Chapter 27
Cole
“What the hell is going on?” I found Samantha in our parents’ kitchen all by herself. I’d broken every speed limit getting here.
“I have no clue. I was hoping you knew.”
“No. Dad just said I needed to come to the house pronto. Where are they?”
“Outside on the deck and don’t bother,” she said. “They told me to wait inside until Ford and Beck arrived.”
I ripped off my jacket, frustrated as hell. During the trip I’d thought of all horrific possibilities. None of which had good outcomes. “It’s freezing outside.”
My sister glared at me. “Mom is bundled up and Dad is a wolf. He loves the cold. You know that.” She poured me a whiskey, which meant she was as nervous as I was. She was already nursing one or maybe she’d gulped a couple before.
“I guess we both need a drink.”
“Take a look at the brochures on the table.”
I followed her line of sight, curious what she’d seen. When I picked up the first brochure, I half laughed. “A brochure on Italy?”
“Apparently, they are planning on traveling.”
A cold chill drifted through me. “You know what that means.”
Samantha nodded. “Yeah. The sale went through.”
Why was it that she didn’t seem either surprised or that concerned? Shock?
There were several brochures, as if they’d been planning for a long time. “I don’t even know what to say.”
“I’m curious. Have you spoken with Chelsea lately?”
Why did I hear a strange tone in her voice? With the brochure still in hand, I shifted so I could look at her. Definitely a smug look. “No, I have not and you know the reason. Why?”
“Because you two are meant to be together. That’s why.”
“You’re the second person to tell me that today. Plus, Jagger has been acting weird the past couple of days. What is going on?”
“I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking you.” She brought the glass to her lips, licking the rim.
“Bullshit.”
“What’s bullshit?” Ford entered the room, looking more frantic than normal.
“That she hasn’t talked to her roommate about what the fuck is going on. Mom and Dad are going to Europe. That means the sawmill has been sold. But someone is up to something.”
Yes, I was exasperated.
“Maybe you shouldn’t jump to any conclusions,” Samantha offered just as Beck walked in. “Mr. Conspiracy Theory.”
“I know a setup,” I chided, grumbling under my breath.
“What are Mom and Dad doing outside in the cold?” Beck asked.
“That’s what I said.” I was getting angry for no reason. Of course they deserved to take a trip. More than one.
“Has anyone told them we’re here?” Ford asked while jerking the brochure from my hand.
“I’ll let them know.” Samantha was far too smug.
When she left the room, I hissed. “She knows something.”
The three of us looked at each other before my brothers went to make themselves a drink. We were all out of sorts. Of course we were.
A couple of minutes later, Samantha returned with them and my parents looked all lovey-dovey.
“What’s wrong, Pops?” Beck asked.
“Did I say anything was wrong?” Dad was smiling. Mom’s skin was shimmering. Now I was concerned.
“That’s what you implied.” There was a bit of a growl in my tone.
Dad shook his head. “Not at all. Did you see your mother and I are headed to Italy at the end of the month? Don’t worry. We’ll be back in time for Christmas.”
“Is that why you called us here?” At least Ford was also agitated.
Our parents had a habit of looking at each other when they held a secret. Our mother moved away, humming as she did.
“Partially,” Dad admitted. “But now you’re probably wondering why we’re able to go.”
“I guess that means you sold the business,” I couldn’t help but grumble.
“I thought you already knew that. We got a damn good price too. Three times what it’s worth. I honestly don’t know how you guys did it.”
“So that piece of shit in Seattle owns the sawmill now?” Ford threw out.
Finally, something sank in. “Wait. What do you mean you guys?”
My father had a twinkle in his eyes. “Yes, the four of you purchased it.”
“Um,” Beck grimaced. “No, Dad. There was no way we could afford it.”
“It says so right here.” He moved to the kitchen desk, pulling a file from the drawer. “Take a look.”
The four of us glanced at each other, but I could tell Samantha knew what was going on. Especially since she allowed us to look at the paperwork first.
“Now, I realize you need to sign it, but the family attorney looked it over and we agree. Great price. Plus, with the sale of the house, we are ecstatic with the possibilities.”
“Would someone please tell me what in the fuck is going on?” You bet I was exasperated.
“You need to tell them, Dad,” Samantha encouraged. “You can’t keep doing this, especially to Cole.”
I was about to wring my sister’s neck.
“Pat. Don’t be an asshole.”
“Mom!” Beck chastised. “You shouldn’t curse.”
