The Inheritance (Forever Bound #1)

by Bree Callahan

  While he was waiting, he asked, “Hey, are you at the office? It’s Saturday.”

  “I know. I have a ton of things that I need to get done before I leave here.”

  “Oh!” He loved her commitment to the job, and he still worried that he would never get anyone as dedicated as she was. “I just got it. Give me a minute to read it.” He skimmed over it, throwing out the sentences that didn’t make much sense, then landing on the words that threw a wrench into his plans. “Marcus Bradshaw owns it?” he asked.

  “Yep. I thought the name sounded familiar…then it hit me. Your ex, Jenna Bradshaw, isn’t that her name?” she asked.

  He hesitated. “Yeah! It is! Marcus is her dad.” This wouldn’t be easy to contact Jenna’s dad. Derek hadn’t spoken to him since long before Jenna left town. Last he knew, Marcus had decided to leave town when he was going through marital problems with his wife. He wouldn’t even know where to begin to look for him. “Thanks, Lily. I’ll take it from here. Don’t stay too late at work.”

  “I won’t. Thanks!”

  After he had hung up, he went back to the email. The records department had clearly stated they didn’t have information about where he was so this would require more detailed work. He brought up the contact list on his phone and rummaged through it until he landed on the name of his private detective. He dialed up the number and waited for him to answer.

  “This is Calvin.”

  “Hey, Cal…it’s Derek Worthington.”

  “Derek…how you doing?”

  “Well, pretty good, but I have a favor to ask of you.”

  “Sure. What’s up?”

  “I’m sorry to bother you on the weekend.”

  “No worries,” Calvin replied.

  Derek told him how he needed to find Marcus Bradshaw. He had very little information, other than about fifteen years ago, the man left Belfast, Maine. He had a daughter named Jenna and perhaps a wife named Victoria. If they were no longer married, then it would be an ex-wife. He mentioned that the sooner he got the information, the better. He explained how there was a building he couldn’t destroy without the information because it’s only been abandoned for four years.

  That’s when Calvin pointed out something that Derek had also thought of. “If he’s been gone for fifteen years, then why has the building only been abandoned for four?”

  “I don’t know. I thought maybe someone has been taking it over since Marcus has been out of the picture…perhaps his wife, or a friend.”

  “Maybe his daughter has been managing it,” Calvin pointed out.

  Derek couldn’t believe that. He wanted to believe that if Jenna had been back to Belfast, he would’ve known it. However, it was possible he wouldn’t have. She was upset and hurt when she left and maybe she didn’t want to see him again. “I suppose that’s possible. Whatever the case may be, I really need to see if you can locate him.”

  “Not a problem. I’ll add your bill to your tab.”

  Derek snickered. “Thanks, Cal.”

  “I’ll be in contact with you soon!” Cal said, before hanging up the call.

  Derek sat in his chair, and it didn’t take long before he dialed up another number. This time, he called Jenna’s old number. It was a long shot, as it’d been twelve years since he tried calling it, but he had few options. It rang three times before a recording came on and told him the number had been disconnected. He put his phone down. He wasn’t surprised. He got on his computer and went to whitepages.com. He did a general search for Marcus Bradshaw, and it pulled up six thousand men with that name in the country. That’s the only ones it found. He then searched all of New York, and it pulled up thirty-three phone numbers that corresponded with a Jenna Bradshaw. He wasn’t surprised. He narrowed it down to New York City and found fifteen people by that name. That was closer.

  He then searched the Maine directory, and it located five women by that name. He doubted she came back to the area, but there was one that lived in Bangor, which was only an hour from Belfast. He grabbed his phone and dialed up her number. “Hello?” A little boy answered the phone.

  “Hello. May I speak to your mother?” he asked.

  The boy sounded like he wasn’t much older than six or seven. “She doesn’t live here,” he responded.

  Derek frowned. That wasn’t the response he looked for. “Oh! I need to speak to Jenna Bradshaw please.”

  “Just a minute. Grandma…telephone.”

