Chapter 1
Vee
* * *
We stood in silence. Daphne’s mouth hung open. Grant’s skin reddened, crimson moving up from his collar. Tears of shock glistened in Leigh’s eyes. The sound of my heart thumped in my ears as I reached to Fin and willed my knees to keep me standing.
It wasn’t Bre’s whispered confession that had everyone mute. I doubted it had been heard. It was the scene we were witnessing, the two officers taking Bre away. She’d asked for my help, yet the cumulative shock of the last eight days was too much for me to bear. I couldn’t claim it was an inability or unwillingness to speak —I could only state my response was a statuesque stature and silence.
Fin snaked his arm around my waist and static filled my ears.
The chaos dimmed, bringing Cammy’s lowered voice into our collective consciousness. “…a charge of murder means the authorities must believe they have enough evidence to claim malice aforethought.” When no one responded, she added, “They believe Bre intended to kill Mr. Hubbard or cause him serious harm.”
Wrapping my arms around my midsection, I leaned into Fin’s embrace for support. “Evidence? What evidence?”
“Legally, they don’t need to disclose anything until discovery.”
“This can’t be happening.” My attention went to the two officers walking with Bre between them. I turned back to Cammy. “What can you do?”
“Nothing,” Daphne said, new tears smearing her eye makeup. She appeared invigorated as I’d never seen her before, her eyes were opened wide and her long hair seemed suddenly alive with static electricity. “You’re not doing a damn thing.” Daphne’s voice rose. “If that bitch killed Reid, the Coopers’ legal will not defend her.”
“What’s happening?” Uncle Darin and Aunt Rachel joined our circle.
I peered beyond them, hoping that on the other side of the curtain, our guests were enjoying the meal and reminiscing about Dad. I envied their ignorance. On our side of the curtain, the tension was palpable.
“Aunt Daphne is right,” Leigh said.
“About what?” Uncle Darin asked again.
Grant was the one to reply, speaking between clenched teeth. “Bre Stanton was just taken away.”
“Reid’s assistant?” Aunt Rachel asked. “Why?”
“She murdered my husband.”
I shook my head as I stared at Daphne. “She’s been accused.”
“What did she say to you, Vee?” Daphne asked. “Before they took her away, she whispered to you.”
Fin pulled me closer to him as I looked up to his blue eyes, wondering if he’d heard Bre’s confession about being pregnant. Inhaling, I stared at my family. “She said she would never hurt Dad. She said she can’t go to jail.”
“Of course she can,” Daphne said. “She should rot in jail.”
“Bre Stanton?” Uncle Darin questioned. “Why would she?” He narrowed his gaze as small lines formed near his eyes. “What do we know?”
“Nothing,” Cammy repeated for those who missed the earlier scene. She explained the charge of murder and what it implied.
As she spoke, there were too many things swirling through my thoughts to pinpoint one.
Grant stepped forward, scanning from Fin and me to the others. “We can’t get a fucking break. As vice president of communications, we—the Coopers—need to get ahead of this.”
“I-I…” I exhaled. “I don’t know. What can we say?”
“No comment,” Leigh suggested. “Our statement is that today, with a heavy heart in the presence of friends, family, and loved ones, we laid Reid Hubbard to rest.” She looked at me. “We keep going with your initial request for privacy, Vee, and we’ll state that at this time, we have no further comments about the passing of our beloved husband” —she looked at Daphne— “father” —to me— “brother and uncle.”
“I like that,” Grant said, turning to me. “Vee?”
My mind was filled with pictures and love letters signed with hearts. “I’m not…”
