Chapter 22 Levi
Levi
Since the disaster of Kelcie learning the truth about me, I’ve been a hopeless case. Poor Lick has had her job cut out for her, but she does her best to comfort me.
I moved to a better motel that’s not as run down as the previous one. It’s all I’ve been able to do because I can’t stop thinking about Kelcie long enough to figure out what to do with my life.
I’m lost without her.
This morning, while I took Lick around to the side of the motel to do her business, an idea popped into my head. I’m going to buy the farm Kelcie wanted.
It’s something that should keep me busy for a while, and once I have everything ready, I’ll give it to her as an apology gift.
At least this way, it will feel like I’m doing something worthwhile.
I’ve spent the entire morning searching for a realtor who can help me sell my two properties and look for a farm in the Sugar River Valley area. In the meantime, this motel room will be home for the unforeseeable future.
At least it’s quiet here and there aren’t a lot of guests. I’m half tempted to book out every room to guarantee I don’t have to run into any people.
Sitting at a small-as-fuck desk, I scroll through available farms on my laptop, when my phone rings. Not recognizing the number, I almost let it go to voicemail but, at the last second, figure it could be the realtor.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Graye? It’s Tish Sanders. You sent me an email regarding two properties you’d like to sell?” The woman sounds old and sweet, and for some reason, her tone sets me a little at ease.
“Hi, Tish. Yes. More importantly, I want to buy a farm in the Sugar River Valley area.” I glance at the photos of a two-hundred-and-fifty-acre farm that looks like something Kelcie might like. It even has its own lake. “Can I send you a link to a property I’ve found?”
“Sure. Let me look at it and see if I can arrange a viewing for us.”
“Thanks.”
“When we meet up, we can get the paperwork going for the sale of your two properties.”
“That works for me,” I agree.
We end the call, and I share the link to the farm with Tish before reading more about the property. When I read that it’s situated across a huge area of protected green space, I’m sold. It means there won’t be many neighbors to worry about.
I’m surprised when my phone rings so quickly after hanging up, and I accept the call.
“Hi, Mr. Graye. Tish again. We can view the farm today. How does your schedule look?”
“It’s wide open.”
“Oh, good. It’s a thirty-minute drive from where I am in Verona. Would you like to ride together or meet up at the property?”
“I’ll meet you there.”
“Great. We can meet at the entrance to the farm.”
We hang up again, and I quickly rise to my feet, patting my thigh for Lick to follow as I leave the motel room.
During the drive to Old Stone Road, I notice the houses are gradually situated farther apart. Eventually, I don’t even see any kind of dwellings, and by the time I pull up to the farm, I’m sure this is the one I’m going to buy.
Not long after I get to the property, a blue sedan arrives, and an elderly lady with a friendly smile gestures for me to follow her.
As we head up a long stretch of dirt road, I glance at the white blanket of snow that stretches out all around me.
Kelcie will love it here. I’m going to get her every damn animal her heart desires and create a little slice of heaven where she can be happy.
I bring my vehicle to a stop behind Tish’s car when she parks near a house that seems to be in desperate need of maintenance.
The place will look so much better with a wraparound porch.
When I get out and open the door for Lick, I look at the realtor and say, “Don’t worry. She’s friendly.”
“Oh my gosh, aren’t you the prettiest fur baby I’ve ever seen.” Tish coos while bending at the waist to pat Lick’s head. “What’s her name?”
“Lick.”
“Well, Lick, let’s see if we can convince your daddy to buy this land so there’s plenty of space for you to have zoomies.” Turning her attention to me, she begins to reach her hand out to me.
My tone is much gentler than it would usually be as I say, “I’m sorry. I don’t touch other people.”
Tish quickly stops and pets Lick again. “No worries. I have a sister who’s the same. She’ll slap you two ways to Sunday if you try to hug her.”
I have a feeling I’m going to get along with Tish.
“I think we should walk through the house before taking a look at the rest of the property. We can also get the paperwork out of the way for your two houses.”
As I follow her up the steps, I say, “You can just show me the house and the lake. We’re not going to use the land for farming,” I explain. “My . . .” Not knowing what to call Kelcie, I go with what feels natural. “My wife loves animals. She wants mini–Highland cows, goats, and horses.”
“Remind me to give you a number. I have a cousin who breeds mini–farm animals. He’s up in Montana, though.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
We enter the house, which has clearly been standing empty for a long while.
“As you can see, no one has lived in the house for a few years. I was told the owners retired to Florida.”
I slowly walk through the house, making mental notes of what I want to change, and when I stop in the living room area, I decide to do the work myself.
I don’t want another person working on my love project for Kelcie.
Locking eyes with Tish, I say, “I’ll take it.”
Her gaze widens. “You haven’t seen the lake yet.”
I shake my head. “I’ve seen photos.” With determination lacing my words, I repeat, “I’ll take the farm, Tish. Tell the owners I’ll pay cash. I’d like to get to work on renovating the place as soon as possible.”
A wide smile spreads over Tish’s face. “I’ll get in touch with their lawyer and let you know when the paperwork is ready. I’m sure they’ll be open to you paying rent and starting with renovations while we wait for the sale to go through.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
“I just need you to sign a couple of documents so we can get started on selling your two properties.” Tish sets an envelope down on the worn surface of the counter and pulls all the contracts out.
We fill out all the information about the two houses, and I sign everywhere there’s an X before I say, “If possible, I’d like to include the furniture currently decorating the houses in the sale.”
