Page 54 of Never Been Gargoyled
Dressed in my softest top and shorts, I found Feydin in the library, surrounded by books and papers. He looked up when I entered, his expression immediately concerned.
“Feel better?” he asked.
“Much. Thank you for—” I gestured vaguely toward the stairs. “All of that. It was exactly what I needed.”
“Good.” He set down the book he'd been reading. “I've been thinking about our next steps.”
“And?”
“I spoke with a colleague who had some suggestions. We need to search the estate for any letters Rebecca might have sent to Helga. If she saved them, it would prove Helga knew about Rebecca's attempts to contact her, that she was still alive and able to inherit.”
“That would help our case?”
“It could. If Helga received those letters and still chose to leave everything to you, it strengthens the argument that her will reflects her true intentions.”
I perked up. “Where do we start looking?”
“Anywhere Helga might have kept important papers. Her bedroom, this library, whatever area she might’ve used as an office.”
“There's a desk in her bedroom. And filing cabinets in the basement.”
“Awesome. We’ll start looking tomorrow.” He studied my face. “You look too tired to tackle that now.”
He was right, but I felt energized by having a plan.This was something concrete we could do instead of sitting around, waiting for bad news.
“Actually, I'm feeling better. More hopeful.” I moved closer to where he sat behind the big oak desk. “Thank you for giving me something to fight for.”
“You don't need to thank me for that.”
“Yes, I do. You could’ve told me to give up, that Rebecca's claim was too strong. Instead, you're helping me find a way to keep this place.”
“Because it's yours,” he said simply. “Because you belong here.”
The certainty in his voice made my heart skip. “You really believe that?”
“I know it.”
I leaned against the edge of the desk, close enough to see the silver flecks in his gray eyes. “What gave you your first clue?”
“The way you looked at the gardens. Not just seeing the weeds and overgrowth, but imagining what they could be with love and attention.”
“And?”
“The way you light up when something starts to bloom.”
“Youdonotice a lot of things.”
“About you, yes.”
Heat filled my face. “Why?”
He was quiet for a long moment, and I thought he might not answer. Then he said, “Because you fascinate me.”
“I fascinate you.” I wasn't sure if that was good or bad.
“Everything about you. Your laugh, the way you savor a pastry, the way you get excited about compost.”
“Hey, compost is important.”
