Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
S carlett laid her head back and stared at the coffered ceiling as she sat in the recliner next to Cynthia’s bed. The older woman had been dozing off and on since they’d eaten breakfast an hour ago. Scarlett couldn’t much blame her. Considering how much she’d eaten, she felt as if she could use a nap herself.
It was Monday morning, hours before she, Antonio, and Bella were scheduled to head back to Cincinnati. Scarlett had come alone to visit with Cynthia in hopes of talking some sense into her about her will. It had been pointless. Cynthia’s mind was made up, and she insisted her great-granddaughter was her only heir and deserved every penny she’d get. Scarlett didn’t bother telling her that Alberta was also her heir.
Scarlett shook her head. Most people would be thrilled to know their child would inherit a fortune, but she couldn’t get excited about that news. Especially not knowing if it would create family drama which could put her child at risk of physical harm or emotional trauma. Nope. Scarlett would rather forego millions and they live a comfortable lifestyle with love and peace.
And why am I even tripping over something that may never happen?
Ezra’s parents might not even care if Cynthia gave others a portion of her estate. Besides, Scarlett had to keep reminding herself that they didn’t know about Bella. From day one, Cynthia had been adamant about them not finding out. She insisted they didn’t deserve to know about their grandchild since they hadn’t given a damn about their own child.
I’m worrying for no reason .
“I can hear you thinking all the way over here.”
Scarlett lifted her head and smiled. “I find that hard to believe since you can barely hear me when I’m talking.”
The older woman’s tired, rusty-sounding laughter was like that of a three-packs-a-day smoker. Still, it was good to hear her laugh. Scarlett never really thought about it, but she couldn’t imagine her life without Cynthia in it. They’d grown close over the years. She was more than Bella’s great-grandmother. She had also become a good friend and like a grandmother to Scarlett. Not only that, but she was also a connection to Ezra.
He might be gone, but whenever she looked at Cynthia, she saw traces of him in her eyes and her smile. Also, being around her brought back fun memories of her and Ezra and his grandparents hanging out eating, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company. If Cynthia died… When she died, so would that connection. Then again, she still had her most precious gift—Bella—to remember all of them by.
Cynthia glanced at her. “We’ve talked about everything but Antonio,” she said, her voice low and sounding tired. “Does that mean you didn’t heed my advice? You didn’t ask him?”
Scarlett straightened in her seat and released a noisy sigh. “I asked him.”
“What did he say?”
“After his initial shock, he said a lot.”
Ever since the conversation with him, Scarlett realized how irrational she’d been in asking him. How had she let Cynthia’s concerns about Theodore and Alberta freak her out enough to ask him to become the father of her child? It hadn’t been until he started pointing out the obvious that she put the brakes on the idea. An adoption was permanent. That meant he would be a part of Bella’s life forever and included in all the decisions regarding her upbringing. Meaning Scarlett would be sharing her child with a man she was still getting to know.
On the other hand, she knew Antonio well enough to know he would be an incredible father. Any child would be lucky to have him in their life. If Scarlett was looking for someone to raise her child with, he’d be her first choice. Heck, right now, he’d be her only choice.
Then there was the Jenkins family. They were a force to be reckoned with, and the most amazing group of people she’d ever met. They had welcomed her and Bella into their lives without question. Her daughter would be lucky to be a Jenkins.
“Well?” Cynthia prompted. “Did he say he’d do it?”
“He said that there was nothing he wouldn’t do for me and Bella.”
“Hmm, I knew I liked that boy. Well, it’s settled. Bella will officially be a Jenkins. The sooner you and Antonio make that happen the better. There won’t be any reason for anyone to link her to Ezra.”
There wouldn’t be any reason at all. Ezra wasn’t listed on her birth certificate. Scarlett had left that line blank. The only way someone might suspect Bella was the great-granddaughter of Cynthia Armani was if they saw Bella in person. She favored Ezra and Cynthia enough to know she was related to them.
Instead of telling Cynthia that no one would be adopting Bella, Scarlett stood next to the bed with her arms folded. “Are you dying?” she blurted.
