Chapter 15

Jael sat quietly next to Christopher as they waited for everyone to arrive. He was on his phone, but his hand had wandered over and rested on her knee. She left it there. Over the past week, she’d found it easier to accept his affection than to push him away. But once they got through today, that would all change. She’d already decided to sell her apartment and move somewhere cheaper to save money. Running the foundation had taught her a lot about budgeting, and she was confident she could use her inheritance for many years to come by living a simpler life. It sounded like a dream.

“We can talk about it on Thursday,” Christopher said into the phone while his thumb rubbed on her leg.

He wouldn’t mourn her loss. He’d have everything else he wanted now that her father was gone. He could run the company however he wanted.

Christopher hung up and smiled at her. “How’re you feeling?”

“I’ll be glad when this is all over,” she said.

Her father’s long-time friend and lawyer, Fredrick Housen, sat behind a wide oak desk. “I think that’s everyone,” he said to the room as he peered over his glasses, then proceeded to rearrange the papers in front of him.

“I don’t expect this to take too long,” Christopher whispered to Jael. “You know how precise your dad was with what he owned.”

The confident smile he gave her irked her. She wondered if her dad had hinted at what he’d left Christopher. The fact that he was there meant there was something for him, but besides hiring him for the CEO position, she couldn’t imagine what her dad would have wanted him to have.

“There aren’t many people here,” she said. “So I’d say you’re right.”

Christopher looked into her lap and placed his hands over hers to stop her kneading. “You shouldn’t be nervous.”

“I’m not. I’m uncomfortable and tired.”

He untangled her hands and wove his fingers between hers. “Not long now,” he said, then leaned closer. “I’ll tell you what.” The lawyer cleared his throat to begin, but Christopher continued in a low voice. “I know this great spa in Arizona. Why don’t I book us a weekend away there?”

Her stomach curled in on itself. She opened her mouth to refuse him, but the lawyer began, and Christopher said, “We’ll talk later.” Then he straightened and focused on Mr. Housen.

“Now that we are all gathered, I’ll begin by reading a letter that Gregory Heber instructed be shared.”

Christopher leaned close to her again, whispering in her ear, his breath warm on her neck. “How about dinner tonight? Followed by drinks at my place. We can celebrate the future.”

She nodded toward the lawyer to get him to focus back on their purpose.

The letter said a lot of superfluous nonsense that she was used to listening to at her dad’s dinner parties. Finally, the lawyer got to the will, beginning by declaring a small portion of his wealth to a charity her mother had supported before she died. That was a surprise. They’d never gotten along well as far as Jael knew, but it was nice to hear that her father cared enough for that, even if it was only a token.

Then, the lawyer read out instructions for the bulk of Gregory’s estate and wealth.

Jael kept her eyes focused on the floor as she listened, but as Mr. Housen explained Gregory’s wishes, Jael couldn’t do more than blink as her entire world imploded. Christopher shifted beside her and spoke softly to her, but she couldn’t hear him. It was all over before her mind could catch up with the details.

“That was a surprise,” Christopher said, retrieving her attention.

Her eyes slid dully to his. “What?”

“Did you know he’d put that in his will?”

She blinked once, then twice. “No.”

“It shouldn’t matter too much, though, should it? I mean, we all knew where this was headed. I haven’t made it a secret how I feel about you.”

The blood drained from her face, and she swallowed back bile. “Excuse me.”

She wobbled as she stood, struggling out of the room. Breathing hard through her nose to steady herself, she reached the door and hurried down the hall, running her hand along the wall to keep from reeling.

She almost didn’t make it to the bathroom in time, not quite securing the stall door before she threw up into the toilet. Her labored breaths echoed softly in the cubical as she listed to the side, resting her temple against the cold metal wall.

It was all exactly how it should have been, except for one small detail. Her dad had left her with everything she’d expected, but it came with a caveat. Even in death, he continued to manipulate her. If she married Christopher, she’d have all she could ever need. If she remained free, she lost it all. Her father had handed her over to another.

“It’s only money,” she whispered, squeezing her eyes tight to stave off another wave of nausea. If it hadn’t been for the foundation, she would have given up the wealth. But the foundation was her penance. It was all she had any right to in this world. If she didn’t have the means to help those women, then she’d rot away to nothing. Marrying Christopher meant the same, but at least she could help others.

“Becca.” Her voice was hoarse. “I have to think of Becca.”

If Jael gave up her own life, she’d have a chance to save Becca’s and all the others that would follow. And she’d do it. It wasn’t the first time she’d had to steel herself for the worst. She’d do it again. What right did she have to expect any joy when she’d been involved in taking so much from so many?

