Healed: Stone and Pepper (Cliffside Bay Book 7)

by Tess Thompson

  He poured them both a cup of coffee and joined his brother at the table. Kyle added a teaspoon of sugar and some milk, then stirred it slowly, as if contemplating the cure for cancer.

  “How are the kids?” Stone asked.

  “Like wild animals.” Kyle grinned. “They’re not helping me convince Violet that we should try for another.”

  “You really have lost your mind. You’re already way outnumbered.”

  “That’s the kind of negative talk I hear from my wife.”

  They laughed together in the way brothers do, the culmination of their shared experiences echoing in the low rumble from their chests.

  Kyle regarded him from across the table. “Trey told me the permits went through on Sara’s house. Great news.”

  “Sure is.”

  “Listen, I’ve been thinking. If you want to take a breather and go out to be with Pepper, I have a few contractors I could recommend. They could fill in for you. Just temporarily.”

  He peered at his brother. “You know I can’t do that. I made a promise to my partners. Not to mention that I need the money.”

  “I could help you out.” Kyle picked up the discarded spoon and stirred his coffee again. Super casual. No eye contact.

  “Absolutely not. You’ve done enough for me. This company is mine to make work.”

  “I respect that. I do. But hey, you know, love doesn’t come along just anytime. When you find the one, you have to fight for her.”

  “I have to let her be herself. As much as it kills me to let her go.”

  “You guys will find a way.” His brother folded his arms over his chest. “You know I’m super proud of you.”

  “Don’t get all mushy on me now.”

  “Me? No way.” Kyle took a sip from his cup. “This is the worst coffee I’ve ever tasted.”

  “What’re you talking about? I make great coffee.”

  “It tastes like the day-old from the diner back home,” Kyle said.

  “That’s hurtful, man.”

  “The truth hurts.”

  “Are you still trying to grow hair on your chest?” Stone asked. “Because I have enough.”

  “Seriously, this is really bad.” Kyle grimaced as he set aside his cup.

  There was a knock on the door, then Autumn’s voice called out to them. “Stone?”

  He sprinted to the doorway of the kitchen. “We’re in here.”

  Autumn shrugged out of her coat and tossed it on the back of the couch. “I got a text from Kyle asking to meet you guys here. Everything okay?”

  “Sure. We’re having coffee. Want some?” Stone asked.

  “A half cup, please.” Autumn didn’t have her cane with her today. She must have been feeling strong.

  Kyle stood as they came back into the kitchen. “Hey. Thanks for coming.” He gave his sister a quick hug.

  Stone poured her a cup and placed it on the table as she settled into one of the chairs.

  “I need to talk to you about Mom.” Kyle shook his head. “Still weird to say that word, other than in reference to my amazing wife.”

  Stone took in a deep breath, preparing himself for the discussion he really didn’t want to have. “Sure is.”

  “Stone, while you were away, I took Mom to an attorney. He walked us through the steps of what an insanity trial would look like. It’ll be brutal, and he doesn’t think we can win. He thinks she’s better off confessing to her guilt and sharing her motive. He said Autumn’s injuries would be compelling.”

  Autumn stared at the surface of the table—her expression unreadable. “I kind of wish she’d just stayed away.”

  “I agree,” Stone said. “I don’t know if I can deal with all this right now.”

  Kyle nodded. “She agrees too. After we met with the attorney, she told me she feels terrible about disrupting our lives. She wants to turn herself in. No insanity plea. No major money spent on attorneys’ fees.”

  Stone unfolded from his chair and walked over to the sink. His windows faced east, toward the hill. The view was as gray as his mood. An outright confession. His mind reeled with this new information. Maybe she hadn’t come just for Kyle’s money.

  “There will still be a trial, but it’ll be short and relatively straightforward,” Kyle said. “Strangely enough, there are a lot of people who confess to crimes they didn’t commit.”

  “Weird,” Stone said.

  “The attorney thinks she’ll be sent to prison with the possibility for parole.” Kyle shifted in his chair. “But her health’s fragile. I don’t think she’ll last long.”

