“Nick won’t let Squiggly and me watch our favorite TV show and what are we having for dinner? I’m getting hungry.”
Tess closed the door behind her. “I don’t know, Molly. Shall we go have a look at the food we bought today?” She headed for the kitchen with Molly trailing behind.
“But what about my TV show?” she whined. “It’s going to be over soon and Nick’s had the remote for an hour now.”
Tess ran the cold water and poured herself a glass. She ignored Molly, hoping the girl would forget her complaint. When she set the glass down, Molly repeated, “Tess? Can I have the remote now? It’s my turn. Will you go tell Nick?”
Okay, Tess, she told herself. Calm down. Alec Malone is gone and you’re on your own with two kids. God only knows for how long.
“Tess? Did you hear me?”
Tess peered down into Molly’s pinched, unhappy face. She summoned a smile, though really felt like going to her room and shutting the door. “Let’s let Nick finish his show, okay? Then at—” she glanced up at the kitchen clock mounted on the opposite wall “—six o’clock, it’s your turn.”
Molly frowned. “There’s nothing on at six but the news. And won’t we be eating dinner then? It’s not fair, Tess. It’s supposed to be my turn.”
Tess walked toward the hall, with Molly clinging to her heels like plastic wrap. “Tess? Are you gonna tell him? Where are you going, Tess? Tess?”
Tess spun around and snapped, “The washroom, Molly. Now be quiet and wait in the family room.”
Molly’s dark eyes grew bigger but she turned and went back along the hall to the family room adjoining the kitchen. Tess stepped into the bathroom, closed the door and perched on the edge of the toilet. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. But she did know she needed help.
DINNER WASN’T quite a disaster, Tess figured. The pasta was slightly undercooked and the canned tomato sauce bland. Molly began to explain how her mother used to make sauce and abruptly burst into tears. While Tess took the girl onto her lap to console her, Nick stole away to his room, closing the door behind him. Tess didn’t see him again until long after she’d helped Molly bathe and get into bed.
When she came out of the bath herself, she saw a glimmer of light beneath his door and tapped on it. “Nick?” After the third attempt there was an audible grunt from inside that could have been a response. Tess slowly opened the door to see Nick reclining on his bed, reading a book.
“Nick, I just want to remind you that you’ll need to get up early for school in the morning. Alec mentioned that he’d talked to you about going back.”
“What’s the point? The school year’s almost over.”
“It’s only the first week in May. When does school finish here?”
He shrugged, ignoring the question. “Besides, I’m failing anyway.”
Tess sat down on the edge of the bed, forcing him to grudgingly move his legs aside. “No one’s going to be concerned about grades this year, Nick. I think the important thing is to try to get back to some kind of routine.”
“Why bother? You’ll be gone in a few days and then the routine will change again.” He moved the book higher, covering his face.
Tess couldn’t think of an answer because he was perfectly right. She did hope to go back in a few days—maybe a week max—and was still clinging to the illusion that everything would be sorted out by then. Now, she realized what a fool she’d been to even imagine the possibility. After a long uncomfortable silence, she stood up and quietly left the room.
She was beginning to realize that she couldn’t physically take care of the children and run around trying to settle things at the same time. Even though they’d be in school—at least Molly would be—there’d be all the household chores to manage. Chores she’d never had to do for another person but herself. Chores that Mavis had done for her when she was young.
Mavis. Tess remembered that she’d promised to call her when they arrived in Boulder. She checked on Molly, already fast asleep, and headed for the telephone in the kitchen. Mavis picked up the phone after half a dozen rings. Worried that she’d roused the older woman from bed, Tess greeted her with an apology.
“Not to worry, love. Just took me a while to get to the phone, you know how it is,” Mavis said.
Once the brief exchange of small talk was finished, Tess plunged right in with her problems. “There’s so much to do here, Mavis. More than I expected. The kids hate my cooking and there’s all this laundry. I think a lot of it is from before the accident. It’s as though they just closed up the house after it. Then there will be meetings with the lawyer and helping to oversee packing up stuff. Perhaps even the sale of the house. The kids will be in school all day but someone needs to be here when they get home and…and make meals and that.”
“You’ll be busy, but I’ve lots of faith in you, love.”
Tess closed her eyes. That wasn’t quite what she’d hoped Mavis would say.
“How’re the kiddies doing? Are they happy to be home again?” Mavis asked.
“Well, yes and no. Molly is but Nick is pretty moody.”
“Have you made a decision yet about bringing them back to Chicago?”
“Uh…no. But I think that would be very problematic.”
“There are nannies and housekeepers to be hired here, too, love. Anything can be worked out.”
“That’s not the point, Mavis. The kids need to be with a family.”
An impatient sigh sounded along the line. “They need to be with people who care for them, Tess. Remember that.” A slight pause, then, “Don’t forget you’re all those wee ones have. Keep that in mind over the next few days and feel free to call me any time.”
Tess said goodbye and replaced the receiver. Then she paused, hearing quiet movement in the hall just outside the kitchen door. “Molly? Is that you?” There was no answer. Seconds later, a door clicked shut. Nick. How much had he heard?
