“Is that right?”
“Yes, Luke.” She moved in close enough that she could see every shift of emotion in his eyes. “Normal people screw up and when they do, they apologize, are forgiven and the world goes on.”
“So now this is my fault.” He snorted and shoved the paperwork back into the envelope.
“I didn’t say that.” Sighing, she shook her hair back behind her shoulders. He wouldn’t bend. Wouldn’t understand that what she’d done had been hard for her. That it had torn at her. That it was more complicated than black-and-white. It wasn’t that he couldn’t forgive her. He chose not to. “I don’t think you’ll ever find anyone perfect enough to live in your idealized world, and that’s a shame.”
He stiffened, and his features went cold and hard. “I didn’t ask for your sympathy, either.”
“Too bad. You’ve got it anyway.” She paused to steady herself so she could say and believe the hard truth. “It’s over, Luke. No matter who’s at fault, it’s over. I know that and so do you. That’s really the only thing that counts now.”
She took one long last look into those summer-blue eyes of his, then left while she still could.
* * *
“I’m sorry about this, Pop.” An hour later, Luke watched his grandfather read over the paperwork Fiona had given him, and he could have sworn he saw the old man age right before his eyes.
And Luke could have punched his cousin in the face for that alone.
“Can’t believe Cole would do all of this,” Jamison muttered. “I never would have guessed it was him. Which is why, I suppose, he was able to do it.”
“There must be a reason,” Loretta mused aloud, as if trying to reassure herself.
There was a gas fire dancing in the hearth against the February cold, but it didn’t do a thing to mitigate the chill sweeping through his grandfather’s living room. The cozy furniture, the warmth of the decor, all seemed covered in a thin layer of ice brought about by Cole’s betrayal.
“It’s his ambition,” Jamison murmured, sitting back and rubbing one hand across his jaw. “His and Susan’s. That woman’s always pushing Cole for more. I’m not excusing him, mind you. What he did, he did. But I am saying he’s probably been feeling some pressure.”
He looked at Luke. “The way I treated you—favored you over him—probably had a lot to do with it, too.”
“No,” Luke said. He’d been going over and over this since the moment Fiona had given him the proof of Cole’s deception. “You’re not taking the blame for this, Pop. What Cole did, he did on his own. If he wanted more responsibility at the company, then he damn well should have earned it. You know as well as I do that he loves the paycheck, he just doesn’t want to work.
“He doesn’t get to slide on this. You should call the police.”
“And tell them what?” Jamison countered with a choked laugh. “That my grandson was gaslighting me? No. This is family, and that’s how we’ll handle it.”
“I agree, Jamie.” Loretta’s voice was soft but firm.
Luke looked at them both and didn’t get it. Cole had hurt the man who’d raised him, loved him. Cole had done awful things, so how could he ever be forgiven for it? Fiona was wrong, he told himself. An apology didn’t mean forgiveness, and it certainly didn’t mean anyone would forget what had happened.
But this wasn’t his call.
“Fine,” he said finally. “We’ll do it your way. What’s the plan?”
“We’ll be having a family dinner here tonight,” Jamison said, with a glance at his wife to make sure the idea was all right with her. At Loretta’s nod, Jamison said, “We’ll talk then, and I’ll handle Cole.”
* * *
“I’m sorry it all went to hell. I liked Luke.”
“Me, too,” Fiona said with a wry smile. She’d relived that last argument, the one they’d had the week before, almost daily. She kept coming up with things she should have said, should have done. Would it have changed anything? Probably not, but he might have at least understood.
For a week, she’d tortured herself while gathering information for his grandfather. Now that job was done, and it was time to admit that whatever she’d had with Luke was just as finished.
“He might come crawling back,” Laura mused.
“Luke? Crawl?” Fiona shook her head and laughed. “That would be something to see. But it would never happen. He’s too proud. Too sure of himself and too wrapped up in his boldly black-and-white, right-and-wrong world. He’ll never forgive me for lying to him.
