FOREVER BELOVED (Billionaire Love Series) (17 page)

Tears flew down my cheeks as I dug deep to
find the grace to survive this latest round of blame. I didn’t know
how much more I could bear.

When I was all cried out, I got up and
decided it wasn’t a good day to go to work. I had nothing left to
give and my clients deserved better.

Grabbing my cell phone, I called Emma a
little after nine a.m.

“I’m not coming in today.”

“What’s going on? Are you sick?” she asked
worriedly.

“No. I don’t feel like coming in.”

“What? My sister is blowing off work?”

“It’s more like I’m in crisis mode. Charlie’s
really pissed at me and we just had a huge fight. I can’t make it
in today, Sugarpop. Sorry.” I tried to keep the tears at bay.

“I understand,” she sympathized. “I’m sorry
to hear you and Charlie are having a hard time. Is there anything I
can do? Do you want me to talk to him?”

“No, he needs time to cool off and I’m gonna
give it to him. I’m going to take a mental health day and I would
really appreciate it if you would cover for me.”

“Sure thing, big sister. I gotcha
covered.”

“Thanks, Emma. I appreciate it.”

I got off the phone, wondering what I should
do with myself. I needed an ally, someone who knew the whole story
and wouldn’t judge me for it.

I hopped in my car, knowing exactly where to
go as I zoomed across town and found myself at Charly’s front door,
hoping he wouldn’t mind I stopped by.

“Marla, what brings you by, honey?” he asked
as he opened the door.

I burst into tears. He was always so sweet to
me.

He wrapped his arms around me in a comforting
hug. It was warm and safe. Just what I needed.

“Everything’s a mess, Charly,” I let out with
my face pressed against his shoulder.

“Come in. Let’s talk about it,” he offered as
we broke our embrace.

“’Kay.”

I followed him into his spotless kitchen,
where he pulled out his Keurig coffee machine. While he made us two
cups of coffee, I sat numbly on one of the wooden barstools in
front of his lightly speckled granite countertop.

“So what’s going on?” he asked, handing me a
steaming mug of coffee.

“Well, this latest round started when Beau
flew me down to the Bahamas...” The story came rushing out of me as
I poured out my heart to him.

He listened intently as I told him almost
everything that happened in the Bahamas and the drama that unfolded
when we got back.

“Charly, I don’t know what to do.” I dabbed
my eyes with a tissue as I finished telling him about the fight I
had with my Charlie. “You should have seen him. He was so angry
with me. I don’t know if he’s even coming back tonight.”

“Hush, child. I know how much you gave up
raising Charlie and keeping him safe from Beau’s dad. His threats
were real. I couldn’t have stopped him.”

That didn’t make me feel any better.

“You were right to protect your family,
Marla,” he clarified.

“It doesn’t feel so right when Beau and
Charlie are both mad at me.”

“No, it doesn’t. But I think Beau is close to
discovering the truth. I think he’s finally interested in knowing
what really happened.”

“You think so?”

“Yeah, I can see him wrestling with what he’s
always believed about the situation.”

“I really hope so. I don’t think I can take
much more of this blame.”

A knock came then, and Charly shuffled to the
front door.

“Hey, Beau!” Charly called out loudly,
alerting me to his visitor.

Oh, crap.

Could this morning get any worse?

It just wasn’t my day.

My instinct told me to bolt, but I sat there,
trying to sip my coffee as if I didn’t care about the hot man
walking through the door.

“What are you doing here?” Beau accused as he
sauntered into the kitchen.

I froze as he confronted me. “I...uh...I’m
visiting your granddad.”

“Why are you visiting him?” he pressed,
clearly not happy I was there.

I shrugged, unsure of what to say. “Charly
and I have always kept in touch.”

“Oh, fiddlesticks. She’s been visiting me for
years,” Charly volunteered.

“Years?” Beau asked, his chiseled face paling
several shades.

“Years,” Charly repeated.

The air grew thick with a coiling tension
that was going to unravel in any number of ways. None of which
seemed like it was going to be a positive, happy experience and I
really wasn’t up for any type of confrontation.