  “She shouldn’t have to go to jail,” Stone said. “Not after what they did to you—to Autumn.”

  Kyle looked at him for a long moment before answering. “I understand your perspective, but the truth is, she murdered two people. Not innocent men. But men just the same. She wants to pay for her crime and let us live in peace.”

  Stone turned to look at Kyle, who met his gaze. “I wanted to put that part of our life away. I thought we had. We’d moved on. We have one another and Violet and the kids and this great life and now she’s here—causing grief and trouble.”

  Kyle nodded. “I know. But she’s our mother. We can’t turn her away. Not now.” He paused. “I asked her over to the house tonight. She wants to meet the kids.”

  “You’re letting her?” Stone asked.

  “Violet’s making me.” Kyle’s mouth lifted in a sad attempt at a smile. “Not really. Mom’s probably going to jail. I wanted her to see my kids before they send her away.”

  “So, you’ve just forgiven her?” Autumn asked. “Just like that?”

  “She’s an old lady who knows she made a terrible mistake when she was young and messed up,” Kyle said.

  No one spoke for a good minute. Stone’s thoughts crashed around inside his head. His instinct was to throw up his hands and tell Kyle he wasn’t up for it. “What time tonight?”

  “Six. Violet’s making tacos.”

  “Taco night,” Autumn said. “Like everything’s normal when it’s not.”

  “Isn’t that the Hickman way?” Kyle asked.

  That night, Stone drove Autumn to Kyle’s. The beat-up Honda was already in the driveway when they arrived. He shut off the engine and turned to his sister. She had her arms clasped around a pale green purse.

  “You ready for this?” he asked.

  “Not really.”

  Dakota appeared in the doorway and then ran down the steps to Stone’s truck. “We’re being summoned,” he said to Autumn.

  Autumn smiled as Dakota appeared on her side and opened her door. No taller than the truck door’s armrest, he beamed up at them. Kyle must have taught him to open a lady’s door.

  “Aunt Autumn, you look lovely tonight,” Dakota said. “Your hair looks like a shiny ball.”

  “Why thank you.” Autumn touched her fingertips to the knot at the back of her head. Her smooth auburn hair shone under the interior lights of the car. “It’s called a French twist.”

  “Very nice.” Dakota offered his hand and helped her from the car.

  Stone untangled his long legs and jumped from the truck. He followed closely behind Autumn and Dakota across the driveway. At the bottom step leading to the front door, Dakota stopped and turned to look up at them. “Things are a little weird inside. Mom’s dropped like four things. Dad cut himself shaving and now has one of Mollie’s Barbie bandages on his chin.” He looked at his feet and spoke in a quiet voice. “Did you know I have another grandmother?”

  Stone knelt on the grass to get a better look at his nephew. “I did. You all right about that?”

  “I guess.” Dakota shrugged. “She’s inside right now. Mom told me to be on my best behavior and not to brag too much about myself. You know, the usual.” His nose wrinkled. “But I’m worried about Dad. When I went downstairs this morning, he was in his office all slumped over like he was sad.”

  “Oh, well, that’s nothing to worry about,” Autumn said. “It’s j
ust that we didn’t see our mother for a very long time, and it’s made us sad and a little confused.”

  “Why didn’t you see her for a very long time?” Dakota asked.

  Stone placed his hand on the top of Dakota’s head. “It’s complicated.”

  “Complicated is what people say when they don’t want to explain something to a kid,” Dakota said.

  Stone exchanged an amused look with his sister. “Maybe Aunt Autumn could explain it to you.”

  “She didn’t want to be a mom.” Autumn spoke slowly, obviously choosing her words carefully. “So she went away.”

  Dakota tugged on his ear and knit his brows. “My mom doesn’t see her dad either. Did you know that?”

  Stone nodded. Violet’s father was verbally abusive and a bunch of other nasty words. She’d cut him out of her life when Mollie was a tiny baby. From what he understood, Violet’s mother visited occasionally, but without her husband and always in secret. “He’s not a very nice man, and he made your mom feel terrible all the time, so now she doesn’t see him.”

  “My mom won’t leave me and the babies, will she?” Dakota asked so quietly Stone almost missed what he said.

