42. Remi

Chapter 42

Remi

T he last of the people from the funeral left the parlor. I’d made sure all Tony’s funeral expenses were paid for, even if I had to do so from a distance. It’d been professionally catered with Tony’s favorite food, smoked ribs and tri-tip, corn on the cob, and hot chocolate with mini marshmallows.

My heart ached from watching Angie spread her Papa’s ashes over the field they’d cultivated since she was a little girl. She’d stood right in front of me, drenched in the worst pain, and I couldn’t do anything to comfort her.

I’d never been so helpless.

Tony’s wish had been to become a part of the land he’d loved so much. I’d make sure the place where his ashes lay would be made into a grassy field. I’d preserve the maple tree on the edge of the field and install a bench under it with an inscription dedicated to Tony.

I walked to Nora, who sat in her recliner, gripping the arm of Tony’s matching chair, empty from now on. I crept to her side and wordlessly gave her a big hug. My last goodbye to the woman who’d shown me how a real mother cared for her kid.

Taking the envelope from my jacket pocket, I pressed it into her hand. “Remember, this is what Tony wanted.”

She wiped her eyes with her handkerchief and opened it, numbly pulling the check out far enough to read it.

Her eyes widened. “This is a fortune.”

“I promised I’d give you the best offer my company could manage.” Matthew railed at me when he found out what I’d paid for the property. A small win I gained in this whole affair. “Your debts are paid.”

“This is what’s leftover?” Her arms fell into her lap, and she started crying once again.

“Tony didn’t want you to worry about anything for the rest of your life. I can only hope to love a woman as much as he loved you.” And to have her love me too.

“The dope. Knew me better than I know myself. I’m going to miss him.” She brushed at her tears. “When do you leave?”

“Tomorrow, after the auction.”

She nodded, and, giving her hand one final squeeze, I walked toward the door, my heart heavier with each step. The happiest I’d ever been in this life had been in this house.

“She’s in the barn,” Nora called to me.

I turned with my hand on the doorknob. I couldn’t see her. “Thank you,” I spoke to the quiet house. “For everything.”

Evening glowed orange as I made my way along my well-beaten path. The gravel eased into the hardened dirt of the barn, and I raised my head, my eyes locking on Angie.

Angie hadn’t noticed my entrance. The image she presented would be something I’d never forget. Still wearing her black funeral dress, her feet bare, and strands of hair falling loose in her updo, she leaned her head against Mae and sobbed.

Each sound breaking from her became an arrow to my heart.

I lost my courage and ducked behind a post, yet I was still unable to keep myself from peeking around the beam at her.

“Don’t forget me.” She threw her arms around her horse’s neck, burying her face in her mane.

Opening the stable, she led Mae to stand by her side. In one fluid movement, she leapt onto her back. Mae was already in motion; her hooves thundered out of the barn into the pasture and fields.

I chased after them. Angie’s braid came loose. Horse and rider moved as one. Mae predicted her movements; they were two halves to a whole. I’d never seen a stronger connection between human and animal. With Angie’s hair now flowing free behind her, she threw her head back and unleashed an almost feral scream at the distant thunderclouds illuminated by the now-red glow of the sun.

The lump in my throat made it hard to breathe and even harder to swallow. My breath shuddered in and out of my lungs while I studied the now-familiar land around me. The setting sun added to the picturesque painting of patchwork fields and rolling green pastures. I dropped my gaze to the grass tamped down by my feet. I’d never be able to forget this view, soon to be overtaken by homes. From the moment I arrived here, I’d been hell bent on taming this land, and, lo and behold, it’d ended up taming me .

I covered my face with my palm. I’d made the biggest mistake of my life. Funny how love worked. I wanted nothing but to ensure her happiness, and I’d been the root cause of her sorrow.

I swiped at the wetness on my cheeks and left, heading straight to the bar.

“Whisky.” I slapped a wad of cash on the slick counter and unbuttoned the top two buttons of my tux. “And keep them coming.” Sliding the black tie off my neck, I tossed it to the bartender. “Here, Sam. Have a tie.”

