Chapter 53
Jake leaned back in his armchair. "Hey, I could make Gandhi hit me."
I couldn’t help it. I laughed. I was sitting on the sofa in the front room, with Joel's arm draped over my shoulder. The arm felt nice, and I snuggled closer.
Ifelt nice, all warm and happy, in spite of all the previous drama.
A half-hour earlier, I'd retrieved another bottle of wine, along with two more glasses – one for Jake and one for Bishop, who was sitting in a neighboring armchair.
While filling their glasses, I'd also refilled mine and Joel's. My own wine had disappeared surprisingly quickly. But I couldn't blamethatfor the warm, happy sensation that had settled over me.
I was content for other reasons. It was the feel of Joel, pressed tight against me on the sofa. It was the sound of Jake, laughing at how insane he'd driven my aunt. It was the news from Bishop, that he'd already secured the pump house door, so no one would be breaking in – at least not in the near future.
He'd also mentioned that we'd need to rig up something more permanent, just to be safe.
It was the "we" that did me in. It made me feel misty all over again, especially when Joel told him, "I'll do it tomorrow." And then, he'd given my shoulders a comforting squeeze. "So don't worry, okay?"
It was funny. I wasn't worried. I felt like I had a family again.
I laughed with the three of them as Jake relayed a story about getting some sports star so angry that he beat up his own car. It was so insane that I had to wonder what, exactly, I was getting into.
Whatever it was, I couldn’t help but love it. Did that make me crazy? Probably. But it was the best kind of crazy, because whatever came up, I wouldn't be facing it alone.
Across from us, Jake reached for his glass and took a long drink. He set it down on the side table and looked to Joel. "So, did you tell her yet?"
I looked to Joel. "Tell me what?"
Jake said, "He brought you a present."
I extended my hand and gazed at my ring, sparkling with the promise of an amazing future. It was one of the most beautiful things I'd ever seen. I gave a happy sigh. "I know. Isn't it wonderful?"
Jake made a scoffing sound. "Not that. Something else."
Confused, I looked back to Joel.
He gave me a crooked grin. "I was gonna tell you later, but—"
Jake said, "Screw later. I wanna see her reaction."
Now, I was dying to know. "My reaction to what?"
When neither one of them answered, I looked to Bishop and asked, "Doyouknow?"
He grinned. "I might."
I gave him a pleading look. "Well?"
It was Joel who finally answered. "We got a copy of the paperwork."
"What paperwork?" I asked.
"Everything," Joel said. "The will, the financials. You name it, we got it."
Was he saying what I thought he was saying? "You mean for the estate?"
Joel nodded. "Oh, yeah."
"Seriously? How'dyouget that stuff?Idon't even have it. Well, not most of it, anyway."
