Here for You (20 page)

“I’m really sorry, Ash.” I press my lips to the top of her head and then lay my head against hers. I can feel her heart furiously beating against my chest, and I wish there was something more I could do to comfort her.

Her voice has dropped to almost a whisper, and I have to focus on her words just to hear them. “I was still angry with my mom but I told her I would support her in whatever way she wanted me to. I didn’t want my relationship with my mom to be ruined because my dad was an asshole. I’m glad I called her because that was the last time I talked to her.”

A small sob escapes her and she swipes her hand across her face. I rock her gently in my arms as she cries.

“I received a call from my dad’s phone a few hours later.” Her tone has changed and it sends a chill through my entire body. “Only my dad wasn’t the person talking. It was Melissa. She was holding my parents at gunpoint in my dad’s city condo, and I could hear them pleading in the background. I was driving in my car when I picked up the call and by the time I could get to a spot to pull over and have someone call 911 without hanging up, I knew I would be too late.”

She stops talking for a while and I don’t know if she’s going to say anything else. “What happened, Ash?”

I feel her shift in my lap and her body shaking slightly. She’s crying silently, and I have to admit she’s very controlled, considering the level of emotion I can feel radiating off her.

“Melissa was convincing my dad that he should leave with her. They would just take off and use the account that he had put away for them. Apparently he had been stashing money away in an offshore account for them to start a life together. I told them that’s what they should do and to just leave my mom out of it. I could hear my parents begging for her to let them live. Then she started trying to convince my dad that she would let him live if he shot my mom. I could hear everything happening over the phone, and I was begging for her to let my mom go. I didn’t care what happened to my dad at that point.

“When I heard the explosion of the gun my world stopped. The next few moments are still blurry for me. I heard my dad begging for his life and him asking Melissa if she was happy now. I honestly don’t know who pulled the trigger when my mom was shot and knowing will not bring her back. If my dad was selfish enough to shoot his own wife to spare his life, I can’t change that, but I’ll never know for sure. The second explosion was almost a relief because it eliminated the possibility that I would have to shoot him myself if I ever saw him again.”

I shift our positions so I can look her in the eyes. “Ash, I’m so sorry you had to hear that.” She holds my gaze but the tears are freely flowing down. Pressing my lips to hers, I want to take any of her pain away that I can. I have no idea what I can possibly say to her to make anything better. “Does your sister know?”

She shakes her head. “No one knows about that part. Not even the police.”

“Did they arrest Melissa?”

Her head moves more slowly back and forth this time. “No. Even though my ability to have someone call 911 while I kept her on my phone didn’t save my mom, at least the police got there before Melissa could get away. They didn’t have a chance to arrest her because she pulled her gun on the first officer who entered the house. The officer shot and killed her. So all three were gone, and it was left in my hands what version of the story I wanted in print. I begged them not to ruin my family’s reputation. I was worried about the business, but I was more concerned about my mom. I didn’t want her name trashed in the press. I chose not to mention the possibility that my dad had actually been the one to shoot my mom. I just didn’t want that spin on the story if I could help it. It was bad enough to see it in print that my father’s mistress had killed his wife and then him.”

“I’m so sorry that you lost your parents that way. I don’t even know what to say that could possibly make anything better. Do you know why she even called you?”

Ashley’s laugh holds no humor. “Yeah, she said she wanted me to see what kind of person my father was.”

I choose to ignore the comment because I don’t think talking about what might have happened is going to make her feel any better right now or ever for that matter. “I would love to hear more about your mom. She would be proud of you and everything that you’re doing with your new line.”

I see her swallow as she nods her head. “She would love my line. It’s actually named after her. Well, both of our names. It’s
Ella & Ash
.”

“I think it’s perfect. I’m so proud of what you’ve done on your own. I’m just sorry you don’t have her with you in person to share the journey. Does Quinn help?”

