Page 3 of Hold My Heart

“Wait. I inherited property in France?” She struggled to understand.

“No, Mrs. Trumbald. I’m sorry to tell you any property must be sold to pay the debts—”

The phone crackled and the rest of his statement was lost. “Sorry, what was that?”

“I said—”

Static answered her back and she held the cell away from her ear. “Where are you? I can hardly hear a word you’re saying.”

When Marvin finally came back on, he was practically shouting. “I asked if you are free to meet me this afternoon!”

Thank goodness she had held the phone away from her ear. “I have a few appointments but I can push them back depending on the time. What works best for you?”

“Actually, now works best for me. Can you meet me at the Radisson? As soon as you can.”

“Now? Well...all right, I guess that works, but it has to be quick. I’ve got so many things to do today—”

“Yes,” he interrupted, “no problem.” They set up a rendezvous point to meet and Olympia signed off, stunned at the sudden turn of unexpected events.

Her poor cousin. She didn’t know the details yet, but it made her feel bad thinking about it. He wasn’t much older than she was. A couple of years at the most. Then again, she had become a widow at thirty-four. Maybe she needed to adjust her thinking a little bit.

Guilt rose over the years of disconnected distance between them. She’d never reached out once the family moved, except for the occasional Christmas card. Now she’d never get the opportunity.

Wow, she was a terrible cousin. Which was inexcusable because she didn’t have much family to keep in touch with anymore. Josh might have been her only living relative on the spectrum, barring of course those third- and fourth-removed type cousins and aunts and uncles in the greater range. With whom she’d also never interacted.

She should have done better. Reached out to Josh. Kept track and kept in touch.

Then again, where hadhebeen when her husband committed suicide two years ago? Oh, that’s right. In Paris.

Olympia let her back hit the wall and thought about beating something for the emotional release. Sometimes the feelings were too much for her to handle, and she needed an outlet. This was why she’d toyed with the idea of setting up a punching bag in her basement, with the option for a similar but miniature model in her work office.

Pull yourself together. Maybe the good thoughts would work this time.

“Carl, I need to head out,” she called, glancing down at her clipboard and the workload for the day she hadn’t yet accomplished.

She heard the harried click of his heels along the floor. “You were just saying you had a full plate scheduled for today,” he told her almost petulantly.

“I realize what I said. However, an emergency has come up and I’ll need to step out of the office for an hour. At the most.”

He stared at her, one of those I-can’t-believe-you’re-serious looks similar to the one Ashleigh had given her earlier. What did they do, hang out together in their spare time?

“An hour, tops,” Olympia reiterated. “I’ll be back as soon as possible.”

Trying not to look at him, she strode past and into her office to grab her purse.

Josh was dead? Her only remaining close relative was now gone too? Why did this suddenly make her feel exceedingly sad? And more alone than ever? “Everything is going to be fine,” she told her reflection in the small mirror on the wall near her desk. Her reflection smiled back at her, earnest if somewhat strained. “This is just a standard meeting to finalize the estate. No big deal.”

At least she hoped it was no big deal. After everything she’d gone through after her husband passed away, she wasn’t willing to dive into that particular arena again. Hopefully, Josh had a better plan in place than Dan had. The same Dan who had assured her multiple times he had made a will and she would be taken care of if anything happened to him.

That hadn’t been the case. He’d lied about having his affairs in order. And instead of letting her in to help him handle things before it was too late, he’d shut her out on the important stuff. Like he’d shut her out on his struggle with depression and bipolar disorder. Like he’d chosen instead to self-medicate with illegal prescription drugs and alcohol until he succumbed to both.

Olympia shook her head to dispel those thoughts, anger and sadness lingering beneath her sternum. Today she would focus on Josh. Focus on...what was his name? The lawyer?

Within minutes she was in her car and on her way to the Radisson for a meeting with her cousin’s lawyer. She was determined not to think of this as a wrench in her plans for the day.

In the hotel parking lot, she took a moment to compose herself before getting out of the car. She pinched her cheeks to give them a bit of color. Pushed her hair out of her eyes and tried to make order of the mess. The gray strands at her roots were starting to show through the strands of chestnut. Soon it would be time to take herself to the salon and get them covered again. The maintenance was a killer but it was better than looking older than her scant thirty-six years of age.

Marvin! Marvin...something. That was the lawyer’s name. It came to her in a flash on her way into the lobby. He said he’d requested one of the common rooms on the main floor for their consultation this afternoon. He was staying at the hotel while he was in town and thought it easier to meet there. She’d agreed with him. It was better than trying to navigate her way through city streets—never a pleasure—or have the man come to her home. She didn’t want to take the chance either way.

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