by M.D. James
Chapter 7
On the ride back to Aspen Estates, Jonas focused his attention back to the most pressing issue of how he would handle things once he arrived home.
At first, he thought he had no problem with signing everything that his mother left to him over to his Uncle Martin. All he cared about was going back to Bushton Hall to be with Bartzen and Ms. Pommeray. But, that would mean that he would have to leave Rachelle behind, and he didn’t know if he wanted to do that. Then there was the issue of giving away billions to someone that didn’t deserve it…someone who lied and cheated to get it. Surely that’s not what his mother or Grand-Father Williford would have wanted.
Back home, Martin was pacing the library floor waiting for the boy to arrive. Ever since he allowed Jonas to go to school that morning, he had a pit in his stomach. He wondered if his nephew ran away again. Time was almost up for him to take ownership of Aspen Estates and all the money…he couldn’t have any more delays.
“Sir, your attention is needed downstairs,” Bruce said as he entered the library.
“Not now!” Martin snapped. “Whatever it is, you take care of it.”
“It’s Charlotte, the cook, Sir. She is sick and says she will speak only to you.”
There were still a few minutes before Charles and Jonas would arrive, so Martin followed Bruce to the servant’s quarters. He figured maybe the distraction would ease his nerves. “What’s wrong with her,” he asked Bruce on the way.
Bruce informed him that Charlotte had been vomiting all day, and seemed very weak.
Bruce stayed behind as Martin walked down the corridor leading to the women’s quarters. Martin entered Charlotte’s room and saw her lying in bed with a washcloth over her pale forehead. Madeline was sitting beside the bed, but promptly got up and left the room when she saw her boss enter.
“What’s this all about?” Martin asked, and not in exactly a comforting tone, either.
“I think I’m pregnant,” Charlotte told him, though her voice was horse.
“And, what’s that to do with me?” Martin asked.
“You know exactly what it’s got to do with you!” Charlotte replied with renewed strength. “You did this to me…it’s your baby!”
Martin coldly denied the possibility of the baby being his, and suggested that any of the men in town could be the father. With that, he turned and left the room.
He arrived back upstairs just as Jonas and Charles arrived home. “Come into my office!” he ordered the boy before dismissing Charles.
They sat in silence while waiting for Cousin James to arrive with the paperwork Jonas was to sign until Jonas finally spoke up. “Why did you hate my mother so much?” he asked.
“I see you’ve been spying on me,” his Uncle replied before answering the question. “All my life Ophelia was always Daddy’s favorite. While I was pushed aside and ignored, Daddy lavished attention on Ophelia. She was his pride and joy!” Jonas just sat and listened as his Uncle’s explanation turned into a rant. “I thought that at least on his deathbed, Daddy would acknowledge me as his son and rightful heir. How surprised was I when the will was read and everything was left to his precious Ophelia. I was the oldest! I was his son! It all should’ve been mine!”
“So, you were happy when she died giving birth to me, I imagine?” Jonas asked even though he couldn’t understand a brother ever being happy when his sister, his flesh and blood, died.
“Of course I was happy, you fool! I killed her, after all! And you were supposed to die with her.” Jonas knew his Uncle was evil but he couldn’t believe the confession he had just heard.
“Martin!” exclaimed Cousin James to stop him from saying any more. “It looks like I arrived just in time.”
“What does it matter? There’s nothing he can do about it now anyway,” Martin stated, referring to Jonas.
Cousin James gave him a disapproving look before suggesting they proceed with the business at hand. “We just need your signature right here,” Cousin James indicated to Jonas.
Jonas didn’t move to take the pen, though. The more he thought about it, the more he knew he had to honor what his mother and Grand-Father would want. Slowly, he got up from the chair and walked towards his Uncle and Cousin.
Before they knew what had happened, he bolted out of the library and out the front door. Charles grabbed him though, before he could get far. “Let me go,” Jonas yelled, but Charles slapped him hard across the face.
“Are you going to sign?” his Uncle asked Jonas as they caught up to him and Charles outside.
“Never!” Jonas replied.
Martin instructed Charles to throw his nephew in the cellar, which Charles gladly did with a sadistic smile.
