“What? You’re having me on… You’re serious?”
“My stupidity has reached legendary status. I’m sick over it. I’ve not told Imani yet. I’m working on a plan so I can tell her the good news then the bad. Meanwhile folks have been coming to the house every night like some sort of wake, but they clean and cook. We’ve eaten well. But tonight we asked them to make it their last.”
“Where will you go? What will you do?”
“Probably bunk in with Mac and Mauve, then try to find a place to rent. The herd will be moved to other homes and rescue farms. Blah, just typing it out makes me sad, furious, and humiliated. Dash, my high school bf who’s now a lawyer, told me to do a title search, but the dev. company had the deed. What more did I need? Prince, this is par for the course. The last twelve years have been nothing but a series of bad Gemma Stone moves.”
“Stop, you’re being too hard on yourself. Anyone could’ve fallen for such a deal.”
“Yeah, but they saw me coming, didn’t they? Big L on my forehead.”
“What sort of stupid things are we talking here, Gemma? Besides a land swindle?”
“You should get to sleep, Prince. How about that lullaby?”
He hesitated. Did he swap disaster stories with her?
“Two inspectors came by this afternoon. My father-in-law is under investigation.”
“Goodness! Why?”
“Corruption, malfeasance, insider trading, and because of his position, high crimes and misdemeanors.”
“High crimes? Sounds like a novel. What did he do? Did you suspect at all?”
“Insider trading stuff. Even worse, Holland was in on it. Bought stocks before the IPO and received a 20 carat diamond necklace as part of the ‘deal.’ Long story. See, I need face to face.”
“Prince, way to bury the lead. Holland was involved?!”
Gemma sent a string of emojis which made him laugh despite himself.
“Thanks for listening.”
“Are you okay?”
“No, but I will be. How can you give your heart and soul to someone to find out she’s not what she seemed?”
“John, I know you’re disappointed but she’s not around to defend herself.”
“She lied to me about the necklace. Said it was a gift from her father.”
“Maybe it was.”
“It wasn’t.”
“Fine but you cannot question her love for you.”
“Can’t I? Now I wonder if she only married me for my title and position.”
“You don’t believe that… I know you don’t.”
“Only because I don’t want to, Gemma. I’m putting a permanent wreath on her gravesite this month. She will forever be a part of House of Blue history and now to think she used her position and her father’s for financial gain?? She lied and cheated. Not just about how much money she spent shopping or on a pair of shoes. But about corruption. If she did it once, who’s to say she’d not do it again? The worst part is the Cunninghams are wealthy. Why cheat and lie for more?”
“Because when money’s involved there is no truth. Only money. Money equals power. You don’t want to buy a bigger house or vacation chalet, you want to buy position, authority, favor. And I can’t believe she’s the first Blue to lie and cheat.”
He laughed softly and sent an angry emoji.
“You know I didn’t text you to make sense. You’re supposed to commiserate with me.”
