Page 33 of A Package Deal

“Can you drop me off at home?” Suzanne asked. Home was in the opposite direction of the hospital, but Pris agreed. Jackson,sansalarm, said he also needed to leave. Nelie moved her chair back, ready to make her escape, but Mrs. Hart shook her head.Good grief, what now?

Miller opened the door for the Wyatts, as Jackson said, “You can buy me a beer to make it up to me.”

“While I won’t say no to a sale, Jackson, Miller was doing his job.” Nelie wanted to tell Jackson to grow up and stop pouting, but she knew that would go over about as well as a fart in church. She faced Miller. “I can’t imagine you enjoyed sitting on this secret.”

“I didn’t,” Miller said, and Jackson looked contrite.

“Do Croix and Rica know?” Jackson asked, following Pris and his mother toward the door.

“They only managed the money. They didn’t know who the inheritors were, but they will now. Everything here is confidential.” Jackson rubbed his neck and Nelie sensed he wasn’t happy about this. She wasn’t either. Three non-family members knew the truth, making it harder for her to find her way back to her normal, pre-revelation life. “But if it makes you feel better, I’ll buy you that beer.” Miller slapped Jackson on the shoulder.Men, Nelie thought, with a mental shake.

“If you wouldn’t mind staying for a few more minutes, Miller, there’s something I need to tell Nelie, and I’d like you to be here,” Mrs. Hart said, and Nelie broke out into a cold sweat.What more can there possibly be? This morning, I was debating if I should wait for a sale before I bought new shoes for work, and now I’m a multi-millionaire?!Jackson and Pris seemed to take it in stride, but she was freaking out on the inside. Nelie’s finger traced the edges of the key as if it was her tether to reality.

“Ronald was awfully fond of you. He said it was a cruel joke that the child he spent the most time with didn’t even know they were related.” Mrs. Hart said.

“And I thought he was only this really nice family friend who loved fishing with me and being my baking guinea pig. He even suffered through a few tea parties.”

“He didn’t suffer, dear. He loved you. We all do, and I’m terribly sorry we dumped this on you so suddenly.”

“I don’t think gradual would have worked.” They shared a small smile.

“Yes, well, in the spirit of doing better, I thought I’d make sure some things were clear to you. Jackson and Priscilla know, because, well, they’ve grown up in the family. And you’re…”

“New?” Nelie said, but Mrs. Hart shook her head.

“No. Finally, where you belong.”

Do I?Nelie’s heart warmed, but she knew she had a long road ahead of her to overcome Jackson’s pissy attitude—today had been the exception—and Suzanne’s indifference. She wanted a good relationship with all of them without feeling disloyal to Gus and Stella. How could she merge what she’d had in her first forty years of life with this new information—her blood family—and maintain the illusion that her life hadn’t changed?

Mrs. Hart sat taller and squared her shoulders.

“To be blunt, I’m an old woman and I won’t live forever. My estate will be evenly split between you, Jackson, and Priscilla, unless Suzanne gets her act together. Cash, stocks, and voting rights for Hart Hotels and CHART. And from what Gus has shared with me, you will inherit his full estate, which isn’t as piddly as he makes it out to be. It wouldn’t surprise me if he owns half the downtown real estate.” Nelie knew it was more than that, including the building they sat in. Her dad was the busiest landlord in the downtown area.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because you are a wealthy woman now and you’ll be wealthier in the future. You can build the life you want.”

“I wouldn’t even know what that looked like,” Nelie confessed. Mrs. Hart squeezed her hand.

“Ronald told me you always liked to travel during your tea parties. I think once you were at a castle and another time in the tropics?”

Nelie smiled at the memory. “We’d just finished watchingThe Jungle Book.”

“Maybe you should travel? Family members get a steep discount at Hart.” Mrs. Hart winked.

“I’ll think about it.”

“Dream big, Nelie.” Mrs. Hart patted her hand and left. When the door clicked behind her, Nelie turned toward the window. Everything looked still outside, but a storm brewed inside her.

Miller sat down and tapped his finger on her hand. He leaned toward her. “How are you?” he asked. His deep voice was soothing. Nelie wondered why Mrs. Hart had asked Miller to stay, and now she knew. The old lady wanted her to have a trustworthy, comfortable friend nearby to help her manage the latest bomb.

“Conflicted. Confused. Grateful. It’s been a lot to take in.” Nelie sniffled and Miller moved the tissue box closer. She dabbed at her eyes and looked again at the partially frozen river.March is such an ugly month. “I don’t even know what to call her,” she said in a small voice.

“I don’t think Mrs. Hart cares as long as you’re in her life.”

“Last month, I was Gus Peterson’s grandniece/daughter and a busy restaurant owner. I was back together with the guy I loved and had a family of my own at my fingertips. And now I have nothing. I don’t know where I belong.”

“If those are the things you want, you haven’t lost them. But if you want something new, now’s your chance,” Miller said.

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