In the Heir

by Ruth Cardello

  The next few days Alisha tried to push Brett out of her thoughts. Nothing could dislodge him. Not the last-days-of-school chaos. Not the advanced yoga class Rachelle convinced her she was ready for. Her attempt at meditation failed, and she spent the hour feeling guilty even though she hadn’t yet done anything.

  She hadn’t spoken to Brett or Spencer.

  Three days away from both of them should have given her clarity, but all she’d done was pine over one while she felt guilty about the other. On the first afternoon of her summer vacation she was running errands when she thought, This is ridiculous.

  I was perfectly fine before I met Brett. I’ll be fine if I never see him again.

  I can’t marry Spencer, and I can’t keep avoiding him because I don’t want to disappoint him.

  His grandmother says she loves him.

  If that’s true, she wouldn’t want him to marry a woman he doesn’t love.

  That’s it.

  I’ll go see Delinda Westerly. I’ll explain all of this . . . well, some of this, to her and she’ll see why simply giving him his inheritance is the only solution.

  She sprinted back to her car and sped along, following the directions her GPS gave her. She didn’t second-guess her decision until she was standing on the stone steps of Delinda Westerly’s mansion by the sea.

  Spencer needs that money. If I simply break it off with him, he may get nothing. This is the only way.

  The butler answered the door. “Miss Coventry. Is Mrs. Westerly expecting you this afternoon?”

  Alisha smiled politely. “No, but I’m sure she’ll want to see me. I have something very important to tell her.”

  “One moment please,” he said, and then he was back in an instant. “She’ll see you in the solarium.”

  “Thank you,” Alisha said as she followed him in.

  Delinda was sitting when Alisha entered the room. She waved at a chair near her. “Don’t dawdle near the door. Come in.”

  Alisha approached and told herself she wasn’t intimidated. Delinda certainly had a presence. “I hope you don’t mind that I dropped by without calling.”

  “Whether I mind or not doesn’t change that you’re here, does it, dear?” Delinda asked with a thin smile.

  Alisha remembered what Brett had said about Delinda respecting her for speaking up. “You could pretend you’re happy to see me.”

  Shrewd eyes flew to Alisha’s. “Whoever said I wasn’t?”

  Alisha leaned in. “If you don’t say something nice, I may hug you.”

  Delinda’s eyes rounded, then humor filled her eyes, and it transformed her face. “You are a spirited young woman, to say the least.”

  Up until then, Alisha hadn’t thought of herself as spirited. Yes, she gave herself tough pep talks, but she did so out of fear that she’d succumb again to her childhood feelings of powerlessness. No one will ever make me feel that way again. Taking a seat across from her, Alisha smiled. “I’ll take that compliment. I have a feeling you were described the same way when you were my age.”

  A sincere smile stretched across Delinda’s face. “I was. I wouldn’t have been able to marry my husband if I’d been afraid of what anyone thought of me.”

  “Really?” Alisha asked in surprise. Could understanding Delinda’s own choices help Alisha convince her to change her mind about the wedding clause?

  “Oliver worked in one of my father’s factories. He was a floor manager. My father was angry when he heard I was dating Oliver. He wanted me to choose someone from our social circle. He threatened to disown me if I went on another date with him. You can imagine the fit he had when I married him.”

  “But he didn’t disown you.”

  “No, he didn’t. In the end he saw how much I loved Oliver, and that was all that mattered.”

  Deep breath. “I’m glad to hear that because there’s something I need to tell you.”

  Delinda folded her hands on her lap. It was a move that might be confused with docility, but Delinda was far from embodying that. “Well, say what you came here to say, child.”

  “You have to give Spencer his inheritance no matter what happens between me and him. That money will make his dream company a reality. Spencer wants desperately to prove himself to be as good as his older brothers. He doesn’t just want it; he needs it. I can’t leave here today unless I convince you of that.”

  “Forgive me, but I was under the assumption you two were about to be married. Did something happen?”

