by Becky Harmon
Chewing her gum at a rapid pace as if to pull every last bit of flavor from it as quickly as possible, she refilled Jemini’s coffee cup and leaned close. “Would you like to move to a table in the back room since you have a couple of hours to kill?”
Jemini was past being surprised that Vikki or anyone for that matter knew her plans. Everyone in the town probably knew the will was being read today.
“I’d really appreciate that. Is it okay with your boss?” Jemini looked over Vikki’s shoulder at the woman accepting money at the cash register. She wore jeans like the rest of her staff, but her upper half was covered with a multicolored scrub shirt. Jemini guessed her to be in her sixties or maybe even early seventies. Her salt-and-pepper hair was short and had the rumpled slept-on look. It would have been sexy on a thirty-year-old, but on her it was just plain cute.
“It was her idea. She thought you might feel more comfortable back there.”
Jemini pulled a twenty from her bag and handed it to Vikki.
“I’ll be right back with your change.”
“No, keep it.” Jemini stood, pulling her laptop across the bench. “I’ll keep my coffee, if that’s okay?”
“Of course. I’ll check on you, but if you need something just flag me down.”
“Thank you.”
Jemini met the gaze of the woman behind the register as she turned to enter the back room. Her arms filled, she gave her a thankful smile.
* * *
Steph emerged from the steamy bathroom and stretched out naked on the bed. Though she had dried off twice already the humidity was making it hard to stay that way. She closed her eyes and tried to meditate. She had never been able to master that skill, but she needed to do something to curb her anger. Dorothy’s death had been a blow to her soul, and Jemini’s reappearance was threatening to push her over the edge.
She glanced around at her bedroom, taking comfort in the space she had designed. She had remodeled the house after purchasing it to make it fit more of her own style. This bedroom had been hers as a child so she wanted to keep it. Pushing out a few walls had made it large enough to be a master bedroom with space enough to add her own bathroom. That left her parents’ room with a private bath for guests. She had also pushed out the wall in the third bedroom to make the living room larger. The house was exactly as she wanted it now, and even though she owned it she was still afraid of what would happen if Jemini sold Dorothy’s house and the property around her.
She didn’t want to be angry with Dorothy for the turmoil she was causing, but she did wish she could hear her reasons for doing this. Agnes’s words about bringing Jemini home were stuck in her head and she took a deep breath. Maybe Dorothy didn’t leave them at Jemini’s mercy. Maybe she had left Jemini something else. Steph took this thread of hope and hung on to it tightly, letting it ease her mind. Until the attorney spoke this afternoon, she could still hope for the best.
* * *
Jemini held her breath as the conversation by the cash register drifted into the back room. She’d had a productive afternoon, thanks to Vikki and her never-ending coffee refills. She was a bit wired now, but she thought she was ready to face Stephanie again. That was until she heard her voice.
“Well, why do you think she’s here?” Steph’s voice was hoarse, carrying easily across the empty diner.
“I don’t know, Steph, but it’s just wrong. Dorothy wouldn’t do something like that.”
“We won’t know what Dorothy would do until the attorney reads the will. You know she loved that kid and we’ve all seen her do crazy things where she was concerned.”
“Loved that kid.” Jemini couldn’t believe what she was hearing and strained to hear more. Were they talking about her? Had her grandmother loved her?
“Well, let us know the outcome and we’ll do whatever you need to help out.”
“Thanks.”
Jemini stared at her computer screen, waiting for the door chime to announce Stephanie’s departure. She placed another twenty under the salt and pepper shakers and gathered her stuff. Vikki was taking an order and had her back to her so Jemini left without looking back. She didn’t want to face anyone right now, but she wanted her car back in case she needed to leave quickly after the reading. She drove the rental across the street to Jo’s shop and transferred her personal belongings back into the Mercedes.
Greg jumped to his feet as soon as she came into sight. “Ms. Rivers. She’s all ready to go.”
She followed him into the small office, gave him the rental keys, and paid her bill. Greg talked while they exchanged money. Thankfully he wasn’t big on conversation and she was able to nod as he explained what had went wrong with her car. She wished his enthusiasm was contagious.
“Here’s your keys.”
“Is it okay if I leave it in your lot for a short time?”
“Oh yeah, it’ll be fine where it’s at.”
“Thanks, Greg.”
As she stepped out of the office, she felt Jo’s eyes on her. She scanned the bays, locating her leaning against the fender of a car watching her. Jo seemed to blend in with the predominantly male atmosphere, fitting perfectly into a space Jemini couldn’t even imagine. At first glance, she looked nothing like the person Jemini had met earlier in the diner. Her baggy, grease-stained coveralls obscured all signs of her feminine appearance except the soft features of her face. Jemini gave her a wave and Jo returned it with a smile, ducking back under the hood as Greg joined her.
Crossing the street, Jemini found herself in front of the attorney’s office much more quickly than she intended. She pushed through the door and the wave of cool air made her shiver. Two couches and a desk filled the reception area. A middle-aged woman with too much makeup and horribly long, painted nails sat behind the desk, talking on the phone. She stopped in the middle of her sentence, and Jemini was left with the impression she might have been the topic of conversation. Saying her good-byes into the phone, the receptionist addressed Jemini.
