Chapter 14

Three days later, under a drizzling sky, Azure sat in a folding chair near her grandmother’s coffin. A green tarp covered the mound of dirt, and she wondered if they had chosen green to blend in with the grass. Dante stood behind her, with supporting hands on her shoulders, and Ruth sat beside her. She had yet to weep since her grandmother’s death. She felt frozen in a prison of ice that permitted no emotion to intrude or escape.

She wore a new black dress, specifically purchased for the interment of her grandmother. Azure hoped Brigette would have approved of the severely tailored style, knowing it was the last gesture of respect she could show her grandmother.

The minister droned on and on, and Azure turned her attention away from him and his empty words of comfort. She felt no pain at her grandmother’s departure, so why would the words offer comfort? Brigette had departed the world without one thing settled between them. No last-minute words of love exchanged, and no tears of forgiveness and regret shed. Their relationship had remained a farce until the very end.

Finally, he stopped speaking, and several people made their way from the cemetery. Azure felt no compulsion to see the dirt tossed over her grandmother’s casket, so they joined the small fray leaving the grave. As they approached Ruth’s car, Azure looked up and saw Finn and Andrea standing nearby. Mathias stood awkwardly beside them, dressed in a navy suit.

Without thought, Azure hurled herself into his arms. “You came,” she whispered.

“I thought you might need me,” Mat said as she pulled away from him.

“First Dante, and now you.” A small smile forced its way across her face. “You two are really great friends.” She reminded herself that only one of them could be more than a friend though.

“I’m sorry,” Finn said softly.

“We weren’t close,” said Azure, “But I do wish more had been resolved.”

“There’s always the attorney,” Dante reminded her. “Maybe the letter will give you some answers.”

Azure had contacted Kenneth Seals the day after Brigette’s death and learned he held a letter for her. She was due to meet him back at Brigette’s house in just a little while. “Come back to the house,” said Azure. “I’m sure there will be people hanging around for the free food, and you’re all welcome.”

Dante chose to ride back to the house with Azure and Ruth, and the Michaels followed behind. Once there, Azure was unsurprised to see a small gathering of people already waiting for them. Some of the women held dishes, as did a few of the men, but Ruth had made some food as well.

After letting the guests into the house, Azure took a seat on the sofa, not really feeling up to entertaining after her grandmother’s funeral. She looked up when a man said, “Excuse me, Azure?” She nodded. “I’m Kenneth Seals.” He extended a hand. The man was tall and elegant in an old-world way, but his suit was just a tad too ostentatious to be appropriate for practicing law in their small town.

“Let’s go into the library.” She stood up, trading a look with Dante. He smiled at her as she led the attorney through the guests.

She closed the door and took a seat behind the desk, feeling strange. In the entire time she had lived here, no one had ever sat in this chair but Brigette. “Have a seat.”

He sat down, opening his briefcase on top of the desk to remove a thick sheaf of papers and slide on a pair of reading glasses. “These are all the legal documents your grandmother left in my possession,” he said, giving her a folder and keeping one for himself. “It’s a copy of her will, and a letter for you.”

Azure opened the folder and removed the sealed letter, setting it aside to read in private. She turned her attention to the will as Kenneth began to speak.

“Your grandmother, feeling that you were adequately provided for elsewhere, has left the bulk of her estate and this home to Ruth James.” He seemed to be bracing for a protest.

Azure nodded. “I didn’t expect her to leave me a penny.”

“There is no question of contesting?” he asked nervously.

Azure shook her head. “It was her money and property, and she had to dispose of it as she wished. It’ll make Ruth’s life easier, and I know she’ll be pleased to learn that my grandmother thought so highly of her.”

“Good, good,” he said smoothly. “Now, if we can turn our attention to the letter—”

“I would prefer to read it in private.”

He nodded. “Of course, but there are some details to discuss. Shall I leave you for a time so you can read the letter?”

“I suppose so. Give me ten minutes.” Once Kenneth had departed, Azure used her grandmother’s pearl-handled letter opener to slit the cream envelope and removed two pages. She started reading the letter, not knowing what to expect. She had hoped to be able to mull it over in private but was now working with a time constraint.

Azure, I have left some things too late, and that is the reason you’re reading this instead of hearing it from me personally. I do hope I can work up the courage to discuss this with you before my death, but if not, at least you’ll still know.

I was a miserable failure at providing you with a home, and for that I apologize. I often wish that I’d let Richard’s family take you, but I was so determined not to lose my last link with Cassandra. Instead of being the grandmother I should have been, I blamed you for Cassie running away, even though I knew it wasn’t your fault.

Your mother left when I refused to allow her to marry Richard Wilkins. I knew they were in love, but she was so young, and I didn’t want to part with her. There was a child involved, and I can only assume Cassie miscarried. I know she and your father married within months of her departure, as soon as she was eighteen.

I have kept the truth from you all these years for one reason only. I didn’t want you to discover that your mother’s trust fund was available to you whenever you wanted to use it. As soon as she married, I no longer had any control over the money, and it passed to you upon her death. Despite my assertions to the contrary, I was merely the executor of the fund until you turned 18, not 25.

While the trust fund itself is substantial, there is more to this story. Richard’s family is wealthy, and he left you quite a sum upon his death, as well. In light of the amount of money you will now be collecting, I didn’t think you would feel hurt if I left my estate to Ruth. She has always been a true and wise friend, and I owe her a lot for raising you to be the person you are today.

