Chapter 10
10
Despite calling into the patisserie twice more during the following week for her now standing order of chocolate éclairs, Molly didn’t see Jake, which, when she thought about it rationally, was a good thing. Because even though he’d treated her with what seemed to be intense annoyance, he’d recently lost his twin, and she couldn’t imagine the impact of such a loss.
In her own way, Molly had grieved for Jesse as well, and now, on a hot and windy afternoon when her world was restless, she drove up the Eastern Pacific Highway, rapping to Jack Harlow on the radio.
As she headed north, Molly reflected on her meeting with Jake. What she’d said—hadn’t said. She should have told him to remove her from the will, that she wasn’t entitled to any money, no matter how insignificant the sum, and to take his judgment and shove it. But at the time, with the same features, expression, and mannerisms as Jesse’s, he’d thrown her off guard.
He and Jesse even spoke alike.
But his twin brother had possessed a charm that Jake didn’t, and as she pulled into a shaded car park, the words grumpy prick lodged in her brain.
When she stepped from the car, eucalyptus trees rustled overhead in the light breeze, their fresh scent reminding her of childhood holidays in Australia, when life was full of sunny days and memory-making adventures.
In one hand, she held a bunch of cheerful sunflowers, purchased from a florist on the corner of her street, and in the other, a directory of graves downloaded from the city council’s website.
The place was deserted as she strolled along the gravel pathway, past the small chapel, and into the cemetery grounds. Among the crumbling headstones and neatly engraved granite plaques, Jesse’s final resting place—marked by a solid rock and a pair of crossed drumsticks—stood out as the man himself had once done, and Molly couldn’t help but smile when she spotted it.
As she crouched to lay the flowers at the head of Jesse’s grave, directly under the drumsticks, she murmured a line from one of his favorite songs. While the lump settling in her throat was not unexpected, the tears that escaped as she contemplated the beginning and end dates of his shortened life took her by surprise.
Molly looked up when a late-model white SUV pulled into the parking lot. A young woman with flowing locks of jet-black hair, an oversized tote, and impossibly tight jeans stepped from the vehicle and strolled toward the rose garden on the other side of a low schist wall.
Later, with her respects paid, Molly was about to return to her car when the woman approached her. “Excuse me, were you a friend of Jesse’s?”
With one hand shielding her eyes from the sun, Molly stepped a few paces closer. Was she? A friend? “Yes… well, years ago now.”
“And you are?”
Her tone verged on rudeness, and Molly hesitated as the woman pinned her with a look of superiority.
“Molly.”
“Not Molly Parker?”
“That’s me.”
“OMG,” she gushed and offered her hand. “I’m Alexia, Jesse’s stepsister. Jake said you were in town. I’ve been wanting to meet you for ages. Well, ever since Jesse told me about you, anyways.”
Stepsister?
“I just came to say a few Hail Marys for my grandma, funny old thing that she was,” Alexia continued, “but I’d never leave without checking on my favorite boy. Course, we weren’t related by blood, but he still meant the world to me.” She blew a kiss toward the drumsticks and stood for a moment in silent reflection. “So tragic.”
Molly thought the same, but somehow, there was no similarity between Alexia’s words and her own inner monologue. Alexia and Jesse had obviously been close for a long time, while Molly never had the chance to be promoted to that status.
“Shall we walk?” Alexia motioned for Molly to join her, and they fell into step. “How long are you staying in Clifton Falls?”
Molly glanced her way. She had no idea where life would take her once she’d fulfilled her contract with SpinWeb. She often dreamed of traveling to the UK to visit her other cousins, Liz and Ally, but it would depend on how much she could save between now and then. “I’m not sure yet. But it’s nice to be back on home soil.”
“Wonderful. We should totally hang out. You know, it’s funny, but as soon as Jake told me you were in town, I had this epiphany we’d be friends. Like it was meant to be, do you know what I mean?
“I—”
“And if you’re ever in need of an interior designer, I’m your girl.”
Molly had no time to reply.
“Not that I’m professionally trained, but I’m a social media influencer, so design’s in my blood. And I have a lot of contacts in this town.” They stopped at Molly’s car, Alexia still doing all the talking. “Was it weird, meeting Jake? They look so alike, don’t they? Of course, Jesse was the friendlier of the two, and Jake… well, Jake’s Jake. He’s a sweetheart, but he’ll never change.”
