Chapter 6 - Yellow CurtainsBrandon did not shout.
That made it worse.
He sat in the chair across from Harper while Lily pressed herself against the wall.
“You told Naomi something.”
Harper stared at him.
“I told her Gregory hurt us.”
“That isn’t why she requested a review.”
“Maybe she doesn’t trust you.”
Brandon smiled without warmth.
“You used your mother’s signal.”
Harper’s skin prickled.
“You knew about yellow curtains.”
“Claire used it once with a counselor.”
“When?”
“When she was trying to take you away from me.”
Harper’s voice shook.
“She did take us away.”
His smile vanished.
“Your mother manipulated everybody.”
“Maybe she was scared.”
“She was angry.”
“Of you?”
“Enough.”
Lily started crying.
Harper moved in front of her automatically.
Brandon saw it.
Something bitter crossed his face.
“You do that every time.”
“What?”
“Turn yourself into Claire.”
Harper stared.
Brandon stood.
“Naomi will come tomorrow with a social worker.”
“Good.”
“You think they’ll save you?”
“Yes.”
“Like I did?”
Harper’s mouth went dry.
“You didn’t.”
Brandon came closer.
“I removed you from Gregory.”
“And locked Lily away.”
“One night.”
“You’re making me lie.”
“To protect this family.”
“You want our money.”
The sentence landed.
Brandon became completely still.
Lily stared at Harper.
“What money?”
Brandon’s voice turned very soft.
“Where did you see that?”
Harper realized she had gone too far.
“I don’t know.”
“Havenridge?”
She said nothing.
“The trust?”
Nothing.
Brandon’s eyes sharpened.
“How much did you read?”
Harper looked toward Lily.
“Enough.”
For the first time, Brandon looked uncertain.
Not guilty.
Worried.
“Did you take anything?”
“No.”
That was true.
She had taken photographs.
Not papers.
Brandon searched the room.
Backpack.
Drawers.
Mattress.
Harper’s pockets.
He found Claire’s old phone under a folded shirt.
Her stomach dropped.
He turned it on.
No passcode.
He opened the photos.
Wire transfers.
Trust documents.
Morrow proposal.
Brandon stared.
Then deleted them.
All of them.
He held the phone out.
“Anything else?”
Harper shook her head.
He snapped the phone in half.
Lily screamed at the sound.
Harper flinched.
Brandon threw the pieces into the wastebasket.
“Tomorrow you will tell Naomi you misunderstood the locks.”
“I didn’t.”
“You will say Lily was having a tantrum and I separated you for safety.”
“No.”
“You will say the dress belonged to your mother.”
Harper glanced down.
“Did it?”
“Yes.”
That surprised her.
Claire had worn the uniform at Havenridge when she helped her own mother at the inn as a teenager.
Brandon had kept it.
Why?
“Why make me wear Mom’s dress?”
His answer came after a pause.
“Because your mother also had to learn responsibility.”
Harper felt sick.
He was not just controlling her.
He was reenacting something.
Trying to win an argument with Claire through Claire’s daughter.
The doorbell rang.
Brandon checked his watch.
Too early for Naomi.
He went downstairs.
Harper heard voices.
One belonged to Gregory.
Lily grabbed her hand.
“Why is he here?”
“I don’t know.”
Harper opened the bedroom door an inch.
Below them, Brandon hissed:
“You can’t come here.”
“You stopped answering.”
“You’re under investigation.”
“So are you.”
Brandon lowered his voice.
Harper leaned toward the stairwell.
Gregory said, “I want the rest of my money.”
“You’ll get nothing if Price removes the girls.”
“That’s your problem.”
“You created the problem.”
Gregory laughed.
“No. Claire created it when she refused to sell Havenridge.”
Harper’s breath stopped.
Brandon said, “Keep her name out of this.”
“You forged her signature. Not me.”
“You witnessed it.”
“Because you paid me.”
Lily tugged Harper’s sleeve.
“What are they saying?”
Harper could barely breathe.
Downstairs, Brandon said, “The original documents are still missing.”
Gregory answered:
“Then maybe Claire gave them to Harper.”
Both men went quiet.
Harper stepped backward.
Too late.
A floorboard creaked.
Gregory looked up the stairs.
May you like
Their eyes met.
“Found her,” he said.
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