Chapter 19
Nora
I left Cole’s place the following day grinning like an idiot. Everything felt lighter. For once, I wasn’t picking apart whether I’d made the right choice or waiting for someone else to tell me I hadn’t. I was just happy. I could get used to that.
I stopped at Jen’s on the way home to pick up breakfast. Don was sitting at the counter and waved me over.
“Can we talk for a second?” he asked.
I hesitated before nodding.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I told a few people I still had a chance with you. After you stood me up, I felt like an idiot and ran my mouth.”
“So that rumor came from you.”
“Yeah. It was stupid. Sorry.”
“You shouldn’t have told people there was still something between us.”
“I know. It won’t happen again. If anybody brings it up, I’ll straighten it out.”
“We’re fine as long as you understand there won’t be another date.”
“I understand. I’m not asking for one.”
He gave me an embarrassed smile and turned back to his coffee. Jen set my order on the counter, and I took it home.
After breakfast, I decided I’d start cleaning upstairs that weekend since I’d finished downstairs the week before.
I could handle cleaning as long as I didn’t go too far. I cleared the basics and left most of Gran’s things where she’d put them. Wiping things down was one thing. Emptying a room felt too much like admitting she was never coming back.
I was in a good mood, so I turned on some music and hummed along to the pop songs while I sorted through her things.
My mind wandered to Cole, and I considered calling him but changed my mind when I realized that would be too distracting. Instead, I let myself think about our time together and how he’d made me feel—how he still made me feel.
An hour later, I got to Grandma Ellen’s room and realized this was probably the first time since I’d been here that I’d actually come in and touched her things. I’d been telling myself I just hadn’t gotten around to it. Standing there, that excuse didn’t hold up.
My chest tightened, and once again, I was filled with regret for missing her last days. But then I saw a picture on her nightstand and couldn’t help but smile. It was of me and her. I was around ten, and she’d just brought me back from a fair that was in town.
Mom had been waiting at home, ready to take me back to the city. At ten, I hadn’t had words for why that day with Gran felt so good. I only knew I never wanted Mom’s car to show up. Maybe that was when I first fell in love with Misty Pines.
I held the photo in my hand for a while as the memories consumed me. I didn’t want to cry, so I drew in a breath and pulled out the single drawer of the nightstand to continue cleaning.
My brows furrowed at the large envelope resting inside. It was sealed, and my name was scribbled across the top-left corner. Seeing Gran’s handwriting on an envelope meant for me made my throat tighten.
My heart raced a little as I wondered what was inside. I took a seat on Grandma Ellen’s bed and tore open the top of the envelope, my curiosity piqued.
There was a single sheet of paper in front, with the rest stapled behind it.
I pulled out the first sheet and realized it was in her handwriting, with my name once again at the top.
Dearest Nora,
If you’re reading this, I’m probably sitting with the angels by now.
I know how sure your father can sound, but he lied about what happened seven years ago. Cole showed me the engineer’s report, his emails, and pictures from the site. I left his first warning with this letter. The rest belongs to him, so ask before you expect to see it.
I wrote the injured worker’s name and number on the back. Call him if you need to hear it from someone who was there.
Cole helped me long before he knew Gregory was my son, and he kept helping after he found out. He’s a good man, Nora. Find out the truth for yourself.
Take care of yourself. I’ll love you always, all ways.
Tears ran down my face as I unfolded the document behind the letter.
It was an email from Cole to my father. The subject line read: Immediate Work Stoppage—Unsafe Roof Beam.
Cole had documented the crack, warned against putting more weight on the east section, and stopped the work until the beam was replaced.
There was no reply from my father.
I turned Ellen’s letter over. A name and number were written at the bottom.
David Mercer.
I entered the number into my phone. A man answered after the fourth ring.
“Hello?”
“Is this David Mercer?”
“Who’s asking?”
“My name is Nora Adams. I’m calling about an accident that happened seven years ago on one of Gregory Adams’s construction projects.”
Silence followed.
“You’re his daughter?”
“Yes. Ellen Adams gave me your number.”
David went quiet. “Miss Ellen said you might call one day.”
“Tell me what happened.”
“Don’t soften it because I’m his daughter.”
“Wasn’t planning to. Cole stopped the job. He told us that section wasn’t safe. Adams’s site manager sent us back the next morning because they were behind. The beam came down before lunch.”
“You were the worker who got hurt?”
“Yeah.”
“Did Cole ignore the damage?”
“No. He was the one trying to keep us out.”
“Would you say that again publicly?”
“I should’ve backed Cole then, but Gregory was paying my medical bills. I was scared he’d stop if I spoke up. I’m not scared anymore. I’ll say it wherever you need me to.”
After the call, I sat on Gran’s bed and stared at Cole’s email. He’d told me the truth.
I took the letter and drove to his house.
Cole opened the door before I knocked twice.
“Nora, what happened?”
“I found a letter from Gran. She left one of your emails and David Mercer’s number.”
His expression tightened.
“I called him. He backed up everything you told me.”
Cole said nothing.
“I know the records are yours, but will you show them to me before I face my father?”
“Why are you facing him?”
“Because he lied to me for seven years and wrecked your name to protect his own.”
“You don’t have to do this for me.”
“I’m not. He lied to me too.”
Cole stepped aside and let me enter. He disappeared upstairs and returned carrying a small metal case.
He placed it on the coffee table but kept his hand on the lid.
“If I show you these, you don’t release them or give them to anyone without speaking to me first.”
“I promise.”
Cole unlocked the case.
Inside were dated photos, the engineer’s report, his work-stoppage notice, and several emails. The last one from Dad made me sick.
I don’t care what it takes. Make it work and keep us on schedule.
I read it twice. Dad had spent seven years telling me Cole was careless and greedy when he knew damn well Cole had tried to stop it. I’d spent all that time believing him, then brought his lie to Misty Pines and threw it right in Cole’s face.
There wasn’t anything left to explain away. The dates matched. The photos matched. David’s account matched Cole’s. Dad’s own email had told Cole to keep the job moving after he’d stopped it for safety.
“I’m sorry I doubted you.”
“It’s okay. He’s your dad.”
“No, it’s not!” I snapped. “Don’t make it okay because he’s my dad. He thought he could ruin people’s lives and never answer for it. What kind of person does that? I spent my whole life scared of disappointing him, and I didn’t even know the kind of ass he was.”
“Come here,” he said, and I froze, my heart beating fast. I wanted to cross the room and let him hold me. I was afraid if I did, I’d fall apart before I made it to New York.
I shook my head as I stood. “I have to head back to the city.”
He shot up from his seat. “What? Why?”
“I have to face my father, but I’ll be back.”
I returned Cole’s original documents to the metal case and closed it. Gran’s letter and the copy she had left me went back into my envelope.
“Nora—”
I paused to meet his gaze. “I have to do this. Do me a favor and finish the work on the inn until I get back… please? Whatever happens with Dad, I don’t want the work stopping because of him.”
He hesitated, but then he nodded. “Okay. I’ll keep it moving.”
I smiled despite myself and stood there, feeling like my world had just crumbled.
Cole came toward me, wrapped his arms around me, and pulled me into a hug. As soon as my face touched his comforting chest, I broke down sobbing, clinging to him and letting it all out. Cole held me close, pressing a kiss to the top of my head and gently rubbing my back.
He held me until my cries subsided. I closed my eyes, breathing in his scent and the comfort of his touch.
I was exhausted and still pissed off at Dad, but I didn’t want Cole to let me go.
Fuck.
I loved him.