“Going somewhere?” asked Luke coolly.
“You need this if you want to leave.” Jamie dangled something in his hand.
I narrowed my eyes. It could’ve been a part from my Chevy’s engine. Jamie had deliberately disabled my car so I couldn’t go anywhere.
“Nate, Jamie, take her things back to her room. Simone, you and I need to have a talk. How about some ice cream?” Luke doled out orders like he was in charge.
On second thought, this was his turf.
I faltered.
“Go on,” Nate urged me. “You need that talk.”
“What about my car?” I asked Jamie. Without it, I was practically crippled. Nothing in Bellwood was within walking distance.
“I’ll fix it. Maybe.” A faint, devilish grin appeared on Jamie’s face.
I sighed. I met Luke’s eyes and resigned. “Okay. You guys win.” I climbed into Luke’s truck and slammed the door.
Luke slid behind the wheel and started the engine. “Be back in a while,” he said to his brothers.
Nate nodded.
Jamie scratched his belly as if he was uncomfortable with something. “Ugh.”
That was when I noticed Luke’s knuckles were bruised. Nate had a new cut on his face, and so did Jamie.
“Have the three of you been in a brawl?” I asked Luke as the truck lurched onto the street.
Luke coasted the vehicle leisurely. “Hmm?” He sounded unconcerned. “Brawl?” One eyebrow arched. “I wouldn’t say it was a brawl. We just had a brotherly discussion.”
“Luke! This is one of the reasons I’m leaving. I don’t want to see any of you getting hurt.” I covered my face with my hands. “Although I’m already too late on that.”
“You’re thinking too much of it. Have you tried the ice cream shop near the post office yet? It’s really good. The new owner is a food snob from Seattle, and he makes a really damn good ice cream. You can find unusual flavors too. Like bacon ice cream. I usually stick with the traditional vanilla with hot fudge.”
“I’m not in the mood for ice cream.”
“You sure? You’re the one who always said ice cream makes everything better.”
I turned to Luke. When Luke and his brothers were small, I’d always used ice cream as a bribe to make them behave or comfort them when they were sad.
Luke gave me a conspiratorial wink. “Tell you what, we’ll share a sundae. Iggy makes a kickass banana foster ice cream. You’ll love it.”
Twenty minutes later, we sat in the farthest booth from the counter with a gigantic sundae perched precariously in a too-small glass bowl between us. Luke had already dug in. I tasted one spoon and gave up. The sundae was spectacular, but I really had no appetite.
The shop was rather deserted at this hour. We were the only customers. Luke seemed to have anticipated this so we could have this talk without fear of somebody eavesdropping.
“Simone,” Luke began, “why did you think you were the guilty party regarding Jamie and Nate’s feud? Have you ever thought you’re actually the victim? You’re vulnerable and hurt and you’ve been mistreated by your ex for years, and naturally, when some man is kind to you and whispers a few nice words, you’ll eventually fall for it. Think about it. You’re Red Riding Hood living with three big bad wolves. No matter how much the wolves promise to behave themselves, Simone, you’re a temptation. A guy must be a saint to be able to leave you alone. Just so you know, I ain’t no saint either.”
I was stunned by his revelation. “I-I don’t know what to say.”
“To be honest, I’ve seen this coming since you came back to Bellwood. I thought it was going to be far worse, like coming home to find Jamie with a hatchet in his head or Nate lying on the floor with a shotgun hole in him.” Luke laughed. “Ah, those two yahoos handled it better than I thought.” He paused to drink the water that came with the sundae. “The three of us talked this thing through and—”
“By talking, you mean fist-fighting?” I interjected.
“Ah. No. The talk came after the punches. That’s irrelevant anyhow. We feel things between the three of us won’t go well if we don’t compromise. One thing we know for sure, now that you’re available, is that we’re not going to back down pursuing you until you end up with one of us. Which leads me to this—”
“It was a mistake that—”
Luke held up a hand. “Can I finish my pitch here?”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Have you heard of the term ‘polyandry’?”
