Don't Call Me Sweetheart

by Codi Gary

  Finally, Kelly sat forward and started talking. “Well, the good news is that the Stadarskis are willing to not sue Something Borrowed for violating the confidentiality clause in the contract—”

  “There was no violation. Sonora had fired me thirty minutes before,” Marley broke in.

  “According to you, but since there were no witnesses and Sonora denies firing you, they would have grounds.” When Marley opened her mouth to say more, Kelly held up her hand. “Like I said, it is a moot point considering the current circumstances. Instead, they are offering to pay a generous settlement to your mother.”

  It was just like that family to use money to solve their problems.

  “In exchange for what?” Marley growled.

  Kelly’s expression turned grim. “The D.A. has offered Sonora a very generous deal. Sonora agreed to plead guilty to arson. The Stadarskis want to make sure you won’t contest it.”

  Marley scoffed, knotting her hands in her lap. “What does she get? Probation?”

  “And her license revoked.”

  Marley slammed her hand down on the desk, fury roasting in her belly. “Forget that. That psycho almost killed my mother. She should rot in prison.”

  “She told the D.A. she was drunk and high. She didn’t even fully understand what she was doing and she didn’t know your mother was inside,” Christian said.

  His calm, matter of fact tone exasperated her anger. “So, she gets a pass? Because, what, she bribed someone? This is bullshit.”

  Kelly sat forward, her eyes blazing. “I agree. I hate this and I hate that woman almost as much as you do. Her sister came to see me Monday, told me everything you took while working for her and I need you to know that had I known, I would have never accepted her as a client.”

  Marley wanted to believe her, but money had a way of shifting priorities. As much as she loved Kelly, she wasn’t so sure her friend was above it all.

  Marley shook her head. “I will give her parents every penny of my commission back, plus interest, but I want her punished. She is a monster, and will never change if she doesn’t pay for the full extent of her crimes.”

  “Unfortunately, it’s not up to us, and since I work for Kelly, I must advise her as to what is in the best interests of Something Borrowed.” Christian came around the desk with papers in his hand and set it before her. “This is a contract that states you will accept the settlement and agree to not contest Sonora’s plea deal nor speak about what she did to any press or media outlet. It also includes a clause that Sonora cannot come back to Sweetheart, or contact you in anyway and vice versa.”

  “Oh, I will accept it, huh?” Marley stood up, ready to walk. “You represent Kelly, not me, and I don’t have to accept this.”

  “You’re right, you don’t,” Kelly said. “But Sonora going to prison is not going to help your mother rebuild her café or get you to New York. You need to move past your anger and find that level-headed woman I’ve come to respect these last seven years.”

  Kelly’s words struck a nerve and she sat down, weighing the truth to it. “What happens if I do contact her or tell the world what she did?”

  “You’ll be in breach of contract and you will have to return the settlement, plus damages.”

  Marley looked at Kelly, and even though she saw the regret in her eyes, she didn’t care. “You’re really okay with this? With letting her skate on everything?”

  Kelly spread her hands out, as if to signify she had no other choice. “This is my livelihood, Marley. I have to do what is best for Something Borrowed’s future.”

  Marley almost snorted, but held it in. “Give me the pen.”

  Christian pulled one from his pocket and held it out to her. She signed the paper, stabbing at it with the pen, as if that would somehow make all of this better.

  It didn’t, but she had a feeling nothing really would.

  She stood up and headed for the door without saying a word.

  “You’re forgetting the check,” Christian said.

  Marley didn’t even look at him; all of her disappointment and rage was directed at the woman she’d considered a friend. “I worked with you for seven years. I confided in you, shared my dreams with you. I know I made a mistake, but what you’re doing? What you’re accepting from the Stadarskis is exactly why so many of the horrible women who come through here as brides think they can treat us any way they want. They don’t see us as anything but the help, and undeserving of basic common courtesy. And you see them as dollar bills. A way to keep your company afloat. I get it, it’s business, but I don’t have to be a part of it.”

