Marry Screw Kill(81)

I follow Mr. Myers eyes and see a woman standing near a far wall. I didn’t see her when I entered, but she is beautiful, classy. Her shoulder-length black hair frames her pale face. Add red lipstick and piercing green-ish eyes, and she’s stunning.

“Hello, Miss Masters,” Ms. Bradley says, walking toward me. “I am Thomas Bradley’s widow.”

“Hello,” I reply, unsure what more to say to her. I might be the child from an affair her husband had with another woman. The word awkward comes to mind. She reaches out to shake my hand and I quickly wipe my palm across my dress before shaking it.

Sin places his hand on the small of my back and the tension leaves my body at his touch. I turn to him and give him a small smile, trying to tell him thanks with my eyes. He understands me and nods.

“I see you brought two people with you today,” Mr. Myers acknowledges the two pillars of strength at my side.

“Sinclair Elliott.” Sin shakes Mr. Myers’ hand. “I’m Harlow’s boyfriend.”

I’ll never get tired of Sin telling people we are together. He gazes down at me and I see a sparkle in his whiskey-colored eyes.

“Yes, we spoke on the phone. Glad you are here with Miss Masters,” Mr. Myers says, and turns to my grandmother. “And you must be Margaret McMasters.”

“I am,” Margaret replies.

“Please, have a seat.” Mr. Myers gestures to three chairs in front of his desk.

We follow his instructions and sit down. Mr. Myers drags another chair to the desk so Thomas’ widow can join us.

There is a silent pause as we all stare at one another, the anticipation building.

“Well, I imagine you’re wondering why we wanted to see you,” Mr. Myers pauses. “Do you mind if I call you Harlow?”

“Please do,” I respond.

“You can call me Samuel. Hell, let’s all go by our first names,” Sam says, following it with a chuckle. “Now that the introductions are finished, Andrea will share the purpose of this meeting.”

I turn my attention to Andrea. Her hands are resting in her lap and she appears to be at ease, unlike me. She clears her throat before starting.

“First off, I want you to know how sorry I am your mother was killed. You are so young to have lost her.”

“Thank you.” My response is strained as I hold back my emotions.

“Thank you,” she says with purpose, “for reaching out to Samuel and agreeing to come here today. Several years ago, my late husband found out he had a deadly form of melanoma. He went on a spiritual retreat when treatments were no longer an option for him.” Andrea’s voice cracks as she speaks. “When he returned, he was a different man—a much-improved version of himself. He began a quest to make amends with those he’d wronged in his life.”

I glance at Sin, my boyfriend, and reach for his hand. Steadying my heart, I continue to listen to Andrea.

“Thomas confessed to having an affair with your mother, Marie. He told me she had no idea he was married until you came along. He said how he treated your mother was the biggest regret of his life.”

Tears begin to form in my eyes and the old lump in my throat returns. I try to hold back the tears and turn toward Margaret to see how she’s fairing. Our watery eyes match, but hers are filled with tender regret for herself, my mother, and me.

“Here, Harlow and Margaret.” Sin pulls a couple tissues from a wooden container sitting on the corner of the desk. He hands them to us and we wipe away our tears.

“Thanks, Sin,” I say, and Margaret echoes.

“Believe me. I understand,” Andrea speaks in a comforting tone.

She doesn’t hold anything against me. When she looks at me, there’s nothing cold or contentious in her gaze. Her actions are just the opposite, kind and understanding. I am not a threat to her, nor an ugly reminder of her husband’s infidelity. She has fully forgiven Thomas, and I want to hear more—understand him and try to follow in Andrea’s footsteps of forgiveness, if it’s possible.

“He paid your mother twenty thousand dollars in hopes she would forget him and end her pregnancy. Even going so far as threatening to ruin Marie’s mother financially if she didn’t do as he wanted. He needed to hide the affair from me.” Andrea pauses and looks at Margaret, who is crying so hard, her shoulders are shaking.

“For what it’s worth, Thomas cried when he shared this part with me. He said he needed to find Marie, but he never heard from her again.” Sin hands out another round of tissues and Andrea pauses my father’s story while we try to compose ourselves.

“There’s no need for you to take a DNA test, Harlow. Frankly, you’ve been through enough. I am convinced, after discussing this with Samuel, you are Thomas’ daughter. Thomas set aside three hundred thousand dollars for Marie, if she was ever located. He would’ve left more money if he had known about you. He truly thought Marie didn’t have you, since he never heard from her. I think he wondered though, if you were a possibility.”

I can’t process what I’m hearing. Three hundred thousand. Would’ve left more.

“But, Marie is gone,” Margaret says through her tears. “What does this mean to Harlow?”

“It’s very simple. As the executor of the trust, I handle where the money goes and to whom. The money he left for your mother, Harlow, will be transferred to an account of your choosing.”