Taking a deep breath, I nodded. “Sure. Lead the way.”
She drove me to the condos overlooking Narragansett town beach. Mackenzie parked across the street and we walked over to the building, taking a flight of stairs up to the third floor where her condo was.
Entering the front door, I saw that it was far bigger than it appeared to be from the outside. The place was already set up for her. I browsed around as I stepped further inside, going out to the deck which gave Mackenzie the view of the ocean.
“They’re in here,” she called out to me and I walked back inside and across the living room.
I followed her around to the guest bedroom, where she stored our father’s oil paintings that she’d bought from Marlene’s gallery anonymously. There were five hanging on the wall and others piled delicately in boxes.
To my surprise, Mackenzie hung up the ones that included me. I turned and stared at her in wonder.
She lowered her eyes and kicked at the carpet. “I was mad at him because I felt like he threw you away. And then when he finally decided to take responsibility, I was mad at you because you kept turning him down.”
Mackenzie sat down and I joined her on the lounge chair. “I was hurt,” I explained.
“I know, Julian,” she breathed her words. “But, being at the house and seeing how sad he was, that’s when I started making an even bigger effort to get his attention. I wanted him to see that he had me. That I was the daughter who forgave him in spite of all the shit he’d done. I didn’t understand until after I saw these paintings of me and you together.”
I gazed up at them as she went on. “He wanted us to know each other—to stick together.”
“Like sisters,” I muttered.
She touched my hand and I winced, a little surprised. “We are sisters, Julian. Don’t sign the papers. Forget about what I said. Forget about Mom. You deserve that inheritance, whether or not it’s in the original will.”
I couldn’t hold it back any longer, a tear fell down my cheek and unexpectedly, Mackenzie threw her arms around me. It felt so natural, so real. She was my big sister and she was comforting me.
We finally released each other, letting out giggles at how different we were compared to when I first showed up. So much had changed since then.
Getting off the lounge chair, Mackenzie inquired, “Has Seven admitted his feelings for you yet?”
My eyes widened and she laughed. “Come on, anyone can see how much you two like each other.”
I suddenly felt shy. “Is it awkward? I mean, he’s your cousin and we’re sisters.”
Mackenzie stifled back a laugh. “No. It’s not awkward, per se.”
I scoffed. “Seven and I will just be friends.”
“Yeah, right.” She crossed her arms and gave me a sly grin. “Seven’s been hot for you ever since you showed up. There’s no way you two can just be friends.”
She nudged me out of the room and as we got to the front door to leave, I pressed her about Gavin to switch the subject. “Why aren’t you and Gavin together when he obviously has a lot of feelings for you? And I do mean a lot.”
Avoiding my eyes, Mackenzie replied nonchalantly, “His feelings are way too intense. Gavin can be a little too much with his so-called love.”
We walked down the stairs. I was still curious about him. “But he’s done so much to prove his love—”
“Jules, I never asked him to do anything for me. All he’s done is turned me off. He was always such an ass-kisser for Mom too. He’d show up randomly over the weekends to take her out for lunch—”
“Wait a sec,” I stopped her on the bottom step. “Gavin knows the security code for the gates?”
Mackenzie shrugged. “Of course he does. He’s been coming over since we were in elementary school. We used to study together as kids.”
I drifted in thought, remembering back to the night when I was attacked. I never considered it before but I did now. Gavin was just as tall as Seven and they were both of the same built. Dressed in the right disguise, I could easily confuse the two.
“Jules, you okay?” Mackenzie’s voice dragged me back to reality.
She regarded me with worry.
I nodded and feigned a smile. “I’m okay. Let’s go.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Before heading back to the estate, Mackenzie took me to a boutique. The annual company dinner was tomorrow night and she wanted me to have something nice to wear. Once again, I didn’t want anyone spending money on me, even my sister. We’d only just started opening up to each other and I was uncomfortable with her buying me things. Still, she insisted. And I promised to pay her back once I received a little payment from working on the project with Aunt Bev.
