Autumn hesitated. “I might need to run other errands afterward. But if you don’t mind stopping by, I’d like to follow you in. I’m afraid to trust my phone’s GPS since cell service is iffy around here.”
“Sure. Not a problem. We’ll be by at seven forty.” Catherine waved as she walked out.
“Don’t be late,” Gabe added, turning to follow. “She has this thing about being on time. You’ll mess up her whole day if you aren’t waiting when we drive up.”
Autumn watched through the front windows. Catherine swatted Gabe on the back of her head, then rested her arm across Gabe’s shoulders. Gabe didn’t seem to mind the playful tap, because she wrapped her arm around Catherine’s waist and skipped once to match her stride to Catherine’s longer one. Elvis, his bone still in his mouth, looked back over his shoulder at her, then followed them. Catherine lowered the tailgate of the battered truck for Elvis to jump onto, but he seemed to consider it a moment before taking off into the woods. Catherine shrugged, closed the tailgate, and climbed into the truck. They turned onto the highway in the same direction Elvis had gone.
Weird. Becki had strange neighbors.
Chapter Four
“Young lady, you can’t bring that dog in here.” The stern-faced receptionist with bottle-black hair and penciled-on eyebrows pointed an accusing finger at Elvis. “Dogs carry fleas and ticks and urinate on things. They belong outdoors, not inside homes, and certainly not in places of business.”
Gabe had been silent and tense since Elvis’s cold, wet nose on Catherine’s ear had startled her awake, and he’d led her to the front porch, where Gabe sat huddled in a thin blanket. Catherine had draped her barn jacket over Gabe’s shoulders, adding an additional layer of warmth, and retrieved her old army jacket for herself. They’d sat in silence to watch dawn break.
“I guess I’ll find out what’s going to happen to me when we go to the lawyer’s office,” Gabe had finally said.
“I suppose.” Catherine wasn’t sure, so she didn’t know what to say.
“I wouldn’t be any trouble if I stayed with you. I could help with the farm.” Gabe’s quiet words failed to hide the undercurrent of pleading.
Catherine pulled her close in a firm, one-armed hug. “I know that, and you know you’re always welcome here. But this sort of thing can be complicated by laws and living relatives. Let’s just see how everything goes.”
“Elvis wants to go, too. He’s nervous about everything being weird.”
Catherine had allowed Gabe’s pretense that it was Elvis’s need, not hers. But she’d heard the message loud and clear. Gabe needed Elvis to keep her grounded.
Right now, Gabe needed Catherine to intercede. Her expression resembled a gathering thunderhead, and her glare reminded Catherine of twin lasers aimed to burn through the haughty woman’s skull. Elvis and Catherine moved as one—Elvis blocking Gabe’s advance toward the enemy and Catherine stepping up to present their credentials.
“The harness Elvis is wearing identifies him as a certified therapy dog. The law allows him to be here to support Gabriella Swan, who has been summoned to witness the reading of her mother’s will and learn what the future holds for her as…for her.” Catherine mentally slapped herself when she saw the anger in Gabe’s eyes falter and reveal for one brief second the uncertainty and fear behind it. Gabe’s razor-sharp mind had finished the words Catherine had almost spoken—as an orphaned minor.
“If anything has fleas, Edna, it’s that possum-fur coat Warren gave you for Christmas.” Gaylord Cooper stepped into the small but comfortable reception area.
“It’s fox fur, and you know it, Gaylord Cooper.” The phone began to ring, and Edna marched back to her desk to answer it.
A woman Catherine had seen visit with Becki several times recently followed Gaylord. A friend or another cousin? Elvis wagged his tail in slow sweeps when this woman walked to him and Gabe.
“Gabriella, it’s good to see you again.”
Gabe eyed her, ignoring her outstretched hand until Elvis poked her with his nose. She frowned at Elvis but nodded at the woman. “Hi, Ms. Everhart.” She wiped her right hand on her jeans and smirked. “Elvis slobbered on my hand. It’s kind of sticky.” Clearly a lie, not an actual apology.
Enough. “Gabriella Annise Swan.” Catherine’s growled warning hit home. Gabe ducked her head and her neck flushed. Catherine would allow Gabe some leeway because of the situation, but something told her that Gabe needed familiar boundaries, too, right now.
