Love Finds the One (Sully Point Book 2) Page 16

  Rob nodded and took the paper with directions. "I think I'll go speak to Cody now. I'll see you later."

  Frank decided to call Holly. He wanted to know everything he could about Julia's mother.

  * * * *

  Cody answered a customer's question about a fishing rod and then turned to face the man left standing at the counter. "How can I help you, sir?"

  Rob stuck out his hand. "I'm Rob Tremaine, Julia's father."

  Cody knew he looked startled as he gripped the man's hand. "It's great to meet you, Mr. Tremaine. I know how much your recent phone call with Julia meant to her."

  "I've just come from her new business. She told me about the engagement. She seems very happy. I wanted to ask you to plan on being at Julia's this afternoon, later on." He proceeded to tell Cody about his suspicions regarding Mrs. Tremaine. Cody was appalled.

  "I can't believe she plans on disrupting Julia's big day," he said.

  Rob had a look of deep concern on his face. "I wish it weren't true, but I know my wife. She's determined to get Julia back to the city and under her thumb again. It won't be pleasant."

  "I'll definitely plan on being with Julia. She doesn't have to be alone."

  The other man smiled. "Good to know. Now why don't you show me around your store. A long time ago I did some sport fishing and had a blast. Maybe it's time I returned to my old hobbies."

  Cody was a little nervous taking Mr. Tremaine around to see the place, but he was also proud of what he had made. Halfway through the tour they'd made plans to go out on the charter boat once the weather was a bit warmer.

  Mr. Tremaine was a polite, quiet-spoken man who was very self-assured. Cody knew he'd made his money on Wall Street. As they talked of fishing and other outdoor sports, Cody relaxed. He liked the man, and was very glad her father appeared to be coming back into Julia's life.

  Rob Tremaine left soon after, and Cody smiled to himself thinking about the time he'd taken Julia out on the boat. She was a disaster as a fisherman and had somehow managed to completely tangle up two lines from different fishing rods. Then, as the waves had become choppy she'd become sea sick. It had not been a pleasant afternoon. Now, she was facing more unpleasantness and Cody couldn't think of any way to protect her from it. All he could do was to be there for her. He got on the phone to call in an extra worker to take over for him.

  * * * *

  By the time late afternoon rolled around, Julia was feeling close to exhausted. It had been a long busy day, but she felt optimistic about the future. Everyone she talked to seemed thrilled to know someone would be in town who could handle their computer needs. Prejudice against 'those dweebs at the mall store' ran high. Mostly, Julia figured, because of the outrageous pricing structure.

  Cody walked in, and Julia found herself smiling at him. "You look beat but good," he said to her. He gave her a long hug and asked, "Was it a good day?"

  "It was a great day," she replied with satisfaction. "Lots of potential business and already some jobs lined up."

  "That's great, babe. You're a hit."

  "By the way, I think the whole town expects an invitation to the wedding. We may have to hold it at the high school football stadium."

  He laughed. "I met your father today."

  She pulled back and looked in his eyes. "You look okay. It went well?"

  "Yes, he's a really nice guy."

  "Funny. He's known as a barracuda down on Wall Street."

  Cody's eyebrows rose in surprise. "I would not have guessed that from talking with him."

  "Did he tell you, Mother may be showing up?"

  "Yes. I'm staying here until you're ready to go home tonight. You won't have to face her alone."

  They turned as the door opened. Mr. Tremaine and Frank walked in together. "Thought we'd arrive early for our little party," Frank said. "Rob and I were talking about whether you could provide internet service for the community from here, rather than our using the old dial-up service we currently have."

  Julia frowned. "I'm not sure I want to jump into something that big right away."

  Her father said, "This is just speculation for the future."

  Frank headed back to the kitchen. "Come with me, Rob, and we'll see if there's any coffee left."

  Cody and Julia turned to watch the two men walk past. Julia said, "They seem to be getting along quite well."

  Cody nodded. "They also turned up at an opportune time, don't you think?"