“Actually—”
“I dated him once, a while back now. What an absolute disaster.” Alexia laughed. “Of course, I had to knock it on the head once my dad started seeing his mum. Otherwise, what a mess. Anyways, I wasn’t all that invested. I can’t stand sloppy kissers, can you?”
She stopped to draw a sharp breath but gave Molly no time to offer an opinion on kissing technique. Even so, Alexia’s revelation surprised her.
“Still, I shouldn’t be too hard on him. He has just lost his twin brother, and there’s no denying they were close—well, most of the time. As stepbrothers go, I could do a lot worse.” Alexia held out her hand. “Give me your phone.”
Was this woman for real? Molly suspected she could recite several lines from “The Iliad,” and it wouldn’t even register. Stunned at Alexia’s verbal diarrhea, she obliged and watched on as Jake’s stepsister saved her contact details, sent herself a text, and handed back the phone.
“It’s been nice meeting you,” Molly managed to get out, “but I really should go.”
“Oh my gosh, it was lovely to meet you too!”
She finally fell silent, allowing Molly a moment to reflect.
“And don’t mind me,” Alexia continued. “I tend to prattle on when I’m nervous. Can we sit for a minute?” She motioned to a bench seat under the eucalyptus.
Molly wanted to leave but sensed Alexia needed someone to talk to. “Of course. Are you okay?”
They took a seat, and as Alexia turned side-on to face Molly, her expression relaxed. “Thank you, I’m fine. Not many people ask me that question. Good old Alexia, always looking on the bright side. But anyways, can I ask you something? Just between us girls?”
“Sure.”
“Why weren’t you there for Jesse, you know, at the end?”
Molly steadied her breath. “Because I wasn’t aware that he was ill. Sadly, we’d lost touch years ago. But you said he’d mentioned me?”
Ignoring her question, Alexia reached out and patted Molly on the knee. “Oh well, you’re here now, hon. I guess that’s something. Have you met Hazel and Henry?”
“Do you mean Jake and Jesse’s parents?”
“Yes. Their mum’s a real sweetheart, but this whole business has been especially hard on her. She and Jesse were so close, and with Jake living in France for years, he’d kind of drifted away from the family. I remember when Jesse went over to Europe to meet up with Jake. Hazel was such a lost soul.”
“I can’t imagine what it must be like to lose a child, even one Jesse’s age,” Molly said.
“Totally, right? And Jake tends to keep to himself. I remember the day Hazel told me that Jesse’s treatment had failed. Jake was still living in Paris—not that it was his fault. We’d all been in denial, and Jesse was adamant he’d beat it like the first time, so he insisted Jake stay put, but in the end, Henry went against Jesse’s wishes and gave Jake a hurry-up. I know he regrets not coming home sooner, but who knows, maybe a third party played a part in that decision. He’s never been back here to the cemetery, not since the funeral.”
The end was swifter than anyone anticipated. A wave of emotion washed over Molly as she recalled Jake’s words. “Perhaps he can’t face it. We all grieve differently, don’t we?”
“You know what, Molly? You are a wise woman.” Alexia picked up her tote. “Let’s do coffee on Sunday.”
“That would’ve been nice, but I’m busy this weekend.”
“Yeah? Doing what?” They stood at the same time and strolled toward the parking lot.
“Probably making a fool of myself at the wine and food festival bake-off.”
“You’re a contestant?” Alexia clapped her hands. “How fabulous! I’ll make sure to check it out. Can’t bake to save myself, but I love anything sweet.”
“Thanks, I’m kind of nervous about it, to tell you the truth.”
Alexia patted her on the arm. “You’ll be fine. Just flash that cute smile of yours, and you’ll have those judges eating out of your hand.”
Molly sat in her car and watched Alexia drive away. In several intense minutes, she’d learned way more about the Sinclairs than was necessary. And in the process, she’d gained an unsettled feeling in the pit of her stomach and a profound sadness about what Jake and his family must have gone through.
With cloud settling over the western sky, Molly pulled out of the parking lot onto the highway, a lump in her throat and a moody Tracy Chapman song on the radio as she headed for the Carter Bay Road intersection.
