“Yes, ma’am. Thank you.”
“What about the leftovers in the fridge?” I asked, thinking of all the funeral food. My stomach turned uncomfortably.
Gran waved a hand. “That’s just sandwiches and light food. Clearly, he’s starved.” She motioned at Sam who was still consuming pancakes. “Invite Cole for lunch and he can help eat up those leftovers.”
“Great idea,” I said, lifting my coffee to my lips, but then sitting it back down. That plate of food I ate for breakfast wasn’t settling well.
Gran nodded. “Call Kimber if you want, as well. Since you two made up from your fight, I haven’t seen her at all.”
Sam glanced at me and I shot him a look. “Thanks, Gran. I will give her a call. But I know she planned on doing some major shopping this week with school starting soon and all…” I hated lying. I hated more that I was getting very good at it.
Gran chuckled. “That girl and the shopping mall.” Thankfully, she let it go to say, “I’ll be gone this afternoon. I have some errands to run and a meeting with your mother’s lawyer.”
“Her lawyer?”
“It’s just estate planning. I was the executor of her will. There’s no need for you to be there today. But the next meeting, you’ll need to come.”
“I will?” I never thought about her will and everything she left behind.
“Of course, honey. Everything is going to you.”
“To me?”
“You’re underage so the money will go into trust until you’re eighteen this fall, and we’ll need to decide about her house.”
“Do I have to move?” I asked, alarmed. I didn’t care about the money or the house.
Sam dropped his fork and pushed his plate away.
“Of course not. I’m the only family left.” She seemed lost on this thought for a moment before looking back up. “I’m your legal guardian now.”
I let out the breath I had been holding. “That’s good.”
“I know it’s a lot,” Gran said softly. “We can take it slow. We don’t need to make any decisions right now about her estate, but we will have to sign papers and get everything in order so when you do decide what you want, we can do it.”
I got up and hugged Gran. “Thank you. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“I love you,” she said and hugged me back. “Now help me get this roast ready.”
*
I wasn’t feeling that well. My head was throbbing and my back hurt. The claw marks on my stomach from yesterday were burning and it annoyed me to have to wear a shirt. Every time the fabric touched them, more pain shot through my body. Why hadn’t they healed like the other ones? I had a feeling I might be running a low-grade fever and I was still regretting the big breakfast I ate. The food was laying in my stomach like lead. Even though I had no energy and wanted to lie down, I still felt restless.
I watched as Cole pulled up next to the house and cut the engine to his truck.
“Hey, sis,” he said, coming around the hood of his truck and towing me in for a hug. I held back a wince when discomfort tinged through my body. “I feel like I haven’t seen you at all these past few days,” he said into my ear.
I pulled back, though not completely away. “I know. I’ve thought about you too. It’s just with the funeral and all…”
“Yeah, I know. You doing okay?” His eyes flashed with concern and he studied my face.
I nodded. “I wanted to apologize about what happened to you in hell. I’m so thankful you’re okay.” He looked good, and I was sure it was all thanks to the healing powers of Gemma.
He shook his head. “There wasn’t anything you could do. He’s one powerful, evil man. I hated leaving you there like that.”
“He tried to run back,” Gemma said, practically appearing out of thin air beside us. “I had to heal the wound he got from that too.”
I frowned at Cole and he rolled his eyes, then moved away from me toward Sam, who was sitting on the porch swing with Logan. “I know I’ve seen you since you came home, but I haven’t got to tell you how damn glad I am you’re back, man.” He held out his fist, which Sam bumped with his own.
“Thanks for keeping an eye on Heven,” Sam told him. I rolled my eyes and turned back to Gemma.
“Thanks for coming over. I have something I want to talk to you about.”
“What is it?” Gemma asked.
“Some stuff happened in hell and then I read this letter from my mom…”
“Where’s Riley?” Gemma asked, like she automatically assumed he was responsible for whatever I was about to say.
“I didn’t call him,” I said. “Sam isn’t too happy he’s here.”
I thought back to the last time we saw him, before the funeral when he acted like a jerk and got into a fight with Sam…
The beast, or whatever was trapped inside me, seemed to like (or dislike) my memory of the fight. I suddenly felt like it was throwing itself around in a tantrum, trying to escape, trying to get out.
I stumbled forward, bending at the waist. I felt like all the organs inside me were being pushed around and I gagged.
“Heven,” Gemma said from above, reaching down to help me up. Fresh searing pain ripped through my chest and I cried out.
“Don’t touch me,” I said, hoarse.
Then Sam was there, lifting me up and walking through the house with me as the beast fought against my skin, trying to rip its way free. I couldn’t understand why it hadn’t managed to get out already.
Behind us, Cole was making a fuss, demanding to know what was wrong with me. Sam laid me on the couch and hurried to grab the blanket draped across the top, but I shook my head.
“I can’t stand to have it touch me, please.”
“Did it scratch you?” Sam said, the blanket falling to the floor as he kneeled beside the couch.
“I think so.” I pointed to my chest. I was wearing a simple pink T-shirt with a rhinestone pocket off to the side, and Sam grabbed the shirt to rip it open.
“I like this shirt.” I growled.
He let go and I sat up and lifted the shirt over my head and threw it aside, leaving me wearing only a pink bra with my white cotton shorts. The air brushed over my skin and I felt instantly better. The fabric of the shirt felt so heavy against my skin. I sighed and closed my eyes.
“Heven,” Sam said, exasperated.