Chapter 28
Hayleigh
The newest unopened letter lies on my coffee table, and for a moment, I imagine that it’s quarantined with tape around it.
When it was pushed through the door this morning by the postman, I ran outside as fast as I could, breathless, and told him that he wasn’t to deliver any more of these letters with that address on the back.
He looked at me like I wasn’t all there, and maybe I’m not, because the feeling of not being safe in my own home because of a letter does sound ridiculous, but it’s how I feel.
I’m more upset that I am positive my mother was the one who told Pete’s mother where my new home is.
The betrayal of it should hurt, and I should be completely outraged and crying, because honestly, what mother would do that to their child?
Why would they tell the parents of the man who abused their daughter, belittled her behind closed doors, had a secret obsession with her best friend, which eventually turned deadly, where she now lived and was now trying to piece her life back together.
Then there’s Thea.
I haven’t spoken to her in weeks. I was so sure she wanted a life of her own, away from our parents, but maybe I had it all wrong? I’ve messaged her every single day, but I’ve had nothing back to any of those messages. Something feels off, but maybe that's me?
My front doorbell rings, and a notification pops up on my phone letting me know that someone is at my door.
Thank God Nate helped me set it up on my phone; it’s one less thing to worry about, knowing I have eyes and ears on the house.
When I open the app on the phone, my heart thuds wildly in my chest at the person standing on my doorstep.
My feet don’t feel quick enough as I scramble up and run to the door, unlocking it and throwing it open to find Thea standing there. I let out a disbelieving laugh before throwing my arms around her, pulling her closer to me.
I pull away, my hands still on her shoulders as I search her eyes. “Are you okay? What are you doing here?”
Tears fall from her cheeks, carving a path of sadness. “It wasn’t me who sent you that message; it was Morgana.”
I grab her hand and pull her inside, noticing she has no bags. “Please tell me this isn’t a flyby visit?”
She shrugs. “I can’t stay, I have an obligation–”
I scoff, cutting her off. “You do not have any obligation to that woman. You have an obligation to yourself to live the life you want. That’s what I’ve learned this past year.”
She walks over to the couch, dropping herself down. “Do I want to marry for their benefit? No, I don’t, but she said…” Her voice trails off, and she won’t look at me.
“She said what?” I press.
Finally, Thea’s eyes meet mine. “Did you know that grandad left you money, a lot of money in his will?”
My brow furrows as I try to think back to when he died, but I shake my head. “No, he left me the land with the barn on, but that’s about it. There was no money.”
Thea offers a faint smile. “He did, and it’s due to be paid when you hit thirty, we’re talking six figures.”
My eyes widen, and my breath catches because, oh my shit, that could turn my life around.
But of course, life is never that easy with the Wallcrofts.
“There sounds like there could be a big but in this. I mean, I hope not because that money could help me out.”
Tears fall down her cheeks again, so I rush to her, sit beside her on the couch, and tell her it’s okay as I stroke her hair.
She sniffles. “I-if, I don’t marry Rupert, then you don’t get your money.”
“Thea, I don’t understand. What do I have to do with any of this?”
She sits up and wipes her eyes. “I only have a few hours before I have to head back. I told them I needed some space, but they won't suspect I’ve come here. Hayleigh.” She takes a deep breath before carrying on.
“They’re broke. Stone cold, broke. Dad made a bad investment in a new vineyard that turned out to be non-existent. They’ve lost everything.”
And the penny drops.
I nod slowly. “So they want the money left for me, and they’re using you to get it?”
Her eyes drop to her lap as she picks the skin on her thumb, something she often does when she’s nervous.
Her voice is so small that it makes me want to scream at our parents. “Now you see why I don’t have a choice, it’s either Rupert's money or yours. You have to take the money and never look back.”
“Fuck them, Thea. Fuck them and fuck the money. I don’t care about the money, I care about you, and I’m not going to let them use you like this.”
She abruptly stands and smooths out her pencil skirt. I sense the moment she puts that mask back on, the one I used to wear so freely. “It was lovely seeing you, Hayleigh, but I have to go. Take the money because next week I am getting married.”
