Chapter 19

19

C allum stepped into the conference room in the back of the town hall building, the attorney he'd hired on his heels. Dude wore a high-powered fancy suit, but Callum could barely remember his name. Ethan Townsend.

The moment they walked through the door, he went on high alert.

Iris was there.

She sat next to her father on one side of a long conference table surrounded by elegant leather chairs—no expense had been spared to outfit this room. There were no windows, and the closed space made him instantly claustrophobic.

It was one thing facing off with Wade. Having to do it in front of Iris added another whole layer of tension.

Was she on her father's side now?

Just thinking it made his gut twist.

She was tapping on her laptop computer on the desk and didn't look up as he and Townsend made their way to the opposite side of the table. Wade sneered at the attorney's quiet greeting, but Iris murmured a "hello."

Was she avoiding looking at Callum or just engrossed in something important on the computer?

Callum sat in one of the padded leather chairs, turning it at an angle and stretching his legs out, pretending casualness for all he was worth. He wasn't going to let Wade get to him.

It seemed kind of silly to have a meeting with just the four of them in this room that sat more than twenty.

Mike entered the room with an older man on his heels. Callum vaguely remembered the guy from high school. He wore a crisp police uniform. The man Callum didn't know had salt-and-pepper hair and wore a shirt, tie, and slacks.

"That's the district attorney," Townsend hissed, standing to shake hands with him.

Callum followed suit and met the older man's speculative look with a steady gaze. Callum had nothing to hide, but that didn't stop his heart from pounding. What was going on here?

"Aaron Charles," said the DA.

"Callum Stewart." Callum shook the man's hand.

Callum's heart was in his throat as the DA rounded the table and made nice with Wade. Why was the DA here? How was he involved?

"What's going on?" he asked Townsend. Had something happened since he'd last spoken to the attorney yesterday afternoon? Neither one of them had been informed to the purpose of today's meeting, just that they needed to be here.

Townsend shrugged, but his expression wasn't as nonchalant as when they'd walked in the door. He busied himself opening a manila folder on the desk and shuffling some papers. Callum didn't even know what he had in there, other than a copy of the lawsuit.

Callum's stomach roiled. If this kept up, he'd have an ulcer by mid-afternoon.

"Is this all of us?" the DA asked.

And Callum couldn't contain his surprise when Iris said, "Yes, sir."

The DA sat at one end of the table, the policeman next to Wade.

Wade focused on Iris. "You want to tell me why you called me down here, young lady?"

Callum went hot and then cold. Iris had called the meeting? What did it mean? His thoughts raced, and he missed Iris's words through the roaring in his ears.

His eyes fixed on her computer.

And then he caught sight of something on her hand as it came to rest next to the keyboard. Was that...?

He leaned forward, his jeans squeaking against the leather of the chair.

She was wearing the engagement ring.

He would never forget the small diamond he'd agonized over before spending the savings he'd socked away all summer. He'd wanted better for her, knew she deserved better, even if he couldn't afford it.

Where had she gotten it? At his place. He'd seen it briefly when he'd packed up in Oklahoma, though he couldn't picture which box it'd gotten thrown in with the few other keepsakes from his past.

Somehow, she'd found it. Maybe when she'd been unpacking the twins' room.

Why was she wearing it?

The roaring in his ears changed to white noise and then cleared.

"...concern about the investigation over Mr. Stewart's auto accident."

Her eyes met his briefly over the laptop screen. Was he imagining the spark of warmth in them?

So, this wasn't about their past. It was about the lawsuit. He should probably be angry that she was still sticking her nose where it didn't belong, but he was too fixated on that ring to summon any real anger.

He didn't know how to pull together his scattered thoughts, not when she was wearing that ring.

Just what was she trying to say?

Heat crept into Iris's face under Callum's intense scrutiny. She saw his eyes flick to her exposed hand and quickly back to her face.

He knew.

But she couldn't focus on him or on their relationship right now. She was strung tight with tension.

What she was getting ready to reveal was going to change everything. And possibly make her father hate her too.

"I witnessed the accident happen." She addressed the DA. "Callum is an old friend and stayed with me a few weeks to recuperate. That's how I found out about the lawsuit. I was really surprised because the accident wasn't his fault. When I made an official statement to Mike, I got the impression that the police department wasn't really investigating what happened. I believe they were ignoring the fact that there was another vehicle involved. And I think my father might be the reason why."

Her father sucked in a deep breath. "Are you joking right now?"

