Chapter Forty
Carter
Twenty-eight million dollars. The number rolling around in my head is as foreign a concept to me as quantum physics. I can’t even fathom how much money that actually is.
“Holy shit, Kenna. How do you even wrap your head around it?”
“Honestly, I still haven’t. And since I gave so much away last year, it wasn’t like I was rolling in it. Yes, I was able to rent nice places. But other than that, the car I bought to take us away from the city was my only extravagant purchase.”
“Let me guess,” I say in disgust. “You got the second payment a few weeks ago, right about the time Cyrus showed up on my doorstep.”
“You guessed it.”
Her car. How she has so much cash. Why she didn’t want to use credit cards that could lead to her location. Why her degenerate ex is after her. It all makes sense now. All except one thing.
“Why didn’t you tell me? I get why you didn’t when we first met, but later—and especially last weekend—why didn’t you say anything? You said you trusted me.”
She laces her fingers with mine. “I do trust you. And I was fully prepared to tell you. But then you went off on this crazy idea about uprooting your life for me. That’s when I came up with the idea.
But I knew you’d never let me pay off the loan.
I had to make sure it was a done deal before telling you.
I’m actually surprised you found out this quickly. ”
“I went to the bank today to discuss all the options.” I shake my head. “How did you know what bank? And for that matter, how did you know our loan details? And how did you get it done so quickly?”
“The internet is an amazing place. I drove to White Plains on Monday and had my bank courier the cashier’s check directly to that John Walker guy you mentioned.”
“Me and my big goddamn mouth. I mean, Jesus, Kenna, why pay off my loan when you said yourself that everyone you knew was asking you for money?”
Leaning heavier into me, she drops her head to my shoulder, and sighs.
“Because you’d never ask.” She glances around the cabin.
“And I couldn’t let you sell this place.
You shouldn’t have to give up your business.
Or move away from the town you love. Christian shouldn’t have a part-time father, and he should be able to go to any engineering school he wants. All of that can happen now.”
I bristle a bit at her implication. “I can pay for my own son’s education. I would never ask you to do it.”
“I know you wouldn’t. And you misunderstand. Without the burden of your business loan, now you can pay for his education.” She turns and smiles. “You want to know my main reason for paying it off?”
“Yes.”
“Because you are the only person in my life who has ever been willing to give up something for me and not ask for a single thing in return. And you were willing to do it all without knowing about the money.”
“Nothing about that has changed. I’m still willing to do anything for you.
” My deep sigh displaces some of her hair.
“You must know that paying off our loan doesn’t change your situation.
Cyrus is still after you. He’ll always be after you.
But now that I know why, maybe we can do something about it.
The Jonah I mentioned earlier has a security firm.
We’ll hire him, make sure you’re safe. Get bodyguards for you and Amelia if we need to. ”
She shakes her head. “That won’t be necessary.”
“The hell it won’t be. Don’t you understand? You don’t have to leave now. We can make this work. You can afford to hire the best attorney who will make sure Cyrus never bothers you again.”
She turns around, stares directly into my eyes and says, “This money has brought me nothing but bad luck. From day one, I haven’t been able to enjoy it.
I haven’t been able to do any of the things I dreamed of before I collected the first payment and my name was released.
It hasn’t improved my life in the least. In fact, it’s ruined it.
I don’t want it.” She tears up. “All I want is you. Us. Here in the town you love. All of us together. Which is why I’m getting rid of it. All of it.”
“Ummm… come again?”
She swallows then sighs. She looks… afraid.
“Sweetheart, what is it? Just tell me.”
Her eyes flit away from mine and she chews on her bottom lip nervously. Her hands wring together. “I’m selling the annuity at a loss to a company that buys them. Then I’m going to give it all away.”
I narrow my eyes, totally bewildered. “Wow, okay. That I didn’t expect.” I laugh. “As if any of what’s happened today was something I expected.”
She looks back at me. “Are you mad?”
“Mad? No. Confused maybe. Why would you do that?”
“If I don’t have money, Cyrus will have no reason to come after me.
” She touches my face. “Or you. Or your son. Because nobody around me is safe from Cyrus. Because I need to protect you just like you’ve protected me.
I have no idea what lengths he’d go to to get his hands on the money.
And if anything happened to you. Christian.
Amelia.” Her eyes get glassy. “I’d never be able to forgive myself. ”
“But I told you there are ways to take care of him.”
“If it’s not him, it’ll be someone else.
There will always be someone after what I have.
It was more than just Cyrus’s threats. Three other people—complete strangers—threatened to take or hurt Amelia if I didn’t give them money.
