Chapter 7 - The Old PartnershipGregory had once been Brandon’s business partner.
Harper learned the truth while trapped at the upstairs railing.
Neither man wanted to explain.
But each wanted to blame the other more.
“You told them I was some stranger Claire married,” Gregory said.
Brandon’s expression hardened.
“You were supposed to stay away.”
Gregory looked at Harper.
“Your father and I built houses together.”
Brandon stepped forward.
“Shut up.”
“Northstar Renovations.”
“I said shut up.”
Gregory smiled.
Harper recognized the expression.
It was the same cruel satisfaction he showed when he knew somebody was afraid.
“Your mother handled the books.”
Harper stared.
“Mom worked with you?”
“For Brandon.”
Brandon grabbed Gregory’s shoulder.
Gregory shoved him off.
Lily cried out.
Harper pulled her back into the bedroom.
“Stop!”
Both men froze.
For one strange second Harper saw them clearly.
Not father and stepfather.
Not enemies.
Two men who had been fighting over the same secret for years.
Gregory pointed at Brandon.
“He borrowed against Havenridge.”
“You signed the witness page.”
“You forged Claire’s name.”
“And you spent the money.”
Gregory laughed.
“So did you.”
Harper whispered, “What money?”
Neither answered.
She looked at Brandon.
“You used Mom’s house?”
“It was supposed to be temporary.”
“How much?”
Brandon’s silence told her the number mattered.
Gregory supplied it.
“One point eight million.”
Harper understood almost none of the legal details.
She understood stealing.
“You stole from Mom.”
Brandon’s face tightened.
“I borrowed money to save our company.”
“Without asking her?”
“I intended to repay it.”
Gregory leaned against the wall.
“Then Northstar collapsed.”
Harper looked between them.
“And Mom found out.”
“Yes,” Gregory said.
Brandon snapped, “Enough.”
But Gregory was enjoying himself now.
“Claire threatened to go to the police.”
Lily whispered, “Why didn’t she?”
Gregory’s expression shifted.
“She got sick.”
Silence.
Claire had died eighteen months earlier after a rapidly progressing cancer.
Harper suddenly remembered the last months differently.
Claire taking phone calls behind closed doors.
Claire hiding folders.
Claire asking Aunt Rachel to visit more often.
Claire telling Harper no adult had the right to make her feel trapped.
“What happened after Mom died?” Harper asked.
Gregory looked away.
Brandon answered.
“Gregory became your temporary guardian because I was living out of state.”
“Mom wanted him?”
“At the time.”
Gregory’s face hardened.
“At the time I was the one caring for her.”
Brandon laughed bitterly.
“You were also the one blackmailing me.”
Harper stared at Gregory.
He did not deny it.
“I knew about the lien.”
“You made Dad pay you?”
“Your father owed me.”
“No.”
Harper’s voice became stronger.
“You made him pay because you knew he stole from Mom.”
Gregory’s expression darkened.
“Watch yourself.”
Harper instinctively moved in front of Lily.
Brandon noticed.
Then headlights appeared outside.
A vehicle stopped.
Naomi Price stepped from the passenger side.
Beside her was a county child-protection investigator.
Brandon swore.
Gregory moved toward the back door.
Naomi knocked.
“Mr. Bennett?”
Brandon looked toward Harper.
One finger rose to his lips.
A warning.
Harper looked at Lily.
Then at the front door downstairs.
Naomi knocked again.
“Mr. Bennett, I need you to open the door.”
Brandon walked down.
Gregory disappeared into the kitchen.
Harper knew what she had to do.
She grabbed Lily’s hand.
They ran.
Not toward the back.
Toward Naomi.
Brandon opened the front door just as Harper reached the stairs.
Naomi looked up.
Harper shouted the only sentence she could think of.
“The curtains are still yellow!”
Everything changed at once.
Naomi pushed forward.
The investigator called for Harper and Lily.
Brandon stepped in their path.
“You’re frightening them.”
Harper screamed.
“Gregory’s here too!”
Brandon’s face collapsed.
Naomi stared.
“Gregory?”
A back door slammed.
The investigator grabbed his radio.
Harper reached the bottom step.
Naomi opened both arms.
Harper did not run into them.
She kept Lily behind her.
Still protecting.
Still unsure.
Naomi crouched.
“Harper, you do not have to choose between those two men.”
Claire’s words.
Almost exactly.
Harper began crying.
Behind her, Lily whispered, “Can we go with her?”
Naomi nodded.
“If you want to.”
For the first time since Claire died, an adult asked what they wanted before telling them what would happen.
Harper reached for Naomi’s hand.
May you like
Then police lights flashed through the windows.
And Brandon’s expression changed from anger to fear.
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