being so stubborn that you can’t see that you’re throwing away your happiness with both hands. That man loves you, with all his heart. He’d do anything to make you and those kids happy. Why can’t you see that?”
Angel looked at her.
Natalie nodded to the keys in Angel’s hands. “He bought that for you, so you could drive it to California.”
“What?”
“Yes. A brand new SUV. Top of the line. It’s worth quite a lot of money, but I’m sure you know that.”
“Why would he do that?”
“My God. Because he loves you!”
Angel just stared at her.
“You might as well know everything. My friend in Seattle? She wasn’t sick. I didn’t fly to Seattle. I flew out to see Cole.”
“What? Why?”
“To see how he lived. What he had to offer you and the kids.”
“How he lived? You mean that room in the clubhouse?”
“Yes, I saw the clubhouse. Does that surprise you? But he also showed me the home he lives in. It’s lovely. A little small, but I’m sure that can be worked out. He’d do anything to make you happy, I’m sure.”
“I’m going to my room.” Angel started to stand up. She didn’t want to hear any of this. But what Natalie said next stopped her.
“Read the letter he wrote you. When you’re completely healed, and up to the trip, we can leave for California. I’ll take you out there, but you will talk to him. If after that, you still want to return to Arizona, I’ll help you get back. But Angel, I’m selling this house. And I’m going back to California.”
Angel’s mouth dropped open.
“I’ll see you in the morning.” And with that, Natalie left her, and headed to bed.
Angel sat staring at the envelope and keys sitting in her lap. She was trying to digest all the information that Natalie had just thrown at her. Natalie was mad at her. That much was clear.
Was she being unfair to Cole? He had hurt her so badly. He had slept with her, knowing he was married. Like she was some, what? Side-action? A diversion from his marriage? She had felt so hurt and humiliated. She had thought they were starting to build something. That after all these years of being separated, that maybe they had a chance, a real chance. But he had known all along that he had a wife waiting for him, that he was going back to California. He’d never had any intentions of staying here with Angel.
And then when his wife had called her, well, that had been the ultimate humiliation. When Mandy had told Angel that she and Cole were having a baby, something inside Angel shattered.
Natalie had told her months later that Cole had found out that Mandy had lied about the baby. Cole had called her everyday for weeks. She’d refused to take the calls, or open his letters. She, instead, had wrapped her anger around her like a cloak. A cloak she wore proudly.
And then the calls had stopped. She hadn’t known until they did, that she could feel worse than she already had. But thinking that he’d truly given up, that she really would never see him again? She’d sunk into a deep depression.
Natalie had informed her that Cole had flown to her side the minute he’d heard she was attacked. That he’d stayed by her bedside night and day, refusing to leave her side. And then he’d stood there, in that hospital room, and told her he loved her, wanted a life with her, promised to do whatever she demanded to make this work. He’d practically begged her to forgive him, to give him another chance. But her pride wouldn’t let her do anything but throw it all back in his face. She didn’t know what to say to him, and all she could do was turn her head away, and order him to leave.
He’d always said he didn’t deserve her. Now Angel questioned whether it was her that actually didn’t deserve him.
She looked down at the envelope lying in her hands. Now, as she ran her shaking fingers over it, she was afraid that what was really inside was a goodbye letter, telling her he’d finally accepted that she didn’t want him. Dear God, what had she done?
She opened the thick envelope, and took out the contents. There was a single sheet of folded paper and a thick folded document with many pages, stapled together. She opened the document first. It was Cole’s divorce decree. His final papers, just like