Home to Whiskey Creek (Whiskey Creek #4)(92)
Author: Brenda Novak

But Addy knew Mrs. Rackham didn’t believe that was the case. Noah had never had a long-lasting love interest. His home and business were in Whiskey Creek. So were all his friends. Mrs. Rackham thought if she could get Addy to leave, she’d be able to bring her family together again.

And maybe she could. Addy hadn’t been with Noah long enough to expect him to make any great sacrifices. She’d begin looking for an apartment and a job. Only this time she’d head to Los Angeles or somewhere even farther. She needed a fresh start in a place where she wouldn’t have to be reminded of the past.

Her phone rang. It was Noah. But she turned it off. She wasn’t in any kind of shape to talk to him right now.

* * *

When Noah arrived at his parents’, he found his mother’s car in the drive. She was home, apparently. Good. Because he had a few choice things to say to her—to both of his parents.

They were eating dinner when he stormed into the house.

“How dare you!” he burst out.

His mother rocked back at the interruption, but she wiped her mouth, set her napkin aside and tried to explain herself. “Noah, you need to understand that I was only being honest with Addy. I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true. It was all stuff she should consider.”

“You were wrong to take matters into your own hands, to get involved. You’ve been wrong from the start. Cody was on coke on graduation night. Did you know that? He’d been doing drugs for months. I didn’t tell you. I couldn’t. I felt it was too big a betrayal. But, in a roundabout way, that makes me as guilty for what he did to Addy as he was, because the rape probably wouldn’t have happened if he’d been able to control himself. That doesn’t excuse his behavior, but it makes me damn sorry I didn’t speak up.”

“Sorry enough to protect a woman who may or may not be telling the truth?”

“Stop pretending you don’t believe it’s true,” he said. “Cody and his friends raped the woman I now love. That’s a terrible thing for us all to have to live with. But…I’ll tell you this—nothing would be more terrible for me than living without her.”

His father bumped the table as he stood, nearly toppling the wine goblets. “Noah, let’s face it. Women come and go in your life. Addy’s only been home for a few weeks. Give this some time. Let the intensity of the emotions die down. And then see how you feel.”

He whirled on his father. “Maybe I don’t have the most stellar track record when it comes to commitment, Dad. But how do you know this girl isn’t the one who can change all of that? I’ve never felt like I have since I got with her. Are you really willing to ruin my happiness in order to preserve an inaccurate image of my dead brother? To protect some men who feel so little remorse for what they did, and so little compassion for their victim, that they’re trying to make a pariah out of her? Wouldn’t you rather stand on the side of truth and justice?”

He threw his napkin down. “I would if I knew what the truth is!”

“You know what the truth is. You just don’t think telling it should require a sacrifice.”

Noah was halfway to his truck when his father came after him. “Noah!”

Because he refused to turn back, he was inside his car, starting the engine, when his father knocked on the window.

“Will you give me a minute? I think you’re going to want to hear this.”

Something about his father’s expression made Noah roll down his window. “What is it?”

“You win,” he said.

“What does that mean?”

“I know who sent us that note fifteen years ago. Come over to my office. I want to show it to you.”

* * *

Of all the times for her 4-Runner to break down, Addy couldn’t believe it would be today. She was stranded on the side of the road and it was getting dark. She had to call for a tow. But Joe DeMarco owned the only towing service she knew of, and that was in Whiskey Creek. She was afraid if she went back there, she’d never scrape up the determination to leave again. She already missed Noah so much she could hardly stand it.

“I’m leaving because I love him,” she reminded herself, and clicked on a phone application that would search for the closest towing service. She was just about to call one in Jackson, even though it was farther away, when she got a text.

Come back to me.

It was from Noah. She’d been avoiding his calls. She’d also been ignoring his texts, but this one was more poignant than the others, which were mostly questions. Where are you going? Why are you leaving? What happened?

You’re better off without me, she wrote.

I don’t want to be without you. I love you.

She stared down at her phone. She was pretty sure he’d never told another woman that.

How do you know?

Because I’ll sell my house and my store if that’s what it’ll take for us to be together.

She smiled through the tears filling her eyes. I’d feel too guilty taking you away from Whiskey Creek.

I don’t want to be here if you can’t be happy here with me.

I can’t separate you from your family. You know that.

Things have changed since you left.

How could they? I’ve only been gone a few hours.

Tom confessed.

Her heart began to race as she stared at those two words. She’d given up on Tom. She’d decided his apology and all the other things he’d had to say that night hadn’t been sincere.

To you?

To Chief Stacy two days ago. Stacy was keeping it quiet, but my father has agreed to get out of the way and let Stacy pursue this case as aggressively as he would any other.

What changed your father’s mind?

Two things. A note Tom left for him right after it happened.

And?

I told him I don’t want to live without you.

A smile stretched across her face as she read those words. Then her phone rang.

“So are you coming home?” Noah asked when she answered.

“I’m afraid you’re going to have to come and get me.” She wiped her wet cheeks. “And bring Joe with his tow truck.”

“You’re broken down?”

“I am.”

She gave him her location.

“Can you be happy here, living in Whiskey Creek? Or should I put my house up for sale?” he asked.

Even though Helen was around now, Addy hated to leave Gran. She wanted to spend as much time with her own family as possible. Gran didn’t have long, and Addy had never had a good relationship with her mother. Maybe that could change if they worked together to make Just Like Mom’s an even better restaurant. And Noah was happy in Whiskey Creek. He’d already told her that. “We can try to make it work, Noah.”