The Everdon Series- the Complete Set

by L C Kincaide

  “Can I get you a drink?”

  Emma grinned, knowing Rachel wasn’t offering her a glass of water. “No, thanks.” She sighed. “I’m just glad to be home.” She leaned forward and rested her head in her hands. “I went inside.”

  Rachel sat down beside her and rubbed Emma’s back. “Now why did you do that?”

  “I don’t know. I needed to see what was left. Maybe to see things as they really are. The place is a disaster, by the way.” She glanced over her shoulder. “A dump. How it stays standing, I have no idea. I wish it would just come down and I could forget about it and start over.” She straightened herself and faced Rachel. “If you could see the other one… it’s really beautiful.”

  “The one in England?”

  Emma nodded. She had given Rachel the book to look at, but the pictures didn’t do it justice, nor the website. They couldn’t capture its essence. “Maybe that’s the difference between a place that’s loved and one that…” A sudden grief grabbed hold of her and shook her to the core.

  Rachel held her. “Let it all out, honey. That’s it.” She rocked her and smoothed her hair. “It’s time to let go of the past.”

  If only it were so easy. Even when she tried, it dragged her back through time and other people’s miseries as if she didn’t have enough of her own.

  Gone were her friends and the job, though not spectacular, she had enjoyed it. Then there was the future that had always loomed both uncertain and filled with the dread of attending then hosting Weekends until the day she died. If she’d had any dreams for her life, she was not aware of it since there seemed no point in having them. And John and that shattered dream; she almost had it in her grasp. It had all the markings of a cruel joke being played on her. Why? Would life ever seem normal?

  Eventually, her sobs quieted, and she dried her tears. “I gave him a good talking to.” Emma confessed.

  “Who?”

  “Mason. I really let him have it! I didn’t see him, but I’m sure he was listening. To be honest, I’m surprised I got out alive.”

  “He wouldn’t harm the last living heiress.”

  “He has an heir.”

  “Oh, you mean Adam.”

  Adam, the lost heir. The last contact with him was her response to his email asking if she had arrived safely and if she was okay. That was all, and she didn’t expect more. Not that she had forgotten anything about him or her time with him. Not at all, but she wasn’t going to dwell on him either, not on the heels of a disappointment.

  She sighed. “I’m expendable.”

  “You’re not expendable. And I’m sorry John let you down. I know you’re hurt and disappointed.”

  Emma snorted. “I’ll get over it.”

  “You will.” She smiled giving her encouragement. “Anyway, you have important decisions to make about your life.”

  “That’s for sure.” She would be spending many hours with Matthew deciding what she should to do about their mother’s belongings, her condo. The Trust. All of what was left once the details of the Will were read.

  “There’s no rush. Take care of yourself. Do what makes you happy. This is your home and we’re here for you.” She reminded her.

  “Thanks.”

  “Feel better?”

  “Yeah. I actually do. I probably look like hell, but I feel okay.” She grinned at Rachel.

  “Good.” She gave her a mysterious smile.

  Emma looked at her. “OK. Fess-up. What’s the cheshire cat grin about?”

  “I don’t know.” Rachel shrugged innocently. “But something arrived for you when you were out. I put it in your room.”

  Emma stared at her. “You’re telling me now? What is it?”

  Rachel gave another shrug, and exasperated, Emma hurried to her room taking two stairs at a time. She opened her door and froze. On the dresser stood a vase holding an enormous bouquet of two dozen hot pink roses rising from a base of green ivy and lily grass. Her pulse quickened as she approached the bold and fragrant arrangement and she buried her face in it, revelling in its sweet scent. After the day she had, this was a balm for her soul. A small envelope addressed to, Miss Emma lay beside the vase and Emma picked it up and smiled. She opened it quickly to read the handwritten message — thinking of you — was all it said, signed, A.

  Emma held the note close to her heart, an unexpected rush of warmth filling her. Maybe, just maybe there was hope after all.

  ~*~

  THE END

  THE EVERDON DESTINY

  Book 4

  ~*~

  How much will one woman risk to obliterate the past?

  The Everdon curse should have been over following the sudden death of her mother, but Mason Everdon is still not done. He wants more and is intent on having his way.

  As Emma rebuilds her life, recent developments rock her world. With the stakes so high, how can she not risk everything to free herself of the past and save the ones she loves?

  In the conclusion of the Everdon Series, Emma confronts the Spirit of Mason Everdon to secure the family’s future once and for all. There isn’t room enough for him and them in this world.

  ~*~

  CHAPTERS

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  CHAPTER 26

  CHAPTER 27

  Also by L.C. Kincaide

  CHAPTER 1

  ~*~

  “It’s weird being here.” Emma said. “Too quiet.”