  Julia smiled at him. "I'm surrounded by protectors."

  "That's good. You'll need them," a woman's voice said from the doorway. Julia's mother had arrived.

  Chapter 10

  "Mother! You startled me," Julia said, moving a step away from Cody.

  "Come now. Surely, you knew I'd find out about your little hobby."

  "Hobby?"

  Abby Tremaine walked further into the room. "This computer thing," she said, waving an arm at the space. "It was a teenage hobby, Julia, not something a grown woman does for a living."

  "It was what I loved doing, Mother."

  "Yes, well, I know you thought so. If you can believe it, I actually had to pay off your guidance counselor to get the school to push you away from computers and into business courses."

  Julia straightened her shoulders and stared with squinted eyes at her mother. "You did what? All that time, I thought I didn't really have an aptitude for it because of what they said--you did that?"

  "Of course, dear. I was always looking out for your best interests."

  Cody took a step toward Julia, then stopped as Mrs. Tremaine said, "Who do we have here? Is this the young man I've heard about? Your...betrothed?"

  Julia felt her cheeks blush. Her mother could always make her feel awkward. "Yes, this is Cody Grainger. Cody, my mother, Abby Tremaine."

  "Nice to meet you, ma'am."

  "'Ma'am,' listen to his down home accent. What on earth are you thinking Julia? He's not at your level socially or financially. He sells worms for pity's sake!"

  "I love him, and he loves me, and we're going to be married. You're just going to have to accept that." Julia took Cody's hand in hers and he gave a little squeeze of support.

  "He loves you, does he? Don't you find that just the tiniest bit convenient?"

  "What are you talking about?" Julia knew she shouldn't get sucked into this, but she was completely baffled.

  "Do you honestly think a guy from a town like this isn't out for what he can get? I did my research before coming here. How many women has he been with? And, suddenly, he wants to 'settle down' and marry you? No, of course, it couldn't be your millions now, could it," she said, dripping sarcasm in her voice.

  "Abigail, stop this," Rob Tremaine said as he advanced into the room from the kitchen.

  Shaken, Julia said, "Mother, Cody and I love each other. Money doesn't enter into it."

  "Oh? Really? Then I have to wonder, Julia, just how that is. He must know you'll have access to millions of dollars. You think the money never crosses his mind?"

  Julia glanced over to see Cody turn white around the mouth as his lips tightened. He looked furious--but also confused, which confused Julia since she'd told him about the trust fund.

  Her mother continued. "Here's a guy selling worms to fishermen. Do you honestly think he wants to be doing that for the rest of his life? Wake up! He doesn't love you, he loves what you'll have--all that lovely money."

  "Stop it! You're wrong. You're--" Julia suddenly stopped talking as Cody dropped her hand. She looked at him and saw his face looked shocked. "Cody--"

  "Millions?" Cody asked in a stunned voice. "You never said--"

  "Cody, I told you about the trust fund."

  "But not that it would be millions. My God, Julia, you should have told me."

  Her mother said, "Sure, act like you didn't know about her money. Right."

  Julia ignored her mother and turned to face Cody. He was scaring her with that look on his face, like he'd been doomed or something.

&n
bsp; "Cody, I didn't bother telling you because it doesn't matter!"

  "You're wrong, Julia. That much money does matter. It makes a difference."

  She was utterly confused by his statement, and then shocked when she saw Cody walk out the door. He'd left!

  "Aha," Abby said. "You see, that's the kind of man you hooked up with, the kind who will walk away and leave you."

  "Shut up, Mother, just shut the hell up!" Julia said loudly. She needed to think. She needed to go find Cody to see what was wrong. She needed to know he wasn't leaving her.

  "You belong back in the city, back in your job. I've decided to promote you to vice-president. You'll come with me, away from this backwater of a town, and everything will be normal again."

  "Nothing is normal with you," Julia said tersely. "You've tried to control me since I was five years old and you're still trying to do it now. I hate the advertising business! I'm going to work at what I love, what I'm good at. You can leave now. Our relationship is finished."

