me.”
“It was a risk, I know. And I had even prepared myself for your complete rebuttal. But I felt strongly that I wanted to have a chance to talk to you.”
As they ate the buttered scones, he began, “I don’t have an excuse for any of my past behavior, but I have come to see reason. As you know, Lucille was fifteen years older than I was, and by the time I was five, she was practically raising me. Father was nonexistent, and her mother spent more time nursing her vodka than taking care of me. Lucille found every way she could to snag a man that would take care of us. When I was younger, I didn’t think anything about it. It was simply the norm. She wanted a better life and had no idea how to get it other than finding a man who would take care of us.”
Not having anything to say to his confession, she simply nodded for him to continue.
“I don’t even think your father knew this, but he was her third husband.”
At that, Bianca’s eyes jerked wide open. She had no idea Lucille had been married twice before her father. That was something her private detective had missed. If her father had known, he had never mentioned it to her.
As Lionel continued to talk, she tried to stifle a yawn. She caught his questioning gaze and apologized. “I’m so sorry. I’m suddenly so very sleepy.” She lifted her hand to her forehead and gently rubbed, adding, “I think perhaps I should leave. I truly accept your apology, and you can certainly go on about your life without worrying about me.” As she spoke, Lionel’s face became slightly out of focus.
“Bianca, I don’t think you should drive,” he said. “Not if you’re not feeling well.”
She yawned widely again, and said, “Perhaps you’re right. I could call for a taxi.”
Lionel called the server over and gave him a credit card to pay for their lunch. After signing, he hurried around to Bianca’s chair and assisted her to her feet, saying, “Come on. Let’s walk around some and see if you feel better. If not, is there someone I can call?”
She allowed herself to be assisted from the chair, and Lionel banded his arm tightly around her waist as they walked out of the restaurant. Her vision was still blurry, and her brain felt fuzzy.
“Walking is probably helping,” she mumbled. With her hand in her purse, she tried to pull out her phone, continuing to mumble. “I’ll call Cas…”
Walking through the lobby, Bianca’s legs felt like rubber and she was vaguely aware of being led around, but her tongue
felt too thick for her mouth and words did not come. As the elevator doors opened, she tried to remember why she would want to go to the upper floors. “Lionel, no. No elevator.”
The truck that Cas had been working on was finally complete. He wiped his sweaty brow and headed into the office to let Ruby know he was finished. Glancing at the clock on the wall, he was not surprised that his stomach was growling, considering it was the middle of the afternoon and he had missed lunch. He went into the break room, scrubbed his hands, and grabbed a water bottle. Pulling out his phone, he sat down at the table with his sandwich, thinking he would call Bianca to see how her day was going.
He saw that he had missed a message from her an hour earlier where she told him that she had decided to meet Lionel at the Belvedere restaurant since he was in town and said he wanted to apologize in person. Leaping to his feet, he cursed, “Shit!”
Jayden, walking into the break room, immediately asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Lionel… that guy from California, Lucille’s brother, came to town and convinced Bianca to meet him, supposedly so he could apologize in person.”
Jayden’s head jerked, his brow furrowed. “All those years being a dick, he gets shut out by the court when trying to contest the will, and within a month he suddenly wants to apologize?”
Already peeling out of his coveralls, Cas said, “Yeah, right. I gotta leave, bro. I’m heading to the Belvedere.”
“I’m going with you,” Jayden said, darting back into the office to give Ruby a quick explanation of where they were going.
Eyes wide, she warned, “Be careful!”
As Cas came tearing out of the break room, Jayden said, “I’m driving.”
Not wanting to take the time to argue, Cas tossed his truck keys to Jayden and climbed into the passenger side. Just then, his phone rang, and he looked down to see who was calling. “It’s Bianca.”
Cas: Heroes at Heart Page 15