Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 99748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
“Actually,” I say, “regardless of how you received them, right now, you are on record as the sole owner of several properties in Cold Springs. If you were interested in doing something with them . . . say, moving them into an LLC or selling them, I might know a lawyer who could help with your properties.” I choose each word carefully, not giving legal advice, but making sure that Lucy understands what I’m saying.
“You. Own. Them,” Chrissy utters, realizing what I mean first. “They’re yours. And he doesn’t know that you know, so you can do whatever you want with them.” Her glee is bordering on madness as she considers Jed truly losing everything.
“You could do a lot with seven figures,” Etta suggests casually, popping a cheese-and-cracker combo into her mouth. “All of which involve a nice life for you and your baby, and none of which involve sucking Jed’s dick.”
And there it is. The opportunity that Lucy has. She can legally take the money and run, or she can stay.
“Are you really in love with Jeddie-Weddie, Lucy-Juicy?” Jesse asks from the doorway, where he’s been leaning and silently observing. “If so, go home, tell him you know . . . or don’t, and live your life with Jed Junior, nose kisses, and baby talk. If not . . . if he was a ticket out? There ain’t no shame in doing what you gotta do to get by. And that’s true for what you’ve already done and what you do now.”
“Someone pretty smart once told me that you choose your life every day.” Chrissy looks to Etta with sadness shining in her eyes. “I wasted a lot of years making that choice by default, not actually deciding.” She goes quiet for a moment, but there’s more on the tip of her tongue. “I guess I did decide, I just didn’t want to admit it. But you have the chance now, while you’re young. Don’t waste your life on Jed Ford, honey. He’s not worth it, I swear.”
Lucy stares at Chrissy, Etta, and then Jesse for a long moment before her eyes fall to the floor, seemingly contemplating Mom’s rug. I’m holding my breath, scared that she’s going to tattle on me . . . to Jed, to the city council, to the bar association. I’ve been careful with my words, but that doesn’t mean they won’t launch an investigation into my behavior. When her eyelids fall closed with a heavy sigh, I’m sure I’m done for. But when she lifts her gaze, cold resolution burns in the blue depths. “Can I talk to that lawyer you said you could recommend?”
Surprised, I answer, “Yeah. Absolutely. I’ll call him right now.”
I pick up my phone and step into the foyer, leaving Jed’s trail of women to talk among themselves.
“Unless city hall is being overrun by picketers again, there is no good reason for you to interrupt my nightly news and Samuel Adams, Wren,” Ben declares when he answers the phone.
“No picketers. But I do have a bit of an emergency. Can you come over to my parents’ house? Now.”
“An emergency? A legal emergency? I don’t know many things that’d qualify for that, but you’ve got my interest piqued, and that’s hard to do for an old guy like me.”
“Well, hopefully you’re an old dog who doesn’t mind learning a few new tricks, because this one’s a doozy. Do you need me to send someone to pick you up?” Jesse’s followed me into the foyer and holds up his hand, volunteering, when he hears my question.
“Nah, truth be told, I’m out of my damn beers. Been messing with my routine all night,” Ben confesses. “Already pulling my shoes on and heading that way. You wanna give me a hint what I’m walking into?”
Behind me, I hear a hard knock on the coffee table and Mom says, “I hereby call to order the inaugural meeting of the Jed Ford Support Group.” And then the women giggling together as one.
I’m glad they’re not in danger of killing each other anymore, but now, I’m kinda worried they might kill Jed. Literally or figuratively, or both for all I know. There’s a lot of years of hate, revenge, bitterness, and more sitting around that coffee table, being fueled by sugar and cheese.
“You wouldn’t believe me if I did. You’ll have to see it with your own eyes,” I tell Ben.
When I hang up with him, Jesse crowds into me. He’s looming over me, creating that protective bubble where only we exist. His smile is a bit crooked as he looks down at me, twirling a lock of my hair around his finger. “You are amazing, Wren. I can’t believe you pulled that off with those women in there. That brain of yours is so fucking sexy.”