Fool's Gold (13 page)

The blonde woman’s mouth dropped open.

“You go, girl!” Nate nudged Addie.

She rolled her eyes at him and continued, “I don’t have much money, but I can scrape together enough for a bus ticket. I’m willing to do that for you.”

Chloe blinked her eyes thoughtfully. “If I wait until after the old biddy convention pays, you’ll have more money. Then you can buy me a plane ticket.”

Addie took a step closer to her. “But you can’t wait, don’t you get that? I want you out of here. Tomorrow, before noon when my guests arrive.”

“The only bus I’ve seen is in Sheridan. How am I going to get there?” Chloe’s voice was suddenly whiny.

Nate spoke up. “Rio and I are driving to Sheridan tomorrow to pick up some supplies for the Gym, our fitness centre. We’ll drop you off.”

“Are you sure?” Addie searched his eyes, wondering if he truly had to drive into town, or if it was something else Nate was doing to help her out.

“Positive. But Rio needs to be back early, so we’re leaving by nine.” He looked at Chloe.

“We’ll pick you up. Be ready.”

Chloe stared as Nate headed down the stairs.

Addie followed him to the front door and, when he paused, she threw her arms around his neck. “How can I ever thank you?”

“I was going to talk to you about that. I thought an open house here Saturday night for the residents of Cattle Valley. You could provide wine and appetisers, and they could come in and see what you’ve done with the place. Once everyone sees how nice it is, your business will pick up. And you’ll get the chance to meet people and thank those that helped you.”

“Saturday night?” She bit her lip. “Mel’s parents will be here.”

His eyes lit up. “The pharmacists? Mel’s parents are great! They’ll love helping you with a party.”

“You think so? Then all right! Saturday night it is.” She squeezed his arm. “Provided all my imaginary little old ladies are gone by then.”

Nate grinned. “Worked, didn’t it? We’ll come by tomorrow at nine. Have Chloe ready and roll her out the door.”

“Will do,” Addie agreed, excited and breathless from all the wonderful things that had happened, and it wasn’t even noon, yet. One more day with Chloe, then she could concentrate on throwing the best inn-warming party Cattle Valley had ever seen.

Addie opened the front door precisely at nine the next morning. Nate stood on the porch, arms folded across his chest. “She’d better be ready. Rio’s not pleased with me as it is.”

“I’m sorry.” Addie formed her lips into a pout. “Think you can make it up to him?”

He grinned. “I can probably think of something. As for you, some crab puffs on Saturday night might help.”

“Crab puffs for Rio, you got it.” She handed him an envelope with enough cash to buy Chloe a ticket to the moon. “Wherever she wants to go, I don’t care.”

He nodded then glanced up as Chloe carried her bag towards them without speaking.

A feeling of relief that the woman was finally leaving washed through Addie. “Take care of yourself.”

“I will.” Chloe smiled, batting her eyelashes. “I might see you again.”

“Let’s not plan on it. We had some laughs, but it’s time to go our separate ways. Please, Chloe.” Addie gazed at her intently. She did not want her turning up every few weeks like a bad penny.

Chloe flashed her an irritated glance, before Nate grabbed her arm and pointed her in the direction of Rio’s truck.

“Time to go,” he instructed. “See you later, Addie.”

“Goodbye,” she murmured to both of them and closed the door. She waited until she heard the truck drive off then collapsed onto the sofa.
It’s over
. Things were finally falling into place. Now, she could focus on the party and what she planned to serve besides crab puffs.

But first…
Addie stood and went to the phone. She’d written down the number of the clinic in town on a scrap of paper. She’d heard it was usually pretty easy to get an appointment. She wanted an examination, just to be safe. She’d thought Chloe had been clean but now realised she’d had no reason to assume that. It was crazy to sit and worry about it, she was going in to make sure everything was fine.

When the phone rang, Addie nearly jumped out of her skin. She grabbed the receiver and spoke breathily, her heart pounding. “Apple Valley Inn, this is Addie.”

“Miss Murphy, this is Dominic Nielson. I’ve finally got some news about your lawsuit.”

“Hi, Mr. Nielson.” Addie didn’t like the tone of her lawyer’s voice. She chuckled nervously. “You don’t sound happy.”

“You neglected to tell me your parents never got divorced.”