Tess headed for Molly’s room where she’d planned to spend the night again. The little girl was snoring peacefully and Tess, realizing she’d be lying awake for at least part of the night, picked up pillows and the lightweight quilt covering the other bed and retreated to the family room sofa. The very place vacated by Alec Malone earlier that morning. For some reason, the thought was oddly reassuring.
TESS BIT DOWN on the smile that threatened when she shook hands with Jed Walker. He wasn’t at all the cowboy she’d imagined when she’d received his telephone message in Chicago. In fact, he could easily be one of the many executives she met with daily. Designer business suit with impeccable coordinated accessories, including a Rolex watch. She couldn’t see his feet on the other side of the mahogany desk but doubted he was wearing cowboy boots.
And his face suggested he hadn’t been riding the range any time lately, either. Early forties at the most, she guessed, with a hint of pampering in the skin and well-trimmed blond hair. He was good-looking, with the kind of face that turned heads, and he exuded a charm that appealed to Tess instantly.
As soon as she perched on the edge of her leather chair, he asked, “Coffee?” and before she’d finished saying please his secretary appeared with a tray. When she’d poured for both of them and left the office, Walker leaned back in his leather swivel chair and said, “It was fortunate I had some time to spare this morning. And by the way, thanks for having your secretary give me notice that you were coming. Frankly, I was expecting a return call from Chicago.”
Tess felt heat rise up into her face. “Sorry about that. But I just got your letter late Thursday and then Mr. Malone called the next day. At the same time the children showed up.”
He nodded, accepting what Tess knew was a lame excuse about her failure to call him back. “Mr. Malone phoned me as soon as the children went missing. There was a bit of a panic here, as you can imagine. Fortunately, everything turned out all right.” His icy blue eyes passed over her.
Accustomed to frank appraisal from businessmen, Tess nevertheless felt herself
fidgeting. She sipped her coffee, at a loss for a reply.
When she set the cup onto the saucer, he said, “I was Richard Wheaton’s lawyer for ten years and never had an inkling that he had another daughter. Especially one so—”
“Grown-up?” she asked, smiling.
His white teeth flashed. “Precisely. And perfectly grown-up, if I may add.”
Tess straightened in her chair. “How did you find out about me?”
“Actually Nick did. He was apparently going through some of your father’s papers and found some letters with your name and an address in Chicago.”
A stillness fell over her. “I’m sure my father didn’t have my address in Chicago. I last saw him when I was eight years old. There’s been no other communication since.”
“The letters had been sent to you several years ago and most had been returned unopened. The address isn’t your current one so I had to contact an investigative agency in Chicago. I realize I could have sent the letter to your home address but thought the work one was a better gamble in case you’d moved in the meantime. Having an unlisted phone number at home was a drawback for us.” He flashed a smile. “But we made contact. That’s what matters. By the way, I’ve got the letters here in a filing cabinet. Remind me to give them to you before you leave.”
So her father had written after all. And who’d returned them? Mother, of course.
“Shall we get down to business then?” he asked, finishing his coffee in one swallow. “I’m executor of your father’s will and I’m happy to go over the main points with you. It hasn’t been probated yet, because once we learned of your existence, we decided to locate you first.”
“We?” Tess asked.
“Oh, that social worker and I. Malone. He seemed real anxious to get hold of you before I started proceedings to have the kids adopted.”
“Is it normal for a social worker to have such influence?” She couldn’t help asking.
“A bit. But Boulder’s a small place and your father was very well known here. It wasn’t just Malone, but people in your parents’ circle of friends were concerned about what would happen to the children.”
“Though not enough to take them in.”
Walker averted his gaze to the desktop. “No, I guess other obligations made that impossible.” Then his eyes came back to her. “Although now that you’re here I assume things will work out for them.”
“If you hadn’t found me,” she said, changing the focus, “what would you have done with Molly and Nick?”
“The will instructs me to set up a trust fund for them until they both reach the age of twenty-one. I would naturally try to have them adopted by the same family—or, in a worse case scenario—be kept in foster care. I’ll go over the will now, if you like. It may answer some of your questions.” He opened a drawer in his desk and withdrew a legal-size manila folder.
Tess tuned out the preamble and its wordy legalese, paying attention when he got to the main points. The estate was tentatively assessed at a million dollars, all of which was to be established as a trust for Molly and Nick.
“Of course, the sale of the house, its contents, the land and any unsold works still in the studio and gallery will be factored in,” Walker was explaining, “which may push that total up another half a mil.” He paused. “You look surprised.”
“My father left before he became successful. He sent nothing to my mother and me. We had to survive on her disability pension and welfare.”
He frowned. “Are you planning to make a claim on the estate? If so, that’ll definitely delay probate and may cause unnecessary suffering to your brother and sister.”
“Of course not,” Tess snapped. “I’d never do that. When my father left, he left for good. He didn’t want us and we…we didn’t want him anymore, either.” Her voice dropped off. She’d unwittingly parroted her mother’s very words. “I certainly wouldn’t have expected to be included in the will.”