  "Look here, Julia, I won't have you speaking to me in that manner." She began to march toward her daughter, only to be stopped as Rob stepped up to her and took hold of her arm.

  "That's enough, Abigail. No more. I've let this go on far too long. Julia has made it clear she doesn't want you here, doesn't want you in her life. Leave here now."

  "You can't--"

  "Yes, Abby, I can. And, by the way, I'm divorcing you."

  She stood looking at him in shock. He took her by the elbow and turned her away from Julia, saying, "Time to go Abby, and stay the hell away from my daughter."

  As she watched her father march her mother out the door, she felt Frank come up beside her. She whirled to him and burst into tears as he put his arms around her. He patted her on the back, but said nothing.

  * * * *

  The party didn't happen. Sam and Anna showed up and heard the story, along with Mrs. Gilchrest. Rob and Frank were the ones who told them, while Julia sat in one of the chairs staring at her folded hands on her lap. She couldn't figure out what had just happened. It shouldn't feel like this, she thought. She'd finally stood up to her mother and instead of feeling good she felt awful. Something about the way Cody had left, with such an air of finality, had her scared to death.

  "Julia, honey, do you want to come out to the beach house with us tonight?" Anna asked softly.

  "No, no, I'll go back to the loft. Sorry I'm such a party pooper everyone. This has been--"

  "Don't worry about it, Julia. Let's clean things up here and get you home," Frank said.

  Between them, they cleaned up the small kitchen and set the large room to rights. Julia was the last one out the door, locking it.

  Frank, and then her father, both offered to stay at the loft with her, but she told them she wanted to be alone. The two men finally left together to go to Frank's house.

  Julia sat in her car for a while, before finally driving to the loft. Suddenly, she was sure Cody would be calling her any minute or showing up to explain. She settled into the loft with a sense of expectation. But, nothing happened. No phone call, no visit, no Cody.

  She knew she shouldn't jump to conclusions, especially after what had happened that time with Holly. Cody had said he loved her and wanted to marry her. But, what was she supposed to think when he had walked out on her? Was he regretting asking her to marry him? Surely the money couldn't make a difference in their relationship. And what did it say about him if it did?

  * * * *

  Cody stretched out on the couch with a glass of scotch in his hands. He planned on getting very drunk. What he'd learned had him re-thinking his life. When Mrs. Tremaine, and he had to agree she was the Mother from Hell, had talked about Julia's millions, he'd frozen inside. He'd known about the trust fund, but not that it was so much freaking money!

  How could he and Julia be together with such a huge amount of money between them? Mrs. Tremaine was right about one thing, at least--he and Julia were on very different financial levels. Sure, he did okay for himself with the two businesses. He wasn't rich but he had the things he needed and wanted. He wasn't in much debt and his businesses showed nice profits every year.

  But this--Julia came from real money. And she would have access to mountains of it in a few years. Why would she even bother with having a business? Hell, if they were married, why should he? And then where would meaning come from for him...what reason would he have to get up every morning?

  He knew, in this day and age, the fact she had more money than him should not be an issue. But he was, in many ways, old fashioned. In his world, the man supported the woman, not the other way around. Even as he felt it was true, he knew on some level he was wrong. Sighing heavily, he made another drink.

  * * * *

  A night and day went by. Julia heard nothing from him, and she felt devastated. She couldn't sleep, and fluctuated between eating everything in sight to eating nothing at all. It didn't seem possible she and Cody could go from being so close to being so separate.

  After a day of waiting to hear something, Julia arrived at the bakery with red-rimmed eyes and her hair up in a sloppy bun. She was miserable. To walk into the bakery and see Cody standing there with his father, almost made her walk out the door. At least he looks as bad as I feel, she thought. Frank was looking with disapproval at his son, while Cody put on sunglasses over bloodshot eyes and drank coffee. There was surprise on both their faces when they saw Julia walk in.

  "Hello, Julia," Frank said. "Out for some food?"

