I was fuming at Raquel’s admission. My own mother. “Why do you hate me so much? I don’t get it. I’m your child, too.”
“Because your father was going to leave me. I had to get pregnant to keep him. And once you came into the world, nothing else mattered. You were just the means to keep a roof over Raquel’s head.”
Her words were like a slap in the face, and I visibly recoiled. No more. This woman would not hold any power over me anymore. Yes, I was crushed, but I wouldn’t be her pawn. Never again. “You tricked Dad into marrying you?”
“It was him or the broke fisherman who drank himself into oblivion. The choice was simple.” There wasn’t an ounce of remorse in her. None. If she had to do it again, I knew she would.
It was time to set things straight. “You have two choices.”
“Who are you to speak to me? I’m your mother.”
“No. No, you aren’t. You never have been. I’m sure the prosecutors can figure out a way to tie you into this mess. You knew about the forgery, so I’m sure I can press charges against you. To save her own skin, I’m sure Raquel will let us know what part you played in all this.”
She gasped.
“I will keep my word to Raquel, but you weren’t part of that deal. It would be terrible for Raquel’s mother to be in jail. I bet she’d have a hard time finding anyone suitable if Chazz leaves her.”
If the woman could have killed me with the fire in her eyes, she would have.
“What do you want?”
“The B&B.”
“This is extortion. It is rightfully mine.” She slammed her fist on the table.
“No, it’s not. You tricked Dad into marrying you. He never added your name to the deed. He revised his will and left it all to me.” I shrugged. “It’s your choice. Let me know what you decide.” Turning to Drake, I said, “Take me home.”
“Of course. Let’s go, Lex.”
We made our way to the door. Maybe what I was doing was wrong, but I wanted them out of my life. And I wanted things to be as Dad had intended.
“Alexa, stop.”
I kept walking.
“Fine! You can have it.”
I turned around and looked at her, but I felt no emotion toward her. For years, she’d done nothing but hurt me. Going forward, she would no longer have the satisfaction. “Get it settled tonight. I don’t care what you have to do.”
“I’m your mother. You can’t treat me like this.”
Mother. The word tasted sour in my mouth. “No, you were the woman who gave birth to me. I don’t have a mother.”
And with that, I walked out the door without a glance back.
* * *
Back at the cabin, I sat in front of the fire, leaning against Drake’s side for warmth. Since we’d gotten home, a bone-deep chill had set in. The reality of everything hadn’t fully hit me yet.
The entire Foster clan had been out here to check on me. Amie and Ike brought food and simply sat with me. I hadn’t said much, but even Hayden and Kane hugged me before they left. I loved them with everything I had. If it weren’t for the Fosters, I would be lost.
While everyone had been here, my mother brought the paperwork to have the B&B transferred to me. Hollis had his lawyer look it over and validate it. I stared at the papers where they sat on the ottoman. The Fosters were following Mom back to make sure the locks got changed tonight. Tomorrow Hayden, Ike, and Amie were going to oversee Mom moving out of the house to make sure no damage was done. Mom… the word now felt unfamiliar to me.
It was done. “I can’t believe I have it back.”
Drake squeezed me. “It’s where it should be. I’m glad you got it back. What are you going to do with it?”
“I don’t know. I love our home. Maybe I’ll find someone who wants to run a B&B. I’ll need to find someone to help keep it up during the winter. We’ll figure it out.”