  “I know what you mean.” Rachel spoke beside her.

  Emma hadn’t returned since Elinor’s funeral service reception. All the flowers were gone, the many cards filed away in a storage file box. She glanced around the apartment that appeared as she remembered it from years past since when she had lived here with her mother before moving to her own place. It was home, but not quite. There was too much of Elinor in the space for Emma to ever feel like she had belonged here. Even now, she expected to find her mother poised in her favorite chair by the fireplace addressing her with her customary, “Really, Emma…”

  That would never happen again.

  “It’s hard to believe she’s gone.” Emma said absently, her eyes falling on the chair empty of its usual occupant.

  A gentle hand grazed her arm. “It will take some time getting used to.”

  “I expect for her to walk in here any minute.” She turned to Rachel. “Do you suppose…”

  “No.” She replied knowing where Emma’s thoughts had taken her. “Don’t think about that. It wasn’t your fault she died, just one of those things we have no control over.” Unless you were an Everdon and vengeful ancestors stalked you.

  “There’s been nothing. I haven’t seen her nor had any dreams about her, only the guilty voice in my head.”

  “It will stop. If anyone would be to blame — and I’m not saying anyone is — it would be you-know-who.”

  Emma nodded. “I have to admit, it comes in handy having him as a scapegoat for all things going haywire.”

  “So,” Rachel spoke after a minute of silence. On a sultry June afternoon, even the usual street
noises seemed to remain below the penthouse apartment. “Have you thought about what you’re going to do with the place?”

  Emma glanced around. It hadn’t come as a surprise that her mother had left her the condo though she hadn’t realized she owned the building.

  “Not really. I’ll have to… empty it first…”

  “I can help.”

  “Thanks, but I don’t think you’re in any condition to do much.” She grinned at her sister-in-law-who stood beside her, huge belly thrust forward and hands supporting her lower back.

  “You’re right. The countdown is on.”

  “Esther has offered to help. She knows better than anyone what that will involve.”

  “I suppose. That was nice of her. She and Elinor go way back.”

  “Yeah. She misses her.”

  “You can always move here after.” She crossed the room to the sliding door that led to the terrace. The flowering potted plants had been watered, by the housekeeper no doubt, and thriving. The river glimmered beyond. “It’s a fab apartment with a great view.”

  Emma shrugged. “I don’t know.” She said feeling more at loose ends than ever. The trip to London was supposed to herald a new era for them all and while others… well, everyone else had moved forward and she was stuck with no idea of what to do next.

  Her mother was gone, suddenly and without warning. Her brother and Rachel were only days away from becoming parents, and John was on his way back to Japan if he hadn’t already left. Adam hadn’t contacted her since she’d thanked him for the gorgeous bouquet he’d sent last week. It was just as well. However thoughtful the gesture and heartwarming, he was in another time zone. She wasn’t going to repeat an experience that had already caused her grief.

  “Are you okay?” Rachel’s hand was on her arm.

  “Hmm?”

  “That was an awfully heavy sigh.”

  “Oh. I didn’t realize. Just remembering, I guess.”

  “Maybe we should head back home. This can wait.”

  “Yeah, you’re right. I can’t think about any of this right now.” She turned to the door.

  “I can think about lunch.” Rachel said putting cheer into her voice.

  “Sounds good to me!” Emma closed the door and locked it.

  Rachel was right. There was no need to rush into making decisions so soon though she felt an obligation to mum. Elinor had never been one to hesitate in that respect. No, she had always known what action to take and did so with confidence. As always, she was right — the daughter was not like her mother in that regard with the possible exception of sharing a wilfulness. And look where that got them!

  Emma stared at the ceiling. With the baby coming and Rachel’s mother on the way to help, she didn’t want to interfere with their lives; the new family would be forming a bond. While she looked forward to her nephew’s arrival, she became aware of the fleeting pangs of jealousy. How wonderful it would be to have a loving partner and a baby to share a life with, but she couldn’t be further from that.

  The two-year anniversary of the century-long curse ending was coming up in less than four months and already so much had changed… except. She was quickly running out of her twenties and she needed to build a life for herself. Mum had pointedly expressed her worries regarding a looming spinsterhood so maybe she had a point. Emma frowned recalling Elinor’s words on the subject of her situation. They had been painful to hear, but there was truth in them. The door to the future stood open, and all she had to do was to step through, yet something held her back as if some unfinished business demanded her attention. She could not imagine what that could entail. All the secrets were out, or so she wanted to believe.

