With a plate of spaghetti in one hand, Jake picked up his phone with the other and answered it without checking the caller ID. “Jake Sinclair.”
“Jake, it’s Annabelle Sutton.”
“Annabelle, what can I do for you? Are you still working?”
“I’m always on the clock, you know that. Anyway, I finally met with Molly Parker yesterday.”
He set his plate on the table. After weeks of not knowing whether the elusive Ms. Parker would ever show up, now everything seemed to be hurtling along at breakneck speed. “How did that go?”
“Okay.” The way she drew out the word told him otherwise. “Understandably, she was visibly upset. I didn’t realize no one had told her about James. I imagine it was quite a shock.”
Jake hated it when people referred to his twin as James. The name didn’t suit him. Never had. So much so that by the time the boys started school, even their parents called him by his middle name, Jesse. “Yeah, I’m not sure what to think about that.”
“Her reaction certainly appeared genuine.”
A memory of his recent encounter with Molly surfaced. He’d assumed she’d known about Jesse all along and that one day soon, she’d appear to collect her spoils, but ever since that incident in the bar, the occasional flash of doubt would cloud his judgment. “How long’s she here for?”
“I have no idea. She just said she’s living here for the time being.”
“Right.”
“Anyway, I’m not sure she understands how wills work. She seems reluctant to be involved, so I thought perhaps you could talk to her. I gave her your number, and I’ll send you her details now.”
Given the sum involved, this news surprised him. Nothing seemed to add up. The text alert chimed on Jake’s phone, and he glanced down at Annabelle’s notification.
“Do I really have to make contact?”
The lawyer chuckled, something he’d seldom heard her do. “I believe so. But give it a few days. She still needs a little processing time.”
“Yeah, okay. I understand.”
“I’ll call you next week to check progress. Goodnight.”
“Thanks.”
Jake ended the call and headed through to the kitchen, where he picked up the blue envelope from the counter. Although curious by nature, he’d so far resisted the urge to peek inside, but now that curiosity wouldn’t be denied. He opened the flap.
The card bore signs of wear, as if it had been opened repeatedly, and it smelled faintly of lavender. The writing inside was compact, both in font and content.
Sweet Molly,
Our parting forever stilled my heart.
Love,
Jesse xxx
Jake frowned as he reread the message written in his brother’s hand. Its meaning was clear: Molly Parker had broken Jesse’s heart right when he needed her most.
However, as Jake busied himself cleaning up the kitchen and putting on a load of laundry, he questioned his initial assessment. If Molly Parker hurt Jesse so badly, why would he reward that behavior with a substantial bequest?
Later, he found Jesse’s phone and searched through his photos from eight years prior. Because even though Jesse had said very little about the woman who was now in line for a share of his estate, one thing Jake did know was that his brother had met Molly the summer he’d lived in Tulloch Point, the same summer of his diagnosis.
If he hadn’t known what to look for, Jake would have missed her completely. But as he scrolled through the images of bands and surfers and small-town bars where Jesse played on tour, there she was.
Artistically put together and with breasts spilling out of her crop top, she had the pretty barely-twenty look nailed, but her immature face was nothing compared to the stunning beauty she’d become.
Next to her stood Jesse, a beer in one hand and the other arm draped around Molly’s shoulders as they both grinned into the lens.