  “Wait…” Derek frantically said. He didn’t need to speak to anyone’s grandma. It hadn’t been that long. When she got on the phone, he even thought about disconnecting the call, but that was the chicken way out. When she answered, he had, to be honest. “I apologize, I was looking for a Jenna Bradshaw, but she’d only be thirty years old.”

  The woman on the other end laughed. “Nope…I wasn’t thirty for a long, long time. Sorry, I’m not who you’re looking for.”

  “Thanks anyway. Have a good day!” He disconnected the call and looked at the other four numbers. He chose to go with the narrowed down numbers and then work up from there. He dialed one of the numbers, and it rang and rang until it went to an answering machine.

  A man’s voice came on the phone. “You’ve reached the Bradshaw’s…” He hung up because the guy wouldn’t have the last name, Bradshaw. He dialed up number three on the list, and it rang twice before someone answered.

  “Hello, this is Jenna.”

  He tried to hang onto her words to see if he recognized the voice. Even though it had been so long ago, he didn’t figure her voice changed much. However, as hard as he tried to imagine her voice in his head, he couldn’t. “Hello. I’m sorry for bothering you on this Saturday afternoon, but I’m looking for a Jenna Bradshaw.”

  “You found her,” the woman said.

  He waited. He still couldn’t gather whether it was her. “This might be a stupid question, but did you use to live in Belfast?”

  “No…I’ve never lived in Belfast. I did live in Bucksport for a time. That’s the closest I’ve ever gotten to Belfast, though.”

  He sighed. It was partly with relief and partly with discontent. He wanted to get to the bottom of things, but he didn’t want to talk to her. “Sorry for your time, Ma’am.” He hung up the call and moved down the list. As he read over her white pages listing, he got a little hopeful. Listed as possible people, she would know, was an M. Bradshaw. He figured that could be her father. He dialed up the number.

  It went straight to voicemail. The moment he heard the voice he knew he found the right woman. “Hey, you’ve reached Jenna. I’m not available right now, but leave a message, and I’ll get right back with you. Thanks for calling.”

  He didn’t leave a message. Instead, he hung up and stared aimlessly at her information. She was back in Maine, living in Ashland, less than two hundred miles from him. Yet, she never tried to contact him to see how things were going. He put her number into his phone and got off the website. He would use it as a backup, but for the time being, he didn’t want to talk to her. He needed to find Marcus, and he hoped Calvin could get that done.

  ***

  On Sunday, Charity stopped at a coffee shop and paid for four cups of coffee. She didn’t know what Jesse and Derek would want in their coffee, so she grabbed several packets of sugar and cream. She got back to her car and headed toward Ana’s house. The moment she got there she spotted Ana’s vehicle, a big box truck, and Derek’s vehicle in the driveway. She pulled into the open spot in the driveway and turned off her car. The door was open and out walked Jesse with some furniture from her living room. He loaded it into the back of the truck.

  “Hey, Charity!” He smiled and turned around once he reached the truck and unloaded his hands. He noticed the coffees in her hand and pointed, giving her a sly smile. “One of those doesn’t happen to have my name on it, does it?”

  Charity laughed. “Nope, I’m just really thirsty.”

  He grinned, grabbing the coffee from her hand. “I have sugars and
cream. What’s your pleasure?”

  “Two of each,” he said. She handed them to him and then they walked into the front door.

  Ana looked up. “Oh thank heavens you’re here. I’m going insane.” She eyed the coffee. “You are a lifesaver, my friend.” Charity handed Ana a cup and then handed her a sugar and cream.

  “Figured no one would have time to make coffee.” She nonchalantly glanced around the house as Ana prepared her coffee.

  “He’s down the hall in the bathroom loading up a box.”

  “What?” Charity asked. “Like I care.”

  “Hm…mm…” Ana replied, then took a slow drink of her coffee. “Now that hit the spot.”

  Derek walked down the hall carrying a box marked as toiletries, and his eyes went to Charity’s. He smiled slightly. “I brought coffee,” Charity said, holding up one.