She licked her dry lips, then left the stall and rinsed out her mouth. With her chin lifted to her reflection, she set her face to a resolute determination toward the future, pinching her cheeks to bring back the color. But when she tried to shift away, a fear like she’d never known held her in place. She stared at a reflection that she struggled to recognize. Then, her perception shifted, and she noticed for the first time that her high cheek bones reminded her of her mom.

The color drained from her face again as she suddenly understood. She’d been angry at her for so many years for being absent even though she was present. Her mom had been closed off to most affection and was always sad, always drinking or taking pills. She’d wear a far-off look filtered through a glassy dullness, and now Jael understood why. Her mom had faced a life with Gregory. Jael wanted to believe that she wouldn’t succumb to the same coping mechanisms while married to Christopher, but how many years could she resist?

“Sorry, Mom. You did what you could to survive. And so will I.” And if she had a daughter one day, she could promise that she’d be a better mother, but she would only be fooling herself.

After one last long breath, she exited the bathroom, a dull ache coating her. When she spotted Christopher in the lobby, she didn’t hesitate to approach him.

“I’m fine,” she said before he could ask. “It’s a lot to take in. I wasn’t expecting it to feel so final.”

“I was worried,” he said. “I thought maybe you were disappointed. I think Gregory only added that to the will so he could be a part of what he expected to happen anyway.”

“Probably. And he always did look out of for my best interest,” she lied. “Maybe he was worried I’d get stubborn with his passing.”

“So, you’re okay with everything.”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

He put his arm around her and kissed her forehead. “I’m so glad to hear it. My dad is waiting outside. He’ll want to know.”

She forced her arm to wrap around his waist. “Then we’d better go tell him the good news.”

Artus was leaning against a pole, smoking a cigarette. When he saw them come out, he flicked it to the ground and stepped on it as he walked over to them.

“A terrible habit,” he said.

“And every time, you swear it’s your last one,” Christopher said with a sly grin.

“I see no need to completely relinquish life’s pleasures. I’m a good boy most of the time.” He winked at Jael.

“That’s probably the biggest lie you’ve ever told,” Christopher said. His easy smile opened up to a laugh until he looked at Jael. “Sorry. We shouldn’t be joking around on a day like today.”

Artus sighed deeply. “I do know Gregory wouldn’t want us to mourn him for too long.”

Jael didn’t expect Artus or Christopher to mourn him at all. They got everything they wanted. Including her.

“But he will be missed,” she said dutifully.

“He will.” Artus nodded solemnly. “Very much.” Then he took both Jael’s hands in his own and pull her closer to him. “But I want you to know that we consider you family now. You don’t have your dad anymore, but you have us. You will always have us.” He lifted her hands and pressed them to his mouth.

“Thank you,” she said. “That’s very kind of you to say.”

“We’ve known you and your dad for a long time. And while I in no way intend to take the place of a father, I do hope you’ll look on me and Christopher as very dear friends.”

“She’ll be more than that soon,” Christopher said. “I know you’ve been dying to ask but polite in your resistance. Jael won’t mind me telling you of the stipulation that Gregory added to her inheritance.”

Artus’s eyebrow raised. “Stipulation? He put conditions on it? This is a surprise.”

“I don’t know why he felt it necessary besides ensuring his daughter was in the safest hands. But she’ll get everything she expected upon our marriage.”

Artus looked between the two. “Well now, it sounds like we have something to celebrate. That’s fantastic news. I know you two were already getting close, so I hope, Jael, that you don’t find this all too forward. I, for one, am ecstatic.”

But Jael saw something in his eyes that betrayed him. Perhaps he’d been looking forward to being free of the Hebers for good. At least she wasn’t the only one disappointed by the news. Christopher’s countenance, on the other hand, suggested he was only thrilled with the idea of her becoming his wife.

“There will be a lot to plan,” Jael said, “but right now, I’m afraid I have to get going. I have some work that needs to be done, so if you’ll excuse me.”

“Today?” Christopher said and shook his head. “You give too much to that foundation. It is Vita Nova, I’m assuming?” He sounded an awful lot like her dad.

“No, actually. It’s a personal matter.” If she didn’t get away to process what had happened soon, she’d likely make a mess of everything. She grit her teeth for one last platitude and leaned in to kiss Christopher’s cheek. “I’ll call you.”

He took her hand and rubbed his thumb softly on the back of it. “I look forward to it. We’ll make plans for dinner.”

“Sounds good.” She pulled from his grasp and bent her head to the ground. She was exhausted from all the pretending, and all that lay before her was a black hole of despair. She had never felt so completely lost in all of her life.