Eyre House

by Caitlin Greer

  Susanna smiled. “Perfect! I’ll call Remy. We can leave in a couple of days. We only have you for two weeks, so we have to make the most of it!” She bounced up and out of the room, leaving me staring after her.

  “I think we should let you get settled and process things before we jump into any more. How does that sound, honey?” Aunt Emmaline smiled at me. “Unless you have any questions?”

  I hesitated. “I do, actually. What happened to my father?”

  “Ah. Yes.” She looked away, carefully placing the debutante photograph back on the end table. Her voice turned neutral. “Edmund was tried and convicted of all three murders, your mother and two other women. That’s part of what took so long to find you. They were all about the same age, with a son your age. The deaths… They were very brutal. The jury was not at all sympathetic, and the DA went for the death penalty. He was executed a year ago.”

  I stared at my hands. I didn’t know what I’d expected, but the words were still a shock, even after everything. They sat like a cold lump in my stomach.

  “How did he not find me?”

  Aunt Emmaline sighed. “I believe you were at the sitter’s. Your mama was alone at work when he found her. The sitter went to the police when Louisa didn’t come to get you. Seems your mama had told her that if she ever didn’t pick you up, to do just that. She never wanted your daddy to find you. And he didn’t.”

  I nodded, still staring at my hands. “Thank you. For telling me.”

  Her hands reached out to touch mine, and I looked up at her. “It’s always hard to hear, but I’m a firm believer in the truth. It doesn’t do any good to hide it. You always find out, eventually. Now, honey.” She stood up and straightened her skirt, and I hurried to stand with her. “Where are your things?”

  “Back in the mudroom.”

  “Let’s get them, and I’ll show you your room.” She took my arm and walked me back the way Susanna and I had come in. “Tomorrow, we’ll visit the lawyers and get everything settled with your estate, get you access to funds. You won’t be able to draw from most of it until you’re twenty-one, but you’ll have a bit of fun money to play with, and more than enough for the college tour. Since we’ve been working with your lawyers since we tracked you down, there should only be just a few formalities to deal with.”

  I froze. “Wait—my lawyers?”

  Aunt Emmaline laughed. “Oh honey. You have trusts from two families. Money, property, an inheritance. Of course you have family lawyers!”

  Funny, that out of everything she’d told me, it was the lawyer bit that threw me. I nodded, wishing I understood everything better, grabbed my bag, and we walked back to the front and up the stairs.

  Aunt Emmaline glanced at me with a smile. “I think we might organize a shopping trip after the lawyers, as well, if that’s all you brought.”

  I glanced down at my backpack. I’d left all my grungy fix-things clothes at Eyre House, which only left about half my clothes, which was about a week’s worth of mostly t-shirts, jeans, and cargos. “I guess my wardrobe is a little limited.”

  “It’s nothing to be ashamed of, Evan.”

  “I know. I think it’ll just take me a bit to wrap my head around all of this. Having a family, a future.” I smiled a little. “Lawyers. Not being two steps from completely broke.” Even saying it sounded strange.

  “I imagine it’s a big adjustment. You’ll be fine, though, honey. You’ve got your mama’s strength.”

  “How can you know that?”

  “Evan, honey. I’ve seen your records. You’ve been bounced around your whole life, given the short end of the stick every time. But your grades were good, you have no criminal record, and Catherine Eyre thinks the world of you. You couldn’t have turned out the way you have without it.”

  “I don’t know how to fit in this life. Debutantes and mansions and…and trust funds?” I shook my head.

  Aunt Emmaline walked us down the hall and stepped into a room that was even bigger than my room at Eyre House. “I wouldn’t worry too much about fitting in a specific life. You’ve made it through a lot of the hardest parts. Be yourself, and let yourself get used to having things. And when you’re ready, we’ll introduce you around. Maybe throw a party. Louisa had a lot of friends who will be very happy to welcome you. We’re not as scary as you think, honey.”

  I dropped my bag on the massive bed and looked around. More warm-feeling, dark-paneled walls, and an old looking dresser. Closet and bathroom doors. Blue and dark green bed and trim. Very masculine, really. Comfortable.