I stared at him blankly.
“It’s basically a reverse polygamy. In polygamy you have one husband with multiple wives, while in polyandry, you got one wife with mul—”
I stopped him from talking. “I get the gist. I won’t do it. It’s crazy.”
Luke leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Simone, please, try to be open-minded. I’m a traditional guy through and through and—”
“Luke, it’s wrong.”
He straightened his back against the vinyl upholstery of the booth, ran both hands through his hair and exhaled deeply.
I could see this wasn’t easy for him either.
“Simone, I don’t think you have any idea the impact on us when you decided to elope with Sam. Even dad was taking it hard. We were so used to have you there for us and suddenly not, to be honest, we felt abandoned. I was angry at you for a long time.
“I mean, how could you do that to us? Just leave without a goodbye? Many times we wondered if we did something terribly wrong that made you want to leave us…”
“You know that wasn’t not the case,” I interjected.
“Now. But back then…” Luke sighed hard. “We were just kids. We didn’t know any better. I carried that anger with me for a long time. Hell, it’s probably one of the reasons I acted up when I was a teenager. After mom died, you’re the one who kept our little family together, and when you left, I was like a loose cannon. I was into so much trouble, Dad was convinced I’d ended up in prison.
“One day, I was arrested for vandalism and the judge gave me an ultimatum: go to jail or serve in the military. I chose the latter. Before I knew it, I was shipped to a warzone.
“And it was…hard. My unit was part of the ground troops deployed in Fallujah. I saw my friends die. I witnessed people doing things there that would’ve earned them life in prison in here. It was hell out there—hell on earth. It poisoned everyone, and ones who couldn’t cope, it drove them crazy.
“The only thing that kept me sane was you. Or should I say, it was the memory of you. I pretended that when I’d get home, you’d be there and everything would be okay.”
I was shocked to hear his revelation. I didn’t know how deep Luke felt about me.
“My brothers,” he started. A pause. “They felt the same way about you. There’s no one who could replace you in our heart. Probably one of the reasons, our personal relationships failed miserably. We still hung on to the notion that one day you’d be back and everything would be like old times again. Whole. A happy family.”
Luke gazed out the window. From this seat, we could see the parking lot of the local post office. The temperature outside had risen considerably and the heat had created mini mirages on the dusty street.
Luke spoke again, a tinge of desperation coloring his voice. “I don’t want to lose my brothers, Simone, but at the rate this is going, one of us is going to end up in a body bag, one going to prison, and the other is going to the nut house.” He turned to me, his eyes boring into my soul. “Please. I don’t want that to happen.”
Chapter Six
I returned to the Cody house and spent the next week like nothing had happened. I did my daily duties as usual. Cooking. Cleaning. Laundry. The brothers acted normal but beneath the placid surface, unspoken tension stretched between them. They were waiting for my answer to choose one of them as the one I’d officially marry.
In that candid heart-to-heart talk with Luke, the brothers proposed a polyandry relations
hip. Since polygamy and the like wasn’t legal in this state, and to give a fundamental reason for me staying in the Cody household, they felt it was best if I married one of them. They even went as far as to schedule which night I should spend with them.
It was crazy.
And crazy was the game I had to play if I wanted everybody to come out of this safely.
It put so much more pressure on me than before. Never mind Aunt Rebecca’s scolding or me being a pariah in my hometown, the Cody brothers were their own worst enemies. I couldn’t walk away from this problem. Like Nate had said, I used to run when I faced a major life-changing issue. This time, I had to face it head on. The problem was, I wasn’t sure of my own feelings.
Sure, I was madly attracted to them. I was also conflicted about jumping into this unorthodox arrangement.
I’d loved no man but my ex for the past twenty years and see where it had gotten me. Was it okay to open my heart to another… no, three others this soon?
I then decided to take a small step.
I returned the ten thousand dollars Aunt Rebecca had given me. I told that cranky old woman I wasn’t going to leave Bellwood. I’d decided to settle down here, and there was nothing she could do to convince me otherwise. She just had to deal with it.
