Chapter 8

Lauren

I took a deep breath, knowing this was going to be the first time I’d heard my father’s voice in a long time and the last time ever again. While I tried to keep my emotions in check, I couldn’t help but miss him and miss being his little girl.

Reed met me at the door of the office, and his eyes narrowed a bit. “Where’s Noah?”

I couldn’t believe Noah hadn’t told him he wasn’t coming. “He didn’t tell you? He’s not coming.”

“I knew I shouldn’t have told him about the cabin.”

“What do you mean?”

“Dad isn’t leaving him the cabin at Wade’s Creek. Dad wanted you to have it.”

I took a seat next to where Reed sat. “But why? It was always Noah’s favorite place, and what am I going to do with a cabin, Reed? Are you sure? Did you already see the will?”

“Not yet, but Dad told me. I didn’t want Noah to be blindsided, but I didn’t expect him to no-show because of it. We’re all supposed to be here.” Reed cleared his throat and tugged his collar. He took out his cell phone, and I saw him messaging Noah as the others filed into the room.

One man opened up his laptop and put in a flash drive as Mr. Dunkirk, my father’s lawyer, prepared a few papers. He looked up at me. “We’re just waiting for Noah.”

“Noah isn’t coming.” I hoped I hadn’t wasted my time making the trip.

“Oh,” he said, seeming a little put-off.

“I’m getting him on the phone,” Reed said. “We’ll make him do a voice chat if we have to.”

I shook my head. “He couldn’t get off work. I’m very sorry. His work is very important.”

About that time, Noah answered the phone, and I could hear the sound of loud music and women giggling in the background. Reed quickly turned the speakerphone off and put the phone to his ear as he stepped over to the corner of the room.

Blush stained my cheeks. “He’s an EMT. He drives a lot.” I rolled my eyes and looked away; it was obvious wherever Noah was, he wasn’t at work.

Mr. Dunkirk straightened the papers on his desk and then passed us each a copy. I tried to tune into what Reed was saying.

“I don’t give a two-cent shit where you are; you’re needed at this reading, or else it’s delayed. I know you don’t care about me, but at least have the decency to show up for our sister.” He looked up and then turned around and lowered his voice even more. “Oh, get over yourself. You haven’t been disinherited. Get your clothes on and wash your face. It’s lights, camera, and action for you in about five minutes.” Reed jabbed his finger at his phone and then straightened his tie as he returned to his chair. “He’s just getting ready for a live chat. I hope that’s all good and legal.”

“I do have some papers he’ll need to sign, but those can be done at a later date.”

“Did he think Dad would really write him off?” I couldn’t believe things had gotten so bad between them.

“Yes.” Reed closed his hands together in his lap, and then minutes later, Noah called. He was in a hotel room with palm trees and neon in the background, and his face looked like it hadn’t seen a shave in days.

“Good morning. Let’s do this.” I was pissed at him for lying to me about where he’d be, and I wondered how long he’d been in Vegas.

Mr. Dunkirk began with reading a few documents, and then we turned the phone around so Noah could see Father’s last will and testament video.

Fresh tears stung my eyes as Daddy appeared on the computer. He was sitting at his desk and had a smile on his face. “If you’re watching this, then it means I’m no longer with you. These are my final requests on this good earth, and I want to start by telling my children, Reed, Noah, and Lauren how much I love you. Your mother and I are together at last, and having you was our greatest contribution to the world. You’re fine people and will make your mark on the world. Always remember to follow your heart, listen to your gut, and take care of one another. I’ll keep things simple. Our family home shall go to Reed; I’d like to see him build a nice home and family there for himself. I’m leaving Noah the Land Rover and the property that I own across town. And lastly, to my daughter, my sweet little Lauren, I’m leaving the cabin at Wade’s Creek. Your mother and I fell in love there, and I hope you find the same kind of love we had. I’d like to have seen you settling down with a good man, but I’m sure your brothers will see to it that happens.” Dad gave a little laugh, and then he held up three envelopes. “I have written letters to you each, and I’ll have Mr. Dunkirk present those now.”

Mr. Dunkirk paused the video and handed us each our letter, except for Noah’s.

“Give my letter to my sister, please?”

“I’m afraid I cannot do that, Noah. You’ll have to come get it, or I can mail it certified.” Mr. Dunkirk was a smug old man, and Noah let out an audible sigh.

“Fine,” he said. “Mail it.”

“As you wish.” Dunkirk then restarted my father’s message.

“Now, for the money. I’m requesting that it be divided equally, and while I’m not around to tell you how to spend it, I’d like to ask you to be wise. One last time, I tell you all I love you. May God be with you through your lives, and I hope you keep your memories of me and your mother close to your heart.”

I wiped a tear, and Reed took out his handkerchief and handed it to me. “Thank you.”

“I want to talk to my sister,” Noah said. Reed took the phone and turned it off. A moment later, Noah called me on the phone.

“Hey, Noah.” I cleared my throat and sniffled as I got up and headed to a more private corner, and the other men finished things up with my brother.

“I wasn’t expecting that.” His voice was broken, and he’d been crying.

“Me neither, but I’m so sorry that he gave me the cabin.”

“No, don’t be sorry. He’s right. You need to find you a good man. Someone to share that place with. I’m going to make sure you do. He told me to take care of you. We both know he meant me.” I knew he had, he’d only been trying to be polite for Reed’s sake, but he was as nurturing as a wastebasket.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you what was going on with me. I came out here to unwind and escape for a bit.”