  Unlike me. I was overwhelmed, not comfortable. It was all too much. “I just don’t want to be a disappointment.”

  “Oh, Evan.” She clasped my face in her hands. “You could never be that. Even if you chose to turn your back on us and on your past, you wouldn’t be a disappointment. You haven’t had the life anyone thought you would or wanted for you. Yours has been much tougher, and I can understand not being comfortable picking up a different one. Life isn’t like a suit, that you can change at will. There are different responsibilities, and a different set of hardships. But whatever you choose, I do hope you’ll let Susanna, Xander, and me remain part of your life. Even if you don’t want the rest of it.”

  I gave her a half-grin. The rest of it I wasn’t sure about, but family I’d wanted as long as I could remember. “I don’t have so much family that I’m willing to give up anyone who wants me, without good reason.”

  She smiled back at me. “Good. Now, there’s a full bath through that door, walk-in closet there. That window opens onto the portico.” She checked her watch quickly, and looked back up. “Lunch will be ready in about fifteen minutes, honey, so do what you need to do and come back downstairs.” Aunt Emmaline pulled me back in for another hug—which I finally returned—and then left.

  I stared at the mostly closed door and sank onto the dark green comforter. Closing my eyes, I let myself fall back onto the bed while the world spun in circles. With everything I’d learned, I expected the story of my parents to be what ran through my head. But it was Ginny that surfaced through it all. Her honey-gold eyes and smile that promised all kinds of trouble, the same smile that had won me over from the first. My own words came back to haunt me.

  I don’t have so much family that I’m willing to give up anyone who wants me without a good reason.

  Ginny was the best thing I’d ever had, and I was an idiot if I wasn’t willing to let her know that. Even if her cousin was batshit crazy, and even if she came with her own baggage. It wasn’t like I was perfect either.

  But at least now, I could approach her on her own level.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The formalities of the lawyers’ office turned out to be a fingerprint check and a lot of signatures, followed by a trip to the bank. It was all done in a matter of hours, and at the end of it, I was no longer Evan Richardson, foster kid and orphan, but Evan James Fairfax Rochester, heir to two fortunes and part of a family.

  It was a crazy feeling, especially when the pocket money Aunt Emmaline had referred to turned out to be a monthly stipend of $2,000 sitting in a bank account with my name on it, and another $10,000 deposited in a savings account.

  I spent a good five minutes trying not to throw up.

  Afterwards, Aunt Emmaline abandoned me to Susanna’s care, with instructions to take me shopping for more than just t-shirts. My cousin was all too happy to do it.

  I was a little less excited.

  “I’m not buyin’ a $700 suit!”

  “But it looks amazing on you, sugar! Suits are expensive, no matter what you do. You need one, and you may as well get a good one instead of some cheap hundred-fifty dollar Men’s Warehouse thing.”

  I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I had to admit, she was right. The suit looked good. Charcoal with pale blue tie. The shirt was the most comfortable dress shirt I’d ever worn.

  “Come on, Evan. It’s not like you don’t have the money.”

  She had a poi
nt. We’d transferred an extra two grand out of my savings so I could have money for the college road trip. I thought it was excessive. I’d never had that much money in one place in my life. Ever.

  I’d also never gone shopping with someone who thought dropping $700 on a suit was a normal thing.

  “Fine. I’ll get it.”

  Susanna squealed and clapped. “Yay! Oh Evan, honey, I’m so glad. Mama will love it. All right, you can go take it off now.”

  I rolled my eyes and went back to the fitting room to swap it out for my jeans and biker boots. When I came back, she’d picked out three more ties in pale yellow, dark red, and cadet blue. She added them to three other dress shirts. I didn’t bother trying to argue.

  Plenty of money or not, I winced when I ran my new card through the machine. I was still wincing when we walked out of the store.

  “Where to now?”

  Susanna threaded her arm through mine. “Well, we’ve got the nice clothes taken care of, so we need to find you some more everyday clothes.”

  “I have t-shirts. And jeans.”

  She turned and stared at me. “There’s more to life and fashion than t-shirts.”

