Beacon grins. “That’s going to cost you. Luckily your wife is a billionaire.”
“Seriously, Ley, you have that much money?”
I nod a couple of times. “Tainted money that I’m turning into good deeds. Like the shelter and the dispensary. The hospital, too.”
“You’re the silent investor?”
I smile.
“Of course you are,” he sighs. “Okay, let’s finish this. I’m so glad Mom didn’t find out about it.”
He gives me a strange look. I’m sure he’s wondering how it is that no one connects that money to me. My grandfather created a trust within a trust that’s under a company’s name. I don’t know exactly how he managed it, but I’m glad he did because, in a way, I’m invisible.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Leyla
The practice opens the next week on a Friday. We haven’t found anyone to take care of Arden yet. Sophia told me she had someone in mind. I trust her with my business, but it’s hard to trust her with a kid. Her parents are staying in town for a couple of weeks to help Mills with Arden. They are the best people in the world.
Some days, I wish they were my parents.
Earlier today, they came to give me a crucifix and holy water. They said I should put them in my office to keep my place blessed. They are the sweetest. I’m so happy that I will live so close to their vacation home.
“The place is full,” Pierce announces, entering the lab where I’m pretending to be working when in truth, I’m hiding. His eyebrows knit and those green eyes stare at me deeply. “Why are you here?”
“The place is full,” I repeat his words, terrified. “With people.”
Taking me into his arms he whispers in my ear, “It’s okay. They came to wish you good luck. Even when you avoid them, they kind of like you.”
“You’re just making up stuff,” I disregard him.
He releases me and pulls out the phone. After fidgeting with it, he shows me one of the social media accounts of the town. The picture of my clinic is there.
The vet is open. Bring your furry kids. Dr. Aldridge is the best in the area.
“That’s a nice compliment,” I state, returning his phone.
He pulls out a thin box from his pocket and gives it to me.
“What is this?”
He shrugs.
I open it, and it’s a bracelet with a few charms dangling: a pup, a cat, and a horse. There’s a stethoscope in the middle.
“This is perfect,” I say, grinning from ear to ear.
There’s a note underneath it,
Congratulations,
Pierce.
“How were our kids this morning?” I ask, putting it back in the box and then inside my white lab coat.
He rolls his eyes. “Ally tried to escape. Nothing new. We should ride the horses around town this weekend if you have time. I think they’re tired of the arenas.”
“We can try on Sunday,” I suggest. “Apparently, it’s the day when everyone does whatever they want to avoid family.”
“Still bitter that Sophia is ditching you guys?”
I shrug, “A little. We can’t get together because she’s trying to get pregnant. Blaire is too tired. I am about to become an outcast.”
“They told you when we announced the divorce that you’ll always be an Aldridge,” he assures me and fixes a strand of my hair. “We’re always going to be friends, right?”
“What if we meet new people and…?
He takes my hand and sets it on his chest. “There’s a part of my heart that’s yours. No matter what happens. This place is only yours.” He cups my face and leans closer. His lips almost touch mine. Our eyes stare at each other, and he whispers, “I’m going to fucking try to be better, though. For you, for me. For our future. I want to win you. This time I’ll be deserving of it.”
He kisses my forehead and releases me.
“You’re leaving?” I stare at his lips, wanting to kiss him. All the feelings I have for him coil in my belly. I have so many words to say to him, but I hold onto them because what if it’s just misery and loneliness.
He nods. “I’ll be back later today to help you clean. Do you want me to bring Buster and Daisy?”
“Please,” I answer.
“Don’t forget to eat lunch,” he reminds me. “I asked the caterer to set a lunch box in the fridge with your name.”
“Thank you,” I say, but I want to say I love you.
Around six, Sophia comes over with a bottle of wine, cupcakes, and water.
This is our usual way to start a pity party. I invite her to my office, and she pours wine in my mug.
“What happened?” I ask.
She smiles and says, “We’re having twins.”
“You’re pregnant!” I run to her with open arms. Hugging her tight I ask, “How do you know?”
She releases me and shows me a picture on her phone. It’s a sonogram. I spot the amniotic sacs right away.
“This is so perfect,” I start crying with her. “I’m going to be an aunt of two little terrors.”
We take a seat and eat the cupcakes while she tells me that her family is beyond thrilled and all the Aragons will be here next weekend to celebrate. Gwen, one of the technicians, knocks on the door and announces that the place is clean and everyone is leaving.
I thank them for today before Sophia and I go home.
“Where is everyone?” I ask, taking off my shoes.
Grace and Blaire are in the play area with Arden.
“The guys are in the basement playing poker,” Grace says. “They kicked me out because they think I count cards.”
“You count cards,” Sophia confirms.
Grace grins, “I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Have they kicked you out of Vegas?” I question her.
“I’ve never gone to the casinos,” she states. “The couple of times I’ve been there is to perform or when Too Far from Grace performed.”
Sophia and I prepare some sandwiches for us. Everyone else already ate. We sit in the living room. This is just perfect, and I wish I didn’t have to leave the house. Can I just get a divorce and stay in Blaire’s empty room?
