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“That’s me.”
“We’ve come about your mother, Candace. She’s been in an accident,” the older officer said as they held out their police identification to me.
Blinking in surprise I closed my front door and undid the chain lock. Opening it up fully, I said, “Umm… please come in.”
I led them to the living room where I collapsed onto the couch, my trembling hand coming up to my hand as I continued to stare and blink at nothing. “M-My mother and I are quite estranged. We haven’t spoken in years. S-she had me young and I was that noose around her neck that was the cause of every problem she ever had.” I looked at the men that sat across from me. “Oh, I’m sorry. You probably didn’t want to hear that. I always wanted to be close to her but she was rather controlling and abusive so it was best we went our separate ways.”
I felt the tears escape down my cheeks. I wasn’t sure if it was the shock or the fact that I would no longer be able to reconcile with her. “W-what happened?”
“She was on her way to dinner with her husband when she was involved in an accident with no survivors, unfortunately. Her husband said that you were her only family that he knew of.”
“Wait… wait… she was married?” I gasped. The shock of that knowledge slammed into me. Mother had always said she would never marry, that she didn’t want a man to control her.
“Mr. Heney said it was very recent. Were you not aware of that, Ms. Winters?” the other officer asked, his face showing his surprise.
“No, not at all. But then we’d had no communication in the last three years. Um… um, is there a way I can contact Mr. Heney?”
“Of course. He suspected you may not be aware of their arrangement so he asked that we pass on his business card to you. He would like to speak to you at some point.”
I nodded as I took the business card from the officer. Looking at the card I asked, “Is he nice?” I don’t know why I asked that but somehow it seemed important.
“It was hard to say but he didn’t send up any alarm bells. I know all of this is quite a shock but here is my card. If you have any questions or need anything, Ms. Winters, please call.”
“Thank you,” I whispered as I stared at the cards in my hands without really seeing them. I heard my front door open and close letting me know they’d left. I leaned back on the couch and closed my eyes.
Chapter 3
Perie
Ijust sat on the couch for the longest time. Picking up my phone from the coffee table I dialed my friend Cassy’s number, “Perie!”
“Cassy, I hate to cancel on you tonight but something happened.”
“Perie, you promised. The Children’s Fund is a good cause and we have people willing to donate big money, especially as this is our Valentine’s Day auction.”
“I'm nobody, Cassy, just a silly girl who writes stories. Who’s going to pay to spend time with me?”
“Are you kidding me? You’re a very talented writer, an absolute goddess, and worth more than all the money that will be here tonight.”
I blushed as I fanned myself, trying to prevent the tears that wanted to spring free at her words. “Oh, don’t do that. You’re going to make me cry again..”
“Again? Perie what is going on? Why were you crying? Which troll do I need to destroy?”
“Cas!” I gasped at her.
“Well?” she prodded as she raised an eyebrow at me.
“Two police officers were just here. C-Cas they told me that Mother was killed in a car accident. A-and she was married, Cas. Married and I didn’t even know,” I sobbed.
“Oh, heavens! I know she was a terrible mother to you but that’s… I’m sorry, Perie. Don’t worry about tonight. I’ll be right there.”
“Cas… no, wait. You’ve been planning this event for months. Take care of things and get that money for those kids. Don’t worry about me. I’m just in shock.”
I heard her sigh heavily before she replied. “Well, I’m coming over after the auction. No arguments. In the meantime, allow yourself to grieve.”
*****
Allow myself to grieve. I thought about Cassy’s words as I picked up the business cards on the cushion next to me. I blinked as I looked at the business cards of my mother’s husband. Alastair Heney, CEO and owner of Authors Plus. No, no, this couldn’t be the same Alastair that I spoke with earlier on the phone. Could it? That would just be too coincidental. “Extension 2101. Oh crap!” I jumped up and ran to my desk where my notes were from earlier. “Alastair, extension 2101,” I read out loud. Holy crap, I was talking to the man that was married to my mother. I was flirting with my stepfather. “Oh no, no, no. This is bad, so bad.”