  I closed my eyes and prayed for patience while she dragged me into and out of shops. Extra jeans, nice slacks, button-front shirts, and more. Susanna had more fun dressing me up like a doll than anyone I’d ever met. At least she had good taste. She was also happy enough to pick out things that both hid and revealed my tattoo.

  “Good God, Evan, a body like that should be shown off. Especially when you’ve got such a sexy tat added to the mix. I bet the girls are all over that.”

  I tried not to remember the feel of Ginny’s fingers tracing the swirls and spikes. And then Susanna tossed me a navy blue button front linen shirt, and it was all I could do not to throw it right away.

  Susanna blinked at me. “Evan? Sweetie? You okay?”

  “I…um… Yeah. I’m fine. Just thinking.” I checked the size on the shirt. The brand was even the same as the one I’d ruined the night of Ginny’s birthday. “This is fine.”

  Susanna took it back and crinkled her eyebrows. “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah. I think I just need a break. Some food. I’m starving.”

  “Well, it is two in the afternoon, and neither of us has eaten. I think we’ve bolstered your wardrobe enough for one day.”

  I gave a silent thanks to whoever was listening. “Good. Let’s go pay for this…” I waved my hands to indicate the pile she’d accumulated, “…before it doubles and we run out of room in your trunk.”

  “Haha. Very funny. You’ll still have way more closet than clothes, you know. And my Audi has a much bigger trunk than it looks like.”

  I raised my eyebrows and scooped up the pile in front of me.

  “Evan Rochester, Remy Emerson.”

  My new last name still sounded odd in my ears, but Susanna smiled as she introduced us. Remy was about two inches taller than me, and just a little bigger in the shoulders. He had short, dirty blonde hair; a close-trimmed beard; and friendly smile. I liked him immediately.

  His hand locked on mine in a firm grip. “The prodigal cousin. Awesome. Welcome to Savannah, man.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Hey, no worries. You’ve got to be feeling completely shell-shocked, am I right?”

  I laughed. “You have no idea. The whole rags-to-riches, was-lost-and-now-is-found thing is insane.”

  “I bet.” He gave me a glance up and down. “Looks like Anna took you shopping, too.”

  “Yeah. Yeah, she did.”

  He grinned and glanced at Susanna. “I’m sorry.”

  “So am I.”

  “She’s got good taste, anyway.”

  Susanna crossed her arms and leaned against the car. “Are you two cavemen done bonding? I’d like to get on the road before I start getting grey hairs.”

  Remy and I both rolled our eyes and laughed. He draped an arm around her shoulders. “Chill a little. The poor guy’s been starved of male company. Let him breathe.”

  Susanna patted Remy on the chest. “But that’s why you’re coming! Now, come on, we need to get going. Atlanta is four hours away, and it’s not getting’ any closer just standin’ here!”

  We groaned and climbed in Remy’s FJ Cruiser. He’d volunteered it for the trip since it would fit the three of us and our bags a lot more comfortably than Susanna’s Audi. I got in the back, automatically assuming Susanna would take shotgun, and was surprised when she climbed in next to me.

  Remy turned around with a smile. “Oh, I see how it is. Leave me up here to fend for myself.”

  “Of course, honey! I don’t want Evan to feel left out.”

  Remy shot me a look of sympathy in the rear view. “Fine, but you’re driving the next leg from Atlanta to Athens.” He smiled and started up the Cruiser. He didn’t seem at all bothered by how she acted, so I hoped I was in the clear.

  The drive to Macon, Georgia went by in a blur of conversation and cars. Remy and Susanna both apparently went to the University of Georgia, which would be our second stop after Emory. Remy was an engineering major with a year left. Susanna had two years still in architectural design. Watching the two of them, I could see what Aunt Emmaline saw. They were really good together.

  “So can I ask why you two are so on-again, off-again? I mean, you act like a married couple.”

  “Ah, the prodigal cousin is a smart one.” Remy grinned. “We’ve been dating since you were what—fifteen—Anna?”

  “Oh, honey, you remember! I was a freshman when he asked me to his junior prom. I thought I’d won the lotto.”

  “You had, don’t you remember?” He chuckled and continued. “But after a while, you want to make sure you’re still with the right person. We’re still young. So we break up, date other people, and end up back together.”

