Chapter 30

Lauralee

I opened my eyes barely a sliver and only to see what time it was. Sometime in the night I’d fallen asleep or perhaps worn out from all the tossing and turning. No matter how much I wanted to find peace, my brain wouldn’t let it happen. I’d gone over my relationship with Ted a thousand times and through all the ups and downs I’d never stopped loving him. The grim realization didn’t sit well considering how badly I wanted to hate him for messing around with Katie.

Katie. How could she? She had a lot of nerve giving him her number, much less sneaking around behind my back to see him. Our entire lives she’d listened to all my troubles over Ted, and if anyone understood how much I loved the man, it was her. She’d comforted me, dried my tears, and given me advice on him since we were both old enough to talk about boys.

She even made me promise to let her be my bridesmaid when I married him because she said it was a given. How could she up and decide to step in the way after all this time? Had I told her too much? I clutched the blankets to my chest and sat up in bed trying to get my wits about me. I’d let this wallowing go on all night, and I wasn’t sure I’d even taken a pause while I slept.

The clock read eight forty-six. I was late for work. Now I had to drag in feeling miserable.

I only had myself to blame. I’d been so short with him the day before. It was no wonder he avoided me the rest of the afternoon. I had thought he’d come back in and I’d have a chance to confront him, but no, he had deprived me of the chance.

I slid down to the foot of my bed as my phone rang. Darting back across the expanse to the nightstand where my phone had been charging, I noticed the screen. You’ve got to be kidding me. I glared down at Katie’s name and took a deep breath as my jaw clenched tight. I poked the screen with enough force it hurt my fingertip. “Hello.”

“Hey. How’s it going?” Katie’s voice was as bubbly as ever, and the more I thought about it I couldn’t see how Ted was going to stand it for too long.

“I’m fine.” I kept my answer short and sweet hoping her call would be the same.

“I have this event this weekend, and I wondered if you had a dress I could borrow. I know you’re a tad smaller than me in places, but I might make it work. What size dress do you wear?”

“I’m a six. Where are you going?” Was she so brave to ask me for a dress to wear out with my man?

She breathed heavy and then I heard her sigh. “I have a date.”

My blood began to boil. “Anyone I know?” Would she deny that she was going out with Ted or offer up the information? Regardless, I was done. Our lifelong bond as sisters was null and void, blood pact or not.

“It’s not anyone you know. I thought I’d like something new to wear, but I don’t think it will work after all.” Something in her tone, the sing-song cadence perhaps, further proved she wasn’t being honest with me.

“I have to go, Katie. I’m late for work.” I slammed down the phone, not wanting to hear more and then dragged myself to the shower. I needed to be soothed, and I hoped the steady, hot stream would do the trick.

I contemplated not going in. Listening to Ted plan his date was the last thing I wanted to do, and if he asked me for more advice, I might murder him on the spot. I couldn’t quit now. Regardless of anything else going on, I still needed my job. At least until I figured out if Ted had tried to snag the Stutt property for himself, and if that were the truth, God help him.

An hour later, I rode Bluebell to the office. Already late, we took our time, and she kept a slow, steady pace as she strolled the beaten path.

“Look who finally made it,” Mason said to the two puppies. “You feeling better?”

“I’m perfect.” I wouldn’t give Ted or his brothers any satisfaction.

“Awesome. Do you think you can watch Thor and Max for a while? Mama didn’t want them in the kitchen with her. She’s afraid they’ll get underfoot.” He stood, and the puppies started to wrestle at his feet.

“Sure, why not?” I slipped out of my sweater and hung it on the back of the chair.

“You sure you’re okay?” Mason tilted his head as if to study my eyes. I hated being examined, and the fear that he might see into my soul and figure me out caused me to turn away and lower myself into the chair.

He pressed on, walking over to lean against the desk beside me. “Ted should be out in a bit. He’s going into town to pick up a few things. Is everything all right between the two of you?”

I let out a long breath. “Why wouldn’t it be?” Mason needed to worry about himself. “Have you heard any more from Ella?” I wondered if she’d ever been to the doctor or if she had lied about the whole thing. Mason deserved better than her in his life. I wanted to kick him for putting himself in that position. I had a lot of room to talk. Look at the heartache I’d inflicted upon myself. I should have stayed away when I had the chance.

“No, she’s going to the doctor Monday.” He regarded it as he would anything else in his life as if nothing about it fazed him.

“Not that it’s my business, but shouldn’t you be a bit more concerned?”

“No, because even if she is pregnant, there’s no proof it’s mine. I’ll have a test performed. Despite what she’s telling everyone, I used protection. I think she’s playing dirty.” He rubbed his temples, and I wondered if maybe his nonchalant attitude was all an act. How could it not bother him a little bit?

“Well, I hope it all works out.”

“Yeah, now that she knows Ted is interested in the Stutt land, she’s going to be even worse. He told me she wanted to strike up a bargain with him. She knows better, but she likes teasing him all the same.” He continued on about her and him, but I had too many thoughts in my mind to pay attention.

“Lauralee?”

“What do you mean he’s interested in the land? You think he wants to buy it?”

His eyes widened, and he wrenched his hands. “Only that he’s curious about it. I don’t know if he will buy it or not.” He pushed off the desk and headed toward the door. “I better get to work. Be good boys.” I glanced over my shoulder to see him pat the buff-colored puppy on the head and then he was gone. Talk about diversions.

