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“Don’t shush me. And then you don’t even stick up for me.” Her eyes were bloodshot from the unshed tears that had welled up in them, her teeth clamped down and her jaw tensed, but her chin trembled as she tried to keep her emotion in. “I fucking hate you,” she ground out through gritted teeth. She lifted her hands; I went to grab them and calm her down but they flattened against my chest and she pushed me away. She shoved me so hard that I stumbled backwards.
She spun around, picked up her handle, and made her way out of the house. I knew I couldn’t stop her then. All I could do was watch her leave.
It seems all I ever do is watch her leave.
My eyes turned heavy and my head started to ache, probably from tension. I let my eyes close and I soon fell asleep.
Chapter Four
EMILY
The funeral came and went in a blur. I wasn’t even sure I acknowledged what was happening around me. I didn’t go to the wake, yes, I should have done, but I couldn't face it. I would have had to watch Troy lap up all the attention since he was my father’s business partner. I’m not sure if anyone remembered he even had a daughter. But today’s the day of the reading. I have no idea what was going to be in there. I never spoke to dad about his wishes or even his possessions. I probably should have done but honestly, I was more concerned with the fact that we were on talking terms again. It was all I wanted anyway.
I sent the funeral arrangements through to Troy. He had access to the insurance anyway and the available money. I could’ve paid for it, but Troy told me he’d help. With the money he had he could've paid for it without the help of the insurance money.
I haven’t spoken to him at all other than through text. I ignored all the phone calls he’d made to me and never returned them other than with a message. I couldn’t speak to him, not after the hospital.
I threaded my arms through my Armani suit jacket and tugged it up my arms then turned to the mirror to straighten it. My assistant, Kellie, walked up behind me and placed her hands on my shoulders and smiled sadly back at me. “Are you ready for today?”
“I think so,” My shoulders were stiff, they ached with all the tension that rolled through me. “Who am I kidding?” I sighed loudly, “No, I’m not.” I turned on my heel and faced my best friend, assistant, and whatever else she was. This woman kept me in order in more ways than one.
“It’ll be fine. You’ll go in there and listen to the will and if you have to, if there’s something you don't like, you contest it. That’s your right.”
“I’m not sure I have the energy for all that. What if he’s there, Kel.”
“You know he will be.” Her lips form a thin line in sympathy.
I sighed again, “I’m not sure I’m ready to face Troy Parker again.”
Kellie gripped my shoulders, pulled me into her and hugged me tight for a minute or so then held me at arm's length and dipped her head to look me in the eye. “You’re going to walk in that office, hold your head high and say a silent fuck you to Troy Parker, and listen to what your dad left you. Troy will be laughing on the other side of his face when you get Lancaster Inc.” Lancaster Incorporation was my dad’s multi-million pound firm, but there’s so much shit between me and Troy, that I walked away from the lot without a second glance. Well, that and the fact that my dad wouldn’t support my dreams. I was quite happy for Troy to take over, all I wanted was for my father to recognise that I had ambitions of my own and it wasn’t riding his coattails. Plus, my father liked him more than me anyway. He often made that quite clear. “Then you’re going to get in your car and drive back here and I'll have a bottle of wine ready for us to share. We’ll drink the rest of the day away. How does that sound?”
My gaze roamed over her face and I smiled softly. This girl has been my best friend since college and has been more than a shoulder to cry on, she’s been my crutch. She’s had to listen to me moan about my father, about his business, about my own dreams and him not supporting me, and even about Troy. “I think it sounds perfect. Have I ever told you you’re the best?”
“Hm,” her head cocked to the side, “once or twice, I believe.”
My arms thread through hers and I bring her to me and hug her this time. “
“I love you. Thank you for being here for me.”
I released her and she stood tall and smiled, “Always. Now…” she turned around and grabbed something then turned back to me. She hands over my handbag, “Get out of here. I’ll hold the fort. Ring me when you’re on the way back and I’ll make sure the wine is chilled.”
“You got it.”
I tugged the chained strap of my Louis Vuitton bag onto my shoulder and took in a deep breath. “Troy Parker can look out.”
“That’s my girl.”
I nodded my head at her with a little more determination than I had ten minutes ago and spun around. With firm steps I made my way out of my workplace.
With quick steps, I left the museum and crossed the pavement in my Jimmy Choo’s, uncurled my fingers from around my car keys and unlocked my Audi TT which was sitting at the curb in my designated spot. I slid inside and pressed the button to start the engine thenpulled out into the morning traffic. My head is full of positive and negative thoughts as I hit the motorway, but I couldn’t let those blind me. I needed to concentrate on getting to the solicitors.
From the age of seventeen, when Troy Parker waltzed into my life, he stirred something deep down inside of me. I needed to rid Troy Parker from all my thoughts. I couldn’t walk in there being anything but confident because otherwise, he would pick up on it and use it to his advantage. Just seeing him in the hospital the night dad died, I could tell he was a different man from when I left, but then I’m a different woman. He wouldn’t fool me so easily.
I parked the car in the car park of the cemetery and grabbed a bunch of flowers and my bag from the passenger seat. I wanted to stop by and see dad first. I closed the door and began walking away and pressed the fob to lock it up. I crossed the car park and onto the path where my dad's plot was. We had him cremated so there’s not a big area to leave flowers but there is an urn.
When I reached his grave, I squatted down and took out the small urn and placed it on the ground while I took out a small bottle of water from my handbag. Once it was filled with water, I broke the stems and placed them in carefully, one by one. “Hey, Dad. It’s weird, it’s only been a few weeks and I miss our dinners already.” I wasn’t sure I could say I missed him seeing as we were just getting back to being a father and daughter again. But I did. “I wish we’d had more time.”
It’s funny how you miss the simple things.
