Ethan fought back a deluge of swears and the uncharacteristic urge to shed tears. How had he not known she was spiraling to this point? He should have recognized that she was going through some sort of breakdown. He should have realized that his behavior could push her there.
He held her close to his chest, limiting her movements and minimizing the risk of her harming herself.
He could have helped prevent this.
“Love, listen to me.” Ethan brushed the hair from Simplicity’s face. He moistened his finger and wiped off some of the ink smudges smeared across her face. “Your sister and I are here with you. And we’re going to get someone who can help you feel better.”
Simplicity slowed her thrashing, but tried to get up. He held her still.
“After I finish cleaning. Oh, the baking! The cookies!”
Reed knelt in front of Ethan and Simplicity. “The cookies are fine, sweetie. And this place is plenty clean. Let’s get you dressed.” She reached out and placed her hand on Simplicity’s bare knee.
Simplicity gave up struggling and collapsed against Ethan, resting her head on his shoulder.
“I’m so tired.”
“Shhh.” Ethan smoothed her hair and kissed the top of her head. “I’ll take you someplace where you can rest.”
“Will you be there?”
“Of course.”
“I ruined my business plan.”
“We’ll make another one.”
The cat jumped onto Simplicity’s lap and began to lick her face. Simplicity lifted her arm and allowed the cat closer access. The cat immediately began to purr, and Simplicity’s tense face muscles relaxed.
And then she went completely still. She stopped reacting to the cat. She stopped answering even Ethan’s most mundane questions. She simply stared straight ahead, unblinking.
Ethan grabbed the blanket from the bed and wrapped it around Simplicity.
“I’ll carry her to the car. Meet me out front with that long patchwork skirt of hers—it’s her favorite and will comfort her.”
Reed started to object, but after staring at Ethan for several moments, she nodded. She opened the door for Ethan as he carried Simplicity and the cat out into the cool air.
Simplicity stared straight ahead for the whole ride to the hospital, ignoring the purring cat on her lap. She didn’t seem aware of where she was or where she was going.
Her despondence scared the hell out of him.
Ethan slipped Simplicity’s shoes on her feet before helping her out of the car while Reed, who pulled in right behind him, rushed into the hospital to alert them of Simplicity’s arrival. He pulled Simplicity’s hand to lift her up, but she collapsed against him. He lifted her and carried to the hospital doors. He didn’t notice that the damn cat followed behind until it ran into the hospital ahead of them, meowing furiously at the receptionist.
“Sorry, no animals.” The nurse who greeted them in the ER chastised Ethan for the violation.
“We need you to make an exception,” Ethan demanded.
“Take that up with the Health Department, sir.”
Reed touched Ethan’s arm.
“You go ahead and take the cat to the car. I’ll give the intake coordinator the information she needs. Let’s keep things mellow so we don’t upset Simplicity, okay?”
He hated to leave Simplicity’s side, but Reed was right. The cat had to go, and he didn’t have the information the intake coordinator would need—Reed did.
He didn’t know everything about Simplicity.
He only knew that she was the reason his heart started beating again.
She was the reason he had a modicum of hope for the future.
She was the reason he had learned to love for the first time.
***
Ethan swore under his breath when he returned from the car only to find that Reed and Simplicity had been taken to a room. He was denied entrance.
Completely helpless, Ethan returned home, much to the detriment of the cat.
“I should throw you in a snow bank. You’re the rudest cat I’ve ever met.”
Yet Simplicity loved this flea bag, and the bag of fur clearly loved her.
Days passed with no news and no sleep. Reed was never home when he swung by there for information. Rogan met him at the end of the driveway one day to tell him he needed to back off—that Simplicity would find him when she was better if that was her decision. Rogan also strongly suggested that Ethan take some time to shower and sleep.
Ethan struggled with the whole thing. He had been made to feel pretty damned helpless in his life, but this went beyond anything the tormentors could dish out.
He couldn’t solve Simplicity’s problems, but maybe he could help her dreams for a better world come true.
He had never believed in fairy tale endings, but on one of his long, lonely walks around town, Ethan passed a building that sparked an idea that he knew Simplicity would strongly support. And one that would alleviate some of the stress of her putting together a large foundation from the ground up…
He just had to decide how much of his pride he was willing to swallow on Simplicity’s behalf.
Chapter Nineteen
This is for Simplicity.
Ethan had learned the benefit of self-talk long ago. The art had never come in handy as much as it did while standing on the grand staircase leading to his father’s mansion.
The saying about pride being a bitter pill to swallow had never been truer than at that moment. But if it meant making things better for Simplicity, Ethan had no choice.
The butler—a different one from the last time Ethan had been in this hellhole—led Ethan to the drawing room. The room had been redecorated since Ethan had last stood in it, but the environment was as stiff and cold and sterile as ever.
Like the man entering the room.
The man who claimed the title of Ethan’s father didn’t offer a smile or a greeting. He didn’t attempt to sweep his only son into a warm embrace, or blink away tears.
