He shakes his head. 'Someone who has something huge to gain. I'm still following leads.’
Sighing, he glances at me with a frown. ‘But, to be honest, most of them go nowhere. Stevens told us that some firm of lawyers in New York was corresponding with John though.'
'Is that important?' I ask.
‘Well, apparently, he was keeping the letters from your mom. She didn’t know anything about them.’
I sit up in the bed. ‘Did Stevens know what it was about?’
Blake shakes his head. 'But whatever it was, it looks like John didn't want anyone knowing about it.'
I frown. 'That is weird. My mom was involved in everything. I remember that when we moved into the Novelle house, it wasn't long before she was just always in his office. She'd listen in on his conversations. He let her into everything and they’d discuss business together. She liked that he made decisions with her. John was an asshole, but he was, like, the anti-Bandervilles, at least inthatway. He wanted her involved and he valued her insights.’
He shrugs. 'They did have a lot of history. He clearly trusted her, just not with whatever was in those papers.'
'Maybe we should go through his office,’ I say, wincing a little because I sound a little cold, even to myself.
Shade just lost his dad. I should at least try to be supportive. Though I have no idea what that actually meansin real terms, I don’t think that telling him we should rifle through John’s belongings before his body is even cold is the answer.
But Blake nods. ‘We should talk to Mav first and he can mention it to Shade. He’s good at…uh…the kind of delicate conversations that we aren’t. Plus, if Stevens is back in his butler duties, he's probably cleaned house and gotten rid of all the staff who weren't doing their jobs right while you were,' he looks away, 'you know,in there.’
‘Yeah,’ I murmur, noticing the clock by the bed.
We’ve been flying for over seven hours, so it probably won’t be long now.
‘We should probably get dressed and make a plan with the others,’ I say.
The captain comes on the loudspeaker just as we’re getting up, letting us know that we'll be landing in about forty minutes.
I eye my gray Heath uniform with distaste, and not just because it’s covered in mud from last night. I’m not looking forward to putting it on at all, but Blake produces a small duffle bag from the other side of the bed and hands it over with a wink.
I unzip it and find some of my own clothes in it. I bring a sweater to my nose and sniff, letting out a sigh of contentment.
I look past the wad of cloth to see Blake raising a brow at me.
'It just smells nice,' I say. 'It smells like home, I guess. Familiar.'
'I get it,' Blake says.
My eyes widen as I notice some of the satin underwear that Mav and Blake are always buying me and I smile brightly.
'Thank God!' I exclaim.
I’m so done with the granny panties and the ill-fitting gray bra that I've been forced to wear at The Heath.
‘You’re not the first girl who’s called me God,’ Blake says sagely and I throw a pair of underwear at him with a laugh.
It feels good to laugh. It feels even better to put on clothes that are comfortable and warm, and actually fit. All of my senses practically sing, except for my ears, which are already starting to hurt from the descent.
When Blake and I leave the bedroom to sit with Mav and Shade, I notice Shade sitting alone at the table, staring out the window. I sit next to him and take his hand.
‘Are you okay?’ I ask carefully, feeling guilty for spending the whole flight with Blake.
I’m such a dick.
‘I’m sorry for…’ I gesture to the back of the plane, but Shade just leans in and kisses my lips.
‘I’m fine,’ he says. ‘I promise. Pop and I never had the relationship that he and Andy did. I’m sad, but I think it’s more regret that we didn't have that than actual grief that he’s gone.’
