Bellamy

 

“Come with me.”

I hadn’t even known he was awake until his deep, sleepy voice filled the dim bedroom.

We were spooned together, my back to his front. I’d been lying awake for a while, just feeling him wrapped around me, listening to the sounds of him breathing.

He’d been solemn after the visit with his coach. I wanted to push him, to ask him why he kept denying he wanted to return to snowboarding.

But I knew why.

Liam had a list of a thousand reasons. The very bottom was his own knee. It seemed like talking it to death wouldn’t change his mind. It would take something more than words to convince him.

I just wished I knew what that was.

Rolling toward the sound of his voice, I smiled sleepily at him. “Hi.”

He kissed the tip of my nose. “Hey there, beautiful.”

Reaching out, I scratched the underside of his chin. His scruff was quickly turning into a beard.

“So how ‘bout it?”

Of course I’d go with him. “Where are we going?”

“To the reading of the will.”

My hand fell away from his face. “Am I even allowed?”

He made a rude sound. “You’re family.”

“Not technically.”

He scowled. “I want you there.”

“I’ll be there, then,” I replied, secretly praying his mom didn’t take offense.

Liam smiled and began running his fingers through my hair. “How you feeling this morning?”

“Ask me after I get up and move around.”

He leaned in and kissed me tenderly, drawing it out until a haze of desire relaxed my limbs. “How about that shower we never took last night?” he murmured, drawing back.

I nodded, and Liam nearly leapt out of the bed, scooped me up, and carried me into the bathroom. I made it through the shower, getting dressed and doing my hair before a wave of nausea hit.

I managed to swallow it back but took a mug of ginger tea to go.

The reading of Renshaw’s will was located on the executive floor at the main lodge of the resort. The attorneys thought it might be more comfortable for everyone to do it there.

I didn’t think it mattered where it happened; it would be emotional either way.

Liam grew more tense the closer we got, and by the time we sat down in the boardroom, he was visibly agitated.

“Hey,” I whispered, going to his side in front of a large window. “What’s going on?”

“It just seems to soon. Dividing up Dad’s stuff like it was never his.”

“This place will always be Ren’s. And he wanted this meeting. These are his final wishes.”

“It’s hard,” he whispered.

“I know, sweetheart.”

I saw him half smile in his reflection in the window. “There you go again, calling me sweetheart.”

“You like it,” I teased.

The door opened, and two lawyers walked in, dressed impeccably in their suits and ties. They went around the large conference table and sat down, then gestured for Liam, Holly, and me to take a seat across from them.

“Thank you for agreeing to meet today,” one of the lawyers said.

“Like we had a choice,” Liam muttered.

I slipped my hand into his, and we sat down. Holly seemed less anxious than Liam, but she was certainly subdued. Her pale cheeks seemed even paler with the black ensemble she was dressed in.

Liam wore jeans and a white dress shirt, the sleeves rolled up on his forearms. He’d trimmed his beard and combed his hair so he looked more put together than I knew he felt.

“Where is Mr. Alexander Carter?”

I perked up.

“What the fuck does Alex need to be here for?” Liam asked.

“I tried to call him. He didn’t answer,” Holly added.

Liam glanced at her sharply. “Why didn’t you tell me he needed to be here?”

“I figured I would call him myself.”

“I can call him now.” I offered, pulling my cell out of my bag.

Liam put his hand over. “He’s out of town.”

Surprise raised my voice. “He is? But we just saw him.”

“Something came up,” Liam replied, cryptic.

“What came up?”

“Do we need to postpone?” he asked the lawyers, sounding hopeful.

And no. It didn’t escape me he avoided my question.

“That isn’t necessary,” the lawyer answered. “You can fill him in, and he can come into my office when he returns.”

Liam leaned toward his mom. “Dad left something to Alex?”

“I believe so.”

“Let’s get started,” the lawyer replied, and both he and his partner opened up some folders.

The house, the cars, the bank accounts, and most everything went to Holly. It really wasn’t a surprise.

“In the matter of BearPaw Resort, which includes all the property, buildings, business accounts, and any holdings of BearPaw Resort…” The lawyer went on. “Controlling interest of my shares and holdings are hereby transferred to my son, William Mattison.”

Liam sat forward. “What?”

“Eighty percent of BearPaw Resort is hereby yours,” the lawyer said. “The other twenty percent, Mr. Mattison has transferred to Alexander Carter.”

Liam blew out a breath and sat back. “Alex.”

Holly leaned toward her son. “Your father thought it was important to acknowledge Alex and his role in your life. You understand?”

Liam was shell shocked. “But what about you?”

“Me?”

“You founded this place with him. You worked alongside him in the executive suites. You know this resort and its workings a hell of a lot better than me.”