  “Marley…” Kelly started, but she cut her off.

  “You can keep the check; I’ll help my mother rebuild, without the Stadarskis thinking they can buy their troubles away. All they care about is money; just like you.”

  Kelly stood up, her face sheet white, but Marley didn’t care what she had to say. She was done with all of it.

  She passed by the reception desk, but didn’t stop to talk to Rylie or Josephine, their newest hire. She needed air.

  The minute she hit the sidewalk, she started running. Past the charred remnants of the Sweetheart Café. The Love Shack hotel. Honey-Moon Intimate Apparel. She kept running out of town and up the hill to Buzzard Gulch, her lungs burning as she cried, gulping for air. She finally slowed as she reached the center of the old ghost town and screamed, using whatever oxygen was left in her lungs. She railed until she was hoarse, cursing Sonora, Kelly, the Stadarskis…

  “Damn you!” She threw her hands up in the air, staring into the dark clouds forming above and yelled again. “Damn you! What the hell did I do? What did my family do? Are you even up there listening? Is this a joke to you? Is my life and my failures some kind of entertainment you can’t stop watching?”

  There was the distant rumble of thunder, but nothing else. She collapsed in the dirt, her shoulders shaking violently, unable to stop the sobs.

  The storm drew closer, but she paid it no attention, wallowing too deep in her troubles.

  If she’d been smart, she would have taken the money. Insurance on the diner wasn’t going to be enough to cover all of the equipment that they needed to replace. Her mom was going to have to take out an equity line of credit, if she even qualified, and Marley had already given her every penny she’d ever saved. No more New York.

  The funny thing was, that as she sat there, hysterically losing her shit, she didn’t have any tears for the dream she’d clung to for nearly ten years.

  Maybe because my dreams changed.

  The crack of thunder above pulled her out of her meltdown, and she climbed to her feet as huge drops of rain started falling. Splashing her cheek, her shoulder, running down the back of her neck.

  Just what she needed, to run home in a thunderstorm.

  Suddenly, the sky lit up and a bolt of lightning hit the saloon. Sparks shot up out of the center as the ground shook beneath her feet. A high-pitched sound rang in her ears and she realized it was her screaming in terror.

  She held her hand over her chest, her heart pounding against her palm, and then it stopped altogether when she saw the first flame climb up over the second floor, like a long arm waving. Inside the windows were no longer dark, but an eerie glow of yellow, orange, and red danced behind the dirty glass and it finally sank in.

  The fire in the saloon was spreading quickly. Too quickly.

  Marley pulled her phone out of her pocket, and dialed 911. Another lightning strike hit just over the hill and she shivered as she realized how close she’d come to being struck.

  When the dispatcher picked up, another rumble above her head told Marley she needed to find shelter. Fast.

  “Hi, this is Marley Stevenson, and I’m up at Buzzard Gulch, the old Ghost Town above Sweetheart? A bolt of lightning just struck one of the buildings and it’s burning.” Smoke
billowed and now the flames were gathering on the roof. “Hurry, before it all burns down.”

  * * * *

  An hour and a half later, the storm had passed. Marley sat on the boardwalk in front of the old town hall, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Rylie had come to get her an hour ago, but Marley refused to leave until she saw all the damage.

  Men and women from the El Dorado County Fire Department meandered around now, after managing to put out the flames before the fire spread too far.

  They hadn’t been able to save the saloon though. There wasn’t anything left of her favorite building but a few boards and the front sign, which was a little charred on the top.

  “Honestly, they should just bulldoze this whole thing,” one of the firefighters said to another.

  Marley stood up angrily, shaking under the blanket they’d given her. “Are you kidding me? This is a historical landmark.”

  The guy shot her a look of disbelief. “It’s a death trap, lady.”

  Rylie put her hands on her shoulders and pulled her back. “Just let it go.”

