Chapter 10
Maxie
“Are you sure you don’t want me to drive you over to the Murdock house?”
I shook my head. “I just need a few minutes to myself, El.” I squeezed her hands. “I can’t believe I’m marrying Cam.”
Eloise grinned. “You two look good together. And he really loves you. I thought it was crazy fast, but he’s a smitten kitten.”
I still didn’t trust that he loved me. Everything moved so fast.
This was all supposed to be a business deal. I was pretty sure that hadn’t even lasted two days. Not after that night in the kitchen.
“Hey.” Eloise gripped my arms. “Cam is as steady as it comes. I know you haven’t had many people in your corner, but he’s definitely got your back.”
“Why though?”
“It can’t be just because of you?”
Everything with my mother had always been transactional. Then I’d gone to Shaw Media, and I was so used to a cutthroat life that it didn’t faze me when it was the same there. Again and again, I’d only seen how trusting people made me a chump.
She shook me a little. “It’s because of you, Maxie.
He sees the same thing Gus and I do. You’re amazing and hilarious and you have vision for this place.
” She waved to the library where she’d been helping me to get ready.
“You could have sold this place and taken the money and gone back to Georgia.”
“A smart person would. What the hell am I thinking running a bed and breakfast?”
“You’re thinking that this place is perfect for it.
All this history is exactly what people want in an experience.
And during track season you’re going to make a killing.
We’re only twenty miles away from the racetrack.
You know people are crazy about the horses.
Trick it out for the holidays and you could get those people too. ”
I laughed. “I thought I was the marketing one.”
She shrugged. “Creative game writer here. I’ve been making up stories about this town. I can’t wait to add this place to Story Brook. The quest for Christmas would be so cool for my game.”
I laughed. “Your brain is incredible.”
“I just have to write code. You have to do the hard stuff. But you get to do it with someone. Cam was made for this. You guys just found each other at the right time. Trust that.”
I nodded. “You’re right.” I sniffed back the tears that were threatening. “You can’t ruin my makeup.”
She laughed and drew me in for a hug. “No way. I already sprayed both of our faces with that finishing stuff Lexi swears by.” She set me back and waved her hands in front of her face. “I’m not going to cry either.”
“Okay, I’ll be right behind you.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to come with me?”
“I’m sure.”
She sighed. “Always so stubborn.”
“You know it.” I walked her to the door and shut it behind her.
I walked through the house slowly, imagining what it could be with Cam’s help. The holes where furniture items were missing, the ragged wallpaper that needed to be replaced, the crumbling stonework of the fireplace.
My grandmother had been alone here. I didn’t want to be like her.
I wanted people around me.
I wanted this place full of people who could appreciate it. Who would come back year after year because they felt at home here.
But I didn’t want to do it alone anymore.
I wandered into the kitchen and to the folder that held the contract.
Heck, it was a prenup for all intents and purposes.
It was simple. In the end, that’s all I needed.
We both agreed that if the marriage dissolved, we left with what belonged to us.
I made sure to add a stipulation that Cam would get his selection of furniture and a generous dollar figure.
I knew he hadn’t read the contract because he would have balked at that.
He trusted me to not screw him over, no questions asked.
No one had ever treated me like that.
If I wasn’t already half in love with him that would have done it.
I traced my finger over his bold signature. The slashing k of his last name just a little bit bigger than the rest of the letters.
“Maxine Murdock,” I murmured to myself.
“What did you say?”
My head jerked up to see my mother in the doorway. “Mom.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Why are you all dressed up?”
I looked down at the simple cream shift I was wearing. My grandmother’s pearls at my ears and neck.
I swallowed. “It’s Thanksgiving, remember?”
She folded her arms under her generous chest. “You dressed up to sit alone here?” She sneered as she looked around. “This place is a dump. I can’t wait to sell it.”
“I’m not selling it.”
“The hell you’re not. We have to get some money out of it. And when I marry Leonard, I’ll have the money too.”
“Who is Leonard?”
“Some old geezer. He’s got more money than the devil. He just wants some arm candy for his parties. I can handle that to get my hands on the trust.”
“I’m keeping the house. Cam and I are getting married today. It’ll be mine and you can’t ever touch it again.”
“What?” she shrieked.
“You heard me. I’m going to take care of this house like Gram wanted me to.”
“And cutting me out of it?”