I had no doubt in my mind that Ted was up to something and not ten minutes after Mason bailed on me, he entered the office with a big grin on his face. Considering I was late to work, I suppose that was a good thing. At least he wouldn’t give me any grief.

“You look beautiful this morning.” He gave the pups a pat on the head and then chuckled. “So do you, boys. Handsome devils.” He tapped his foot at them, and they wagged their tails stretching up his legs with their paws.

I didn’t give him a response, but he continued on without one anyway. “I’ll be away for a bit today. I’ve got to go into town and take care of some business. Could you take some messages if any come in? We should be good. We aren’t expecting anything.”

I wanted to remind him that I had a job to do and it wasn’t being his secretary or a babysitter, but instead, I nodded my head like an idiot. It seemed like the safest way considering I still wanted to give him a piece of my mind.

He approached behind me and his hand wrapped around my forehead. “You feeling okay?”

I pushed his hand away. “I’m fine. I wish you men would get to your work and let me get to mine.” He raised his hands and reared back as if to surrender.

Suddenly he leaned down over my shoulder. “Is that the time?” He pointed at the lower corner of the computer screen, and I nodded. “Dammit, I’m late.” He kissed my head and ran out the door. I watched him go. What the hell was wrong with these people?

The puppies barked as the door slammed shut and I leaned down and made a smooching noise to call them to me. Scooping them both up into my lap, I bundled them close. I needed the comfort. I doubted Ted was away on business and I contemplated calling Katie in thirty minutes to see what she was up to. Part of me thought who cares, but the other part of me wanted to ruin their fun.

Luke came in to charge his phone, and his mood seemed to match my own. “I don’t guess it can get any hotter for September.” He took off his hat and wiped his brow.

“Makes me glad to work inside the office, that’s for sure. You want to hide out for a while? Our boss left for town.” I kept a straight face, my fingers working the keys. “You can play with Thor and Max, though I’m not sure which is which.”

Luke stared at the dogs wrinkling his nose. “I’m not sure which is which either.”

“If they’d named them Brownie and Peanut like I suggested then we’d know.” I held the brown one’s little chin. “Are you Max or Thor? You kind of look like a Max.” I put him on the floor and then placed his brother beside him.

“What’s Ted gone into town for?” Luke stepped up to the worksheet and pointed his finger along the list to keep his place. “Must be personal. Did he say anything?”

I let out a deep breath and wanted to crawl under my desk. “Nope. He didn’t say a word.” I stabbed at my keys hard enough to consider it henpecking.

“Do you think he’s seeing someone?” I glanced at Luke, whose wide eyes told me he didn’t know anything about Ted’s love life. I wished I’d asked Mason, whose guilty exit told me he knew more than he was letting on. “Forget I asked that.” I waved a hand to dismiss it and stared back at my file sheet.

“I thought things were going good between the two of you for once. What’s happened to change that? You two were laughing it up at Kinsey’s.” I glanced back at him as he leaned against the wall by the door and propped his foot up behind him.

“I was drunk.” I scrubbed my face with my palms and wanted to cry. I couldn’t tell him about Katie, it was too humiliating. Of course, Ted had hidden it from everyone. I’m sure they’d all be surprised that he’d chosen to bed my best friend this time. In the past it was always random women, most I wasn’t too familiar with, though most I’d heard of. But this, it brought his fucking everything that moved to prove a point to a whole other level.

A sickening feeling came to mind. Ella. Had he gone to see her? To strike up a bargain? It was early yet, and knowing Ted, he was working both Ella and Katie.

“I don’t think he’d do anything to upset you.” Luke brushed off his pants and then dropped his foot from the wall to the floor.

“His track record says otherwise. Let’s face it, he’s spent the past few years doing shit to upset me.” It was what he did best.

“Why don’t you call and ask him what he’s doing. Or I will.” He walked over and pulled out his phone. Before I could speak, the phone started to ring. He held a finger up to his lips and the look on his face reflected his confidence.

“Hey, where are you?” asked Luke, still holding up that finger. His eyes widened, and then he nodded. “Katie’s?” He mumbled the word so I could barely make it out. “Oh, the feed order. Okay. Yeah, I got it. Talk to you later.” He hung up the phone and then all the color drained from his face. “He’s going to adjust the feed order.”

My eyes narrowed. “He couldn’t do that on the phone? And who is Katie?” My brow lifted like a challenge.

“She’s, um. I really don’t know. But he’ll be back, and he’ll explain.” He turned and made his way quickly to the door. “I better go check on Mason. Everything is going to be fine. Trust me, Lauralee.” He gave me a sympathetic smile and headed off to find his brother.

Even Luke lied to me now. I couldn’t take it anymore. Tears welled up in my eyes and I closed them tight, allowing them to spill down my cheeks. My throat burned with the hurt that ached within. I messaged Mason, who I assumed was in the field, farthest away from the office, and told him to come to the office. I had to go home. I grabbed my sweater which the puppies had pulled to the floor and were rolling around on, and Peanut, (or Thor or Max, whichever he was,) chewed a button. I shrugged into the thing, which was still cozy with their warmth, and headed home before either brother could return. Thor and Max would be fine for a few minutes alone.

Ted was with Katie, and my whole world was off its axis.