He held his hand out for Ethan to shake, like Ethan’s visit was a business meeting.
Ethan glared at his hand until his father pulled it away.
“Good to see you, son.”
Ethan’s father turned away to pour himself a glass of scotch.
“Since apparently you didn’t stop by to mend fences, to what do I owe this unexpected visit?”
“You have something I want.”
His father laughed.
“No doubt. Glad you’ve finally come around to remembering your roots. It’s shameful that you’ve been living like a pauper in this town where everyone knows your family. You’ve been an embarrassment.”
Ethan smiled.
“Why, thank you, Father.”
His smile broadened as his father’s face took on a deeper shade of red. If he had known his presence would have evoked such tender feelings in his good old daddy, he would have done this a long time ago.
He wasn’t there to taunt his father, though. He was there to get Simplicity what she deserved.
“I’m willing to let bygones be bygones and reinstate your position in the family business. My lawyer will draw up the paperwork immediately.”
“I don’t want a position in your business.”
“Cut to the chase. What is it that you want?”
“Ethan!”
Ethan’s mother ran into the room in a cloud of perfume and a thunder of high heels. Her face changed from excited happiness to bland detachment when Ethan’s father glared at her over the rim of his scotch glass.
Instead of throwing herself into Ethan’s arms the way Ethan had feared she had been about to do, she stopped short, studying the floor and allowing Ethan’s father to command the situation.
“He’s not here to see us. He wants something.”
“I want the building downtown.” No need to mince words. He could secure his deal and get the hell out of here before he broke out in hives.
His father laughed. “The
Simpson medical building? Like hell.”
Ethan continued to stare. He would not back down.
“You’ve got to be kidding. Surely you know my intentions for that building.”
“After the way you’ve sabotaged Simplicity’s efforts to do something good in this town, you owe her. You owe me.”
“Good to see your balls are intact after your stint overseas, son. But my answer will not change. If that’s all you came for, you can show yourself out the door.”
Ethan clenched his fists. His mother slinked out of the room in retreat—as pathetic and weak as always. His so-called father poured himself another drink, guzzling it before pouring yet another.
“Donate the building to Simplicity’s foundation. You have plenty of funds to buy another.”
“No.”
His father could hold a mean glare, but Ethan had perfected the art of not giving in. He wouldn’t leave here without an agreement.
His father looked away after a tense minute.
“You have no idea the hell I had to go through to get that building. I intend for it to be my legacy.”
“The location and size is perfect for a community center for the disadvantaged kids in town.”
“Like hell! I’m converting that building to a state of the art medical center. I’ve already ordered the signs with my name on them. That’s my legacy, Ethan.”
Ethan stepped closer. His father flinched.
“Your legacy can be not being an asshole for once in your pathetic, entitled life. Help the kids. Do something for someone other than your wallet.”
“You’re doing this to get back at me when I did nothing to deserve your anger. I didn’t make you go into the military—I expected you to take over my business. When you got yourself into that mess over there, I did everything I could to get you out. I almost got myself thrown into prison for violating federal law. You didn’t care what we went through—you only cared about your own pain. Fine. Take the building. I don’t care.”
Ethan nodded, shocked that his father caved so quickly.
“But my name goes on the building.”
“No. Simplicity created the organization. It’s all hers. No Witherford strings attached.”
Another glass of scotch followed the first several.
“And if I say no?”
The thumping of two packed bags on the marble floor startled Ethan’s father and shocked Ethan.
Ethan’s mother looked stronger than she ever had in her life.
“Then I’ll take you to the cleaners for all you’re worth. And then some.”
“What the hell do you think you’re saying?” Ethan’s father’s red face threatened to explode into millions of fractured pieces. “Put those bags away. How dare you try to humiliate me? Isn’t what your son has done to us enough?”
“Don’t talk about my son that way. You will do what he says.”
“I will not accept orders from you.”
“I wonder how long that pretty little mistress of yours will stick around when you become a mere mortal and not the richest man on the East Coast? Because you know damn well I’ll take my half. With the chronic infidelity, I’ll probably get more.” She picked up her bags and carried them to the door before returning to stand beside Ethan. “Young, beautiful women don’t screw around with old, balding married men with shriveling dicks for fun, you know.”
“You bitch—” Ethan’s father stepped toward Ethan’s mother.
Ethan intervened.
“Don’t even think about it. That’s your wife—you owe her respect.”
Ethan wasn’t sure his father’s face could get any more splotchy. In fact, if his blood pressure increased any higher, Ethan would probably be calling for an ambulance.
“Both of you get the hell out of here.”
“Right after you call your lawyer to have him draw up the papers.” Ethan kept his tone level. No need to further agitate the man when Ethan was already in position to win.
His mother proved to be an effective member of the battalion. “Get to it, Harold. You call to take care of your paperwork, or I call my lawyer to take care of mine. The next move is yours.”
