by Sarah Peis
I lifted my own drink. “She’s right. I’m terrible at my job. But too stubborn to find something else. And working with Cassie is awesome.”
Landon laughed, a deep throaty sound that made me take a big drink of my beer or risk embarrassing myself by trying to climb on his lap. God, he was perfect. And the total opposite of Rhett.
The night was a definite success. We talked and it turned out we had more in common than I thought. He was funny, didn’t push me for information I wasn’t willing to part with and kept me in a steady supply of beer. Since I still had to drive, I switched to soda after a few, but again he didn’t make a comment.
Despite the fun I had, it was getting late, and I was ready to go home and collapse into my bed.
“I’ll walk you out,” Landon offered after I said goodbye to everyone.
I turned toward him when we made it to my car, and he lifted his hand and pushed a strand of hair behind my ear. Of course he did because he had all the lines and definitely all the moves.
He leaned in and before I had a chance to react or realize what a bad idea this was, his lips were pressed to mine. I stood unmoving, my hands hanging limp at my sides, too stunned to do anything but stare at him wide-eyed. His eyes were closed, and he moved his lips. Lips that were so soft, I wondered if he used Chapstick.
His other arm came around my back and he pulled me closer, making me gasp at the movement. That’s all the invitation he needed and his tongue sneaked inside my mouth, meeting mine. He was a great kisser. There was no question about it. And he tasted like the beer he had earlier, something I didn’t mind at all. But if I was honest with myself, he wasn’t Rhett. That’s what everything seemed to come down to. How I hated myself for ruining the moment. Why couldn’t I get over Rhett? I had a perfectly nice guy wanting to get it on with me and all I could do was think that he wasn’t Rhett.
Landon broke the kiss and looked at me, a smirk on his face. “Well, that was awful.”
“Excuse me,” I gasped. I knew it wasn’t the best kiss in the history of kisses, but it wasn’t that bad. Was it?
“You are really not into me, are you?” Landon asked, not looking at all offended.
“I’m so sorry Landon, it’s not you. You are gorgeous and funny and totally my type.”
“But I’m just not him. Because there is someone else, right?” And that’s what it all came down to, wasn’t it. He wasn’t Rhett who was really the only one I wanted.
“There is. I’m sorry.”
He hugged me to him and kissed my hair. “Don’t worry about it, sugarball. I still had fun today. Not as much as we could have had, but it was still a good night.”
I chuckled into his shirt and hugged him before stepping back. “Friends?”
He nodded. “Friends.”
We said goodbye and walked to our cars. Before I got in I turned and shouted, “And don’t call me sugarball.”
“Okay, sweetness.”
Before I had a chance to respond he was in his car and out of earshot.
“Three million dollars?”
“Correct.”
“And I have access to the account?”
“Since you have custody of Josephine, yes.”
This was insanity. Three million dollars. My brother’s life insurance was three million dollars. The money was put in a trust account for Josephine and as her guardian, I had access to it all. Anna’s crazy pursuit made so much more sense now. She wanted the money.
I wish I could just get rid of it all. We’d been doing fine so far. If I knew Anna at all, things would get worse. A lot worse. She was desperate for the money and would try anything to get it. It scared the shit out of me. I couldn’t lose Josie. The money I didn’t care about. We were happy the way things were going. That just left the question as to how Anna got the money for a lawyer in the first place.
“So if I was to give the money away, I could? Hypothetically, of course.”
Jethro Lancaster, Nate’s lawyer who had drawn up the will and was currently sitting behind his desk, looked like he had bitten into a moldy lemon. “Excuse me?” he asked in his polite, posh way that fit his suit-clad, expensive-watch-wearing self to a T. Even his hair looked like he had polished it. I had to resist the urge to touch it when I first walked in. It was just too perfect. Maybe he was wearing a wig.
“If I wanted to get rid of the money. Could I do that?” He wasn’t old, I guessed him to be around mid-thirties, surely his hearing wasn’t that bad yet.
He put his elbows on the large mahogany desk and put his fingertips together. “Why on earth would you want to get rid of the money?”
“Hypothetically speaking, what if there was someone trying to get their hands on the money and I didn’t want them to have it. Could I just give it all away? Maybe to a charity?”
“Since you have custody of the child, you have control over half the money to make sure you can take care of the child. This has been stated very clearly in the will.”
“Hypothetically, what if that person could get custody of Josie, could they get the same access to the money?”
“Yes, the money is directly linked to Josie. She will gain control once she turns twenty five.”
“How about the animal shelter. Hypothetically. Could I give it to them?”
“You could give it to the acapella group down at the library if that’s what you wish to do. There are no stipulations on how the money should be used as long as you take care of the child.”
“That still leaves over a million dollars.”
“It does.”
“Could I put it all away for her for college?”
“I doubt she would need that much money to go to school.”
“What if she did?”
His sour, moldy lemon face scrunched up more, telling me he was done with the conversation. “You can do whatever you want with the money.”
“So, I should just get rid of it then. At least the half that I have access to. The other half will be protected.”
