Page 45 of Courting Catherine
“Isn’t that what you wanted?” C.C.’s voice was clipped. “Isn’t that what you came for?”
“Yes.” But he’d gotten a great deal more than he’d bargained for. “My firm will be delighted to purchase the property. But... I want to be certain that you’re all agreed. That this is what you want. All of you.”
“We’re all agreed.” C.C. went back to staring at the wall.
“The lawyers will handle the details,” Amanda began again. “But before we hand things over to them, I’d like to review the terms.”
“Of course.” He named the purchase price again. Hearing it had tears burning in C.C.’s eyes. “There’s no reason why we can’t be flexible on the timing,” he went on. “I realize you’ll want to do some kind of inventory before you—relocate.”
It was what they wanted, he reminded himself. It was business. It shouldn’t make him feel as if he’d just crawled out from under a rock.
“I think we’d like to make the move quickly.” Suzanna glanced around the table for confirmation. “As soon as we can find another house.”
“If there’s anything I can do to help you—”
“You’ve done enough,” C.C. interrupted coolly. “We can take care of ourselves.”
“I’d like to add a condition.” Lilah leaned forward. “You’re purchasing the house, and the land. Not the contents.”
“No. Naturally the furniture, heirlooms, personal possessions remain yours.”
“Including the necklace.” She inclined her head. “Whether it’s found before we leave, or after, the Calhoun necklace belongs to the Calhouns. I want that in writing, Trent. If anytime during your renovations, the necklace is recovered, it belongs to us.”
“All right.” The little clause would drive the lawyers crazy, he thought. But that was their problem. “I’ll see that it’s put in the contract.”
“Bianca’s tower.” She spoke slowly, afraid her voice would break. “Be careful what you do with it.”
“How about some wine?” Coco rose, hands fluttering. “We should have some wine.”
“Excuse me.” C.C. made herself stand slowly, fighting the impulse to race from the room. “If we’re all through, I think I’ll go up. I’m tired.”
Trent started after her, but Suzanna stopped him. “I don’t think she’d be receptive right now. I’ll go.”
C.C. went to the terrace to lean out over the wall and let the cold wind dry the tears. There should be a storm, she thought. She wished there was a storm, something as angry and as passionate as her own heart.
Pounding a fist on the wall, she cursed the day she’d ever met Trent. He wouldn’t take her love, but he would take her home. Of course, if he had accepted the first and returned it, he could never have taken the house.
“C.C.” Suzanna stepped out to slip an arm around her shoulders. “It’s cold. Why don’t we go inside?”
“It’s not right.”
“No.” She gathered her sister closer. “It’s not.”
“He doesn’t even know what it means.” She dashed the angry tears away. “He can’t understand. He wouldn’t want to.”
“Maybe he doesn’t. Maybe no one can but us. But it’s not his fault, C.C. We can’t blame him because we couldn’t hang on.” She looked away from the gardens she loved, toward the cliffs that always drew her. “I left here once before—it seems like a lifetime ago, but it was only seven years. Nearly eight now.” She sighed. “I thought it was the happiest day of my life, leaving the island for my new home in Boston.”
“You don’t have to talk about that. I know it hurts you.”
“Not as much as it once did. I was in love, C.C., a new bride with the future in the palm of my hand. And when I turned around and saw The Towers disappearing behind me, I cried like a baby. I thought it would be easier this time.” As tears threatened, she closed her eyes. “I wish it were. What is it about this place that pulls us so?” she wondered.
“I know we can find another house.” C.C. linked fingers with her sister. “I know we’ll be all right, even happy. But it hurts. And you’re right, it’s not Trent’s fault. But...”
“You have to blame someone.” Suzanna smiled.
“He hurt me. I really hate to admit that, but he hurt me. I want to be able to say that he made me fall in love with him. Even that he let me fall in love with him. But I did it all by myself.”
“And Trent?”