I tried on a few dresses before finally settling on one that Mackenzie and I both agreed looked perfect for me. It was a dark blue, high-low asymmetrical dress with gold embellishments around the waist.
After getting the dress and some sandals to go with it, Mackenzie gushed about how Seven was going to go crazy once he saw me all dressed up tomorrow night. I waved off her optimism. He was only keeping a promise. Seven wouldn’t see our relationship as anything deeper.
Getting back to the house, Mr. Danton and Marlene met us outside the second Mackenzie and I got out of the car.
“What’s going on?” asked Mackenzie, walking over to her mother.
Mr. Danton raised his hand with some papers in his grasp. “I’ve got the original will, along with the papers for you to sign to turn over your inheritance, Ms. Rowell.”
Mackenzie glanced back at me. She nudged me over. “Let’s hear what he really wrote before you do anything, Jules—”
“Jules?” Marlene sneered. “What’s this, Kenzie? Have you switched sides?”
She spun on her heels and urged Mr. Danton inside the house as she walked past, a writhing Mackenzie and I followed behind.
I sat down in the long sofa next to my sister, placing the bag with the dress and sandals on my lap.
Marlene sat in the armchair and Mr. Danton stood. He cleared his throat as he began reading. “This is the last will and testament of Cole Vanderson. I hereby ask that you comply by my wishes and accept them with gratitude.”
“Wait,” Mackenzie interrupted, holding up her hand. “Shouldn’t Aunt Bev and Seven be here for this?” she asked.
Mr. Danton answered, “No. Their parts are unchanged. Mr. Monroe can remain at the guesthouse for as long as he wants and Ms. Vanderson is given full control of the family business.”
So Aunt Bev did inherit the company.
“Then can you please skip to my part along with my daughter’s and…” Marlene’s eyes drifted to me for a split second then back to Mr. Danton. “This girl,” she concluded.
Bitch! I wanted to punch her so bad. If it wasn’t for Mackenzie, I certainly would’ve knocked Marlene flat on her ass.
“Certainly,” Mr. Danton proceeded. My mind settled down. “In the case of my wife, I leave a large sum of money that will be enough to let your life remain comfortable without me. Mackenzie, I’ve purchased that condo you love so much. To Sarah, who I know will not—”
“Blah, blah, blah. Speed it up, Mr. Danton,” Marlene grew impatient.
He flashed an irritated glance her way then continued, “Julian, I’d love for you and your sister to share the Vanderson estate as well as all my wealth—my years of hard work I leave to the both of you. None of this will be applicable if you don’t share it together. It is my dying wish for you sisters to establish a relationship with each other as I know you’re capable of doing. My dear Mackenzie, forgive me for not paying attention, but I do see you, my beautiful daughter. And I’m proud of who you’ve become. Don’t let your mother’s influence cloud your mind.
“Julian, I ask for so much more forgiveness than I’ll possibly ever receive. But I do hope you will find it in your heart to one day forgive me and make Narragansett and the Vanderson estate your home. Signed, Cole Vanderson.”
Marlene gasped. “Even the original is just as disastrous. How could he split my daughter’s inheritance and call it void if she doesn’t want to share it.”
She shot up from the chair and walked over to Mackenzie, stroking her face. “It’s all right, dear. Once she signs the papers that’ll be the end of her presence here—”
“Stop it already!” Mackenzie slapped her and away and jumped up from the sofa. “Enough with the ‘her’ and ‘that woman’s child’,” she fumed. “Julian’s my sister and I want her here. I won’t let you chase her away like you did before.”
Looking over at me, Mackenzie nodded. I got up from the sofa just as she walked over to Mr. Danton and snatched the papers out of his hand. She ripped them to pieces.
“What are you doing?!” Marlene snapped. “She doesn’t deserve this, you do. You’re—”
“A Vanderson,” I finished for her. “I’m one too.”
