Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
GREG
As much as I’ve enjoyed burying myself in Joanie in every way possible these last few days, I’m glad to be driving out of Alpine Ridge and into Seattle to meet with Sera while Joanie meets with the boundary map expert.
After talking to my lawyer, I better understand what my father can and can’t do. However, he’s also waiting for me to speak with Sera before responding to my father’s suit. Since she left a voicemail letting me know she’d finished her research, I suggested we meet for lunch to discuss it and catch up.
The two-hour drive out of the mountains and through the Eastside is like descending into a different world. Busier. More packed. Businesses, homes, roads, people — more of them than even the last time I was here a few months ago — and the hundred miles feels like light years from the quiet isolation of Alpine Ridge.
Despite the gorgeous drive past Lake Sammamish, over Lake Washington, and toward the striking downtown Seattle skyline, I’m not excited to be back. I’m a small-town guy through and through, and this is all … well, a lot. Or maybe I’m already on edge from the looming conflict with my father.
Given that, as I park and walk to the café where I’m meeting Sera in Belltown, I’m not surprised that I find the amount of traffic and noise overwhelming. Then again, it could just be from growing up in Yakima, a small city in the middle of Washington state, far from the bustle of Seattle, and then having moved to an even smaller one, even though Ellensburg barely counts as a city with just under twenty thousand residents. And then again to an even smaller town … well, almost a town. In any case, I’m just not equipped to be in the city anymore.
I sigh in relief as I spot Sera at a small table in the back corner. I wave and head over. She stands to greet me, her long and wavy light brown hair shifting with the movement. She’s wearing a long-sleeved purple shirtdress that’s somewhere between business and casual. She hasn’t changed a bit since I last saw her, save the happy grin she’s giving me. I remember her being more serious. It’s a good change, and I smile at her as I approach.
“Hey, you,” I greet her, pulling her in for a hug.
She squeezes me hard. “Hey, hermit, long time no see,” she teases.
I release her and shake my head, laughing. “Don’t knock the hermit life. It’s pretty nice. I don’t know how you live in all this chaos,” I respond as I sit across from her. “Though I gotta say, you look pretty happy.”
Her grin widens. “I am. And I’m sorry we’re not getting together under better circumstances,” she responds, her smile fading.
I nod and grab a menu from between the napkin holder and the ketchup bottle. “We’ll get to that. First, food. What’s good here?”
She makes some suggestions, and we order. “So, shall we get the worst of it over with?” she asks bluntly.
I give her a wry smile. “Let’s.” It’s one of the things I love about Sera and why she’s one of the only family members on my dad’s side, or at all for that matter, that I get along with. Well, that, and she doesn’t get along with most of our family either. Neither of us suffers fools or sugarcoats things. Two traits that have always kept my circle small.
She folds her hands together and leans on the table. “All right. I imagine it will come as no surprise that the window to challenge your grandfather’s will has been closed for a long time. So he’s got no legal basis for challenging your ownership from that angle,” she begins.
“But?” I ask suspiciously.
“But he’s clearly up to something. However, I can’t figure out what. A partition action can only do one of three things: force a partition in kind, which is a physical partition of the property that divides the land equally and assigns you each a wholly-owned parcel; a partition by sale, which is exactly what it sounds like — the property is sold, and the proceeds are split equally between you; or a partition by appraisal, where, in this case, your father buys you out by paying you your share of the appraised value of the land. So the only way he could claim complete ownership is the partition by appraisal.”
“But he’d have to buy me out to do that?” I clarify.
Sera nods. “Yes. By bringing in the trust, I believe he’s trying to prove he shouldn’t have to buy you out. But no judge in Washington state is going to buy that. Trust laws are clear on challenge periods, and you’re well past those.”
“So why try? Why not just offer to buy me out?”
Sera’s eyebrows raise. “He hasn’t?”
I shake my head. “Not once. He’s always only pressured me to go ahead with development I didn’t support.”
A look of understanding passes over Sera’s face. “Have you considered that your father may not have the money to buy you out?”
