Chapter 17
He’d been gone twenty-nine days.
Good riddance. Katie didn’t need a liar in her life, especially one who could make her believe his lies.
Ian Finnegan had bankrolled her company. He was the engineer on the project. What else hadn’t she known about? Oh, he’d looked so sincere, those blue eyes shining, that voice filled with so much emotion when he said I love you, Katie. I’ve always loved you. Please. Please don’t shut me out.
He loved her? People didn’t create stories and lie to one another if they loved the person.
Love? As if he understood the word. She hadn’t slept in days, had played that last conversation in her head so many times, it lived in her soul.
Each time she thought of it, her heart broke all over again, the tears threatening, the pain close to unbearable.
It would have been easier if the whole town hadn’t heard the tragic details of Ian Finnegan and Katie Layton.
But, no, everybody knew he was the silent investor of Katie’s Soups.
He never said a word. It was Katie who shared the story, spewed venom and disgust with words like liar and cheat when she referred to the man she’d trusted, the man who’d betrayed her.
She didn’t stop there as she shared their past.
We fell for each other the summer he visited Magdalena…
I was nineteen, he was twenty-one…
We planned a life together…
And then he disappeared…
He said he had to let me go to protect me from his father’s threats…
That’s probably a lie, too, just like all the other lies he told me…
Nick Borado didn’t see it that way. He’d placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice rough. Trust me, I’ve done worse. Would you consider the possibility that he’s telling you the truth?
Delilah Borado had teared up. The same thing happened between me and Nick. He was protecting me from his father, but I didn’t believe in him enough and I almost lost him.
Of course, Nate Desantro wasn’t so touchy-feely about the situation. Look, maybe the guy screwed up, maybe he didn’t. You’re going to have to decide, and then you’re going to have to move on. Those dark eyes had burned into her. One way or the other. Your choice.
Harry Blacksworth gave her a big hug and shared his thoughts. I think you might have been a bit hasty. Nobody screws up more than me. I think the guy got in deep and didn’t know how to get out and tell you the truth. Love will do that to you.
Jack Finnegan didn’t agree. Dang that boy. If I’d known he touched you back then, I would’ve gone after him and never let him set foot in this town again.
His wife was more forgiving. He loves you, Katie.
That boy hasn’t seen a lot of love in his life, but I know it’s real, and I think deep down you know it’s real too.
She’d dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief, sniffed.
He was a mess the last time I saw him. Said he didn’t deserve you, and he’d have to live with what he’d done.
Rumors swirled around town hard and fast, pitted friends against friends, neighbors against neighbors, everyone having an opinion about Ian Finnegan and Katie Layton.
Why would you ever trust a long-haired tattooed stranger?
Money, money, money…
What did he think he was going to do when it all came out? And you know the truth always comes out.
I think he fell hard and didn’t know how to tell her.
Made a mess and broke her heart.
She’s always been too trusting.
Poor thing. She should have stayed with a more sensible partner, like the ex-fiancé.
He’s about as interesting as a dried-up turkey leg on Thanksgiving Day.
But he wouldn’t have broken her heart.
True, there is that.
What a mess. Katie might be a smart girl, but she picked a bad egg.
Says who? Long hair and tattoos don’t tell the story of a person’s character. Or are you talking about the wads of money he has? Or the fact that his family left town years ago?
I don’t care if he’s a walking billboard of tattoos and his hair reaches his feet. I’m talking about the fact that he lied to her. Doesn’t matter why. A lie’s a lie.
Even if he was trying to help her?
You love those gray areas, don’t you? Love, love, love them.
Why don’t you ask Jack Finnegan what he thinks about it? Word has it he’s none too pleased with Dolly right now, seeing as she knew quite a bit about the Finnegan boy, even kept in touch with him over the years.
You don’t say? Oh, I’ll bet Jack’s worked up about that.
Grizzly old codger sure is. I never want to be on the wrong side of that man.
Something tells me Dolly can handle Jack, and he’s more bluster than gruffness, even if he doesn’t want anyone to know.
You could be right. Why is it some men need to hide their soft side, as if their toughness would disappear if they showed it?
No idea, happens all the time.
Unless you’re talking about someone like Harry Blacksworth.
That man has no issue showing his feelings.
Happy, sad, forlorn… I’ve seen those blue eyes spill tears when he hears a sad story.
He’s not afraid of them. Not afraid to admit what hurts his heart either.
Oh, no. He just pulls out a fancy handkerchief and swipes at his eyes, and then, wonder of wonders… he’ll talk about his feelings.
Ha ha ha. That’s something you don’t see very often.
But we should. I heard the Finnegan boy flat-out stated his feelings for Katie, admitted he’d never gotten over her. Not sure if I heard right, but I think he mentioned wanting to spend the rest of his life with her.
Really? You mean he wants to marry her?
That’s what I heard, but interpretation is anyone’s best guess.
If it’s true, are you saying she out-and-out rejected him?
I’m saying, if it’s true, she told him to leave town and stay away so she could pretend he never existed.
Goodness gracious. As if anyone could ever forget that man.
Right. No forgetting someone like Ian Finnegan.
But the real question is, does Katie know that? And if she does, will she admit it?
Life has a way of presenting challenges and spinning a person around until they lose sight of what they want, what they need, and what they’re willing to do to get it.
Katie had spent most of her life trying to find her way, build success, and create a life that would make her mother proud.
The woman had taught her so much, but Angela Layton had never been able to find a way back to joy.
Since the moment her husband died, she’d shifted to survival mode, doing whatever was necessary to protect her children and teach them independence.
