Page 67 of A Whisper of Summer Magic

“Those five acres with those homesteaders have been paying nominal rent for years, and it was not listed in the trust so it’s part of my inheritance with the other listed properties.”

“The five acres weren’t listed,” Sarah said. “I wanted to wait until after Chloe’s wedding to loop Meghan in.”

“What are you both talking about?” Meghan demanded, afraid she knew.

“Your grandmother was generous to a fault, but not to her only son,” her father said, his voice tinged with bitterness. “Punishing me for not stepping up for Chloe, but I hardly could do that to Elizabeth Katherine. Talk sense to your sister. She’s too soft-hearted,” her father said. “You studied economics. Law. That property is worth several million to my company, and that house is practically a shack.”

Meghan opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She knew the five acres. She likely even knew the when Jackson realized land was up for grabs. Maybe. If he had an in…

“Nothing’s settled, nothing’s filed until I return.” Their father pointed at Sarah. “I’m trusting you, Meghan.”

He slammed out of the office through the French doors, and as Meghan turned to watch him go, she realized she and Sarah faced each other across the desk. Opposite sides.

“Meghan,” Sarah said appeasingly.

“He must really think I’m stupid,” Meghan said tightly. “And he would be right.” Meghan turned around, just as their father had done and stalked back outside to cool down.

*

“I will notruin Chloe’s wedding. I will not let emotions rule me.” She paced out in the garden, breathing in through her nose, holding the breath for four and then releasing it.

He’d used her to play to her sympathy. To get close to her and to Sarah as they worked to organize their grandmother’s will, gifts, and legacy. And she’d played into his hands. Even the book had played into his hands—appearing for him so he could pretend that he could learn about it, tease her, encourage her to cook new recipes with him, explaining why he started flirting with her, pretending to care, to be attracted, to want more.

Oh. God. She’d been so dumb. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

She stopped pacing and closed her eyes that burned. How could she have been so dumb even as she fought to keep her head screwed on straight.

“Hey, baby. People are starting to arrive. Do you need me to help with anything so you can change?” Jackson’s voice washed over her, warm and welcoming.

His hand touched her shoulder, and he reeled her in for a hug, but she stepped back. Her instinct was to confront him. She hadn’t become a top corporate attorney by shrinking away. But she would not make a scene before Chloe’s wedding. Her father had shown himself to be selfish, and she didn’t want to take after him. But he had been protecting his grieving wife. Meghan felt conflicted—torn in two. She’d never been black and white, and yet now she wanted to cling to simplicity. Hadn’t Jackson been trying to protect his family?

“Everything’s ready,” she said feeling like a wooden doll, her limbs heavy and not coordinating properly. “I need to change.” And she practically ran back to the house.

Chapter Thirteen

The wedding wasbeautiful in its simplicity. Chloe looked like a garden sprite. She faced Rustin, holding his hands. She sang him a song she’d written. They’d written, and they spoke their individual vows to each other. Meghan was not the only one holding back tears. No one would have suspected Chloe’s world had been rocked a few days ago.

“I choose happiness,” Chloe had said.

A small a cappella choir sang, and two students played another song on a cello and violin. The small collection of guests toasted with orange juice, champagne, or mimosas or sparkling water.

Rustin’s brother had done an online certificate so that he could legally marry them. Rustin’s mom and sisters sat with Chloe’s bio mom and her husband along with her, Sarah, and Jessica.

Jackson had tried to maneuver to sit next to her, but she’d hipped Sarah over and yanked Jessica and Storm down next to her. She tried to hold tight to her anger, but she felt choked by the dark heaviness when she wanted to burn with fiery self-righteousness. Worse, she had to remind herself to not look at him. It was like he was magnetized, and her gaze was metal. But he was just as bad. She could feel his regards, practically hear his connections.

But not here.

This was Chloe’s big moment.

She was on to him. But she also didn’t want to do his mom and grandparents wrong. Jackson was protecting his family. She just wished he would have been honest with her.

*

“A toast tothe groom,” Jessica sang out later at the Wild Side as the kitchen staff brought out the warming trays and the food that had been prepared earlier before the wedding. “And to the bride.”

Even Meghan, trying hard to hide her unhappiness, laughed a little thinking of the musicalHamiltonthat the four of them had seen several times in different cities. As history buffs, she and Chloe had loved the show more than any other, and Sarah and Jessica had happily tagged along to weekends in Washington DC, New York, Boston, and Chicago. Jessica spoke movingly about her baby sis, and Meghan kept her eyes glued on her sister, not letting her gaze stray to Jackson who sat near to Chloe’s mom. Twice he got up to refill her and her husband’s champagne glasses.

People clapped and Jessica smiled graciously and stared at Meghan who looked back. Oh. My. God. She was supposed to speak. And the woman who had made her money with her words for so long was bereft of any words. All she could think of Chloe’s fierceI choose happiness. And Meghan had no idea how Chloe had made such a beautiful leap of faith.

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