My jaw drops. “No, I haven’t.” But I kick myself because I should’ve. “But I think you might be onto something.”
“It would explain his attempts to drive you out without a payout. And his grasping at legal straws,” she muses.
“It’s also consistent with his complete inability to have ever run Grandpa’s empire to begin with,” I murmur, my mind spinning on the possibility that my parents might be that broke.
Our waiter delivers our food right then, and we eat silently while I process this. After a few minutes, Sera gently says, “If it’s true, you hold all the cards, you know.”
I set my burger down and wipe my mouth. “How so?”
“If he doesn’t have the cash to buy you out, he sure as hell doesn’t have enough to go forward with development.”
“And?”
Sera smirks. “He must be planning to finance it. Which he’s obviously figured out he can’t do without your approval.”
“Fuck.”
Sera smiles wryly. “Precisely,” she replies, going back to her sandwich. After she chews and swallows a bite, she adds, “But unless you get really lucky with a judge who’s willing to dismiss the case, you’re likely to be offered the choice between the three options.”
“You mean I’d be forced to choose.”
“That’s exactly what I mean. If one owner initiates a partition action, most judges will require the other owner to choose between the three options unless there’s a procedural or other issue that stops them from doing so. So you need to ask yourself which you think he’ll want and which is most advantageous for you. ”
My appetite is gone; I think about that as she eats. If it’s the first option, he’ll own his part of the land and can finance development. But at least it would be limited, and perhaps there’s a way to control how much development and what he can do. If we both have to sell … well, who the hell knows what the next owner would want to do with the land? It could be worse than what my father has planned. And we’ve already established that he doesn’t have the money for the last option.
The kernel of an idea forms in my mind.
“So, how are things going at Sutton Developments, by the way?” I ask, referring to the company that bought out the real estate business she’d built.
Sera narrows her eyes at me. “Things are great. The owner, who is my boss and mentor, plans to retire in another five years, at which point I’ll take over.” She tilts her head. “You have that look Grandpa Tyler used to get.”
I can’t help the grin that escapes me because I know exactly what she means. My Grandpa Tyler, her grandfather’s brother, got the same look when he smelled a good deal.
“How would Sutton Developments like to get in on the ground floor of a newly forming town in the Cascades? One that can be a rustic yet luxury second-home location for hikers, skiers, and other outdoor enthusiasts?”
“You’re going to turn Alpine Ridge into a destination vacation home spot for the rich and snobby?” Sera asks drily.
I press my lips together. “Okay, I just came up with the idea. Because my dad wants to turn it into the next Leavenworth, and I’ve been fighting that pretty much since we inherited the land. But if we turn it into something else … something that preserves what makes it special …”
“Then you could cut him off at the knees and kick him out of your hidey-hole,” Sera surmises. She huffs a laugh. Then she levels me with a look. “This is a stretch, you know that.”
I nod. “I know. If you have a better idea, I’m all ears.”
Sera stares at me evenly for a minute. “My husband runs a corporate security firm. Are you sure you don’t want me to have him see what he can dig up on your father?”
I bark a laugh. “You want me to blackmail Everett Tyler?” I scoff.
She shrugs lightly. “You said it, not me,” she responds with a twinkle in her eye. “Couldn’t hurt to try it.”
I shake my head, still chuckling. “Even the thought of having to talk to him enough to pull that off has me ‘noping’ out of that one. But I admire your boldness.” I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’ll do my own research, run some numbers, and get you a proposal. Either way, I think pushing for an outright sale is the best path. I don’t want this to end with any of that land solely in my father’s hands. And I want him out of Alpine Ridge.” And my life. But I don’t add that out loud, even though I’m pretty sure she picks up on it. “Thanks for looking into this for me. I appreciate your help.”
Sera smiles and nods. “What’s family for?” she replies.
We both pause and look at each other before we burst out laughing. Because our families? Yeah, no. They’re for driving us crazy, apparently. But it’s nice that we still have each other anyway.
We finish our lunch and chat for a few more minutes before saying our goodbyes. As I walk out of the café, my mind is already churning on this new idea and how we could pull it off. But first, research. Lots and lots of research.
