AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“She was old, honey.”
“Not that old. She was only…shit.” She’d been around his entire life. And he’d assumed she would always be there, just because he wanted it to be so. He didn’t have time to deal with her, but when he took that vacation he’d been putting off, he’d come out here and spend a day riding. He’d make up for all the years he hadn’t so much as stopped by to brush her or even sneak her carrots.
His life had turned into one big regret. He might as well just write his epitaph now.
Cory Santangelo meant to do better, but he died before he could spare the time.
“If you didn’t know about Misty, why did you come?”
She knew him too well. There were no visits simply to say hello, especially in the middle of the workday. No trips out just because. There was intention, followed by a strategy and its execution. Hesitation meant failure.
So he didn’t hesitate.
“I want this house,” he said, his voice clearer than it had been in months. Years. “I’ll buy it from you. Whatever amount you deem fair.”
Corinne’s mouth trembled around her smile. “You really mean it?”
“Yes. Call the real estate agent, get the sign down out of the yard. It’s mine.” He stepped forward and gripped her hands, bringing them to his mouth. “I’m sorry about Misty. She was a beautiful horse. And I’m sorry I haven’t been around for a while.”
Her eyes filled. “You’ve always been around.”
“No, I haven’t. I was always in my head, in my work. Misty got older and I barely even looked up long enough to notice. That’s going to stop.”
“You’re devoted, honey.”
“I’m a workaholic.” He gave her a half smile. “Isn’t that why you and Dad demanded I get a woman?”
Something flickered through her gaze. “And you got one, didn’t you?”
“I did. And I lost her.” He let go of his mother’s hands and paced to the bare window that looked out on the leaf-sprinkled side yard. It was time he come clean. All along he’d known he would come to this moment, and he’d lied anyway. Delaying the inevitable. “We weren’t really dating, Mom. We got together for the sole purpose of getting you and Dad off my back.”
“We know, honey.”
“You’re not listening. I said we weren’t a real couple. She wasn’t ever my girlfriend, we never—” Her response finally sank in and he swiveled to face her. “Huh?”
She shook her head, smiling wanly. “You always think you’re so much smarter than everyone else. Your intelligence is both your saving grace and your biggest downfall, because it only makes the holes you dig for yourself that much deeper and muddier.”
“You’re saying you knew all along,” he said flatly. “I mean, I know you all confronted me at Sunday night dinner but I thought after we left you believed…”
“Not so much, sweetheart.” She sounded remarkably cheerful.
That rage he thought he’d tamped down on once he’d seen the utter barrenness of his family home came roaring back. “You…you set this whole thing up? You knew I’d fumble around for some woman just to get you off my back?”
“Not some woman. Vicky. You were the only one who couldn’t see how perfect she was for you all along.”
Cory ground the heel of his hand into his chest. He must’ve finally drunk too much coffee, or else his heart was trying to sear its way out of his body. “But you never even nudged me in her direction. What made you think I’d head there on my own?”
“Faith.” If she smiled any wider, her cheeks would crack. “I figured that eventually you would both realize what Dad and I had known for years. You’re both as stubborn as…well, as each other. But you’re also both extremely smart.”
“How could you be sure I’d—that Victoria and I would—” Christ, he couldn’t think straight. How could he have been maneuvered so easily? By his own mother?
Who hadn’t really done anything at all, even if it felt as if she had?
“We’ve watched you two dance around each other for years. It was time.” She shrugged. “Besides, who else but Vicky could put up with you long enough to pretend to be your girlfriend? That girl has the patience of Job.”
“I’m not that bad,” he muttered. Then he thought of that scene in the kitchen. “How could you have assumed she would go for a fake relationship?”
“Seems like that benefit made it pretty real, doesn’t it? At least according to those pictures.” At his sharp glance, his mom shrugged again, still wearing that annoying little smile. “Desperate times, sweetheart. When you have your own children, you’ll understand.”