“Quinn is my rock. She’s been my go-to since freshman year of college. I wouldn’t have survived my mom’s death without her. I know she’s always there if I need her.”

I run my thumbs across both her cheeks to wipe any remaining tears. “So, it was the loud crash of the tin that scared you?”

“Yeah.”

“Has that ever happened before?”

“No. That’s the first time I’ve heard a sound like that since that day. I had no idea that’s what my reaction would be, but I guess it doesn’t surprise me.”

“Do you mind if I ask you one more question and then we can go to bed?”

She nods at me. “Sure.”

“Is that why you’re thinking about selling the company?”

She closes her eyes and when they open they seem even wearier. “I love the company, and it has been a significant part of my life for almost fifteen years. I have done a lot to grow it the last ten years since college. I couldn’t just walk away from the company when everything happened because the employees are like family to me. But I don’t want to pursue my dad’s dream anymore. Larry is the only person I trust enough to consider selling to.”

“That all makes sense to me now. I’m really sorry I got upset earlier tonight. I just think it’s a big deal, and I felt left out that I didn’t know. I have no right to get mad about it because I’ve told you not to count on me, but I
want
to be the person you turn to. That’s why it hurt. You did absolutely nothing wrong. It’s my own problem to work through, and I’m trying.”

“I know you are. I just hadn’t said it out loud to anyone, and you have enough going on with your team and dealing with your grief. I didn’t want to put my problems on you too.” She shrugs. “That’s all. It’s not that I don’t trust you because I obviously do.”

“I understand. Do you want to go to bed? Done with work?”

“Yeah. I may actually need you tonight to get a full night of sleep.” She smiles up at me and her vulnerability is adorable. I kiss the tip of her nose.

“I’m happy to finally be able to return some of the favor. You’ve been my rock for the last couple of weeks, and I wouldn’t be where I am right now without you. It feels good to finally be needed for more than a dinner date.”

She hits me in the arm. “You know you’ve been more than that.”

I shrug. “Maybe.”

“Stop it, Cam. You need to learn to give yourself more credit.”

I raise an eyebrow at her. “I know what I can do to earn my keep.” I flip our positions so she’s beneath me and when her eyes deepen immediately I know she’s on the same page as me.

“Can you believe this is the first game of the playoffs?” I practically shout the question at him.

He laughs at me like he always does. Today I’m dressed for the game as any other fan would be. Since their home uniforms are primarily white, I’m wearing a white top with my skinny jeans and carrying my red vest. The sky is bright blue today with only a few clouds floating across it. The weather is perfect for a baseball game even though it will cool down throughout the evening. Although I didn’t ask Cam, I don’t think he needs me to wear his jersey every game. His nephew Cameron—maybe—but not me.

The gesture was necessary for the first game so he knew I was there to support him. But now that he knows I don’t need to put it on display for the entire park. I promised him that his number would be on me somewhere, and that’s all he needed to know. A temporary tattoo for him to find later.

“Ashley, you’re going to need to try and remain calm today. This is going to be a long playoff season if you get too worked up.”

“I know. I know. I’m trying.” I hook my arm back in Quinn’s and I now put my other one through Stan’s.

Quinn is still dating Johnny, which makes me happy. I would have forced her to come with me today either way, but this just makes everything easier, and she’s the happiest I’ve ever seen her. Q and I took Stan and his wife out for dinner last night. I figured it was the least I could do since I’ve taken Stan from her for a few games already and I plan on stealing him for at least the games that Cam is pitching. I have invited him to as many as he wants to attend with Cam’s nights mandatory.

“We need to stop by the box before we go to our seats. Okay with you, Stan?”

“
Okay
with me? Are you kidding? I’ve been introduced to a whole new world with you. I’m happy to enjoy any moment of luxury you want me to.” He grins at me and winks.

I love having him at my side. Not only does he talk me through the game but he also makes me feel good about myself. “I think you’ll like Larry and Patty. But no matter how much you enjoy talking to them, you’re with me tonight. You know we have to sit down by the wall.”