  She took a shaky breath and let Rylie lead her to the car. Once she was in the seat, she stared out the window as they drove down the hill back toward Sweetheart.

  After several moments of silence, Rylie spoke, “You know, if they could just find a little bit of money to restore it, I bet Sweetheart could use it as a wedding venue. It has beautiful views of the Sierra Mountains, the river, and the rolling hills. Plus, people would pay a buttload to have a themed wedding up there, if it was all painted and landscaped.”

  Rylie’s words sunk in. A little bit of money and Buzzard Gulch could be beautiful. Sure, the town had blocked all attempts to update it, but if it was privately owned…

  Marley smiled for the first time in days. “I need you to drive me out to Kelly’s.”

  “Now?” Rylie asked.

  “Right now.”

  Rylie made a left at the stop sign. “Why do you want to talk to Kelly?”

  “Because I have a business proposition for her.”

  The minute Rylie pulled into Kelly’s driveway, Marley leapt out without waiting for her to even put the car in park. She jogged up the front steps and started banging on the front door.

  After knocking for several minutes, Kelly finally opened the door in just a robe, her long hair wet and dripping around her shoulders.

  “Marley, what are you doing? I was in the bath.”

  “Sorry but it couldn’t wait.” Rylie came up alongside her, panting, and Marley continued, “Can we come in? I have proposition for you.”

  “Really, Marley, I’ve had a long day and I think we both need some time—”

  “Just give me five minutes, and if you don’t like what you hear, we’ll go. No harm, no foul.”

  Kelly glanced over at Rylie, who shrugged. Finally, with a heavy sigh, she stepped back to let them pass. “Come on in, I guess.”

  Kelly and Rylie sat down on the couch under the window, but Marley was too wired to sit. “You still have the money from Sonora’s parents, right?”

  Kelly frowned. “Of course, it’s your money. Did you think I would really do that to you?”

  “No, that’s not what I meant. I just wanted to know if you gave it back to them,” Marley said.

  “I thought when you calmed down, you might need it.”

  “I do need it. Badly.” Finally, she sat, both of her hands on her knees to keep her legs still. “I want to invest it in the restoration of Buzzard Gulch.”

  Both Rylie and Kelly blinked at her in surprise, but it was Kelly that said, “I beg your pardon?”

  “And I want you to invest with me.”

  A laugh burst from Kelly, until she seemed to realize Marley was dead serious. “Why would I want to invest in an old ghost town?”

  Marley gleefully clapped her hands. “Because we’re going to buy it from Dustin Kent and turn it into a premiere wedding venue. Rylie had the fantastic idea of restoring it all to its former glory, and we can charge people to use it. Comfort meets the old west. Plus, there are gorgeous places for pictures up there and Rylie pointed out that you have three different geographical views that are sure to delight people. It’s the perfect solution. Keep and maintain a historical landmark and make oodles of money to boot.”

  Kelly held up her hands. “Okay, I can tell you’re excited about this, but several hours ago, you hated my guts. Why would you want to go into business with me?”

  “I didn’t hate you Kelly. I was disappointed, but I could never hate you. But to answer your question, you know the wedding business inside and out and I love Buzzard Gulch. It’s special to me, just like it was special to my sister. I’m doing this for her.”

  Kelly’s wariness melted into a sad smile. “Marley, I want to make amends with you so badly my heart hurts, but—”

  “Before you say no, it wouldn’t just be you. I’d want Rylie in in on this deal.”

  Rylie’s eyes about popped out of her head. “Me? But I don’t even have a quarter of what I’d need in my savings to invest in something like this!”

  “Maybe not now, but if we turn this into a tourist attraction, we’re going to need a caterer on the payroll. Sweet Eats, the caterer we normally use, has been inching up their prices lately, haven’t they, Kelly?”

  “That’s true,” Kelly mused.

