Chapter 16
LARKIN
“Ihave a request,” Ephraim said one morning. He pulled me aside as the last volunteer headed toward the gate for the night. His eyes held something soft and shy, a vulnerability I hadn’t expected to find in his gaze.
“Okay,” I responded. I had an inkling I already knew what his request was going to be, but I didn’t want to assume.
“Waylon is coming here to have me sign some papers. I need a place to conduct some business. But I would like to do it with you near.” I opened my mouth, prepared to remind him that we had been through this, that he and Waylon could use the office and I could step outside while they discussed whatever needed to be signed.
But Ephraim caught on to my hesitance and quickly added, “It will take all of thirty minutes, but I need you there so Waylon and I don’t get lost in the logistics of work.
And also so you see that I’m still the man I’ve shown you I am this month. ”
I wasn’t completely convinced, but he was asking to include me, not making demands for me to do things.
And this small thing, being near but not a part of the conversation, felt like the next logical step in this uncertain journey we were both traveling.
However, Harlan was conducting business in the office today.
State regulators were here to check on a few things.
It was nothing to worry about. Harlan always made sure we were in compliance, but it meant the office would be off limits for such a meeting.
“I can’t give you the office, but you could conduct your business in my apartment, upstairs.
” It wasn’t a space he had ever seen. But I couldn’t exactly invite him to conduct business on a blanket in the wet grass outside.
“I’ll make coffee,” I added as a consolation for the small space and for being anywhere in my private life at all.
This apartment was my sanctuary, a small place of quiet in this busy world.
“That works.” He gave me a smile. “I’ll see you upstairs.” His words sounded more like a date than a meeting with his trusted advisor about his company that he was running by remote.
“Great,” I said, more out of reflex than out of feeling great about this.
My heart was already feeling anxious. It didn’t matter how many days he proved to be the kind of man I wanted him to be.
I still had years of being afraid he would do something to upset me and our relationship.
There was still so much unknown between us.
And if Waylon was going to talk about work, about Holt Enterprises and all the money and business that had driven us apart, there was always a risk that would change him back into the person who dismissed the work of this horse rescue.
It took less than ten minutes for Waylon’s car to pull up at the main gate.
Ephraim was there to greet him. I watched from the second-floor window of my apartment as they made their way to the stairs that led to my space.
A moment later, a knock sounded on the door.
Perfect timing, because the coffee was almost ready.
“Larkin,” Waylon said with a bow of his head.
“Thank you for letting us impose on you,” Ephraim followed up.
“You’re not imposing,” I told them. “I’ve got coffee coming and a little snack to share if you’re interested.”
“Thank you,” Waylon replied for them both, moving past me into the main living space that also served as my dining room and kitchen.
“I’ve been driving all morning. I could use a cup of coffee and any food you’re willing to share is also much appreciated.
This all seemed so much easier when there were fax machines. But email doesn’t do it in this case.”
I didn’t respond, just turned my back on the men in my apartment to focus on the coffee.
Waylon continued to chatter away, talking about his drive, the rain as he drove over the pass, and the traffic through downtown.
When Ephraim said nothing, it dawned on me that I had just been given an easy out, a reason to stay busy instead of listening to their conversation.
So I continued to make coffee, then got out plates for some sandwiches.
I poured their coffee into travel cups that had been left behind from one of the volunteers and left them to it.
I couldn’t have said I was paying attention to their conversation, though.
My mind was too full of worries and thoughts and memories of every time I’d heard Waylon and Ephraim talk about business and had wished to be part of the conversation instead of being shunned.
I wondered how many decisions had been made without me in the room.
“Larkin, you’re going to want to see this,” Ephraim said from his place on the couch.
I walked over with their food in my hands. “What do you mean?”
Waylon looked up from the documents in his hand, his eyes a little sad.
“It’s about the severance between Holt Enterprises and the West family ranch.
All of the contracts are nullified, but there will be some penalties.
The good news is, most of that was just potential earnings, not money already lost.” Waylon sounded optimistic about it, and I expected Ephraim to share his enthusiasm, but he still had a grave look on his face.
“What did you want me to see?” I asked again.
Waylon handed over the first page of the paperwork.
I scanned over the words. They were official and boring.
But the West name at the bottom of it felt like salt in an old wound.
I felt myself standing straighter as I handed back the page and sat on the other side of Ephraim from Waylon.
The tension between all of us grew thick.
“We may be separated, but you’re still a member of the family, and I want you to be aware of what I’m doing.
As long as you keep the Holt name, you should know what is happening with the business.
I made the mistake of shutting you out before.
I’m not making that mistake again. When it comes time to sign these documents and make the split with Corrine and her family, you need to be here and witness that. ”
His eyes were sincere, and for a brief, sickening moment, I wished Waylon was gone, so I could tell Ephraim what his words meant to me and show him just how deeply I appreciated the sentiment.
He was treating me like a partner, like the person he was doing business with instead of a pawn.
This is what I had wanted, for him to acknowledge the part I could have in the world he ruled, but it still felt raw to receive.
So I gave him a single nod, letting him know I would stay. “I don’t have to sign anything, do I?”
“No, ma’am,” Waylon said. “I just figured you were here because we’re having to invade your space. But if Ephraim wants you here to see this, then I’m all for the transparency.”
“But why are you cutting ties with Corrine and her family ranch?” I asked. “If you want full transparency and to include me, you need to catch me up to speed on what’s going on. I always thought that had been a lucrative partnership.”
Ephraim sat for a moment, a pensive look spreading across his face. He was choosing his words carefully before he finally spoke. “Corrine wasn’t who I thought she was.”
“Who did you think she was?” I questioned him, sure there was a lot to what he meant that wasn’t obvious in the words he actually spoke.
“An ambitious business partner.”
“And what is she really?” I pushed for clarity. The last thing I wanted to do was make assumptions that would drive a wedge in between us right at the beginning.
“A snake in the grass,” Waylon replied.
“A predator who wants something from me that I wasn’t willing to give,” Ephraim added.
“When you left, she made her intentions known. She wanted to take your place. Holt has always been the bigger ranch with more resources, more land. The West ranch is profitable, but nothing like Holt. She saw a chance to use a vulnerable moment to her advantage. But now that she has shown her true colors, I want nothing to do with her or her business. Waylon has been working on untangling everything. That’s the reason we’re here today.
But once these papers are signed and filed, that connection will be officially over. ”
I listened, feeling more relieved than I ever expected to feel about Corrine being cut out of Ephraim’s business life.
I never hated her. I didn’t know her enough to form a strong opinion on the matter, but the way Ephraim explained her desire to step into my shoes made my blood boil with anger.
Even worse, I felt foolish, as if I had missed every clue she dropped that I had a competitor who had been eyeing my life for a while.
The way I had treated Corrine like a friend and confidant only made me feel all the worse about her betrayal.
“It’s not your fault. I saw all the signs and brushed them off. She was subtle in her pursuit, and I let my ego ignore what was right in front of me.” His hand moved across the cushion between us and his fingertips grazed my thigh in a quiet offer of comfort.
It would have been nice to reach back and hold on to him.
To let him make me feel better about my poor judgment.
Instead, I brushed his touch away and nodded.
I was here to observe. Not to be his wife in any way.
But as his hand fell back to the cushion between us, I let my eyes follow him, wishing I had the courage to give myself the permission to move closer to him again.
It was almost impossible to deny how right this all felt.