Whether you believe me or not, I do love you, Azure. I have been cold and hard to you, incapable of letting my feelings show because I didn’t want to be hurt again. In the end, I drove you away, just as I did your mother. I wish things had been different, but I’m too old to change, and it’s too late to start over.

I’ve given the information I have about Richard’s family to my attorney, Kenneth Seals. As I last knew, just Richard’s mother and father are still alive. They will be happy to hear from you, as they sent you a birthday card and Christmas presents every year. The presents are gone forever, but I saved the cards. You’ll find them in the chest on my dresser in my bedroom.

For what it’s worth, I’m sorry for the way I’ve treated you.

Brigette Delahancey.

Trembling slightly, Azure neatly folded the letter and returned it to the envelope. It was all so much to absorb, and she hadn’t even made a dent in processing the information when Mr. Seals knocked on the door and reentered the library.

“Did you’ve a chance to read the letter yet?”

“Yes, I just finished,” said Azure in a shaky voice. “What are the details we have to discuss?”

Kenneth took the chair he had previously occupied and opened his briefcase once more, removing a thick sheaf of papers. “This is your father’s will, and the paperwork relating to your trust fund,” he explained, once more giving her a copy and keeping one for himself.

“How much?” She didn’t care at the moment, but it seemed to be the expected question.

“Eight million dollars in your mother’s trust fund, and—” Kenneth scanned the documents quickly. “—twelve million from your father, plus various land holdings. There’s a house in Tuscany, and an apartment in Rome. I believe there is a villa on the French Riviera.”

“Twenty million dollars?” She shook her head, unable to believe it.

Kenneth nodded. “From your parents, yes. You are also the sole beneficiary to Tate and Margaret Wilkins.”

“Are those my grandparents?” asked Azure, feeling a twinge of excitement.

“Yes. They left their entire estate to you.”

“They’re dead too?” She had only just found them, and they were lost to her forever, as well?

Kenneth shuffled through his papers. “Yes, that’s correct. Margaret died five years ago, and Tate passed away last year. They left you in excess of forty-five million dollars, in addition to land holdings and a yacht.”

“Jesus Christ,” Azure whispered. She had gone from being dependent on the royalties of Burning Starr to a multi-millionaire in just a few minutes. With a bitter laugh, she acknowledged it had only cost her the lives of her parents and grandparents.

“Are you all right, Ms. Wilkins?” He frowned at her.

She forced her tongue to form words. “Yes, I’ll be fine.”

Plastering on a professional smile, Kenneth brought her attention to several forms. “These all require your signature, and then the money and deeds are yours.”

Azure scrawled her name where indicated and shook Kenneth’s hand when he offered it.

“I’m sorry about your grandmother.”

“My whole family,” Azure corrected. Shaking her head, she followed Kenneth from the study and walked him to the door. “Thank you, Mr. Seals,” she said as he left.

After closing the door, Azure just stood there in shock for at least ten minutes before someone touched her on the shoulder. She turned to find Mathias and Dante standing behind her.

“Are you okay?”

“You look pale and kind of sick,” Dante added.

“I’ll be fine.” She shook her head. “It’s just going to take some time to adjust.”

“Adjust to what?” asked Dante.

Azure led them into the library and showed Dante the letter while Mathias read over the documents. “Holy shit,” he hissed before trading with Dante.

“My God,” Dante whispered. “I’m sorry about your grandparents.” He raised his head and touched her shoulder, not commenting on the money at all. “It must be quite a blow to learn of them today after they’ve been dead for a long time.”

The tears that had remained locked in her chest suddenly burst forth, and Azure collapsed in the chair, desperately grasping the tissue Mathias passed her. “It’s not fair. How am I supposed to find peace with my grandmother’s memory, knowing what she deprived me of? She kept me from a family who wanted me, a family who remembered my birthdays and sent Christmas presents. She never let me see the cards or open the presents, and she never told me someone out there loved me. She never said she loved me.” Azure smacked the palm of her hand on the desk.

“I’m sure she thought it was for the best,” said Mathias.

Dante snorted. “She did it for her own reasons, and they had nothing to do with Azure.”

Mathias glared at him before turning to Azure. “How can we help you through this?”

Her anger still bubbled beneath the surface, and she unleashed it on them. “Just leave me alone,” she said in a hard voice. “I don’t need the two of you around right now, contributing to the mess my life is in.”

Looking hurt, Mathias stood up from the corner of the desk he’d been perched on. “If that’s what you want. Are you coming back to Los Angeles?”

“Yes, eventually,” she said without hesitation.

Mathias nodded and walked to the door. Dante watched him walk out before turning to Azure. “Don’t shut us out too. You might have lost the chance to ever meet the grandparents who loved you, but don’t push away the people who do love you.”

Azure swiped at the tears in her eyes. “I’ll be back soon.” She sighed. “Thank you for coming here and being with me these past few days.”

“I was happy to be by your side, because I love you.” He wore a pained expression. “No matter what you decide to do, I hope you know how much I love you.”

“Even if I want Mathias?” Her lips trembled when she asked the question.

“If that’s what you want,” he said in a stark tone. “Is that what you want, honey?”

Shrugging, Azure turned away from him. “I don’t know, Dante. I’ll be back soon.”

“Don’t take too long,” he said, heading for the door. “Burning Starr needs you, and I need you.” The door closed behind him, and Azure put her head on her arms, sobbing. Before she returned to Los Angeles, she had to know what her heart wanted.