  Sensing that Kelly was warming to the idea, Marley plunged on. “And after my last trip to Betsey’s, I wouldn’t order anything there if it was the last cake on earth.” Marley got up again, standing behind the back of the couch. “We could transform Something Borrowed from a simple bridesmaid-for-hire business to a complete wedding service. And we’d pull in a lot more money keeping those services in house.”

  Kelly seemed to be considering. “How are we going to convince the Kents to sell?”

  Marley rubbed her hands together like a Disney villain. “Oh, I think Dustin is going to be more than happy to help us. Just leave him to me.”

  Chapter 23

  Once Marley was 99.9 percent sure that Kelly was on board, she dragged Rylie back to the car and over to Dustin’s place. Dustin lived in a gorgeous four-bedroom home on a lane with no close neighbors and surrounded by trees. Considering what an attention whore he was, Marley was surprised he lived so far out of town.

  Rylie parked in his driveway and as they got out, she hissed, “Maybe we should have called.”

  “Why?” Marley asked.

  “What if he’s got company?”

  “Please, I’m sure she can wait for the extreme disappointment he’s sure to give her.”

  Rylie blushed hard in the porch light as Marley rang the bell.

  Dustin answered the door in nothing but a pair of boxers and Marley almost rolled her eyes. Like he hadn’t looked out the window and known it was them.

  “Ladies, what the hell are you doing here?”

  “You need to put some clothes on before you open the door,” Rylie scolded.

  Dustin flashed her a lopsided grin, his gaze lazily traveling over her from the top of her messy bun and down to the simple black ballet flats she was wearing. “Why is that, Rylie-cakes? Don’t you like what you see?”

  Rylie appeared mortified, and Marley sighed loudly, trying to get the conversation on the right track. “We don’t have time for this. Let us in.”

  Dustin folded his arms over his chest, still blocking the entryway. “I don’t know, I might be too tired for a three-way, although with a little creative convincing, I might be able to muster to-oomph!”

  Rylie smacked him in the stomach with her purse, putting a halt to his suggestions. “Knock it off, you perv. This is business.”

  Dustin rubbed his injured six pack with a frown. “What kind of business?”

  “We want to buy Buzzard Gulch,” Marley said.

 
Dustin actually laughed at them. “And I want my own island with unlimited sushi and women. What’s your point?”

  “God, you’re a pig,” Marley said.

  Rylie jumped in. “We want to buy it so we can restore it. You probably know there was a fire there tonight?”

  “So? That land is worth more than the two of you make in a year and it would cost about that to fix it. How are the two of you going to do all that?”

  “It’s not just us. Kelly is going in with us.” Marley pretended to be studying her nails as she added casually, “Besides, you’re going to give us a screaming deal.”

  “Oh, yeah? Why is that?”

  “Because I know that Sonora taped your little tryst and she owes me,” Marley lied. “One call, and it gets leaked.” Giving him the full effect of her mock sympathy, she continued, “How do you think your mother would feel to watch another scandal unfold? I know what a stickler she is for propriety.”

  Dustin’s expression darkened. “You’re bluffing.”

  Turning to her friend innocently, she held her hand to her chest. “Rylie, am I bluffing?”

  Rylie actually seemed to consider her question before answering. “No, she is not.”

  Dustin glanced between them, before running his fingers through his hair with a frustrated groan. “Why do you want it?”

  “Because it has sentimental value,” Marley said.

  Dustin didn’t look like he was buying it. “Maybe that’s part of it, but it isn’t all of it. Kelly wouldn’t be in without there being some kind of monetary recovery to it. So, if this is a business venture, then I want in.”

  Marley glared at him. “That’s not gonna happen.”

  “Hear me out. I already have the deed. I can just add your names to it, and then you’ve got another backer with a head for business. Despite your objections to my morality, I’m a pretty smart guy. You might need me.”

  “Like a hole in the head,” Rylie mumbled.

  Marley narrowed her eyes. “I want it in writing, and our names on the deed by Monday.”