“Aren’t we all?” Cynthia shot back.
It was hard not to notice Cynthia’s sunken eyes and the sallowness of her skin. She had looked a bit worn out the other day and even more today. Granted, it could be a natural part of aging, but Scarlett sensed the woman wasn’t well. That would explain her discussing her will lately.
“Cynthia—”
“Ezra called me an hour before he was killed. He told me he asked you to marry him, and you turned him down,” Cynthia said, talking over Scarlett and jolting her with her words.
Shock slammed into Scarlett like a steel weight that she couldn’t get out from under, and it left her speechless. Until this moment, she thought only her mom, sister, and Antonio knew about the proposal. Cynthia knew and had never said a word.
The guilt that always hovered in the background surfaced and Scarlett stumbled backwards until her leg bumped the chair. She gripped the arm of it, barely managing to stay upright. If only a black hole could swallow her up. It would be better than having to stand before Cynthia, who lost her beloved grandson, and explain why she couldn’t marry him. How could she tell this woman that it was her fault that Ezra had gone out that night?
“Cynthia…” Scarlett’s heart was pounding loud enough to be heard on the next street, and she struggled to get it to beat at a normal rate. “I—I don’t know what to say,” she sputtered.
“I don’t expect you to say anything. It’s good you turned him down,” the older woman said, surprising the heck out of Scarlett. “You two were way too young to be thinking about marriage, and that’s what I told him. You guys were just starting in your respective careers, but Ezra didn’t want to hear it. He insisted you were it for him. Something about wanting to lock you down before some other guy made a move on you.”
“I’m so sorry, Cynthia. If it weren’t for me, he might still be alive.”
“Scarlett, my dear. It is not your fault that someone who wasn’t paying attention to the road slammed into my grandson that night. Besides, I’ve learned a long time ago that when the good Lord is ready for us, there is nothing we can do to stop His will.
“If you’re carrying around guilt, let it go now and move on with your life. Live ! That’s what he would want for you. That’s what I want for you. Enjoy the time you have left on this earth with no guilt and no regrets. You hear me?”
Too choked up to speak, Scarlett swiped at her eyes and nodded.
Cynthia reached for her. “Now, give me a hug.”
Scarlett smiled. “I’m so glad you’re in my life,” she whispered as she hugged Cynthia. “I pray you’ll be around for years to come.”
“Me too, but always know you and Bella have brought so much joy to my life. I love you girls.”
Scarlett felt as if her heart would explode. She hoped this wasn’t their last time together, but she was old enough to know none of them would be around forever.
“We love you too,” she said, tightening her hold on the woman who was so dear to her.
“What’s going on in here? Get away from my mother!”
Scarlett startled at the harsh tone and quickly released Cynthia. When she turned to face the owner of the voice, her breath caught. It was an older, female version of Ezra standing in the room, and the resemblance was unsettling.
Alberta . She and Ezra shared the same chestnut brown skin tone, dark, almond-shaped eyes, and similar mouths. As if heading to court, her hair was pulled back into a tight bun at the nape of her neck. Scarlett recognized the navy-blue skirt suit as part of the Michael Kors Spring collection. It was tailored perfectly for her pear-shaped figure. Matching three-inch pumps completed the ensemble.
“Alberta, sometimes you act like you were raised by wolves,” Cynthia said. “That is no way to enter my home or my bedroom. I know you have better manners than that.”
The woman didn’t respond, she just continued staring at Scarlett. Then again, the look was more of a glower. They had never met, and considering this first encounter, she was glad they hadn’t. Any decent person, especially an attorney who was often in the public’s eye because of high-profile cases, would at least pretend to be nice and approachable.
“Scarlett, you’ll have to excuse my daughter. She’s clearly forgotten all her home training.” Cynthia lifted slightly, struggling to adjust the pillows behind her until Scarlett helped.
“How’s that?” Scarlett asked.
“Perfect. Thanks, dear. Oh, and Alberta this is Scarlett. She was a good friend of Ezra’s.”