Autumn froze. She’d stopped by the restroom in the building’s lobby and had let herself into the lawyers’ suite just in time to hear Catherine growl out Gabe’s full name. She stared at Gabe while the puzzle pieces clicked together in her head. Gabriella. Gabriel was Becki’s brother. Annise. The same as Autumn’s middle name. Swan. This wasn’t Catherine’s kid. How was she connected to Becki? Maybe Becki’s brother, Gabriel, was Gabriella’s father. That might make sense. But where was Gabriella’s mother? A hard bump to her backside nearly sent her sprawling. She caught herself in time to prevent catastrophic embarrassment. “Oh! Sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry.” A large man in a sheriff’s uniform balanced a cardboard tray holding four cups that smelled deliciously like coffee in one hand and grasped Autumn’s elbow with his other hand to steady her. “I was so focused on trying to get through the door without dropping anything, I didn’t see you standing so close.”
“I shouldn’t have been standing in front of the door.” Autumn moved around him and held the door while he stepped past it. Damn. Whatever he had in those cups smelled divine. She’d bypassed the eggs and bacon Gabe had advised her were in the fridge. She’d been too nervous and lacked the appetite to cook anything. But her stomach was waking up now.
He walked to the low coffee table surrounded by a sofa and several chairs where clients could wait until Gaylord or his two partners were available to see them. He set the tray and a pink-and-white paper bag on the table, then plucked out one of the cups. Turning back to Autumn, he held out his hand. “I’m Sheriff Ed Cofy. We spoke several times on the phone.”
Autumn blinked, realizing that she recognized his voice. “Yes, of course. Autumn Swan.” She laughed nervously. “But, obviously, you know that.”
He smiled and held up the covered cup in his hand. “Large soy caramel macchiato with extra vanilla for you.”
Thank the heavens. She grabbed for the cup. “How did you know?”
“I called your assistant I’d talked to several times to get the arrangements done. He’s very informative.” He rummaged in the bag, then held up a bulging paper pocket. “Apple fritter. It’s not Starbucks, but we think our local coffee house and bakery, Sweet Anytime, is way better.”
“Okay. You’ve won me over.” Autumn sipped her drink, still hot, and hummed with pleasure.
Ed handed a cup and treat to Catherine. “House blend, black, and a multigrain muffin.”
Really? Autumn regarded Catherine. She wasn’t unattractive, just…well, plain. Her khaki pants were neatly ironed, and the sleeves of her white dress shirt were rolled up to contrast with her tanned forearms. Her eyes were the same unremarkable shade of brown as her hair, which was held back by a tie at her nape. Yep. Plain. Like black coffee and a multigrain muffin.
“Got you hot cocoa and a cinnamon bun,” Ed said to Gabe. “Me and Elvis, a couple of peanut butter cookies. Don’t tell my wife. I’m not supposed to eat cookies.” He flashed the adults an affable smile before turning back to Gabe. “How about you and me sit out here and enjoy our treats while Gaylord goes over some boring legal stuff with Catherine and Autumn. He’ll come get us when they’re ready to read your mom’s will.”
Gabe’s eyes flicked from the food to each of the adults, apparently weighing the possibility of a ruse to make plans without her input against the lure of the sweets.
“Go ahead,” Catherine said softly. “You know I’ll tell you whatever we discuss later.”
“Okay,” Gabe said,
already rounding the table to sit and dig her cinnamon roll out of the bag.
Something about the almost tangible trust between Catherine and Gabe made Autumn feel hollow. She’d had that same bond with Becki once, until she turned her back on Becki and Grandma. Jay was her only close friend now, but she’d just ditched her promise to handle the social-media publicity for the annual Pride event. That was hardly trustworthy. Still, she’d had a good excuse both times. Work comes first, right?
“Autumn?” Catherine stood in a doorway down the hall.
“Coming.”
She’d expected a conference room where they’d gather around a table. But Gaylord had led them to another sitting area by the windows at one end of his large office.