There’s a knock on the door. We all look at each other.
“I’ll get it,” I say.
When I open the door, Jerome Parrish is on the other side. “Just the person I was looking for, Ms. Leyla.”
I don’t like how he calls me Ms. I touch the base of my sternum and ask, “You’re looking for me?”
He nods and hands me an envelope. It looks just like the one Sophia received when she got engaged to Henry. This one has my name on it.
There’s a tightness in my chest that’s almost unbearable. What changed, or what happened that he’s giving me this?
“Why?” I ask staring at the paper that’s burning in my hand.
“Earlier, we received an electronic copy of your divorce decree,” he states.
His words punch the air out of my lungs. This shouldn’t shake me, but God if the grief doesn’t feel like heavy metal in my stomach. The emotions spinning inside me are unbearable. Why is he giving me this news?
Pierce comes running from the garage. Beacon is right behind him.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Pierce glares at Mr. Parrish.
“Did you know we’re divorced?” I ask him.
He nods and swallows hard. “I received a copy of the decree when I went back to the office.”
I show him the envelope. His face pales.
“Going back to tell you felt inappropriate,” he says with a low voice.
“Is there anything else, Mr. Parrish?” I ask. “I’ll be leaving the house next week.”
He nods and grins at Pierce. “The will says that Leyla Faye Aldridge has to stay in this house for eighteen months.”
“She’s not my wife anymore,” Pierce protests. “She should be free.”
“I’m disappointed, Pierce,” he states. “Re
read it, again. Just because it’s mentioned that she is your wife, it doesn’t mean that she is exempt from staying once you divorced. You still have to share the same room with her.”
“If we had divorced and I didn’t come?” I ask, my heart is pounding.
“You would’ve forfeited the inheritance,” he continues.
“Don’t I get an envelope?” Pierce asks.
“No,” Parrish answers. “Have a good evening.”
Pierce shakes his head and goes back to his phone, and he reads out loud where it says I have to be here again and again. “Fuck, I just assumed, and I almost failed you.” He runs a hand through his hair.
“We’re here. It’s okay,” I assure him.
He looks at the letter and says, “Are you going to read it?”
I glance at everyone. Where did they all come from?
They are waiting for me to read the letter. My hands shake as I open it. I’m not sure if I want to read it. It’s clear that William knew this day would happen. He was prepared, and whatever is in here might affect Pierce.
* * *
Leyla,
Love isn’t complicated. It’s the outside elements that make it thorny. You fall for the one who makes you laugh, think, and be a better person. You give them your heart and hope you never have to claim it back.
When you fall, you don’t think beyond the one who holds your heart.
Saying goodbye to that big love takes a great deal of courage. I know it because I had to do it many years ago. Loving again was easy, but that pure, perfect love I once had could never be replicated. Just remember that.
Forgiving and learning to start again is worth the risk. It’s your choice to choose where you want to go from here.
Just remember, wolves mate for life. I have faith in you.
Yours,
William Aldridge
“How did he know?” I ask, reading again the part where wolves mate for life.
“What?” Pierce asks, staring at the paper I clutch against my chest.
This is like a riddle.
“Your dad wrote, ‘wolves mate for life,’”
Pierce stares at the paper then at me. “Have you ever told anyone that?”
I shake my head because that’s something personal. Pierce knows it because we’re together. How can his father… I gasp.
The air shifts.
The memory of an old guy who came to the shelter around the time Pierce and I got married. It was an odd day. I was the only one covering the place. This man came in claiming to want to adopt a dog. His eyes reminded me of Pierce’s. They were older, filled with pain and regrets. The agony he held was palpable.
“He was charming,” I mutter, while recalling our encounter. “We talked about dogs and then horses. I clearly remember telling him why I loved wolves…and dogs. He mentioned one of his sons loved horses. He taught him how to ride. We spoke about my husband, and he smiled a lot during our conversation.”
“Did he get a dog?”
“No, but he donated some cash to the shelter,” I answer to whoever asked the question. I’m too absorbed by the memory.
It struck me as strange that I would talk so much to a stranger, but it was so easy to talk to him.
“You didn’t recognize him?” Henry asks angrily.
I glare at him. “Back then, I had no idea you existed. Pierce barely spoke about his family. I assumed his father was dead.”
All the brothers glare at Pierce, and I laugh when Sophia says, “Stop complaining, Henry. You denied being related to Mills and your father when I met you.”
“Can we read it?” Beacon asks. “Sophia let us read hers.”
“It wasn’t that personal,” I whisper. “Give me—Can I speak with Pierce, please?”
Everyone nods and Pierce and I go to the dock. As I take a seat, I get a whiff of alcohol.
“Are you drunk?”
“Less than I was an hour ago,” he confesses. “I’m trying to cope. It’s over.”
I hand him his father’s letter. He stares at it and then stares at me.
“You met him,” he states. “He was watching us. Why not approach us and say, ‘Hey, fucker, I just want to make sure you’re doing fine?’”
