Page 24 of Taming His Honeydoll
When she nodded, he went on and explained about the codicil. “My lawyer says that yes, it is legal, apparently, but if it’s going to present a hardship for the person or persons in the home, then a good lawyer can keep it out of her hands while the codicil is contested by the deeded owners.”
Emma groaned. “So, Henry and I are actually screwed out of the house.”
“That woman has a lot of nerve,” Sawyer stated furiously.
April cleared her throat. “So, if we can narrow this down to a theory? From what you’ve just told us, I’m guessing Marlene already had the housefire planned in case you refused her offer. She knew if you challenged her right to the house, then it could be tied up legally. If you didn’t agree right away, the fire was a fail-safe to put you out of the house. Then with the insurance in her name, you couldn’t afford your own repairs either. In which case you might turn to her.”
“That’s not going to happen,” Emma replied firmly. “I’m sure Levi and I can still live in part of the house at least, and maybe I could get a loan to get rid of the smoke damage smell.” She looked hopefully at her brother, hoping he would make the offer at some point because she wasn’t sure she could get a loan.
Oliver shook his head, regret gleaming in his green eyes. “I hate to add another shock to what has already happened today, honey, but I’m afraid the house is a total loss. You and Levi won’t be able to live in it until the inside structure is completely restored, which is going to take a lot of money. The fire gutted the house.”
Emma gasped in shock. “You’re kidding me!”
Nat jumped in. “I’ve been in contact with the fire inspector, Emma. Right now, they are searching for evidence of accelerants, or someone being in the house, anything that might lead them to believe it was arson. They are even canvassing the neighborhood for eyewitnesses, but so far, they’ve come up empty-handed. If your ex-mother-in-law is behind the fire, then she’s covered her tracks well.”
“I’m sure she’s behind it,” Emma cried in frustration. “You didn’t hear her on the phone, she was evil and vindictive.”
“He’s not saying we don’t believe you,” April interjected. “But what we know and what can be proven are often two different things.”
Ty frowned. “There is no doubt in my mind that she is behind this and that she wanted that house—one way or the other. It just worked to her advantage because it became a tool to force you to take her offer seriously. Since you appeared estranged from your own family, from her point of view, she took that to mean you had no resources to fall back on.”
“But she’s wrong,” Marsha added, fire lighting up her face. “She isn’t going to get away with this.”
“What’s really bothering me right now is those two men in the SUV,” Nat said with a frown. “What was their purpose?”
“I’m sure they wanted Levi,” Emma replied, shivering. “She’s determined to take my baby away from me.”
Sawyer took her hand. “That’s never going to happen.”
“Have you heard from this Marlene since the fire?” Nat asked. “Because if the fire was intended to scare you into agreeing with her, why try to take Levi before she’s even talked to you?”
“How well did you really know Henry?” Sawyer asked. “Is it possible he could be behind the kidnap attempt?”
“Why would Henry want Levi?” Emma was bewildered. “He’s not even his child.”
Oliver scowled. “Maybe she’s threatening Henry as well because she wants you guys back together.”
“Henry wouldn’t do that,” Emma protested. “At least I don’t think he would do that to either one of us, he loves us. Besides, he’s in London.”
“Maybe they wanted both of you,” Chessy suggested, her green eyes huge. “Maybe Marlene planned to take you both to London because Henry would be agreeable to getting remarried if she could make that happen.”
They all stared at Chessy, no one saying what they were all thinking.
“And now you know why I worry about you,” Ty growled, shifting his arm around his wife and pulling her in close.
With Marlene’s careful approach to the house fire, would Chessy have become a witness she wouldn’t want left behind?
Emma bit her lip, debating whether to spill the beans about Henry and Everett. There was just no way Henry could be involved in this, she was sure of it.
At that moment, Emma’s cell phone rang, startling all of them.
