CHAPTER FIFTEEN

BELLA FELT THE WIND BATTERING THE HOUSE, but she kept her eyes closed. She wasn't ready to force her eyes open for she knew that her puffy, frogeyes would greet her in the mirror.

Tears began to run slowly down her cheeks. She'd thought she'd run out of tears, but they must have regenerated while she slept. What was she going to do without Garrett in her life? Brandy changed positions behind her knees and lay her head on Bella's calves. The love pouring from the animal was incredible. It was so strange to know that her dog knew her feelings. Garrett was Brandy's friend, too. She would miss him as much as Bella would.

A soft knock at her door caused Brandy to growl. Who could that be? Tossing the covers off she jumped out of bed, grabbed her robe and rushed for the front door. Garrett's name was on her lips.

She threw open the door only to find her mother standing on the landing, a worried look on her face.

"I knew something was wrong! Garrett sped out of here with this dreadful look on his face. What did you do?" Camilla accused, running out of air.

"Me?" Bella cried feeling rejected and defeated. Her own mother thought her a shrew. "Why do you think anything was my fault?"

Camilla walked past her and entered the living room. "Because you're headstrong and impetuous. And I might add, quite unforgiving."

"No, not unforgiving. I'm not!"

"If you're not, then why have you holed up in this apartment for three years hating Scott's memory?"

The words shocked Bella. Is that the way her mother saw the situation? A stab of guilt thrust against her breast. With a moan of distress, she turned away.

Camilla sat on the sofa and patted the spot beside her. "I think we need to talk."

As Bella neared her mother's loving aura, tears welled, again. She needed her mother's arms just as much at thirty as she did when she was four-years-old. Camilla drew her into her embrace and Bella's tears flowed, but this time, they were healing tears.

When Bella's sobs quieted, Camilla said, "Now, tell me what happened between you and Garrett. You two are so much in love. I can't believe your relationship is irreparable."

Bella trembled, and with a gush of words, told her mother about Garrett's hidden identity and about the crimes committed by Scott and the others at the care center.

Camilla's eyes widened in shock and it was a few moments before she could speak. "Okay. You have a legitimate problem here, and I'm sorry I accused you of causing this predicament--it's just, well, I know you so well. I was afraid that you were getting close to Garrett and your fears made you reject him.

A look of tired sadness passed over her face. "Oh, mom, I love Garrett so much. What do I do now? He lied to me. That's something I can't abide." She angrily wiped a tear from her eye. "Scott hid his life from me and, you're right, I do hate him for leaving me, for cheating with Nikki and most of all, ripping-off the residents."

"The way I see this, Garrett was in a difficult situation himself. He couldn't let you know his identity without letting those miserable people at the care center know why he was here in the first place. He may have lied to you, but when the situation ended, he told you the truth. It's up to you now, Bella. Do you love the man enough to open your heart to him? Forgive him?"

Camilla kissed Bella's cheek, and then she slipped from the apartment.

Her mother's words made Bella think about Garrett in a much different light, but the pain was nearly unbearable. What she needed was time--and distance. She couldn't stay here.

She threw a few things in a suitcase and tossed it into the car. She planned to head back up the mountain to her cabin. Solitude is what she needed the most. She had to think about this.

Bella knocked on the heavy oak door to her parents' home then entered. "Mom, dad?"

"In here, dear." Her father called out from the kitchen.

From the smell as she neared the kitchen, her mother was in the process of making snicker doodle cookies, Bella's favorite. That was just like her mother--soothing Bella's soul from her stomach. Right now, Bella could do with this kind of soul soothing.

"Mmmm, it smells wonderful in here," she said, reaching for a cookie cooling on the rack near the stove.

"Grab me one of those, too, honey, and sit down over here. I want to talk to you about something," her father said.

Bella dropped onto the wooden chair that had served her parents through all their children and now, their grandchildren. There were a few nicks here and there, but nothing to worry themselves about. That way the kids could drive toy cars over the surface without anyone having to worry about permanent tracks in the finish. "What's up dad?"

Andy Storm fiddled with the cookie, and then took a sip of coffee. "Your mother told me about your problems, both here and over at that nursing home. I was just wondering what you're going to do with all the money that belongs to those old people?"

Bella poked the last bite of cookie into her mouth, chewed while she considered his question. "I hadn't really thought about it, but I suppose you might have an idea or two?"

"Humm. Seems you know me pretty well." He bent a portion of the cookie off and placed it in his mouth while gazing at her with his clear, observant eyes.

Bella smiled. There was no way to hide anything from dad--she never could. She really had missed her parents. "What's your suggestion, dad?"

Washing down the bite with the end of his coffee, he started, "I don't suppose there is any way to track just where that money belongs." It was more of a statement than a question.

Bella nodded, trying to follow his train of thought.

"Here's my idea. You could invest the money and use the interest and buy something for the old people there at the home."

"Oh…good idea! And I know the perfect thing." She reached for another cookie as her mother brought a full plate to the discussion table. "The residents need a bus."

Her father's eyes widened in surprise. "A bus? For what?"

"To go places, silly." Camilla added. "If we ever make it to that age, I don't want to be stranded there. I would want to go shopping."

Andy shook his head. "That sounds familiar. Aren't you ever going to be too old for that?"

Camilla and Bella exchanged a knowing gaze and laughed. Andy Storm was a practical man who felt lace pillows, and eucalyptus an unnecessary frivolity.

"The residents like to go out for lunch, and even take in a baseball game in the summer."

Andy considered this as baseball was his favorite sport. "Okay. So you buy the bus, then what?"

"The rest of the money can be invested or whatever, the interest can be used for upkeep, gas, insurance, a driver and…"

"I understand." Andy interrupted. "I think you should get rid of the money as soon as you can. We don't want everyone thinking you're as greedy as Scott."

"I never thought about that. Thanks, dad." Bella kissed him on top of his thinning hair. "I'll handle it from the cabin. I'm going there today. I have to get away and gather my thoughts. Right now I'm so confused."

"Sounds like a good idea to me," her mother offered, "but do you think this is the right time of the year to stay up on the mountain?"

Bella shrugged. "I'll stock up on groceries before I go. That way if there's a storm, I'll be okay." She looked at her father expectantly. He nodded his approval.