I stared up at the man as I put my hand in his. “Hello.”
When I’d spoken to Prue that morning, telling her that I was all right, where I was, and that I was ready to meet my father’s lawyer, I hadn’t expected her to show up with him that same day.
Instead of shaking, he put his other hand on top of mine. “Jayden Johnson. You may not remember me. I was Noah’s, your father’s, lawyer and closest friend.”
“No, I’m sorry. I don’t remember you,” I said. “But I received my father’s letter that you sent me, Mr. Johnson.”
“Please call me JJ,” he insisted.
“I was planning to meet with you last week, but things…” I trailed off, unsure how honest I should be.
“I heard from Prudence about what happened and what’s been happening,” JJ said.
“Maybe we should all sit down,” Prue suggested.
The modular couch was U-shaped. Prue and JJ chose to sit in the middle. Bram and I each chose a different end of the couch, sitting across from each other.
JJ sighed. “Where to start?” He reached inside his suit and pulled out my father’s letter. “I need to apologize to you. I told Prue to find this before your mother did. Thankfully, Prue did. The last thing we need is for your mother to think we suspect her for being involved in Noah’s death.”
“You’re apologizing because you read it?” I asked. “How did you know it was important and Prue needed to find it before my mother?”
JJ handed the letter back to me. “Because your father wrote four letters. One to you, one to Prue, one to me, and one to your grandfather, Sullivan Kendry. All to be delivered and read when you turned eighteen. I don’t know exactly what your grandfather’s letter says. He wouldn’t say when I spoke to him a few days ago. Because he’s been overseas working on something in Japan, it was only last week that he was finally able to read whatever Noah wrote him, but whatever it was is bringing him here to Summerhaven next month. I would really like to have a meeting with all four of us.”
“To discuss what’s in the letters,” I said, feeling overwhelmed. “Because my father wrote to everyone that he thought my mother was going to kill him.”
JJ nodded.
“In my letter, my father knew I wasn’t really his. That’s not going to be an easy conversation to have with my grandfather.” I rubbed the side of my neck, trying to ease the tension. I was pretty sure my grandfather already knew. At least, that was the reason I assumed we weren’t close. I was sure he hadn’t said anything all this time because of what a scandal it would be if people knew. He was a very intimidating and influential man, especially in the business world. The Kendrys may have been one of the first settlers who helped build Summerhaven, but it was Sullivan Kendry who put the power and weight in the Kendry name. I assumed that was one of the reasons why Mother was so insistent that I be perfect. For her reputation and for my grandfather’s. Not because she cared about him. Knowing what I knew now, I bet it was not to draw his attention to her. “And you want to talk about howmymother killed his son?” I couldn’t have withheld the stress in my voice even if I had tried.
“Yes. I know it won’t be a comfortable conversation, but he deserves to know,” JJ said. “And we only suspect that your mother had anything to do with Noah’s death. We don’t have any proof as of right now.”
I met Bram’s eyes on the other side of the couch. He knew the truth. He knew what I’d seen, and in that moment, as he stared back at me, he was doing his best at a schooled expression, which only stressed me out more.
I glanced at Prue. “How does this help me? You said that he was going to help me. And how did you bring my car here? If Mother finds out?—”
Prue held out my keys to me. “It’s your car, not hers.”
I tried to not let it show that I was shaking as I took the keys from her. “Technically, she paid for it.”
“It was paid for with your money, Charlotte.” Prue looked at JJ. “I told you she didn’t know. You helped him with his will. It’s your job to explain it to her.”
“I apologize,” JJ said to me. “When Prue called, telling me to meet her here, I was on my way home. I’m not prepared to go over everything with you, such as the details of Noah’s will.” JJ cleared his throat. “As your father stated in his letter to you, he left you almost everything. Your mother was not happy to learn that twelve years ago and did try to fight it. When she lost, she fought your grandfather for custodianship and won.”
“Custodianship? I don’t understand what that means,” I said.
Bram finally spoke. “It means your mother had control of everything your father left you until you turned eighteen.”
“Noah had expressed that he wanted to appoint your grandfather as custodian in case he died before you reached adulthood, but he insisted he needed to have a conversation with him first. I don’t know if they ever spoke about it, because your grandfather wasn’t appointed before Noah passed,” JJ explained.
I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to process.
“I apologize again. I would have been better prepared had we met at my office,” JJ said.
I opened my eyes again. “What if she spent it all?”
“If she has used your money for personal gain, you could sue and she could face criminal charges,” JJ said.
“Can you help me with that?” I asked.