“I can add it, but what do you want to do if a buyer doesn’t want the furniture?”
“I’ll arrange for some charity to collect it.”
Tish jabs a thumb over her shoulder. “Let’s go take a look at the lake anyway. It’s walking distance.”
We leave the house, and as we trudge through the few inches of snow, Lick runs around, letting out a happy bark every couple of minutes.
“Well, the place has Lick’s stamp of approval,” Tish says. “Just let me know when you would like to bring your wife for a viewing.”
“It’s a surprise for her.”
Tish’s eyebrows dart up. “A three-point-five-million-dollar surprise? Wow. She’s one lucky lady.”
I shake my head as we approach a lining of trees, and I see the smooth surface of the lake through the branches. “I’m the lucky one.”
Or, at least, I was.
We stop to look at the body of half-frozen water, and Tish says, “It’s a beautiful piece of land. I hope you and your wife will find happiness here.”
Me too. But if Kelcie ends things between us, then I hope this farm will bring her all the joy I can’t.
Glancing at Tish, I ask, “Would you mind if I stayed here for an hour or so?”
“Not at all. Take your time and have a good look around.” She turns to head back to where our cars are parked. “I’ll be in touch.”
“Thanks, Tish.”
When she walks away, I shove my hands in my coat pockets and stare at the winter wonderland around me.
I’ve never been the praying kind, but as I stand out in the cold air, I send up a prayer.
Please let Kelcie forgive me.
Kelcie
My sleep routine is so messed up. It’s already midnight, and my mind won’t come to a rest.
I can’t stop thinking about Levi. Tonight is especially bad because I keep remembering the memories he shared with me.
That family was horrible to him long before his brother destroyed my life.
Half brother.
I grip my phone tightly, my heart beating faster and faster as I think of calling him for the hundredth time.
As much as I’m upset about him keeping the truth from me, I’m also worried about how seeing his mother has affected him.
Unable to stop myself, I unlock the screen and press dial on Levi’s number. The instant the call connects, my heartbeat speeds up drastically.
Listening to the ringtone, I begin to second-guess my decision, but as my thumb moves to cut the call, Levi’s voice suddenly bursts over the line. “Hi.”
My lips part, and when the words don’t come, he asks, “Kelcie? Are you there?”
“Uh-huh.” I squeeze my eyes shut when the urge to cry hits hard.
I wish I could run into his arms right now. I need comfort so bad, and he’s the only one who can make things better.
“Hey, baby,” he murmurs, his tone gentle. “How are you holding up?”
“Not good,” I force the words over my lips. A second later, a sob sputters from me.
“I’m here.”
I curl into a small ball and keep the phone pressed to my ear as I soak in the sound of his voice.
“Want to talk to me about what happened?” he asks.
“No.” I suck in a trembling breath. “I want to know how you’re doing after seeing your mother.”
“She’s not my mother,” he says, tension creeping into his tone. “I’m doing okay. I’m more worried about you.”
I keep quiet for a few seconds before I ask, “Memory for a memory?”
He lets out a sigh. “I don’t think tonight is a good time for that.”
“Please.”
“Okay. Do you want to go first?”
“No.” I clear my throat. “You go first.”
Levi’s quiet for close to a minute before he talks again.
“I would always walk home from school, whereas Wesley would take the bus. One day, he didn’t get off the bus at the stop, and when I got home thirty minutes later, Rene was hysterical.
We searched everywhere for him, and eventually, the bus driver brought him home.
He fell asleep in the back, and the driver only realized when he walked through the bus.
” Levi takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly.
“Dennis, my stepfather, was so pissed off with Wesley, but instead of taking his anger out on his own son, he came after me. He made Wesley watch while he whipped my back with a belt. While the buckle tore up my skin, he told Wesley I’d be hurt like that every time he messed up.
I was lying in a puddle of blood by the time he stopped, and when Dennis walked away, Wesley just stood there smiling at me as if he was reveling in the sight of me beaten half to death. ”
“Jesus,” I whimper.
“Anyway, as soon as I healed enough to walk, I left.”
Levi suffered so much at the hands of those people.
“I’m sorry,” I say, my voice hoarse.
I wish I could hug him right now.
“Your turn,” Levi reminds me.
“I was at the end of my rope when I met an incredible man.” My throat strains, and the tears start to drip onto my pillow.
“He understood me in ways no one else could. It felt like he healed me, and I fell head over heels in love with him.” A sob escapes me before I’m able to continue, “But then I found out he deceived me, and I don’t know how to get past it. ”
When Levi speaks again, his tone sounds forlorn. “I’m so sorry I kept the truth from you. Do you think you’ll ever be able to forgive me?”
“Forgiving you for keeping it from me that Wesley’s your half brother isn’t the hard part.”
“Then what is?”
I shake my head and fight hard to keep the tears from overwhelming me. “I need more time to figure out if I can be with someone who stalked me before inserting himself into my life, while knowing one of his family members killed my mother right in front of me. That’s the part I’m struggling with.”
“I understand,” he murmurs. “Take all the time you need, Kelcie, but while you’re deciding what to do, please remember every good moment we shared the past few months.”
I nod, pressing my lips together to keep a sob back. It takes a few minutes before I’m able to say, “I have to go.”
“I love you more than anything, Kelcie,” he says, sadness creeping into his voice.
I love you too.
“Bye, Levi,” I whimper before I quickly end the call.
As I begin to cry my heart out, I sob, “I miss you so much.”