I press my lips together, watching him. “I’m going to keep one million in an account specifically for the business. In case I have a down year or another catastrophe happens. Things like that.”
“For emergencies,” he says.
“Yeah. I like the idea of having a cushion. But honestly, I make enough at the restaurant to draw a decent wage for myself. I don’t need his money.”
“I make good money, too, you know. And we’re married, so my money is your money.”
“That’s just it. We do so well together. Just you and me. I don’t want to bring what he left me into our relationship. He doesn’t deserve that. He wasn’t kind to you. Hell, he wasn’t nice tome.And he would go absolutely ballistic if he knew that I planned to give the money to a women’s shelter for domestic violence victims in Seattle.”
I grin up at him.
“One last fuck off to him, then?” Brooks asks.
“It’s a perk. But also, that money would just sit because I don’t plan to spend it. It should do some good somewhere. I need you to know that I chooseyouand your feelings, what you need, always. You’re my priority. Our beautiful life together is my priority.”
He’s watching me with so much emotion running through those dark eyes, and then he’s framing my face and kissing the hell out of me.
“I love you,” I tell him.
“I love you, too.”
Suddenly, the doorbell rings, and Brooks kisses my forehead before he stands to answer it. I crane my neck around to see who it is, surprised when I see Chad standing there.
“Hi, Brooks,” Chad says, and then smiles over at me. “Sorry to interrupt you both at home, but Jules and I have been playing phone tag, and I was in the neighborhood.”
“Come in,” Brooks says, gesturing him inside. “Have a seat. Do you need anything?”
“No, thanks. How are you feeling, Jules?”
“I’m getting there,” I tell him with a smile. “Are you going out with Ava tonight?”
“Yeah, I’m picking her up from work in a bit, but I thought I’d stop here first. I have news.”
I lean forward, and Brooks sits next to me, taking my hand.
“You know, it’s interesting,” I say as a thought occurs to me. “I just realized that I haven’t heard from Nadine in a couple of weeks. All of the emails just stopped. I’ve been so busy with reopening the restaurant, and then the accident and everything going on, that I didn’t think about it. The restraining order must have worked.”
“That’s the thing,” Chad says, leaning forward and frowning. “There hasn’t been a restraining order. Jules, did you ever meet this Nadine Smith in person?”
“No. I didn’t have a funeral for Justin, and there was never a reason to meet her. Daniel said I didn’t have to.”
He nods slowly. “But youdidmeet Daniel in person?”
“Sure, of course. Several times throughout the years. He and Justin would drift apart and then come back together, the way some friends do. You know, you get busy with stuff, and don’t talk to your friend for a while, and then you’re like, ‘Hey! We should play golf,’ or whatever.”
Chad’s nodding again.
“What’s going on, Chad?” Brooks asks.
“Well, after the state failed to send me any information on a trust set up for Nadine, I called them and was informed that no trust exists. At least, not in the state of Washington.”
My mouth drops. “Uh, but?—”
“Then I did some digging in the bank account you gave me information on. The one that was set up for this. It’s not a trust account either. It’s just a regular checking account, but it only has your name on it.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Frankly, it’s a fucking mess,” Chad says.
