Needing Happily Ever After - Elena Aitken Page 0,61

do and wrong for so many reasons but Damon really wanted ElkView and Mr. Banks wasn’t being reasonable about it at all and then he told me he’d give me the money to start up the Hub.” The moment the words were out of her mouth, she realized how terrible they sounded. “I mean, that’s not why I did it. I mean, Damon would have loaned me the money anyway, but…oh God. Everyone is going to think I’m a gold digger.”

Being home was supposed to make her feel better. But maybe that just wasn’t an option right now.

“Is that the real problem?” Her mother’s tears had stopped and she sat perfectly still, staring across the table at her daughter. “You’re worried about what everyone will think?”

Katie didn’t even have to think about the question. No. That was far from the real problem. She shook her head.

“I didn’t think so.” She was silent for a moment before she asked, “Tell me what the real problem is, Katie. Why are you really upset?”

Katie took a deep breath and let it fill her completely before exhaling. “I love him,” she said simply. “I don’t even think I realized it, but I’m completely in love with him.”

Slowly, her mom’s face changed and a smile stretched across her features. “I know you do.”

“You do?”

Debbie laughed. “Do you remember when only a few days ago I was telling you that I’ve known for years?”

Slowly, Katie nodded.

“I’m not going to pretend that what you both did was okay. Because it wasn’t.” Her mother’s face hardened for a moment. “But I also don’t think anything I can say will punish you any more than the hurt you’re going through right now.” She took a thoughtful sip of her coffee. “What I don’t understand is why you finally realizing how much you love Damon is a problem?”

Katie didn’t know whether it was her mother’s understanding, the restless sleep she’d had the night before, the question itself, or just the buildup of emotion that had finally hit a boiling point, but tears began to pour unchecked from her eyes as she gave in to a snotty, snorting, ugly cry. Her mom waited patiently for her to get control of herself and finally when Katie trusted herself enough to speak again, she told her the simple truth. “He doesn’t love me back. Not like that. You were wrong, Mom. We weren’t ever meant to be.”

Damon found his father in the living room at ElkView, just as he knew he would. He stopped in the entry of the living room and stared out the huge picture window at the view and everything he was about to give up. But as much as he loved it, it was nothing compared to what he’d already lost when Katie walked out.

“Are you going to stand there all day? Come in already.” His dad’s rough voice interrupted his thoughts.

Damon looked down at the papers in his hand. ElkView was already his.

But it was all based on a lie.

A lie that had effectively destroyed everything that really mattered.

With a sigh, Damon stepped inside the room. “I have to tell you something, Dad.” He moved through the room until he stood next to his father, who hadn’t yet looked away from the view.

“Isn’t it something?” his dad asked, as if Damon hadn’t spoken. “There’s just no place like it, is there?”

Damon shook his head. “There’s really not.”

“I know you love it here as much as I do, Damon. Maybe more. I’m glad that you’re going to raise your family here.”

The guilt washed over him fresh. “About that, Dad. I need to—”

“I was wrong, Damon.”

“Pardon?” He stared at his dad, openmouthed. He’d never once heard his father admit to being wrong. “About what?”

“ElkView always should have been yours.” He still hadn’t looked at Damon. “I was wrong to offer it for sale. I…” His voice cracked and his head drooped.

Damon shifted from foot to foot. Was his father crying? He didn’t know what to say, so instead he waited for his father to compose himself.

After a moment, Anthony cleared his throat awkwardly and continued. “Your mother would have been so angry at me for keeping ElkView from you.”

“You didn’t, Dad. I’m going to…” His words trailed away and he looked at the papers in his hand that would have officially made ElkView his.

“But I did, Damon.” Finally, his father turned to him. Damon had never seen such sadness in his father’s eyes. Not since his mother died. “I put