Meant to Be (RightMatch.com Trilogy) (21 page)

“Oh, Beth, that’s such a bad idea. Please, don’t do it now. You and Cole were planning to live there.”

“Too late.” She whipped off a glove to fish a tissue out of her pocket and blow her nose.

MJ stopped. “You’re not wearing your wedding ring.”

Hearing the words aloud, Beth re-experienced the surge of emotion that had flooded her when she’d initially removed the pretty band. “My marriage was a sham. I’ve got a meeting later this week to end that, too.”

MJ didn’t budge and Beth was forced to stop. “That is just plain stupid,” her friend said. “I know you haven’t seen him. You need to talk when cooler heads prevail, so to speak.”

“No. Besides, he hasn’t even tried to contact me.”

“He’s probably as pissed as you are. And, I might add, you haven’t tried to contact him, either.”

Beth had had enough. She wanted MJ’s support and not her nagging. “Don’t do this, MJ. Don’t take his side.”

MJ arched a brow. “Why? Because you’ll cut me out of your life, too?”

Beth took in a deep breath. Only a good friend would make that comment. “All right, I deserved that. I’m sorry for yelling.”

“Fuck being sorry. Do something before it’s too late.”

“It’s already too late. I’m meeting with the architect for lunch tomorrow and that’s that.” She shook back her hair. “Now, tell me your wish list for the expansion. Maybe I can make all your dreams come true.”

MJ snorted. “Yeah, like you’re so good at making yours reality.”

By Tuesday, Beth was more convinced than ever that she was right to pursue the expansion. She’d felt better since she made the decision. Now if she could only tolerate the upcoming appointment with an attorney to legally dissolve her marriage. Still, she was making progress in her life. Sans Cole. Forever, sans Cole.

Banishing the thought, she met Jackson Freedman, ironically at the same restaurant where she’d met with Spence in Rockland. Jack had suggested they talk at lunch, mentioning that Beth might not want to visit Peter’s firm, see someone else in his office. It was thoughtful of him and Beth appreciated it. She didn’t need any more emotional upheaval in her life.

Jackson was already at Park Pub when she arrived. Tall, gray-haired and terribly handsome, he reminded her somewhat of Peter. He stood when she reached him. “It’s so nice to see you, Beth.” He kissed her cheek. “You look wonderful.”

“So do you. Thanks for meeting me so soon. I’m sure you have work to do.”

They both sat and Jack smiled warmly. “As you know from your statements, the firm is doing well, keeping busy.” Beth was still getting partner benefits. “But I’ll always have time for you.” He nodded to a menu. “Want some wine? I don’t usually drink at lunch, but seeing you is a special occasion.”

“Sure then. Chardonnay.”

When drinks arrived, Jack raised his glass. “To new ventures.” He sipped. “But I have to say, Beth, I’m surprised you want to expand the Inn.”

The wine was tart on her tongue and she took time to appreciate it. “Really, why?”

He waited. “I guess it’s all right to say now, so many years after Peter’s death. He always worried that you were living out his dreams instead of your own.”

She didn’t tell Jack that Rob and MJ had made that exact point, and she’d even admitted the possibility to herself. Frowning, Beth now remembered when Peter had brought it up, too. She’d ignored his concern.

Instead of admitting anything, she told Jack the same things she said to her son. “I had babies close together. I took care of my family. When the firm started to do well, and we made more money, I got material things I never dreamed of. I had a nice life, Jack.”

“Peter was particularly worried that the Inn wouldn’t suit you. That you’d feel you should be doing something more meaningful.”

Okay, so she had. But now, changing her life seemed impossible. “I’m good with this decision.”

“All right, if you’re sure. Should we order first, then talk?”

She picked Caesar salad with salmon, and he ordered a Reuben. Just as they finished their meal and were discussing the project, a shadow came over the table. “Beth, I saw you from across the way.”

Beth froze. She recognized the voice and was forced to look up. “Hello, Spence.”

Cole’s brother pointedly looked at her companion. Her male companion. “Hello, Jackson. How are you?

“Fine, Spence. Nice to see you again.”

“I didn’t know you two knew each other. Did you ever meet Peter?”

“No, I’m sorry I never had the pleasure.” Spence focused on Beth. “I was going to call you about the money issue we discussed last week. Can we get together to talk about what I found out?”