On the night I was supposed to give my answer, a surprise came to our doorstep.
Samuel Marsh stood at the threshold of the door.
I became guarded in an instant. I didn’t want to see him with his new girlfriend. Hadn’t he had enough of tormenting me? He’d robbed me of my dignity. He’d abandoned me to fend for myself. He’d broken our marriage vow to love and cherish for better or worse, rich or poor, sickness and health ‘til death do us part.
I still couldn’t forget the day he and his lover had ganged up on me in the lawyer’s office. I stiffened at the sight of him.
“You.” I narrowed my eyes. “Why are you here? You should contact my lawyer if you have any business with me.” I prepared to shut the door on him when he took out a paper from his Brioni suit jacket.
“You want this, right?” Sam waved the divorce paper.
I snatched it from him. The bastard hadn’t signed it.
“If you want me to sign it, all I need from you is a little of your time,” he said.
“Why?” I felt frustrated. “You got everything. What else do you want?”
“I’m sorry,” he said, which was rare for him, “but we need to talk, Simone. Now.”
“Now isn’t good. My lawyer isn’t here.”
“We don’t need lawyers. It’s about something else.”
I faltered. Behind me, I could feel the presence of Nate and Jamie. Luke wasn’t home yet. He’d called earlier to tell me he was going to be a bit late.
Nate touched my shoulder. “Hey, Sam. Long time no see. Can I help you?”
My ex’s gaze darted to the two brothers briefly. “I need to have a talk with my wife.”
“Newsflash, buddy. She’s not your wife anymore,” said Jamie sharply. He looked like he was after Sam’s blood.
“Until I sign this paper, she is.” My ex didn’t seem intimidated.
“Fine.” I quickly put an end on the pissing contest. “Let’s talk.” I pointed at the rattan tête-à-tête furniture on the veranda. “Make it quick.”
“I was thinking we should discuss this over dinner. Maybe at Massie’s? I’ve been driving for ten hours straight; I had no chance to eat. I’m starving.”
“Not her freaking problem,” said Jamie hotly. He could be hotheaded at times.
I touched Jamie’s arm. “It’s okay. I can handle this.”
Nate and Jamie didn’t look happy at all, but they respected my wishes.
“Fine, we’ll go to Massie’s. Let’s get this thing over with,” I said to Sam. “I’ll get my purse and my keys.”
“No. Just use my car.” Nate fished out his keys from his pocket. “Make it brief. If you don’t get back by nine, we’ll come to get you.” He said that to me, but the message was for Sam.
I took the keys from Nate’s hand. “All right.”
We drove to Massie’s Diner in separate cars. I sure as hell didn’t want to be in the same car as Sam. My ex had driven to Bellwood in a flashy Porsche that attracted everyone’s attention when he parked near the diner’s entrance.
We chose the farthest table from everyone else. Sam ordered chicken fried steak and a glass of iced tea. I didn’t want anything. I kept my silence as he demolished his dinner. I couldn’t wait to get this over with. Plus, everyone in the diner was secretly rubbernecking at us.
Finally, Sam finished his food. He gulped down his iced tea with gusto before he was ready to talk. I knew this habit a little too well. Sam treated all “talk” between us like he was negotiating his business. I knew he was planning some “spin” behind this discussion. I just didn’t know what—yet.
Sam wiped his hands with the napkin. “Simone,” he began, “I think we should reconcile.”
This caught me off-guard. I thought he’d demand my kidney or a limb if I wanted to see that divorce paper signed. “Huh?”
“I’ll cut to the chase. Arianne and I have broken up.”
“Huh?” My mind was still boggled by his revelation.
“I found out that Arianne was only after my money. I’m sorry for what I did to you. I mistreated you terribly. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. Please, take me back.”
For a long moment, I was speechless. “Sam, you hurt me.”
