Chapter 20
CHAPTER 20
BILLIE
B ear Coat did a happy dance, reminding me of Zoe’s joyful jumping when she saw me. “Look at you, my missing pilot Axl-leave-me-at-the-rest-stop-Grey.”
“That’s my name, don’t wear it out,” Axl mumbled. “And that’s not what happened, and you know it.”
Bear Coat didn’t take the bait. She also didn’t have her coat on, but there was no mistaking her long red hair. Also, I noticed a floor-length fur coat hanging on a hook by the front door. Bear Coat stepped out from behind the counter, smiling. She wore a flour-spotted black apron just like Ethan and Alfie’s.
What the hell was going on? Did she work here?
“Did you miss me?” she said, cocking her head to the side as she re-tied her apron.
“Um, miss you?” Axl said, looking over his shoulder as if she were speaking to someone else, his face white as the snow outside. It was clear this was an unexpected reunion.
“Hey, Angel,” Alfie said, walking past. “Dad says that you can start on another round of cornbread.”
“Already started it,” she said. “Can you find me some more brown sugar, babe? I’m looking to finish that blackberry Betty. ”
Babe. Blackberry Betty? Axl looked at his ex with a look of bewilderment.
“You got it,” Alfie said. “Cornbread first though.”
“Aye aye, captain!” Angel said, saluting Alfie and clicking her boots together.
Gone was Angel’s sparkly dress. She wore Sorels, fitted jeans, and under her apron, a V-necked sweater that hugged her curves. She was still gorgeous and energetic, but the wild, crazed rage from the parking lot was gone.
Axl gave me a side-eye glance that made me wonder if he was just as confused as I was at seeing his ex at our friendly town bakery cafe.
“I want you to know that things got a little crazy between us,” Angel said, her voice soft and even, “and I forgive you for leaving me at the rest stop.”
“Right,” Axl said. “I didn’t leave you, Angel. Your driver was waiting for you in the lot.”
Her driver? Who was this woman?
“Hi,” she said, looking my way. She gave me a friendly smile. This was not the same woman from the parking lot.
“I’m Billie,” I said, extending my hand.
Angel shook my hand, her eyes narrowing. “You look familiar.”
“I don’t know, do I?” I said, feigning innocence. “I think I just have one of those faces.”
“Maybe,” Angel said. “But you have a beautiful face, and I rarely forget one.”
I shook my head and kept my lips sealed tight.
Axl glanced at the door and at me. “Angel, Billie and I were just heading out.”
“Oh, you and Billie.” Angel glanced back and forth between us. “You’re a thing. That was fast, darling.”
“No, we are not a thing,” Axl said. The speediness of his reply wounded me a bit.
“I’m his landlord,” I offered. “Well, my family … ” I let my voice trail off .
“Oh, his landlord.” Angel’s eyes widened. “You mean of that cute little cabin?”
Axl sighed heavily.
“Yes, that cute little cabin,” I said, glaring at Axl. I knew I didn’t have a right to be bothered that his girlfriend was at the cabin with him, but it annoyed me. “Did you go there often?”
“Not nearly enough,” she sighed, “but enough to know that it’s a special place. I love Smoke River. I love it in my bones.”
“Oh, you do,” I said, looking between Axl and his ex.
Axl held his ground, feet planted, his gaze locked on Angel. I wonder if he was willing her to disappear.
“You know, I didn’t know a thing about Smoke River until Axl flew me out here.” Angel crossed her arms and focused on me.
“Is that so? You flew her to Smoke River.” I glanced at Axl. He had painted a spare and incomplete picture of his relationship with his ex.
Mason walked by and smiled at Angel. “Hey, glad you are back. You get what you need out of the Gulfstream?”
“Sure did,” Angel said. “Your sweet boy, Ethan, dug around for it. Found my charger. I had everything in the plane ready to go, and then the crew let me know that we were not going to take off in a storm.”
Axl exhaled and looked at the ceiling. “I told you that I thought the weather was changing. If you left when I told you to, your crew would have made it out.”
“It’s okay.” Angel reached out and touched his arm. “I think destiny wanted me to stay in Smoke River.”
Axl shook his head, but did not answer.
Angel continued. “I pushed you. You told me we were done. And I pushed you.” She glanced at me. “You get it, right? Sometimes we just want what we want.”
“Totally,” I said, unsure what I was getting or not getting.