The police arrested one. The other two were never found.
She won’t be safe as long as I have the money.
You won’t be either. It’s not worth the trouble. It’s just not.”
“But… Jesus, Kenna, you’re just going to give up twenty-eight million dollars?”
She frowns, her eyes becoming distant. “I knew it.” She begins to pull away. “I knew you’d try to talk me out of it. You think I’m crazy. And you want what everyone else wants. I mean, who wouldn’t?”
Tears flow freely as she extracts herself from my arms.
Oh, hell no. I pull her back against me. “Wait one goddamn minute. You thought I’d be mad? Is that why you looked so nervous just now?”
She nods and sniffs.
“Kenna, give the money away or don’t, I’m still going to love you.” I kiss her forehead, her cheek, her lips. “Whatever you decide to do, keep it or get rid of it, I’ll support you. It’s your decision.”
“Really?” Her voice is small. Unsure.
I laugh. “Yeah. Really. It’s your money.”
For the first time since this conversation started, she visibly relaxes. As if the weight of the world has been taken off her shoulders. More tears flow, however.
I wipe them away. “What’s wrong?”
Her head shakes over and over. “You’re the first man who hasn’t tried to control me or manipulate me or use me. How are you for real?”
I put a hand over her heart, then put it over mine. “This is what’s real. The way I feel about you. It’s more powerful than any business loan. Any lottery. Any threat from maniacal exes.”
She collapses against me and cries into my shoulder. “I knew you were the one.”
I gently rub her shoulders. “Oh, you did, did you?”
I feel her nod.
“When did you know?”
“Honestly?” She looks up at me. “I think it might have been that very first day we met. The way you interacted with Amelia. How you looked at your son like he was the best thing since sliced bread. The way you took in a complete stranger with zero expectations.” She slides away and tops off our wine glasses.
“Phew,” she says, wiping away a few stray tears.
“I’m just glad that conversation is over. ”
“It’s not exactly over.” I take a sip. “There’s still a lot to be discussed. First and foremost, exactly how do you get rid of twenty-eight million dollars?”
“I’ve made some calls to a few places that buy annuities. Once I sell it, I’m going to donate the money. I was thinking to the Cerebral Palsy Foundation.”
Now my eyes are tearing up. “Woman, are you for real?”
Her salty lips touch mine. “I’m for real in love with you.”
I kiss her back. Deeply. Softly. Fervently. “We’re in this together, no matter what.” Thinking of us together, as a family, brings up another thought. “What did your dad think about you winning so much money? Did he also ask for some? Is that why you’re estranged?”
“He doesn’t know about it.”
I’m taken aback. “How is that even possible?”
“I know. It’s crazy, right? I didn’t tell him because…
well, I’ve told you how he feels about money.
I was sure he’d eventually find out. My name and picture were all over the news and social media for weeks.
But I guess having a different last name and being estranged from him kept him from knowing.
He wasn’t one to be on the internet or even watch much TV short of educational programs. He was ashamed of me, so I doubt he even told his congregation he had a daughter.
Nobody would have made the connection.” Her head slumps down into her hands.
“Oh, Carter… my dad. I hadn’t even thought about that.
Cyrus will be so pissed once he finds out I’ve given the money away.
I wouldn’t put it past him to march right into the church and tell my dad and his entire congregation about my past just to get revenge. ”
“Then let’s take that opportunity away from him.
Do it before he can. I’ll go with you. We’ll tell your dad everything and let the chips fall where they may.
It’ll be his loss if he doesn’t want a relationship with you.
But at least then there will be no more secrets.
Nothing left for you to hide or run from.
You can start to live again.” I squeeze her hand. “We can start our lives together.”
“Okay. With you by my side, I feel like I can do anything.”
Her words make me feel powerful. “Damn, I love you.”
She smiles. It’s huge and bright and full of possibility. It’s the most peaceful, easy smile I’ve seen cross her lips.
In the back of my mind, I wonder if, when it comes right down to it, I’ll actually be able to support her giving away all that money.
Money that could mean so much for her future.
For Amelia’s. Then again, it could go a long way to discovering a cure for CP.
That realization makes me love her all the more.
So, no, I’m not going to try and talk her out of it.
I’m not going to let her down like she’s been let down by every other man in her life.
I gently guide her away from me, get up, and lean a kitchen chair on two legs in front of the bedroom door, ensuring it’ll tip over and alert us should Amelia open it.
Then I shut off the lights, gazing at the woman of my goddamn dreams by firelight, and proceed to tell her exactly what I plan on doing to her for the next few hours.