Chapter 16 #2
He moved away, and she turned to collect her bag from the truck floor. Then stopped. Through the slits in her bedroom blinds, she saw movement.
Tension tightened her shoulders. “I think someone is in my room.”
He shifted so he could see the window she pointed to. “Could Gus be in there?”
“I doubt it.” Had someone broken into her aunt’s house? Images of Jane and Gus lying helpless in their own blood flashed in her mind.
The person came close to the window blinds. Through the opening, Mia caught a glimpse of familiar dark curls. She hissed in anger.
“Mia? What was that for?” Jackson was scanning the area, no doubt looking for danger. “You don’t sound scared or worried.”
“I’m not. I’m furious. It’s Jane. She’s searching my room.” Mia jumped down from the truck. Her bruised body protested, but anger fueled her to ignore her physical complaints.
She quietly entered the house, aware of Jackson at her back.
Gus’s dear face lit up when she saw Mia.
“Gus! I’m so glad to see you!” Mia hugged her aunt.
“Mia, what’s wrong? And why is your cheek bruised?”
Mia covered the cheek with her hand. She’d not looked in a mirror yet. She kept her voice down. “I’ll explain everything in a minute. Do you know why Jane is in my room?”
Gus’s mouth fell open. Her gaze darted to the hall leading to the bedrooms. She shook her head.
“I’m going to go see.”
“I’ll wait here with your man.”
Mia’s face flushed. Jackson grinned and winked at Gus before offering her his arm.
Mia moved back down the hall. Gus kept the television at such a high volume, Mia doubted that Jane had heard her come in.
Her bedroom door was half open, and she peered inside.
Jane was bent over the desk, riffling through the papers Mia had put in the drawer.
She had nothing important. At least, nothing that would inspire someone who lived on gossip and scandal.
Mia’s hands fisted at her sides. How many times had her cousin gone through her things?
She was done with this. She flung the door open.
Jane jumped back, spinning to face her. Mia’s papers and receipts fluttered to the floor.
“Well, well. I wonder what you were searching for. Find anything interesting?”
Jane’s face flushed. Her eyes, though, met Mia’s with defiance. “I was bored.”
Like that was ever a good reason to pry into affairs that didn’t concern you. “I wondered how the school board had heard about the police. It was you, wasn’t it?”
Instead of appearing ashamed or embarrassed for getting caught in the act, Jane tossed her head.
“I knew the moment I saw you with Jackson Stewart that you were in trouble again. You obviously didn’t learn your lesson in high school.
And then the police show up? It didn’t take much digging to find the truth. ”
Several things coalesced in her mind at once. Jane had been listening in on conversations and actively seeking out dirt on both Mia and Jackson—then and now.
“It was you, wasn’t it? You were the one who started the rumors about me in high school.” It wasn’t a question. No matter what Jane said, the look on her face told Mia all she needed to know. Except the why. Not that it mattered.
The betrayal should have shocked her. But after all Mia had learned, all she’d been through in the past few days, Jane’s actions didn’t surprise her. “I’m curious how you knew I was pregnant. My parents didn’t even know until I miscarried.”
Jane’s eyes widened slightly. So she hadn’t known how Mia had lost the baby and had just jumped to her own conclusions. Typical.
At first, Mia thought Jane would remain silent. Instead, she exploded.
“You were so stupid, Mia! You had it all. Cheer captain. Gorgeous boyfriend. Your parents were rich and could buy you anything. My mom was a single mom. We barely scraped by. I couldn’t even get on the squad with you and all your stuck-up friends.
When your mom called my mom crying about the baby, I knew I’d found a way to take your place. ”
Mia shook her head. “How’d that work out for you?”
Jane’s fists clenched. “They were just a bunch of snobs. They didn’t even hold tryouts.”
“You tried to ruin my life. You didn’t deserve to be on the team.”
Jane made a low sound in the back of her throat. “I deserved it more than you. I never got pregnant. And that junior who replaced you? She was just a stupid little follower. Who knows what she did to get there? Everyone knew I was prettier. But I guess they wanted another rich brat.”
“I’ll tell you what she did.” Mia folded her arms across her chest. She was done with letting Jane’s pity party hurt her. “She had talent. And the work ethic to learn the routines and do the flips and moves the cheer squad required. Neither of which you had.”