She pressed her lips tightly together, regarding me intensely. A few seconds past before Marlene finally spoke again. “I’m leaving.”
Marching past Mr. Danton, she brushed his shoulder harshly before storming up the stairs.
“Well,” Mr. Danton chipped in. “It seems my presence is no longer needed here.” He nodded at me and Mackenzie then went out the front door.
Mackenzie walked over to me right after, hugging me lightly. “I’m serious, Julian. I want you to stay so we can work on this.”
I inhaled then let a deep breath escape my lips. “I’d love to stay. But there are still things I need to sort out on my own.”
She bobbed her head, considering my words. “Well at least wait until after the dinner tomorrow night to make up your mind, especially after you worked so hard with Aunt Bev on the magazine.”
I slipped out of her grasp and walked out the living room, heading for the kitchen door.
When I got back to the guesthouse, I surveyed the place to make sure no one else was there to jump out at me. Then I entered my room and lay down on the bed. A pity Mackenzie didn’t know how much I wanted to stay in Narragansett and keep working on having a sisterly relationship with her. Sadly, my mother was against the idea and even though I was twenty-one years old, I still found it hard to stand up to her and follow my heart.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Sunday finally arrived, and Aunt Bev was bustling about the guesthouse, making several phone calls to have everything perfect for the dinner.
I made breakfast for her and Seven. I still hadn’t said a thing about Mom coming to get me in the morning if I didn’t leave tonight.
Seven and I started eating breakfast while Aunt Bev finished up her phone call.
“Yes, thank you,” she drew a long breath after getting off the phone then sat down to eat. “Everything’s going right. That’s good.”
I beamed at her. “You work so hard. I’m sure your brother would be proud, Aunt Bev.”
She peered up from behind her coffee mug. “I’m sure he’s very proud of you too, Julian.”
“Geez, you two, stop with the sappy stuff already,” Seven chimed in. “Oh, Aunt Bev, did you tell her yet?”
I glanced up at them both. “Tell me what?”
She swallowed down her waffle then answered, “Our marketing coordinator is going on a permanent holiday and since you did such a wonderful job on the project, everyone at the company was asking if you’d like to work with us full-time?”
I fell silent for a moment, soaking it in. I did enjoy working on the project with Aunt Bev and the office environment was really wonderful to be in. But I had so many uncertainties.
Glancing up at Aunt Bev and Seven, they were both waiting eagerly to hear my answer.
“Um…” I started.
“You don’t have to answer now. Tell me after the dinner,” Aunt Bev put my nerves at ease.
A little after finishing breakfast, Seven wanted me to go for a stroll on the beach with him while Aunt Bev went out to run some errands.
We walked for a while, not saying much to each other. Whenever I looked over at him he switched his gaze to the ocean and away from me. Seven appeared nervous, fighting to tell me something.
“It’s a cool Sunday morning,” I chirped, trying to make the air more relaxed.
“Yeah,” he agreed. “Jules, about that…” he stopped walking.
I kicked up sand, waiting patiently for him to say what I’d been wishing to hear.
“That…um…” he was struggling to form the right words to convey his thoughts. “You know I care about you, right? I mean, you’re a pretty special girl.”
“Thank you,” was all I could mutter.
“And, I feel…you and I, we…”
He prolonged it so much I grew wary.
“It’s almost time to go back to school, huh?” I changed the subject.
His eyes twitched a little then he joined in with the turn of the conversation. “Yeah, only a month left, then it’s back to studying and writing papers.”
We continued talking about other things—things that didn’t matter much. And I had the feeling Seven didn’t mind me keeping him from falling back into the mode where he couldn’t just tell me honestly how he felt. I wondered why it was so hard for him.
After getting back to the guesthouse, Seven received a phone call from one of his friends. They wanted to hang out a bit, just guys. So he made sure I was secure inside the house before taking off. How super protective of him.
I was getting bored, hanging around doing nothing, so I decided to go by the main house and see if Mackenzie was home.