“It is not my place to tell you what to do.”
If he was an eye roller, he would be dizzy by now from all the eye rolling he would have been doing. I grabbed my bag, shook his hand and walked outside, my head spinning.
How did I not know about all the money? I knew Nate had set up an account for Josie, but I’d never checked how much was in there. It wasn’t relevant since whatever amount he left her would always be hers. I wouldn’t touch it.
What was I going to do? I didn’t know how Anna knew about the money but since the money was the only reason I could come up with that explained her sudden interest in Josie, she must have found out about it somehow. It was safe to assume she also knew how much was there. She wouldn’t go crazy over a thousand bucks. Maybe I should just pay her off. But if she knew how much was there, she would keep coming back until all the money was gone. And knowing her, it would run out quickly. Drugs and booze were expensive, especially if you consumed them in as large quantities as she did.
I was standing outside the lawyer’s office, contemplating my options, when someone stopped in front of me.
“Well if it isn’t the little whore who thinks she is better than me.”
I looked up at a sneering Anna. She was dressed in her usual outfit of short jean skirt and tight top that was at least a size too small with her boobs spilling out the top. I tried to step around her to get away without causing a scene in public but she wasn’t having it.
“Where do you think you’re going? I’m not done with you.”
“But I am with you. Why don’t we talk through our lawyers instead of making a spectacle on the street?”
Of course it wasn’t that easy and she carried on as if I hadn’t spoken.
“Just give me the little brat. Why would you want her anyway?”
Now that made my hackles rise and fight back. “Why do I want her? Because I love her. She is my family. And I’d fight until I have nothing left to keep you away from her. You are poison. I don�
��t know where you got the money to afford a lawyer from but I suspect it’s something illegal. Now if you don’t want me talking to the cops, you better back off.”
She cackled and leaned in closer, her stale whiskey breath nearly knocking me on my ass. “I’m as clean as can be and there is nothing you can do to stop me. I have a new man and he wants a kid. So I’m giving him one. The money will make sure we’re set up.” She punctuated her statement with a push to my shoulder. Always mature, that was mother dearest. And her interest made so much more sense now. Not only would she get access to a lot of money, she’d also get a child out of the deal. Not one she wanted but apparently her latest pimp did. That alone raised about a million red flags. She didn’t exactly go out with holding-a-steady-job and live-behind-a-white-picket-fence guys.
I shuffled back to get out of the way of her doing any damage, like punching me. Wouldn’t be the first time and I knew when she was too far gone to talk to. My retreat was stilted by a warm body.
“Shit, sorry. You okay?” A familiar voice asked.
I turned around and, to my immense relief, saw I had run into Landon. “Hey, Landon,” I said and tried to put on a happy face. Whatever that was because I was definitely not feeling it at the moment.
“Emmerson. What are you doing here?” He nodded toward the office I had just walked out of. “Did you slap that committee chick and get in trouble for it?”
“I knew I shouldn’t have told you about that. And no, I didn’t slap her. I had some other stuff to take care of.”
“Who the fuck is this?” Anna interrupted.
“Let’s go,” I mumbled and pulled on Landon’s arm. He was the perfect excuse to make a quick getaway.
“We are not done here,” Anna yelled after us but luckily made no move to stop me.
Landon didn’t argue when I pulled him along.
“How about I take you out for lunch? My treat.”
“Sounds good. Where are you taking me?”
We started walking, his long legs making it hard for me to keep up. “McDonalds,” he said.
I shot him a look but who was I to argue with a free meal? “Fine. McDonalds it is.”
Landon started laughing. “I was kidding. You really think I’d do that?”
I didn’t respond, but let him continue to drag me along.
“Come on, give me some credit.”
“So where are we going?”
“Dolly’s.”
I loved Dolly’s. All their food was fried. The healthiest item on the menu was their milkshakes. Just what I needed.
“Can’t go wrong with Dolly’s. So what are you doing in Butler?”
“Had to deliver some parts. I messaged to ask if you wanted to do lunch. You either ignored me or didn’t check your phone.”
I pulled my phone out and saw three messages and two missed calls. “I guess that answers that,” Landon said and nudged me towards the entrance of the diner.
He held the door open, and I followed him inside. “Sit anywhere guys, I’ll be right with you,” Rita, one of the waitresses, called out.
Landon slid into a booth on one side, and I took the seat opposite. “Mind if I check this quickly?” I asked and waved my phone over my head.
“Not at all, doll face.”
I unlocked my phone and clicked into the missed calls list. “Don’t ever call me that again.”
“Kitten?”
I scrolled through two calls from Cassie and one from Rhett. “Nope,” I answered without looking up.
“Sexy stuff?”
“Definitely not.”
“Sweetheart?”
“I have a name. Use it.”
“Okay, Emmster.”
I shot him a death glare, and he responded with a big grin. I shook my head and turned my attention back to my phone, checking my messages. Landon’s was one word “Lunch?” the other two were from Freddie, letting me know she’d be home late.
I typed a message to Cassie to let her know I would be coming into the office a bit later.