His face had gone an alarming shade of red. She saw the glittering anger in his eyes and knew that she had just severed the last thread holding their relationship together. No matter the outcome for Callum today, things between her and her father would never be the same.

She turned her gaze on the DA, who wore an impassive expression. She didn't know whether he would believe her about her father, but at least she had evidence to support Callum.

"My father has made threats against both me and Callum. Because of that, I believe he told the PD to delay investigating the case or even to botch it so that the lawsuit could move forward."

"Do you have any evidence of this?" the DA asked.

"Not unless Mike wants to add anything to this conversation."

Mike wore a pinch-lipped expression.

When he said nothing, she continued. "But I do believe they purposely botched the hit-and-run investigation. The damage to Cal's truck was extensive, which is evidence in and of itself. But I noticed that the bank has a parking lot camera that would've provided footage that might've helped the investigation. When I went into the bank last week, I was informed that the tapes roll over every week, and the footage from the day of the accident was no longer available."

Beside her, her father harrumphed.

"The bank manager confirmed that the police had never asked to see those tapes, even though they would clearly have shown the accident."

Her father started to rise. "That's because there was no reason?—"

"I'm not finished," Iris said.

Her father sat back down.

She met Callum's eyes again. "I located a camera in the dress shop on Main Street. The security camera faces the intersection, and Melody, who owns the shop, gave me a copy of the footage."

She pressed the button to start the video and turned the laptop toward the DA. Callum's attorney shifted in his seat to see. Dad watched too.

But Callum's eyes remained glued to her as the silent footage played. Her face kept heating until she knew it was red—not a cute blush but an unattractive beet-color—but she met his gaze evenly.

He cocked one eyebrow and drummed the fingers of his left hand on the table—once.

Oh, yes. He'd seen. He knew.

But, judging from the corner of his mouth that lifted, the hope sparkling in the depths of his eyes, he wasn't angry.

They must've reached the part of the video that showed the accident, because Callum's attorney straightened in his chair. "Did you see that? The light was clearly red when the other truck zoomed through the intersection."

Her father stood. "That doesn't prove he wasn't negligent."

Mike leaned forward, reaching for the laptop. "Can I rewind it?"

And Iris met the DA's gaze squarely. She didn't know Aaron Charles personally, but he had a reputation for fairness. She hadn't wanted to bring him into the investigation, hadn't wanted her father scrutinized.

But she'd had no choice. Not when it came to protecting the man she loved.

"I think we've seen enough for today," the DA said. "Townsend, I'll call you later to follow up."

Townsend stood, and Callum did, too. Callum shot her one last look before following his lawyer out the door.

When the door closed behind them, the DA turned back to her. "Young lady, how did you get a copy of that tape? We don't want any issues with chain of evidence."

"Melody downloaded and gave me a copy. I'm sure Mike can contact her for details on how to access the original version."

The DA nodded and headed for the door. Mike followed, shooting a glance her direction before walking out. He had the decency to look embarrassed. That was something.

Her father was silent, fuming. He'd walked a few feet away, but she could feel the daggers he was shooting at her with his eyes.

When the door closed, he said, "I told you what would happen?—"

"I think," she interrupted him, "now would be a really good idea to head back to your office. Blackmail is a crime, too, and I'm not afraid of the truth. Callum hasn't done anything wrong except make a purchase of something you consider yours." Even though the land had been left to her and Jilly.

Her father didn't say another word. He just whirled and left the office with a near-silent huff.

The sun was too bright when she stepped onto the sidewalk. At least that was what she blamed for her watering eyes.

She'd grieved and prayed before she'd walked inside that building today.

Ultimately it came down to this. Wade might've given her life, but a true father didn't threaten his child.

And Wade hadn't been a true father to her in years.

Uncle Joe had been. She still couldn't reconcile what he'd done to Callum. Maybe he'd thought he was doing what was best. Maybe her father's venom had infected him, too.

He'd done something wrong, but she could forgive him, even if she'd never have the answers about why he'd done it.

She'd made the right choice today. She was sure of it.

But it still hurt.

Callum was leaning against the drivers' door of her pickup, his arms crossed over his broad chest.

"You okay?"

Callum saw the wobble of Iris's chin and the slight red rims of her eyes as she approached.

"Does you wearing that ring give me permission to hug you?"

Her face crumpled even as she reached out for him. Her black computer bag whacked him in the side as she came into his arms, and he relieved her of it, quickly lifting it over the side and depositing in the pickup bed. Then she was in his arms fully, her head tucked beneath his chin, her arms clasping his waist tightly.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, baby," he said into her hair.