“Mr. Cross will be right with you, Ms. Rivers.”
Jemini nodded and took a seat on the leather couch closest to the exit. Folding her hands in her lap, she stared around the room at the photographs on the wall. They looked similar to the ones in the office at Lake View and she wondered if it was a local artist. She considered asking the receptionist, but she seemed occupied by the filing cabinet behind her desk. The office reminded her of her own; she wondered why attorneys always used dark colors and leather furniture. She imagined it could be intimidating to someone walking in for the first time as well as looking expensive and prestigious. She made a mental note to scrutinize her office when she returned and see what she could change. Not realizing she had closed her eyes, she quickly opened them to the swish of movement on the carpet in front of her.
A gray-haired African-American gentleman in a three-piece suit stood in the entrance to the hallway. “Ms. Rivers?”
“Yes.” She rose to her feet.
“I’m Gerald Cross. Come on back and we’ll get things started.”
He had a slow gentle speech that Jemini remembered from the phone call that had brought her to this town today. His close-cut hair matched his elegant, yet relaxed persona. He continued to talk as they walked, looking over his shoulder as he led her down the hall.
“I’ll need to document the reading of the will. I can either do that with a video camera or a court reporter. If you don’t have a preference then I prefer to use the camera. I feel like it’s less intrusive than adding another body to the room.”
Jemini nodded when he glanced at her. She had a video camera wired in her office as well. It was a necessary evil in today’s society and she had grown accustomed to it.
He stopped and motioned for her to step inside the room first. Her eyes were immediately drawn to Stephanie. It was slightly annoying to see her looking refreshed and comfortable in one of the two dark leather chairs in front of the huge mahogany desk. Her uniformed legs were stretched out in front of her and Jem
ini couldn’t keep from perusing her body. When her eyes met Stephanie’s eyes, though, her breath caught. They were hard and cold, making her presence in the small room a frightening and dominating one. She felt herself falter. Maybe it was the dark blue and gray uniform she was wearing? That should not have any effect on her. After all, she worked with police officers every day. She certainly wasn’t willing to admit her response was due more to Stephanie than the uniform.
“Ms. Rivers.” Steph acknowledged her appearance.
“Deputy.”
Mr. Cross took a seat in his desk chair and started the process immediately. “I must inform you that the video recorder has been started. It’s my responsibility today to read the wishes of Ms. Dorothy Rivers. Dorothy was a good friend and I am very sorry for your loss.” He turned his body slightly and focused on Steph. “Stephanie, Dorothy was very concerned about how you would react today so she wanted me to speak with you first. She had the property lines expanded and you now own ten acres surrounding your house.”
Jemini watched Stephanie’s face as Mr. Cross read the dimensions of her new property line. If she allowed herself, she could remember all the details of the landscaper’s cottage. It was her second home for the time she was at Dorothy’s, and Stephanie’s parents had treated her like their own child. She felt sad as she realized that Stephanie’s parents must have passed away. Otherwise she was sure they would be here as well. She was surprised at the relief showing on Stephanie’s face; it made her wonder what Stephanie had expected. She quickly erased her frown as Mr. Cross directed his attention to her.
“Dorothy wanted you to feel comfortable in returning home. She left the house and the remaining forty acres to you.”
Unable to meet Stephanie’s eyes, Jemini focused her gaze on Mr. Cross, giving him a small nod.
He continued. “Based on our conversation when I called to inform you about the reading of Dorothy’s will, I took the liberty of contacting a real estate agent and the house can go on the market immediately.”
“What! How could you?”
Jemini watched Stephanie swallow the rest of her words as she forced herself back into the chair. Her heart ached for the pain that flashed across Stephanie’s face, but she couldn’t worry about that now. She had to take care of the details so she could return home.
“I appreciate your timely response, Mr. Cross. What do I need to do before leaving town?”
“You need to meet the people you’re evicting!” Steph exclaimed.
“What?” Jemini’s gaze swept to Stephanie.
Mr. Cross put his hands in the air. “Stephanie.”
Again, Stephanie dropped back into her chair and turned her face to the wall.
“There are several tenants living in Dorothy’s house,” Mr. Cross explained. “But it belongs to you now, so you’re free to do as you wish. Stop by the real estate office next door and Richard will give you the papers to sign. Then it’s just a waiting game until someone shows an interest.”
He nodded as if dismissing her and Jemini stood. “I guess we’re finished here then.” She glanced at Stephanie and was shocked to see the glimmer of moisture on her cheeks before she turned her face back to the wall again. Quickly, Jemini left the office, but Stephanie’s face tore at her and she paused in the hallway, listening.
“I don’t understand why you wouldn’t let me tell her about them.” Steph’s voice came out in a sob.
“I’m sorry, Steph. It’s her property now. She can do whatever she wants. It’s the way Dorothy wanted it.”