Her laugh was also entirely different. I was going to lose my mind.
“If someone doesn’t tell me what is going on…” I searched my parents’ faces, my dad finally softening.
“You should never believe the worst in people. Any of you. Take this as a strong reminder,” Pops started.
“Consolidated Technologies did not purchase a single piece of property in North Bend. However, Black Enterprises did. The rink. All the properties involved, turning around and offering a one-hundred-year lease to every North Bend family. They get the benefit of being paid three times what their properties are worth while remaining in their homes. Plus, the rink is going to be renovated. The only change is that our children have purchased the sawmill and this house so it will always remain in the family.”
“Black Enterprises?” Beck asked, only to have Samantha pop him on the arm.
“You guys are dense. That’s Chelsea. She did this.
You have no idea how hard she worked to keep her father from getting his corrupt hands on the properties.
She made her father whole and convinced him that he wasn’t interested in the properties any longer.
There will no data center anywhere close. ” Samantha was beaming.
What?
“You had a hand in this?” Ford asked and I could tell he was as confused as I was.
Our sister blew on her fingers and rubbed her knuckles on her shirt. “Guity as charged. She wanted everything finalized with the city and all the owners before she said anything. She went to the city council. She fought very hard to make this happen.”
“It’s all right here, son,” Dad said, now talking to me. “She had no idea what her father had done or was planning. She did everything in her power to make it right for everyone.”
I slumped against the counter. “With what money?”
“You really are dense,” Samantha told me.
“Do you honestly think the daughter of a billionaire isn’t going to have a trust fund?
Granted, her father held marriage over her head, which was why she wanted nothing to do with the money or with him.
But she figured a legal way of using that and his corruption against him.
You should have seen her. You could have if you weren’t such an asshole. ”
“Samantha. Don’t talk about your brother that way,” our mother told her, but she also had a twinkle in her eyes.
“A trust fund,” I repeated. “That she wanted nothing to do with.”
“To the tune of a few hundred million dollars.” Samantha waited for the information to sink in. “That she would go without just to be with you. But why bother when she’s rich?”
“This is… amazing. But what about hockey?” Beck asked.
“Son, have you ever heard of delegating? We already have the best people in place to run the operation. Plus,” Dad continued, “we’re not going anywhere except on vacation.
Trust me. There is no place your mother and I would rather be than right here.
With our family. Including your mates.” He shifted his gaze to me then finished with a glance at Samantha.
I was sick inside, more so because of not trusting her. What the fuck had been wrong with me? After placing my drink on the counter, I walked out, heading to the back door and onto the deck. I definitely needed time to reflect.
On being such an asshole.
I figured my father would join me. Maybe I was hoping he’d tell me just how stupid I’d been, but that wasn’t how my father operated.
“I fucked up,” I told him.
“Yes, son. You did.”
“Have I lost her forever?”
“Well, that’s up to you. Your future is in your hands.”
“You knew about this all along, didn’t you?”
He chuckled. “Not at first. And I honestly didn’t know all the details until she called me earlier today. She was terrified she’d disappoint us all over again. I asked her to stop by and we had a long chat. She’s quite talented, Cole. Maybe one day you can see that and admit it as well.”
“Why didn’t she confide in me?” As soon as I looked at him, I groaned. “She couldn’t trust me.”
“As you decided you couldn’t do with her. That woman loves you. Just in case you haven’t figured that out.”
“I can’t believe I was so stupid.”
“Well, it is a very unusual set of circumstances. However, you were willing to allow one of the best things to happen to you to be tossed aside because you weren’t interested in listening. As your mother would say, men suck at it.”
“You have no idea how many times I thought of purchasing the sawmill,” I said quietly while staring at the sky.
“Chelsea knew how you felt, which is why she did all this.”
“I was offered a spot in Vancouver today.”
“What? You’re kidding?”
I shook my head. “Nope. An injured player and they want to call me up early. Everything I thought I wanted.”
“Thought you wanted.”
“Yeah, maybe. I can’t imagine being in the NHL without her support.”
“And her love.”
“That too.”
He clapped me on the back. “Well, I think it’s time you apologized and I will tell you that you will need to grovel just like I did with your mother all those years ago.”
“Why would she take me back?”
“Because you’re meant to be together and not only because you’re mates. Because you’re good for each other. But you need to learn to communicate.”
I nodded a half dozen times. “Dad, if you don’t mind, I’m going to go try and find her.”