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They stared at me like I was the devil. To them, maybe I was. I was tired of people not owning up to what they needed to do, and that included myself. It was time for a change. It was time to stop sitting on the sidelines of my life, watching it pass. “I’m also happy to give up every single penny Mrs. Belfort wants to give me—I have only known her for about two years, since…” It doesn’t matter, I tried to tell myself, only it did. I needed to start looking reality in the eye if I wanted to truly face it. “Since I went through something that changed my entire perspective about people and how you should treat them. I will give up all the money, reserving a very small budget for myself.”
Ryan snorted, shaking his head. “Of course.”
I continued, raising my voice. “A small budget that will go toward visiting her every other month, to make sure that she is happy with you guys.”
Stunned silence fell over the room. They looked at each other with such exasperation, I thought they were going to say no. And then what? The thought of moving in with Mrs. B occurred to me. But I wanted to put some space between Pam and me. Besides, Mrs. B didn’t need me. She needed her family.
“I never realized things were that bad.” Kacey’s gaze dropped to her folded hands on the table. She sat back down, seemingly humbled by arguing with a twenty-year-old over her mother’s fortune. “I mean, I would talk to her on the phone a few times every month and usually she’d talk like my dad was still alive. I didn’t know she had any idea what was going on.”
“She does.” I sniffed, scrapping an invisible stain from the table.
“Does she still go to the maze?” Ryan interrupted, his voice no longer hostile, although still edgy.
I shook my head. “I go there now.”
“That’s where they fell in love,” Kacey commented, and my heart skipped a beat at her words. It was where I’d fallen in love, too. “My dad and her. This mansion belonged to his family. She was the gardener’s daughter. He used to go there all the time. That’s where they met. That’s where they fell in love.” Kacey took a shaky breath, a tear rolling down her cheek. “That’s where I was conceived, and that’s why we are all here.”
I have no regrets. I loved fully, I remembered Mrs. Belfort saying.
I smiled to myself. “She is the best company I’ve had in years.”
Ryan stood up and looked at his sister, who did the same. Something passed between them I couldn’t interpret. They asked for an hour, which I was happy to give them. I spent the time sitting at the dining table, alone, thinking about everything and nothing.
After an hour, Kacey sauntered back into the room. Alone. She looked like she’d been crying. I wished I had a brother to hold me when I did.
“Yes. We will take her,” she nodded curtly. “I’ll make the arrangements ASAP.”
I sucked in a greedy breath, realizing I’d been holding it for who knows how long.
One pin down.
Just a few more to go.
I hurried to my Range Rover like my butt was on fire. Mainly, I wanted to get to Roman as soon as I could and have this conversation that hung over my head. I light-jogged to my vehicle when I heard the familiar sound of Darren’s Mercedes locking. I tried to slip into the driver’s side, but then I heard his voice booming from behind the palm trees dividing the two mansions. “Jethy!”
I froze for a second. No matter how mad I was at Pam, Darren didn’t deserve my wrath. I owed him at least an acknowledgment. I turned around from my door, plastering a patient smile on my face.
“Hey, Darren. I was actually just about to leave.”
Darren rushed over to where I was standing, and I inwardly groaned. I really wanted to get to Roman as soon as possible.
“I need to talk to you, thweetie.”
“Now’s not a good time.” I turned around, swinging my door open again.
“It’s about your boyfriend.”
I paused, my back still to him. He had my attention, though, and he knew it.
“I was hoping we could do it thomewhere elth. Maybe Mayra’th offith?”
Driving all the way downtown to have a talk with me? Why couldn’t he do it at the house? Because whatever it is, Pam doesn’t know. A terrible feeling came over me.
Why would Darren have a key to Mayra’s office, anyway? Just how close were they?
I’m missing a chunk from my memory.
No, you’re not.
“Darren, I want to leave.”
I want to leave.
He gripped my arm and turned me around. It wasn’t violent and it wasn’t hurtful. What it was, was familiar. And it shouldn’t have been.