“He was in pain.” I take the letter from him and put it back in the envelope. “Who did he love that he had to leave?”
Pierce shrugs, “I didn’t get a letter.”
“It’s a life changing moment,” I announce and then notice there’s a small number one on the corner of the letter.
What if there are more letters for me?
“Can I share this with your brothers?”
He nods.
“I feel like I failed. How did I miss that part of the testament?”
“You were focused on getting the entire thing annulled,” I remind him.
“Also on convincing you not to come because I didn’t know if you’d be okay with them,” he adds. “Now I see that it was a stupid fear. The unfounded fear my family programmed in me every summer when I had to come.”
“It was a way to protect me,” I conclude.
He nods and takes me into his arms. I hug him back. I recall William’s words. The perfect love can never be replicated.
Was it perfect?
I don’t know. All I know is that he makes me feel safe, and for now it’s all I need.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Pierce
On Saturday night, we’re at Beacon’s. The guys are passing around Dad’s letter. Well, the copy Leyla gave me. She has the original which I’m sure she’s analyzing with her friends.
Hayes’s jaw twitches while he’s reading it. When he’s done, he says, “It’s not my mom.”
“What are you talking about?” I frown, taking the letter back.
“Whoever was his ‘pure love’ wasn’t my mother,” he states. “This clearly says he left that person, and Mom is the one who left him.”
So, one of our mothers was the love of his life, or he left the love of his life and tried to replace her with our mothers. What is it? And does it matter? I feel like it does.
“I’m concerned about the stipulations because it’s obvious that our lawyer sucks,” Mills claims.
Henry shakes his head. “That’s a pretty fucked up way to word it so we would fail. William knew he was getting a divorce.”
“If I had been divorced, I could’ve claimed it was outdated and switched it,” I tell them.
“Can you still do it?”
“No,” I respond.
“Is she going to forgive you?” Hayes asks.
“We’re working on our relationship,” I remind him.
Before the surgery, Hayes was the only one who knew what had happened between Leyla and me. Now it’s all out in the open. They don’t judge me. Just like me, they have fucked up in one way or another.
I feel like there are too many pieces of a puzzle spread on the ground that need to be put together.
“Why would he go and meet my wife?” I ask.
“He was watching us,” Henry concludes. “You’re the only one who had a wife.”
Beacon, who is the last one to read the letter, hands it to me and says, “I feel like there are a few truths buried in this place, and he sent us to dig them out—or bury them so the old curse is gone forever.”
“You don’t believe in the curse,” Mills says.
“Carter said it was real,” Beacon states. “It’s not some old spell, but something that we Aldridges do from generation to generation. We don’t learn from our ancestor’s mistakes.”
“That makes sense,” I agree.
“Vance?” I call him out because he’s staring at the horizon.
He glares at me.
“I’m just wondering if you have an idea or two about what’s happening. You don’t need to eliminate me,” I joke.
“When I have something to say, you’ll know,” he states.
My life after the divorce and my father’s letter doesn’t chan
ge much. Except Beacon and I become obsessed about the letter. Leyla said it once, this letter is a riddle. There’s a lot more to our father, his past, and our origins. We’re aware that we have to be careful while we research because whatever we ask in this town might bring unnecessary gossip.
A week after Leyla applied to the shelter, she gets a call from Thea. She has been pre-approved, and they’re coming to Baker’s Creek to see where the baby would stay if and when a mom chooses her.
We expect Thea to come, but it is a social worker named Kim Bristol. She arrives bright and early on Friday morning. Leyla is trying to act calm, but she’s almost shaking. While we walk Kim through the house, Leyla explains to her our current situation.
“I’m sorry to hear about your father,” she tells me.
Even though everyone is gone, Kim gets an idea of who we are by the pictures we have around the house, the rooms, and the way we speak about each of my brothers and sisters-in-law. Of course, Leyla has nothing but great things to say about Arden.
When we enter the nursery that Leyla is preparing, Kim touches her chest slightly. “This is gorgeous.”
After we received the call, the guys and I emptied Blaire’s old room. We painted it grey. It matches the decorations Leyla has. There’s some furniture she needs to order, but the crib is in storage with the rest of the clothes she brought from Colorado.
“What’s going to happen after the eighteen months are over?”
“If you don’t mind walking, let me take you to my other house,” Leyla says.
The place is semi furnished, but it gives Kim an idea of what this will look like when it’s time to move out of my father’s house.
“Once the eighteen-month period is over,” Leyla explains. “This will be my permanent home.”
Kim smiles at us as we’re leaving the house.
“We called your references, the letters are on file, and I’ll add these pictures to it when I get back,” Kim states. “Once we have your profile ready, we will set it on the queue.”
“Does this mean I’m approved?” Leyla’s smile is beautiful, and I have the urge to lift her off the floor and twirl her, but I wait before I celebrate the fact.
Defying Our Forever (The Baker’s Creek Billionaire Brothers Book 3) Page 23