  Alisha stood, paced, then sat again. “Promise me that no matter what happens, whether he marries or not, that you’ll give him his inheritance.”

  “Are you saying you’re not marrying him?” Sharp eyes watched Alisha intently.

  Spencer needs this. I need this. “Please. I can’t tell you why, but you have to see that he deserves it either way.”

  Delinda’s lips pressed in a determined line before she said, “Young woman, you don’t need to tell me what Spencer does or doesn’t deserve. I’ve always treated him as one of my grandchildren even though . . .”

  “Even though?” Spencer said from the door of the solarium.

  Delinda pushed herself out of her chair and stood. “Spencer, I didn’t know you were here.”

  There was no trace of the quick-to-humor Spencer. He stood frozen in the doorway with a tone that was just as cold. “Even though what, Grandmother?”

  “Surely your mother told you. She married the man, for God’s sake.”

  “What are you saying?” he barked.

  Alisha rushed to Spencer’s side, but he was oblivious to her presence.

  Delinda went pale. “I’m sorry. I assumed you knew. I—” She sat down heavily in her chair.

  Spencer’s face tightened with anger. “Dad was the one who cheated.”

  “I’m sorry if that’s what you’ve all been led to believe.” Delinda shook her head and raised a shaking hand to her mouth. “I would have never said a word had I known your mother hadn’t.”

  “You’re lying,” Spencer boomed.

  Delinda came to her feet unsteadily. “It never changed how much I loved you. It never mattered to Dereck, either. He would have raised you as his own if your mother had let him.”

  Spencer turned and strode out of the room. Alisha followed him, grabbing at his arm. “Are you okay?”

  Spencer stopped and snarled, “I came here to confess to her that our engagement was a sham. I hoped to persuade her to drop the condition. Turns out, I’m not even her grandchild.” He pulled his arm away from Alisha.

  “I’m so sorry, Spencer.”

  He marched out of the house as he said, “Don’t be. You did me a favor. I never have to see her again.”

  Alisha stood on the steps and watched him peel out of the driveway without looking back. She slid the engagement ring off her finger and pocketed it. Something told her the break-it-off conversation she’d been rehearsing in her head would no longer be necessary.

  She numbly walked to her car and started it, but didn’t know where to go. On her drive home, she called Rachelle. “I made a huge mistake, Rachelle, and I don’t know how to fix it.”

  Brett had been at work when his grandmother called. She’d sounded upset and asked him to come right away. Leaving work required some tricky rescheduling, but he did it and was at her house in less than an hour.

  As soon as he saw her, he was glad he’d come. She was visibly distraught to the point where he called Dr. Earl. She refused to lie down, but he was able to settle her onto a couch in her living room. He’d never seen her worked up the way she was. Brett called his father and told him to come as well. “What’s wrong? Tell me.”

  She kept shaking her head as if she were in shock. He sat beside her and put a comforting arm around her. As soon as he did, she began to cry against his chest. “Whatever it is, we’ll fix it.”

  “You can’t. I never would have said something if I had known she hadn’t told him. It never mattered to me. I love him. I should have tol
d him sooner.”

  “Who? Grandmother, who are you talking about?”

  She raised her face and wiped the tears from her fragile cheeks. “Spencer. I never meant to hurt him. I wanted all of you to be more a part of my life, but all I did was make it worse.” She started to cry again.

  “I don’t understand. What did you tell Spencer?”

  “That Dereck isn’t his father. Mark is. I thought he knew. I thought you all knew. Stephanie married him. He raised Spencer. Why would I think he didn’t know?”

  He stopped asking questions and simply held her as he processed a truth a part of him had always suspected. Spencer was blond, like Mark. Spencer was quick to laugh and just as quick to forgive. Usually. Brett had no idea how Spencer would handle something like this, though.

  Part of Brett wanted to rewind the last few weeks and go back to thinking only about business. Taking care of his family then had been hands-off and clean. This was messy, emotional, and everything Brett wasn’t comfortable with.