No, actually, first, I need to check on my house in North Queen Anne before I head back to Alpine Ridge. It’s another property I inherited from Grandpa Tyler, and it’s where I usually stay when I’m in Seattle for more than a day. I’ve got a property manager who generally looks after it for me, but I like to see it for myself occasionally.
Since it’s only about fifteen minutes north, I make it through the packed streets to the 1920s remodeled craftsman that’s one of the only things I love about this town. The inside has wood detailing, and the back has a huge outdoor porch and sprawling views going down the hill to the ship canal into Lake Union. It’s about as nature-oriented as it gets in Seattle, but it’s enough to make me feel a little less caged in when I visit.
I park in the narrow driveaway and note that the maple tree branches, still bare for the winter, have grown over the walkway to the porch. I tilt my head, realizing I haven’t been here in longer than I thought … probably closer to a year.
I shake my head and let myself into the house, noting that the blue paint on the front door could use touching up. I make a mental note to tell the property manager. Per our agreement, a stack of whatever mail comes to the house is on the table inside the foyer. I toss my keys next to it, deciding to do a lap through the house before I go through what is likely all junk mail.
Three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and all two thousand square feet later, and I’m satisfied that the place has been well cared for. It has the musty smell of dust, but the sheer curtains let enough light in to keep the house from looking too dark and disused.
Satisfied, I grab the stack of mail and take it through the entryway, past the stairs, the kitchen, and out onto the back patio. I brush some old, dried-out leaves off one of the wicker patio chairs and settle on it, flipping through the envelopes and glossy advertisements. Halfway through, I find a folded piece of paper.
I open it to find a handwritten note. My heart stops in my chest at handwriting I remember all too well.
Greg,
I know this seems out of the blue, but I’ve just moved to Fremont and thought I’d look you up since I knew you had a house here, though I don’t know how often you get out this way. I hope that’s not too creepy. But since you’ve seen me naked more times than I can count, I figured it might be okay, and I have something I’d like to tell you. Call me?
Hailey
I sigh heavily, debating whether to ignore it. Then I debate whether to call my property manager and ask if he remembers when and where he found this note because it was clearly not mailed. I nix that idea since, ultimately, it doesn’t matter anyway.
Unfortunately, I know myself. And if I don’t call, I’ll always wonder why the woman who dumped me after six years together suddenly wants to talk to me. It could be as simple as her wanting to get together for old times’ sake. But it could also be a secret child she’s been hiding from me. Doubtful, since we were way more careful than I’ve been with Joanie, which should tell me how I felt about Hailey all along. Still, the possibilities are endless.
So, in the end, my curiosity gets the better of me, and I dial her number.
“Hello?” Her voice stirs the dusty corners of my mind, and not so much in a good way.
“Hey, Hailey, it’s Greg,” I say awkwardly. “I just found your note.”
“Greg, oh my God, hi,” Hailey replies, sounding surprised and pleased. “Thanks for calling.”
“Yeah, no problem,” I respond, trying to keep my tone neutral. “What’s up?”
“I was hoping we could talk in person. I have something important I want to discuss with you. Are you in Seattle?”
“I am, but I’m heading out in a bit,” I respond.
“Oh. I see. I mean … I can come over now if you have a few minutes?”
I hesitate; I’m not sure I want to open that can of worms. But I find myself agreeing anyway. Curiosity and all. “Sure, I guess that’d be okay.”
“Awesome. I’ll head over now. See you soon.”
I barely have time to register what the fuck I just agreed to before Hailey is knocking on the door less than fifteen minutes later.
I open it expecting to feel something. But even though her blond hair is the same cascade of golden waves, and she wears the same tight T-shirt, a light blue this time, and jeans she’s always favored that show off her huge chest and tiny waist, all I feel is wary.
“Hey,” I greet her.
She grins and launches herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck and squeezing me tight. “I missed you,” she breathes against my ear. Her heavily perfumed smell wraps around me, and I shake off all the sense memories that go with that as I gently press her away.
“Why don’t you come in and tell me what’s up,” I offer, stepping back and gesturing toward the living room.
