It Started with a Bang by Piper James

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Annabelle

My conversation with Marshall had started out okay, with him telling me about all the awesome milestones my baby nephew was hitting on a near-daily basis. I tried to say the right things, and for a while, my brother had no idea I was on the verge of tears listening to him go on and on about his wonderful life.

I didn’t begrudge him his happiness. I loved that he was so happy and fulfilled. But that smile in his voice was a stark contrast to the shit pile of chaos that was my life right now. When he asked me if I was okay, I’d completely broken down, telling him everything down to the last detail. I wasn’t even sure how much of it he’d heard between my broken sobs.

“Belle, I can be there tonight. Felicia is looking up flights right now, and there’s one that lands at nine-thirty.”

“No,” I said quickly, my voice filled with panic. “No. Seriously Marsh. You don’t need to come here. Stay there with your wife and son. They need you.”

“My baby sister needs me,” he said, his voice deep with emotion.

“What I need is for you to draw up the divorce papers. Can you do that for me?”

“Of course,” he said. “I actually drew them up the day I wrote the contract so it would be ready whenever you needed it. I’m sending it right now,” he said.

My eyes filled with tears again, and I struggled to keep from making any crying noises that might make him hit the buy button on that airline ticket. The fact that he drew up the marriage contract and divorce papers at the same time only proved what I should’ve never forgotten—this marriage was doomed from the start.

It was temporary. It always had been.

“Thanks, Marsh,” I said, swallowing hard against the lump in my throat. “And do me a favor?”

“Anything.”

“Don’t tell Max.”

Marshall’s twin was even more hotheaded than he was, and nothing would stop him from coming here and trying to fix everything for me—including murdering our father and Ryder. But this couldn’t be fixed. I just needed time to heal and move on with my life.

“Anything but that,” Marshall said, surprising me. “I have to tell him, Belle. We can’t have him finding out in the business journals that you’re no longer with the company.”

“I know,” I sighed, realizing he was right. “Just…try to convince him I’m fine, okay?”

“Are you? Fine, I mean. Because you don’t sound fine,” he said.

“I will be,” I sighed. “I promise.”

“Okay, but you need to call me the minute you need anything. Understood?”

“Understood,” I said. “Thanks, Marsh.”

When we finally ended the call, I sat on the couch for a long time, my hand absentmindedly stroking Thanos’s head, which was resting in my lap. Financially speaking, I could do this every day for the rest of my life—hang out at home, alone with my dog—but I wasn’t the type of person to sit back and do nothing. I needed to stay busy. To feel like I was making a difference.

I sat up a little straighter as an idea started to form, and Thanos lifted his big head to look at me before settling back down.

“So sorry to disturb you, my king,” I said, scratching behind his ears.

He let out a big yawn, which made me chuckle. The sound startled me. Ten minutes ago, I’d been sure I would never laugh again. Yet, here I was, the tiny kernel of an idea taking root in my brain changing everything. I felt a spark of life I hadn’t felt since the moment I walked into Jaxson’s office and heard Ryder’s voice on that speaker.

I didn’t need Jaxson’s company to make a difference in the community. I had my own money, my own resources, and my own connections. I could start my own business—a nonprofit—and spend my days doing exactly what I’d always wanted to do…helping people and making the world a better place for those in need.

Muttering an apology to Thanos, I slipped out from under his head and walked into the kitchen. Grabbing my laptop, I got to work. I needed to research how to start my organization, file for a nonprofit status, and get the ball rolling on fundraising. I also needed to decide what the goal of the organization would be.

Feed the hungry? Free and low-cost clinics? The possibilities were endless.

I was going to do this. I was going to make all my dreams come true, all on my own.

* * *

“He wiredthe five hundred grand I paid him up front back into my account.”

“He did what?” Sage asked, taking a long sip of her piña colada.

I’d gotten a notification from my bank a few hours ago. Ryder had sent back the money I paid him without a word to me about it. It wasn’t like I expected him to call or anything, but…it gave our whole relationship a sense of finality I hadn’t realized was missing before.

It was like the whole thing never happened. All that was left to do was sign and file the divorce papers, which I’d held onto for several days before sending them over to him after I got that message from the bank. After I pulled that trigger, I’d sent out the bat signal, asking the girls to meet me at the bar for drinks.

“What did I miss?” Ember asked, sliding into the chair next to me.

“Ryder gave back the money,” Sage told her.

“Good,” Ember said, thanking Dakota as she walked up with two beers and slid into the only other empty chair. “He didn’t hold up his end of the bargain. Your contract is null and void and he doesn’t deserve that fucking money.”

“He sent it back?” Dakota asked. At my nod, she pressed her lips together for a moment, then said, “I wonder why.”

“Because he doesn’t need it,” I said, sipping the whiskey sour I’d grabbed at the bar when I walked in earlier.

“And he doesn’t deserve it,” Ember reiterated.

“True,” Dakota said, “but it’s been sitting in his account for what? Weeks? Months? Why did he return it now?”

“I have no idea,” I said, shrugging like it didn’t matter.

But it did matter. It mattered a lot, and I really wanted to know what spurred his decision.

“Have you talked to him?” Sage asked.

“No,” I said, shaking my head frantically. “And I don’t want to.”

“Don’t you?” Dakota asked, studying me with narrowed eyes.

“Nope,” I said matter-of-factly without meeting her gaze.

“Okay,” she said, backing down for the moment.

I liked Dakota a lot. She was a straight shooter who wasn’t afraid to say what was on her mind. But she also knew when to hold back if the situation called for it. And there was this quiet strength in her I envied. I couldn’t imagine her being a sobbing mess like I’d been the last couple of weeks.

“So, I have other news to share,” I said, effectively changing the subject. “I’m starting a nonprofit organization that will help find affordable housing for low income families. We will help cover the costs of necessary renovations to make existing homes safe and secure, and eventually, we’ll build townhomes and apartments that families can rent at a reasonable price.”

“That’s amazing,” Sage said, her eyes growing wide.

“Very cool,” Ember added. “Our little Belle, changing the world with her big dreams.”

“Congratulations, Belle,” Dakota said, tilting her head. “I might actually be able to help you.”

“How?” I asked.

“Well,” she said, grinning, “I got the job!”

We all congratulated her, toasting with our drinks as she beamed with pride. She’d already given notice at the bar, and this weekend would mark her last night bartending. When everyone settled back down, she looked at me with excitement shining in her eyes.

“I can keep an eye on the MLS listings for you. If any old fixer-uppers pop up on the market, I can let you know. You could buy them and fix them up for families in need.”

“That’s a great idea,” I said, smiling. “Thank you, Dakota.”

“Of course,” she said. “I’m happy to do whatever I can to help. I think what you’re doing is great.”

“To making all of our dreams come true,” Ember said, lifting her beer into the air.

“Here, here,” said Sage as we lifted our drinks to clink them against each other.

Starting the nonprofit was the first step in making my own dreams come true. The first step toward real happiness in the next chapter of my life without Parker Industries. Without my father.

Without Ryder Perry.