“You know, I think you two should talk. I’m
gonna get going,” I announced. I wanted out of there.

“No, Marla. You can stay,” Charly
offered.

That really wasn’t an option. “No, I need to
go. I’ll be in touch, Charly.” I kissed him on the cheek.

Beau and I stared at one another as I grabbed
my purse and headed out the door. I knew Charly was going to lay
out my son’s life for him and I didn’t want to be around when it
happened.

Who knew how Beau would react to years of
memories?

I wasn’t brave enough to find out.

As I drove away from Charly’s place, I
wrestled with how my life was spinning out of control. Beau was on
the cusp of finding out everything. Charlie was mad at me, and I
wasn’t sure how to sort through the emotional turmoil I was
feeling. All I knew was the hopes and worries I had carried for
years were on the verge of colliding.

Into what, I didn’t know.

Scary and dangerous were two words that came
to mind.

Wonderful was another.

I really didn’t know which way Beau would
bend.

I needed some air and a place to think. So I
headed out to the bay. I always found it peaceful and soothing,
even in the most turbulent times of my life.

I walked along the pier, thinking of better
times in the Bahamas. I had truly enjoyed my unexpected vacation
with Beau and Charlie.

Having that short time together reminded me
of what we could be. It almost seemed possible that Beau, Charlie,
and I could form a makeshift, albeit unique, family. Now, I wasn’t
even sure if my son wanted to see me again.

I passed a taffy shop, the sweet smell of
boiling candy wrapping around me. I loved that smell. It reminded
me of my mom and made me feel close to her.

That’s why I usually came out to the pier.
Mom was the first person who took me out here and I visited again
from time to time.

On one of the last outings she made, she had
driven me out here one afternoon when I was a junior in high
school. The day was beautiful, the bay calm, and the breeze
pleasant.

We strolled along the same path I was on
now, along the worn wooden planks of the pier. We moved slowly,
while she wheeled her oxygen tank behind her.

We tried to walk the entire length of the
pier, but it soon became obvious it was too taxing for her to walk
any further. So we sat on one of the wooden benches, along the
railing, where we could stare out into the cold water.

“
How’s school going?” she asked.

“
Good.”

“
I’m glad to hear it. You’ve always been
so good about keeping up with your homework and succeeding in all
your classes. I’m so proud of who you’re becoming.”

“
Thanks, Mom.”

She stared at me with tears in her
pain-filled gaze. “Doodlebug, I have to tell you something.”

“
What?” I asked, fearing her
answer.

“
I’m not going to be around much
longer.”

The bottom fell out of my world as I tried
to deny it. “Don’t say that. I know you’re going to beat this
cancer.”

She closed her eyes, reminding me of a
beautiful angel as she soaked in the salty ocean breeze. It was one
of my most vivid memories of her.

She opened her eyes, her glance full of
conviction. “No, sweetie, I’m not.”

My heart plummeted into my stomach. “No, I
don’t want to believe it.”

“
The doctor said three months.”

“
Three months?” I asked as my mouth went
dry. “I can’t lose you, Mom. I can’t even think about life without
you.”

“
I know. I don’t want to think about it
either. But we have to plan so you and Emma are taken care
of.”

I couldn’t believe I was having this
conversation.

“
What’s going to happen to us?” Panic rose
in my throat as I thought about being completely on my own with a
ten-year-old.

“
I’ve been able to put enough money aside
for you to stay in the apartment for five years. My life insurance
policy will kick in two months after I’m gone and that should give
you enough to take care of yourself and Emma for three to four
years, if you budget right.”

Overwhelmed, I stared at her.

Her tormented glance pleaded desperately
with mine as she grabbed my hand. “Don’t let Emma be taken from
you. I don’t want my girls split up. My will states I want you to
have custody, but the state will want to make sure you can take
care of Emma.”

It was such a surreal conversation. “The
state?”

“
Yeah. Keep the house clean, the fridge
well stocked and keep going to school. Whatever you do, don’t get
your dad involved. He’ll only want the money. Promise me, Marla.
Promise me you’ll take care of your sister.”

