A Winter Wedding(67)

“But Kyle knows he can’t stop. When you divorced, he agreed to a certain amount every month. I remember that amount went down not too long ago, but he’s been paying, hasn’t he?”

“Apparently, he’s planning to take me back to court and have it reduced to nothing.” She sniffed. “I have no idea how I’ll get by.”

“Don’t panic yet. I’m not sure the judge will allow—”

“Kyle’s got the money to hire the kind of high-powered lawyers who can do it, Olivia,” she broke in.

“Still, that doesn’t sound like Kyle. He’s tried really hard to be generous with you.”

“You only say that because you don’t want to believe he could be such an *. You’d rather believe I’m the cause of all the problems between us. Everything’s my fault. It’s always me.”

“Noelle, stop. I’m not pointing any fingers. I’m trying to figure out why he’d suddenly change course. He’s been great about paying you. He’s even gone above and beyond on occasion, probably more than I know.”

“He hasn’t gone above and beyond. He’s been keeping track of every dime he’s ever given me, and now he’s charging me for it.”

“Anyone would do that, Noelle. He doesn’t owe you extra money, so even a loan is nice. All he owes is the amount specified by the court, which he pays—usually early, since you’re so desperate for it.”

“You want me to give him credit for that? Why would I? It’s nothing, a pittance! If we were still married, I’d be living as well as he does.”

“But you’re not married, and you haven’t been for five years.”

“That doesn’t matter. He doesn’t have to count every dollar, especially when he has so much more than I do.”

Olivia made a sound of irritation. “Sometimes the way you think— Never mind. Anyway, he just gave you a water heater. That was nice, wasn’t it?”

“He gave me an old water heater.”

“He didn’t have to. And I’m sure he’s not charging you for it.”

“Because he wanted to get it out of his warehouse and didn’t have anything better to do with it!”

After a brief pause, Olivia sighed audibly. Then she said, “I’m sorry. It must be upsetting for you. After losing your job, any new problems would seem overwhelming.”

That was a dodge. As usual, her sister was just paying her lip service. Olivia wouldn’t truly take her side, not when it came to Kyle. She respected him too much and didn’t have that same respect for Noelle. But who was Olivia to feel superior? She acted as if she’d done a great thing by forgiving Noelle for getting together with Kyle, but she and Kyle weren’t even a couple when Noelle ran into him that night at Sexy Sadie’s. Olivia had moved away to Sacramento, put her business ahead of her supposed “love.” Then she’d played the martyr when Noelle stepped in to take what she’d left behind.

She always had to make Noelle look bad, even though Olivia had married Brandon, a man just as good-looking and successful as Kyle. Olivia had everything her spoiled heart could desire.

How was that fair? How was any of this fair?

“That’s all you’re going to say?” Noelle said. “I’m sitting over here in this piece of shit condo of Cousin Harry’s, trying to keep it in some kind of decent shape, with Christmas coming up, no job and an ex-husband who’s trying to pound the last nail in my coffin. And all you can say is you’re sorry?”

“I don’t know what else you expect.”

“Why don’t you do something to help me for a change?” she screamed. “Put some action behind all that sisterly love you’re pretending to feel?”

“Noelle, have you been drinking? That’s the only time you get so belligerent.”

Slamming the faucet wide-open, Noelle let the water pour. “I’ve had a bit to drink. Wouldn’t you, if you’d just lost your job and everyone was turning against you at the same time? Even my own sister won’t help.”

“In what way?”

“You have so much. You could get me through this rough spot if you really wanted to.”

“Noelle, we’ve gone over this before. Brandon and I make our decisions together, and we’ve agreed that we won’t give you any money.”

“Because both of you are too stingy!”

“That’s not true!” Olivia said. “You can call me stingy if you want, but Brandon is one of the most generous people I know. The problem is, you’ve manipulated people in the past. That makes it difficult to trust you.”

“What a bullshit excuse. But if you won’t lend me any money, even though you’re my freaking sister, at least put in a good word for me with Kyle. He worships the ground you walk on. All you’d have to do is hint that you won’t put up with him treating me badly, and he’d change his tune right away. He’d do anything for you—Lourdes Bennett or no Lourdes Bennett.”

“I’m not convinced of that,” Olivia said. “Not anymore.”

“Oh, quit it. Kyle and I would still be together if it wasn’t for how badly he wants you. You’re the reason my marriage fell apart, and yet you think you have reason to be bitter.”