“See, Axl,” Angel said. “I told you women just understand things more than men. ”
“Yes, we do,” I said, smiling. I liked siding with Angel against Axl. I supposed it was impossible for me to resist that girl-power high.
“Axl and I have had a thing on and off for a while,” she said, leaning closer to me, as if confiding.
“It’s off now,” he repeated.
“Yes, darling. It’s off,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I heard you in the parking lot. Message received.”
“So you were hoping to fly home before the snow came?” I asked, curious to understand this energetic woman. “Where is home?”
“Lauderdale,” she said. “I came out to visit Axl about a week ago. I’d be back in that Florida sunshine if it weren’t for the storm. It came in hard and fast, like you, Axl.” Angel winked.
“Angel, come on,” Axl said, shaking his head.
Okay, so hearing her joke about sex with Axl did make my stomach clench a bit. I needed to remember that Axl’s past or future didn’t matter. Once I left Smoke River, whatever we were was over.
“Mason and the boys were nice enough to let me and my crew wait it out here,” Angel said. “You know, he used to be my pilot, and for a while, so much more.”
“Oh, you worked for Angel?” I glanced at Axl.
“Yes,” he said, his voice low. “I worked for Angel.”
“Oh, those were fun days,” Angel said.
Axl sighed and looked at the ceiling again. “We should go, Billie. I want to check on Cam.”
“I’ll let you two get to it then,” Angel said.
Mason walked out of the kitchen, wiping his hands with a towel. “Billie, if you are heading back to the cabin, grab some fresh cornbread and some of these cinnamon rolls for your mom. This storm is losing steam. You should be able to get out tomorrow,” Mason said, nodding into the kitchen.
“That’s very thoughtful, Mason,” I said.
Axl zipped up his coat. “I’ll wait for you outside,” he grumbled and walked out the door.
“I’ll help you get what you need, honey,” Angel said.
I followed her into the kitchen. Pots of chili bubbled on the stove. It smelled of peppers and spice. Aerosmith played, mixing with the whir of fans. The warm kitchen felt like an oasis from the storm, just like the cabin. No wonder Angel was happy to be here.
Angel walked around the prep counter, hips swinging. “Alfie,” she belted. “Please change the station. I am so tired of listening to Old Man Rock. I’ve had enough of that in my life.” She tossed her hair and gave me a look. No doubt she was making a dig at Axl.
“Sure thing,” Alfie said. He took out his phone. “How about the Bitches and Witches playlist?”
“Love it, babe,” Angel said. She pulled out an insulated bag and some metal trays. Alfie sliced up pieces of golden cornbread and popped them into the tray. Next, he filled two containers of chili.
The sweet voice of Sara McLachlan replaced Steven Tyler. I had to agree with Angel. The vibe change was welcome.
“Smells delicious in here,” I said.
Angel took a seat on a stool, spinning as Alfie finished packing my to-go bags. “So did you grow up here?” Angel asked.
“Yeah, I did.”
“You want some cheddar and sour cream, Billie?” Alfie asked.
“Yeah, that’d be great.”
“You are so lucky,” Angel said, continuing to twirl. “I grew up in Florida. Born and raised. And this is one thing Axl and I do have in common. I got so damn tired of sunshine.”
I laughed as Alfie placed the chili in the insulated bags. “You need anything else, you call us on the radio,” he said.
“I’ll be fine,” I said. “Weather is clearing. Axl will check on Cam, and I bet I can head out tomorrow morning.”
“You drive safe,” Alfie said. He gave me a quick hug. “Good to see you, Billie.”
“You, too,” I said, hugging him back. It was hard to believe that both Mason’s boys were grown and taking care of me now. “Thanks for the food.”
“Well, I suppose it’s time for me to get my sweet ass up and make some more cornbread,” Angel said, sighing. As she stretched her long arms in the air, a diamond ring on her left hand flashed in the light .
My stomach dropped. It was an enormous, brilliant cut stone. It had to be over four carats. She must have kept her hand in her pocket. I had no idea how I’d missed it in the dining room.
Angel saw me notice her ring. She glanced down at her hand, raised it in the air, and then put it squarely on the table in front of me.
“Axl worked for me,” she said, “and my husband, Larry. We’ve been married for ten years.”
I felt nauseous. “Oh,” I said, struggling to find words. “I didn’t realize you were married.”