I had no choice in the matter. I wasn’t
about to let my sister or my mom down.

I nodded solemnly. “I promise, Mom. I won’t
let anyone split us up.”

She put her arm around me and hugged me
tight. “Good, Doodlebug. I needed to hear that. I’m so sorry to put
you in this position.” She kissed my temple and held me tight.

I squeezed back, willing her to live.

But none of my prayers were answered.

Two months later, she was dead and I had no
idea how much that promise would cost me.

Not that I would change anything.

I would chose my sister every time.

“You seem sad,” a gentleman in a fine wool
coat said, standing to the right of the bench I was sitting on.

I glanced up at him. “I am. It’s been a tough
day.”

“A lady in distress, I do not like to see.
Please take this and dry your eyes.” He gracefully whipped out a
hanky from his camel colored cashmere sports coat and handed it to
me.

“Thank you,” I said,

“My pleasure, my lady.”

I wiped my eyes and tried to give him back
the hanky. “No, my lady, keep it.”

The way he said my lady gave me the creeps.
It was time to make my exit.

“Thanks for the hanky,” I said, getting
up.

“My pleasure, my lady. I hope your day gets
better.”

“Me, too,” I answered politely, before
turning and walking back toward my car.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Beau:

I was done fuckin’ around.

Everyone seemed to know what was going on,
except me.

Marla had hightailed it out of Charly’s place
so fast I didn’t get a chance to question her.

No matter. Charly was fair game.

My granddad had all my attention as we stood
together in the kitchen. “Pops, did you know about Charlie?” I
asked, getting right to the point.

He wasn’t surprised by my line of questioning
and his normally bright blue eyes flickered with serious regret.
“Yes, I did. I supported Marla and Charlie, so she could raise him
right and be a full-time mom. I even bankrolled her salon. I figure
it was the least I could do for my boy,” he volunteered.

Hints of betrayal ran through my blood.
“Why?”

“Because someone from our family had to do
right by Marla after your daddy blackmailed her. He was determined
to get his way and he made sure she broke up with you.”

I shook my head. “No, she left me because she
couldn’t hack the distance,” I said, trying to block out the
disturbing information coming from Charly. “She would’ve told me
about something that bad. There’s no way Dad had anything to do
with this, right?” I asked, unsure of anything at that point.

“Think about it, Bubba. Your daddy made sure
she couldn’t tell you.”

I backed up into the counter in stunned
disbelief. “No, that can’t be right.”

“You can believe what you want, Bubba, but
your daddy made that break-up happen.”

The air rushed out of my body as I slumped
against the granite. “What’s going on? I thought I knew what went
down...but...” I trailed off, too blown away to contemplate the
awful truth.

“I know it’s a lot to take in. Marla begged
me, son, not to tell you. She was terrified her baby and her sister
would be taken from her. Your father was hell bent on making sure
she did what he wanted.”

Righteous anger lit in my chest. “That
doesn’t matter, Pops. I still had a right to know what was
happening with Marla.”

His glance filled with remorse. “You’re
right...you’re right. I tried to tell you many times. But every
time I even mentioned Marla, you flipped out. I knew this
information would destroy you; and frankly, you hadn’t been strong
enough until now to handle it.”

My version of the break-up with Marla was
crumbling like the Berlin Wall in 1989. What he was saying about my
dad couldn’t be true. It wasn’t possible that I was robbed of
twenty-two years with the woman I loved.

“While you’re here, I want to show you
something,” Charly announced as I stewed in my thoughts.

I shook my head as I replayed everything that
happened so long ago. “I’m not interested, Pops. I’ve got too much
on my mind.”

“Trust me, you want to see this.” He stared
at me until I gave in and reluctantly followed him back to one of
the guest rooms.

“What’s going on?” I asked, annoyed he wanted
to play show and tell instead of dealing with the serious issue at
hand.

He walked over to the mirrored closet door
and threw it open. Inside, were several office boxes.