Page 58 of One of Six

"You must, Beatrice?" He removes his hat in greeting. "My name is AJ. Hitchcock, and I'm your mother's attorney. We need to speak privately."

Relief washes over me now that he has introduced himself. I thought for sure he'd mention our earlier conversation.

"This way," Richard says. I follow, wondering what will be revealed.

The man does not look uncomfortable as he settles into a wingback chair with a satchel on his lap. "I apologize for doing this now. But I'm going on vacation for a few weeks, and I didn't want to keep you waiting." He clears his throat. "This will be quick because Elisabeth Lincoln left everything to her daughter, Beatrice Alexandria Lincoln."

I look at Richard, who is struggling to control his anger. "That's not right!"

"I'm afraid it is. Mrs. Lincoln was very insistent that Beatrice inherit everything."

"What does that mean?" I ask, curious because I thought Mama had to ask Richard for everything she needed.

"It means that half of this house, your mother's possessions, and the money in her account are now yours." He watches me from above his specs.

"Oh!" I swallow hard, feeling a little nauseous.

"My wife didn't have a bank account of her own!" Richard snaps. "You don't know what you're talking about."

AJ sits up straighter in the chair and holds Richard's gaze. "I can assure you that I know exactly what I am doing, as did your late wife. All she cared about was a future for her daughter. She made sure she has one." To me he says, "There is just over five hundred thousand dollars in the account, Beatrice. I need you to sign some papers before I leave so my secretary can file them and it'll all be transferred to you.” He stands.

Everything else is a blur as I sign where I'm told, while Richard sits quietly at one side of the room seething with anger.

"If that's all, I'll go up to my room. It's been a very long day." To Richard I say, "Violet is staying with me tonight."

26

BEATRICE

My heart fluttersthe moment I see Essex leaning against a shiny black truck. Violet murmurs something I don't catch as I run towards him.

He straightens and braces himself the moment he sees me. I crash into him, my legs hooked behind his waist and my arms around his neck. Our mouths crush together, and the sadness of the day becomes lighter.

His tongue gliding over mine makes my body tingle. I moan when I feel his hands on my bottom, and then I'm pressed against his erection. I feel the heat radiating from him as we deepen the kiss, lost in the moment. The world fades away until Galen clears his throat. My heart is so full of Essex. It's only when we come up for air, our breaths heavy, that I say, "Hi!"

He chuckles. "Hi, babe. That was quite a greeting."

"Mmm, I missed you."

A kiss on my nose, and he turns and puts me in the passenger seat. "I missed you too."

"Galen," Violet says, reminding me that he’s with us, "will you kiss me like that? I've never been kissed before."

"I'm too old to kiss without dipping my dick in?—”

“—Do not finish that sentence!” Essex cuts him off, his eyes narrowing. "Seventeen!"

"Jeez! I'm going to die an old maid; no kissing, no sex, no touching."

"Violet, I'm not my brother. Stop teasing me," Galen says in a serious tone.

I catch Violet's eye and clear my throat, and say, "As much as I could sit here all night, we have somewhere to be."

Essex closes my door and runs around to get into the cab. We drive out of town without a single soul around. I notice a light on in the sheriff's office.

"Did you notice how nice David was to me today? He went to bat for me with both Richard and Judge," I admit quietly. "It surprised me."

"I noticed." Essex reaches over the console and takes my hand. "You needed that today."

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