Paradise Valley (Virgin River #7)(97)

Abby struggled a little bit to get to a standing position, Cam at her side giving assist. “Well, I hope you make it this time, Ross. When you’re straight, you’re not a bad guy. Too bad it’s so scary to count on you staying straight.”

Ross stood. “Abby, you never asked for anything in the settlement, you should have gotten out of the whole thing without a problem, without it costing you a cent. You shouldn’t have needed a lawyer at all. And, you were supposed to be getting some support while we were separated. Close as we can figure, that went in Autumn’s purse, too. Staying crocked all the time is real expensive all around.”

“Can we just close the door on it now?” Abby asked. “I really need to get on with my life.”

“You sure do,” he said with a smile.

She winced and leaned over her stomach slightly.

“You all right, babe?” Cameron asked softly, bracing her from behind.

“Oh, you know,” she said. “I just can’t grow anymore.”

“We have to be going, Mr. Crawford,” Cameron said. “Abby needs her rest. She’s uncomfortable.”

“Sure, I’ll hurry this up,” he said. “I fired the lawyer. I’m using Greg’s firm now. The lead singer—remember him? He’s straight as an arrow and has some good people on retainer. I gave them the job of figuring out what my shyster set you back and I want to make restitution….”

“Forget it,” Abby said. “The credit-card bills were paid off with your alimony and I don’t want your money. I want it over, once and for all.”

“Oh, you’ll get that. I promise, I’ll never bother you again after—”

“Haven’t you spent enough money on drugs, treatment, lawyers and bad managers who robbed you blind?”

“Yeah, I lost a ton of money on stupidity. There’s a little left. It feels kind of good to spend some responsibly for a change. Let’s see, there was forty-seven thousand in Autumn’s credit-card bills, your 401k wasn’t that big—just twenty-two. Six years in that town house only earned you about thirty in equity—should’ve been more, but—”

“Ross! Forget it! I defied your prenup!” Her hand covered her mouth suddenly and her eyes darted between Brie to her left and Cameron behind to her right. “Shit,” she said.

But Ross grinned. “Really? You mean while I was sleeping with Autumn—as she robbed me blind—you were having a relationship with this doctor dude?”

“Not until the weekend before I signed the papers. So keep your money and just let me go.”

Ross shook his head almost sadly. “You were alone for nine months? Aw, Abby, I agreed to that prenup safeguard when it was suggested, but I never would’ve held you to it when I was stepping out on you at the same time. I mean, I’m a lot of things, but I’m not pure evil.” He shrugged. “I guess it could happen that a woman you’ve been married to a few months takes you for millions,” he said. “I thought I should guard against that, but hey, I’ve made more than one mistake, obviously. I’m just happy that you found a good person and you’re having a family, like you always wanted. And I’m jealous—I wish I could have that life. It’s going to be a long time before I’m sane enough for a relationship with anyone besides a sponsor.” He pulled an envelope from his back pocket. It was folded in half.

“Ross, I mean it—your money is just going to mess me up. Cameron and I, together, we’ve cleared all this up so we have a fresh start, and—”

“It’s not really for you,” he said, handing her the envelope. “It’s for me. It’s very important to me that at the end of the day I made it right with one of the nicest people I know. After about ten years of screwing up people’s lives, you gave me a chance, Abby. You believed in me when you shouldn’t have, and all the thanks you got was getting screwed because I cared more about drugs than I did about you, or me, for that matter. If you don’t want it, donate it to charity. Start a college fund for the kid there. Do whatever you want. It’s real important to me—it’s helping me get well.”

She took the envelope gingerly. She peeked inside and screamed. “Eyyyyyyeeee!” She scrunched the envelope in her fist.

“Don’t hurt it, Abby,” Ross said, taking a nervous step toward her.

“Ross, you’ve lost your mind! It’s for a hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars!”

“I know. It’s a little short. It should be bigger, figuring for nine months of support you never got before the divorce was final. I swear I told her to send you money. I’m sorry I didn’t know about all this sooner. Right about the time our divorce was final, I entered treatment for six months. I was out of pocket, just got out a couple of months ago.”

“Ross, I can’t. I can’t.”

“Like I said, do something good with it. Feed the hungry. Educate poor children. But, Abby, it’s a cashier’s check and it’s money you were swindled out of. If you burn it, it’s like burning cash, so don’t go nuts. Doc? Maybe you could talk some sense into her. I mean, I appreciate how honorable she is, but it’s her money. It’s not a donation—it’s just what it cost her to get screwed around by my business manager and lawyer. And me. I guess first off it was me. Abby was robbed.”