Page 11 of Grave Kisses
“Oh, did he now?” Martin asks. “I’ll call the others on the board and handle that today. Don’t you worry.”
“I brought the adoption papers,” I say. “I had them with me when I found Alan.”
“Oh, honey,” Martin says.
“I signed them. I just needed his signature,” I say.
“If you can find his safe at his house, I know for a fact he has signed ones that he was waiting to have you sign. He said he knew you’d get there but needed time.”
“Do you know where it is?” I ask. “Would Jesse take those?”
“In a heartbeat,” Martin says. “Don’t worry about it right now, but when you are ready, go and see if you can’t find it.”
“I know where it is,” I say with a sigh.
“You do? I didn’t even know where it was,” Martin says.
“Yeah. I’ve known for years. He said he wanted to make sure someone knew and mentioned that he kept all his importantstuff in there. I just haven’t been willing to go to the house since the coroner took him that night.”
“How about this?” Martin says. “I will come back a day early and go handle the couch for you. I know that is probably what is stopping you.”
“Yeah… I just… Going there is going to be hard,” I say.
“I’ll help with whatever you need me for, sweetheart. You know that.”
“I do,” I say. “I’ll let you go, though. I’ll see you Friday.”
“You'd better at least text me before then, Kendra,” he says.
“I will,” I laugh. “Love you, Martin.”
“Love you too, honey,” he says before ending the call.
“I’m fully convinced,” Bellamy says. “Not that you need my approval or anything, but Martin is… an asshole. Don’t get me wrong, he is a good man, but he doesn’t joke with people like that.”
“Yeah. Alan said he was a broody man, usually. His son is, too,” I say.
“Well, you turned one mushy. Marcus will chill out eventually,” Bellamy says.
“If he is friendly with Archer, I doubt it. Archer blames me for what happened, even though I didn’t ask for that. I even told Alan I didn’t want him to disown him. Alan would just tell me that Archer is beyond help.”
“I don’t know much about Archer, honestly. I can snoop, though,” Bellamy says.
“I won’t ask you to…”
“I know you aren’t asking,” Bellamy says softly. “But Marcus is spiteful just like his father. I’d like to know if he is planning on doing something stupid.”
“Like what?” I ask.
“Like being friends with the man who led a gang rape against you,” Bellamy says bluntly.
“Fuck. If he brings Archer here, I will one hundred percent get murdered… or raped again,” I say.
“He will not touch you,” Bellamy says firmly.
“Okay, Mr. Protective,” Julie says with a grin. “Such a knight in shining armor.”
“Don’t you start,” I laugh.
