“Of course I thought I would be included.” The pressure and stress that had built up within her for weeks was about to erupt on this man. “Are you trying to soothe your conscience by telling me it’s a courtesy that you’re even meeting with me? You left me to the end. I’m sure everyone else who had been left anything has already been notified.” Her voice rose and she stood.
“Please.” His voice held a commanding tone, his hand gestured to the chair again. “Please sit down.” Tenderness had returned to his eyes. “We can discuss this in more detail.”
“In more detail? What more detail is there? The man left me nothing. I’m a trace, a breeze in the air, invisible. Meaningless to him.”
Those last few words left her lips and pierced her core. She had let herself fall so completely for Bryan he occupied her soul.
She sat back down.
Glenn Baxter shuffled some sheets in his hands before settling on one. He glanced up at her.
“There’s a situation with the house, and as the manager of his estate it is my responsibility to ensure everything is played out as he wanted it. You need to be out of the house by the end of the month.”
Jessica stared at him.
“I’m sorry you couldn’t have received more notice.”
He placed the paper on top of a small stack in front of him, aligning it with his index fingers and thumbs.
Tears formed in her eyes, but she refused to cry in front of him. “May I ask who gets the house?”
He put his hand on his chin, index finger over his lips, assessing her. “Really, it’s a pretty basic settlement. His son gets everything.”
“His son?” Jessica asked the question, drawing out the words.
A son? How could he have a son? She didn’t know anything about him. She had known Bryan since they were kids. It’s true they had been separated for a while, but surely he would have told her.
She shook her head. “He didn’t have a son. I would have known.”
“Well, according to his Will he does.”
She blinked back tears. No, it can’t be. She couldn’t stop shaking her head. Her body was quaking.
“What is his name?”
“I’m sorry. I can’t disclose that.”
She should be feeling something, but the shock of it left her cold and temporarily devoid of emotion. The level of calm scared her. News like that should have been enough to make a person break mentally, but she was placid. Bryan had a son, but who was the mother and why had he never mentioned them?
“I assure you there is no mistake. I worked with Bryan, going over the fine details of his estate and assets for many painful hours.” He pulled the paper back from her. “I’m sorry, but you have to be out by the end of this month.”
Jessica sat there, speechless.
What could one say to news like this? A person she had loved and trusted led a secret life. A life he did not welcome her into. Maybe he never mentioned the son because he didn’t want to hurt her. Possibly for the protection of his family name? The press would have made a fortune from this scandal—a bastard child fathered by the wealthy and elite, Bryan Lexan.
But this wasn’t the nineteen-sixties. Children were born out of wedlock all the time. Surely, he would have known this would come out eventually.
How can you hide a child?
She didn’t know what upset her more, the lies and deceit, or her exemption from inheriting a dime.
Her mind could not make sense of it. She had to believe he intended to change his Will but wasn’t given the chance. She sat there for minutes in silence until her cell rang. She locked eyes with the lawyer when she answered it.
His jaw tightened and his posture straightened. He was offended that she would allow her phone to interrupt their meeting.
It was Doctor Neilson’s secretary and he wanted to see her that afternoon. She couldn’t help but negatively think this day held even more bad news. She closed her phone, keeping her eyes on the lawyer.
“Listen, I’ve got to go.”
Glenn gestured for her to remain seated.
“I know all of this may come as a shock to you, but please realize we discussed this when he was here. It was, and is, attorney-client privilege. I can’t tell you more than I have, and I probably shouldn’t have said as much as I did. I do hope you understand.” He attempted a weak smile. “But I will tell you we discussed this, and you.”
“And me? What about me?”
“Of course it was none of my business what he left to whom, as his lawyer. But on a more personal level, suffice it to say, I cautioned him about keeping you in the dark about his son.”
“So you’re trying to tell me that you cared about my feelings?” She placed her hand on her chest in a demonstration of her sentiment. “Seriously, Glenn, save it for your confession.”
“Listen, I’m sorry you had to find out this way, but it was Bryan’s responsibility to inform you, or not inform you. I don’t interfere with other people’s lives.”
“Sure you don’t. You just like dropping bombs on them, telling them that their dead loved one had a secret life, a secret legacy.” She crossed her legs. “Tell me, is there anything else I should know? I mean, while we’re speaking ill of the dead already.”
Resentment and hostility stormed within her. The excuses she had made for Bryan moments earlier were meaningless. There was no justification for not enlightening her to this.
“If you want to talk this out with anyone, I know a wonderful psychiatrist. I can give you his business card.” He opened a desk drawer.
Jessica stood.
“Keep it. I’ll be just fine. And don’t worry. I’ll be out of the house in time. In fact, I’ll be out by this Saturday.”
She opened the office door and slammed it heavily behind her.
She raised her eyes toward the ceiling. She was shaking so badly. She didn’t know what to react to first, the son, or her exemption from the Will. Turning on her heels, she went back into the office.
