Chapter 43
Blanche scowled, on the verge of refusing, but then paused as the woman continued.
“It’s just a few photos. That’s all it takes to help your sister. Talk to Laney about it.”
“There are all sorts of rumors out there-people are saying your sister is a troublemaker, that the Simmons Group throws its weight around.”
Blanche’s resistance faltered as she thought of Hedwig’s situation.
When Blanche went upstairs, Hedwig met her on the landing.
“Blanche, Tia overheard the staff talking. She knows her father’s been taken away, and she’s been crying nonstop.”
“I’ll go check on her.” Blanche followed Hedwig to Tia’s room and gathered the little girl in her arms, heart aching at the sight.
“Aunt Blanche, you’re hurt. Did my dad do that?”
“They said my dad’s a bad person, that he hurt you. Uncle wants to kick me and Mommy out of the house.”
“Aunt Blanche, my dad’s a good person, right? They’re lying, aren’t they?”
Tia’s innocent face was pinched with worry as she gazed up at Blanche, pleading for reassurance.
If Blanche’s own daughter had lived, she would have been about Tia’s age
now.
There was no way she could let Tia be hurt. “Tia, your daddy didn’t hurt me. I scratched my face by accident.”
“Then can Mommy and I still live here?” Tia asked, hope flickering in her
eyes.
“Of course you can. This is your home too, for both you and your mom.”
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Chapter 43
Blanche gently brushed a lock of hair from Tia’s cheek.
“Thank you, Aunt Blanche.” Tia planted a grateful kiss on Blanche’s face. “I’m going to tell Daddy that I want to live here for a long time before we go home. But… why won’t Daddy answer his phone?”
Blanche watched as Tia wandered off, muttering to herself, before joining Healy to watch cartoons in the family room.
A wave of indescribable sorrow washed over Blanche. It’s always the children who get hurt when parents fall apart.
She was living proof of that.
She reached for Hedwig’s hand. “In a couple of days, I want you to come with me to the attorney’s office.”
“When your brother and I got married, he transferred his shares to me. I want to give them to you, Hedwig.”
Hedwig stood frozen, stunned into silence. Blanche just smiled gently and made her way to the family room.
She wanted to spend as much time with Healy as she could.
There were only twenty-five days left.
On the day of the memorial service, Hedwig didn’t hesitate. She handed Eddy a glass of water laced with medication, making sure everything would go according to plan.
The night before, when Blanche told her about transferring the shares, Hedwig had been genuinely moved.
But then Loraine appeared, shattering her hopes.
“Your sister-in-law is a good person, but you can’t take what doesn’t belong to you.”
“What’s hers is hers.”
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“And you’re in no position to handle those shares anyway.”
“Refuse her offer. Don’t accept. Even if you did, I can make sure the agreement never takes effect.”
Loraine’s warning echoed relentlessly in Hedwig’s mind. Gritting her teeth, she poured the entire bottle of medication into the water.
“Eddy, Blanche is waiting for you in the back.”
Eddy was anxious to see Blanche-he was worried she’d be exhausted by the memorial, or that thinking of Sheila would push her over the edge.
He took the glass from Hedwig, drank, and headed into the private room.
This year’s memorial was a grand affair-they would be moving Sheila to her new resting place.
Her ashes, sealed in a box, waited in the private room. When the outdoor ceremony was over, Blanche would carry them to the cemetery and lay her to rest.
Eddy, eager to see Blanche, finished the water and stepped inside.
He was met by Jeannette, draped in black, deep in mourning.
She clung to him, shadows flickering in his eyes…
Meanwhile, Blanche had finished helping Healy into mourning clothes and returned to the memorial. As the ceremony drew to a close, the officiant called her in to retrieve the ashes.
Suddenly, the reporters who were supposed to stay outside surged in, cameras flashing wildly, turning the solemn event into chaos.
Blanche pushed aside the curtain-only to find the room in disarray, and two people entangled, unable to let each other go.
