Page 84 of Snow Going Back

There was a light laugh from those who knew some of the battles she’d fought. She met Jenna’s eye, and her smile warmed.

‘You see, the Moreauxs added a clause in the contract when they placed that will with my firm that stated I had to stay here for a minimum of six weeks and get to know the place and the people here. Which was unusual and sounded a little over the top, to be honest. But then I started getting to know whoCora and William were and what they’d created in this beautiful town. I discovered the incredible community they’d cultivated and how their goodness lives on in the heart of this community, even now they’re gone. I got to know some ofyou,the people they cared about most.’ She shook her head. ‘You know, I didn’t realise places like this existed. Places where you could genuinely see the incredible difference someone has made all around. In fact, I don’t think there’s anywhere else in the world quite like it.’

There were some rumbles of agreement and nods from the audience.

‘But the reason I’m up here sharing all of this like some teenage girl verbalising her diary isn’t just to flatter you all. Though do feel free to take that, anyway.’ She smiled as a few more people laughed, then wandered back to the central stand. Turning to face them, her expression grew more serious.

‘You all already know that Coreaux Roots isn’t just a company. You all know it’s so much more than that. It wasn’t built and expanded out of corporate greed. It was developed to sustain and serve this town. To help everyone in it rise and grow. It’s given so much to so many, and it’s a place people are proud to be a part of. It became the glue of a true family. It became a living breathing thing.’ Her gaze moved to meet Jenna’s as she recalled their very first conversation. ‘The business and all of you who run it are the body and soul combined. You’re one whole. And that’s what makes it so special.That’swhat Cora and William wanted me to learn when they put that clause in the contract.’ Kate turned and paced to the other side. ‘Once I understood all that, I knew Coreaux Roots had to be protected at all costs. Which meant I had to be sure whoever I signed it over to was going to do just that.’

She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. ‘As you all know, Aubrey Rowlings was hoping to be awarded full ownership.’ There was a low ripple of unease throughout thecrowd, and Kate kept her voice carefully neutral. ‘Aubrey feels she is best placed to take on the mantle of leader and that she’s ready to step into Cora’s shoes. She is, I must admit, the only one of the three who put in a claim who’s worked there and has at least a basic understanding of how the company operates.’

The volume of the disgruntled murmur in the room increased, and Kate waited, noting the smug lift of Aubrey’s chin as she watched from the back.

After a few moments, despite looking as worried as the rest, Matthew stood up from his seat in the front row next to Jenna and turned with a stern bellow. ‘Pipedown, everyone. We’re all here to find out what’s happening, so y’all just let Kate say what she has to say.’

The room fell silent, and he turned back to Kate with a sharp nod before sitting back down.

Kate let the tense peace stretch for a few moments before continuing. ‘As the Coreaux Roots lawyer, I’m forced to follow a legally defined path, no matter what my personal views. As a family member and one with a connection to the company, Aubrey has a decent claim should she take it to court, which she nowhas.’

‘What?’ several voices cried out.

‘What does thatmean?’

‘She won’twin,will she?’

Kate held up her hand to call for silence. ‘Aubrey is taking me to court in three days’ time, where she will ask to have the legal responsibility for Coreaux Roots taken from me and awarded to her, under a specific clause in the legal contract between the Moreauxs and my law firm, which allows her to do that if she believes I’m not working in the best interest of the company.’

‘That’shogwash.’ The angered cry came from Matthew himself this time as he stood up and dashed his hat through the air as though wanting to throw it. ‘Notnobodycan say thataboutyou. Judge’ll see that straight away. Right?’ He turned to gather support from the crowd. ‘Won’t they?’ Some joined in his assurances, but most fell silent, looking scared.

Kate shrugged, looking grim. ‘If it comes to that, it could go either way. A judge won’t understand or take into account all the things we know. They have to judge on cold, hard facts. And some of those cold, hard facts will be that I’ve been here for two months with three viable options and haven’t acted on any of them.’

Aubrey’s smile broadly widened, and she stared at Kate, not bothering to hide her smugness as Kate voiced what she knew Aubrey’s lawyer would have already told her.

‘Well, who’re the other two?’ Matthew asked.

Jenna leaned forward in her seat and put her head in her hands. ‘I feel sick.’

Matthew sat back in his seat and patted her gently on the back.

‘We’ll get to that,’ Kate replied, ready to start turning the tables. ‘But first, did I ever tell you about the first time I met Aubrey?’ She lifted her eyebrow in question and scanned the room. ‘She turned up at the house one day and tried to burn me with a hot kettle, threatening to scar me for life unless I drew up paperwork to legally hand her everything.’ There was a wave of shocked gasps, and she paused, enjoying the satisfying look of discomfort on Aubrey’s face. ‘Her grandmother, Evelyn, one of the other two who put in a claim for the Moreaux estate, just stood by and watched her do it. She even backed up Aubrey’s threats at one point.’

Aubrey suddenly stood up as people began to vocalise their shock. ‘This is an absolute lie!’ she cried. ‘This woman is out for her own gain. Don’t listen to her.’

‘Unfortunately, Aubrey, there was a witness there that day, and I took photos of the wounds you left on my arm. I put mystatement into the police today, and Jerry here is now going to escort you – and you, Evelyn – to the station to answer a few questions.’

‘What?’ Aubrey screeched, turning pale. ‘You can’t do this!’

But Jerry and another officer pulled the two women away, ignoring their complaints. Kate watched them go with a smile and the deepest feeling of satisfaction she’d felt in a long time. The atmosphere in the room lifted, and hope began to shine through people’s expressions again.

‘So what does this mean?’ Jenna asked, hope and fear warring with each other in her eyes as she looked up at Kate. ‘The court case can’t go ahead without her, right?’

Kate’s gaze flicked up to the back of the room at the cold pair of eyes staring back at her above a cold smile. ‘Actually, it could, if someone else took Aubrey’s place for the same reason.’

Jenna looked back over her shoulder, following Kate’s gaze, and her expression darkened.

‘But while we’re on the subject of criminal activity, there’s one more person here today who was planning on taking the company by any means necessary. Edward Moreaux.’ There was another murmur of general discontent. ‘It sounds like some of you know him already. For those who don’t, Edward is William’s brother. The one who hated him. Edwardalsoplans to fight me in that courtroom. He told Jenna and me that once he gets hold of Coreaux Roots, he plans to strip it down until nothing’s left, and then he’ll sell the land to industrial developers, until the entire local area is destroyed.’

Everyone started talking at once, some cursing, some panicking, some of them asking questions. She raised both hands this time, urging them to let her continue. ‘Now, it’s no crime to threaten something like that. Butarsoncertainly is.’

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