The Cousins(69)

Aubrey pales. “Only one of us wants that.”

A knock sounds at the door, and Uncle Archer frowns. “Now, who could that be?”

“Maybe it’s Uncle Anders. Coming back for another round,” I say, shooting a baleful look at Jonah. He has the grace to blush, and I hate how good it looks on him.

“Oh God,” Uncle Archer says as he heads for the door. “I hope not. I’m really trying to stay on track here, and that would—oh, hi.” He steps back in confusion to reveal Hazel standing in the doorway. “Are you…do I know you?”

“No,” she says. She’s clutching a brown envelope to her chest, her pensive expression clearing a little when she spots me, Aubrey, and Jonah. “But I know who you are, and I know these guys. I’m Hazel Baxter-Clement, Dr. Baxter’s granddaughter?”

“Of course. Welcome.” If Uncle Archer is surprised that Hazel knew where to find him, he doesn’t show it. Since I’m the one who told her, I’m hoping he’ll gloss over that small detail and just assume she found out from her grandfather. “Please come in, have a seat,” he adds, gesturing to the living room. “I’m so sorry for your loss. Fred was a wonderful man.”



“Yeah, that’s kind of why I’m here.” Hazel moves a few feet into the bungalow as Archer closes the door behind her, hovering beside the couch instead of squeezing into the space Aubrey and I try to make for her. “I just—I didn’t know where else to go.”

Uncle Archer cocks his head, concerned. “Everything okay?”

“I don’t know.” Hazel fumbles at a string on her envelope. “I found this in my grandfather’s desk yesterday. It was addressed to me, but…it’s about you.”

I exchange glances with Aubrey as Uncle Archer asks, “Me?”

“Well, part of it. It’s, um…” She opens the envelope and pulls out a sheet of paper. “Maybe I should just read it.” She clears her throat. “?‘Dear Hazel, I am so proud of the young woman that you have become. You are kind, thoughtful, and hardworking. Quite frankly, you are a legacy that I do not deserve. There are things you don’t know.’?” Her voice falters, and she swallows hard before continuing. “?‘I’m afraid to face the consequences of my actions, but even more afraid that soon I won’t remember them. So perhaps I should start with something that might yet be put right. I have done a grave injustice to Archer Story.’?”

She stops. I don’t think anyone in the room is breathing. I wait as long as I can stand it, to let Hazel collect herself, then burst out with, “What injustice?”

“I don’t know,” Hazel says. “The letter ends there.”

I groan as Uncle Archer runs a hand over his face. “Your grandfather asked to meet with me, right before he died,” he tells Hazel. “I didn’t get to him quickly enough. I have no idea what he wanted to talk about, or what he thinks he did to me. There’s nothing, on my end, that’s ever been a problem. He was our family doctor and always kind to me. That’s it. May I?” He gestures toward the letter, and Hazel hands it over. Uncle Archer scans it quickly, frowning. “He never said anything to you before this?”



“No,” Hazel says. “He’d never even mentioned you. There’s something else, though.” She reaches into the envelope and pulls out a thin sheaf of paper. “This was here, too.”

Uncle Archer takes it, his brow furrowing. “An autopsy report?”

“Yeah. It’s, like, twenty years old.” My nerves start prickling as Hazel adds, “Twenty-four, to be precise. It’s for someone named Kayla Dugas.”

“Kayla?” I echo, looking at Aubrey. “Oona’s sister Kayla?”

Uncle Archer looks up. “You know Oona?”

“She sold us our dresses,” I say. “And told us about her sister. How she dated Uncle Anders in high school and college. And then she died. Right around the time you were disinherited. We noticed the timing.” I look sideways at Aubrey and flush, remembering how rude I’d been to her at the library. “Well, Aubrey did.”

Uncle Archer frowns at the report. “There’s no note or anything attached to this? No context for why he’d want you or me to have it?”

“Nothing,” Hazel says.

“Maybe I should get in touch with Oona,” he says. “It seems like this should have been left for her, not me. Although I would’ve thought her family got a copy long ago.”

Aubrey speaks up. “What about the timing, Uncle Archer? You got the you know what you did letter from Donald Camden right after Kayla died, didn’t you?”



“Before,” he says. “I don’t remember the exact timing, but it was a one-two punch. First the letters, then Kayla died. We came back for her funeral, and Mother refused to see us.”

“Huh.” Aubrey chews her lip. “I thought it might’ve been a cause-and-effect thing. Like, something about Kayla’s death made Gran angry enough to disinherit you.”

“No.” Archer looks puzzled by the idea. “Just coincidental timing. Mother was never Kayla’s biggest fan, to be honest. She wanted Anders to find a nice Harvard girl. Which he did, eventually.” Archer turns back to Hazel. “Was there anything else in your grandfather’s things addressed to you, or to me?”