Accidental Knight: A Marriage Mistake Romance(65)

Not even being called ugly diminished my joy at never having to participate in another pageant.

“This foolishness is over, missy.” She slams her purse and a file folder on the corner of the desk. “I’ve had enough, and since you think you’re no longer taking my calls, we’ll do this in person.”

I hate when she calls me missy. I consider standing up, but that might be the reaction she wants. Instead, I just stay seated and cross my arms, grateful for Gramps’ huge wooden desk and the leather chair, which at least lend an illusion of power.

“Did you hear me?” Mom breaks the silence first.

“You’re shouting. How could I not?” I say, keeping my voice far lower than hers.

Her eyes narrow to squints. “Don’t get smart with me. I’ve already said I’ve had enough of this shit, and I have. Jonah Reed has been controlling our lives for far too long, and now that he’s gone, this ends here. You know what I’m talking about, Annabelle. Your father and I are the rightful heirs of anything he left behind.” She slaps a hand on the file folder she’d set down. “Here’s what’s going to happen: you’re going to sign these papers sent over from our attorney back home and put an end to his spitefulness. Then we’re going to talk to Mr. Briar again and leave Hicksville before one of us loses a tooth.”

I open my mouth to answer, but her finger shoots up. Another weapon in her arsenal I despise.

“Nuh-uh, I’m not done yet! Don’t fight me on this, Annabelle. You know it makes sense. As our daughter, you owe us this much. We’ve dedicated our lives to taking care of you and raising you as best we could with a crazy, controlling, vile old man in the way. Where would you be right now if we hadn’t bailed you out of those houses in California?”

I pinch my lips to keep from responding, from telling her that if they hadn’t slipped their fingers in those rental pies in the first place, things could’ve turned out differently.

“Just think about the money we’ve spent on you over the years. Enough to put most people in the poor house. Signing these papers and helping us out of this mess is the least you can do. Your father’s the only person qualified to sit on the board, anyway. He’s the only one who should be dealing with the Reed Oil company.”

Then why are you here? I wonder. Her 'Reed Oil company' remark isn't lost on me, either.

That’s what she’s always called it. She’s never stopped denying that there might be a family connection to Amelia Earhart like Gramps insisted.

“Dad won’t be sitting in any seat,” I say, “because if I were to sign those papers, you’d sell North Earhart to Avery Briar in ten minutes.”

She shakes her head, huffing out a sigh. Her attempt to look demure is lost on me.

I’ve seen it too many times and know it’s not real.

“Nonsense. Your father and I discussed that, but it’s simply an option, Annabelle. We understand what Reed Oil means to the locals. And I suppose...” She slowly glances around the room. “I suppose we know how much this place means to you. So we’ll let you keep the ranch. It will be all yours, to do as you’d like. We’ll simply take over Reed Oil and make the best decision for the company, the town, and our family.”

It’s a wonder they haven’t blown town with the attention they’re getting. Erin said the town thought Gramps left everything to my father.

Whether they like them or not, the locals are probably fawning all over them, hoping it’ll influence what they’ll do with North Earhart. Attention like that means almost as much as money to mother.

I’m sure she’s already relishing the idea of being the queen bee, even if it’s a throne in a town she hates.

Sadly, once the letter I’ve just finished hits the press, that attention will turn, and my life is going to get worse. It’ll give her one more thing to blame me for.

I’d ruined her body by simply being born, what will she have to say about denying her a future?

“Your father and I also know what’s best for you,” she says. “And the current situation is hardly what’s best for anyone.” She waves a finger. “This, you living out here with a virtual stranger who makes you act out is ridiculous. Dangerous, Anna. You can pretend all you want, but you don’t know a thing about that man.”

“I know enough,” I snap, finally losing my patience. “And I know this 'stranger' treats me with more dignity and respect than you’ve got in your pinky finger, Mom.”

“Well, I know something too, and let me tell you – anyone who’d live out here with an asinine old goat is up to no good. For all we know, he could’ve killed Jonah, and just claimed it was a heart attack.”

I’m trying to not react to anything she says, but that pisses me off.

Darting to my feet, I point at the door. “Get the hell out, Mother.” Then, pointing at her folder on the desk, I add, “And take that crap with you. I’m not signing anything today or in the next lifetime.”

I expect anger. Shouting. Maybe even a full-on frontal assault.

But disgust fills her face. “What’s gotten into you? I thought you were smarter than this. Think about it, Annabelle. That man could’ve been poisoning Jonah. A lot of things can cause a heart attack.”

I am smart, and that’s why I’m utterly sick at how dumb she thinks I am. “So now you’re a forensics specialist? Because you’ve thought about it? Researched it? Considered killing off Gramps for years yourself, maybe? His death was your greatest dream come true. If I knew you wouldn’t be caught dead here in Dallas without your damned money, I’d think you poisoned him.”