“And though I’m sorry it was necessary, I can’t completely regret it, because if I hadn’t agreed to keep my identity and purpose a secret, I never would have met him in the first place. God. Isn’t this a pitiful rant?”
“I’ve heard worse.”
Fiona laughed a little. “That’s something, I guess.” She reached for a cookie, pulled off a few crumbs and said, “What am I supposed to do now, Laura?”
Her best friend reached across the table, patted her hand and said, “What you always do. Live. Work. Smile.”
Fiona’s eyes filled with tears. That all sounded impossible at the moment. “It hurts to breathe.”
Laura cried with her. “I know, Fee. It’s going to for a while. That’s why we have wine and cookies.”
Briefly, Fiona’s lips curved. “And friends.”
Then dutifully, she took a bite of her cookie and washed it down with wine.
* * *
When Cole and his family arrived, Jamison braced himself. He still didn’t want to believe that the boy he’d loved and raised had tried so hard to convince him that he was losing his mind. That was a stab to the heart that was going to take some time to get past.
But he would get past it. This was family and, despite the current circumstances, Jamison knew Cole was a decent man. Underneath his jealousy of Luke, his blind ambition and desire to take over the company to prove to himself he was just as good as, if not better than Luke, Cole was just a man looking for something he couldn’t find.
Jamison hurt for him, but his anger and disappointment were just as vibrant as the pain he felt. He needed to make Cole accept that actions have consequences.
Cole needed to be reminded of what was truly important.
Carrying his son Oliver into the room, Cole was followed by Susan, just a step or two behind them. Cole was wearing khaki slacks, a red polo shirt and loafers while Susan looked as she always did. As if she’d just stepped out of a fashion magazine—cool and beautiful. Oliver, of course, was the shining, smiling boy he was supposed to be. And Jamison meant to keep him that way. Damned if he’d destroy the boy’s father to make a point.
Jamison noticed the moment Cole spotted Luke standing at the wet bar in the corner, and Jamison frowned to see the hard resentment on Cole’s features. Yes, Jamison told himself. No matter what else, he had to take partial responsibility for this mess. He’d favored Luke and, in doing so, he’d shortchanged Cole. He hadn’t meant to. He’d only responded to the boys as their nature—and his—had demanded. But that had been a mistake. Maybe if he’d expected more of Cole, Jamison would have gotten it.
What was the old saying? People will rise or fall according to your expectations of them.
In that, he’d let Cole down.
He was about to make up for that.
“Luke,” Cole said flatly. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“I’ll bet,” Luke muttered.
Jamison shot him a quelling look, then said, “Susan, why don’t you take Oliver back to Marie? She’s made his favorite cookies today and that will give us all a chance to talk.”
Their cook loved little Oliver, so Jamison knew the boy would be looked after while the adults had a serious discussion.
“All right.” Susan did as asked, and Cole sat down on one of the sofas.
“Want a drink?” Luke asked from the corner.
“Yeah. Scotch.”
Loretta took Jamison’s hand and gave it a squeeze as he stood up and walked across the room to stand by the fireplace.
Luke delivered Cole’s scotch, then took a seat in an armchair near his cousin. Jamison watched them all.
Luke was tense, Loretta was miserable, Cole was clearly uneasy and Susan, when she reentered the room, looked tranquil. That wouldn’t last much longer.
Jamison had done plenty of unpleasant things in his life, but none of them, he thought, compared to this single moment. He loved Cole, but Jamison had been through a nightmare the last few weeks and his grandson was the reason why. That had to be addressed, like it or not.
Cole shot a look at Luke, then turned to his grandfather. “What’s going on, Pop?”
“I know what you’ve been up to, Cole.” He kept his gaze fixed on Cole’s, so he saw when the man flinched, and it damn near broke Jamison’s heart. Yes, he had known it was true. But seeing it on Cole’s face just made it so much more painful.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t lie to him,” Luke muttered. “Don’t make it even worse.”