“Oh, yes.” Angel lifted her hand into the light. The diamond cast tiny rainbows on the walls. “Axl and I had a torrid affair. It was hot and burned fast.”
“I see,” I whispered.
“I can tell from your expression that he didn’t mention that part to you,” Angel said. She opened a cupboard and took out a bag of corn meal, sugar, and other ingredients.
“It didn’t come up,” I said, still queasy. I was aware of my heartbeat. How could he? Axl slept with a married woman, not just once, for months.
“Is that why he ended it?” I swallowed. My throat constricted. “Because you were married?”
“Oh, hell no.” She laughed as she measured out corn meal and poured it into a mixing bowl. “Axl ended it because I told him that I was thinking of leaving Larry.”
My face flushed. My heart beat so hard in my chest that I worried I might get a head rush. “He didn’t want that?”
“Sweetheart, the only woman Axl Grey wants is an unavailable one, the more unavailable the better. I fit that bill for a long while, let me tell you.”
“He was fine cheating with you.”
“Fine?” Angel laughed. “He wouldn’t fuck me until he was sure I was married.”
My mouth watered, and my stomach clenched. Axl knew she was married, and he hadn’t cared about betraying her marriage vows or being a part of a relationship built on lies. I opened up and shared my vulnerabilities with Axl about my past and my parent’s ugly divorce, and he said nothing. My disappointment in him threatened to bloom into anger. Fuck him. How could he do something like that?
“I can tell it bothers you, honey,” Angel said. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have told you. It’s just, I remember you now, and I figure you deserve the truth about a few things.”
“You do?”
“Yes.” She sighed and stopped stirring. “You were the nice woman who asked me if I needed help at the rest stop.”
I bit my lip and nodded.
“I was a bitch,” she said, brushing a hair off her forehead. “I’m sorry I didn’t handle my emotions better.”
“Did you really have a ride, or did Axl lie about that, too?”
“Yes.” She sighed and went back to her batter. “I did have a driver waiting for me. I usually do. My husband is what you call well-funded. Let me tell you, Larry isn’t well-hung, but he is filthy stinking rich. He’s richer than Axl. Can you believe it?”
“Wait, what?” I said. My legs wobbled. “What do you mean he’s richer than Axl?”
“Oh, hell,” she said, biting her lip. “He didn’t tell you that, either?”
“No,” I whispered.
“Axl’s on vacation from his life in Fort Lauderdale.”
“I know. He’s a pilot. He told me about that.”
“Oh, honey. He is a pilot, and he knows how to use his joystick, if you know what I mean. Man, I crack myself up.”
“Hilarious,” I whispered, feeling dizzy.
“My husband is in business with Axl and his business partner, Miles Decker.”
“Who is Miles Decker?”
“Axl’s best friend and billionaire business partner. Axl didn’t grow up with money the way Miles did, but he’s still loaded. He and Miles started a shipping company when they both came back from Afghanistan.”
“Axl’s a millionaire?” I whispered .
“Billionaire,” she whispered.
I was stunned. In the span of a couple of minutes, Angel had unknowingly torn apart every assumption or understanding I had of Axl Grey. I was furious at myself for lowering my guard and for not asking more questions. Axl was a cheater, and he hadn’t told me the truth about his job — or his life.
I thought it would be a hardship if Mom and I broke his lease and he lost the cabin. He’d mentioned Gran’s terms were a “good deal.” What a manipulative liar. He could probably buy out every vacant property in Smoke River and still have money in the bank.
Anger roared in my chest, making it hard to take a full breath. Axl presented himself as one kind of a man and Bear Coat revealed another. I was so tired of being betrayed. My heart raced and my hands shook as I picked up the insulated bag. “Thanks for the food,” I said.
“Don’t be mad at Axl,” Angel said, her voice singsong. “I have to tell you he did me a favor.”
“Really?” I asked, stopping in the middle of the kitchen.
“Yeah,” she said. “Clearly my marriage has problems, but Axl made me feel things.” She looked at me. “You don’t have to say it, but I can tell he made you feel things, too.”
“He didn’t,” I whispered, lying through my teeth. So I wasn’t special. Axl knew how to make love to a woman. After all, he had a lot of experience. I felt naive and angry for giving away so much of myself for so little.
“Be careful, darling,” Angel said. “I am telling you that man is an addiction.”