Chapter 18
Lauren
“C ole and Asher think that their father murdered their mother?” Millie asked in an astonished voice as we chatted on the phone very early the next morning.
I was packing a small overnight bag for my date with Cole while I explained the situation at Cole’s ranch and the drone searches.
I’d known that Millie would be awake. She was up at the crack of dawn. She always laughed and said getting up early had always been her habit since she’d married a rancher who had been up before sunrise.
“It’s the only explanation that makes sense, Millie,” I said as I added a pair of jeans and a sweater to the small suitcase on my bed.
“There was never any activity from their mother after the day their father said she left. It’s like she just vanished that day.
There are zero records of her doing anything after that.
No bank accounts. No jobs. No public records on her of any kind.
I know you probably didn’t know her well, but I was hoping you might have some kind of insight.
I think Cole and Asher really need some closure.
Cole gave me permission to talk to you about his mom. ”
Millie released a long sigh. “Nobody except my husband knew that Lorraine and I communicated. We both grew up here in Crystal Fork. We were friends even before we were married. We didn’t get to see each other a lot after she married my husband’s brother, but she knew my door was always open.
She snuck over here to visit with me when her husband was gone.
I think she married him hoping that he would change.
That he’d stop drinking and embrace his life with a wife and his two boys.
Lorraine was an optimist. Unfortunately, that never happened.
The last time we spoke was the morning of the day that she supposedly disappeared.
That was the first and the last time she ever hinted to me that she wanted to leave her husband.
I tried to give her some money to help her get out, but she wouldn’t take it.
I’m not sure what happened before she came to my place, but she seemed upset that morning.
She told me she wasn’t quite ready to talk about everything.
She adored Asher and Cole. I never thought that she’d just disappear without her boys.
I always expected her to come back for Cole and Asher once she was settled somewhere else, but she never did. ”
“You never heard from Lorraine again?” I asked.
“Never,” Millie confirmed. “That never seemed quite right to me. I guess I finally rationalized it and convinced myself that she didn’t want to be found.”
“Do you think her husband was abusing her?” I questioned.
“She denied it,” Millie replied. “She always made excuses for his bad behavior until that last day. I guess we realize now that denial is pretty common behavior in an abused woman. I’ve learned so much more about the cycle of abuse than I knew back then.
I was na?ve, Lauren. I believed her when she gave me excuses about how she got some of the bruises on her face.
I wish I would have had more knowledge about abuse.
I lived in a bubble. My own father had never even said a harsh word to my mother. ”
“Don’t blame yourself for that,” I insisted. “You had no way of knowing. No one is responsible for that kind of abuse except for the abuser.”
“All of this makes me wonder if those boys were abused, too, even though they always told my husband that they weren’t,” Millie said in a distressed voice. “I think I’ve suspected that they were physically abused for a long time now.”
I stayed silent. My body tensed up, and I stopped packing, taking a seat on my bed.
I couldn’t tell Millie that her suspicions were correct.
Cole had shared the fact that he’d been abused in confidence.
Maybe he wasn’t ready to tell Millie the truth.
Maybe he’d never be ready to share something like that.
“The fact that you’re not saying anything is telling me everything I need to know,” Millie said in a sad tone.
“That’s something you’ll need to ask Cole about,” I answered softly.
“Someday, I will. Deep down, I think I always knew the truth, but if Cole and Asher wouldn’t tell their uncle the truth, there was just nothing we could do.
My husband sent the child welfare people over to the ranch not long after Lorraine disappeared because he was worried about the boys, but nothing ever came of it.
There was apparently no obvious evidence that there was abuse happening at the ranch. ”
I frowned. Most likely their father had already threatened Cole and Asher to keep their mouth shut.
There was absolutely no doubt in my mind that Cole’s mother had been abused as well.
I suspected that she’d probably tried to stand up to her husband to help her boys, but that those actions had backfired.
“You and your husband did everything you possibly could,” I told my elderly friend in a soothing voice.
“It happened a long time ago, Millie. Don’t let any of this get you upset.
My goal in talking to you about this was to try to get Cole and Asher some closure.
They really want to find their mom, but their search of the ranch hasn’t brought them any clues.
It would mean a lot to them if they could put this to rest. They were extremely young, but they never believed she fled with some other guy. ”
“I never believed that nonsense, either,” Millie said firmly.
“If they don’t turn up anything on their property, I think they should try mine.
I wonder if it’s possible that Lorraine’s husband caught her coming back from my place that day.
It’s a really strange coincidence that she came up missing the same day.
I didn’t get the sense that she planned on leaving that soon.
I think she would have told me if she never planned on seeing me again. ”
God, that made so much sense.
Cole’s father could have been completely irate if he’d found his wife coming back from his brother’s property.
Possibly angry enough to kill her exactly where he’d found her.
“I’ll suggest it if all of their searches come up empty,” I assured her. “Thank you, Millie.”
“Don’t thank me,” she answered. “I want to see my nephews happy. I’m not sure if that’s possible, but I’d at least like to see them at peace.”
“I’m not sure about Asher,” I told her hesitantly. “But I’m hoping I can help make Cole happy. There’s another reason I called you, Millie. I wanted someone in the family to know that I’m going to be gone until at least tomorrow afternoon.”
“Because?” she prompted.
“Cole is taking me on a first date,” I confessed. “He’s not telling me where we’re going because he wants it to be a surprise, but we’re flying on his jet today. I’m packing now. I don’t want anyone to worry if they try to find me and I’m not around. My vehicle will be at home, but I’ll be away.”
