Page 61 of Destiny

“Because he found out that Dale, Donny, and Brock arranged for him to be paid for the vandalism of his place.”

“I see.” Mom looks to the floor.

“You knew?”

She frowns. “I did. Joe finally leveled with Ryan and me about what’s going on. They tried to keep it from Ryan because of his mother. He’s not happy about that, of course.”

“I can see why he wouldn’t be. It’s like they’re treating him differently because he’s only their half brother.”

“That’s exactly how he sees it. But I see it from both sides. They didn’t want him to feel bad.”

“But here she is anyway. His mother has come back from the dead.”

“So it would seem.” Mom’s forehead wrinkles. “The timing is interesting, don’t you think?”

“I suppose so.”

Mom squeezes my hand. “Ava, this is why you need to be very cautious. Wendy is back now for a reason. She reached out to you for a reason.”

“That’s my point, Mom. I want to knowwhy.”

“Even if she does level with you, the reason may not be good. Like I said, you could end up in a dark place.”

“That’s not me, Mom. I’m not a dark person.”

“I know you’re not. Stay as you are. Stay my sweet and talented Ava. My Ava who has always marched to the beat of her own drummer.”

I force a smile as I sniffle. “I’m not going anywhere.”

I leave the kitchen then. I’ve had about as much of this conversation as I can take.

I miss Brendan. I love him so much, but he’s right about one thing. I need to put this thing with my grandmother to bed before I can give my all to our relationship.

I walk back to the room where my grandmother is staying. I open the door. My father sits in a chair next to her. Neither Jemima nor Dr. Parks is in the room.

“She’s asleep,” Dad says.

I draw in a breath, gather strength. “All right. Then I’m waking her up.”

Chapter Nineteen

Brendan

Ten minutes later, I set up a meeting at Lauren’s house with Dad, Ruby, and me.

After calling to tell Ruby what time to meet us there, I take a look at the documents I found in the floorboards by opening my copy ofThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

I’m still not sure why the Steels have a lien on everything we own. Dale and Donny did promise to get rid of the lien on the bar, and I trust they’ll get it done.

I regard the birth certificate for William Elijah Steel, with no mother listed. Only the father, George Steel, father of Bradford Steel. Unreal.

What no longer seems unreal, of course, is the deed transferring all the Steel property to Ryan Steel.

This was Wendy Madigan’s ace in the hole. A chance to get the Steel property given to her son only.

She can never know this deed still exists.

Not that Ryan would allow his siblings to go without anything. I can’t imagine he would ever do that.

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