Once they all settled, Gaylord began. “Go ahead and enjoy what Ed brought. We just finished donuts and coffee while we were going over some papers before you all arrived. That’s why I asked Ed to bring more.” He waved around the group. “Some of us know each other, but I’ll reintroduce everybody.” He started with the woman who sat on his right. “This is Janice Everhart. She’s a state social worker assigned to Elijah County.” He gestured to Catherine directly across from him. “This is Catherine Daye, longtime neighbor and close friend to Ms. Becki Swan and her daughter, Gabriella.” He turned last to Autumn. “This is Autumn Swan, Becki’s first cousin and the only living relative she requested to be contacted in the event of her death.”
Her daughter, Gabriella. The words rang in Autumn’s ears and ricocheted in her brain. Her brain had refused to go there when she’d heard Gabe’s full name a few minutes ago, but she couldn’t deny it now. The evidence—Becki’s cheekbones and eyes—had been staring right at her. Becki had a daughter. Her heart beat wildly and her breath quickened. Becki’s daughter was now orphaned. Catherine’s eyes caught and held hers. Plain brown eyes, but calm and understanding. The panic squeezing Autumn’s chest began to ease.
“You didn’t know,” Catherine said softly.
Autumn shook her head slowly. “I thought she was your foster or adopted daughter. She and the dog are so comfortable with you. But when you said her full name out there…Annise is my middle name, too…I realized she must be a relative, maybe a child left by Becki’s brother. I just didn’t imagine she had a…I should have. It’s so obvious now. The eyes, her cheekbones. Why didn’t I see Becki there before?” God, she was babbling.
Gaylord cleared his throat. “That’s why I brought you back here for this meeting. I’m not revealing any part of the will in doing this, but I am allowing Ms. Everhart to prepare you for what Becki told her would be her last wishes.” He nodded for Janice to explain.
This was a waking nightmare. Autumn suspected where this was going, but she couldn’t stop it. Couldn’t change it. Even worse, she saw Becki everywhere she looked. Janice Everhart could have been Becki’s sister. Her long waves of blond hair framed a girl-next-door face. Her eyes were kind and her voice warm. “Becki suspected her symptoms indicated a brain tumor weeks before it was diagnosed. A mutual friend put her in touch with me. She wanted information so she could prepare. When her diagnosis was confirmed, she asked that I help guide and advise her daughter and the two of you until Gabriella reaches legal age.”
“Us?” Autumn coughed when the piece of fritter she was swallowing stuck in her throat. A quick swallow of her drink washed it down and revved her stalled brain. This definitely had to be a bizarre dream that she’d wake from any moment. Gaylord and Janice looked at her expectantly, but Catherine had gone still as stone, her face unreadable. Apparently, Autumn wasn’t the only surprised person in the room.
Janice picked up a thin laptop computer Autumn hadn’t noticed on the glass coffee table between them and flipped it open. A flash drive jutted from one port. “Becki recorded a message for the two of you.” She held up a second flash drive. “She also recorded one for Gabriella to listen to later, when she feels ready. Both are about her hopes for her daughter’s future.” She turned the laptop toward them and hit the key to start the video.
The screen filled with Becki’s beautiful smile. “Hi, Autumn. I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve missed you so much and would have loved to watch you get to know my Gabe. I named her after you and Gabriel, the only family I want her to really know. My biggest regret is that we didn’t have more time, that I didn’t track you down in person and shake some sense into you when you disappeared on us.” Becki’s smile dimmed, and she dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “I…well, I feel like I let you down, and I know I don’t deserve it, but I’m asking you to become a co-guardian of my sweet Gabe. She needs both you and Catherine. I’m pretty sure she’s leaning toward your sexual orientation. Not that it’s bad or wrong, but being biracial and an advanced student has already made her an outsider at school.” Her smile returned. “She’s wicked smart, like you, Autumn. And that’s not just her mom talking. I’ve signed permissions for you and Catherine to access her school records and IQ evaluations. You and Catherine offer different things that Gabe will need. I’m counting on you to nurture this part of her, to find the right opportunities and the right people to help her reach her potential.”
