More blood sinking into the earth.
I needed to fight it.
“I left him a note,” I whispered.
“What?”
“I left him a note, Janie. I don’t know what he told you and I know Gray is a good guy and you care about him so I don’t want to color how you feel about him but he isn’t giving you the full story. He knew exactly why I left, what I was doing and that I intended to come back as soon as I could. Why he didn’t share that with you, I don’t know. I guess he had his reasons and years have passed so it doesn’t matter now.”
“You didn’t leave a note,” she told me.
“Janie, I did.”
“Where?”
“In my room,” I paused, “your room, whatever.”
“Ivey, I went up there with Gray and there was no –”
Seriously? Why were we going over this?
I shouldn’t have said anything.
“Right, Janie, I’m sorry,” I cut her off. “But my man’s mother is here and I can’t talk. I’m sorry all this is happening to Gray, what you’re feeling, what the town’s feeling. It’s awful. But you’ll all get through it. I know you will.”
“Ivey –” she started but I kept talking.
“You take care and be well. Bye.”
Then I beeped the phone off.
Then I stared at it.
It rang again but I didn’t answer it.
When I didn’t, Lash shouted, “Babe? You gonna get that?”
“No, letting it ring,” I called back. “Tell you later,” I finished.
Nothing from Lash.
The phone stopped ringing.
Then it started again.
I didn’t answer and Lash didn’t shout.
It stopped ringing and didn’t start again.
I kept staring at it.
But I didn’t see it.
The only thing on my mind was the only woman who was even close to a mother to me even if it was just for a blink of my life was going into a shoddy, state-funded nursing home that wasn’t very clean and didn’t have good staff. And the only man I ever loved was losing everything he had, everything he loved, everything his family had built for six generations. And the only town that ever felt like home was losing a huge piece of its history.
And with that on my mind, I found my feet moving.
They moved to Lash’s office where they took me to his chair.
Then my hand moved to turn on the computer and wield the mouse.
Then I did what I had to do.
Then I went to my purse, got my car keys and called out to Lash and Rhonda I’d be back in an hour.
Then I went to my bank.
Then I went home and walked straight to Lash and my bedroom.
Then I started packing.
Then Lash walked in and saw what I was doing.
Then I told him my plans.
Then Lash started packing.
Then Lash went to the computer and did what he had to do.
Then he phoned Brutus.
The next day, Brutus drove us to the airport. But he didn’t drop us off.
He parked and went with us.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Scarlet Lady
It was a nice place. You could tell that right off the bat. Very attractive building, one-story, sprawling. Extensive lovely grounds, safe walkways through them, lots of flowers lush even in May in Colorado.
I could see why Gray picked this place.
She was bossy but she loved him and Grandma Miriam deserved to be around pretty.
I walked up to the front door, huge-ass, movie star, black shades on my nose. My body encased in crimson. A see-through blouse with puff sleeves that fit me like a glove, body-hugging blush camisole under, sexy, alluring but just hints you could take and let your imagination soar. Skintight, crimson pencil skirt that hugged my ass, hips, thighs and went down to my knees. Crimson slingbacks with a pointed toe and a high, lethal heel. Smart, thin, crimson leather clutch tucked under my pit. A ruby pendant surrounded by diamonds at my throat, not huge, not small but still, it had to be said, borderline ostentatious. Matching studs at my ears. Tennis bracelet dangling from my wrist. All of this given to me by Lash including the jewelry on our one year anniversary of moving in together.
I gave him a Rolex.
It was his second.
Still, my fake boyfriend loved watches and I loved him so Rolex it was.
I picked the outfit because if Mustang thought I was a scarlet lady then I was going to show them they hadn’t seen anything yet.
Lash and Freddie trailed me, leaving the shiny, long, black, shaded-windowed, rented Lincoln at the curb.
Freddie was carrying a briefcase.
I pushed right in through the door and went directly to the reception desk.
“I’d like to speak to the Home Administrator,” I announced, shoving my sunglasses back into my hair.
The receptionist blinked at me then she blinked at the tall, built beauty of Lash settling on one side of me then she blinked at the enormous, powerful black beauty of Brutus taking my back then her eyes came back to me.
“And you are?” she asked breathily.
“I’m Ivey Larue.”
Yes, I had my last name changed to Larue. Firstly for me because it meant getting shot of the only thing I had left that I shared with my mother and Casey. Secondly, I did it as a present upon moving in with Lash. He loved it so much, tears hit his eyes. He was butch so that was a surprise and told me exactly how much he loved it.
I kept talking.
“I’m here to pay for Miriam Cody’s stay for a year.”
She blinked again but this time she added her mouth dropping open.
Then she whispered, “What?”
“I’m here to pay for Miriam Cody’s stay for a year.”
“But… Mirry’s movin’ out next month,” the receptionist told me.
“Not anymore,” I replied.
“I… should we… I don’t know…” Her eyes were darting everywhere, taking all of us in. Then she pulled it together, focused on me and said, “I’m not certain sure but I think we need to call Gray.”
“I would prefer you didn’t do that simply because I don’t have the time. I have two other stops scheduled and a dinner reservation tonight. I’d like to do this and move on,” I told her.
“Are you doing this anonymously?” she asked.
“No,” I answered. “You’re welcome to tell Mr. Cody and his grandmother about my gesture I just don’t have time for you to call Mr. Cody at this juncture.”
“Your, uh… gesture?” She sounded dumbfounded.
“Indeed,” I replied.
“I, well, you know, a year on a private room like Gray has for Mirry is…”
Then she told me how much it was.
I immediately divided it to monthly.
Jeez. No wonder Gray was losing the ranch. Holy crap.
I turned and looked over my shoulder at Brutus. He stepped up, slapped the briefcase on her counter, flipped the latches and opened it, twirling it around so she could see the stacks of money in it.
Her eyes bugged out.
Then they shot to me.
Then she whispered, “I’ll just go get the Administrator.”
“I’d be grateful,” I replied.
Then I smiled.
We settled at the desk, the man in his cheapish but well-fitting suit across from us, Lash in the chair beside me, Brutus standing at my back with his briefcase.
I saw him when I walked in.
Buddy Sharp sitting behind a huge desk in a glass walled, corner office.
He’d undoubtedly moved his way up in the last seven years.
Dickhead.
The loan officer’s eyes settled on me.