Divine Phoenix(Divine Creek Ranch 10)(72)
“It doesn’t matter whether he cooperates or not. All I have to do is wait out the sixty day period and make it to the hearing. I can prove domestic abuse if he makes a big enough stink.”
“That’s not all, Lily. Your dad…your dad said that his doctor told him that he had less time than he had hoped for. He said he just prays that he makes it until after your divorce is final so the money doesn’t get tied up.”
The words in the note he’d included with the deed to the house came back to her.
“… If you can just make do for a while, everything will be okay. You’ll see…”
It all made sense now. He’d known then that he was running out of time and wanted her somewhere safe before he died. Fresh grief assailed her at the news. He’d never wanted her to come with him to any doctor’s appointments so she’d never known the doctor’s prognosis. Her thoughts shifted back to the reason for this conversation. If he saw dollar signs, JT was unlikely to give up and walk away. “JT’s not going to let me go, is he?”
Clay growled and said, “Fuck, that. Lily, you’re safe from him and you’re going to stay that way. He’s not getting his clutches on you again.”
Dirk nodded like he agreed but held up his hand. “Mr. Cook, with all due respect, when JT latches on to an idea he doesn’t let go. He’s like a pit bull terrier, especially about Lily. I think this whole time he figured that she’d come crawling back. He may try to get her back by force now. That’s what I came to tell you, Lily. Actually, I came to warn you. You know how he is.”
Borderline psychotic? Yes, I remember.
“You think he will come here? Wait—How did you know where I live?”
Dirk raised his hands from his knees and replied, “That’s what I’m trying to tell you. I found the address on your—your old desk, his desk now. He must’ve hired someone to get the information for him because he’s been at the shop every day.”
A cold chill ran up her spine at the news that JT might’ve hired an investigator to find her. “So you didn’t find the letter until today?”
“Yeah. I worried when I saw the look on JT’s face when he found out how much you stand to inherit. He said you were coming back home, if it was the last thing you did. When he said it he had a scary look on his face. I found the letter this morning, and…” Left unsaid by Dirk was that he must’ve decided to get up the guts to thwart his brother and warn her.
“Does JT know about it?”
He patted his shirt pocket. “No, I have it. I told him I had business to take care of and I’d be gone all day. I went home and packed all my stuff and left Natalie. It’s all in the back of my truck. That was a decision that I’ve been putting off for a while now. I knew she’d cheated before, but I didn’t know she’d cheated with my own brother. I’ve put up with a lot from him over the years, because he’s my blood. But I can’t keep from you the fact that he’s planning something. Watch over her, Mr. Cook, because JT isn’t the kind to give up easily.”
Lily asked, “Dirk, what are you going to do now?”
“Find a motel to check into for the night then go back home, rent a motel room or someplace to put my stuff until I can get settled somewhere, then…well, you know…”
Lily finished the thought for him. “Go in to work and pretend like none of it happened?”
Dirk looked ashamed as he nodded. “I can’t walk away from the shop. I’ve invested too many years in it. But I promise I won’t tell JT I saw you. You deserved to be warned, Lily. You look happy. I almost didn’t recognize you because you’ve lost a lot weight. Have you been sick?”
His words were reinforced by Clay’s raised eyebrow as she caught him glancing her way. “No, I’ve been working and trying to lose weight.”
Dirk shook his head like she was loony. “I don’t know why. I mean, I know JT hounded you, but I think it was because he was afraid you’d leave him for someone else if you had better self-esteem. I’m really sorry I never stood up for you. I was like an ostrich with my head stuck in the sand, not wanting to see the truth. Mr. Cook told me what kind of shape you were in by the time you made it here. JT has spread rumors that you ran off with Mr. Cook and that you were living in sin here. He didn’t say anything about you almost dying. I didn’t know about that until just now when Clay told me. I’m glad you lived, Lily.” Dirk’s face reddened, and he rubbed his hands on his thighs again. “My brother is a first-class bastard and I feel very guilty for never taking up for you. I hope you can forgive me someday. I’m really sorry.”