Chapter Thirty-Eight
Ma is rushing around Wyatt’s house like he’s coming home on hospice instead of just the day after his surgery with some pain meds. But we’re all here helping her while Pops goes to the hospital to get him when he’s discharged.
“Hurry up, your father just messaged me and said they’re on their way home!” She fusses over the tablecloth she put on a table that probably has never even sat company… or too much company.
I shutter at the thought of eating off his table where some random girl’s ass probably was. Or worse, his.
On second thought, maybe it’s a good thing that Ma brought the tablecloth. Perhaps she’s smarter than we all give her credit for.
“Ma, do you even know if Wyatt is going to want company? He was pretty cranky last night after his surgery until the nurse gave him his meds.”
“Of course he wants to see us! How could you think he doesn’t?” She stares at me with horror written across her face. “Besides, Violet brought donuts. So if he wants those he’ll have to like us.” She grins.
“If you say so.”
Emma walks by with Olivia and Lily on their way outside. “I set up outside too in case he wants some quiet. Then we can go out there and he can stay in here. Or he probably has no problem kicking us out.”
“Untle Wy no tit us out!” Lily says, completely offended that we would suggest such a thing. “I made him a piture!”
“I’m sure he’s going to love it.” I ruffle her hair and she shoots a glare at me for messing up her hair while she smooths it back in place.
“You’re playing with fire.” Aubrey warns me in a sing-song voice before dropping a kiss to my lips. “Do you think that he’ll know what’s going on with Jack and Nolan?”
“I hope so. Chief Bellows said he was going to stop by when Wyatt got home.” I take the dishes she hands me and start setting them around the table.
The door swings open and a pissed off Wyatt walks through.
He looks around the room. “Jesus.” Without stopping to talk to anyone he goes right to his room.
“Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed,” Pops says walking into the kitchen to Ma at the stove, wrapping his arms around her middle and kissing her neck.
It used to gross me out when I was younger. Now, I just hope that Aubrey and I can gross out Lily and our own kids one day.
Everyone starts to gravitate to the table and find a seat except the kids who are outside with Emma and Roman.
“What did the doctors say?” Ma asks, setting a pitcher of fresh lemonade on the table.
“He still has some paralysis and no definite timeframe on when that will go away. And once the cut has started healing the plastic surgeon will maybe want to do another one for aesthetic reasons, but he’ll always have the scar.
It’s pretty big. They changed the dressing on it before we left.
” Pops winces. “I think that’s what got him all messed up though.
The paralysis and the permanent scar to his pretty little face.
Plus he isn’t cleared to go back to work yet, and you know how that makes him feel. ”
“Itchy.” Hunter and I answer at the same time.
“Wouldn’t be surprised if he started showing up at the inn everyday looking for me to give him something to work on.” Liam adds, reaching across me for a glass.
A knock on the door brings Wyatt out of his room and without acknowledging any of us, he greets the Chief on the other side.
“Hello, everyone.” Chief lets himself into the kitchen while Wyatt stands by the front door, looking like he’s still trying to decide if he wants to join or not, shifting back from one foot to the other.
“Son, you joining us or not?” Pops asks him.
Wyatt grunts and drags a barstool over to the full table.
“Have you heard anything about Jack and Nolan?” Aubrey asks, moving to sit on my knee so that Chief can have her seat at the head of the table.
“Turns out Nolan, your old boss, was so off the rails because he had been embezzling funds off the tops of contracts. Just like you suspected, Cooper. So when you were taking the contracts away from him, he was at risk of losing his lifestyle that he didn’t want to lose.
When he was able to find Jack, that boy just wanted the money for more drugs.
I don’t even want to think what would have happened to Lily had he succeeded. ”
Aubrey tenses on my lap. “Did you figure out what happened with Jack’s accident? There’s no way he did that on his own.”
“Well. He wouldn’t give up the name. But we’ve narrowed it down to some key members at Black Key Ranch. Does the name Hugh Chiave sound familiar?”