“I wouldn’t do that. I’ll give you a portion of the money, but then I want you gone.”
“A portion? When I could have all of it?”
I frowned. “If you married this man, you’d have left me with nothing, wouldn’t you?”
“As if you weren’t set to do the same.”
“I’ve given you thousands of dollars over the last few weeks. You spent half a million dollars in less time than it takes for your braids to grow out.”
She threw her head back with a mocking laugh. “Oh, look at you growing some teeth, Maxine.” She brushed her long micro braids over her shoulder. “I’m investing in my future. I needed to make sure I had good product for my boutique. Marcella’s will be elegant and the talk of Saratoga’s elite.”
“You don’t know the first thing about running a business.”
“Handily Benny does.”
“And he doesn’t care that you are marrying this Leonard guy?”
She laughed. “Of course not. He’s married too.”
I shook my head. “Do you care about anyone other than yourself?”
“No.” Her voice was like a whip snap. “You should do the same. And if you think you’re going to steal my money, you’re going to learn just how ruthless I can be.”
“Did you even read the will, Mother?”
She waved me away. “I got the gist.”
“You really don’t. The house and the trust go with whomever is married. I don’t have to give you a dime. I was going to give you a portion because you’re my mother, but not now.”
“How dare you!”
“I want you out of this house. I have a wedding to get to.”
“You’re not married yet?”
My stomach jittered. She wouldn’t do anything to me would she?
I brushed by her and down the hall. “I have to leave. That means you do too.”
“It’s still my house too,” she called after me. “Maybe I’ll just burn it down for the insurance money.”
I stood at the door, my hand shaking on the handle. “You know there’s jail time for arson, right?”
“Only if I’m caught.” She tossed the long end of her scarf over her shoulder and passed through the door.
A black car was waiting for her. The man inside was the same one from the funeral. He got out and came around to open her door. “Everything all right, Marcella?”
“It will be.” She swept down the stairs trailing expensive perfume. “Get in the car, Maxine.”
“What?” My chest tightened.
“You won’t be getting married today.”
“Of course, I am.”
“I appreciate that you attempted to outmaneuver me, but I simply won’t allow it. Help her into the car, Benny.”
He looked uncertain.
I swallowed down the lump in my throat. “I’m not leaving with you. I have people who actually care about me.”
“Please. Who is going to marry you anyway?”
“Cameron Murdock.”
My mother burst out laughing. “The handyman?”
“He’s not a handyman.”
“Sorry, what’s the word?” She glanced at Benny. “Help me here.”
“Contractor?” He said with a shrug.
“Right. I suppose. Does that make you feel better? You stupid girl, he wants your money.”
I jerked back as if she slapped me. “Just go. I don’t want to see you again, Marcella.”
She wasn’t my mother. She never really had been. It hurt to realize that, but this absolutely killed any feelings I had for her, and she didn’t deserve the moniker.
“Get in the fucking car, Maxine.”
“No.”
The sound of a truck dragged my gaze off my mother. My eyes widened. Cam?
His truck advanced the winding road to the house. There was a caravan of cars and trucks behind him.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Marcella climbed the steps and grabbed my arm. “I’m tired of this.”
“Let go of me.” I shook her off and stumbled back.
Cam parked the truck and hopped out, leaving the door open. “Maxie!”
“That’s who you’re going to marry?” She grabbed my arm with enough force to leave marks. “Absolutely not.”
“Get your hands off my wife!” His voice was a near roar as he ran up the driveway.
She looked at me. “You’re getting married today, correct?”
I jerked my arm away. “He wanted to marry me weeks ago.”
The parade of cars all lined up behind Cam’s truck and the Murdock clan all got out and headed for the house. They were all in suits and dresses. My eyes teared up as I recognized Cam’s parents in the mix as well.
Cam ran up the stairs and stood in front of me. “If you touch her again—”
“You’ll what? Hit me?” Marcella laughed.
“Actually, I’ll just let Maxie press charges.” He lifted his voice. “You can help with that, right Chief Olsen?”
Parker was out of uniform, but she was the Chief of Police for Indigo Valley. “I can definitely call in one of my uniforms to come out and take a report.” Her face hardened as she glanced down at the angry red marks on my bare skin.
I’d been so upset I hadn’t even grabbed my coat.
Cam shrugged out of his suit jacket and wrapped it around me. “You, okay?”
I nodded. “Marcella was just leaving.”