Jane snarled.
Mia just stared at the woman. “You’ve been spreading lies about me for years.
I’m not a suspect. I’m one of the victims. But I know you’ve never let the truth get in the way of a good story.
” She stepped closer and Jane tensed. Did the woman seriously think Mia would hit her?
Mia scoffed in her face. “I believe this is mine.”
She grabbed the papers still clutched in Jane’s hand. Looking down, she saw the emails from the school regarding her suspension. “You even printed out some emails from my computer. You really are desperate.”
Jane crossed her arms over her chest.
Mia no longer cared if this woman was related to her or not. She’d tried to ruin her life multiple times. It ended tonight. “Get out of my house. I don’t owe you any money.”
Jane opened her mouth.
“I’m considering pressing charges. What you did here, on my computer? That’s theft.” She thought back. “I didn’t connect it until now, but I also noticed that the earrings my grandmother gave me went missing. Right after you started visiting.”
“You’ll never be able to prove it.”
“So you sold them. eBay?”
Mia grabbed her phone and opened up the app, then she found Jane’s account. And there they were. “You’re getting quite a few bids on them.”
She took a screenshot. “Unfortunately for you, since these were heirlooms, I took the lawyer’s advice after the will was read and had all the items I’d been given insured. These are covered, along with serial numbers and photos logged. I can prove you stole them.”
She scrolled through Jane’s page. When she didn’t see anything else, she tapped on the page that showed recently sold and reviews. Several familiar pictures popped up. Jane tried to swipe the phone, but an arm held her back.
Jackson had come into the room unnoticed by either woman. And in the doorway, Gus hovered, her hands clenched on her walker.
Mia’s heart broke for her aunt, but she would not protect her. She walked over and showed Gus the image on her phone.
Gus gasped, one wrinkled hand flying to her chest. “My sister’s pearls! And my mother’s wedding ring.” Tears formed in Gus’s blue eyes. “Jane, how could you?”
Mia felt horrible, but Jane needed to understand how bad this could get for her if she continued down the path she was on. “I think…doesn’t this look like my aunt’s necklace?”
“You stole from your own mother?” Gus said.
“What are you going to do?” Jane mumbled.
“I want you to return it all,” Gus declared.
Jane paled.
“She can’t,” Jackson stated flatly, glancing at the phone. “Those items were recently sold. She no longer has them.”
Gus straightened. She looked at Jane. “You’re my niece, and I love you, but I need you to leave my house.”
Jane stared around at them, her eyes wild. “I’m family!”
Mia shook her head. “Yeah, and that didn’t keep you from stealing from us.”
“Will you call the police? That would only hurt the family.” Jane’s voice trembled.
Mia bit her lip. She wanted to, so bad, but she knew it would pain Gus. “I haven’t decided what I’m going to do. I do know you need to give back everything that hasn’t sold yet. And I think you need to pay Gus the value of everything you took of hers. I also think your mom needs to know.”
“I agree.” Gus nodded her gray head.
“You’d tell her? Why?” Tears filled Jane’s eyes.
“What you did was wrong. That’s why.”
Jane turned to Mia.
Mia shook her head. “If any more of my business gets spread around, or any more lies, no one, not even Gus, will stop me from calling the cops on you. Right now, I want you out of my sight.”
She didn’t know if the police could reclaim the items from the new owners, nor did she really want to expose her family to more shame.
But she hadn’t been kidding. If Jane overstepped again, nothing would hold Mia back.
Jackson turned to help a shattered Gus back to the living room. Mia stepped over to him. “I’m going to make sure Jane leaves without taking anything else. It’s almost dinner time. Stay? Please? I’d like to talk with you privately once we’ve had a chance to eat.”
He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “I’ll stay as long as you want.”
She had the feeling he meant more than just for dinner. She nodded and turned back to stand guard over Jane.
Despite the horrors of the day, she felt lighter inside. She’d faced down Blaine and Jane. She’d let go of the lingering bitterness toward Jackson. She didn’t even feel bitter toward Jane anymore. Right now, the main feeling toward her cousin was pity.
She was not the same woman she’d been when she woke up this morning.