Unexpected Inheritance
Beneath
Beneath t
e seemed to bore straight into my soul, as though she were searching for something hidde
th and elegant. "It's a pleasure to final
e. What had Jake told her about me? An
d my thoughts, she answe
a beat. "Mrs. San
htly, offering
through me. Her handshake was firm but not forceful, her skin
the plush sofa behind me. "Can I offer you somet
t then I caught a glimmer of warmth in
nk you, ma," I replied, doin
light caught her silver hair, casting a soft halo around her head. She was the
her face, a strange sense of reassurance washed
arrying a tray with a steaming teapot and two delica
gather my thoughts. How do I tell her about the
mething unexpected-kindness, even understanding
, my voice barely above a whisper. "I
le. "I see," she said. "Well, Jake is... indisposed at the mome
ent hit me. Indispose
aught my attention. A flick
kening. "Is everything okay?" I
d away from mine, and in that pa
he said at last. "Jake is just t
s told a different story. They glimmered wit
?" I repeated, my
ight. He's been very busy lately." Her eyes wande
me. Why the evasive answer
" I asked, my t
dgeted in her lap, twisting t
ible right now," she said s
keeping me from him? First he dis
I slammed my hands down on
s, heavy and raw. Her eyes were rimmed with r
concern. What was she hiding?
ly, my voice softening
her eyes searching mine. Then she
measured, "I'm truly sorry. Jake is extremely
f your message is urgent,
the staircase and gestured to one of the bodygu
pped forward and extended an arm, wo
e the moment everything unravels. My visio
uard out, one thoug
hiding from