  His grandmother never cried, but she was sobbing in his arms.

  He’d thought he knew his father, but now he questioned if he knew anyone at all. His opinion of his mother was so convoluted now that he didn’t know what he thought about her. Why had she stayed with his father after her affair? Was Nicolette Mark’s? What else had his parents lied about or failed to disclose? In his mind it was the same thing.

  He doubted his own ability to protect his family. How could he not have known about Spencer? And if he had, what would he have done differently?

  Would he have let Spencer go on believing they had the same father or would Brett have found a less painful way for him to find out? Was there one?

  By the time his father arrived, his grandmother had already met with the doctor. She refused sedatives and told the doctor where to go when he suggested she lie down. After their heated exchange wherein she threatened everything from his life to his medical license, he diagnosed her healthy enough to handle it without his assistance.

  His father asked for a moment alone and spoke to Delinda quietly on the other side of the room. He nodded a few times, then stood.

  Brett was at his side in a few strides. “This is a problem.”

  His father sighed. “Yes, it is.”

  Brett swayed back onto his heels. “It wasn’t fair for Spencer to hear it this way.”

  One of his father’s eyebrows rose, then fell. “That wasn’t my decision to make.”

  “Wasn’t it? If you knew, then you could have said something. Or did you think none of us had the right to know? We did.”

  Dereck looked sadly from his mother to Brett. “I hoped she didn’t know. I thought only your mother and I did.”

  “You were wrong, and Spencer paid the price for that cowardice.”

  Brett’s voice brought his father’s eyes to his with anger. “You think I said nothing because I was afraid? I didn’t care that Spencer came from an affair your mother had. He is my son.”

  “How many times have you seen him in the past ten years? A handful, I’d guess. Don’t try to sell a version of this where you are the victim. He deserved to know that he was living with his real father.”

  His father’s shoulders slumped. “When he left with your mother and she married Mark, I did close a door on him. It was too much. That doesn’t mean I don’t consider him my son or that I would have had him find out this way.” He rubbed a hand over his chin as his eyes blurred with emotion. “I have never denied him a single thing. He has always been in my will as well as your grandmother’s. We’ll fix this. You and I have always been good with damage control.”

  Brett shook his head as the full extent of how little his father understood became clear to him. “Dad, the last thing Spencer is thinking about right now is your fucking will. There is no damage control plan for this. He just found out his life has been a lie.”

  “I never lied to him.”

  “You never told him the truth. That’s the same thing.”

  “Your mother made that choice, and I honored it.”

  “What about Nicolette?”

  “Mine,” his father said in a low tone. “At least I believe so.”

  Brett was temporarily finished with lies that seemed to have no end or justification. “Stay with Grandmother. She needs you.”

  “I realize that.”

  Do you? Brett wasn’t so sure. “For as long as I can remember, you’ve been telling me that family is all that matters. What we want comes second. You also said you learn a lot about a man when you step into his shoes. I can’t imagine what you went through when your father died and you learned the truth about him. I know it forced you to do things you wouldn’t have. Maybe you had to close off a piece of yourself to do it. I don’t know. But I’m standing in your shoes now, and your legacy is also a tragedy. You need to make sure your mother understands that this was not her fault. You left her in the dark, and her assumptions were valid. We do many things well, you and I, but this is where we fail. You taught me to never give up. Fight for what I want. Fight for the family. Where’s your fight now? Because I don’t see it.”

  “Your mother . . .”

  “Needed you. Just like Grandmother needs you now. Just like Spencer needed you. You raised me to not accept excuses. I don’t accept yours. We can’t fix this, Dad, but we can sure as hell be honest with each other from this point on. You and Mom made choices that you’ll soon have to defend, but not to me.” He turned to leave.

  “Where are you going?” his father asked.

  “To find my brother.”