“We built this place for you, Liam. As a legacy for you. BearPaw Resort isn’t mine. It’s always been yours.”

Liam pushed out of his chair, walking to a cart filled with crystal glasses and a large water pitcher. I watched as he filled up a glass, looked at it, then set it down.

“Did you really think he wouldn’t will this place to you?” Holly asked.

“No, I…” He glanced at me, and I nodded, encouraging him to continue. “I guess I didn’t think of it at all.”

Holly said, “You’re taking over. It’s only right it goes to you.”

“Running and owning are two different things.”

I wasn’t sure about that, but I kept the thought to myself because it didn’t really matter how I felt about it. Liam had his own thoughts and feelings.

The lawyer cleared his throat. “There’s also the matter of the trust.”

“Trust?” Liam asked, wrinkling his brow.

“Five million dollars. It’s also been willed to Liam.”

I sucked in a breath and stared at him.

“Five million,” Liam echoed and looked at Holly. “Did you know about this?”

“Of course. We’ve been putting money into that account for you since you were just a little boy.”

“You take it,” he told her.

“I don’t need it. Your father made sure I was taken care of. That money is yours.”

“I don’t want it,” Liam burst out. “I don’t want to get paid because my father was murdered.”

“Liam!” Holly gasped.

I got up and went to him, placing a hand at his back.

He looked at me with steady, serious eyes. “I don’t want it.”

I knew he would feel that way. After our talk last night, I knew Liam didn’t want anything he felt he didn’t earn. He most especially didn’t want anything that made him feel he was gaining something from the death of a parent.

“Then don’t take it.” I assured him, letting him know I understood.

“Your father wanted you to have that!” Holly gasped. “He wanted to be sure you were always taken care of.”

“I have money, Mom.”

“Yes, but…” She sat back. “This was from your father.”

Liam frowned.

The lawyer spoke up, and it struck me how unfair it was a stranger was in the room, listening to such personal conversations. “If I may interject. It really doesn’t matter if you want it or not. It’s yours. It’s in your name and is legally already yours. You can always choose to donate it if you truly don’t want it.”

“You can’t!” Holly exclaimed.

“Put it in a new trust,” Liam announced, touching my stomach. “One for my son.” He glanced at Holly. “Dad would like that, knowing he made sure his grandson was taken care of.”

“It’s a boy?” Holly whispered, touching her throat.

“We aren’t sure yet,” I replied gently.

“I can arrange to have the money put into a trust for the child once he or she is born.” The lawyer agreed.

“Mom?” Liam asked.

She nodded. “Yes, your father would like that. A way to be part of the baby’s life since he isn’t physically here.”

“This baby might not have been here if not for him,” I said, covering Liam’s hand still on my midsection.

“Do it,” he told the lawyer.

The quiet one nodded and began writing on his legal pad.

It was kinda surreal to know that my baby was a multimillionaire before he was born. It was a luxury, yes, but as a mother, it gave me a sense of peace because I knew he would always be taken care of.

“Is that it?” Liam asked, anxious to be finished.

“One more thing.”

He sighed. I rubbed my hand over his, making him glance down. His pained eyes softened when they touched my face.

“The north section of land on BearPaw property, deeded to Renshaw personally, is hereby to be retitled at his request.”

“North section of land?” Liam muttered. “That part of the resort isn’t even developed. Nothing is out there.”

“Not nothing,” Holly answered.

We both turned to stare at her.

“The title is to be transferred to William Mattison, heir of Renshaw Mattison.” The lawyer who previously hadn’t spoken at all put in.

“What title?” Liam asked.

“I hope you will understand,” Holly said. “He just wanted you to live your dream.”

“Mom,” Liam ground out. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“Liam.” I admonished. “Do not cuss at your mother.”

He made a face.

Holly looked at the lawyer, who withdrew a white envelope from his pile of papers. “Mr. Mattison instructed me to give this to you in the event of his passing.”

Liam glanced between the lawyer and the envelope he extended before going to take it. “This is Dad’s handwriting,” Liam said, staring at his name scrawled on the front. He tore his eyes away and looked at Holly. “What is this?”

“I’ll let your dad be the one to tell you.” She gestured to the letter.

Liam turned to face me, holding the letter between our bodies. “He wrote me a letter,” he whispered.

“You should read it,” I whispered back.

He swallowed so hard I heard it. He didn’t look at anyone else in the room. Part of me wondered if he remembered they were even there. Still clutching the letter, he pulled me along to his chair and tugged me into his lap.

Once I was against him, he reached around me, ripped open the seal, and pulled out the piece of paper filled with Ren’s writing.

His chin rested on my shoulder, but even though the words were in plain sight, I didn’t read them. This wasn’t for me.

This was one final conversation between Liam and his father.