Julian

by Kathi S. Barton

  “You tell her that her great-grandmother is finally dead, and she needs to get her ass home to see what a shamble she’s made of my life. The old biddy couldn’t have died years ago like a normal person. No, she had to outlive—” “I’m sure you don’t mean that.” He asked her which part. “That your grandmother made a shamble of your life. Right? You also called her a biddy.” “She was an old biddy, and what business is that of yours? Never mind, I don’t care. Just have Ray call me as soon as possible.” He huffed. “She’s gone and sold the farm too. To some farmer, of all things.” Ray hung up on her dad. It was that or get into a shouting match with him that she’d never win. Her dad, her father was the opposite of her in every way possible. Mostly because she tried to be nice and he never was. Returning to the letter, she read what Albert had to say. “I’m so sorry, Rachel, but your great-grandmother passed in the night. She had dinner with some great friends, and then she came home and went to bed. She must have gotten up in the night because we found her in the swing out front with a blanket over her lap. I think she was at peace more in those few hours than she had been since you left home.” “I had to leave home, Grandma, and you knew it.” She sat there reading the rest of the letter telling her about the funeral that she probably wouldn’t attend, as well as the ride that her little brother had in the car before it too was sold off. There was no family left for her to go home to anymore. Not one person but David, and even then, she’d not get him into trouble by going to see their parents. She was bad news, according to her family. Picking up the phone, she called Albert, and they both cried as she listened to him telling her about Grandma’s final days. “The auction went well, and I managed to get all the pieces out of the house that you wanted. The large bedstead is going to be delivered in a few days, as well as the plates from the kitchen. You should be getting her photos from the books too, all of them if I can find them. They’ll be a little later coming. I wish you could have been here.” “Me too.” She thought about it for a moment. “Dad called. He said that I had to come home. Do you know why?” “Unless it’s about David, I have no idea. He’s been sent to that school that you and Alma found for him. You should be able to see him anytime you want there.” She thought so too. But wouldn’t. There was no telling what he might have heard about her, and she wasn’t in the mood to explain herself to anyone again. Not ever. “Can you find out for me? And send me the bill for anything that she might have incurred when she was alive.” He said that he’d done that, but it wasn’t much. “That’s fine, Albert. Are you sticking around now that Grandma is gone? Or are you finally going to take that vacation?” “Your father tried to hire me. I have no idea with what. He didn’t own anything but the clothing that he wore. I don’t even know if that was his or not.” Grandma wasn’t as rich as anyone thought she was. If it hadn’t been for Ray paying the taxes and upkeep on the house, then she would never have been able to live out the last years of her life at home. “Honey, you should come and talk to them. Tell them what you’ve done to keep them in cash.”

  “No, I don’t think so. But the things that Grandma and I set in place, they’re all set up? They’re not allowed in the accounts anymore?” He said he took care of that the moment he’d heard from David that she’d passed. “Good. Let them try and figure things out on their own. I’m not going to be there for them, not anymore. All right?”

  “The funeral will be the day after tomorrow. I’m assuming you won’t be here.” She said no, her and Grandma had their own relationship taken care of. “She loved you, Ray-Ray. With all her heart.”

  “And I her.”

  She went home that night with a heavy heart. Her great great grandmother was gone, the only person in the world who understood her, or even tried to understand her. Her own parents were too busy being not happy to notice that she had become not just successful, but also a billionaire while they had shit. Laughing, she went to bed with a smile on her face.

  “I love you, Grandma. So very much.”

