Fool's Gold (14 page)

“What Adeline does now is of little concern to me. I did the best I could for her, but she was a wilful teenager and fought me at every turn. Once she reached the age of majority, she took off, virtually cutting me out of her life. That’s the way she wants it, that’s the way it is.”

Two sides to every story
. Mel’s parents always told her that. She took a breath, hoping she was doing the right thing, and said, “Addie thinks you kicked her out because you discovered she was a lesbian.”

“What? Ridiculous!” Jean shuffled her fingers and glanced around nervously.

“Really?” Mel wasn’t sure she believed her, but that was in the past. It was what Jean said and did now that counted. “If that isn’t an issue, then maybe you and Addie could talk sometime. I’m sure she’d really enjoy that.”

“I don’t know.” Addie’s mother didn’t seem convinced.

Mel had trouble understanding Jean’s point of view, but how Mel felt wasn’t the issue, she was there for Addie. Playing her final card, she spilled the reason for her visit. “Addie invested every dime from her father’s estate into that inn. If you take the money back, she’s going to lose everything.”

Jean’s eyebrows rose. “Ah, the heart of the matter. Are you sure my daughter didn’t send you? This seems like something she’d do. She’s always begged for handouts, taking whatever anyone has to give. I knew she wouldn’t part with my inheritance easily.”

Addie begged for handouts?
Mel wondered if she truly was in the right house. Jean and Addie Murphy were apparently far apart in their views of each other. She shook her head.

“Addie doesn’t know I’m here. I care about her, Mrs. Murphy. I don’t want to see her lose the inn. It seems like she’s finally happy for the first time in who knows how long.”

“And you’re blaming that on me?” Jean screeched. “I did the best I could for that wilful child! Nothing was ever good enough. She left home when she was legally able, and I barely saw her after that. Worse yet, she took my husband from me.”

Mel stared at her, forcing her mouth to remain closed.

Jean waved a hand. “Oh, not in that way. Horace always had a soft spot for Adeline. He couldn’t stand it when she left, so he left, too. They both cut me out of their lives. I know she took care of him at the end. I suppose she wants something for that.”

Mel sighed. At that moment, she knew it had been a futile trip. “Addie doesn’t want anything, Mrs. Murphy. I think she could use some love, but I see it’s far too late for that.”

Jean hopped up, fury blazing in her eyes. “When did she ever love me? She was there for her father, but was she ever there for me? I haven’t seen her since his funeral and not often before that.”

“Did you ever tell her you needed anything? Because if you had, I’m sure she’d have been there for you, too.”

“Don’t presume to know about a relationship that spans over twenty years. You have no idea what we went through—what
I
went through. It hasn’t been an easy life, I assure you.”

Mel glanced around. The house was well lived in and could use some sprucing up, but it was more than Addie had. Addie had nothing. Mel set her shoulders and corrected her thoughts.
Addie has love
. In Mel’s book that was everything.

She’d go back to Cattle Valley and convince Addie to stay and make a life with her.

Mel’s parents were due to arrive the next day. She knew they’d love Addie as much as she did, when they got to know her. Maybe, just maybe, love would be enough.

Mel stood. “I shouldn’t have come here. I’m sorry, Mrs. Murphy. I can see you need the inheritance more than you need a daughter. Addie understood that, but I didn’t, until now.

May I use your phone to call a taxi?”

Mel’s flight back home was shorter but more gruelling than her trip to Colorado. Going there, she’d been full of hope and possibilities. Now, driving the highway between Sheridan and Cattle Valley, her hopes were dashed. She dreaded going back and telling Addie where she’d been. It would only reinforce the worthless feelings her girlfriend seemed to have.

She wouldn’t keep secrets from Addie, but Mel would do whatever it took to keep her one true love from feeling like she had no value.
No one should feel that way.
No one’s parents should make them feel that way. The thought made Mel anxious to see her mom and dad and give them each a great, big hug.

A strange car with rental tags was parked in front of the inn.
Mom and Dad!
Mel parked and got out then darted up the steps leading to the porch. She opened the front door and spotted her parents, sitting on the sofa chatting with Addie. “Mom! Dad!”

All three of them turned, and her parents rose to catch Mel as she catapulted into their arms. “You made it!”

“Hey, sweetheart.” Her father gave her a hug. “We were just talking about you. We stopped at the bookstore on the way here, but Naomi said you were off today.”

“But you weren’t home.” Her mother touched her cheek. “Addie just tried to call you.”

“I know.” She nodded, squeezing her dark-haired mother tightly. Everyone said mother and daughter looked alike, which made Mel happy. She hoped to look as beautiful as her mother did when she reached that age. “I had to run an errand.”

Her father held her at arm’s length. “You’re dog tired, young lady. Must have been some errand.”

Mel smiled up at him. He looked endearingly the same as always, with sandy-greying hair and tiny, wire-rimmed glasses. “It was. I want to tell you all about it.”
I don’t really want
to.
The idea of hurting Addie was like driving a stake through her soul.

Addie stood and joined them. “Can I say something, first?”