He salutes his free hand at me. “Yes, ma’am. At your service.” I laugh again, and it’s actually starting to relax me a fraction.

Even though I’ve only been to the ballpark a few times this season, I know my way around better than people would think. Our company has had a luxury suite for as long as I can remember. I used to attend games when I was younger before I got too busy at the company. My dad never made it a secret that he had wanted a son, and I tried my damnedest to fill the role whenever I could, though I never felt like it was quite enough. I remember times when we would attend games with family friends and he would longingly watch the men with their sons.

But today is about Cam, so I’m not going to go there with the sad memories. I kept three of the tickets from the box so we could visit Larry and Patty before the game. Cam was adamant that I sit by the wall for the game today so he can see me when he needs to.

I had to go to work this morning just to get away from his nervous energy. I knew I would have no ability to tamp down my nerves, especially if he was displaying his, so I left him to follow whatever routine he typically does.

When we walk into the box, I see two of my least favorite people and I hate that they are talking to Larry and Patty. Quinn’s head swivels to see my reaction. My face must give away exactly what I’m feeling because she immediately grabs my hand. I walk to the bar area with her and watch as she removes the bottle of Chardonnay from the ice bucket. She pours a glass and hands it to me. I take a sip and the cool liquid starts to calm my boiling blood.

There are no rules about the tickets for the suite other than I have the first say in how many tickets I need for clients or customers. I imagine the individual who is responsible for the tickets is smart enough to know if my sister asks for tickets, she should get them. But for her to then bring my ex-fiancé whom she slept with is beyond the pale, even for her. I gave her a fair warning, and because of this little show any potential guilt I had about possibly selling the company evaporates. Unfortunately she will have enough to live on without ever having to work a day in her life. It makes me sick to think that, but I can’t take away her share of the sale.

It’s not that I hate her enough to not want her to have any money; it’s that there are so many other people in the world willing to work hard for a tiny fraction of what she will get for doing nothing. Literally, she’s never done anything of value.

Out of the corner of my eye I see Stan watching me. We are unmistakably sisters even to the average bystander, and Stan is more than observant. He’s figured it out, and concern furrows his brow as he watches my reaction to her. I offer a small smile. Stan would attend the game no matter what, but I’m forcing him to stick to my side and I don’t want him to be uncomfortable because of the obvious tension now radiating off me.

I take a much larger gulp of the wine and look at Quinn. “Let’s get this over with.” She nods and her eyes tell me she’s with me no matter what goes down.

I keep the wine glass in my hand as a crutch for the moment and hook Stan’s arm on my way past him. The three of us walk up to the group, and when Larry and Patty turn, they are all smiles and hugs. They have no idea what went down between Amber, Charlie and me, and I’m not about to allow a public display of our personal family dirt. They know Charlie and I were engaged, but I told them our engagement ending was for the best. All I have said is that Charlie and I were not meant to spend the rest of our lives together.

I introduce Stan to everyone and do my best to maintain neutrality when it comes to Amber and Charlie. I actually think I’m doing a pretty good job when Larry pulls me to the back of the box.

“Have you thought any more about our conversation?”

I nod. “Yes. I haven’t made a final decision but I’ll look at my schedule next week to find a mutually convenient time for us to meet. My schedule is a little hectic with Cam’s games, but I’ll make it work.”

“What do you want to happen to Charlie?”

I smile at Larry. He obviously knows I hate the guy and really don’t want him at the company. In reality, he does a decent job so he’s not a liability for Larry to keep on board. But I do want him out of the city, so I will have that conversation with Larry if the time comes.

“He’s a good employee. I’m not going to suggest you fire him, but I may have a few other recommendations.” I wink at him and let out a long breath.

“I’ll do whatever you ask. I can promise you that.”

“Thanks, Larry. That’s just one of the many reasons why you’re the only person I would consider for this deal.”