  “Absolutely not,” Stone said. Poor little dude. He’d been worrying about that? Great. Another way in which Valerie Hickman could mess up their family.

  Autumn rushed in next. “She loves you all very much. And she’s the best mom in the whole world. Our mom wasn’t like yours.”

  Dakota lips trembled as he blew out a long breath. “That’s what I thought, but a guy worries sometimes.”

  “Sure we do. I worry,” Stone said.

  With earnest blue eyes, Dakota looked at each of them in turn. “I never knew a mom could leave.”

  “Most don’t,” Autumn said. “Yours most certainly will not.”

  “Got it?” Stone asked.

  “Got it.” Dakota smiled. “If my new grandmother isn’t nice, I’m not going to be her friend.”

  “Good plan.” Stone lifted his hand and they did a fist bump.

  “Hey, give me some of that too,” Autumn said.

  Dakota lifted his little-boy hand to her smooth white one. “You guys aren’t ever leaving either, right?”

  “Are you kidding? We’d never be able to stay away from you,” Stone said.

  “We’re so glad we live close to you now,” Autumn said. “As a matter of fact, you and the babies were one of the reasons we wanted to move to Cliffside Bay.”

  “Really?” Dakota asked with a pleased grin.

  “One hundred percent.” Autumn shot Stone a look that told him exactly what she was thinking. This kid has my heart.

  Mine too.

  A yearning for Pepper crashed into him as he followed his sister and nephew up the stairs and through the front door. He wanted her to know his family, to become friends with his sister and sister-in-law, and to show off his adorable nephews and nieces. She should be by his side, especially tonight when her presence would calm his nerves and give him the perspective he needed. But she was living her dream three thousand miles away. He had to face the truth. She might never return to him. He had to figure out a way to live without her.

  The scent of chili peppers and onions came from the kitchen. In a slow jog that increased in speed as they passed into the hallway, Dakota led them toward the kitchen. When they arrived, the little boy announced them, as if they were English royalty.

  “Mama, Uncle Stone and Aunt Autumn are here.”

  Violet was at the stove, heating tortillas. She looked up and greeted them with a smile. “Hey there.”

  Three empty high chairs were tucked against the empty wall.

  “Our nanny’s working late today,” Violet said. “She’s putting the babies to bed.”

  “I get to stay up.” Dakota climbed onto a stool at the island and swiped a slice of tomato from the lazy Susan.

  “I saw that, young man,” Violet said. “No one wants your grimy hands in the food.”

  “Sorry, Mama,” Dakota said.

  Violet pointed toward the living room. “They’re in there. Kyle asked you to join them when you arrived.”

  “Do you need help?” Autumn asked.

  “No, it’s just tacos,” Violet said as she waved the spatula. “Go talk. That’s more important.” She looked at her son. “I have my helper right here.”

  Dakota straightened and squared his shoulders. “I’m a great helper.”

  Stone looked at his sister. “Let’s get this over with.”

  She nodded. “Lead the way.”

  Kyle and their mother were sitting across from each other in the living room. The gas fireplace and several lamps lit the room in a soft shade of yellow. Outside, night had almost closed in, with just a fraction of daylight fighting for existence. The living room had high ceilings and large picture windows that looked out to a stone patio and swimming pool. Decorated in blues and whites by Trey, the vibe was genteel and timeless, yet practical. Like Violet.

  Their mother set aside the can of diet soda in her hand and stood when they approached, as if she wanted an embrace. Stone hung back, but Autumn gave her an obligatory hug before lowering herself onto the couch.

  “Autumn, you look so pretty with your hair like that,” Valerie said.

  “Thank you. Dakota thought so too.”

  “Hi, Stone.” Valerie wore faded jeans and a pink sweatshirt. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail.

  “Hey. Good to see you.” Why had he said that, as if they were merely casual acquaintances? Maybe they were, when it all was said and done. He didn’t know her, not really.

  “It’s good to see you,” Valerie said.

  Kyle gestured toward the bar. “Help yourselves to a drink.”