Me: Lawyer’s all done. Out for lunch. Back soon.
She responded immediately.
Cassie: Better make it quick, want to know what lawyers said!!!
I put my phone away, ignoring all the other messages.
“Ready to tell me all your deep, dark secrets?”
A snort escaped and I shook my head. “No dark secrets. Just too much money that’s causing problems and a loon for a mom. But otherwise everything is peachy.”
He sensed I didn’t really want to talk about my mom anymore and like the good friend he turned out to be, moved the conversation along.
“Are you secretly a millionaire?”
I looked anywhere but at Landon and he slapped the table. “No way. I was joking. How? Last time I talked to you, the only thing that actually belonged to you was your piece of shit car.”
“Turns out Josie came with a trust fund.”
“Your niece, right?”
I nodded. “Her dad had life insurance and the money is now sitting in an account, making my life miserable.”
“Now, if that’s not a perfect example of a first world problem, I don’t know what is.”
“Shut up. It’s not that simple.”
“Then talk to me, baby girl.”
I ignored the pet name and decided to confide in him. He was a great guy, and it wasn’t like I was giving him the pin number to my bank card. “My mom is a selfish cow who would do anything to make my life miserable. So now she’s trying to get custody of my niece. Even though she hates kids.”
“I’m sorry, honey. Can the lawyer help you?”
“I doubt he would. He wanted to get rid of me from the moment I set foot in his office. The McAllisters don’t have the best reputation in Butler. I’m sure he didn’t want to get involved in our drama.”
“So, you just find another lawyer.”
“I know. And I will.”
“Let me know if I can help with anything.”
“I will. Thanks, Landon.”
Rita approached our table and winked at Landon. “You ready to order, gorgeous?”
“I’ll have the daily special and a Coke,” Landon ordered.
I rolled my eyes at his flirting. “The steak sandwich and a lemonade please.”
“Coming right up.”
Landon watched Rita walk away, and I slapped the side of his head. “Stop it. I’m right here.”
“But we don’t like each other that way. What would you care?”
I shook my head at him but didn’t respond. Because really, what did I care?
The food arrived quickly, quicker than usual, and I suspected Rita rushed the order thanks to Mr. Flirtatious. He had a gift, one that came in handy as it turned out.
Landon was great when it came to brainstorming ideas. He never beat around the bush and told me what he thought straight up. Our lunch was cut short when he got a call and had to get back to the garage.
We said goodbye outside the diner, and I rushed back to work. I had meetings to screw up and a party to organize. And hopefully I would find a good lawyer soon or I was in trouble.
“Call for you.”
“Excuse me?” I looked up from the mud cakes I was currently making with Josie. We decided we had to get out of the house and went to the playground down the road.
“Just take the phone.” Gunner waved the phone in my face impatiently.
“He seriously called you to talk to me?” I asked, still staring at him.
“Looks like it. Now you gonna take the phone or do I have to put him on speaker?”
I snatched the phone out of his hand. “What the hell, Rhett?” I barked into the speaker.
“Good to know you can still move your arms.”
“Of course I can. Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because you aren’t answering your phone.”
“Maybe I just wasn’t answering the phone when you called.”
“I know.”
“You
didn’t have to send Gunner just to get me on the phone.”
“I sent him because I was worried about you.”
Well that took the wind out of my sails immediately. “Right.”
“Have you heard from Anna again?”
“Unfortunately,” I said, thinking back to our run in. “She also sent the papers.”
“Did you forward them on to your lawyer?”
Well, that’s where the problem was. I didn’t have one. Turns out they cost more than I had. So I was still working on that one.
“Not really. But I will.”
“Emmi.”
“What? I said I’ll do it.”
“Why wouldn’t you just pass them on straight away? The more time they have to look it over, the better.”
“I know. There’s just been a slight delay.”
“What kind of delay?”
“The kind where I don’t really have a lawyer yet.”
“Why wouldn’t you pick up your goddamn phone and tell me.” He sounded livid. And my angry sailboat gained some strength.
“Because it’s my problem. Nobody else’s.”
There was silence down the line, then a long drawn out sigh. “I’m your friend. We are friends. That means I want to help you. With anything.”
We weren’t friends. Not anymore. I didn’t know what we were but it wasn’t friends, no matter how much I wanted to get back to having any kind of relationship with him.
“I’m fine. I don’t need help. I’ll figure it out.”
“The hell you will. I want to see you in my office tomorrow. Bring Josie. If you’re not there, I’ll talk to Cassie.”
Mothersucker. He knew Cassie was my weakness. And really, I didn’t have much to lose at this point. “Fine.”
“Good. I’ll see you tomorrow. Now give the phone back to Gunner.”
“Fine,” I said again for good measure and handed the phone back. Josie had ignored the whole exchange, too busy covering herself in sand.
I brushed her hair out of her face to get her attention. “Let’s go home, Spatz. You need a bath and I need a drink.”
She shrieked in glee and got up on wobbly legs. “Bath. Drink. Bath. Drink.”
I took her hand and together we walked down the road. Gunner was following us at a short distance. So annoying.