She nods and heads in, sitting on one end of the light grey three-seater couch. She looks up at me earnestly as I settle on the other end.
“I’m just going to cut right to the chase because seeing you makes me feel even more like no time has passed, and I know you need to get going soon,” she begins, then takes a deep breath. “Letting you go was a mistake. I want us to get back together.”
I blink in surprise; this is a huge shock. “Wow, that’s … unexpected. But we haven’t spoken in years, Hailey. We can’t just … get back together,” I reply slowly. “I’m not who I was back then. And I have no idea who you are now or where you’re at.” I take a deep breath, gentling my voice. “But most importantly, I’m with someone else now. I’ve moved on. Haven’t you?”
“I’ve tried. But I can’t stop thinking about you,” she admits, twisting her fingers in the long strands of hair that flow over her shoulder.
I shake my head. “I can’t say the same. I’m sorry.”
“But … we were together for six years, Greg.” She slides closer, dropping her hand on my knee. “And we were so good together. Don’t you remember?”
I wrap my fingers over hers and gently remove them from my leg. “I remember. I also remember you leaving me.”
“I know. And I’m so sorry. You have no idea how sorry. Surely that means something to you?”
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “It does,” I admit. “I’m glad you realize it was a mistake, at least.” I don’t say it, but it hurt me a lot more than I wanted to admit for a long time that I was so easy to leave after giving her all those years. After thinking we might be headed toward marriage. “But that doesn’t change anything.”
Hailey grabs my retreating hand and squeezes. “But it does. It changes everything. How long have you been seeing the person you’re with?”
I shrug lightly, not sure I like where she’s going with this. And then I pause, realizing with a start that it’s only been about a month with Joanie. Given the depth of my feelings for her, it feels like so much longer.
“Not long. Just about a month,” I admit. “But that doesn’t change anything. We’re over, Hailey.”
She leans forward, placing her hand on my knee. “See, but I’ve had the same problem. I can only date someone for a few months before I realize they’re just not you . It hasn’t been the same for you? Surely all our years together mean more than a month with this woman?”
I pull back and stand up. This is nuts. Why now? And I can’t help but blurt that out.
“Why now? Why like this?”
“I get that this seems abrupt. But it’s been months since I left that note, Greg. And when you called, I was thinking about you. That means something, I know it.”
I shake my head, overwhelmed by the sudden strange turn to the day. My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I withdraw it only to see Joanie’s name. And the time. Shit. She’s probably wondering why I haven’t let her know I was headed back already.
“I’ve got to take this,” I murmur, answering the call.
Hailey stands up, clearly agitated, and just as I hear Joanie say “Hello?” in my ear, Hailey says, “Is it her? Does she really mean more to you than me? You wanted to marry me, Greg.”
And then Joanie hangs up. I pull the phone from my ear and confirm that the call ended.
“Fuck,” I curse. I look up at Hailey, trying not to let my anger get the best of me. “I don’t know where this desperation is coming from, but you do not come into my house, my life , and make demands of me like this. The woman I love now probably thinks I’m cheating on her, thanks to you. Get out, Hailey. And move on, like I did.”
Hailey draws in a breath. “If she thinks you’d cheat, she obviously doesn’t know you,” she pushes. “Not like I do.”
I throw up my hands in disgust. “You have got to be fucking kidding me.” I press my lips together and take a deep breath, so I don’t go nuclear. “ You dumped me . Years ago. You don’t know jack shit about me. If you’d ever known me, you wouldn’t have been worried about a bunch of pre-teen girls’ crushes. But you know what? You haven’t changed. You still need to grow the fuck up and stop living in a fantasy. Get out, Hailey. And don’t ever contact me again.” Hailey opens her mouth, and I can feel the protest coming before she utters a word. “Now,” I growl in the harshest tone I can manage, cutting her off before she can start up again.
And thank God she finally has the sense to look worried. She scampers out the door and is gone. And the whole episode has given me whiplash and one big fucking headache. A headache that I know has only just begun.