“We all need time, Noah, but sometimes, I just need my brother. It’s okay to mourn him. It’s okay to miss him.”

“Thanks. I guess I underestimated the old man.”

“I think we all did in the end.” I let out a long breath. “Gage wanted me to call him.”

“Oh? Are you having dinner tonight?” His voice cleared up a bit.

“Yes, we’re supposed to tonight, but he just wanted to catch up a little.”

“Be careful, Lauren.”

“I will, brother, but do you really think Gage would hurt me? I mean, he’s a good guy.”

“He is. And he’s getting his shit together. He’s got more money than the three of us inherited combined, too, so there’s that. Too bad you swore off men.”

“Ah, thanks for reminding me.”

“And you still haven’t told me why.”

“And I might never, but I promise you, it’s not that big of a deal. I’m okay. I promise.” I was especially okay knowing that I was going to call Gage as soon as I left the office and ask if he wanted to go with me down to the old cabin. I’d have to check on a few things and make sure the place was secure and not in need of repair. I couldn’t imagine my father leaving me anything too burdensome, but it was an old cabin, and we used to rough it back in the day.

I hung up with Noah and spent another half hour sitting with Mr. Dunkirk going over paperwork. When I left with the keys to my new house in my handbag, I was four-hundred grand richer and owned a cabin down on Wade’s Creek.

“What the hell am I going to do with a cabin?” My voice was but a mumble, and there was no one around to answer me as I got into Reed’s car. He was driving me back to the hotel.

“Did you say something?”

“No, just thinking out loud. I know Dad wanted to make a sweet gesture, but really, Noah should have the cabin. He adored that place. I wonder how Dad would feel about tradesies.”

“Trading for what? Do you really want the property across town? You don’t even live down here, so why not have a place you can stay every now and then? The cabin is perfect, and it was a special place for Mom and Dad.”

“Right.” He made me feel so guilty for even thinking about trading. “Besides, I doubt he’d trade based on principle alone. That had to be a kick in the pants.”

“Did you know he was going to Vegas?” He started his car and headed toward my hotel.

“No, I was just as shocked as you. I thought he was working. He just kept saying he couldn’t get away. But it’s not uncommon for him to go somewhere to blow off some steam. He’s done it before. I’m just surprised he got the vacation time to do it.”

“You don’t think he lost his job or something crazy like that, huh?” Reed didn’t have much confidence in our little brother, and I knew he looked down on him for following his dreams and not becoming a lawyer like us.

“No, he gets vacation time, Reed, and he’s pretty stable. You’d know that about him if you paid attention to someone other than yourself.” I turned my head and looked out the window, wishing I’d gotten a ride from Dunkirk. He would have been better company than Reed.

“I saw enough of his antics today, and when I do talk to him again, I’ll thank him for the embarrassment. It’s bad enough he’s got the tattoos and attitude, but he doesn’t have to act like a total delinquent.”

“You’re not serious. You’re judging him on the tattoos?” He made a turn, and I saw the hotel up ahead. I was glad because I wasn’t going to be able to deal with him much longer.

Reed chortled. “I’m judging him on all the stupid stunts he and that friend of his used to pull.” He and Gage had always pulled some stunts, and I wondered if Reed’s reaction was more about the stunts or the fact that Noah had chosen to pull them off with Gage, who was always more like a brother to him than Reed.

When the car came to a stop, I jumped out. “Thanks a lot. Have a nice one.” He gave me an eye roll as I slammed the door, and I turned and went into the hotel, getting out of the snow which had started falling gently again.

I decided to call Chloe once I got into the elevator, and when she answered, she was out of breath. “Are you okay, Chloe?”

“Yes, I’m trying a new workout. It’s kicking my ass.” She let out a primal sound, and then I could hear the sounds of guzzling water through the phone.

“Sounds… fun. I miss you.”

“Liar, but I miss you, too. How did the reading go?”

“Well, Dad did a video, but it was nice. I realized how fresh the wounds are, seeing and hearing him again. I know it’s going to be the last time, unless I can pry that file from Dunkirk’s hands.” When the elevator doors opened, I walked down the hall to my room and slipped the card key into the door. “It went well, though. I’m the proud owner of a cabin by the creek, but I have no idea if it’s in good shape or not. It could be a money pit for all I know. I haven’t used it in years and really expected Noah to get it. He’s spent more time there than anyone. He and Gage used to go a lot when they were in college, and I’m pretty sure they had some wild weekends.”

“Gage, the groom? Swoon city, right? Have you seen him again?” I’d told her all about the breakdown already.

“No, I haven’t. I have considered calling him and asking him to come down to the cabin with me. Maybe he can tell me if it’s in disrepair. He is a contractor, so that comes in handy, and he knows the house.”

“Did you get your car fixed?”

“Not until tomorrow.” I snapped my fingers. “That’s it; I’ll ask him to drive me out since my car is broken down.”

“Hmm. That sounds like a scheme to me.”

“Right, I just don’t know what I’d tell Noah. He’s having a harder time with Dad than I thought, and I’m not sure me messing around with his bestie is the best thing at the moment.”

“Trust me, don’t tell Noah a thing.”

She had a point. What big brother didn’t know, wouldn’t hurt him, but I didn’t think I could hide anything from him. I knew all too well how much secrets could hurt.