“Unfortunately, it does. He runs the Black Key Ranch, but ranching isn’t their primary money maker if you catch what I mean.” Aubrey says quietly, leaning in to inspect the photo of Hugh that was slid across the table.
He looks older than I was anticipating. Like a man who’s seen too much in life.
“Looks like he helped him get the cadaver body to fake the accident, and we can also trace the identification back to him. Along with opening up leads into many other cases in Sanders Hollow for the police to solve.”
An audible gasp comes from Aubrey. “You mean Hugh is going down for all the bad he’s done in that town?”
“Now, I didn’t say that. Men like Hugh usually have a pretty darn good lawyer on retainer and seem to just skirt the law and there’s never enough evidence. But he was sloppy on this one. So it might take a bit, but hopefully, yes, he will be seeing a day of reckoning for his crimes.”
I look around the table, every single person in my family has the same expression on their face. Mouths dropped open, their eyes unblinking.
“Wyatt. I’m so sorry. I never should have brought this on you. Everything is my fault.”
Wrapping my arms around Aubrey, I hold her tight. “It’s really my fault. I should have backed away from you until I could bring Nolan down on my own. I should never have put you, Lily, or Wyatt in danger.”
Wyatt shoves his stool back, leaving the table without saying anything.
Ma reaches over and places her hand on top of Aubrey’s. “Oh honey, it’s not your fault. He’s just grumpy. He’ll come around.”
Chief clears his throat. “Aubrey, there is one more thing that I need to ask you. We’ll most likely need you to testify. There are documents that you have from a private investigator from what I understand.”
“Yes. I um… think they’re at the house. Do you need them now or can we drop them off at the station tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow is fine. The police in Boston arrested Nolan today with all the evidence that Wyatt was able to gather. Both he and Jack will face an arraignment in the next few days.” She nods at his answer.
“Thank you so much for giving me your time. I’m gonna be heading out now though. Please call me if you need anything.”
“Thank you so much, Chief Bellows. Let us walk you out.” Ma taps Pops on the shoulder and he gets up to follow them.
Aubrey leans into me, resting her head on my shoulder. “Do you think we could go home? I think I’m ready.”
“Sure. Let’s go get our girl.” I tap her thigh.
Stepping out the slider and onto the patio, Emma and Roman both turn to face us. “I think we’re going to head out.”
“Do you want us to keep Lily tonight?” Roman offers.
I look at Aubrey. I’m going to let her make the call. Although, I’d love some time alone after everything that went down and her being gone.
“You know what, I’m absolutely exhausted, and I think she would really love that.” We both look at Lily who is pushing Olivia in one of those red and yellow Cozy Coupes.
“Perfect. We’ll be leaving here soon too, dinner at the inn, then bath and bed.” Emma smiles. “You two sleep in tomorrow and just text me when you’re up.”
“You’re the best, Ems.”
“Hey! It was my idea!” Roman interjects.
“You’re the best brother-in-law. Don’t worry. No one but Emma’s next husband will take that title from you.” I laugh.
“You’re not funny. Go home. I’m done with you.” Roman crosses his arms over his chest and turns back to the girls, away from us.
We say our goodbyes and thankfully we’re in the truck before I know it, heading home.
I pull into the driveway at her house and I instantly feel the shift in her body language. She’s tense, holding her breath.
“Can we… can we go to the cottage? I’m not ready to stay here.”
Turning in the driver’s seat, I face her. “Of course we can. This place doesn’t have a bed either, remember? We just need to take the four-wheeler.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I just had this really overwhelming feeling that I never want to see the inside of that house again.”
“And you don’t have to. Come on, let’s go home.”
Giving her hand one last squeeze, I pull the door open and wait for her.
Looking back at the house, I can only see the bad memories that happened here. I can’t imagine how she’s feeling. And I won’t ever make her do anything she isn’t ready for, including moving all their things on my own to our house.