  "Uh...yeah. Hello." She was waiting for some sign from Cody that everything would be fine. But he just stood there and stared at her through his dark glasses. She felt herself becoming more and more angry. Just as she was about to say something to him, he pushed past his father and walked out the door.

  Julia felt stunned all over again. He didn't even want to stay in the same building she was in? A tiny voice in her head whispered, "Maybe it's really over."

  Frank reached out to pat her on the back, but Julia turned away and walked stiffly to the counter. "I'll have a dozen of the donuts--just a mix, whatever you've got. And an extra-large coffee."

  "Planning on having donuts at the office today?" Frank asked, noticing how her hands were shaking.

  "No, I just happen to want to eat a lot of donuts."

  "Oh," he said. "You guys need to talk."

  She turned quickly to face him. "You need to tell that to your son, Frank," she said in an angry tone.

  "Believe me, I told him." Then Frank cringed, as if knowing he'd just said the wrong thing.

  "Really? Fine. That's just...fine." She paid for her food and marched out of the bakery.

  * * * *

  Frank walked into his store from the bakery determined to do something about Julia and Cody. Those two, he thought irritably, are both being idiots. He decided to call Betsy. He needed a place to get the two of them together. A meeting at the bank's conference room might be just the thing. But, first he'd need to make an alteration to the conference room's door lock. He headed down the aisle with the locks, a devilish grin on his face.

  Later in the day he was sitting in Betsy's office. He had convinced her that his radical plan was the way to go. She was on the phone to Julia.

  Mrs. Gilchrest was adamant. "Julia, I'm sorry, but you must come down to the bank to sign these papers. Somehow we left this out on the day of the closing and without it, well, you don't want to know the trouble it could cause."

  Frank watched her nodding, and smiled.

  "That would be fine, I'll see you at six o'clock. I'll be here when you arrive." She hung up the phone. "Okay, one down. How do we get Cody here?"

  "Leave it to me," Frank said. "I'll go get him and say it's about my estate planning and that he needs to sign some papers. That way his Corvette won't be sitting here when Julia walks over. Wouldn't want to scare her off."

  Mrs. Gilchrest looked at him skeptically. "Are you sure this is going to work? Maybe it's irreconcilable between them
."

  "No, they love each other. They've let the poison her mother spewed out infect them. We get them in the room together. And then we lock the door. I've got the lock we'll need right here. Let's go change it out for the one that's there."

  She sighed. "Hasn't this been part of the plot of several movies and books?"

  He said, "That's what made me think of it. It always works in those stories."

  "The things I do for love."

  * * * *

  Cody had spent the day trying to get over yet another hangover, and still felt rather ghastly in late afternoon. When Frank showed up after closing time saying they had to go to the bank, Cody just shook his head. "Look, Dad, we can do this some other time. I need to go get some food into me and take some more aspirin. And pour out whatever scotch is still left on the boat."

  "Son, I'm sorry, but I don't feel right letting this hang on. You never know when something could happen to me."

  Cody frowned. It was unusual for his father to bring up death in any aspect. He supposed it was better to go and get it over with. "All right, I'll go with you. Will the bank even be open at this hour?"

  "Mrs. Gilchrest said she'd stay open for you to sign the papers," Frank said.

  "Fine, fine, let's go."

  They took Frank's car, which Cody was happy enough to do since he didn't feel like driving. He knew how he felt was not all about having a hangover. His head was in turmoil and his heart felt like he'd taken it out and stabbed it a few times. He honestly didn't know what to do about Julia. And what killed him was knowing he'd been a jerk.

  When they arrived inside the bank, Mrs. Gilchrest was shutting the door to the conference saying, "I'll be right back with the papers."

  "Huh," Cody grunted. "Guess we aren't the only ones she stayed open for."

  Frank called Mrs. Gilchrest over and asked where they should wait to sign the papers.

  "Why don't you go right into the conference room...both of you are here for similar reasons. It won't take but a minute." She rushed off and Frank led the way to the conference room. Opening the door he almost shoved Cody into the room, even as Cody started to resist.