Cole snapped, “Stay out of this. Why are you even here? You left.”
“I came back.”
“What?” Susan finally spoke and the shock in her voice said volumes.
Jamison knew she’d been counting on her husband taking over the company. Susan wasn’t a bad person, but she was a social climber and having her husband as the CEO of a billion-dollar company would be right up her alley.
Cole ignored his wife and turned to Jamison. “You mean, he’s back at the company? All is forgiven? Just like that?”
“Just like that,” Jamison said, and lifted one hand to Luke, silently telling him to keep quiet. This was for Jamison to do, as much as he wished he didn’t have to. “You have anything to say about this, Cole?”
“If you’re talking about Luke sliding back into the fold, then yeah. I’ve got things to say.”
“You should be more concerned with yourself than Luke,” Jamison told him shortly. “I told you. I know what you’ve been doing to me.”
“Pop—”
The room was so quiet it was as if everyone in it had taken a breath and held it. “I’ve got evidence, so don’t bother denying it.”
Eleven
Cole tossed his scotch down his throat, then set the glass on the table in front of him. “I won’t. What would be the point?”
“You bastard,” Luke muttered.
“That’s enough, Luke.” Jamison’s heart was aching as he looked at his oldest grandson. “Why, Cole? Just so you could take charge?”
“Why shouldn’t he?” Susan asked. “He’s your grandson, too.”
“He is.” Jamison nodded. “But as of today, he’s not a vice president at the company any longer.”
“You can’t do that.” Susan jumped to her feet and faced Jamison.
“Yes, he can.” Cole gave his wife a steely look, then stood up. He looked directly into Jamison’s eyes and said, “I did it. And I swear a part of me thought it was for your sake, too, Pop. Force you to slow down. Retire.”
“By making me think I was losing my mind?”
To his credit, Cole flushed and shifted his gaze.
Jamison wasn’t nearly finished. “You gave me more than a few hard days. But you made your Gran worry for me and that I won’t allow.”
Cole looked at Loretta and even from across the room, Jamison could read the man’s shame. “I’m sorry for this, Gran.”
Sadly, she nodded. “I know you are, Cole.”
“I don’t know that,” Jamison said brusquely and waited for Cole to look at him again. “But I’m going to believe that you mean it because I want to. And more importantly, because I need to.”
Cole nodded and squared his shoulders. He never again looked at Luke and that, to Jamison’s mind, was telling. He was standing on his own and taking it, maybe for the first time in his adult life, and Jamison was glad to see it.
“I am sorry, Pop.”
In Jamison’s eyes, Cole was still a young boy, devastated at the loss of his parents, coming to live with his grandparents, trying to find his way and failing more often than he succeeded. He’d never been as sure of himself as Luke and, after a time, that had begun to eat at him. Maybe if Jamison had tried to address what Cole was feeling earlier, none of this would have happened.
Loving Cole didn’t stop just because he’d been a damn fool. But love didn’t mean there’d be no consequences.
“You’re not going to be running Barrett’s, Cole. You’re not going to be trusted with much of anything at the company. Not until you prove yourself to me.”
“I understand.”
“I don’t.” Susan nudged her husband, and Cole turned to glare at her.
“Quiet,” he said tightly. “Just, be quiet, Susan.”
“But it’s not right.”
“Stop.”
Shocked, she closed her mouth, but her eyes were screaming.
When he had quiet again, Jamison said, “You’ll be working with Tony in janitorial.”
“What?” Susan exclaimed again, and Jamison almost enjoyed watching her stunned expression.
But Cole didn’t even flinch, and Jamison gave him full points for that.
“You’ll work there until Tony is convinced that you’re ready to move up to research. From there, you’ll move through the company, earning the respect of every one of our employees.”