However, the lessons weren’t equally received.
Katie became independent, while her sister remained protected from most difficulties, unpleasantness, and disappointments.
Katie learned that independence meant sacrifice, perseverance, and determination.
Independence meant never giving up, never letting yourself believe you can fail.
What her mother did not do was teach Katie the same about relationships.
In fact, her mother lived a life that suggested relationships were not necessarily partnerships, and equals did not exist. There were the strong, the weaker, and those who let feelings dictate their lives.
But all relationships were not like that—at least, not the healthy, long-standing ones like Nate and Christine Desantro, Law and Ava Carlisle, Nick and Delilah Borado.
Those relationships were real partnerships and Katie had either lived through or heard about the ups and downs, the sadness and tragedies of those couples.
But somehow, they forged through and found a way to be together.
As equals. As partners.
Good for them. They deserved it because they were willing to risk the pain and hurt that comes with loving someone. Katie was not. Ian Finnegan had caused her too much heartache over the years, and this latest betrayal was the worst.
Lawrence Pickett had informed her that all future dealings regarding the business would go through him. The investor has removed himself from all interaction with your company.
What does that mean, he’s ‘removed’ himself? He’s not doing line-item studies anymore? He’s not spying on me?
A long pause, and then, It means he’s removed himself from knowledge of your company and you. In fact, I’m to give you assurances you will not be contacted again. A long sigh filled with sadness. He’s taken on a long-term project in Luxembourg. I believe he left three days ago.
Luxembourg?
Yes. As I said, he won’t contact you again. A throat clearing, another pause. Those are your wishes, correct?
She opened her mouth to blurt out “of course”, but the words wouldn’t come.
Katie?
Yes.
Very good. Now, let’s discuss yesterday’s numbers.
Later that night, as Katie lay in bed, she thought about what Lawrence had told her, and wished she’d asked a few questions.
Why would he head halfway around the world?
Maybe the real question was, why did she care?
And why had she felt compelled to look up the distance from Magdalena to Luxembourg?
But most of all, why on earth had the tears started when she hung up the phone and still not stopped?
From the moment she’d met Ian Finnegan ten years ago, her life had turned upside down, sometimes in a good way, often in a totally unpredictable and unexpected way.
Eight days after Lawrence told her Ian was heading to Luxembourg, Katie found herself in a situation that was unexpected and definitely turned her life upside down.
She needed to talk to someone who might have a few answers and be willing to share them.
Dolly Finnegan was a kind soul who believed all problems could be solved with food.
That’s why the second she opened the door and spotted the look on Katie’s face, she pulled her into the kitchen, made a pot of tea, and brought out the food.
Chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin bread, pretzels with dip… tortilla chips with salsa…
Katie refused all of it except for the tea. “I don’t have much of an appetite.”
“I know, child.” Dolly eased her plump figure into a white farmer’s chair, patted Katie’s hand.
“Heartache is a sad thing. Steals your breath, your appetite… your smile.” More patting, a quiet, “I remember when our Pete went through it. Never saw a sadder soul than that boy. For someone who never showed his feelings and had women dangling offers at him, it was a blessing and a curse to know only one woman held such power over him.”
Who hadn’t heard the tales of Pete and Elissa Finnegan?
They fell too hard, too fast, too soon. Didn’t know each other.
Too many secrets… not good. They got through it though, and when you looked at them, you knew they were meant for each other.
“Pete can’t see anyone but his wife.” What must it be like to care about someone so much that they were your world?
“Yes, indeed. And he’s a wonderful father. It’s heartwarming to see, especially since I often wondered if he’d ever settle down.” A laugh, a shake of her head. “I certainly never pictured him with a wife or children.”
Katie sipped her tea, listened to Dolly talk about Pete and fatherhood and how some men just needed a little time to figure things out, but once they committed, they committed for life.
Dolly loved a good romance, and she wasn’t afraid to talk about it, whether they were between the fictional characters she read about in the romance books she devoured or the real people in Magdalena.
“Dear, you didn’t come here to listen to me yammer on about love and meant-to-be or how my son found the woman who’s turned him into a better man. You came to talk because you have a problem.” She set down her mug, clasped Katie’s hand. “Tell me what’s bothering you. I want to help.”
Dolly was a kind soul, but she didn’t always know about boundaries or what keeping a secret meant. Still, she might be the only person who could provide guidance right now. Katie had chosen her because what she had to say involved Ian. “I don’t know what to do.”
The woman’s round face filled with emotion, her eyes crinkled at the corners.
“You’re talking about Ian, aren’t you? You miss him, don’t you?
I could tell the moment I opened the door.
And not only that… it was quite obvious from your absence.
Nobody’s heard from you. Nobody knows what you’re up to.
Nobody sees you, and that’s become a concern.
So, I have some things to say and don’t think I didn’t set that young man straight because I was not happy about the way he handled things…
” Tsk tsk. “No, indeed, I was not and I told him myself and he agreed. He’s very sorry, said he wished he had another chance, but he knows it’s too late.
And of course, I told him it was never too late and that you would–”
“I’m pregnant.”
Gasp. “Pregnant?” The word slipped out as though Dolly didn’t have enough oxygen to get it through her lips.
Katie fought the tears that were seconds from spilling. “My periods have never been regular, and I thought it was the stress and…we should have been more careful. We were careful, but…” Not as careful as we should have been.
“Oh, dear. No wonder you’re in such a dither.” The flushed cheeks and shaky voice said Dolly was the one in a dither.
“It’s just that it’s not something I considered and I should have...I definitely should have.”