“Oddly enough, I received a codicil to the will just a week before Richard died. It was just a typed sheet of paper informing me that one of his paintings should go to a Theresa Margaret Wheaton.” He studied her from across the desk. “I assume that’s you?”
Tess nodded. She wondered if the painting Walker was referring to was the one Richard had finished days before leaving her and her mother. The one he had under his arm the afternoon he walked out of the house.
“When I got the codicil, I tried to call Richard to clarify his relationship with…well, with this new person but we never had a chance to touch base about it before the accident. Since the bequest was a piece of property rather than cash, I wasn’t too worried. I knew I could track you down eventually. The fact that you’re next of kin to the children was an added bonus—for them.”
Tess squirmed in her chair. Was the whole town of Boulder in on a conspiracy to force her to take the kids back to Chicago? “I suppose as executor, you have the additional responsibility of liquidating the estate and so on?”
“Yes, I do. But now that you’re here, I’d appreciate whatever assistance you can provide closing up the house before you all return to Chicago.”
There was that word again. All. “Of course I’ll help. But I should inform you that I’ve made no decision yet about taking on guardianship of Nick and Molly. Although they’re my half siblings, the fact is we don’t know each other. We don’t share a family history. Plus, I’ve a more than full-time job in Chicago and living accommodation that’s not appropriate for children.” She paused, gulping a mouthful of air. Best to lay all the cards out at once. “They should be with a family and I’m basically here to oversee that. If possible,” she added.
He didn’t respond at once. “Certainly you’re under no legal obligation to take the children. Of course, there is the moral decision and I’m sure you’re more than capable of reaching the correct one there.”
Speechless, Tess merely nodded.
He went on. “Perhaps if I summarize the main points of the rest of the will? Richard basically left everything to Gabriela and the children. He didn’t specify what should happen to the children, other than a trust should be established. Gabriela was much younger and presumably, he never imagined she would die before him. Or at the same time,” he murmured.
Tess tried to concentrate on the business part of the talk, rather than the horrifying mental image of a fatal car crash. “You mentioned a gallery earlier.”
“Oh, yes. Richard’s agent, Tomas Kozinski, owns a gallery here in Boulder that often exhibited Richard’s work.”
“Wouldn’t that have been a conflict of interest?”
“Yes and no. They were friends a long time and managed to handle things all right. Tomas hung your father’s work and held occasional exhibits. He also helped to negotiate sales. Believe me, your father was an adept businessman as well as a wonderful artist. He was very involved in all sales and transactions. If you like, I can take you over to meet Tomas.”
“Thank you. I’d like to see the gallery. And the painting left to me?”
Walker thought for a moment. “Kozinski will know about that. How about if I have my secretary give him a call to make sure he’s available?” Walker turned on his intercom and relayed the message. Seconds later, his secretary advised that the gallery owner was free until lunch-time.
“Shall we go now?” Walker checked his Rolex. “Then perhaps you’ll be my guest for lunch?”
“Thanks, but I’ve a lot of errands to do and promised to drop by Molly’s school this afternoon.”
“So the children are settling all right?”
“For now. Alec…that is, Mr. Malone,” she amended, catching Walker’s slight frown, “advised a return to routine as soon as possible.”
“That’s wise, though considering they may be uprooted soon anyway, that hardly seems too important.”
He was beginning to sound like Nick. “At least until we…or you, as executor, decide what to do about the house,” Tess said.
Walker s
hrugged. “Not much deciding there, I’m afraid. If you don’t stay, we’ll sell it before we set up the trust.” He rose from his chair and came around the desk to where Tess was sitting.
“At least let me drive you, then I can bring you back here for your car. Are you driving Gabriela’s, by the way?”
“Yes. Alec thought that would be okay.”
He smiled indulgently. “Well, if Mr. Malone is in agreement…”
Definitely an edge there, Tess decided, as Alec had implied. She stood up and moved past the lawyer toward the door, catching a glimpse of his imported leather shoes on the way. No cowboy.
THE GALLERY WAS SITUATED on a side street off the Pearl Street Mall, which Jed Walker pointed out to Tess as his Mercedes angled into a parking space in front.
“There’s one like it in Denver,” he said. “Draws the tourists and is great for business, in spite of some opposition initially. Did you stay over in Denver on your way here?”
“No,” she said, climbing out of the car as soon as he turned off the engine. “Alec had left his own vehicle at the airport so we drove right here.”
Jed walked around to the sidewalk and placed a hand at her elbow to steer her toward some brick steps a few yards away. “What do you think of this Malone?”
Tess hesitated, struck by his use of the word “this.” “I don’t know,” she began, feeling unexpectedly defensive. “He’s certainly committed to doing the best for Nick and Molly.”
“True enough. Though I can’t help wonder about some hidden motive on his part.”
“What? After all, he’s only their social worker, not their…” She stopped.
“Lawyer?” He tipped his head back and laughed. “Guess I walked into that one. I don’t know, he just seems to be a little too personally involved. But hey, that’s only my opinion and I’m only the family lawyer.” Another laugh.
The Second Family Page 10