Glenn Baxter’s eyes nervously shifted over her.
“Bryan’s son, how old is he?” The question came from within. She wasn’t even consciously aware of what motivated her to go back in the room.
“He’s seven,” he stated simply. “His mother will be assuming the property until it will be handed over to him at the age of twenty-one.”
Jessica nodded. “And the mother? Who is she?”
His eyes dropped to the top of his desk.
“I’m sorry I cannot answer that, Miss Pratt. That would be confidential.”
Anger and sadness battled within her for the upper hand. Tears filled her eyes. She nodded her head and left.
-
Chapter 29
STILL IN A DAZE FROM all the information that had been revealed to her at the lawyer’s, she functioned purely in a state of necessity. It seemed like the results on her blood work took forever, but she had been told it needed to be sent out of town.
“Jessica, the doctor’s ready for you now,” the nurse said.
Her stomach tossed. Her breathing was light and shallow. The only reassurance was if she passed out, she was at the right place for it.
“Okay, first I’m going to put your mind at ease.” The doctor put down the clipboard with her chart on to the counter in his examination room. “You’re not pregnant.”
The results took a moment to register. Air rushed from her lungs.
“Well, that’s the best news I’ve heard in a long time.”
The doctor smiled warmly.
“What did you find out?” Her heart sank with the question. Maybe it was too early to celebrate the crumb of good fortune.
“Jessica, you have nothing to worry about. You have been through a lot in a short amount of time. You’re under a lot of stress at your job—” She was going to interrupt
him and dispute that, but he raised his hand to stop her.
He started over. “You’ve been under a lot of pressure with your job, then your fiancé’s life is threatened, he goes missing, and then he’s found.”
“Although I love rehashing my miserable life to within a second play by play, please, what is it?” Her anxiety over what could be wrong caused her words to come out harsh.
“It’s stress.” He pursed his lips together and fidgeted with the stethoscope that dangled around his neck. “Simple as that. With all that you’ve been undergoing, it just got to be too much for your mind and for your body. The passing out in the courthouse was really the first clue for you. Your body needs a break—a break from all the chaos that’s been going on around you. You need to take some time off—”
“But I have been off work for weeks since Bryan’s funeral.”
“I’m not talking about simply taking some time away from the office. I’m talking about your getting away, relaxing, taking part in some recreation that can soothe your mind and your soul. I’m afraid if you don’t stop and breathe soon, you could have larger health problems. Stress isn’t good for your organs.”
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to.”
She only had enough holidays left to take the rest of the week off. She knew her boss would understand if she had to extend it unpaid.
The doctor put his hand on her shoulder. “Please, dear, don’t give me that. You have to do this. It really isn’t a suggestion.”
“I STILL CAN’T BELIEVE THAT Bryan would do that to you.” Nella swept her fingers through her hair.
They were sitting at the coffee house down the street from Get Noticed Media. Nella was on her afternoon break.
“I can’t either.”
The shock and heartbreak had been replaced by anger. She struggled with pity at the thought she might never get the feelings of love back. Only mere hours passed since the truth was revealed and her love for Bryan cooled with every passing second. How could it have been real love if her feelings could change so quickly?
“We were going to get married, Nella. I mean, if he hadn’t told me about having a son by now, when would he have?” She looked into her friend’s eyes.
Nella sat across from her, her hands formed around a cup of decaffeinated green tea. She shrugged her shoulders.
“Maybe he never would have. Are you doing okay though?” She reached her hand out and rubbed Jessica’s shoulder.
“I mean I’m doing as well as can be expected given the circumstances. I hadn’t subleased my apartment so I can easily move back.”
“And of course, I’ll help you.” Nella smiled.
“Well, I appreciate it. A couple things are a little heavy, though. But I would feel like an idiot asking Mason to help. Especially after Friday.”
Jessica took a sip of her coffee.
“He doesn’t know about this yet? You should tell him, Jess.”
“Why, Nella? So he can tell me how he would never hurt me this badly? How sincerely sorry he is that I was treated like this? It will all be a bunch of lies.” Jessica licked her lips. “I really don’t know how I’m supposed to trust anyone again. How can I let them into my heart? Maybe I just need to focus on being the strong, independent business woman people see me as, and stop being so dependent on a man to make me happy.”
“It’s possible Mason’s not the one, but then he could be too. Why risk shutting him out? Then you’ll never find out. And you could use his help, not only with your move but emotionally as well.”
“I have you, don’t I?” Jessica’s eyes misted with tears.
“Of course, but you know what I mean. Just don’t shut the door on him. Bryan was a case all his own. You can’t judge everyone else who wants to be a part of your life by him. It’s not fair.” Nella glanced at her watch. “I’m sorry, Jess, but I better get back to the office. Henry has become a micromanager without you. I’m going to be really happy to have you back next week.” Nella smiled and put her hand on top of Jessica’s. “Things will get better.”
Jessica recalled her doctor’s advice but didn’t have the heart to tell her friend she might not be in next week.