"I'm not crying for today," she said, her cheek pressed to his collarbone. "I'm crying for the dad he should've been."

She didn't seem in a hurry to leave Callum's embrace, and he could've held onto her forever. He swallowed hard, emotion swamping him.

"I can't believe you did that. You could've emailed the video to the DA or my attorney and nobody would've ever known."

She eased back in his arms, and he reluctantly let her go. "I would've known."

His heart tripped as she looked up at him.

"I never got to tell you, all those years ago." She sniffed and wiped away fresh tears. "We're stronger together than we are apart."

She was right. Of course she was. "I'm sorry I left." She would never know how sorry. But life had brought him back to Sutter's Hollow. Back to Iris.

"I believe you. About Joe."

He didn't realize he'd still been holding onto tension about her uncle until her words released it in a sudden rush.

"You do?"

He knew how much she'd loved Joe.

Even now, more tears welled in her eyes. He closed his and leaned his forehead to touch hers. "You will never know how much that means to me."

She squeezed his waist, closing the distance and deepening their embrace again.

"Take a walk with me?" She eased back from his embrace and nodded toward the street.

It was warm and muggy with the Texas sun shining down, but he'd walk through fiery coals for her. He fell into step beside her. This time, he was the one who linked their hands.

"I've been trying to reach out to Noah ever since I got back to town. To apologize for abandoning him, too. He won't take my calls."

Iris squeezed his hand. "Maybe we can try and visit him together."

"How's Jilly?"

"She had her last treatment this week. Her markers are good. At least that's what her oncologist says."

Good.

"How are the boys? I've seen them playing outside a couple of times. I miss them."

This time it was his turn to squeeze her hand. "They miss you too. They're with Cord and Molly today. Levi asks about you all day long and Brandt keeps correcting me." He mimicked a little-boy voice, "That's not how Iris does it.'"

She grinned, though her eyes scanned for traffic as they crossed a side street off of Main.

"Where are we going?" he asked.

"Here."

He let her tug him across the street, and once they'd settled back into a rhythm, he threaded their fingers together.

"Where's here?"

They were nearing the end of the downtown area of Main Street. A few more buildings remained before they reached the more residential area. Where was she leading him?

"I told you we're stronger together than apart," she said. "And I meant it."

She stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. They were away from the majority of the foot traffic downtown. She faced him, their hands now entwined between them.

"You challenged me to dance again."

His heart started pounding in his throat. He'd seen how much she still loved it. Knew just how amazing she was. Was she going back? Going to take another shot at the big city?

His mind whirled, trying to figure out a way to ask her to stay. He couldn't. She should be on a stage deserving of her talent.

But, she was wearing his ring. What did that mean? Did she want to be with him?

"Are you going back to New York? Maybe you should. Watching you dance the other day..."

She shook her head, a smile he couldn't quite read playing on her lips. "I'm too old for that dream now. The prima ballerinas are much younger. And after my back injury, I can't perform the way I used to."

He shook his head, certain about this. "When you dance...it's magic. You can't just give up on your dream."

Her smile just got bigger. She broke from his embrace and pointed to the building they stood in front of. "I'm not. My dream just changed, that's all. This is going to be my new dance studio."

The storefront was bare, glass windows revealing a large, empty space inside.

"After some renovations," she added.

Remembering her with the boys' dance class, he could see it. She would still be sharing her love of dance, just in a different way.

"I can swing a hammer," he said.

"Good. There's a lot of work to do. And we can wrangle Cord into helping, too."

She was staying. Relief flooded him. New York or Paris, it wouldn't have mattered. He belonged with her, and he'd have found a way to make it work.

He raised her hand so the ring she wore was in plain view.

She flushed a delicate pink.

He took her hand to study the diamond. "It's even smaller than I remember."

"I only wore it to present a united front." She attempted to pull her hand away, but he kept hold of it.

"I'd like to put something bigger there, if you'd let me."

Her eyes flashed to his face, and his equilibrium went haywire. He squeezed her hands gently. And bared his heart. "I know I've still got a ways to go to earn back your trust. But the truth is, I never stopped loving you. I want to marry you, if you'll have me."

Her eyes shone. "I love you too." Her grin turned a little ornery. "And since I'm already wearing your ring, I think you can guess my answer."

Joy exploded inside him, and he exhaled a shaky breath. He leaned forward until their foreheads touched, closing his eyes as emotion overwhelmed him. "Yeah?"

"Yeah." Her breath fanned his jaw, and he put his arms around her.

Her hands rested against his chest, and she met his kiss eagerly. And he got lost in her, the same way he always had.