Page 33 of The Wicked

I pasted on a smile and went out to greet Darla. “How was Virginia?”

The group of customers were looking at price tags in the sculpture section—the Craft Cabin sold finished work from local artists as well as the materials to make your own masterpiece—and Brooke was already rooting through a bag of candy Darla had brought back.

“The new store’s starting to look like a store now. I’ll admit that a month ago, I was wondering whether we’d bitten off more than we could chew.”

Brooke gave her a sly smile. “I hear you had some help?”

No kidding, Darla went as pink as the muumuu she was wearing, and that thing wasbright. “Paulo has a big mouth.”

“So youdidgo out for burgers with a hot hunk?”

“It was just lunch.”

“And? Are you going to see him again?”

Pink darkened to scarlet. “Maybe? He asked me to get pizza with him the next time I’m in town.”

Brooke threw her arms around her boss. “That’s so awesome! What’s he like? Paulo said he’s a giant?”

“His name is Alex, and he’s a personal trainer. But don’t get too excited—it might not go anywhere.”

“It’s great that you’re dating again, though. When are you going back to Virginia?”

“Next month, but we still need to finalise the details.” Darla turned to me. “Sara, I really appreciate you helping Brooke out. If you let me have your bank details, I’ll make sure you get paid for the hours you worked.”

“Thank you so much.”

Conversation paused as the customers picked out one of the beautiful wooden boats that were made by Decker Langdon, a local carpenter who did sculpting on the side. They weren’t cheap, but they were well worth the money.

“Will you be looking for any more shifts?” Darla asked once the group left. “Because I might need Paulo in Virginia again, and I’m sure Brooke and Everly would be grateful for an extra hand.”

My emotions were running so close to the surface these days, and tears stung my eyes. Why did kindness break me more easily than death?

“Can I let you know? I could use the extra money, but right now, I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be in Baldwin’s Shore.”

Darla’s expression turned sympathetic. “Is this because of the fight with your cousins?”

Easier to lie than tell the truth. “That’s a big part of it.”

“Can’t say I’d blame you for leaving, hun. You could come back in two years to claim what’s yours and then hightail it into the sunset.”

“Claim what’s mine? You know about Grandpa’s will?”

I suppose it shouldn’t have surprised me. Darla had been closer to him than anyone in his later years, and they’d obviously discussed his estate because she’d received a part of it. A part of it that everyone except me had contested. Darla was a mere employee—how dare he leave her with a home?

“We spoke about all sorts of things.”

“What does his will have to do with anything?” Brooke asked. “Didn’t his estate get divided up years ago?”

I’d always preferred to keep personal business as just that—personal—but what did it matter anymore? Let the whole darn town find out what lying toads my cousins were.

“It didn’t get divided up; it got put into a trust. In two years, the trust will be split between beneficiaries who meet Grandpa’s conditions.”

“What are the conditions?”

“He didn’t want any of us to laze around living off the family name, so we have to make at least $250,000 in our own right before we’re entitled to a cent of his money—earned, not borrowed or gifted. That’s on top of whatever we spend on living expenses. We need to present a bank statement showing the amount to claim a share. I was on track, but when Kayleigh and Lillian fired me, they basically stole my inheritance as well as my job.”

“That’s…that’s…”

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