Page 56 of Ruin (Hell’s Mayhem MC: Maine Chapter #2)

Chapter Fifty-Six

Kolton

It’s late Sunday morning. Kaison and Cora are out doing a couple things, and I’m grateful to have the house to myself for a little while.

I’m not sure how much longer I can tolerate them being in my space, but I did say they could stay here, and I’m the one who screwed this up, not them.

I hadn’t anticipated coming back; I thought I’d be with Lucian.

So I can’t just kick them out, especially knowing she’s pregnant and they don’t have anywhere to go.

The house she grew up in, and lived in with her father, burned to the ground.

Her father has dementia and he didn’t know what he was doing, or thought he knew what he was doing when he tried cooking something in the middle of the night.

There was a big fire, and they both could have died.

She’s since put him in a home, which is something she hasn’t forgiven herself for yet, but it’s safer for everyone .

I have to say, the good thing about them being here is getting to know them. It’s kind of… nice. I guess.

I’m standing in my living room, looking around the house and trying to figure out what I’m going to spend the day doing when there’s a knock on my door.

My heart does a flip, but I ignore it. Kaison probably forgot his key.

I pull the door open and all the air leaves my lungs.

“Beth—”

I see her there. I say her name. But my brain has… not caught up on what’s going on.

She gives me a bright but tired smile. “Hello, Kolton. May I please come in?”

I step to the side without hesitation, swallowing hard as I close the door.

When I turn, she’s giving me a knowing look.

She’s dressed in navy pants and a white blouse, looking as good as ever.

She always had this air about her, and it told you she came from money, but she never came across as arrogant or snobbish.

I was never overly fond of her either, though. She was stiff and unemotional at times.

The thought makes me laugh, because… well, so am I.

“Can we talk?” she asks.

“Uh, yeah,” I say with a nod. “Sure.”

“Where should we go?”

“Oh…” I step forward. “Living room. ”

She follows me in there, and I sit, then stand, unable to decide what I want to do or where I’ll be more comfortable. She takes a seat in the recliner, and so I sit back on the couch.

Beth watches me carefully, sort of the way a mother would watch her child try to figure out a puzzle.

“Is he—” I start but then snap my mouth shut.

A soft smile crosses his lips. “He’s okay,” she answers. “Kolton, I’m not here with bad news.”

“Okay,” I say carefully.

She sighs softly. “How have you been?”

I frown. “Fine.”

“Truly?” she asks, raising a brow.

“I… guess.”

She nods. “So you’re nothing like Lucian then.”

“What does that mean?”

“He’s moping around like a lost puppy,” she says with a smile.

I shift on the seat, resting my elbows on my thighs and clasping my hands together.

I’m so confused.

“Beth, why are you here?”

She simply says, “Kolton, I’ve known about you and Lucian for a very long time.”

I narrow my eyes, but my face starts to heat, and I focus on breathing so I don’t freak out.

“He told me a few months after Lucas had his accident, but if I’m being honest, I knew before that.”

“You knew about us… before? ”

My hands get sweaty now, and I wipe them on my jeans.

She nods. “I did, yes. Of course, I never said anything to him, and when he told me, I acted as if I didn’t know.”

“How did you find out?”

She shrugs. “When you’re with someone for so long, you get to know them.

Lucian and I had a way of life; we did things a certain way.

It was very routine, very normal. Then one day…

things were different. He was happy, more upbeat, wanted to do more things.

I saw a change in him, and it took some time to figure out what it was. ”

“When did you figure it out?”

“We were here for the summer. A cookout at your house. I saw the way he looked at you, and everything fell into place.”

“When?” The word comes out as a whisper.

“About a year after it started, I surmise.”

“Beth, I’m sorry—”

She waves me off. “Don’t be sorry, Kolton.

Love is love, is love is love. You can’t help who you have feelings for.

Lucian and I had a good life together, but it wasn’t a fairytale love.

We were paired together, and sometimes those people are lucky, and sometimes they’re just…

surviving. Now don’t get me wrong; I don’t regret our life.

We have—” She stops abruptly, then clears her throat.

“Had a beautiful son.” Her voice cracks, and she pauses another moment before continuing.

“My time with Lucian is over, and I know that I could never make him as happy as you do. I’m okay with that. ”

“I don’t understand. Beth, I—”

She gets to her feet and comes to sit beside me, taking my hand in both of hers. It should be weird, letting her touch me, but all I feel is comfort from her.

“Take it from someone who was married to the man for many years. He means well. He thinks he’s doing the right thing.

He’s a fixer and wants to make everyone better.

He’s a doctor, Kolton. It’s in his blood.

But sometimes people make mistakes, sometimes they’re wrong, but he means no harm.

I assure you, if you tell him what’s bothering you, he will listen and he will try harder. ”

I close my eyes, taking a deep breath. She’s right. I know she’s right.

“Kolton, this man stayed with me for nine years all because he didn’t want me to mourn our son alone.

He is dedicated and loyal. And I’ll admit, during that time, I was selfish and I didn’t want to give him up, but we’re past that.

He and I are through. It’s your time to be with him, and I came here to wish you the best.”

My eyes pop open and I turn to face her. “You’re serious?”

“Very.”

“Does he know you’re here?”

She laughs. “God no. He’d throw a fit.”

I chuckle and take a deep breath.

“But he knows you’re in town?”

“No,” she says. “I called him about the papers and could tell something was off. ”

I nod, staring down at her small hands holding mine. Maybe I had her all wrong. Or maybe Lucian really was right… and I just wouldn’t have understood.

“I’m so sorry about Luke.”

“I know, honey. Me too.”

It’s silent for a while, us just sitting there with each other. It’s oddly comforting.

“It’s a lot, you know,” I finally say.

She nods, giving me a sad smile. “You have pain in your eyes, Kolton. You have since the day your mother passed, and I only saw it grow as the years went on.” She pats my hand, squeezing a little tighter. “Let him heal you, Kolton. Let him help you. Be happy with him.”

I take a deep breath, then do something absolutely crazy.

I lean in to give her a hug.