  He smiled. “Thank you!” He placed the box down in the foyer and grabbed it from Charity’s hand.

  “How many sugars and creams do you want?” she asked.

  “I take mine black,” he answered.

  “Oh!” She put the tray down and removed her cup from the tray. She didn’t want to mention it was a huge coincidence, and that was how she took hers, too.

  “Thank you!” he said, nodding.

  “You’re welcome!” She looked around the house and spotted Ana. “Where would you like me?” Charity asked.

  “You could first start taking some of these boxes to the vehicles. I want to pack each vehicle, so we don’t have to make so many trips.”

  Charity reached for one, but Derek stopped her. “That one’s heavy. I’ll take it.” He grabbed it from her arms and her eyes followed him out of the house. When she moved onto the next one, she spotted Ana’s expression.

  “What?” Charity asked.

  Ana shrugged. “I didn’t say a word.” She disappeared into the kitchen, but Charity knew what her friend’s silence meant. She grabbed another box and headed toward the front door. She nearly ran into Derek as he was coming back in.

  “Sorry,” he mumbled.

  She stepped back and allowed him to through the door. “No problem.” She left the house and carried the box to the backseat of his car, where the door was already open.

  This was going to be a busy day and that’s how much of the day went. Periodically she would awkwardly bump into Derek, and he would apologize, or she would say how clumsy she was, and they would move past one another.

  They stopped for lunch, but for the most part, Ana kept them on a tight schedule. They did finish in three carloads, with everyone filling their vehicle to the max, but once everything got over to Jesse’s place, they commented on how they would need to have a garage sale because there was very little room to walk around. It was hard work, but fulfilling once they got everything moved.

  At the end of the day, Charity was ready to collapse, and she could read it on everyone’s faces; they were all exhausted. Charity stood up from the couch, yawning as she did. “That speaks for my tiredness. I better be going.”

  “Me too!” Derek replied.

  Charity turned to him and in a moment of clarity, she wanted to just make sure he hadn’t changed his mind. “I can still drop my resume off tomorrow, right?”

  He nodded. “Yep. You could’ve just brought it here.”

  Charity laughed. “You’re right, I should’ve.” She walked towards the door and turned to Ana, who had followed her. “Goodbye!” She hugged her, like she was saying goodbye to her closest friend and they would never see each other again.”

  “Goodbye!” Ana replied. She pulled back from the hug. “Thank you so much for helping us out today.”

  Charity shrugged. “What are friends for?” She looked over to Jesse and Derek, who were talking. “See everyone later!”

  “Goodbye!” They both replied in unison. She turned from them and left the house. She looked back at the house, once she was in the driver’s seat. It was so hard to believe her friend had moved and taking one more step to her own future. She couldn’t help but wonder if she, herself, would ever get to that point. Somehow she doubted it.

  Chapter 9

  Charity had to be to work on Monday morning at ten o’clock, so on the way to work she stopped off at the County Courthouse so she could turn in her resume. She was greeted by a young woman at the desk, the moment she got out of the elevator.

  “Hello, and welcome to Mayor Worthington’s office. How may I help you?”

  Charity had surveyed the office before she reached the desk. It seemed rather large for only housing the Mayor and his assistant, but there were several nooks and crannies that contained several file cabinets and storage areas. “Hello. I’m here to drop off my resume.” The moment the last word left her mouth, out walked Derek. He looked up, but only briefly.

  It was the assistant that pointed out why Charity was even there. “Derek, this young woman has dropped off her resume,” she started.

  “I’m in a hurry,” he snapped. “Put it on my desk,” he ordered her. He got on the elevator and disappeared.

  Charity was surprised. He seemed different than he had the past few days. He barely even looked her way.

  The woman, who’s nameplate read, Lily, smiled and took the resume from her. “I’ll be sure to get it to him, so he can look at it as soon as he gets back.” She stammered with her words, probably thinking the same thing Charity was. What an ass!