Oh, God, she couldn’t meet with Cole’s brother. She just couldn’t. “Would you tell me the gist of it right now? Jackson won’t mind and I’m very busy these days.”

A glance at Jack. “Fine then. My firm is interested in supporting the shelter. But one of our assistants checked with the Honey Lake City Council. Did you know they want to turn the building where Second Chances is housed into a Bed and Breakfast?”

“I had no idea. I wonder if the director knows that. Damn it.”

“In any case, I can meet with you to talk about alternatives and what we might be able to do to help.”

“All right. I’ll call you.”

He looked at Jack, then bent down and whispered in her ear, “Don’t do anything foolish, Beth, or irrevocable,” and walked out.

Beth closed her eyes. Hell, what next?

o0o

Cole had no choice but to leave the house. Sabrina wanted Ellie for a play date with her twins, and it would be good for his daughter to get away from him and his increasingly foul mood. He hadn’t even been able to take her out to play in the snow, which was a favorite of hers.

As he headed home after dropping off the baby, Cole’s cell rang. Despite his best intentions, he always checked to identify the caller. He supposed he was hoping Beth would contact him, which she never did, which infuriated him all over again. How
could
she abandon him when he was at his worst?

Once again, he glanced at the phone’s window. Spence Wickham. Even after having lunch with his Dad, Cole had avoided Joey’s and Spence’s calls. He had talked to Dana a few times. Oh, what the hell? He missed his brothers, so he clicked on.

“About time you answered.”

“What do you want, Spence?” he said irritably.

“To tell you what pouting for five days has accomplished. I just saw Beth at Park Pub downtown, with a man.”

“So,” he said, disingenuously, “she’s entitled to meet people for lunch.”

“I know him. I used to golf at his club until I moved to my condo. He was one of Peter Montgomery’s partners.”

“They were probably taking business, then.”

“I doubt it.”

“Where is this going, Spence?”

“He and Beth looked pretty cozy. Intimate. They were drinking wine and huddled up in conversation.”

“Don’t shit me, bro.”

“Seriously. I got worried when I saw them.”

“Do you know how bad you’re making me feel?”

“I’d never hurt you, Cole, when you’re in this state of mind, by exaggerating anything. Don’t blow this. Things can work out.”

“It’s over.
Fini.
Complete. She made that clear.”

“Well, then, must be that’s why she had a date. If it was Annie—”

Cole clicked off. He couldn’t bear to think about the information Spence had relayed. He drove farther on the expressway. Until he saw the downtown exit. Shit, shit, shit. He swerved into another lane to get off the road. The disgruntled driver he’d cut off honked his horn.
“Join the club, buddy.”

In minutes, he was in the parking lot of Park Pub. Immediately, he saw her car. So she was still here playing footsy with one of Peter’s colleagues. Damn Peter! Damn her! Without thinking about what he was doing, he whipped out of the car. He was at the doorway when he looked down. He’d thrown on ratty jeans, a raggedy sweatshirt, which probably even smelled bad, and worn no coat, despite the freezing temperature. He rubbed his unshaven jaw. Hell, he was a mess. Hell, what did he care? Loaded for bear, he strode inside. Against a wall of windows, he saw his wife deep in conversation with someone who did indeed resemble her dead husband.

Fuck,
he
was her husband now!

“Excuse me, sir.” A waiter approached him. “We have a dress code here. If you’d like to—”

He brushed off the guy by stalking away through the dining area to her table. The old guy was laughing at something Beth had said.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Cole bit out.

Beth glanced up and her eyes widened like saucers. “What…? Why…?” She continued to stutter.

Mr. Brooks Brothers stood. “See here, young man. What do
you
think you’re doing?”

Cole faced the guy. “Don’t call me young man, buster. Why are you having lunch with my
wife?”

The guy’s chiseled jaw dropped. “Your wife?” He looked to Beth. “Is this true, Beth?”

Still she didn’t say anything. She just stared at them with the bleakest eyes Cole had ever seen. Finally, she nodded.

“Stand up!” he said to her.

“Now listen here—” the man began.

Someone in a suit approached Cole. “I’m the manager, sir. And I’m afraid I have to ask you to leave. You’re causing a scene.”

“Fine, I’ll leave. But I’m taking her with me.”

