The By Request Collection. Kate HardyЧитать онлайн книгу.
that sounds...pretty good. If I can believe it. He hasn’t stopped messaging me.”
“Maybe you can cut the guy some slack?”
Ruby smiled. “Maybe.”
Eve took both of her hands now, holding her gently at the wrists, and adjusted her position on the sofa to face her full-on. “I have something for you, Ruby. I hope I haven’t overstepped a line here, but...” She released her wrists to dig into her handbag and came up holding a pink rectangular box. “Being in your shoes a few months ago, I kind of recognize the signs,” she said, softening her voice.
Ruby’s eyes widened. She wasn’t ready for this. But maybe it was time to stop procrastinating. It wasn’t like Ruby Lopez not to face life head-on. She took the box from Eve and, seeing the concern on her face, gave her a smile. “Do you always walk around with an extra pregnancy test in your purse?”
Eve chuckled. “Oh, Ruby, I was worried how you would take it. You might think us city people are too pushy.”
Ruby shook her head. “Yeah, well, city folk are more upfront, I will say that. Country folk tend to gossip behind your back. It all washes out the same.”
“It’s okay, then?”
“Of course. I should’ve done this myself. I think I needed the nudge.”
“You think you might be?” Eve’s voice escalated to a squeak, and a twinkle of hope sparkled in her eyes.
Ruby shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m eating like the world is ending tomorrow, and lately I get supertired. Emotionally, I’m a wreck. But that just might be Brooks’s doing. I guess... I’ll find out soon. Thank you, Eve.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll get going now and let you rest.” Eve stood up and Ruby didn’t try to stop her, although resting was the last thing on her mind. Her grip on the pregnancy test tightened. She had some major thinking to do, no matter what she found out.
She walked Eve to the front door, and they hugged. “Call me if you need to talk again,” Eve whispered.
“I will. And thanks again.” Ruby closed the door behind her and leaned against it. Sighing, she glanced at the pink box with light purple lettering in her hand. To think, peeing on a stick could change her life forever. Ruby placed her hand on her belly, and tears misted her eyes as she made a heartfelt wish.
Something she hadn’t done since before her daddy passed away.
Brooks stood on the threshold of Sutton Winchester’s master bedroom as one of his nurses laid a plaid wool blanket on his lap and turned his wheelchair around. Brooks came face-to-face with his adversary. With a man he’d hated so powerfully, he’d wanted to destroy him. Now, his emotions raw, he hoped to God that Winchester would hear him out, because he was also the man who had loved his mother dearly and had fathered his younger brother, Carson.
“He’s having a good day today, Mr. Newport,” the nurse said.
“I’m glad to hear it,” Brooks responded as he and Winchester exchanged glances. “Good afternoon, Mr. Winchester.”
Cancer seemed to have sucked Winchester’s one-time bluster and hard-nosed demeanor right out of his frail body. Hunched over, he appeared a shell of the man Brooks had opposed so vehemently in the past. Warm-colored walls, floral bouquets and December sunshine streaming in the windows contrasted sharply with the sterile environment of medical equipment, drips and tubes, and the constant blip, blip, blip of a monitor over the soft music piping in from hidden speakers.
With a feeble wave of his hand at the nurse, Winchester stopped the music. “You know me well enough to call me Sutton, boy.”
“Okay, thanks. I will.”
“Did you come here to gloat?” He lifted his head to look into Brooks’s eyes.
“No, sir, I would never do that.”
“Have a seat,” the older man ordered in a voice that had long lost its depth.
Brooks sat in a chair three feet from Sutton’s wheelchair. “Thank you.”
“How is my Eve?” he asked.
“She’s doing well. Graham brought her down to Texas, as you know. She’s looking wonderful, excited about the baby.”
Sutton turned his head to gaze out the window. “That’s good. I want my children to be happy.”
“Sutton, I know how much you loved my mother.”
Slowly Winchester turned his head back and raised his brows, looking him square in the eyes. “Cynthia was a special woman. I wished she would’ve told me about Carson, though. She left me without telling me she was pregnant. I missed out on my son’s life.”
“Mom had a lot of pride.”
“She was a stubborn one.” His eyes twinkled as if he admired that trait. As if he’d loved every single thing about Cynthia Newport. He and Brooks had that in common.
“I’m glad you loved her, Sutton. I’m glad because if you didn’t, she wouldn’t have had Carson. So I guess I have you to thank for my brother. And I’m doing that now. Thank you.”
Sutton stared at him and then acknowledged him with a nod. “I have no intention of cutting Carson out of my will, by the way. As you can see, I’m not long for this earth. Carson is my son and an heir. He will get what is rightfully his.”
It had been a bone of contention these past months, something that had grated on Brooks. That his younger brother wouldn’t be acknowledged by his father. That he would lose what was due him, being an heir to the Winchester fortune. Carson had already been robbed of a father growing up—they all had—but this was one thing that could make things right in principle. “Carson knows that now. It wasn’t ever about the money.”
“We have agreed that when the time comes,” Sutton said, speaking slowly, “his inheritance will go to charity. That’s fine by me. Whatever the boy wants. He deserves it.” His voice crumbled a little. “I have many regrets when it comes to Cynthia. Things I should’ve done differently with her. I lived my life a little recklessly, but I never betrayed her trust. I never told her secret. Seeing how it hurt you and Graham, maybe that wasn’t the smartest thing to do.”
“We’ve all made mistakes. I’m here to make peace between our families. I’m here to tell you that I was wrong for pursuing vengeance against you. I was wrong to try to destroy Elite Industries. I understand why you kept my mother’s secret all those years. I’ve only just recently come to understand the crazy things one will do out of love. I, uh, I get it now. So I’m throwing in the towel. I’ve ordered my attorneys to back off. There’ll be no more legal battles. No more disparaging comments to the press. No more trying to undermine you or your company. I’ve already spoken to Eve, Nora and Grace about this. I’ve made my peace with them. But I wanted to face you in person. To say it’s over.”
Sutton nodded, the movement slight, all he could manage. “It’s over.”
All those months of personal attacks and secrets and truths coming to the surface were finally coming to an end. There would be no more harsh statements, conniving or retribution. The Winchester-Newport feud was done. Finished.
Brooks had one more thing to accomplish to unite the families. “That being said, I’m also here to invite you and your family to Cool Springs for Christmas. On behalf of my father, Beau, and his family. We’d all like the Winchesters to share the holiday with us. Carson and Georgia will be coming. And your daughters are onboard if you think you can make the trip. I’ll send a private jet, and you’ll have expert nursing care while you are there. I promise you’ll be as comfortable as possible. It’ll be a time of healing for all of us.”
Sutton