Part 29 (2/2)
Richard did have a life insurance policy, but neither Gia nor Fallon were the beneficiaries. Being the superst.i.tious fellow that he was, he left all five hundred thousand to charity-Save Our Doxies. Fallon was moved; Gia was honked off.
As for Hagan Stone, the official story was that he'd been arrested at LAX for tax evasion before he could jet off to his bar in the Florida Keys. I knew the real story. Grey had been responsible for the take-down of Hagan. I'd never know the details, but I was okay with that. Grey was safe, and Hagan was out of all of our lives. It was time for new beginnings.
IT HAD BEEN THREE days since Lenny had been arrested. The b.u.mp on my noggin from where I'd slammed my head into Lenny's chin was finally starting to heal. My heart, well it would take a little longer.
It was noon. My heart raced as I pulled into Grey's driveway. I'd rehea.r.s.ed my speech for what seemed the one-thousandth time. Each time I said something different. Each time the ending was the same.
With stubborn single-mindedness, I opened the door and slid out of the Jeep. I was halfway up the walkway when a white Audi Roadster raced into the driveway like a superhero ready to save the day. The sun s.h.i.+ned on the driver's side front window, making it impossible to see who had parked behind me, subsequently blocking me in.
The white door flung open. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. The b.u.mp on my head had to be far worse than what the paramedics had thought, because that looked like my Mama, Barbra Langston, gliding up the driveway in her favorite Carolina Herrera chiffon lace dress.
I rubbed my eyes. No such luck. She was the real deal.
”How did you get here?” I demanded.
Her natural charming smile shone as bright as the California sun. ”The private jet. You know I don't fly on those public planes. With the delays these days, and all those germs.” She shuddered.
”That's not what I meant. How did you find me here?”
”You weren't at your house, which we will talk about later because that is not a house. It's barely suitable for a weekend vacation home. Anyway, you weren't at your little business either, so I came to Grey's house. And here you are.”
”You have got to be kidding me. How did you know where he lived?”
She smiled mischievously. ”Darlin', don't you know? We exchange birthday and Christmas cards. I have his return address.”
Of course. ”Go home, Mama. I'm fine.”
”I will not. That is no way to greet your mother. I've come a long way to see you. You need me.” I wasn't fooled by her soft feminine voice.
She glided toward me. I braced myself for the perfunctory air kiss. What I wasn't expecting was a hug. Not just any hug, but a real one, with warmth and concern. It was almost my undoing.
I pulled out of her embrace. I dragged my hand through my hair. ”I'm sorry, Mama. I didn't mean to be rude.”
She pursed her lips. ”I've obviously surprised you.”
”You could say that again,” I muttered. ”How about you go back to my place and I'll meet you there in a few minutes. I won't be long. We can catch up then.” And find out why she really left Dallas.
Mama didn't travel domestically. If she wanted to vacation at a beach, she headed for Barbados, St. Barts, or the Dominican Republic. Not Laguna. Mama hadn't set foot here since I was a teenager, which was one of the many deciding factors of why I chose to live here.
”I'd rather catch up now. Why are you loitering outside Grey's house?”
I didn't move. I couldn't do this with her here, watching my every move. I knew from experience, her judgment was deafening when she didn't agree with my choices.
”Melinda, I'm not leaving. Not when my baby needs me. How could I stay at home knowing you needed your mama?”
And suddenly it was about her. I knew a losing battle when I was in it. ”Fine. Stay outside until I tell you to come in.”
She followed me up the walkway, her Jimmy Choo heels clicking a rhythm I hadn't heard in years. I pulled out my key to Grey's place and unlocked the door.
”Give me a minute to turn off the alarm.” I said.
For once, she did as she was asked without debate. I slipped inside and punched in the code to deactivate the security system. ”Okay, come on.”
My mother followed me inside and smiled satisfied. ”This is a house,” she p.r.o.nounced.
I rolled my eyes. ”Well, he makes a lot more money than I do.”
”Melinda, you have plenty of money. You could buy ten of these-”
”Mama. Stop.” I cut her off. I exhaled. It was hard enough concentrating on what I needed to do without her babbling on about my, in her opinion, lackl.u.s.ter living conditions and how I spent the family war chest.
I took the stairs two at a time to the master bedroom. I heard my mother right behind me. I kept my emotions at bay and concentrated on retrieving my brooch.
I crossed the room to the walk-in closet. Grey always kept the door open. I a.s.sumed it was part of his training: never allow an enemy a hiding spot where he could get the jump on him.
Grey's suits hung on the right side of the closet. I pushed jackets aside, looking for the one he'd worn our last night together. I found it quickly enough. I shoved my hand in the pocket and pulled out a folded note.
Melinda. My name in his handwriting.
My heart beat so fast I thought it would explode right out of my chest.
I unfolded the paper. I'm sorry.
Two simple words. Sorry for what? Lying? Keeping my brooch? Giving it back to Caro? That my mother had shown up for a visit and he wouldn't be around to run interference?
I crumbled the note in my fist.
”Bad news?” my mother asked softly.
I looked up. ”You could say that.”
”Tell me what happened.”
I shook my head and looked away. ”It doesn't matter.”
”Yes, it does.”
”Grey and I broke up,” I stated matter-of-factly.
”I guessed that much. What did he do?”
My jerked my head around and stared at her. I narrowed my eyes. ”What did you say?”
She sighed the exasperated sigh I'd heard my entire life. ”It's times like this when I wish I still smoked.” She paced around the room nervously.
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