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ChapterSixteen
Andrea sat in the kitchen drinking a strong cup of coffee while she contemplated what she had to do. The call from last night had truly rattled her, and she tossed and turned in bed, barely getting any sleep. The cup she held in her hand was currently her happy place.
“Hey, you’re up. Is everything okay?”
Andrea put the cup down on the counter and turned to her sister, who was standing at the kitchen door.
“I got another call from David’s attorney. He says a stipulation in the will is that if Rory does not accept the conditions put forward by the end of July, then she forfeits her inheritance. So that leaves me with little to no time to tell her about the man that didn’t even want her.”
“Drea,” Cora started sympathetically.
Andrea raised her hand, stopping her dead in her tracks.
“I know... I have to tell her. It’s just this makes it even more real. I can’t put it off anymore. She has to know so that she can decide if she wants to accept before it’s too late.” Her breath came out ragged as the thought of losing her daughter loomed greatly in her mind.
“When do you plan on telling her?” Cora asked, coming to take the seat beside her.
“She should be flying here in the next week or so. I’ll tell her then,” she stated.
Cora placed her hand on top of the one she had on the island and squeezed it gently. “It’ll be okay, Drea, and I’ll be here to help in any way I can.
Andrea turned and gave her a grateful smile.
“Enough about my problems now. How are your girls?”
At the mention of her daughters, Cora’s face lit up with her smile.
“They’re fine,” she reported. “Julia finished her final semester for this year, and Emma is doing good. She’s confident that she will be made junior associate at the advertising firm she’s at soon.”
“That’s great. I’m happy for my nieces,” Andrea replied, pleased.
She noted that Cora’s expression changed slightly, and she now looked worried. Andrea gave her a questioning look.
“I’m not so sure about her relationship with her boyfriend Brian, though. She’s been a bit cagey lately, and I don’t know, but it just seems like something’s off,” she spoke in a worried voice.
Andrea nodded in understanding as she waited for her sister to continue.
“She used to tell me everything, Drea, but ever since their father’s betrayal, she’s been holding back a lot, and I’m worried.”
At the slight tremor in Cora’s voice, Andrea reached over and patted her sister’s back in comfort.
“I’m sorry to hear that, Cora,” she apologized. “Hopefully, in time, she will feel comfortable enough to tell you what’s really happening,” she encouraged.
Cora gave Andrea a small, grateful smile as she bumped her shoulder with hers.
“Want some coffee? I made a full pot,” Andrea offered.
“Yeah, sure. Thanks. I’ll pour it.”
Cora got up and took a mug from the cupboard to pour herself a cup.
“I’m going by the fire station this afternoon, right after I’ve finished painting the kitchen and bathrooms in the downstairs part of the inn with Marg,” Andrea informed her sister.
“Okay,” Cora acknowledged. “I’m taking Mom to her appointment today, and then I’m going grocery shopping. Is there anything you’d like me to get you?”
“No, that’s fine,” Andrea assured her. “Thanks, Sis.”
Andrea left for the inn at the first peep of dawn to get started on applying the first coat of paint on the walls of the kitchen. She and Marg had agreed to paint the walls plain white and the cupboards Tsunami blue to give the room a bright and modern feel.