“Hi, it’s nice to meet you,” Scarlett said, her heart pounding double time.
She couldn’t believe she was face-to-face with Ezra’s mother. It was good to finally put a face with the evil stories she’d heard. Since Ezra didn’t have pictures of his parents, Scarlett had done an internet search years ago to quell her curiosity. The only picture she had seen, not online, that included all of them was a family portrait hanging over the fireplace in Cynthia’s library downstairs. Ezra was around four or five when it was commissioned.
“Since Ezra’s death,” Cynthia continued, “Scarlett has managed to stay in touch, calling weekly and visiting often. Unlike some people,” she said pointedly.
Alberta picked up a magazine from the table in the sitting room and thumbed through it. “Hello, Scarlett,” she finally said and glanced up.
The woman’s gaze did a slow crawl down Scarlett’s body. From her braids to the light-gray, bell-sleeved jumpsuit she wore with matching sandals. At least the woman was no longer glowering, but she was surely judging if the distaste in her expression was any indication.
She dropped the magazine onto the table. “Are you here for a handout?” she asked, her words cut like a whip cracking through the air, slapping Scarlett across the face. “That has to be it because I can’t see why else you’d be here. Mother’s probably the one funding your expensive taste. Donna Karan attire and that Chanel bag and shoes must have set you back pretty good.”
“ Wow. ” The word slipped through Scarlett’s lips before she could stop it.
This woman was a real piece of work, and Scarlett was so tempted to stoop to her level and say something equally nasty back at her. Something like, I didn’t know Jimmy Choo high heels came in a size twenty-two because the woman’s feet were as huge as Shaquille O’Neal’s.
No, Scarlett needed to keep her mouth shut and not bring any more attention to herself. So instead of saying anything to Alberta, she turned to Cynthia whose eyes were shooting daggers at her daughter.
“You were right, Cynthia. Your daughter is something else .” It sounded lame even to Scarlett’s own ears, but she was at a loss on anything positive to say.
“Get the hell out of my house, Alberta!” Cynthia snarled and pointed to the door. “You’re not welcome here, and just to be clear, everyone who visits me is not out for money. Some enjoy my company. Some even stop by because they care about my well-being.”
“Well, I couldn’t tell by looking at her why she was really here, especially since Ezra is dead .”
Though her words were cold, Scarlett didn’t miss the sadness in Alberta’s eyes, but just as fast, it disappeared. Could this cold-hearted woman still be grieving her son’s death?
“As for visiting you,” Alberta continued, her tone as haughty as Cynthia’s was sometimes, “I’ve been busy, Mother. With my long work hours, you can’t expect me to drop everything and be here all the time. That’s why I sent people over here for you to interview. People who could help you with your day-to-day needs and—”
“Stop it! You don’t give a damn about my needs. You wanted me to hire those people, so they’d be your spies. I’m not stupid, Alberta! I see right through your schemes and don’t worry, I don’t need you to visit. I’m doing just fine.”
With the way the two women glared at each other, the temperature in the room dropped fifty degrees. It was definitely time for Scarlett to make an exit.
“Oh, Mother, please don’t start. Especially since you have company,” Alberta ground out as she picked invisible lint from her dark-navy skirt. Her lips were pursed as if trying to keep her anger under control.
Scarlett cleared her throat. “Well, Cynthia, it’s always great seeing you. I’m heading out, so you and your daughter can spend time together.” Scarlett hugged Cynthia tightly and kissed her cheek, something that she always did before leaving. “Take care of yourself. I’ll give you a call later.”
Scarlett said her goodbyes and couldn’t get out of the room fast enough. The dislike between the two women was palpable. She couldn’t imagine speaking to her mother like that or any elderly person for that matter.
Maybe Cynthia and Ezra hadn’t exaggerated. It was clear that Alberta wasn’t a likable person, and if her husband was anything like her, Scarlett wanted nothing to do with either of them.
She didn’t know what it would take, but she was ready to do whatever necessary to keep Ezra’s parents out of Bella’s life. Even look into the adoption idea.