“They what?” Her heart leapt into her throat. “Of course they did. My father said—”

“I’m sorry, it really doesn’t matter what your father said. It’s what he did, or in this case didn’t do, that counts. He never filed the papers. Your mother insists they were still married at the time of his death, and court records back her up.”

“But he wrote a new will leaving his estate to me. I had it. I gave it to you.”

“Unfortunately, the necessary paperwork never got filed on that, either. I don’t know whose mistake it was, but the new will was never validated. His original one leaves everything to Jean, and that’s what the court decreed. You have thirty days to transfer the money to her account. I can handle that for you, if you wish.”

Addie leaned against the counter, struggling to remain standing. “I’ll have to get back to you on that.”

“I’m sorry, Miss Murphy.”

“Yeah, thanks.” She hung up the phone, trying to process what he’d told her.

After everything she’d been through with her father—both of them unceremoniously kicked out of their family home, his illness and ultimate death—she never in a million years would have guessed he hadn’t filed the divorce papers. Addie was used to her mother letting her down. The thought that her father had been so careless cut through her like a knife.

She took a few deep breaths.
Quit blaming everyone else
. She needed to stand up and take responsibility for her own life. This mess wasn’t her father’s fault. It wasn’t even her mother’s. Jean Murphy did what was best for herself. Always had, always would. Addie should be used to that.

But at that moment, having a parent to turn to would have been so nice. Her arms, rigid against the front counter in an effort to hold herself upright, buckled. Addie dropped to her knees. Great, heaving sobs escaped, and she buried her face in her hands. When she was all cried out, she curled up into a ball and closed her eyes.

Mel hurried in the front door of the inn. “Addie?”

She’d heard from Nate that they’d put Chloe on a bus headed west. When he’d said he’d tried to call Addie and couldn’t reach her, Mel hung up and tried the number. She got no answer, either.

She’d convinced Naomi to let her take an early lunch break and headed to the inn.

Addie’s car was there, so unless she’d walked somewhere, she was home. “Addie?”

“In here,” Addie’s voice sounded from the bedroom.

Mel grinned. “Were you expecting me? I’ve only got an hour, but if we hurry—” She froze.

Addie lay curled up on top of the comforter, hair askew, face tear-stained.

“What happened? Are you all right?” Mel rushed to her side. “Did someone—”

Addie jerked away. “I’m okay. Nothing’s happened, really, except my life is over.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Mel sat next to her.

“My lawyer called. Apparently my father never filed divorce papers, and his new will was never validated, so Mother won the case. I have thirty days to repay the money I
thought
I’d inherited.”

“Oh shit.” Mel stood and paced. “Okay, we can figure this out. We’ll take a mortgage. I have some money.”

“Mel, stop it!” Addie sat up. “This isn’t something you can fix. You don’t have the kind of money I need, and I’m not sure I’d take it if you did. I’ve told you how I feel about a mortgage. I’ve got no guests.
Zero
. How can I pay a monthly bill with such a wildly irregular income?”

“Sell the inn! Move in with me, and we’ll figure out what you want to do next with your life. We can do this, Addie. As long as we’re together, you and I can make this work.”

Addie swiped a tissue from the box on her bed and wiped her nose. “I’m not worth it, Mel. The best thing I could do for you would be to leave Cattle Valley and never look back.”

She walked to the bureau and looked at her reflection in the mirror. “More fool’s gold.

Except in this case, I don’t look so hot on the outside.”

Anger bubbled inside Mel. She got up and stood behind Addie, grabbing her shoulders so they both looked into the mirror.

“You are
not
worthless on the inside. And yeah, you’ve had better days, appearance-wise, but damn it, I’ve told you repeatedly, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known.”

Mel pushed her face next to Addie’s and continued looking at her through the mirror.

“I’m sorry about your parents. It sucks, and it’s not fair. But your life is far from over.
I love
you,
Addie Murphy. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, whether we live here at the inn, or in my one-bedroom apartment or someplace totally different than Cattle Valley. I’d do that for you, because I love you.”

Tears streamed down Addie’s face again. “
Don’t
. Please don’t. This is happening too fast. I need time to figure things out.”

Mel wrapped her arms around Addie’s body from behind. “I understand you need time. Just please, don’t shut me out. Let me help you decide what to do.”

