Chapter 54
My phone trumpetedon the nightstand, startling me out of a sound sleep.
“What the fuck,” Bones muttered. His face was pressed into the pillow. “Who the hell is calling so early?”
I glanced at the alarm clock. “It’s just past eight, it’s hardly early.”
“It’s early when you go to bed at 2 AM,” he pointed out.
I grabbed the phone and quickly silenced it, but not before glancing at the screen. “It’s my mother.” I set the phone aside and snuggled back down into bed. “I’ll call her in a bit.”
Bones threw an arm across my waist and crushed me to him.
My phone began to ring again.
“It must be important,” I said.
“Important like what flower arrangements you want at the party she’s throwing for us, or important like which jewels should she get out of the vault important?”
“Be nice,” I chastised. “The fact that my mother adores you after such a short time speaks volumes.”
With a sigh, Bones removed his arm from across my body so I could rise. I picked up my phone and pressed a button before putting it to my ear. “Good morning.”
“Did I wake you?” Mom asked.
“Yes, but it’s okay,” I assured her. “And peonies are fine.”
“Peonies are fine for what?”
“The party flower bouquets.” I shot Bones a smirk. “That’s why you’re calling, isn’t it?”
“Hayden,” Mom said, her tone low. “Your stepfather’s body was found this morning. Arnold is dead. They found him in a seedy motel about forty-five minutes away. There was a suicide note.”
All good humor fled, and it felt like someone trekked a cold finger down my spine. “A suicide note?”
“Yes.” Mom’s voice sounded strained. When I didn’t say anything, Mom prodded, “Hayden.”
“I’m still here,” I croaked. “How are you—are you okay?”
She sighed. “I guess I have to be. I was on my way out this morning to have a breakfast meeting with my divorce attorney. I should call him and… None of this feels real, Hayden. Nothing’s felt real since I found out the truth about him. I think I’m in shock.”
“Yeah, I’ve been feeling that way myself,” I admitted. “Let me throw some clothes on and I’ll come over.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Mom.”
“All right. I appreciate it, Hayden.”
“See you in a bit.”
I hung up with her and turned to Bones. “Something you want to share with me?”
“You start,” Bones stated. “A suicide note?”
I frowned. “Arnold’s body was found in a motel with a suicide note. And since you were here with me last night…”
“Shower. Now.” He flung off the covers and strode to the bathroom. He closed the door and I spent a moment staring at my phone, wondering what the hell was going on.
I got up to join Bones and once I was in the shower, he placed his hands on my shoulders and turned us so that the hot spray washed over me.
“We just had this conversation last night. How did this happen so quickly?” I asked.
“It wasn’t the club,” Bones announced.
“You sure?”
“Yes. My brothers knew I was going to talk to you about this. It was mine to carry out. We were supposed to find him and I was supposed to…”
“Do what you were going to do.” I nibbled my lip. “So, this is the end of it, then, isn’t it? He took care of it for us?”
“Yeah. Close your eyes for me.”
I closed my eyes. Lavender suddenly wafted through the shower and a moment later, Bones’ hands were on my head. I let him wash my hair and sank into his touch, breathing in the soothing aroma. He gently guided me underneath the spray and then I took over rinsing my hair.
He got out first and was dressed by the time I was coming into the bedroom wrapped in a towel.
“I gotta make a call,” he said.
“Who are you calling?” I asked.
“Colt. To let him know about the situation.”
“Oh, right.” I nodded. “I’ll meet you downstairs?”
He walked up to me and grasped the back of my neck and kissed me. “Take your time.”
I was not in the mood to go through the whole rigamarole of an outfit, so I went with a pair of leggings and a sweater and my comfortable boots that felt like slippers. After blow drying my hair and swiping on mascara and lip gloss, I was ready to go.
Bones was sitting on the couch with a cup of coffee when I came downstairs.
“You had time to make coffee,” I stated. “That means I took a long time.”
“Don’t worry about it, Duchess.” He stood up and finished off the rest of his coffee before setting the empty mug down on the coffee table.
“How was the call with Colt?”
“Fine. Ready?”
“Yeah.” I grabbed my coat from the closet. He picked up the ring of car keys and twirled them around his finger.
A few minutes of silence into the ride, Bones said, “Talk to me.”
“About what?”
“How you’re feeling.”
“I’m sick to death of talking about my feelings,” I admitted.
“That’s fine. We don’t have to talk about that. We can talk about something else.”
“Like what? All the crazy going on in my life?”
