Thirty

"W yatt, is this over?"

He glanced at her. Maybe he hadn't heard her. Maybe he couldn't answer. The cab was silent. Anna folded her arms in front, one hand on top of the other, as she slumped against the seat. Wyatt fidgeted. She didn't need an answer. But she needed an escape, a break, and some peace, and he was headed to the cabin. That would be enough for her for now.

She didn't speak again the entire drive. Wyatt's shoulders were tense, proving he was as upset as she was. Dear man to feel this with her, shoulder it with her.

He let out a low heavy breath, and his shoulders relaxed when the property gate came into view. He pressed the button and nudged her. Slumped awkwardly in the seat, she eyed him through half-closed lids as the truck bounced beyond the gate and rumbled up the driveway and hill. Soon, all was silent, the engine killed. Then he opened her door, and she fell into his arms, clinging to him as her legs gave way.

He pulled back and brushed a strand of hair away from her forehead and cheeks. "Anna, you continue to amaze me—overwhelm me even." He cupped a palm to her face, his other arm supporting her. "I love you. I don't know what we'll have to work through after everything we heard today, but I'm here. I've always been here. We'll work through this together."

Anna shivered under love's power and understood its addiction. She craved it. Had she always loved him? Yes, perhaps. Either way, she would always love him.

She hugged him close. "You helped get me through some tough times as a child. I now understand why you were so protective. And I, too, feel the stirring emotional power of love. I want to feel this way the rest of my life."

She longed to trust him with her entire heart. Could she?

For Anna, losing her mother was the most difficult emotional challenge she'd ever faced. Less than one week ago, she was thrown into the fire and survived her second with the help of God and the handsome man sitting next to her. She managed to survive, head high, while the darkness engulfed her, by holding to her purpose, staying grounded in her principles. She held strong and found the light. Her mother would be proud—she had become strong.

She closed her eyes, relaxing her head back against the doorjamb, enjoying the peace. The cabin's glass doors were open. Rays of sun warmed her face. The waterfall and creek provided the relaxing music for her ears.

Wyatt's voice interrupted her refuge. Her peace shattered again.

"It doesn't matter. It's up to Anna. She has a say in this, Devlin." Wyatt's voice thundered, then came the lull in the storm as he listened. Perhaps she should have insisted he put the call on speaker.

"You know who I am." Wyatt's low tones held power. "I'm not gonna stand by and watch you do anything to Anna." He jammed the receiver onto its switch hook, its bell clattering. Then he covered his eyes with his hand, taking deep breaths.

Anna stood silent, waiting for him to speak.

At length, he turned to her. "Devlin is going to fight us on everything. This isn't a surprise now that I'm seeing him for who he is. Greta would be heartbroken."

"I hate to say it, Wyatt," Anna whispered, hugging her arms around herself. "But don't dismiss Greta's role in all this."

"Maybe you're right. But Greta may have anticipated this. If what ‘Atticus' said was true, then she was sorry in the end. She gave me an enormous bonus package that made no logical sense. Maybe she did it for this reason. She must've noted my reaction when I mentioned encountering you. She'd have known it would be me and you against the power of Devlin's newly inherited fortunes."

I am strong. I am strong. Anna uncoiled her arms and drew in a deep breath. "What's our next step?"

"I'm going to file something with the police and with the court requesting a DNA test verifying Atticus was who he said he was. If it reveals he's Jon Alan, things get complicated."

"How complicated?" Was she ready for this? For her mother, she'd have to be .

"Atticus likely named Devlin as his heir. Greta also named Devlin as hers, but he has delayed the reading of her will. No one waits with this large of an estate. He says he's still mourning, but there's gotta be more to it. The DNA tests are the first step. Right now, you are Atticus's only living blood relative, which gives you some standing. Also, I'm going to speak to the police about what Atticus said. His estate is so vast, so it seems like a logical step. Devlin is fighting it, though. Maybe he believes the story about Jon Alan assuming Atticus's identity. It's pretty messed up."

Anna pressed a hand to her swirling stomach. What a disappointing and bizarre family. "Some things should be left alone. Maybe I shouldn't have come."

Wyatt just eyed her.

No, she had to do this. She'd promised herself for her mother. "No matter what you think, I don't care about an inheritance, but it should've gone to my mother. And if Devlin drugged me and had anything to do with the break-ins or deaths, he needs to be held accountable. There's been enough death and deception."

Wyatt moved closer and wrapped his fingers around her trembling ones. "We'd better go back to the cottage. I should return to Boise, and I can't leave you here by yourself. Plus, the police are still expecting your statement. Another thing, do you have the locket's picture on your phone?"