“Sure.” Mel gazed at her. She couldn’t resist and gave Addie a quick hug. “I missed you,” she whispered.

Addie pulled back, a pink blush creeping over her face. She looked at her feet, embarrassed. “I missed you, too. But you have to listen to this. You’ll never guess what happened today! My lawyer called again. Apparently my mother changed her mind and isn’t asking for the inheritance back!”

“Really?” Mel’s heart leapt. Maybe her long trip hadn’t been in vain after all. She glanced at her folks, who were nodding happily.

“Addie’s been telling us all about it,” her mother said. “Quite a story.”

“That’s putting it mildly.” Addie laughed.

Mel looked at her. “Did he say why your mother changed her mind?”

“No.” Addie had a look of amazement on her face. “He just said she wants me to call her sometime. That was it. He couldn’t understand it, either.”

“Oh, wow.” Mel hugged Addie, tears leaking down her face. “I’m so happy for you.”

“I knew you would be.” Addie spoke softly in her ear. “You’ve been my champion through this whole thing. From the minute you found out about the vandals, you’ve been here for me, Mel. I don’t know why it took me so long to see what you realised before.”

She pulled back and looked into Mel’s eyes. “I love you. I need you in my life. I’d already figured that out before I found out about the money, I just wasn’t sure what we were going to do. This makes things so much easier.”

Addie batted her lashes shyly. “If you’re still interested. I know I can be moody, and need an unnaturally long time to make up my mind about things, but—”

Mel planted a kiss on Addie’s lips to shut her up. When they separated, she wiped a tear from Addie’s cheek with her thumb. “I love you. I’m not perfect, and I don’t expect you to be.” She smiled. “Although you’re pretty damn close.”

Addie grinned, still speaking rapidly. “I want you to move in with me. Whatever you want to do to the attic bedroom, it’s yours. It’ll be your space.”

“It’s a nice room.” Mel’s father spoke up.

She glanced at him, surprised.

“We looked at it when we first got here, and Addie showed us around. The inn is lovelier now than the last time we stayed here. Once word gets out it’s up and running again, I think business will be good.”

Her mother added, “Fixing up that space is going to cost some money, though. I think you’ll want a bathroom up there, so you aren’t sharing with guests.”

“Definitely a bathroom,” he agreed.

Mel widened her eyes. “I can have a bathroom? That’d be great!”

Addie hugged her. “You can have whatever you want.”

“We’re going to help you pay for it,” her father said. “And you’ve got the rest of your college money you can spend.”

“Really?” Mel squealed. “I figured since I quit college, I forfeited the money.”

“What
‘forfeit’
?” Her mother shrugged. “This is family not business. The inn seems like a good investment for you. Provided Addie wants you as a partner.”

Mel looked at the woman she loved more than life itself and raised her eyebrows.

“What do you think, Adeline? Want me as a partner, and that includes accepting some money from me?”

“Absolutely.” Addie touched her face. “I definitely want you as a partner, money or no money.”

Mel’s father said, “Why don’t you girls get cleaned up? I’m taking you all out to eat at the
Canoe
restaurant. We can talk more about your plans for the inn over dinner.”

“That sounds wonderful.” Mel rolled her eyes gratefully. “I’m starved. I do need to wash my face, though.”

“I’ll go with you.” Addie looped her arm through Mel’s, and they headed for the master bathroom.

“Oh, by the way,” Mel’s mother called out. “Naomi told us she’s pregnant! Her mother gets grandchildren.”

Mel glanced over her shoulder. “Naomi’s mother is dead, Mom. I don’t think she’s concerned about grandchildren.”

“That doesn’t mean some of us aren’t.” Her mother smiled sweetly.

“We’ll be right back.” Mel grinned at her. She pushed Addie into the bedroom and closed the door behind them.

Addie pressed Mel up against the door and kissed her passionately. Their tongues batted back and forth, hands groping and exploring. When they came up for air, Addie murmured, “Your parents want grandchildren.”

Mel kissed her neck. “Do you think we should mention we can’t get them the natural way?”

“Nah.” Addie caught Mel’s mouth in another hot, wet kiss. “We’re independent women. We can do whatever we want. I just got a clean bill of health from one of the local doctors, so maybe once we get on our feet financially, we’ll want to talk about children.”

“I love kids,” Mel agreed with a smile. “How about for now, we keep practicing, and see what happens.”

“Sounds good.” Addie held her tight and squeezed.

Jenna Byrnes could use more cabinet space and more hours in a day. She’d fill the kitchen with gadgets her husband purchases off TV and let him cook for her to his heart’s content. She’d breeze through the days adding hours of sleep, and more time for writing the hot, erotic romance she loves to read.

Jenna thinks everyone deserves a happy ending, and loves to provide as many of those as possible to her gay, lesbian and hetero characters. Her favourite quote, from a pro-gay billboard, is “Be careful who you hate. It may be someone you love.”

Email:
http://www.jennabyrnes.com/

Jenna Byrnes loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website

and author biography at
http://www.total-e-bound.com
.