Becki looked down for a few seconds, and when her eyes met the camera again, her face had softened. “Hi, Catherine. Weird, but I can actually feel your presence even though I know I’m just talking to a camera and it could be days, weeks, months, or even a few years before you watch this. Your life force is so strong.” She made a dismissive gesture. “You’d never admit it, but I know you always thought that was a bunch of psychic manure when I’d tell you that.” Her smile widened, her eyes clear of tears now. “You moving in next to us has been a gift. Gabe worships you.” She laughed. “And I would have married you if I wasn’t so damned heterosexual. You’ve always been there for both of us—our port in the storm, the mountain of strength I needed when Grandma died, and the touchstone that anchored me when my world felt too overwhelming. I still need you to be that for Gabe. Don’t let the world sweep her away when they realize how smart she is. I’m able to leave Gabe more than financially secure because of you. You’ll need to explain all of that when she’s old enough to handle her own finances.”
Autumn struggled to peel her eyes from Becki’s image, but she chanced a look at Catherine, whose eyebrows were drawn together and her mouth set in a thin line. Was there some big secret only Catherine knew?
“So, what I’m saying is that Gabe needs both of you. It will all be clear when Gaylord reads the will. I don’t want to dwell on details now, but I’m asking the biggest favor of my life. I’m trusting the most important person in my life to the two of you. Please, please don’t let her down. I love both of you, but you shouldn’t keep Gabe waiting any longer. Go hear what I’ve got in store for you in my will. I hope the surprises are good.”
The screen went black, and nobody spoke for a few seconds. Finally, Gaylord cleared his throat. “Janice, can you show them to the conference room? I’ll go get Gabe.”
Janice extracted the flash drive from the laptop and fished an identical one from her pocket. “I made a copy so you each could have one.”
***
They gathered around the large conference table. Gaylord, flanked by Janice and Sheriff Cofy, faced Gabe, who sat between Catherine and Autumn. Gaylord shuffled the papers and was about to speak when Gabe stopped him.
“Just a minute.” She pushed back from the table and dragged another chair so close it touched hers. Catherine and Autumn had to slide their chairs over to make room. “Elvis, up.” Elvis jumped into the added chair and sat primly while Gabe settled beside him. Autumn turned to stare at Elvis. Really? Shouldn’t he be sitting at Gabe’s feet like a good dog? Elvis whipped his head toward her, and his wet tongue swiped over her lips before she could jerk out of the way.
“Ack.”
“Elvis.” Gabe scowled at him. “No kissing girls unless they kiss you first.” Her voice was stern and serious, but Elvis licked her ear in reply before turning back to Autu
mn.
Sheriff Cofy chuckled when Autumn leaned as far back out of his tongue’s reach as she could without falling out of her chair. Had that dog just winked at her?
Gaylord looked over his half-glasses perched on the end of his nose. “Elvis, behave or I’ll send you to sit with Edna.”
Elvis laid his ears back and straightened forward. Only then did Autumn realize his antics had changed the tension in the room to an air of anticipation. Gaylord picked up the will and read aloud.
“I, Rebecca Maria Swan, being of sound mind, do hereby bequeath the assets of my estate to the following organizations and individuals as follows—”
Autumn half listened as Gaylord’s baritone droned through a list of donations set aside for various charities. The sums Gaylord was reciting weren’t millions, but they certainly weren’t pocket change either. The Elijah Animal Rescue was to receive a two-hundred-thousand-dollar endowment for a new Shelter to Service program to be administered by Ed Cofy and Catherine Daye. Where did Becki get her money? As far as she could tell, Becki was an artist, woodworker and potter, enjoying moderate success across the state as well as locally. She’d googled Becki and found that she had a website and also sold on a popular internet market. If Becki had asked, Autumn could have done so much to help her market her work. Oh, yeah. Except that she’d shut Becki out. But this wasn’t the time to have another wallow in the past. She needed to tune into the present because Gaylord was getting to the good stuff.
“I leave the bulk of my estate to my daughter, Gabriella Annise Swan, in a trust until she reaches the age of twenty-one. Any future income to my estate from my artwork or investments will go directly into that trust. As long as the trust continues, I appoint my neighbor Catherine Daye and my cousin Autumn Annise Swan as co-administrators, each to be compensated ten percent of the trust’s annual earnings for their time and labor. Should either become deceased or unable to perform this duty, their portion and responsibility will go to the remaining person.
Ordinary is Perfect Page 5
