Page 74 of From Our First

“You are going to regret this. Believe me.”

She stormed past me and went to my front door. “We’re officially contesting the will. I gave you your last chance. You’ll be sorry.” And then she blew out of my house, leaving me standing there, wondering how the hell I had come from that woman.

My hands shook, and I wanted to call Nate, to have him tell me that everything would be okay and hold me.

But I didn’t.

That would be leaning on him too much. And I wasn’t ready for that. I needed to remain cold and distant. If I relied on anyone too much, it would only hurt when things broke later.

So, I let out a breath and called my cousin. Lacey picked up after the first ring. “Hey there. How are you?”

Tears pricked the backs of my eyes, but I ignored them. They wouldn’t help anyone. “My mother was just here. They’re officially contesting the will. It might hurt the trust for your kids, as well.”

Lacey cursed under her breath, very imaginative utterances that I would have to write down for later.

“Are you okay? Do you need me to drive down there?”

Tears once again threatened.

“I’m okay. She’s said worse things to me.”

Lacey paused long enough that I was afraid I had said too much.

“Just because you’re used to her attitude and the way she treats you doesn’t make it right.”

“Perhaps. But I can’t change her. I can only try to be myself.”

“That sounds perfect to me, and very much like something Grandma would say. If you need me, I’m here. And my husband’s family and I can take care of my children. We always have. Grandma Sharon’s extra little bump would have been a nice way to secure their futures, but we can take care of our own if your parents and Roland ruin everything.”

“It might be the other cousins, too. Not only Roland.”

“Oh, I know. You were always the sane one of the bunch.”

I smiled. “Funny, I used to think that about you.”

“I’m here if you need me. I might bring the whole family down to bug you for a meal one day. We live so close now. We need to be a family.”

My heart warmed, surprising me that it could after such a horrendous evening. “You’re right. We do need to be a family. And I’m glad you’re close.”

“You know, Grandma was the one who pushed me to marry the man I love. To take that leap and to move out here. She gave me all the guidance I needed.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“It seems there are a lot of things we don’t know about each other. Let’s figure them out.”

We talked for a few more minutes, and I already felt lighter as we hung up. We would make plans to meet up and have a meal. I wanted to see her children, meet the family she had made on her own.

Lacey seemed well adjusted and as if she had made a good life for herself.

Maybe I could do that someday, but I wasn’t sure that’s what I was made for.

Lacey’s mother wasn’t as cruel as mine, after all. And Lacey hadn’t been broken because of lies and deceit.

I pushed those thoughts from my head and went back to my studio. I would relax later. Maybe I could put whatever I was feeling into my painting. Or I could simply forget.

My phone dinged, and I looked down, seeing a text from Nate.

Nate:Thinking of you. Have a good night, babe.

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