“I know, baby. That’s why I’m sorry. Please, forgive me. If you take me back, I promise I’ll be different. I’m a changed man, you see? I’ve been in counseling for my sex addiction. I even enrolled in an anger management class. I’m doing everything I can to be a better man—a better husband for you. You’re right. You’re always right about my affairs. I was wrong. I should have listened to you.”
I couldn’t believe what I’d just heard.
“What do you say that we end this silly divorce thing? Look, how about we take a romantic trip to Italy? You’ve always wanted to see Venice and Rome, right? Maybe we’ll buy a villa in Tuscany as our vacation home. I promise this time I’ll spend more time with you. I’ll take extra vacation time from the firm.” Sam fumbled with his jacket and presented me with a bribe—a big diamond rock set in platinum. “This is a token of my apology. One of the kind. Heart diamond. Helzegger picked this personally for me. He said a heart diamond this size was rare. It’s over nine carats and set me back a cool nine hundred grand.”
One thing I hated about Sam was that he always put a price tag on every present he gave me. He seemed to expect me to drop to my knees and thank him profusely because he gave me expensive things.
The pain in my heart that was slowly healing tore open. I cast him a look of disgust. “Sam, you’ve hurt me in a way that you couldn’t have imagined.”
“I know, I know.” He held up his hand. “What I did to you was unforgivable. I’m a changed man, baby. I promise. How about I buy you a new Benz?”
“Sam,” I said coldly, “it’s obvious you don’t know the word ‘unforgiveable.’ There’s no way I can come back to you.”
Irritation painted his face. “Is it because of how the partners’ wives have treated you? I know about it. I’ll have a talk to them and everything will be all right.”
“No. It won’t be all right. It’s over between us. Go back to New York with your fancy rock and fancy car and leave me alone. From now on, use my lawyer as a point of contact if you have anything to discuss with me.”
Sam didn’t seem to be taking me seriously. “Okay, I got it. What do you want, babe? I’ll give you anything you want. Anything. Just say it, and I’ll grant it. Just like that.”
“Fine. Sign that divorce paper.”
He laughed derisively. “Simone, are you turning down this nine-hundred-thousand-dollar ring?”
“Yes. I don’t want your stupid ring. I want a divorce from you.”
It took him a few seconds to digest the finality of my words. “Let me get this straight. You’d rather be penniless living in this dump than go back to New York with me. Simone, you aren’t making sense. You can’t survive alone. I’ve always taken care of you.”
“You forgot that I put you through law school working odd jobs. I can take care of myself, thank you very much.”
“This is crazy talk. You don’t mean it.”
“I’ve had enough. My lawyer will contact your lawyer.” I stood, reaching for the car keys.
Sam snatched my hand and stared at me evenly. “You’ve changed. What’s happened to you?”
“It’s called growing up, Sam. Plus, I don’t buy in to your bullshit anymore. We’ve been through this scenario so many times. You’ve never changed, and you never will.”
“No. This is something else.” Sam searched my face. “Did you sleep with another guy?”
“That is none of your business. Goodnight.” I yanked my hand away.
“I’m right. You’ve got yourself a new boyfriend. Who is he? Whoever he is, he can’t provide for you like me.”
I didn’t want to have this conversation any longer. In the old days, I’d have taken his bait already. But the time I’d spent alone after that eventful day had taught me that arguing with Samuel Marsh was as useless as trying to carry water in a sieve. So, I made an attempt to leave.
Unexpectedly, Sam grabbed the collar of my dress and shook me. “I’m not finished talking to you.”
“Let me go, Sam.” I tried to break free of his grip.
“You’re nothing without me, Simone. You won’t survive. You’re too stupid to fend for yourself. You’ll die.”
“Let me go!”
All of a sudden, Sam’s hand jerked away from me. Luke had come out of nowhere. Everyone in the diner gawked at us.
Sam didn’t seem to recognize Luke. He only saw a man in uniform and dismissed him lightly. Since becoming a lawyer, Sam held little regard for people in uniforms. “Piss off. I’m talking to my wife.”
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