Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Cara kept her gaze focused out the window the entire plane ride back to Florida, ignoring her Aunt Betty.
Cooper had stayed on the island, to help settle the chaos that had ensued, and to give statements.
Cara didn’t care. Her body was numb, her heart unfeeling.
It was surreal. Everything she’d experienced, everything she’d learned.
“Cara, don’t be mad at Coop. Give him a chance to explain.”
Cara turned toward her aunt. “There’s nothing to explain. You knew; he knew, and neither one of you told me.”
Cara turned back to the window and got lost in the haze of the clouds.
She closed her eyes, hoping that Aunt Betty would take the hint.
She did. For once in her life, she did. There were no witty remarks, no trying to make things right.
Cara let the silence consume her until the plane jolted as the wheels met the tarmac.
The limo her father sent greeted the plane, and the ride to her mother's was quick. It was the last place she’d wanted to go, but she needed her car.
Coop’s sister, Angela, was waiting on the porch with Cara’s mother and sisters. Cara took a deep breath before getting out of the car.
None of them rushed to her side. They stood stoic, as if afraid to move.
“Cara,” her mother said, stepping off the stairs. “We have something to tell you.”
Her words made Cara pause. “Can it wait, Mom?”
“No, dear. It can’t.” Her mom guided Cara to stand in front of the others. “Tell her.”
“Tell me what?” Cara asked.
“We lied,” Harper said, sitting on the steps. The others followed and sat down too.
“All of us,” Becca amended.
Aunt Betty moved to stand beside Cara. “It’s my fault. I dragged them into it. If you’re going to be angry, be angry at me.”
Cara’s heart clenched. The need to know ate at her gut.
“I was never in danger,” Angela spoke.
“Technically, I did have a vision, but it wasn’t Angela. It was about her brother and you,” Becca amended.
“We couldn’t come up with any other plan for you guys to work together.”
“He loves me. I was the logical choice,” Angela said.
“I called the plane home,” her mom said, moving to stand next to the girls. “So you two wouldn’t come rushing back.”
“And you?” Cara asked, looking at Harper. “What did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything.” Harper held up her hands.
“You didn’t tell me the truth.” Anger stirred in Cara’s body, awakening her suppressed emotions, letting the dam break free.
“I’ve spent three days with a man that knew about me and didn’t want me.
I fucking slept with him. I could be pregnant.
We both almost died, and all of you…” She gestured to the group.
“All of you viewed this as some sick, twisted, fucking game.”
A hot, angry tear slid down her face. Cara didn’t wait for them to answer as she stormed to her car and yanked the door open. She slid behind the wheel, turned the key in the ignition and hit the gas. Where did the betrayal end?
Cara arrived home to find Ian greeting her at the door.
He held his arms open, and she walked straight into his embrace as she finally let the tears she’d been holding back consume her.
She braced herself for the visions, blocking what she could, and yet still, a few slipped by. It didn’t matter. She didn’t matter.
“Tell me you weren’t in on it,” she said through her sobs. “Tell me that you didn’t know.”
“Harper called and said you were upset. That’s all I know.” He cupped her cheek and glanced down at her. “I hate to see a lass cry. Tell me what happened, and I’ll fix it.”
Cara spent the next hour explaining how everything had gone wrong, and how the people she loved most had betrayed her trust. Ian ground his teeth as he paced the living room. He looked as angry as Cara had once felt. “Pack a bag, get your passport. You’re leaving with me.”
“I can’t just go.” Cara stood and clutched the blanket that had been covering her legs. “I have responsibilities.”
Ian cupped her shoulders. “You have a responsibility to yourself, Cara. Let them deal with the aftermath. I’m sending you to Quinn on my private jet. She’ll know what to do and how to make things right.”
Cara’s heart clutched as she chewed her lip. Quinn would know exactly what to do. She’d been through worse. Cara nodded. “Okay. I’ll go see Quinn.”
And she did. Within twenty-four hours, Cara had her head in her big sister’s lap as Quinn stroked her hair, promising everything would be all right.
Collin had walked into the room to find them in that position and slowly backed out, calling down the hall as he left, “Have Mavis make triple the brownies.”
Coop, with a phone pressed to his ear, paced the living room and glared at Angela as she bounced Adam in her lap. Cara’s voice mail picked up, and again and again, he left messages. Six weeks had passed, and still no one knew where she’d gone. Six fucking weeks he’d been out of his mind.
He disconnected the call and tossed his phone down on the table. Resting his fists on his hips, he narrowed his eyes at Eric. “Were you in on this?”
Eric held up his hands and rose from his seated position. “Hell no. No one told me, or I would have told you. The last thing this family needs is a kid with abilities. Cara’s always wanted a baby. She even talked about freezing her eggs. Knowing her, she probably tampered with the condom herself.”
Coop lunged for his brother and slammed his fist into Eric’s cheek. They grappled on the floor, each getting a good shot into the other, only stopping when Adam started to cry. “She’s not like that. Take it fucking back.”
Eric pushed off the floor and righted his shirt. He turned to Angela. “See, I told you he loves her. Even if the stubborn ass won’t admit it to us.”
“There’s a difference between loving her and caring about her.” Coop smacked his brother on the back of his head. He didn’t love her, did he? Cared about her, absolutely, but love? He shoved the thought away when someone rang his doorbell. Hope blossomed in his chest that it was Cara.
He yanked the door open to find the Scot who had been staying at Cara’s standing on his porch, wearing a kilt and holding an envelope.
“Ian McDougall, right? You were staying with Cara? Where is she?” Coop demanded.
“Nowhere any of you will get to her,” Ian said, pushing around him and entering the house. “You’re Cooper?” He glanced around at the others. “Angela and Eric?”
They all nodded.
“Where is she?” Coop asked.
Ian shoved the envelope against his chest. “Sign this.”
“What is it?” Cooper asked, tearing into the envelope. He pulled out a document. “Termination of Parental Rights” was scrolled across the top. “I’m not signing this.”
Ian crossed his arms over his chest and tilted his head. “She said you’d say that.”
“I’m going to give her and her child a life filled with love and honor in Scotland, which is more than you’re willing to offer. Sign the document.”
Cooper tore the document in half and tossed it at Ian’s feet. “I’m not signing that.”
Ian’s lips twitched. “She said you’d do that too.”
It was a case of déjà vu. Hadn’t he used those exact words on her the first time he’d entered Cara’s office?
“I’m no’ telling you where she is.” Ian raised a brow in challenge.
“No need,” Coop said. After grabbing his jacket, wallet, and his passport, he headed for the door.