“I understand.” Cole’s teeth were gritted and his voice strained, but he didn’t argue.
“I hope you do. But, so we’re clear on this, Cole,” Jamison said, “you’ll take the time to learn everything there is to know about this company, to understand every detail and the big picture, or you’ll be fired.”
Stiffly, he nodded.
“This is my offer to you, Cole.” Jamison looked only at Cole. It was as if the rest of the room had disappeared. He had to reach his grandson, and this was the only way he knew. “Work your way back up. Earn my trust again. But ultimately, the choice is yours.
“You can do this my way or you can leave the company and strike out on your own.”
Cole turned to look at his wife, then slanted a look at Luke, who’d been so still, so quiet, Jamison had almost forgotten he was there.
“I’ll stay,” Cole said, and lifted his chin. “I’ll do whatever I have to do, Pop. And I’ll earn your trust again.”
“I look forward to that.” Nodding, Jamison walked to Cole and stopped right in front of him. “Just so you know, no more yacht club memberships, and your salary won’t be a vice president’s.”
“Oh, now—”
Cole simply ground out, “Susan...”
“I’ll see that you can stay in your house,” Jamison added, and that mollified Susan a bit. “For Oliver’s sake. I don’t want my great-grandson uprooted because his father was a damn fool.”
“Thanks.” Cole swallowed hard and nodded. “It’s more than I deserve. And I know that.”
Jamison looked into his grandson’s eyes for a long minute and was relieved to see what he’d hoped for. Real contrition. Real shame. And a determination that he’d never really seen there before. This might turn out to be the best thing that had ever happened to Cole. Jamison hoped so.
“What you did was bad, Cole,” Jamison said, and reached out to clap one hand on the other man’s shoulder. “But I love you. Nothing you do can change that.”
Hope shone in Cole’s eyes before he said, “Thank you for that, too. I’ll prove myself, Pop. Even if it takes a decade.”
“Good.” He squeezed Cole’s shoulder and the gratitude in his eyes almost undid Jamison. “Now why don’t you take your fami
ly home so you and Susan can talk about your new situation.”
“I will.” He walked to Loretta and bent to kiss her cheek. She patted his hand and gave him an encouraging smile.
When he passed Luke, Cole nodded. Finally, he took Susan’s arm and steered her from the room. Jamison dropped onto the nearest couch and sighed, exhausted from the emotional turmoil. “That’s not something I ever want to do again.”
“I’m just going to the kitchen to see Oliver before they leave.” Loretta hurried from the room, leaving the two men alone.
“That’s it?” Luke asked. “Start him at the bottom and work his way back up?”
Still tired, Jamison slanted a look at his other grandson. “It’s a lesson for him, Luke. The last time he worked janitorial was when he was sixteen. Just like you.” Jamison rubbed his eyes trying to ease the headache settled behind them. “For a man like Cole, starting over is the hardest thing for him to face.
“The fact that he accepted it is a good sign. Of course we’ll have to see if he actually follows through.”
“I think he will,” Luke admitted reluctantly.
“Why?”
“He was shocked when you called him on what he’d done. I don’t think he ever considered that he’d get caught.”
“True.”
Frowning to himself, Luke added, “But once he knew you had him, he stood up to it. I’ll give him that.”
“Sounds like you’re easing up on him.”
Instantly, Luke shook his head. “Nope. For what he did, there is no forgiveness.”
“Oh hell.” Jamison pushed out of the chair and walked to the wet bar. He poured himself a scotch and took a sip. “All of us need forgiveness now and then.”
“And then it’s all good? Slate clean?”
“The slate’s never clean,” Jamison told him. “Hell, the slate doesn’t even start out clean. There’s always dust or something on it. And when we wipe away the bad stuff, there’s a shadow, an echo of what’s been there before. But that’s all there is. Just a shadow. And we’re free to write on the slate again—good or bad.”
Jet Set Confessions (HQR Desire) Page 15