She whirled around, looking at the crowd of people. “This is who you’re choosing over me? These trades people?”
“They don’t just live off a trust fund. All of them actually do things that help this community.”
Cam slipped his arm around my waist. “And we actually love her.”
“They love your money, Maxine. You’re deluding yourself if you believe anything otherwise.”
“I love your daughter. Not that it’s any of your business, but I signed a prenup. Because I want to protect her instead of hurting her like you do every time you open your mouth. Now get out of here. You aren’t wanted at our family wedding.”
Marcella stepped back and stumbled on the stairs. Benny ran up and caught her before she hit the stone steps. She shoved him back with a growl. “I’ll be taking you to court. There’s no way you’re getting my money.”
“You try it.” My whole body vibrated with rage. “I’m keeping this house and the Delacroix name is going to mean something again. It’s going to mean home and hospitality. Not just a monolith looking over the town.”
Marcella shook back her braids. “Hospitality? Your grandmother would roll over in her grave.”
“Maybe she would, but I’d like to think she’d be proud of me for making this place into something amazing again.” I reached down to find Cam’s hand. “I’m going to build a life here. And I have people I actually want to be my family. Now just go.”
I hated that my voice broke at the end.
But then I felt Cam’s lips at my temple. His warmth seeping into the cold my mother left behind.
Marcella stalked over to the car, her ice pick heels clicking on the flagstones. She waited for Benny to open the car door for her.
Even now, she acted like she was royalty.
Maybe the Delacroix family had been at one time. I didn’t want to be that benevolent matriarch on the hill anymore. I wanted to become part of the community. Part of a family.
I turned to Cam. “Do you still want to marry me? Even knowing that viper is part of me?”
“She’s nothing like you. And of course, I do. If I didn’t have the Chief of Police driving like a bat out of hell behind me, I’d have been arrested for breaking the sound barrier to get here.”
I laughed and cupped his face. “I love you, Cameron Murdock.”
His eyes went red. “Say it again.”
“I love you. So very much. Not just because you came up here like an avenging angel, but because you really see me. No one ever has believed in me like you do.”
“Every single day, honey. Not for just a year, but I want a whole lifetime.”
I nodded. “Me too.”
He bent down and Gus rushed up the steps. “Hang on. Vows first.”
Cam peered around me. “I’ve kissed her before you know.”
“I know, but those were like vows man.” He waved everyone up. “We’re all here.”
I laughed. “I guess we are.”
Gus straightened his tie. “El?”
“Coming! Excuse me.” She shifted through the sea of Murdocks waving a little box. “We need the rings.”
I pressed my lips against the sob that was ready to come out. All these people were here for us. I’d never get over it.
Gus maneuvered us to the middle of the steps. “This is a better backdrop than the winter pergola we had going on back at Mom and Dad’s house.”
“Hey, I’ll have you know I got up there and cleaned off all the ice,” Cash yelled from the patio.
“I appreciate that,” I shouted back.
“Fine. Saves me from having to do it before the storm next week anyway.”
Everyone laughed.
“Let’s get this going. It’s cold out here.” Kai grabbed Lexi and hugged her close.
I looked out at the Murdocks and their respective partners. They all showed up for me just because Cam asked them to. Not once, but in two different locations.
I only cried a little as Gus had us recite our vows.
These were just the formal ones. I still carried everything he’d said before in my heart. When Eloise handed up the ring box to him, he flipped it open and instead of just the two simple bands, there was something far flashier inside with them.
“I didn’t get to ask properly. I was too focused on getting you here.” Cam pulled out the diamond solitaire nestled inside the velvet box. “The minute you asked me to marry you and the freaking dowry was furniture, I was sunk.”
I laughed and the whole crowd of witnesses snickered as well. “How do you even know that word?”
“I read. I’m more than saws and varnish, honey.”
“Call me that again.”
He laughed and slid the princess cut diamond over my knuckle. “Honey,” he said softly, then grinned. “I’m saying wife next.” He held the box out to me to take the band for him and took the other for me.
Our hands were shaking a little from cold and nerves as we both slid the bands onto one another’s finger.
“I now pronounce you man and wife. Now you can kiss the bride!”
“Finally.” Cam cupped my face, and I covered his hands as he kissed me in front of his family and our future.
This house that brought me loneliness now would have a new life. The Murdock family and a husband and a whole new legacy.
Our legacy.