“I can’t.” Addie shrugged loose and moved away. “I’m sorry, Melissa. I don’t know what I have to offer, right now. I need to be alone. Please take your things and go.” She turned and walked from the room.

Mel stared at the empty doorway.
It isn’t going to end like this.
“Addie!” she cried.

“Please, just go!” Addie’s voice was choked with sobs.

Not sure whether to be hurt or angry, Mel shoved the few personal items she had in the room into a bag she’d left there and started out. Reconsidering, she glanced into the hall to make sure Addie wasn’t coming. There was no sign of her, so Mel hurried to the drawer where she knew Addie kept some personal papers.

Mel rifled through them until she found what she was looking for. She copied down the address then put everything back the way it had been. Returning to the front room, she found Addie staring out the window.

“I’m going, now. You know if you need me, you can call anytime, day or night, and I’ll be here.”

“I know.” Addie didn’t look at her.

In the short time they’d known each other, Mel had come to understand Addie needed her space. She’d go for now and pray Addie didn’t hate her for what she was about to do, but Mel saw no other choice.

“Bye,” she said softly and slipped out the door.

The flight from Sheridan to Colorado Springs took almost six hours, because of a long layover in Denver. Mel left Thursday morning, hoping to catch Addie’s mother at home after work that evening. If she couldn’t, she had Jean’s work address and would go there on Friday. But finding the woman at home, alone, would be preferable.

Mel travelled light with only one carry-on bag, and she snagged a taxi right in front of the airport. She gave the driver the address, and he estimated it would take twenty minutes to get there. She glanced at her watch. The timing should be perfect, if Jean went straight home after work.
If, if, if…
Mel wondered if she were doing the right thing. In her heart, she felt like she was.

The driver pulled to a stop in front of a medium-sized brick house with tulips springing up along the front walk.
The Tulip Festival.
Mel smiled to herself, remembering what Addie told her about Nate’s scam to get rid of Chloe. She missed Addie. Hell, she missed Nate. She missed Cattle Valley and, at that moment, wished desperately she was back there.

“This is it, lady. You want me to wait?”

Mel glanced at the fare box and handed him some cash with a tip. “Could you wait a couple of minutes, please? I’m not sure anyone is home.”

He waved the cash. “This’ll get you five minutes.”

“Thanks.” She hoisted her bag and climbed out, walking slowly up the sidewalk. She took a deep breath, rang the bell and waited extremely long seconds. She got dizzy then realised she’d forgotten to let out the breath. She exhaled and inhaled slowly, attempting to calm herself.

When the front door opened, the woman in front of her caught Mel by surprise.

Nowhere nearly as intimidating as she’d expected, Jean Murphy was short and plump with tired eyes and teased, dyed-black hair. There was no doubt about who she was, she had the same mascara-lined brown eyes as Addie.

“Mrs. Murphy?”

“Yes?” the woman responded pleasantly.

“I’m, uh, Melissa Danes. A friend of Addie’s from Wyoming.”

The woman’s eyes narrowed. “Wyoming? Is that where she got off to? I hadn’t heard.”

“Yes, it is. I hoped I could have a word with you. Please.”

Jean looked uncertain but finally stepped aside and motioned Mel in.

Mel waved to the cab driver and went into the house.

“Does my daughter know you’re here, Miss Danes?”

“No.” Mel set her bag down on the floor. “She’d probably be pretty unhappy.”

“I’d tend to agree with you. She and I never did see eye to eye, as hard as I tried.” Jean motioned her to the sofa. “Have a seat. Can I get you some coffee or tea?”

“No, thank you.” Mel sat, noticing the remains of a once-frozen, pre-packaged dinner on the coffee table.

A quiz show blared from the TV. Jean grabbed the remote and hit mute. “What can I do for you?”

“I wanted to tell you a little about Addie’s life. Did you know she bought an inn? It’s a beautiful bed and breakfast. Some kids vandalised it before she arrived in town, so she’s had to spend weeks fixing the place up. It’s finally ready to go, and it looks just lovely. Addie’s done a wonderful job.”

Jean stared at her. “So?”

Mel shifted uncomfortably. “I just thought if you knew how well Addie is doing, you might be happy for her.”