“Well, I don’t see how it could get any worse.” She smiled.
After Nella had left, Jessica settled back into her chair. This coffee shop was a place to get away from everything. That’s what Jessica always thought, but her demons had never been this bad. Her fiancé murdered, but even worse than that, he lived a lie while breathing. She took another sip of her coffee as if it would somehow dull all the exposed illusions.
The place was loud today. People filled all the seating areas and were animatedly conversing with friends. Despite the clamoring of their voices, it didn’t serve to drown out her thoughts. She prepared herself for walking back into Bryan’s house. The man she had loved, the man who obviously thought much less of her. Her cell phone rang. Glancing at the caller’s identity, she picked it up. Her palms became sweaty and her heart rate accelerated.
“Hello there, it’s Mason.”
She remained silent.
“I hadn’t heard from you since Friday and was just checking in to make sure everything was okay. Does the doctor think you’ll live?”
“That was really thoughtful of you to call.” She traced the rim of her coffee mug with a fingertip.
“I’m a thoughtful kind of guy.” He laughed and so did Jessica. “So?”
“Yeah, I’m going to live. Doc said it was just stress. Told me I need to get away from things, really relax. It’s kind of hard to do that now.” She could have hit herself. How was it that Mason had that ability with her? Everything she thought about spilled out like verbal diarrhea.
“Hard to do now? What else, Jess?”
To hear him shorten her name surprised her. He must be feeling quite comfortable with her. Only her good friends called her Jess.
“I saw Bryan’s estate lawyer today.” She stopped talking but reassured herself it would come out eventually. “I have to be out of his house by the end of the month.”
The line went silent for a few seconds.
“He didn’t leave you the house?” He asked.
“No, he left it to a blood relative.”
“I didn’t think he had any siblings. I don’t recall any at the memorial.”
Jessica waged a war in her mind. She had gone too far with this already.
“His son.”
“His son? I didn’t know he had a son.”
“Well, that would make the two of us then because neither did I before today.” She proceeded to tell him how she planned on moving before the coming weekend. He extended his help and she graciously accepted it.
MASON SHUT HIS CELL PHONE but kept looking at it. How could anyone do something like this to someone they claimed to have loved? It was beyond his comprehension. He just wanted to hold Jessica in his arms and tell her that he would make it all better, that he would take her pain away. But he wasn’t a miracle worker, a god who could cure illness and plague, he was simply a man. But he was a man who could provide her security and stability in an otherwise hectic and unexplained world. And love. Whoa, love. It had been years since he consciously allowed that thought to enter his mind. But somehow Jessica had managed to slink in there under his radar. Every moment he was with her, he was rejuvenated and reborn. It felt great.
JESSICA WANTED TO GET THIS part of her life behind her and forget everything as quickly as possible, no matter how irrational that aspiration was. Bryan and she had shared a past, a love, and a strong bond, or that’s what she thought. A reflection back on it revealed it for a sham, a mere transient fading of a blossomed flower that withers with the change of a season.
“Rosa, please, where are you?”
Jessica had yelled her name a few times, but the woman never responded. She worked her way through
the house methodically, knocking on all the doors and peeking inside. When she reached the fifth bedroom door, she heard soft talking. After tapping on it and opening the door, she was sorry she had.
“Jessica!” Rosa yelled and frantically pulled on the sheets to cover herself.
Shielding her eyes with her hand, Jessica quickly closed the door. That was something she could have lived without seeing. She had never seen that man before. Despite being taken off guard, Jessica couldn’t help but find some sense of satisfaction in this discovery. The woman was human after all.
“I’m sorry,” Jessica said, listening to them rush around the room.
She could picture them pulling on the clothing that had been sprawled over the floor. Squeezing her eyes shut, she purged the mental image. She pressed the side of her head against the door.
“We need to talk.”
Minutes went by and when Rosa hadn’t emerged from the room, Jessica decided to leave and head to the main level.
“Your mama never teach you to knock and wait for a response?” Rosa’s tone was cold and clipped.
Jessica turned.
At the same time, the man went by straightening his shirt, attempting to tuck it in on the move. He nodded a greeting, but his raised brows and facial expression warned of a pending frontal attack.
“I suppose since you no longer report to anyone, you feel it’s okay to defile any bedroom in this house you see fit,” Jessica said.
She was tired of dealing with this woman as if she were fragile. A twinge of shame ran through her, a recollection of her mother telling her to respect the elderly. She justified her actions because when that etiquette was made, Rosa must not have been personally considered. The maid’s shirt was buttoned askew. Jessica motioned with her hands to her chest.
Anger brewed in the woman’s eyes and she made no motion toward her shirt.
“Don’t try and redirect the conversation, or try and get friendly with me.” Her finger flailed emphatically.
“My dear Rosa, I would never think of it.” Jessica’s words were dry and pointed. She headed for the stairs. “I’ll be out by Friday.”
Life Sentence Page 20