The sound of Stephanie’s sobs filled Jemini’s ears as she stumbled through the receptionist’s office and out the door. The light from the street blinded her and she stepped around the corner into the alley. Sucking in air, she leaned against the brick wall, resisting the urge to crumble. Even though the lawyer had suggested this was a possible outcome when he called, she was still overwhelmed by what Dorothy had done. Why would she leave everything to me?
The look on Stephanie’s face and her apparent anguish had stunned Jemini. The vision of the grandmother she had cried for at night after her mother went to sleep swept over her, and all the pain she had felt as a kid came rushing back. She took a deep breath and braced her hands on the wall, pushing herself to her feet. Dorothy didn’t want her then and she certainly would not have loved the woman she had become. She was an adult now and she didn’t need the memories of something that had never been real. Whatever she thought Dorothy had meant to her before she was taken away was just a childhood fantasy.
As she had a million times over the years, she pushed her feelings into the recesses of her mind, putting her professional face in place. She stepped back into the street and located the real estate office. Richard Greene had the papers laid out and within minutes she had signed them, giving him authorization to pursue buyers for a house she didn’t want. She gave him her contact information and left before the first pangs of doubt could overtake her.
Chapter Four
Jemini was surprised to find Stephanie leaning against the wall outside the real estate office when she emerged. Stephanie fell into step beside her as she walked toward Jo’s to get her car.
“We need to talk,” Stephanie demanded.
“I’m listening.”
“How can you sell the house?” Stephanie’s voice was tense. Her earlier tears replaced by a rage that was almost palpable.
“Why would I keep it?”
“Because it’s the right thing to do!”
“I don’t have any emotional attachment to that house.”
Stephanie frowned and her voice softened. “I know that’s not true.”
Jemini shook her head. She was not going to allow Stephanie to play on her memories and make the small wedge of doubt grow. She needed to return to her quiet peaceful life in Chattanooga and then everything would be fine. She forced all emotion out of her voice. “I don’t live here. I don’t know why she left the house to me. Why don’t you buy it?”
She turned and walked away. She needed distance between herself and everyone in this town. She returned to her car and even though she could see Jo watching from inside the bay, she couldn’t muster the strength to even wave. Her mind struggled to lock onto one thought. There was no doubt she had to sell the house and property. What else did Stephanie expect from her? Surely she didn’t think Jemini was going to pack up her life and move back to Riverview. She wouldn’t be happy, and she doubted that would make Stephanie very happy either. She couldn’t even imagine living next door to the attractive woman Stephanie had become while at the same time trying to ignore her angry outbursts.
As she drove toward Lake View, she couldn’t help dreading the three- or four-hour drive back to Tennessee. She didn’t have any reason to stay in this town another night, but she felt emotionally drained. A good night’s sleep and she would be eager to drive back to her condo in Chattanooga. To return to her life and put all of this past trauma behind her.
* * *
Steph watched Jemini walk away. This cold-hearted woman was not someone she wanted to be around and yet she felt drawn to her. She didn’t have the time or energy to play these games. Quickly she entered the real estate office and got the asking price from Richard. She used the several-minute walk to her accountant’s office to smother her anger.
She could count on Jenna Grant to always tell her the truth. If there was any way possible for this to happen, Jenna would find it. They had graduated high school together and resumed their friendship as soon as Jenna returned from college. She might have even been Jenna’s first client when she opened her accounting firm. Jenna’s dark hair and eyes made her look older than her years and she had a way of making Steph always think longer and harder about every financial step she took.
Jenna looked up from her desk as Steph stepped inside. “I thought I might see you today.”
Steph shrugged. “I’m not sure what else to do. I can’t risk Agnes or Kim and Brandon being evicted.”
“You don’t know what the new buyer would do.”
“No, I don’t, but you know as well as I do that anyone purchasing it would be looking for an investment and I’m sure they wouldn’t be happy with the amount of rent either of them pay.”
Jenna nodded. “Take a seat. I glanced through your file this morning. Most of the money your parents left you went to paying off the house loan. Depending on what Ms. Rivers is asking for Dorothy’s property, you might be able to come up with a down payment.”
Steph gave her the figure she had gotten from Richard.
“I guess that’s a fair amount for fifty acres and the house, but it’s more than you can afford.”
“Forty acres,” Steph corrected her.
Jenna raised an eyebrow.
“Dorothy left me ten acres surrounding the cottage.”
“Do you think Ms. Rivers would consider selling you just the house?”
“We’re not exactly the best of friends, so let’s just say no.”
“Okay, then. I have to advise you that this would be a poor investment that I’m not sure you have the money for anyway.”
“I really don’t see a choice.” Steph groaned, collapsing against the back of the chair.
“Go apply for the loan, then. I’ll see if I can move enough money around for your down payment.”
Steph stood. “Thanks, Jenna. I owe you.”
“Dinner. You can pay me with dinner.”
Steph walked back to her truck and drove the short distance to the bank. As she filled out each page of the loan paperwork her anger slowly dissipated into despair. Jemini had no idea what she was asking her to do. Her sheriff’s department income would barely cover a mortgage for the amount Jemini was asking and she knew it. Still, at the moment she really didn’t know what else to do. If Jemini wanted her to buy the property then she would give it her best shot. Hopefully Jenna would be able to work miracles.