“Thanks.” He caught it midair and shoved it in his apron pocket. “I’ve been thinking about my future, like you told me to.”

Sam told me his ideas, feeding me drinks the whole time.

Four tumblers in, and the door swung open. I glared at the blinding light. Once it closed, the outline of a man turned into Myles.

“Myles!” I shouted. “Friend! Come join me.”

“When you didn’t come home, I thought I’d find you here.”

I kicked out a stool for him. This early in the evening, the bar remained mostly empty.

“Why not?” He sat down, and Sam filled a glass for him and slid it in front of him.

“Thanks.” I downed a drink, praying for the numb I-don’t-give-a-damn feeling it would bring. “Sam has been telling me about all his ideas for a start-up.” I wrapped my arm around Myles, bumping him enough that he spilled his drink a bit. “Picture this. Hatching rubber duckies. You put an egg in your bath water and out comes a rubber duck. I think we should invest.”

“Kids would go crazy over them.” Sam dried a cup behind the counter.

“Solid idea. You know who I think would really like them?” Myles tossed another drink down his gullet.

“Who?”

“Angie.”

“Awww. Why’d you go and mention her?” My words slurred now I’d almost reached an optimal alcohol intake. “We were having a good time.”

“She gave you the cold shoulder today. I take it you weren’t successful in getting her to see your side of things.” Myles set his glass down, and I slid another one to him. “I’m good.”

“Drink.”

“Two is enough for me.” Myles held his hand up to Sam, indicating he wanted him to stop filling the empty shot glasses lining the counter.

“The woman I love will never talk to me again, and you refused to get smashed with me?”

Myles closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Here we go.” He took the glass and gulped down the contents. “At least you have enough money to break away from your family. Texas Bros: a place for all your extreme sporting needs, here we come!”

We clinked our glasses together and downed the liquor. The usual excitement at the mention of our store didn’t fill me. Without Angie, any dream was hollow.

“We need music.” I went to the jukebox and pushed some buttons.

The next few hours blurred together. Lots of singing. Myles and I performed a duet on the table. Somehow, the tie I’d given Sam ended up strapped around my forehead. I leaned my head on the cold bar and closed my eyes for ten seconds.

Someone tapped me on the shoulder. I rolled my head to see Myles snoring with his head leaning on the bar. I swiveled around on the stool. “What?” I blinked my eyes. “Blake?”

“Myles. Blake’s here.” I shook my friend awake. “Hey! New daddy. Have a drink on me. Drinks all around for the Richardson twins!” I shouted.

The patrons in the now-full bar cheered.

“I don’t need a drink. Just had to come see for myself how pathetic you are.”

Flapping my lips together, I waved my hand at him. “I’m not pathetic.”

“You’re going to give up?” Blake towered over me with his hands on his hips.

I jumped to my feet, causing my head to spin. “Whoa.” I held my palm to my forehead. “I tried everything! She. Hates. Me. With a capital H.”

“With how much time and energy you invested in buying Angie’s farm …”

I slumped lower with every word Blake said. My treacherous mind went back to our dirt bike kiss. To my hands holding her, teasing her, my lips on her neck, her abdomen. Then it moved to holding her while she sobbed, cradling her while she slept.

If only I could have more kissing. More cuddling. More of her.

“I thought you’d fight harder for her,” Blake finished.

“We’re leaving tomorrow.” Myles looked at his watch. “Oh shit. Our plane leaves in five hours.” He rubbed his eyes. “What is he going to do? Buy her farm back? His cut wouldn’t even come close to being able to do that.”

My mind started whirring, fighting against the alcohol in my system. Buy it back. It was impossible. My father and Matthew were very specific about owning the entire property, including the house. They didn’t want the aged farmhouse affecting sales. But what if I used my money to buy something else?

Jolting upward in my stool like a lightning bolt struck me, I slammed my hand on the bar. All three of my friends jumped.

I jerked Myles to his feet and kissed him. “You’re a genius.”