Life was so damn cruel. I was the only adult alive for them.
Aster’s coffin disappeared beyond the curtain for cremation, and I would pick up her ashes in a few days. In the meantime, I was dealing with the legal minefield left behind. Not even having time to manage my own grief, I had seven children depending on me. Aster had left me everything. Kanon’s life insurance, her own, the house, their savings, everything had come to me.
That was on top of Vulcan’s estate. Financially, we were okay, but I didn’t want to stay here. Denmark had become a country of grief and tragedy. I gathered the kids together and walked them out. Several mourners, people who’d worked with Aster, offered condolences, but I just wanted to get my family home.
March 2025
“Thank you for the call.” I hung up, sitting down heavily. Would the hard knocks stop coming?
“Mama?” Laila asked as she came and sat beside me.
“Aunt Shirley died,” I said, stunned. Grief once again raised its ugly head. Shirley had been my dad’s younger sister and, like me, the black sheep. According to the lawyer, Shirley had left me everything. Lucky me—that wouldn’t give me my aunt back.
“Oh no. Who’s next?” Laila cried and burst into tears. Shirley had remained a constant in our lives, visiting at least twice a year for a minimum of two weeks at a time. She always came for Christmas, too, and timed one visit to coincide with the twins’ birthdays.
I wrapped my arms around Laila and shook my head. I wondered how much more pain and grief we’d have to endure. Life kept kicking us, and I was tired of being its toy.
“She left us Crook House,” I said, and Laila looked up and wiped her tears away.
“Aunt Shirley did?”
“Yes. No doubt that will piss off my mother and father. And those spoiled brats of theirs.”
“Mama, are you considering returning to America? Do you believe things might improve there?”
I couldn’t answer that honestly. Since the day I flew out, I’d not returned. Now I would have to, to sort out Shirley’s estate.
“Denmark’s your home, I won’t force you into anything,” I replied.
“Mom, people are judgmental here. Let’s just go. Sell up and leave.”
“Call a family meeting,” I murmured. This wasn’t something I’d make the kids do without talking it through with them first.
May 2025
“Thanks,” I said as I exited the lawyer’s office in a raging mood. I’d had the appointment, and everything was signed over bar one thing. Aunt Shirley had owned a lot of jewellery, and it was missing. The lawyer had informed me there was a security box in a bank, and Shirley had left the contents to me, but they didn’t have the key. For some unknown reason last year, Aunt Shirley had given Magic custody of it.
Totally pissed off, I got in the car and slammed a hand down on the steering wheel. A woman passed by, stared, then scurried away as I glared back. Starting the engine of the mint condition nineteen sixty Thunderbird Convertible, I was silently cursing. It had been Aunt Shirley’s—her pride and joy. It was buttercup yellow with a white roof and beautifully kept.
Damn Magic. I’d not thought about him for a decade. Okay, that was a lie, maybe an occasional brief reflection on what he’d missed out. But the love I’d felt had died a long time ago. Vulcan had given me everything I needed and then some.
I wondered if Magic still owned the bar and, checking the time, I drove out towards it. Strangely enough, it wasn’t far from Crook House; they were a five-minute drive from each other. As I approached, I spotted the bar in the distance and frowned. It looked different from memory. It had been expanded and recently painted. The sign read ‘Magic’s Bar’ in bold red letters, and I guessed Magic still owned it.
I parked up and saw the line of Harleys outside. Guess it was once again a biker meeting place. That made sense. Magic had always liked his bikes. I entered and gazed around. It was half-full even this early in the afternoon. Several guys looked up and dismissed me, but I ignored them as I headed towards the bar counter, where a woman stood.
“What do you want?”
“Magic.”
“Who’s asking?” she demanded, and I recognised the protectiveness in her face. Magic’s woman? She wore a name tag that said Alice.Cute.
“Ain’t here to cause trouble for you, honey. Magic has something of mine. I need it back.”
“Magic isn’t here, so you’ll have to wait,” Alice replied.
“Fine.” I yanked out a stool and sat down.
Alice looked bemused. “What are you doing?”