Ethan bit back a smile at this turn of events.
Ethan’s father grumbled through the call, but he made it.
“Happy?”
Ethan shrugged.
He kind of was.
“It’s a start.”
Ethan turned to leave. His mother lifted her bags, and when Ethan attempted to help her carry them, she shooed him away.
“I’m going to start doing things for myself from now on. I want to make you proud, Ethan.”
They walked in silence out the door, ignoring the ranting of the man who thought his indifference could solidify a family.
Ethan watched as his mother’s driver held her door open for her. He watched as she smiled—something he had rarely seen her do in his entire life. And then he watched as she rode away, holding her hand up to the window and staring back at him.
She had suffered under the dictatorship of her husband as much as Ethan had suffered with the man as a father.
Ethan vowed to do better in his relationship.
Simplicity had no way of knowing it, but she had changed his life. For the better.
And he would do anything and everything he could to help her recover.
Chapter Twenty
Ethan rubbed his sweaty hands on his pant legs. He hadn’t bothered to change out of his sweats before coming—to say he had been shocked when Reed appeared at his door and asked him to go see Simplicity would be an understatement.
The only thing that slowed him down was the appearance of Simplicity’s cat. He hadn’t seen the thing since the day of the hospital trip. He tried to get out of the driveway, but as he started to back out, the mongrel jumped onto his car hood and refused to get off, even when Ethan beeped his horn.
Ethan heard Simplicity’s voice in his head telling him the cat’s presence was a sign. Yes, she probably needed a visit from the creature.
Ethan reached into his back seat and retrieved one of the reusable canvas grocery bags Simplicity had insisted he use.
He’d smuggle the thing in to see her.
His hands shook as he was brought into the locked unit on the third floor. His nerve-storm grew as they approached an empty room. The nurse asked him to wait while she let Simplicity know he was there, so he paced the area while he waited, taking in the faded couches and the outdated television. He rolled his eyes at the motivational posters on the wall, but then realized Simplicity probably loved them.
And he loved her.
He shushed the cat when the thing started meowing in his tote. “Don’t you dare tell her before I do.”
So he had been driven to the point of talking to a cat and thinking the cat could talk to Simplicity.
Great.
He looked up from the bag at the sound of slippered feet shuffling into the room.
Dressed in a basic t-shirt and the patchwork skirt he had asked Reed to bring, with her hair neatly braided in two long braids on the sides of her head, she looked every bit the angel he knew her to be.
She didn’t smile at him, but her expression was serene. No trace of the vacant, faraway look from days ago.
She fiddled with a beaded bracelet on her wrist.
He couldn’t just stand there staring at her, yet he couldn’t think of where to start.
“Hi.” Lame, but he didn’t know… anything.
“Hi,” she said back, equally lame, and with a slight quiver.
He looked over her shoulder to make sure no one had come with her. “Shut the door.”
She grinned and did as requested, then waited for him to make the next move.
He opened the top of the bag so the cat’s head could poke out.
“You brought Oscar!”
“You’re more excited to see him than me.”
“No.” She bent to nuzzle Oscar’s face. “You’ve both made my day.�
��
“Did your sister tell you I was coming?” Reed hadn’t said anything more than what time he should arrive.
“I asked her to have you come. Thank you.”
“Simplicity, I have so much to say to you. I was the worst kind of asshole.”
She stood up and kissed his lips, silencing him.
“We have a lot to talk about, but you don’t owe any apologies.”
He gripped her upper arms, squeezing his elbow on the cat’s head when the thing tried to get between them.
“I know apologies can’t make up for what I said. What I did. How I acted. I was a damned fool. Have been my entire life.” He cleared his throat. “I don’t want to be anymore. Inside me there is a halfway decent guy trying to fight his way out, and I need you with me.”
“Ethan—”
“I completely understand if you tell me to go fuck myself. I deserve that. And you don’t have to take me back. But if you do, I swear I will never treat you so poorly again. You deserve the very best, and you’ll get it. From me. With me.”
Tears streamed down her face.
“I don’t want you to feel sorry for me, Ethan. I hate that you saw me like that. And I’m sorry I tried to force my way into your life. I am ready to let you go.”
“No.” He pulled her closer, choking back his tears. “I don’t feel sorry for you. And I don’t want you to let me go.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. About my illness. I would never expect you to allow that kind of crazy into your life.”
“Baby, you’ve seen crazy a million times from me. You’re not crazy. And we’re still getting to know each other. I look forward to a lifetime of peeling back your layers. You’ll tell me what you want me to know when you want me to know it. Chapter by chapter. The way a beautiful story should be told.”
She shook her head. “Can we sit?”
“Anything you want.”
She sat up straight on the couch beside him, stroking the cat’s head as she stared at Ethan’s chest.
“You need to know what you’re getting into.” Her words were as clear as the Springs on a summer day. “Before you decide.”
“Then tell me. But don’t expect it to change my mind.”
Loving a Wildflower Page 18
