Page 73 of Fallen Legacy

I shake my head, studying the note. “If you call some weird stalker trouble, then yes.” I sigh; I am so tired of this fucker messing with my head. “Ever since I arrived in the bay, I’ve been getting warnings to leave. Some unknown person has been sending me parcels with dead birds and they even wrote a warning on my bedroom wall in pig’s blood.”

Rebecca gasps and reaches out to stroke my arm. “That is awful. Are you okay? Are the police investigating?”

I nod my head and attempt to give her a reassuring smile. I don’t want her worrying about me. “They are, but so far, no leads. I’m so sorry my situation has brought trouble to your door. I’ll speak to Wilbur and arrange for the shop front to be repaired.”

Rebecca shakes her head. “You will do no such thing. This isn’t your fault and I’m not taking a penny of that ratbag’s money. Our insurance will cover it.” She takes the note from me and places it back on the side. “Besides, I’m more worried about you and your safety.”

“I’m fine. Please don’t worry about me. The police are on the case, and I’ve moved in with Archer, because Edward has better security. Trust me, Archer ensures I’m never left alone.” I gesture across the street to where Tony is crossing the road towards us. “I even have my own personal bodyguard now.”

“Wilbur needs to ensure your safety,” Rebecca growls, her face scrunching in a frown as Wilbur’s name leaves her lips. “Aside from the note, I was worried about you. I saw the announcement in the local paper yesterday of your engagement.” She steps forward and takes my hand in hers, nothing but love and care in her expression. “Is Wilbur threatening you into an arranged marriage? Because I don’t care who that man is. If he is, I will take him on.”

My heart warms with her words. It’s so nice to have a blood relative who actually gives a genuine shit about me. “You know, Wilbur, he always has a plan up his sleeve.” I pat her arm when I see the angst in her eyes. “He has backed me into a corner, but truthfully, Archer and I are like two sides of the same coin. If I’m going to marry anyone, there isn’t really anyone better suited for me.”

“But marriage, Eliza.” She sighs. “You’re so young and you have your whole life ahead of you.”

“I’m fine, honestly,” I insist, smiling. “Neither you nor I have the power to take on Wilbur, and my brother’s future means more to me than anything. If getting married secures it for him, then I’ll do it in a heartbeat.”

Rebecca cups my cheek. “I just hate the thought that he is forcing you into a situation just like he did with your father.”

“I promise I’m okay.”

Rebecca nods her head, but she doesn’t look a hundred percent convinced.

“Archer is good for me. We didn’t have the best start, but he’s trying to do better. He really is.”

“Show me the rock, then,” she says resigned, and I hold out my hand and wiggle the finger adorned by the ring.

Rebecca stares open-mouthed at my ring. “Wow, that is a beauty. I don’t even want to know how much that has cost.”

“A lot,” Vee tells her with wide eyes. “I could buy a lot of Chanel with the money that rock cost.”

“She has a shoe obsession,” I explain to my Auntie, who is looking at Vee with a strange smile.

“Anyway, putting the drama over the window aside, were you ladies coming for some dinner?”

“We were planning on a chippy tea,” I say, “but we should probably leave you to sort this out.”

My auntie bats my comment away. “Nonsense, take a seat in the staff room and I’ll bring you both through a plate each.”

Lee pops his head into the room to tell Rebecca that the police should be here within the next hour. I offer to stick around to speak to them, but she tells me not to worry. She assures me she will explain to them about how it relates to me and tell them that Detective Boyd is working the case. I pull out my phone and call Tony. He needs to know that this incident is a result of my stalker. He arrives seconds later and asks Lee for the note and frowns as he reads it. He places his phone to his ear and strides from the chippy. He’s no doubt making a call to Wilbur.

By the time we’ve cleared our plates, I’m stuffed full. Vee has also polished off everything on her plate. We both sit there in a food coma for five minutes.

“That was hands down the best chippy tea I’ve had in a long time,” Vee says, undoing the button on her jeans. “Ugh, look at how bloated my belly looks for going to the party.”

I scoff. What belly? “There isn’t any belly there. Whereas me,” I say, rubbing my tummy.

“You can’t hide it from him forever, you know. You need to tell him, Eliza.” She gives me the type of look a mum would give her daughter when she’s trying to talk some sense into her.

“I will. When I’m ready. In my own time,” I assure her and turn my gaze away from her knowing eyes.

“I hope it’s a girl and then I can buy her cute designer baby dresses. She’ll be the best dressed baby in the Bay thanks to her Auntie Vee.” She leans her face on her hands and concentrates all her attention on me. “Have you thought about whether you’d like a girl or a boy?”

I glance at the door to make sure my auntie’s not in earshot. “Not really, no. I’m still processing the fact there’s a baby in here.”

She sighs. “I think Archer will make a great dad; I really do. If it’s a little girl, he’ll be fiercely protective of her, and if it’s a boy, he’ll have a great bond with the kid.” Vee looks at her watch. “We should go, it’s gone six.”

I nod my head in agreement and we both pick up our belongings and head through to the front of the chip shop where Rebecca and Lee are busy serving customers.

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