He shot me a look. “What are you and Charlie going to do about this charity you guys want to start?”
I rubbed my brow. “I don’t know. My plate just got really full. And I don’t want to juggle two big things and fail at both of them. I need to focus on one thing—and that thing has to be Spencer Pharmaceuticals.”
“Yeah, but what do you want to do?”
I looked at him. “What do you mean?”
“What do you mean what do I mean? Do you really want a controlling seat on the board of your father’s company? Or do you want to do this thing with Charlie?”
“I don’t know, Bones.”
The rest of the drive was quiet as I was lost in thought.
Stanton answered the door and in a brief show of outwardly affection, he embraced me. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“How is she?” I asked.
“She’s in the sitting room,” Stanton said.
I arched a brow. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“She’s…your mother,” he said, pitching his voice lower.
“So she’s completely fallen apart?” I asked.
He shook his head. “On the contrary, she’s holding it together. Go in and see her. I’m getting the tea.”
“Can I change my order from tea to a coffee?” Bones asked.
Stanton stared at Bones.
Bones stared at Stanton.
“Is espresso satisfactory?” Stanton finally said.
“Make it a double, bring a lot of sugar, and I’ll suck it down. Please.”
“Please? We’re on our way to making you a gentleman.”
“Don’t hold your breath,” Bones remarked.
I swore I saw Stanton’s stoic mouth flicker with a smile.
As Stanton headed off to the kitchen, Bones and I went to the sitting room. Mom was standing with her back to the door, staring at a massive oil painting of my father. When Arnold and my mother had gotten married, it had suddenly disappeared. No doubt Arnold hadn’t liked my father staring down at him. But now it was in its rightful place over the mantle.
“Mom,” I voiced.
“You’re here.” She turned slowly, her brows rising as she looked at Bones. “And so are you.”
“You didn’t think he’d come?” I asked.
Mom shook her head. “No, it wasn’t that. It was—sorry, Royce. I forgot for a moment that I had a son-in-law.”
“Normally, I’d be offended that I was so forgettable, but under the circumstances, I understand. How are you holding up, Marilyn?”
“Better now that you’re both here.” She waved us to the couch and then she took the high-backed chair on the other side of the fireplace. “I was on my way out to have a breakfast meeting with my divorce attorney when the police showed up on my doorstep to tell me about your stepfather. I admit I didn’t hear much after they said they’d found a suicide note. It’s going to be horrible when the reporters start calling.”
“Do you have a statement prepared?” I asked.
Mom sighed. “There’s what I want to say versus what I’ll have to say. I’ll remain vague and say I wish for privacy to be respected and for their understanding during this difficult time.”
“Funeral?” I asked.
“Quiet and small,” she said. “They’ll understand that.”
Stanton entered the sitting room carrying a heavy silver tea tray. He set it down and immediately began serving, starting with my mother.
“Dina and Patrick will be there, of course. Charlie. The two of you. And me.”
“Have you told Dina and Patrick the truth?” I asked.
“Yes. I called them after I called you,” Mom said. “They wanted to come over, but I asked them to wait until this afternoon. I wanted time with you. Alone.”
Stanton quietly retreated from the room.
Her cheeks suddenly flushed with anger. “Your stepfather disgraced himself in front of the board. And then for him to disappear for days without a phone call, only for him to take his own life in a seedy motel. It’s a scandal and I should cancel the party. A party on the heels of Arnold’s betrayal and death? It would send the wrong message.”
“You’re right,” I said. “It’s bad form.”
“Hmm.” Mom’s gaze slid to Bones. “What do you think I should do, Royce?”
“Honestly?”
“Honestly.”
“It’s a shit situation any way you look at it, so I think you should say fuck it and show your face. I think you should tell the reporters that you’re thrilled your daughter has taken her rightful place in the company and that you want to celebrate her marriage. And when they ask about Arnold, you tell them the truth; it’s a tragedy. But no one knows that he went after Hayden, so you put on a brave face and let them know the Spencer family will survive, and the way to do that is to move forward.”
My mother’s expression softened. “You really are a wonderful son-in-law.”
“Yes, you’re very lucky,” Bones said with a wink, causing my mother to laugh.
She pressed a hand to her chest. “Oh, that felt good.”
“You should laugh more often,” Bones said gently.
Stanton entered the sitting room and stated, “There’s a phone call for you, Mrs. Spencer. A reporter from the Waco Sun is on the line. Should I tell them you’re unavailable?”
“No, Stanton.” Mom rose and lifted her chin. “I’ll handle it.”