  Chapter Nine

  After leaving Delinda’s house, Alisha drove to her lake cabin. She needed the peace of that place to sort through the storm of emotions swirling within her. Her heart was breaking for Spencer. Mark couldn’t have known. He wouldn’t have been able to keep something like that a secret from his own son.

  Could he?

  Why wouldn’t Stephanie want Spencer to know Mark was his biological father? It wasn’t about money. She’d turned her back on that.

  Alisha couldn’t imagine how confused Spencer must be.

  And it’s my fault. I never should have gone there.

  On the drive over she rehashed the conversation she’d had with Rachelle. She’d told her what had happened in a rush, afraid if she didn’t say it all, she’d find a reason to say nothing. They didn’t keep secrets, and Rachelle deserved to know what she’d done, especially if it helped her prepare herself, Nicolette, and Stephanie for what was surely coming.

  She hadn’t told Rachelle about Brett because she didn’t know what to say when it came to him. Technically, nothing had happened between them. She didn’t need Rachelle to forgive her, but her friend had to know what happened and deserved to hear it from her.

  When Alisha had finished talking, Rachelle was quiet for several long minutes. “You must have misunderstood what was said.”

  “I didn’t. Your grandmother kept saying that she thought Spencer knew. That your mother had married Mark.”

  “You’re wrong. Did you actually hear her say Mark was his father?”

  “No, but—”

  “Then there’s a chance that this is one big misunderstanding. We all loved Mark. If it were true, why wouldn’t my mother tell us?”

  “I don’t know, but Spencer took it hard.”

  “Where is he now?”

  “He’s not answering his phone.” After another long pause, Alisha said, “I shouldn’t have gone to your grandmother’s.”

  “Now, that I agree with.”

  “I’m so sorry, Rachelle. Do you want me to help you look for him?”

  “No, I’ll find him.”

  “Should I say something to Stephanie?”

  “We don’t even know if what you heard was true. The best thing you can do right now is nothing. We need to figure this out.”

  In other words, without me.

  And just like that, a frightening truth hit Alisha. I’m alone.

>   I should have said no when Rachelle joked that I should marry Spencer.

  Once I said yes, I should have stayed away from Brett because how he makes me feel clearly confuses me.

  Only I know the truth: I didn’t want to marry Spencer because I didn’t want to lose the chance that I could be with Brett.

  There, I said it.

  I’m a selfish, awful person who probably deserves to lose all of them.

  And I just may have.

  Alisha sat on the grass near the water and waited for peace to come, but it didn’t. Instead, she flashed back to her childhood.

  “Don’t tell your teachers, Al.”

  “But Mommy, Daddy h-hurt you again.”

  “Don’t get involved; it’ll only make things worse. Baby, this needs to be our secret. Can you do that for Mommy? Be brave for me.”

  I stayed quiet, Mom. For you. It didn’t make anything better.

  I thought keeping my silence was wrong. I vowed to never quietly stand by again.

  How can that be equally wrong?

  No answer came, but Alisha hadn’t expected one. She knew that, whether it was deserved or not, she was alone.

  Brett went to Spencer’s office. His secretary said he wasn’t in, but Brett knew he was. Work was where Brett would have gone if he’d been handed something as big as Spencer had. When you need to find your footing, you go to stable ground.

  “Tell him I’m not leaving until he sees me.”

  “I would if he were here,” his secretary, or engineer—really it didn’t matter—said firmly.

  When Brett walked past her desk, she rushed to stand in his way. “He told me that he was not to be disturbed for any reason.”

  Brett looked her straight in the eye and said, “I’m his brother. I’m going in.”

  She looked uncertain, then stepped aside. “I should at least tell him—”

  “No need. I’ll do it myself,” Brett said as he opened the door.

  “I told you—” Spencer looked up from his computer with irritation. He stopped as he saw Brett. “Whatever you have to say, save it. I’m not in the mood to hear it.”

  “Then we don’t have to talk.”

  Spencer told his secretary to close the door, and she left. “Grandmother must have told you. Oh, wait. I can’t call her that anymore. Delinda.”