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Keep telling yourself that, asshole.
The mention of Lane and her son has tears filling up in her eyes and my chest clenches at the sight. I didn’t want to make her cry. I always hated when she cried. It breaks me inside but I’m trying to make the best of this. This is a nightmare. I need to calm down and convince her to stay but I have to stay away from her. Being near her stirs up old memories and wants that were never supposed to happen. That is what I keep telling myself.
Chapter 6
Aura
Six Months Later
It has been months that Lane and I have been staying at Kalum’s house in Southampton. Sometimes I feel we should go back to North Carolina but messages from Kalum tell me I’m not out of the woods regarding Lane’s parents’ lawsuits claiming that I falsified his will to take everything away from Lane upon his death. I’ve cried most nights because why would I do that? Why would they think I would take advantage of Lane like that?
“I’m sorry, Aura, but it is best you remove the Turner name. It will help calm things down. It will help prove that you never intended to capitalize on the family’s influence.”
“Mr. Schwartz, it is unfair. I have never touched a single dime of Lane’s money.”
“I know, Aura. I know, but they don’t know that. I did what you told me to and let their lawyer know that you placed everything in trust for Lane Jr. and you are just managing it until he turns of age. That will make them back off and avoid pursuing the investigation of forgery.”
The lawyer Lane trusted to handle anything in case something happened to him has been nice and has helped me as much as he could. Lane’s family has threatened me with everything. They have tried to paint me out as a gold digger. I don’t even live in my house for Christ’s sake. Everything is managed by a trust and I have to talk to Camila and ask her how much she would charge me to watch Lane so I can get a job. Lane’s mother has even threatened to take Lane away from me. I had to stop going to the doctor when I couldn’t sleep from crying.
I miss Lane and the pressure his family and everyone are causing me makes me want to go insane. Mr. Schwartz advised me to try not to go to the doctor, so they wouldn’t have anything to use against me. At first, I didn’t understand it, but they would say that I’m not stable to take care of Lane by myself. They still haven’t figured out where I’m staying and I have Kalum to thank. He has kept me and Lane here safe with Camila. I have no choice but to agree to sign the papers for my name change.
“Fine. I’ll sign them. Change my last name to Rayne. I need it to get a job anyway.”
“You know you don’t have to work, Aura.”
“I do,” I say.
“He never wanted to ever see you working because you needed money, Aura. He felt strongly about that.”
I take a deep sigh. “Yeah, but he didn’t realize what lengths his family would go to destroy what he built. Come to think of it. This was his dream and what he wanted. All I wanted was him. And now he is gone.”
“Don’t do this, Aura. I will feel like I failed him. Where would you work?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll figure it out. You have a nice day, Mr. Schwartz, and thank you for everything,” I say before hanging up.
The following week, Mr. Schwartz sent me my updated driver’s license with my name changed. It hurts having a name I was used to being called for so long taken away. I felt like I belonged to the man I loved when he honored me with it. But now, I belong to no one. I’m back to square one on borrowed time.
My phone rings while I sit on the bed in the master bedroom in Kalum’s home in Southampton. The sunlight filters through the windows of the sheer curtains. I’m looking at the phone as it rings, with Dex’s name flashing.
“Hey.”
“Hey, how are you and the little man?”
“He’s good. He is with Camila, eating lunch in the kitchen. The woman is a godsend. She helps me a lot with him.”
“I’m glad. Kalum is not such a bad guy after all.”
“Yeah, so far. He has kept his end with regard to what Lane asked of him.”
“I’m sorry, Aura. I don’t think Lane knew the extent of his parents’ wrath when he left you everything he worked for.”
“He left it to his son,” I correct.
“You know that is bullshit, right? He loved you so much, Aura. I have never seen Lane so happy. He loved you. You meant everything to him.”
My throat tightens but I have to be strong and learn to accept that he is gone and move on with finding myself.
“I know, Dex. But he’s gone.” I decided to change the subject. “How’s the shop going?”