  Susanna turned her full smile on me. “Life’s more fun with options, don’t you think?”

  “I guess. But you two are so…I don’t know…perfect for each other? I don’t get why you’d want to ruin a good thing.”

  Susanna laughed. “We’re both free spirits. I’m sure we’ll probably settle down once we’re out of school, but why not make sure we’re right for each other before then? Life’s short.”

  I shook my head. I didn’t get it, but who was I to judge?

  “Don’t stress your brain about it, man. It works for us.”

  We arrived at Emory University with time for a tour of the main campus before lunch. After lunch, we drove over to the Oxford College campus that was apparently the site of the original school and did another tour there. The white buildings and red brick walkways were amazing to se, but didn’t inspire me.

  Susanna and Remy smiled and we all loaded back in the Cruiser.

  “Next stop, the greatest school in the South. University of Georgia, here we come! Oh, hey, Anna you’re up! My turn for some chill time in the back.”

  He slid in beside me and stretched out his long legs.

  I shook my head. “Remy, you’re crazy.”

  “Crazy-awesome, you mean!”

  “You just keep thinking that, man.”

  “Oh, ouch! I’m hurt!”

  The hour and a half to Athens went really fast. Remy cracked jokes the entire time. We did the official campus tour, and then Remy and Susanna gave me the unofficial tour. The place was freaking huge. Which was actually pretty cool but, at the same time, terrifying. Remy and Susanna clearly loved it, though, and they did everything they could to convince me it was the right place for me, too.

  It was really tempting. But I wanted to see what other options there were.

  We spent the night in a hotel in Athens and continued on to Clemson the next day. Clemson was nice, but I didn’t feel the vibe. As nice as a South Carolina school would be, it just wasn’t for me. We left after the official morning tour and ate lunch on the road, eager to get the five hours to Chapel Hill over with. We laughed and talked and were generally stupid th
e entire trip, and I couldn’t help but think that I was having a much better time on my tour than Ginny had probably had on her house-hunting trip.

  “Earth to Evan.” Susanna’s hand brushed my knee, startling me out of my thoughts. “There you go again, honey, disappearing into the ether. What’s going on?”

  “Nothing, just…”

  “Sounds to me like someone left some unfinished business in Charleston.” Remy glanced at me in the rear view, and he chuckled when I winced. “Ooh, girl trouble! Sorry, Anna, looks like you’re out of luck with your cuz! No matchmaking for you!”

  She shook her head. “Knock it off, Remy.”

  I didn’t look at her, but I could feel her eyes on me.

  “He’s right though, isn’t he, honey? Who is she?”

  I sighed and looked out the window. “Her name’s Ginny.”

  “Catherine Eyre’s daughter?”

  I nodded. “Yeah.”

  Remy gave a loud, low whistle. “I hear she’s a regular spitfire!”

  Susanna shot him a disapproving look. “Remy.”

  Remy just grinned. “What?”

  “He’s right,” I said. “She is.” I didn’t really want this conversation, but I was stuck in the car for another two or three hours still, and it didn’t look like it was going away.

  Susanna rested her hand on my arm. “What happened?”

  I shrugged. “Ms. Catherine caught us in bed together.”

  “Oh, damn, boy!” Remy was still smiling though.

  “But we also had an argument before I left. It was kind of a big one.”

  “What about?”

  “A lot of stuff. I don’t—” I blew out my breath and grimaced. “You grow up being shuffled between places and you get trust issues. Nothing will ever last, everyone is going to disappoint you… I thought Ginny was different. It felt different.”

  “Maybe it was different.” Susanna’s voice was quiet, and Remy had completely hushed.

  “It wasn’t. She hid things from me.” I sounded like a cranky two year old, even to myself. “It was complicated. She has this cousin who was a Marine. He didn’t tell anyone when he got back, just hid out in some of the ruins on the island. But Ginny knew. And then weird shit started happening. Someone lit my bed on fire. One of her cousin’s best friends got stabbed, a guest got bashed in the head and knocked down the terrace steps. Twice I heard someone in my room at night, and one of the times, whoever it was shredded my bike jacket. Other stuff, too.” I didn’t want to mention the stalker wall, or Jaime. I didn’t want to remember it.