She turns to leave, but I grab hold of her arm, desperate to keep her with me. “No.” My voice is nothing but a whisper as she yanks her hand from mine, striding off and out the front door.
I watch as my younger sister disappears, and think about what it took for her to come to me today and tell me what our parents were planning to do.
She’s been so conditioned by them from a young age that she used to follow what they said unthinkingly, but now, she sees them for who they truly are, yet she’s still willing to follow them to save me.
A sense of helplessness rushes through me.
How the hell do I get her away from them?
**********
Help comes in many shapes and sizes, and over the years, I’ve always insisted I was fine and didn’t need help. I was independent and didn’t rely on anyone because Morgana Wallcroft taught me from a young age that relying on people was weak.
It isn’t weak; it’s most likely that the strongest thing you will ever do is to build your support network and lean on them in times of trouble, and be an equal support for them when they need it.
So when May Peterson called me for help today, I jumped at the chance and made my way over to her house, where I am now, helping her put together a baby basket for Lacey. Even if I do think she asked me to help so that she could check on me.
She puts a pin in the ribbon she’s using to wrap around the basket and smiles. “Well, would you look at that. I think we did a pretty good job, don’t you?”
I can’t help but grin back at her. “I love it, I think Lacey will too. Everything looks so adorable.” My voice sounds dreamy, even to my own ears.
May side eyes me. “Ever thought about having kids yourself?”
I laugh at her not-so-subtle approach but nod all the same. “I always wanted three kids, two boys, one girl.”
“Wanted as in past tense?” There is no judgment in her tone, but curiosity.
“I still want them, I’m sure about that, but I’m less intense about it.
I think that’s the word I’m looking for.
” I pick at my sleeve before carrying on.
“I was so focused on how I believed my life should be because I was told it had to be a certain way that there was no room for anything else. Then Nate came up with the idea of me writing a new life list, including silly things I always wanted to do. In time, I realised that all those smaller things added up to the bigger things, and that life isn’t made up of those big accomplishments; they’re fleeting and, for some people, rare.
I’ve learned that life is made up of tiny moments that you wouldn’t even consider at the time to be anything but that, yet later on in life, I reckon it’s those smaller moments you remember. ”
She considers me for a moment, in the way that Nate always does with those soulful eyes, before smiling. She says. “I think you’ve come a long way; you should be proud of that. You live for yourself and no one else.”
Sadness floods through me. “I wish my sister would do the same thing. She’s marrying a man that she doesn’t love because my parents need the money and the influence his parents provide.”
May scoffs. “I know she’s your mother, but I really don’t like that wretched woman. Why doesn’t your sister say no, to hell with them, it's their fault they’re in a mess.”
I point to my chest. “She does it for me. Apparently, my grandad left me a large sum of money that I’m due to inherit when I’m thirty, and so my parents have told Thea that if she doesn’t go ahead with the marriage, then they’re going to use my inheritance instead.
Thea knows I want to be away from them, so she’s going ahead with it. ”
To my surprise, May laughs, and when she sees the look on my face, she stops. “Oh, I’m sorry, but that woman is honestly deluded. Your mother, not your sister.” She places a hand on mine. “Hayleigh, sweetie, she can’t take an inheritance from you, that’s illegal.”
“But she was the executor of my grandad's estate?”
May shakes her head. “It doesn’t matter, legally, if he named you in that will, then she can’t do anything but hold the money for you until your thirtieth birthday.” She stands and shakes her finger in the air. “I’m going to ring Clive, our family lawyer. He’ll straighten this right up.”
I nod absently as a plan forms in my head to get Thea away from our parents for good. I can only hope that she goes along with it.
May comes back into the room, beaming from ear to ear. “Okay, Clive said he has time to meet you later today if you’d like to. He can go over the details in the meeting and help you on the legal side of things.”
I stand and pull May into a hug as I whisper. “Thank you, May. I appreciate you helping me.”
**********
I spent the afternoon poring over documents that Clive had managed to obtain from my grandad's estate. Turns out my mother spent everything he left her, and somehow she had managed to get Thea to sign over her portion of the inheritance, which was now gone as well.