  Since the funeral all the bequests had been dispersed, and she had signed a multitude of drafts and forms, and only one more appointment remained regarding the Will that was scheduled for the next day. It seemed to Emma all the difficult emotionally charged matters had been dealt with, but following her performance at Elinor’s reception, Matthew insisted on accompanying her. Emma was glad for her big brother’s company. She had no other reliable male in her life.

  CHAPTER 2

  ~*~

  Graham Morrow watched her from across the polished surface of his desk. Mr. Morrow was the senior advisor for the Everdon Trust and had been overseeing it and Elinor’s business affairs for most of her life. He seemed a kind man, perfectly groomed, his white hair combed back and fingernails buffed. Gold and onyx cufflinks bore his initials. This was their second meeting in his spacious office with leather furniture, oak wainscoting and a wall library crammed with books. A ray of morning sun caught a corner of a gold-framed picture of his family.

  “I’m sure you are rather overwhelmed by everything that has happened. Let me say again, I am… we were all shocked and saddened by your mother’s passing. She was very respected by us all. We shall miss her visits.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Morrow. I appreciate that. The flowers were beautiful.” She had no idea which wreath or bouquet they had sent — so many had been on display — but it was likely one of the larger, more ostentatious arrangements.

  “There is one outstanding matter, Emma.” Mr. Morrow said as he reached into his desk drawer and produced an envelope. “Your mother wanted you to have this in the event of her death.”

  Emma took the small envelope from him.

  “The key opens a safe deposit box. The address of the bank is inside the envelope.”

  She gave him a quizzical look, but he only shrugged. “She never confided the contents to me.”

  “Well, then I guess I’ll find out.” She stashed it in her purse and rose to her feet.

  The lawyer came around the desk. “Again, please accept my most heartfelt condolences.” He said gravely and took her hand in his.

  “Thank you, Mr. Morrow. I appreciate it.”

  “If you need anything from me or any of us here, please don’t hesitate to ask. We are rather a family having worked with your mother over the past many years.”

  “Actually, I would like to know more about my mother’s assets and the Trust.”

  “Certainly.” He seemed heartened at her interest in the family affairs. “When would you like to come in?”

  “Would Monday be all right?”

  “Yes, of course. Just let Karen know and she’ll make all the arrangements.”

  Emma left the office feeling a little giddy.

  “What was that about?” Matthew asked when they returned to the car.

  “Mum left me a safe deposit box key.”

  “She did? That’s strange.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “For starters, she kept everything in storage in the one building. Or in her desk or wall safe in her closet.”

  “Hmmm. I guess you’re right.”

  “Did he say what’s in the box?”

  “She never told him.”

  “I wonder what it can be. I didn’t realize our mother had a mysterious side.”

  Oh, the things he didn’t know. “I’ll find out.”

  “We can go now and get it over with. Which bank is it?”

  Emma fished in her purse and read him the address. A quarter hour later, a clerk led her to the vault and left her alone to open the drawer with the unknown contents. She set it down on the table and looked at it, reluctant to see what could be inside. It seemed strange that she kept the object here separate from her other possessions. Matthew was right. Why hadn’t she stored it with all their Weekend stuff — her stuff now, and everything else? What made this thing different? Well, she wasn’t going to find out just standing here, and she opened the drawer.

  Inside lay a box small enough to hold in one hand covered in plain wrapping paper. Judging by its condition, she must have stashed the thing here a long tim
e ago; the tape had yellowed with age and the corners were curling away from the wrapper. She didn’t want to touch it. Oh, stop overreacting! She scolded herself. So much fuss over a little box. She picked it up — nothing rattled or shifted inside, and thanking the clerk, she left the bank.

  “Do you mind stopping by my place before we go back? I’d like to pick up a couple of things.” Mostly, she wanted to drop off the box. For reasons unknown, it gave her the creeps.

  “Any idea what’s inside?”

  “Not a clue.”

  “Is there a note?”

  “I didn’t see one unless it’s inside.” Something in the back of her mind hinted at an Everdon connection, and she was loath to consider anything like that. All she wanted was for that to be over with and finally in the past where it belonged. Surely that wasn’t asking too much?

  Matthew waited downstairs, and she let herself into her apartment. Other than the soft hiss of the air ventilation system and the ambient street noises, the living room was cool and silent with nothing out of place, unlike the situation of a few months ago when it had looked a bit too lived in. All their lives had changed since then.

  She set the box on the kitchen counter and ignored the emptiness around her as she went to her bedroom. She would have to return at some point and actually live here again. Her stomach twisted at the thought of being alone, and grabbing a couple of items, she left.