“Well, that’s a lovely surprise,” Millie said excitedly. “I’ll make sure to call Anna, Reese, and Hannah. I didn’t know you and Cole were even thinking about dating. What brought this on? I thought he was rude to you.”
“He wasn’t very nice,” I admitted. “But I think I felt that way before we really got to know each other. You were right, Millie. He has a good heart. I think he just comes off as abrupt because he’s not much of a socializer.
After that whole situation with the flu, he’s been good to me. I really…like him.”
“So much for the two of you just being friends,” she said with a chuckle.
I hadn’t said much to Millie about Cole yet, but I had mentioned that I’d like to be his friend after the whole flu incident.
“I can’t just be his friend,” I told her honestly.
“Because you’re attracted to him,” she stated. “And he’s attracted to you. I might be old, but I know that a lot of women would consider my nephew pretty hot.”
I actually giggled. “Millie!” I said in a pseudo-scandalized tone.
She ignored me. “Make sure he treats you right,” she insisted.
“I’d say he’s treating me pretty well if he’s using his private jet for our first date,” I teased.
“Good,” she said in a satisfied voice. “You deserve to be swept off your feet. I told you that you just needed to find the right man.”
“Don’t get too excited,” I warned. “This is really new for the two of us, Millie. First date…remember?”
“Cole isn’t the type to ask a woman on a date unless he has some serious feelings for her,” Millie mused. “He hasn’t shown any interest in a female since he moved back to Crystal Fork.”
“We’ll see,” I said cautiously.
“I think you already have feelings for him, too,” Millie guessed.
I let out a long breath. “I do,” I shared. “I’ve never felt this way about a guy in my entire life. That scares me sometimes because it’s all happening so fast.”
“That’s the way it happens sometimes,” Millie said wistfully.
“I knew my husband was the one on our very first date. Don’t underestimate those initial feelings.
Sometimes it takes a while for our brains to catch up with our instincts.
Mutual attraction doesn’t always make sense when it happens almost instantly, but it will all work out if it’s the right guy.
Now tell me about this date. He won’t tell you anything? ”
“Nothing,” I said with a frustrated sigh. “Not even a hint. He just told me to pack a change of clothing, and he’d take care of everything else.”
“The Remington men are so frustrating sometimes,” Millie said lightly. “They’re much too good at keeping secrets.”
“I like some surprises,” I answered. “But there’s something very mysterious about jumping on a private jet and having no idea where I’m going.”
“Are you worried about your safety?” Millie questioned.
“Of course not,” I denied instantly. “I trust Cole, but you know me, Millie. I’m a planner. If I’m going somewhere, I check and recheck to make sure I have everything I need.”
“Maybe it’s time to try something a little different,” Millie said mischievously. “There’s something to be said for a little spontaneity sometimes.”
“I think that’s something I’m going to have to work on,” I said drily. “I suck at being spontaneous. I think I’m always worried about everything that could go wrong without the right planning in place.”
I could hear the smile in Millie’s voice as she answered, “A man doesn’t become as successful as Cole without being an excellent planner. Leave everything to him and just enjoy the romance.”
“Cole swears he’s not capable of romance,” I informed her.
“That’s utter nonsense,” Millie muttered. “Nothing is more romantic than a big surprise date.”
“My thoughts exactly,” I said with a laugh.
Cole wasn’t usually a smooth talker who spewed a bunch of over-the-top compliments, but that had never been my idea of romance.
“The most romantic thing in the world is a man who’s always trying to please you and is concerned about your happiness,” Millie said in a sincere tone.
“I’d like to please him, too,” I said. “But what can I give a billionaire?”
“I think you’re already giving Cole what he really needs,” Millie said contemplatively.
“You care about him, Lauren. I’m sure he has no idea how much he needs that, but it’s much more important than anything you could ever give him.
Have an amazing time and call me when you get back.
I’ll be dying to know where my nephew took you. ”
I stood and glanced at my clock.
Cole had taken me out to dinner in Billings last night, and we’d had a very early night so I could get ready early this morning.
It wouldn’t be long before I’d be seeing Cole’s handsome face at my door.
“Cole will be here to pick me up soon,” I said as I got to my feet and tossed a few last-minute things into my suitcase. “We’ll talk soon. Thank you, Millie.”
“For what?” she asked in a confused voice.
“For talking to me about Lorraine. For talking to me about your nephew. For everything you’ve done for me over the last twenty-something years. Your friendship has always meant so much to me, and I don’t think I tell you that often enough.”
“You don’t need to tell me that,” Millie said softly.
“You bring so much joy into my life, and I’m grateful for that.
I think at one time I really hoped that you’d end up with one of my sons, but I think this is exactly the way it was supposed to be.
Cole needs you more than any other man on the planet. Safe trip, sweetie.”
Tears welled up in my eyes as we said our goodbyes.
Never, in all of the years we’d known each other, had Millie ever even hinted that she wished I’d become her daughter-in-law someday.
Not that there had ever been a chance of that happening.
Millie’s sons were like annoying older brothers to me most of the time, but the thought touched me just the same.
I closed my suitcase and dashed toward the shower.
Millie was right.
I was going to let this day unfold spontaneously.
Honestly, I didn’t care what Cole had planned.
The day would be special because I’d be spending it with the most amazing guy I’d ever known.