Page 8 of Rekindled Heart
He pulls himself up short. His broad shoulders straighten. “But between you and Vera, you’ve taught me a very important lesson. Never trust a fucking woman. Have a good life.”
He turns away and this time he doesn’t stop and I don’t attempt to keep him here. Tears pour down my cheeks and I fight hard to hold in the sobs threatening to rip out of me. A soft hand touches my arm and I turn around to see a sympathetic Margot and Louise.
“Well, that didn’t go as well as I’d hoped, dear.”
“Yeah.” I wipe my tears away with the tissue she hands me. “It’s my own damn fault. I should have come sooner to explain where I went and what happened.”
Margot cocks her lavender head. “Honey, I didn’t notice you explaining anything. You just kinda dropped a bomb on him and expected him to understand. You two are terrible at communicating.”
I sniffle and keep wiping the tears away. “I really hate what I did but it’s not really my story to tell and I can’t just blurt out someone else’s truths.”
She nods her head. “I get that. We all have secrets. But Ricky especially is touchy about that thanks to Vera.”
“I know. I wish I could tell him. I’m sure that once all this stuff gets straightened out, I will be able to, but not yet.”
“Do you have any idea how long that’s gonna take?” She asks.
I wish I freaking did. I really wish I did. But my sister’s problems have only gotten worse and it’s taking everything in me to keep her situation private.
I shake my head. “I don’t.”
She grins at me. “Well, I’ve got a few ideas how you can get him to forgive you that could buy you some time.”
That grin on her face! A trickle of unease runs down my spine. But I’m desperate. I need to help my sister and I need to win back Ricky. It’s not even really an option. Not if I ever want to be happy again.
I nod my head slowly, my uneasy gaze studying the way her crocodile-smile keeps spreading. How the hell can she smile that big without getting that red lipstick all over her huge-ass earrings? There’s nothing subtle about Granny Margot.
“Alright, Caroline. Let’s go have a talk about how you can get my grandson to see that you made a few mistakes but you love him. Because you do love him, right?”
I nod my head, easy tears slipping from my eyes. Hell yeah, I love him. I can’t live without him in fact.
Okay. I can. I just don’t want to. I wish I hadn’t had to run but my sister’s freaking problems are a disaster of epic proportions and if I hadn’t stepped in who knew what the hell she would have done. She’s not thinking clearly that’s for damn sure.
Margot cocks her head. “You sure you can’t tell me what’s up that had you tearing out of town like your ass was on fire?”
“Nope.”
She nods but I think the curiosity is killing her. “Okay. Well, we’ll save that for another day. For now, let’s work on Ricky because I know that boy loves you but he’s stubborn as the day is long. He’s never going to admit to what he thinks is a weaknesswithout a little push over a cliff.” She chuckles wryly. “You being the cliff.”
My cheeks flush as hot as a nuclear blast and I can’t help it. I gasp, shocked. Which only seems to make her happier. I can tell that she loves to shock people. She’s damn good at it.
“At least tell me that the reason you left is a good one.” Her shrewd brown eyes lock on mine.
I nod my head. “Yeah. It’s really bad. Hopefully, it’s going to be settled soon. But I couldn’t risk getting Ricky involved in this mess.”
She purses her lips. “You do realize that that’s probably gonna piss him off too. Men like to do the big, bad protector role. It’s ingrained in them. If you take it away from them for any reason, even a good one they tend to get a little crabby.”
Ricky stomps off to his truck and revs it up, tearing out of the little parking lot bordered by trees.
She holds her hand out. Like she’s showing off a prize. “Case in point.”
“So what do I do?”
She grins. “You come over to my place tomorrow, sweetheart. I’m gonna get some planning done with Louise and we’re gonna get some things lined up.”
I nod my head, not really sure that she can actually help me. Ricky’s pissed and I don’t blame him.
But what was I supposed to do? Leave Angel to fend for herself? She’s terrible at thinking clearly and had the most ridiculous plan that I ever heard. And it got her hurt.