Anna perked up, now finding purpose. "I left it upstairs on the charger since we don't have reliable cell service." She made her way past the open doors and gave a wistful glance at the pool and hot tub. Her feet flew up the steps, then slowed coming down, making certain to touch each step. Her phone felt heavy in her hand.

"Here it is." She held up the phone. "Do you know her?"

Wyatt reached for the armchair to steady himself as he sat. "This is Greta Alan."

"Does that mean…?"

"I should call Martha. Maybe she can get us something of Atticus's. A comb or something. Enough so we can make our case for testing. Anna, we may need to do something about exhuming Greta for testing also. If Devlin knew, I'm surprised he didn't have her cremated. But let's focus on Atticus and ensure his remains aren't destroyed before we can obtain proof."

Anna nodded, still stunned.

Wyatt found Martha's number on his cell phone, then dialed her on the landline.

"Hello, Wyatt." Martha sounded despondent.

"Martha, you're probably going through a lot right now, but I have to tell you the photo in Anna's locket is Greta Alan."

"What are you talking about?"

"The locket you delivered to Anna. The photo is of Greta Alan. Martha, we need to do a DNA test for Atticus. Is there anything at the house? A comb, toothbrush, or something, maybe?"

"I don't know. Devlin has practically moved in, and I'm not sure if I'm staying or going. Most likely going. He's searching through everything. I don't know what he's looking for. He's acting strange. He doesn't even want a funeral. He just wants to cremate Atticus."

"Martha, see what you can do. If DNA proves Atticus isn't Anna's blood relative, we all know that isn't possible. Please try."

"No promises, but I'll try."

The landline went dead.

"We'd better head back to Boise right away. Atticus and Greta are gone, but Devlin has something in mind. We're still not sure where Rowan is right now. We don't have dependable cell service here and shouldn't be so far from first responders. Plus, we need to be close to get things moving before Devlin gets ahead of us."

On Warm Springs Avenue, Anna stared at Atticus's dark and sorrowful house as they passed by.

Wyatt's phone was ringing. He hit the truck's speaker.

"Wyatt, this is Martha."

"Hey. You're on speaker."

"I have several things for you. I've already left the house and can meet you, but we need to be careful. Devlin's acting… strange. I don't trust him."

"Can you meet me at my house?"

"I'm not far from there. I'll see you soon."

The phone went silent.

"Anna, everything is going to move fast now. I know the attorney for Greta's will. I'm not sure I know who drafted Atticus's will, but Martha should know. Getting everything resolved is the only way to ensure you're out of danger."

Martha's black sedan already blocked the driveway. Anna's stomach bounced like acrobats tumbled inside. Wyatt parked beside Martha, and she walked toward the truck.

"I brought you several things. More than enough. I also brought you Atticus's recent will and a copy of one from years ago, before the split with Sabina. I thought you might want both. It has the attorney's name."

"Wow." Wyatt hopped down and took the satchel she passed over. "This is a huge help. I hope this doesn't get you in trouble."

"I can't go back to that house. Devlin is on a tear, and something isn't right. He's digging through everything. Not electronic stuff. Papers. He's looking for a key."

Wyatt raised his eyebrows at Anna, then touched Martha's arm, his voice gentle. "Is there anything you need?"

"Let's see what this all brings, but I'll disappear for a while. I stirred a hornet's nest with the letter. Take care, Anna."

Anna climbed from the truck and crossed to his side as Martha slid into her driver's seat, backed out, and drove away.

Wyatt's hand pressed to the small of her back. "Let's get you inside after I check my cameras. I'm going to move my truck into the garage."

After he pulled up the monitors and opened the doors with his phone, she went inside and waited. Soon, the door banged shut, and his footsteps clattered across the floor.

Then he called out. "Anna, I know several people who can help us. I don't want to leave you at home by yourself, though. I'll make some calls, and then you should come with me."

"Okay, I am anxious. I'll admit it. I'll freshen up and be back in a few minutes."

Wyatt nodded, already dialing his contacts.

After a break and breather, she made her way downstairs toward the voices. Her heart racing, her hands clammy, she breathed in the grounding scent of fresh-brewed coffee. Spoons clanked against porcelain, and her steps slowed as she approached Wyatt and his guests at the table.

"Anna." He beckoned. "I invited some colleagues and friends to help us sort through everything. Jim thinks he can have the test results back to us today, depending on what information is available. I spoke with the attorney who created Atticus's original will. I know the other attorney personally, so we'll wait on that. Things are going to move quickly."