  “I’ll get it,” Stone said to Autumn, only too happy to have an activity with which to busy himself.

  There was an open bottle of white wine, so he poured a glass for his sister and grabbed a beer for himself. While he busied himself with this, the others made awkward conversation about the weather.

  He returned to the main sitting area and gave the glass of wine to his sister. When he sat next to Autumn on the couch, Kyle seemed to take that as a cue to start the real discussion.

  “Mom, I filled the others in on our meeting with the attorney.” He turned his attention in Stone and Autumn’s direction. “She’s just told me the extortionist contacted her this morning and said she wants the money the day after tomorrow. Which means she needs to go to the police tomorrow with her confession as well as proof of this woman’s threat.”

  “As Kyle shared with you, I don’t want to fight.” Valerie twisted a cocktail napkin between her fingers. “I’m going to confess my guilt and take whatever the judge gives me. I’ve caused you all enough trouble. I don’t want Kyle spending his money on attorney fees.”

  Kyle raised his designer-shoe-clad foot over his knee. “I think I have a better idea. Stone, you know how you always say that any of life’s questions can be answered in the lyrics of a country song?”

  “It’s true,” Stone said with a smile.

  “It came to me today when I was driving Dakota to school and a Dixie Chicks song came on the radio. You remember the one about the abusive husband?”

  “Earl?” Stone asked.

  “The two girls poison him,” Autumn said.

  “Mary Anne and Wanda,” Stone said. “They stuffed him in the trunk.”

  “Right. The cops filed a missing persons report and that was it. The guy was so awful that most people were glad he was gone. So, this got me thinking.” Kyle’s eyes glittered as he continued. “When the Miller brothers died in the fire, the cops barely investigated. A little more digging and they might have found their way to you, Mom. Instead, they talked to Dad and that was it. Because no one cared they were dead. They’d terrorized more than just us in that town, right?”

  “No question,” Stone said.

  “That led me to my idea. What if we call this woman’s bluff?” Kyle a
sked. “Mom, you could tell her to go ahead with her plan because you’re perfectly ready to go to jail. But if she decides to go to the police, we’ll nail her ass for extortion.”

  “Which will make her keep her mouth shut. Kind of a reverse blackmail,” Autumn said.

  “Exactly,” Kyle said.

  Stone stared at his brother and then his sister. Their minds were so devious.

  “And if she goes to the police, then fine. They’ll dig around to see if they can make a case against you. Or maybe they won’t. If, and this is a big if, you’re indicted, then we can talk about a confession. Until then, I say you just lie low. Continue to live your life, and if they come for you, then fine. My guess, they won’t. No one missed these guys. No one cared they were dead except for their equally disliked father. Who is also dead, by the way. I did a little research and he was killed in a bar fight five years ago. The Miller brothers were the last of the clan. There’s no one else who cares enough to look into this with any interest.”

  Stone looked at Valerie to gauge her reaction. She’d twisted the napkin into a ball by then but nodded in what appeared to be agreement.

  “What do you think?” Kyle asked.

  “It makes sense to me,” Autumn said. “I’m not sure why we didn’t think of it before. Fear clouds logic, I guess.”

  “Well, thank you,” Valerie said. “I guess this means you’re rid of me.”

  Kyle studied her. “Is that what you want?”

  “I know I don’t have any right to be here or part of your lives, but it would be nice if I could be. Not a lot. Maybe just a visit every now and then so I could see the children. I don’t deserve it, but I’d be so grateful for a second chance.” Her eyes filled. She pulled a tissue from the pocket of her ratty jeans and wiped her face. “But you kids will have to decide what you want.”

  They were quiet. Stone watched a moth fluttering around an outside patio light. How long was he supposed to hold on to this anger? What purpose did it serve? He thought of Pepper then, about her father’s letter. At the end, he’d been sorry he hadn’t been the kind of father that Pepper needed. Still, he’d been unable to change. Perhaps Valerie Hickman was the same. She’d left because it was all she was capable of at the time. Was that circumstance or her psychological makeup? Who knew? However, unlike Pepper’s father, she was here now. She wanted to be part of their lives.