“Beulah, dear, we seem to have company. I believe it’s more for you than me,” Geraldine called from the back patio. When I put the water hose down and looked back at her, the concerned frown she wore made me think she might be having another spell.
“I’ll be right there,” I assured her and turned off the sprinklers that were set to water most of the crops. She stayed on the patio. Her frown also remained in place. I wondered what she could be imagining to have her so upset. Stone hadn’t prepared me for a spell like this. I only knew about her more entertaining episodes.
“Is everything okay?” I asked once I reached her. She sighed heavily as if she hated to tell me what was wrong.
“I’m not sure, to be honest. He’s always been welcome here. Because of that, I didn’t think one thing about it when he came to the gate. I happily let him inside. I was ready to make him a cup of tea and feed him a slice of the almond pound cake you made earlier. But when he got inside the house, he asked to see you and I remembered. Stone warned me this could happen and said I should tell you to call him if he tried to get in here. But . . . I forgot, and now he’s here. In the parlor.”
“Jasper,” it wasn’t a question. Although she had never said his name, I knew who she was referring to. He shouldn’t have come to my job. To a place that he’d always been welcomed. It was wrong to take advantage of Geraldine. Instead of the panicked mess I’d been every time I thought I’d have to face him, this time I was angry. I was frustrated that he’d do something like and that he’d upset Geraldine.
Facing him was the last thing I wanted to do, but I wouldn’t allow this to upset her more than she was. “That’s all right. Not to worry. I’ll see if I can help him then send him on his way. Or you can feed him some pound cake and enjoy your tea. I’m sure he’d like that.”
She shook her head. “Oh, no. He isn’t to stay here with you. Stone told me to be sure this didn’t happen, and I messed it up.”
The distress in her voice was unfair to her. Jasper was being selfish. “Then you have a seat in the kitchen, and let me handle Jasper. This isn’t a problem at all and Stone doesn’t even need to know about it.”
Geraldine pinched her lips and shook her head. “No, no. I’ll have to tell him. And you’re not going in there alone. Stone didn’t tell me why, but he was very adamant about it. I just wish I’d remembered sooner.”
Arguing with her was a waste of time.
“If you’re sure,” I said worrying this was too much stress for her.
She gave a firm nod. “Absolutely.”
I didn’t know what he’d say or why he was here, but I had to deal with this and make him leave. Coming between him and Stone’s friendship made me feel terrible. Jasper and Stone were as close as brothers. It wasn’t until after I’d left that I realized how close they were. Stone and Jasper didn’t have a lot of family from what I could tell, and they weren’t going to lose each other over me.
“Then let’s go see what our guest wants,” I said with a smile that wasn’t genuine.
She studied me then sighed. “This isn’t good,” she muttered. “Let’s go.”
With Geraldine by my side, we walked to the parlor, and I began mentally coaching myself to face him. I had to do this without any crack or breakdown for Geraldine’s sake. Maybe for my sake too.
When we got to the doorway, Geraldine stepped in front of me almost protectively. “I brought her, but you’re not supposed to be here. I had forgotten. So I won’t be leaving you alone. Stone didn’t give me any details on the situation and I know you boys are close. If he thinks that you shouldn’t be around Beulah, then there must be a good reason.”
Jasper’s eyes weren’t on Geraldine, they were locked on me. My chest ached at the sight of him. I was surprised it wasn’t as painful as I’d feared. I didn’t care what Stone said, I loved Jasper. Or I had. The way I’d felt for him had changed. My feelings had to change with the truth. He was a Van Allan and my sister’s biological brother. I wasn’t bitter that my sister didn’t have the privileged life Jasper had because she’d been given something so much better. I felt sorry that he had to grow up with those monsters as his parents.
“Stone won’t allow me in the building. You won’t answer my calls or texts. I didn’t know how else to talk to you.” The pleading in his voice was hard to disregard.
“Stone is trying to protect you. You have to accept the truth and admit the lies, then maybe we can talk. Right now, it’s too fresh, too painful.”
Jasper took one step toward me, and Geraldine took a step toward him as a silent warning. She didn’t seem to care that Jasper was a foot taller than her. She held her head high and glared at him with determination.
“Gerry, you know I won’t hurt her. I just need to talk to her.”
Geraldine shook her head. “You’re talking, but you’re not getting closer. I wasn’t supposed to let you inside.”
Jasper lifted his eyes to look me. “I want a DNA test for Heidi. And I’m having one done for me too. I . . . Hell, I don’t know what my parents were capable of. If Stone is right . . . Jesus, I could be a bastard of one of my father’s secretaries. I need to know the truth. I can’t just accept what Stone believes is true. God knows my mother can’t tell the truth. She is still protecting herself. She always will.”
Heidi didn’t need her DNA tested. It would scare her or confuse her. I shook my head no. “I won’t have Heidi upset.”
He took another step in my direction. “She won’t ever know. We need a swab from inside her mouth and a strand of hair. Nothing else. If she is a Van Allan, then she deserves the inheritance that is rightfully hers.”
“No! She is an Edwards. My mother,” I felt emotion clog my throat making it hard to speak. “My mother . . . was our mother and she always will be. Heidi needs to know nothing more than that. I WILL NOT let you upset her! Nothing is more important than Heidi.” I was speaking loudly, my heart pounding in my chest for other reasons than the sight of Jasper. It was fear that I couldn’t protect Heidi if she was a Van Allan.
“I would never, ever, hurt her. She would never have to know anything more than she does now. But . . . I’d like permission to visit her. If she is my sister, then I’ve missed out on that. I never had a sibling. I want to know mine.”
My throat was closing, and my hands felt sweaty. I shook my head and backed away from him. Panic was causing my vision to blur. This wasn’t happening. If I had no claim on her, if they found out she wasn’t my sister . . . I could lose her. They could take her away from me. They’d be able to whisk her off to wherever they wanted, and she’d need me. She’d be scared and confused.
I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t breathe.
BEFORE I HAD A COMPLETE panic attack, the front door swung open.
“JASPER!” Stone’s roar echoed through the house. I jumped, jerking my head around to see him taking long quick strides into the parlor with a furious expression. I’d never seen him show this kind of emotion. For a moment, I snapped out of the complete breakdown I was having over my sister.
His gaze swung to me, and his expression softened. “Are you okay?” he asked his tone still harsh.