Lightly knocking on her room door, I entered once she called out for me to enter.
“What are you up to?” I asked, sitting on the chair next to her bed.
Mackenzie tossed the books aside and leaned up against the headboard. “She left.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Marlene? But she’s always gone.”
Turning her gaze on me, she took a long, deep breath. “Mom went to Santa Barbara, where my grandparents live. She says she’s not staying here. That it’s too hard for her.”
I frowned, sympathizing with her. Marlene was my sister’s mother. And as much as I didn’t like her, Mackenzie loved her and wanted her close just as much as I wanted my mother.
“I’m sorry.”
She shook her head. “It’s okay. You know what? I don’t feel so bad about her leaving.”
Baffled, I leaned my head to the side and asked, “How come?”
Mackenzie sprang off the bed, walked over to her closet and rifled through the many clothes she had.
“Because,” she took a chiffon dress out to look at. “I think we both need to give each other a break. I relied on her a lot and she relied on me to do what she said. You see, Jules,” she turned and looked at me, her eyes watering. “My mom placed all her dreams on me, and in the end it just made me so tired. I think I finally found the strength to say no after Dad died. And she finally noticed I wasn’t going to put up with her controlling ways anymore.”
Mackenzie had no idea how much those words affected me on a deeper level. Like her, I yearned for the strength to step out and let go of my mother. Coming to Narragansett was the first time I even traveled without her.
“Anyway,” she pulled me out of my thoughts, “Has he said anything yet?”
I got up from the chair. “No, and there won’t be any progress. Like I said, Seven and I are just friends.”
She waved me off then tossed the dress onto the bed. “I’m going to shower and then we can go out for a drive, okay?”
Nodding, I walked out of her room and went downstairs to wait for her. At least, for now, I could enjoy Narragansett a bit longer before making up my mind completely.
*
Later on, I got ready for the Vanderson Publishing dinner. I put on the dress Mackenzie bought me and let my hair down to flow freely across my back. Slipping into the sandals, I glanced at myself one more time in the mirror and applied some lip-gloss.
When I w
alked into the living room, Seven was there waiting, decked out in a dark purple dress shirt, black pants and oxford shoes. He stood up from the sofa, slowly regarding me from head to toe. His goiter bobbed as he swallowed hard. He couldn’t look away. I doubted he even blinked. Mackenzie was right. This dress was definitely mesmerizing him.
“You look…so beautiful,” he gushed. “I mean, you always look beautiful but now you look so…” he fought for the words as I walked over and peered up into his gleaming emerald eyes.
“Thank you,” I whispered, taking in the moment.
We stood there, silent, caught up in bliss, adoring each other. Aunt Bev’s footsteps coming down the stairs broke our connection. Seven eased away from me as she strolled up to us.
“You two look ravishing,” she praised.
I turned and took in her appearance then returned the compliment, “You look lovely, Aunt Bev.”
She was wearing a peach, ruched maxi dress and her hair was curled up above her shoulders. Aunt Bev was truly a classy woman.
Mackenzie drove with Aunt Bev ahead. Seven and I showed up shortly behind them at the Anawan country club for the dinner. The place looked extravagant on the outside. I lagged behind, admiring the landscape as they walked up to the entrance.
When I finally entered the country club, there were many unrecognizable faces and a few employees I knew from the company. Everyone looked so nice, so…rich. Aunt Bev surely did a good job planning and making arrangements for the dinner because it all turned out exquisite. There were crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling over each table, champagne serving at all angles, a buffet with a chef standing by, and a live band filling the atmosphere with soothing soft rock music.
Throughout the evening, Aunt Bev introduced me to a bunch of people. “This is my niece, she helped with the re-launch of the magazine.” She’d go on and on. I felt so accepted into their circle. I was truly a Vanderson.
Mackenzie kept busy as well. Whether it was greeting familiar associates of our father or explaining her mother’s absence, she kept a bright smile on her face throughout it all.
Finding Julian Page 16