Page 86 of Drawing Home
“Henry designed much of the furniture in this house,” Bea said. “Not that I expect you to appreciate that.” She got up and walked over to the large green and black painting. “Did you know that this piece,Greene Street, 1972,hung in the Guggenheim for several years?”
“I don’t care about the art right now!” Emma snapped.
“Fine. Then let me say we need to discuss some boundaries around here. Your daughter seems to plant herself in whatever room I’m occupying and she’s watching me like a hawk, doodling in that sketch pad of hers. It’s unnerving and, frankly, quite rude.”
The doorbell sounded.
“That must be Angus. I’ll get it,” Kyle said, going to the door.
“You invited that insufferable man to my house?”
Emma ignored her, wiping her eyes and fighting fresh tears. Angus rushed into the room.
“I’m so sorry,” he said, sitting next to her on the couch and patting her knee. His deep voice carried all the gravity of the situation.
“I can’t believe it,” she said, breaking down all over again.
“What on earth is going on here?” Bea said.
No one answered her, and when it was clear she wasn’t going to take the hint and leave, Kyle finally said, “Her ex-husband is fighting her for custody of Penny.”
Angus asked to see the petition.
“You’re nobody until somebody sues you,” Bea said.
“Bea, honestly. Not helpful,” said Kyle. He turned to Emma. “None of what’s in this petition will hold up.”
“You don’t know that,” Emma said, shaking her head.
“It’s just a landgrab,” Angus said. “This is about the house.”
“I can’t prove that.”
“He’s been absent for over a decade, and now he’s here a month after Penny inherits a multimillion-dollar estate,” Angus said.
“A judge won’t care about that. He’s going to read these complaints against me—and they look really bad.”
Bea sighed. “I’ve been around great wealth all my life. It attracts all sorts of ne’er-do-wells and prospectors. Such a burden.”
“This house!” Emma put her head in her hands. “It’s a curse. I don’t want it.” She looked at Bea. “You can have the damn house! Okay? Satisfied?”
“Well, I am sorry for the unfortunate circumstances, Emma. I don’t wish to see anyone this upset,” Bea said. “But I am relieved you’ve finally come to your senses about the house.”
“It’s not your house to give away, Emma,” Angus said.
“Always the gatekeeper,” Bea snapped.
Emma looked back and forth between the two of them and realized Angus was right. She was just the guardian of the house. Guardian of Penny equaled guardian of the house. As Mark was well aware.
“The bottom line is you need a lawyer,” said Kyle. “Do you know anyone in town?”
Emma shook her head. “Years ago, I had someone handle my divorce. The mom of one of my high-school friends was a lawyer. She wasn’t even a divorce lawyer—she just helped me because I needed help and had no money. And it wasn’t that complicated because Mark didn’t fight me. Maybe I should call Mark. Try to reason with him—”
They all interrupted with the unanimous opinion that that was a terrible idea.
“What’s going on?” Penny said from across the room.
At the sight of her daughter, Emma broke down again. And then she ran to Penny, swept her into her arms, and held her tight.