I immediately try to call Joanie back, but she doesn’t answer. Worry gnaws at my gut as I hop in my truck and drive back to Alpine Ridge. Hoping I can get there before Joanie decides to take off. Because I know my city girl, she’s been afraid of committing this whole time. Afraid of telling me that she loves me too, of what that means for her future. And I’d bet every penny I have that this is the excuse she’s been looking for to turn tail and run from her feelings.
I make record time getting back to my place, but it still doesn’t feel fast enough. And when I walk inside, Joanie sits on the couch with her packed bag at her feet. My heart sinks.
“Joanie, please, let me explain,” I plead.
She looks at me, her blue eyes guarded. But she nods. So I launch into the whole story: how Hailey left a note, how I stupidly agreed to let her come over, how she wanted to get back together, but I turned her down unequivocally.
“I’m so sorry, baby. It was nothing, I swear,” I finish, reaching for her hand.
She allows the contact and a fraction of the tightness in my chest eases.
“I know,” she admits. And I swear my shoulders drop a foot. A small, sad smile pulls at her lips. “But it made me realize that there’s still a lot I don’t know about you. And that this —” she gestures between us “— is going so fast.”
I let my head drop into her lap with a sigh. “Maybe, but every relationship goes at its own pace,” I reply. I look back up into her eyes. “Tell me you’re not falling as fast as I am, Joanie, and I’ll give you all the space you need.”
Her eyes shine in the dimming afternoon light. “I am. And honestly, I was trying not to freak out about it before I heard that you were planning to marry your ex once upon a time.” She tilts her head back, blinking hard.
“That wasn’t me,” I explain. “That was all my parents. Or what I thought I was supposed to be doing to make them happy, anyway. When she broke up with me, I was just as relieved as I was upset, even though it took me a long time to realize it was because I didn’t want to marry her. And I never felt about her the way I feel about you.”
Joanie’s head tips forward, and a manic laugh escapes her lips. “That. That right there is what I’m trying not to freak out about.”
My brows slam together. “So you’re not upset that it sounded like I was spending time with my ex behind your back but that I’m more in love with you than I ever was with her?”
She snaps her fingers and points at me. “Bingo.” A single tear escapes her shimmering eyes and skitters down her cheek. “I don’t know how to do this. I don’t know if I want to do this or if I’m just caught up in how good it feels to be with you.”
I pull back, stung by her words, but she grabs my hands before I can withdraw.
“That’s not about you, Greg.” She so rarely uses my name outside of orgasming. The few times she has, it’s gone straight to my heart. But this time, it’s like a knife.
“I know,” I say thickly.
“Do you?” she asks earnestly, leaning forward. “I’m not sure I understood how much I prized my independence until you made me want to give it up.”
I shake my head. “I would never ask that of you.”
She shakes her head, and a few more tears skitter out. “ I know . I wouldn’t have even wanted to if you were the type of man who would. But it’s because you are …” She trails off, closing her eyes, pushing more tears down her cheeks. I reach up and wipe them away.
When she opens her eyes, I can see her resolve to leave. But I’ve listened, too. And I know she’s closer than ever to giving in to this. I just need to push through this with her. However, she needs that to happen.
“Don’t go too far for too long, city girl,” I murmur, leaning forward and kissing away the last tears that fell.
She cups my face in her hand, leans in, and places the most tender kiss on my lips. It’s so unlike her that it sends chills through me, both good and bad. One kiss that is somehow both comfort and fear. Love and loss. Fight and surrender. But that’s Joanie and me. A contradiction that shouldn’t make sense, yet somehow does. I hope.
“I’ll see you soon,” she promises, rising and picking up her bag.
I want to beg her to stay, but I force myself to nod instead. “I understand. I’ll be here whenever you’re ready.”
She gives me a long look, then walks out the door. I sink onto the couch, my head in my hands.
How did things go sideways so fast? I can only hope Joanie will work through this and come back to me. Because the thought of losing her … it’s unbearable.
I’ve never been one to run from a challenge. And I’m sure as hell not starting now. I’ll give Joanie the space she needs. But I’m not letting her go. Not without a fight.