  Chapter 13

  Tess stretched her neck and tried not to think about how long she’d been on her feet today. The house was nearly completely painted, and she wanted to get the curtains hung before they went back to work on Monday. She was just about to go get a drink when Jules met her in the hallway. They’re all asleep.” Laughing, she covered her mouth. Having three babies in the house made it hard to get any rest. “I think we should go to bed and finish this tomorrow. And if we don’t, then we’ll hire someone to do it.” “The brushes need to be cleaned up. Then there is the floor that—” He kissed her to silence. “I think we need to go to bed. I’m exhausted. There is no telling when one of them will wake the other two. I don’t know about you, but I could use a good night’s sleep or two.” The really funny part of them going to bed at six-thirty was that she knew that they’d be asleep in no time. Making love had become a thing of the past for right now. The girls needed them more than they thought they would. And while they had help, they hated to bother anyone when they just needed to rest. The twins were very needy, and breaking them of the habit of wanting to be held all the time was hard on them. They would cry themselves to sleep sometimes, and it hurt Tess in ways that she didn’t like. But they’d had it rough, so giving them a little extra in other things was all right, they told each other. “I’ve talked to Mom.” Jules moaned when his body hit the bed. “I don’t remember this bed feeling this wonderful.” “What did you talk to your mom about?” She laid down too. “Oh yes, I think you might be right. When I had to get up at three this morning for Ruby, I wanted to crawl in her bed with her and hide. What were you saying?” “We need another nanny.” She nodded, but didn’t really listen to him. “Starting tomorrow we have one.” “One what?” She drifted off and heard something and started to get up, but Jules said he had it. When she closed her eyes again, she nearly got up to pee but decided that if she wet the bed, she’d just buy a new one. It was just too good feeling right now. When she woke again she was alone in the bed, and she felt better than she had in weeks. Getting up, she thought that Jules must have let her sleep in because the shower was dry and there weren’t any wet towels hanging on the hook. Strangely, she felt like she’d been run over the longer she was up and moving. Her muscles were tight and she kind of hurt a little. But going down to the kitchen, she found a new person in the kitchen feeding Ruby, and someone else feeding Leanna. “Hello.” The cook told her that the mister had gone to work. “Work, on a Sunday? Why? Did something happen?” “No, missus, it’s Tuesday. You’ve been resting well, then? I’m going to fix you up something to eat. I bet you’re starving.” Tuesday? That couldn’t be right. Tuesday was three days from now. Reaching out to Jules, he laughingly told her that it was indeed Tuesday. You let me sleep for three days? He told her she was breeding. You say that like that’s an excuse. Honey, we had plans to get the house ready before the baby comes. Tess, I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but we have three babies in the house now. Getting ready for one more was actually a piece of cake. I take it you didn’t hit the nursery on your way down to have lunch. She said she hadn’t just as a plate of food was set in front of her. You should make a trip up and look. Dad helped me, and we even followed the instructions on the bed. Which, amazingly enough, were easy to follow and glued to the bottom of the bed. Makes it easy to take apart too for later. You think that there will ever be a later? He said that he was sure of it. I’m glad you are. I feel pretty good right now, but I have a feeling that it won’t last. I don’t know if you remember this or not, but I hired a new nanny. There are three of them to help out now. You have to work and so do I, and we can’t do that exhausted all the time. And when I’m home or you, we’ll take care of the children. I got some rest too, and it’s incredible how much work I’ve gotten done. I don’t regret taking the other two on, they’re a joy. But we have the money, so we might as well help ourselves before we burn out. She agreed with him. Good. Now, I want you to go and do something for yourself today. Just so you can b
e a woman without cares just one day a week. It’ll make you all sexy and shit for me when I get home. She laughed with him. Christ, she loved this man. She did feel pretty good, now that her muscles had gotten stretched out. She decided that she wanted to go on a run. And to do it by herself. Tess had not been on a good long run in years, and was sort of excited to go. But after stretching and getting dressed, she thought that she should just walk for now. She’d been out of shape for much too long to be running like an idiot. Nearly to her in-law’s house, she was ready to go into their house and beg for someone to take her home when the big semi pulled up in front of their home. Going to the door, she was not only surprised to see a woman driving, but also that she was so beautiful. “I’m looking for a man by the name of Dr. Denny Stanton. He’s supposed to guide me to another home.” She asked where it was going from there. “To a Dr. C. Stanton. Then I’m going to a home of Dr. W. Stanton. Geez lady, is everyone here a doctor?” “Not all. But I am one as well.” When she didn’t respond, Tess asked her if she could guide her there by riding with her. “We were expecting you, or someone, to come and bring these things to the house. I’m their sister-in-law. Tess Stanton.” “Sorry, I’m Hailey Whitehead. And sure, that would be great. There’s another name on there, but I can’t make it out. You know this guy? I’m assuming that he’s another doctor.” She told her that his name was Levi, and that he was an artist. “Figures. Are you ready?” They didn’t have far to go, and it was sort of fun for her to get to ride in a semi. She’d never been in one before. Calling to Brayden to have some of the pack meet her at the houses, by the time they pulled up, there were at least a dozen men waiting to unload the truck for them.