“Do I have to call the police?” the architect guy asked.

“Sure,” Cole said, “call Lieutenant Joe Moretti. He’s my brother.”

Beth rose, too. “I’m sorry for the commotion,” Beth told the proprietor weakly. “We’ll leave.” She squeezed the other guy’s arm. “I’m sorry to have embarrassed you, Jack. I’ll be back in touch.”

As Cole took her hand, he spat out, “Don’t bet on it, buddy!”

o0o

There was dead silence in the car. Cole’s behavior had left Beth openmouthed, but then again, he’d apparently been acting erratically since he’d found out Johanna Carlson wanted Ellie back. Still…

They sat in the parking lot of the restaurant, each lost in his or her thoughts. Beth didn’t know where to begin, but why should she initiate the conversation? The ball was in his court.

He started the car.

“Don’t! I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“I turned the engine on because it’s cold in here.” He scowled. “But now that you mention it, why? Are you afraid to be alone with me, particularly where there’s a bed? Because I’d sure as hell like to settle this there.”

All Beth knew was to be honest. She loved this man so much and he was obviously at his wit’s end. “Of course I’m afraid. We already played out that scene and I don’t want an encore. Look where it got us.”

He drew in a breath. “It got us to fall in love and get married.”

“Under false pretenses, Cole. Every step of the way.” She tried to keep her tone gentle, but there was only so much she could take. She couldn’t believe she was with him, in touching distance, witnessing his pain. It killed her.

“I’m so—”

“Don’t tell me you’re sorry. I don’t ever want to hear those words come out of your mouth again.” So much for gentle. She sounded like a shrew. She had to look at him.

He was disheveled and he seemed exhausted. Well, so was she. Still…

“You’ve a right to be angry,” Cole said. “You don’t have a right to date some other fucking guy.” He glanced at her hand and his jaw dropped. “You took off your wedding ring.”

Her gaze darted to the third finger on his left hand. “You didn’t. What happened to
I’ll never forgive you if you leave me when I might lose my child?”

“I was upset.”

“So was I. You implied I didn’t want Ellie.”

His whole body tightened and he looked out the window.

“I did want her. You knew that. I said I loved her, and I couldn’t imagine my life without her now.”

“Which was exactly why I didn’t tell you about Johanna!”

“All right, Cole, I can see why you lost it. Is there any news on Johanna?”

“She’s gone back to Ohio. My lawyer contacted her, left a message that we had video of her outburst and contended she’s emotionally unstable. We don’t even know if there’s a lawyer in the picture.”

“How did she know about the wedding, anyway?”

“Marcus thinks she had a PI following me.”

“She is out of control, then.” Because he still wouldn’t look at her, she reached over and squeezed his hand. “I can’t believe she’ll get
any
rights to Ellie.”

“The research says pretty much the same thing.” He picked up her hand and rubbed where his ring had been. “So all this was over nothing?”

An intolerable wave of sadness swept through Beth. She felt her eyes well.

“Please sweetheart, don’t do this to us. Don’t jump into another relationship—”

“I wasn’t.” Even to her own ears, she sounded defeated. “Jackson was Peter’s business partner. I wanted to talk about expanding the Inn onto the side property.”

He gasped. “We were going to live there.”

She didn’t respond. What could she say? They’d had such plans.

“I can’t believe this,” he uttered. “That I’ve really lost you.”

She let slip, “I love you, Cole. I just can’t build a life with you. Too much damage has been done to our relationship.”

“Can’t we try one more time?”

“No.” She reached for the door handle before she started bawling like a baby. “Please don’t contact me again. Work through our lawyers for, you know, the annulment or divorce.”

He just stared at her.

“I’m sorry this hurts you so much. It’s killing me, too.”

“I can tell.”

She shoved open the door. “Have a nice life,” she whispered and slid out of his car.

She thought she heard a choking sound coming from inside. Then again, it might have been her own because she cried hard all the way to her vehicle.

Chapter 15

Session #2

“This is your second visit here, Cole. What would you like to talk about today?” With her gray hair and blue eyes, Elsa Eden’s looks reminded Cole of his mother and of his father in her calm temperament. He liked her, even if her probing in their initial session had caused him to feel more intensely. He’d been avoiding painful emotions since his disastrous contact with Beth on that dismal Tuesday morning.