  Charity smiled. “I appreciate that. Have a nice day!” She left the desk and got back to the elevator. The ride down was excruciatingly long, and she couldn’t stop dwelling on the fact that she wanted the opportunity. She got off the elevator and was heading toward the door when she spotted Jesse. He approached her with a casual smile.

  “Did you turn your resume in?” he cheerily asked.

  She nodded. “I gave it to his assistant, Lily. He was too occupied with other business to talk to me.” She tilted her head and looked at Jesse. He knew Derek better than anyone. “Do you think he’ll look at it?” She wanted to believe he would, but after his rude encounter, she wasn’t so sure.

  Jesse nodded with conviction. “He’s a man of his word and he wouldn’t be coerced to look at it, if he didn’t feel compelled to do so.”

  Charity felt a little better after hearing that. “I have to run, Jesse, but it was good seeing you. Tell Ana I said hello.” She waved and hurried out of the building. She did need to make up time to get to work. She didn’t need another mark against her, even if she was looking for another job.

  She got in her car and started it up, then pulled out of the parking garage and headed toward work. She reached work just in time to clock in and make it out to the front with her apron and order pad. When she reached the counter, Jamie was ringing out an order. She handed the woman her change and said her goodbyes, then turned to Charity. “Hello!”

  “Hello!” Charity slipped the order pad into her apron, then turned to Jamie. “Can you keep a secret?” she asked.

  Jamie raised an eyebrow and leaned against the counter. “Seeing that you are jumping at the seams to talk to someone, I’ll say yes. What’s up?”

  Charity frowned. “Can you keep a secret?” she asked again.

  Jamie laughed. “Yes, I promise I won’t tell another living soul. What’s up?”

  Charity glanced around to make sure Bill or anyone else wasn’t within earshot to hear what she said. She then looked back at Jamie. “I’m looking for another job.”

  Jamie didn’t seem at all surprised by this revelation from Charity. “Where have you applied?”

  Charity smiled. “Honestly, I’ve only applied to one place so far. I was going to look for employment with the school or daycare, but those jobs were both only going to be for the summer, and I really needed something more permanent. So, when this job came along…I jumped in and applied.”

  Jamie looked intrigued. “So…I’m dying here. Where’d you apply?”

  Charity didn’t hold back in telling Jamie the whol
e truth. “I found out Mayor Worthington was hiring a new assistant, and so I just dropped off my resume.”

  Jamie’s jaw dropped. “Mayor Worthington?” she screeched.

  “Shhh…” Charity said, covering her own lips with her finger.

  Jamie’s eyes beamed. “You can’t mention that man’s name and not expect me to get a little excited.” Jamie laughed. “How in the world did you hear about that job, and where do I sign up?”

  Charity snickered. “First of all…I can’t divulge all my secrets, and secondly, I’m hoping to get the job so do you honestly think I’d tell you?” Jamie acted like she was pouting and Charity chuckled. “No offense.” Charity didn’t want to tell anyone how she found out about the job because she feared people would say she got it because Mayor Worthington felt forced into hiring her. She wanted people to believe she could honestly earn a job like that. She had confidence in herself, even if it was a nuts to even consider.

  “When will you hear?” Jamie asked.

  “I don’t know,” Charity admitted. “Like I said, I just dropped the resume off today, but I think he wants to fill the position quickly.” She sighed. “I just don’t want to get my hopes up, you know?”

  Jamie nodded. “I know.” She put on her a happy smile for Charity’s benefit. “Actually, while we're honest with one another…I have also applied at various places the past couple months.”

  “You have?” Charity asked, still a little flabbergasted by Jamie’s statement. “Where?”

  “A few places North. I want to stay in Maine, but Belfast doesn’t have a lot to offer.”

  “Tell me about it, but Derek has plans to renovate the area on Elm Street so there will be lots of job opportunities.”

  “Derek?” she asked, smirking. Charity felt her face turning red. “You guys must be close,” she teased.

  Charity stammered around to correct the mistake, but it was already out there. She needed to be more careful, or she’d ruin everything.