A quick glance around the room, made him clench his teeth together. As he stared around the space, all he saw was stark furniture and expense. He knew his mother had her own suite downstairs, the master she’d shared with his father, but he’d thought something of her would show in Gary’s space.
He turned away, heading down to the pool area. Telling his mother was going to break her heart all over again.
Chapter Two
TALENA HELD HER BROTHER’S hand during the funeral, wiping at her burning eyes from all the crying she’d done in the past couple of days. Scott handed her another tissue, taking the crumbled one from her. She tried to say thank you, but her throat hurt from swallowing so many times in her bid to not cry. It wasn’t that Angela had been one of her favorite people. In fact, her sister was truly horrid to her growing up, always saying the most awful things; things that made Talena feel absolutely terrible about herself. No, what made her cry was the memory of what Angela had said to her the day before she’d died, words that made her grip her brother, or rather, Scott’s hand harder. She needed to find a way to tell him what Angela said. Scott would protect her and make sure what happened to their sister—what happened to Angela didn’t happen to her. For the last two nights she’d locked her bedroom door, which she’d never done before.
She felt the weight of disapproval being directed toward her, knowing her dad didn’t like Scott. He definitely didn’t like that she was staying close to her brother and not him. Oh God, she didn’t think she could pretend to not know the truth. The anguish she’d held in since Angela’s bombshell escaped in a hiccupping cry. All the little things that had been happening over the last year, she could no longer brush off as her dad not wanting to let her grow up, like he’d claimed.
Dads didn’t do what hers did to their daughters. She knew the truth now and Angela, she may have been mean and spiteful, but in the end, she’d tried to protect Talena.
“Ah, pipsqueak, don’t. You’re breaking my heart, and I only got one to give,” Scott whispered, pulling her in closer to his side.
“I...I’m sorry. It’s just so aw...awful,” she cried.
Their mom moved closer in her chair, wrapping her arm around her back with a murmur. Her own eyes were filled tears and red from crying. Tara Haven wasn’t even Angela’s mother, but she was torn up, unlike her father who like a statue.
Feeling both her mom and brother surround her, she felt safe and loved. They sat that way for the rest of the service, while her dad was on the other side of her mother, dark shades hiding his eyes. Not once did she see him look sad. She never had, in all her years, no matter the circumstance. Before, she’d thought that meant he was strong and brave. The blinders were off now that Angela had ripped all of her stupid childish innocence away with her revelations. She was glad to know the truth, but at the same time she wished...well she couldn’t say she wished she didn’t know. Knowledge was good to have if you could do something with it. For her, knowing meant she now had to be on guard.
When the minister closed the Bible, everyone stood up pulling her from her inner turmoil. Again, her dad didn’t move to take her mom’s hand. It all was so odd all the little things she was noticing for the first time. She wasn’t sure if she should be thankful Angela had opened her eyes or not.
“Thank you all for coming out today. I know how hard it must be to lose someone so young. Angela Dupont was very meticulous it seems, even before her untimely passing. She wanted a letter read in the event of her death.” He lifted a blush pink envelope with a gold seal. “Strange a woman in her mid-twenties would have the forethought to write a letter such as this, but as you all must know, Ms. Dupont wasn’t your average girl.” He looked around the gathering.
Talena heard her dad’s sharp intake of air.
“For my family’s sake, I’d like to ask that you present us with the letter to read in the privacy of our home, if you don’t mind.” He moved around the gorgeous casket with the beautiful flowers that had been draped over it, paying no attention to where his daughter lay, his sole focus was clearly on getting to the minister and the letter he held.
It should’ve been a request, but her father never requested anything, he demanded.
The minister sighed and shook his head. “I’m sorry, but this was laid out and paid for prior to her death several weeks back. It was delivered to my office yesterday,” he said.
“Yes, well, that is all well and good, but this entire funeral has been paid for by me and my checking account. If you’d like me to see to your payment going through, I suggest you allow me to decide when and where my family hears our daughter’s last words,” her father bit out.
The minister pushed on his ear, bringing her focus to the fact he had what appeared to be a hearing aid or some kind of device in it. The entire funeral was a huge spectacle, one that was in line with their wealthy status. She was actually shocked her father had stepped out of character to approach the man instead of allowing him to read the letter. Whatever was in the envelope was clearly something he didn’t want everyone present to hear.
“Gary, I don’t see any reason we can’t allow the man to read Angela’s letter. What could be in there that’s so awful?” Scott asked.
“This is none of your concern, boy.”
Talena was jarred from her own musings to find her brother had gone around the opposite direction and stood a couple feet from the minister. At her dad’s words, she could see her brother’s jaw harden in anger before he stood taller. Gah, she needed to stop thinking of them as such. Gary wasn’t her dad, and Scott wasn’t her brother. Tara wasn’t her mom. She was nobody to anyone.
“Gary, you call me boy one more time, and I’ll show just how much of a boy I’m not. Feel me?” Scott towered over both men anger in every line of his body.
Her father grabbed the letter, pushing it inside a pocket of his suit jacket. He looked at the crowd, his eyes harder than she’d ever seen them.
“We’re in the middle of my stepdaughter’s funeral. I would appreciate it if you two would please stop beating your chest and allow her to be put in the ground in peace.”
Her mother didn’t need to raise her voice or resort to name calling to get everyone to fall in line. With one little softly spoken sentence, she put two grown men in their places. Not that her brother needed it, but her dad, he was on the verge of an explosion, everyone could see it and feel it.
The minister let out a breath. “I will abide by the family’s wishes. If you all would like to come up and pay your last respects.”
Hours later, she was sure she’d cried all the tears she had in her body. Everyone had already left, gone home to their families, leaving her alone with her mom and dad. Only they weren’t really her parents, not by blood.
“What’s the matter, my Dove?” her dad asked, startling her from her thoughts.
She’d always thought his nickname was beautiful. Now, it scared her. She’d come outside to escape from all the sympathy from all the well-wishers.
“Today was awful.” Truth since it had been, knowing she’d never see Angela again, never get to have the close relationship like other girls with their big sisters. She’d craved to have a sister who would teach her how to wear makeup and how to do all the things a girl did, like when she had her first boyfriend.