Chapter 32

Chapter Thirty-Two

T he next day was a brisk, sunny day. Gwen strolled through the garden in the back of the McRainey estate. She pulled her wrap closer and glanced up to Edith walking toward her. The woman held out her hand. Gwen took it.

“Come, let us sit,” Edith told her, pulling her to a wooden bench. “I can’t remember such a beautiful morning this early in the spring.” She studied Gwen for a beat. “I know you are planning to leave. You shouldn’t make a hasty decision.”

“I think it would be better for him if I do leave,” Gwen replied, looking toward the house. “He needs time to get accustomed to everything.”

“Tristan does need time, time to mourn, time to adjust and learn new things,” Edith agreed. “However, I also think he has strong feelings for you, and if you leave, it will be one more thing he’ll have to cope with. I ask you to reconsider. I know it’s not easy for you either.”

Before standing, the older woman patted her hand. “Now, I’d better go ensure a meal is taken up to him. Think on what I’ve said.”

Would remaining help? One thing for sure, she was too confused to think straight. She’d never been in love before, didn’t know until the day before that heartbreak actually did hurt physically. After leaving Tristan’s room, she’d fallen into her bed and cried herself to sleep. Not just because she was losing him, but she ached thinking of how much he was hurting. Love was an incredible thing. She’d never make light of a person in love again.

She’d awakened to find Sabrina walking in with a cup of hot tea. Her insightful sister also brought toast and a new box of tissues. Gwen immediately began crying again, telling Sabrina everything, each detail of the past several weeks. Repeating everything out loud tore her inside out.

Sabrina listened without comment, handing her tissues and pushing the tea into her hands when hiccups began. After nibbling on the toast, she collapsed back onto the pillows exhausted, but glad to have gotten everything out.

Like Edith, Sabrina insisted she remain in Scotland, at least for another couple of weeks. Her sister was flying to England for a two-week photo shoot, and promised to return afterwards so they could fly back home together.

Two weeks. Too long to be in the same house with the man you loved, who didn’t want to see you. And yet not long enough in the knowledge you’d never see him again.

“Good morning, Gwen.” Derrick walked down the garden path toward her. “Aunt Edith told me I could find you here.”

For a moment Gwen’s heart skipped. Derrick had the same build as Tristan, although Derrick’s hair had auburn highlights, and his eyes were dark brown, the two men could be brothers. Unlike other times she’d seen him, Derrick, who prided himself in an impeccable appearance, had his hair mussed, his shirt untucked. He sat next to her, and looked off into the distance, a serious expression on his handsome face.

“This place is full of bad memories for my uncle. I think the best course for him is to begin a new life. He has much to learn, too much to deal with without the added constant reminders of this place. Would you consider convincing him to move to America with you?”

She started to speak. He held up his hand silencing her. “If both of us of convince Aunt Edith this is for his own good, then the three of us can talk him into it. Especially right now. He is not doing well. I just came from seeing him and had to leave the room. The madman attacked me.”

Not stopping to think, Gwen slapped Derrick hard across the face. “How could you?” She yelled at him. “After all that he’s gone through you still want to take his home away from him!” Angry, she jumped to her feet. “Derrick, you are inconsiderate and materialistic, still trying to come up with ways to get this estate.”

Derrick remained frozen, his hand on his reddened jaw, eyes bulging at her. “I don’t have to take this,” he spat at her. “Legally, I take control of the estate next year, there is no way for him to prove to be who he is. He may have convinced those old fools on the city council, but no judge in Scotland will grant him ownership.”

He stood glaring at her. “I don’t know why I bothered. Tell Aunt Edith, she’ll be hearing from my lawyers sooner than expected. When I tell them she wants to leave the estate to a dead man, they’ll grant me ownership right away.” He spun on his heel and stormed around to the front of the house, to where his Ferrari, Jaguar, or Lamborghini was no doubt parked.

Gwen caught movement in a window on the second floor; the curtain fell back into place. It was Tristan’s room.

He’d watched the exchange between her and Derrick. She wondered what he made of it.

She considered going and trying to talk to him, but decided to go find Sabrina instead. She’d stay, especially now. Edith and Tristan would be needing her if the case was indeed brought up before the legal system.

Blowing out a frustrated breath, she headed inside.