After turning right, she drove past the strawberry farm and into CeCe and Luka’s driveway.
Luka opened their front door as she approached and stood waiting on the porch until Molly pulled to a stop. He bounded down the steps and opened the car door for her. “Hey.” He leaned in for a hug. “You staying for dinner?”
“I wasn’t planning to, but I won’t say no. But only if you have enough.”
“There’s always enough, you know that. Tough day?” He gestured toward the open front door.
Molly followed him inside and down the wide hallway into the family room, thankful for the company.
“More surreal than tough.” She cast her eyes around the space. “Where’s CeCe?”
“In town.” Luka picked up his phone. “I’ll text and tell her you’re here. Wine?”
“Thanks. Half a glass would be great.” Molly crossed to the window and looked out over the garden, where white hydrangeas in full bloom shaded themselves beneath a row of liquid amber. She loved this place. Built from a blend of schist, cedar, and glass, it brought to mind the words calm and authentic every time she stepped through the front door.
Luka handed her the glass and then moved around the kitchen, gathering food and arranging it onto a large serving board. “Inside or out?”
“Outside.”
He led her out onto the deck, the platter of tasty treats in one hand and his wineglass in the other. They sat in oversized wicker chairs under the shade of a louvered pergola. “So, what’s the deal?”
“Seems my life’s just taken a turn onto Weird Street,” Molly said.
“Is this about the will thing?”
“So CeCe’s filled you in?”
“Briefly.” Luka offered her the platter, and Molly spread blue cheese on a piece of seed bark.
She took a bite, chewed, and swallowed. “I’ve just come from the cemetery. I needed to see for myself that it was really true.”
“What was his name?”
“Jesse Sinclair. I’m still not sure what to make of it all. I mean, it’s been eight years, and suddenly, I’m a beneficiary in his will. And this might sound ungrateful, and that’s not my intention, but I don’t want his money.”
“Sounds to me like you could do with some legal advice.”
“Yes, that’s what his brother said. I’m going home in a couple of weeks, so I’ll talk to Dad about it then.”
“Good idea. Who’s handling Jesse’s estate?”
“Annabelle Sutton. Do you know her?”
Luka grinned. “Yes, quite well, to be honest.”
Molly studied his amused expression. “What?”
“Nothing. It was a long time ago.”
“You and Annabelle Sutton? No way. She’s so… corporate.” Molly’s smile broadened. “And kind of scary.”
He chuckled. “So, tell me more about this Jesse guy. He was way too young to die. Was it an accident?”
“Leukemia… So sad for his family. I met his twin brother the other day. It was weird, like I’d stepped into a parallel universe. Then today, when I was out at the cemetery, paying my respects, his stepsister turns up. She was all over me with air kisses and a ‘let’s be besties’ vibe.” As she recalled Alexia’s manic demeanor, Molly scooped up a handful of almonds and popped one into her mouth. “As I said, it’s all a bit weird.”
“Do you have a copy of the will?”
“No, not yet, and anyway, until this bake-off’s done and dusted, I don’t have time to deal with it. Why would he do this—after eight years? I’m not family, and I’m sure they’re much more deserving than I am.”
“If you want, you can apply to be removed from the will, but don’t be too hasty. You’ll find out his reasons for including you soon enough. Did you know him well?”
“Not really. It was a summer fling, the same summer you met CeCe, actually. Back then, I had a thing for long-haired musicians, and he was a drummer in a country rock band. It lasted only a few weeks.”
“Does sound rather strange.”
“More than that. It’s unsettling.” Molly thought back to her last few days with Jesse. Their relationship had been like that too—unsettling. She’d pretended to know where she stood but, in reality, had no idea. “And there’s one thing I can’t stop thinking about.”
“Yeah? What’s that?”
“Did Jesse know he was ill the night he ended things with me but didn’t respect me enough to tell me?”
Luka hesitated. “Maybe he didn’t want to put you through the trauma of what was to come.”
“Yes, I’ve thought about that too. But if that’s the case, what does that say about his assessment of me? And I get that I shouldn’t be thinking of only myself here, but…”
“What-ifs never reveal their secrets. The guy put you in his will, and that’s all the answer you need.”