“Rumors started spreading about that place and he didn’t want our family linked to it. If the truth were known about how I came into the family, there would have been a scandal.”
“He ignored what was happening because he didn’t want to get caught for what he did?”
“I asked him that,” Valentina says, her lower lip trembling. “He said he was protecting our family. The public fallout from that would have destroyed everything Grandpa and Dad worked for. And he was afraid of how it would affect Mom. That it would make her spiral.”
“Instead,” I say my voice and heart breaking, “he destroyed Jonas. How could he do that?”
“I don’t know.” A tear trickles down Valentina’s face. “I just found out about this and how my entire life is a lie.”
My heart is being torn apart. I ache for my sister’s pain and I hurt for Jonas. “I’ll tell Jonas everything.”
“It doesn’t matter even if you do,” she says wearily, shouldering her designer purse as she stands. “Call me once you break up and I’ll help you get resettled somewhere out of this town.”
I stand too. “I’m not leaving him. I won’t do to him what Grandpa did and sweep this under the rug like he doesn’t matter.”
Valentina’s tears fall faster. “Do you honestly think Jonas will be comfortable being with you once he knows how he ended up at the Home? Every time he looks at you, it’ll be a reminder of what he endured. Even if you don’t break up with him, you’ll still be hurting him.”
Her words are a hammer driving nails of truth into my heart. Once I tell him the truth, he’ll look at me differently. How can I stay when it’ll hurt him? How can I leave? How can our hearts survive either way?
“Melody—”
I brush her hand away from my arm and walk past her out into the pouring rain. The storm mirrors the one in my heart. I thump my fist against my chest and begin to cry, then to wail. Agony slices into me like a hundred razor blades.
I don’t know what to do to help Jonas. I don’t know what to do to help me.
I turn down the sidewalk, splashing through puddles, passing the windowfronts of all the familiar shops.
Thunder rumbles and the angry sound matches the roar in my heart.
Headlights blind me and I blink in the brightness. A truck passes, the taillights dimming in the rain, then brightening as it brakes.
I keep walking, not knowing where I’m heading. The rain beats down hard on my skin, cold and relentless. I look up at the sky. Yes, heavens. Pour out on me. Punish me for the sins of my family but let Jonas be okay. Heal him from everything my grandfather set in motion. I squeeze my eyes together my heart begging for that plea to be answered.
“Melody?”
I stop and slowly turn.
Jonas is running toward me. Maybe for the last time. My gentle, handsome cowboy. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.
Chapter 12
Jonas
Melody is walking unsteadily along the sidewalk in the rain. She looks dazed. I pull the truck to the curve and leap out, running to her. “What happened?”
“I’m so sorry,” she says, teeth chattering though it’s not cold out.
“Melody, honey, get in the truck.” I wrap my arm around her shoulder and guide her to it.
“I’m so sorry,” she says again, her face pale.
I turn on the heater, my stomach tying in knots. “Whatever it is, everything’s okay. I’m here. We’ll figure it out together. Let’s go home and talk about it.”
She shakes her head, sending droplets of water flying from her soaked hair. “My apartment.”
“Nothing you have is there now. Raven let them in and my brothers took the last of your stuff to the ranch.”
She shakes her head again and the knots in my stomach grow tighter.