He crossed to her, pulling her close to whisper in her ear. "I need to tell you something disturbing in private."

She let him guide her onto the patio, then leaned against a waist-high planter, and waited.

"Rowan was found in the river today—dead."

Emotionless and calm, she turned away and closed her eyes. "I'm ashamed. It's almost a relief. Only Devlin is left."

Wyatt put his strong arms around her. She could no longer smell the pines and the scents of the mountains.

"Wyatt, we've got something already!" one of the men called. "Come in here. You're not going to believe it!"

His arm around her, Wyatt guided her back.

The men fell silent, giving focus to a voice on the speaker of someone's phone. "Wyatt, Wyatt, are you there?"

"I'm here."

"Wyatt, Devlin Alan has his DNA in the database from a burglary at his home last year. We can check it later, but it may need a court order. In the meantime, can we get a sample from the relative of Atticus? That might be enough to show cause and get things moving through the system. Walter should have a kit that she could spit into. Then we can test against the samples. If it matches, that tells us something. If it doesn't—well, that means some deception was going on and there's a whole different investigation to pursue. We may have something to test against Greta Alan too, but that one will probably need a court order as well."

Wyatt glanced at Anna. Her heart was beating in her head.

"I'll let you know." He looked at Anna. She was walking over to the table. Walter pulled out a kit, and Anna moved into the other room, handing it back to him on her return.

"What does all this mean?" Anna bit her lip as they sat in Judge Walker's conference room.

"It means you're the heir to half of Greta Alan's estate, which includes Atticus Urbacch's estate. Atticus's original will left everything to Sabina. Since the "real" Atticus died with that will, it should have gone to Sabina. Jon Alan has no right to anything belonging to Atticus. Because Sabina was still alive under the new identity of Greta, she would still be entitled to Atticus's estate. She updated her will before she died. That leaves half to you and half to Devlin after obligations are paid. Greta also gave you, Anna, the property with your old house and the magical tree house on it."

"So Devlin is my uncle?"

"Yes, and who knows what will happen with him. The police are investigating the deaths of Clyde Beason, Frank Trent—the man at the airport—and Rowan Landinger. But regardless, you are very rich, Anna."

It was over. She'd righted the wrongs done to her mother. So why didn't she feel any satisfaction? All those years, all those struggles… If only…

She pushed to her feet. "Can we go now?"

"Yes, we're done here. It's over. Greta's will stipulated that her body could not be cremated, and she added one unusual bequest—for you. You are to receive her key, along with any form of current or future value associated in any way with the possession of the key. Any idea what that might mean?"

"I don't know. Atticus mentioned a key too, remember?" She rubbed her forehead, her temples thrumming beneath her cold fingers. Then she raised her chin. "It's all too much to process right now. Wyatt, let's go, please."

Anna stepped back as she stared at the old wooden shack from her youth. The bulldozer's roar and rumble bellowed through the air. Then came the cracking of wood as it split under the machine, collapsing like a house of sticks. Wood tumbled to the ground. No sorrow struck her, only relief.

Her heart skipped a beat when pebbles and puffs of dust drifted about as Wyatt hiked up the hill. His sway with each step sent the flutter of butterflies in her stomach. But he wasn't coming toward her. He was going farther up the hill, up to the grove with the squatty tree.

At the grove, he stood still, then turned with a look she didn't recognize. He was waiting for her. Her feet moved without warning, and her heartbeat quickened. Her pace grew faster and faster. When she reached him, he took her hand, wrapping his fingers around hers, and they started up the once-familiar path.

The path transformed from dirt into flat gray stones. Wildflowers basked in the sun along each side. The path continued, only stopping at a white picket fence near the squatty tree. Whiffs of fragrant roses drifted from an enchanting, colorful garden inside the fence, and she stepped through the open gate into the sweet-scented air, then hurried to a wooden bench next to a deep crimson rosebush.

"Oh, Wyatt!" She rubbed her hand across the inscription, her finger tracing the words, In Loving Memory of Lila. Heat stung her eyes, and she welcomed the warmth created by a love so deep, so real that she could feel it in her blood, through her entire body, stirring every sense.

Wyatt's strong, handsome face softened as she crossed to him on wobbly knees. "Here we are," he whispered. "Together, at the place where it all began."

He smelled of musk and pine and placed one hand around her waist, drawing her closer. He kissed her, his fingertips grazing her cheek. "I'm forever yours, Anna."

"My forever, my love," she whispered back.