AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Jace
Sheryll’s call hadn’t been important, but all the same, it was probably a good thing that I’d left when I had. She’d called three times to ask what I wanted for dinner, and while I’d been frustrated, I again reminded myself how hard she was trying to build a relationship with me. But the damage was already done. She’d already made it impossible for me to have a healthy relationship—not with her, not with anyone.
While I resented her for distracting me, for demanding so much of my attention when I should be focused on fixing things with Greer, maybe it was a blessing in disguise. Since she’d almost dived headfirst off the roof, every time I saw Greer, I was hit with wave after wave of competing emotions. The lust had always been there, but now I was frustrated. Worried. And no matter how hard I tried to let it go, I was still pissed that she hadn’t confided in me. I was also afraid—afraid that someday my anger would get the better of me like it had with Jesse. I knew I would never hurt Greer, but that knowledge didn’t stop the flashbacks, the helpless feeling of not being able to stop myself from doing something I knew was wrong.
I was due in court today, a rare occurrence but for the recent legal work I’d done for Greer. I’d paid a pretty penny for a rare, supposedly fully authenticated eighteenth-century map of the African Congo, only to find it was a fake. I’d spotted it right away, as soon as it arrived on my doorstep by armed courier and I’d checked the package’s contents.
It’d be an uphill battle to get my money back, but the first step had been filing a civil motion here in Astoria. Naturally, I’d represent myself.
Quickly rounding the corner in the courthouse, thinking about Greer and oblivious to my surroundings, I ran straight into a child standing outside the double doors leading to the Family Court. Only it wasn’t a child at all. It was Anna Meade.
“I’m so sorry, Anna,” I said, practically having to pick her up off the floor, I’d plowed into her so hard.
“It’s totally okay, Jace. I was in the way,” she said, smiling and gripping my forearms as she steadied herself. Whenever I’d seen Anna in recent years, she’d always dressed the same way Marina liked to—in long dresses that reached the floor. Flowing fabrics. Layers. But today, she was dressed in dark slacks and a tucked-in white blouse. The outfit drew attention to her extreme petiteness, her legs and arms as thin as a bird’s. Or a skeleton’s.
“Again, I’m sorry, Anna. But I’m in a rush…”
“But it’s been forever—surely you have time to chat with an old friend,” she teased.
I ran my hand through my dark hair, vowing to make time for a cut this week while debating whether to ask her about her alleged role in planning the séance that almost killed Greer. Now that I’d gotten a good look at her up close, I was starting to doubt she was the mastermind.
“Sure,” I finally said. “Of course. How’ve you been?”
“That’s so like you, Jace, to ask about others before talking about yourself. I admire that about you. So much,” she gushed.
Thank you?
I’d erased the terrible engagement dinner at Richmond House from my mind the moment it was over—at least all the parts that weren’t related to how Greer looked in that black dress. Anna and I had spoken several times since then over the years—always professionally. I hadn’t heard her sickly-sweet tone in quite a while. Here’s hoping she wasn’t going to make some sort of move now.
“Listen, Anna—while I have you here—I’m sure you heard about Greer’s near-death experience at Richmond House a couple of days ago.”
“I haven’t, actually.” Her eyes went wide. “What happened?”
“She almost fell from a window. It’s a long story. But Marina and your mom were there, and I heard it was actually you who facilitated the planning of the…party.”
“Me? No, it wasn’t me.”
“You never asked Marina to convince Greer to host a gathering in the parlor that night?”
“Are you hearing yourself?” she giggled. “Of course not. Why would I want Greer to host a party and not invite me? I mean, we were already planning to get together for coffee. But that was before…”
“Before what?” I asked, struggling to believe Marina had lied to me. “Hopefully, you’re not here because something’s wrong.”
“Not at all. I’m here because I’m righting a wrong. It’s about Richmond House. You probably didn’t know this,”—she giggled, and for some reason, it sickened me—“but it’s me who’s actually Sterling’s next of kin. I’m his daughter.”
I forced my eyebrows up in a look of feigned shock. It felt wrong to know as much as I did about Anna and the abuse she suffered at Sterling’s hand. All I could do was act surprised.
“That’s…interesting.”
“It was a family secret. Anyway, Daddy’s will didn’t specify his heir, so the house was awarded to the person the court assumed was his next of kin.”
Daddy. Christ.
“Greer,” I offered. “His granddaughter. And your…niece?”
“Yes,” she confirmed curtly, unwilling to dwell on their blood relation. “So obviously, I had to come forward. After all, Greer only lived in the house briefly one time. She has no right to it. Daddy would have wanted me to be the owner of Richmond House.”
The significance of what she was saying finally took root in my brain. “So, you’re going to file a motion in court to contest the will?” I asked. Shit. The last thing Greer needed was more stress at her door.
