“I need your attorney hat on for a while,” she stated.
“Okay.”
She looked between Rene and me. “You’ve both been so amazing. Thank you for everything.” She drew in a deep breath. “I’ve made a decision. Well, two, actually.”
“Okay,” I said, a pit of worry forming in my stomach.
“I need you to support me and act as my attorney for both of my decisions.”
I nodded, somehow knowing I wasn’t going to like either one.
“I need you to work with Jonas and do whatever it is you need to do to settle this issue with Connie. But I don’t want the insurance money or the value of Scott’s shares in the practice—or whatever will be left once Scott’s debts are paid off.”
She held up her hand before I could protest. “I don’t want it,” she repeated. “I got my settlement, and it’s done.”
“Fee—” I began. Scott’s girlfriend would use the money to further her drug habit. I had no doubt of that.
She shook her head. “Hear me out. I want the money to go into a trust fund and do some good. Something that will help people struggling with addiction.” She ran a hand over her head. “Settle with Connie. I know she wants money. Give it to her—get her out of my life.”
I met Rene’s eyes. He dipped his chin, telling me silently not to argue with Fee. I could understand her feelings, but part of me wanted her to have all the money so she would never have to worry again. But I knew I needed to respect her wishes.
“I’ll work with Jonas. You don’t have to worry about it, okay? I’ll handle it, and you’ll only have to sign some papers.” It was much more complex than that, but I didn’t want her to stress.
“Thank you,” she breathed out, relieved I wasn’t arguing with her.
“What is your second decision, Fee?” Rene asked.
She smiled, a genuine smile this time, and lifted her head, squaring her shoulders. “I’m buying a house.”
Rene’s answering grin was wide. “The bungalow we looked at the other day? With the porch?”
“Yes.”
“Excellent choice.”
It was all I could do not to gape at them. I had no idea they had been looking at houses together for Fee to purchase. Neither of them had said anything.
Fee nodded. “I made an offer, and the one condition was an inspection. It’s empty and I have the money, so I asked for a two-week closing date.”
My gaze flew between them. Two weeks? Fee was moving out in two weeks? The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them.
“Are you sure? Why are you rushing into this?”
Rene kicked my shin, and Fee looked confused. “I love this house. It’s perfect for me, and why should I wait?”
I wanted to scream that she had to wait because I wasn’t ready to let her go. But I couldn’t. I knew I couldn’t hold her back. I had set the rules, and she was following them.
I knew our time was coming to a close.
The saturation point had been reached for us both. I had to ignore the little voice in my head telling me, for the first time ever, I was the one not ready to let go.
I forced a smile to my face.
“You shouldn’t.”
Two weeks later, I followed Fee around her house, trying to show some enthusiasm for her new place. It was a great little house. Two bedrooms, a third room that would work well as an office. It had a well-appointed kitchen with a walk-out to a deck and a grassy, fenced-in yard. There was a new porch on the front of the house, well-built and covered. The two bathrooms were updated and modern, one with a large tub I knew Fee would use a lot. She liked the one in my condo. The basement was finished with a large TV area and a workout space. Set in a quiet neighborhood, the house was solid, and she would, no doubt, be happy here.
That was what I wanted, wasn’t it?
I had done my job. I was working behind the scenes with Jonas to move along Scott’s estate as fast as possible. I involved Fee as little as I could, knowing it upset her. It was complicated and messy, but eventually, it would be done. I wished I had gotten her more in her settlement or she had agreed to take at least the life insurance money, but it was Fee who made the final decision. Invested well, the money I had gotten her would make sure she wouldn’t have to worry about her future. She had a good head on her shoulders, and I knew she would be fine.
So why was I so pissed off?
She turned to me. “Well?”
“It’s great, Fee.”
Her excited expression fell. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. It’s a great house. I saw all the reports and the inspection document. You chose well.”
She took my hand and dragged me down the hall. The master bedroom was large and bright. A new bed sat in the middle of the room—one of the few pieces of furniture in the house. There was nothing else—not even a headboard. Just the bed. She had told me she planned on painting and creating each room gradually.
“Scott had the other house done—I had no say. I never liked it. I want to feel this house and make it mine,” she had explained to me.
“I’m going to paint this room first. Green,” she said, her voice excited. “A light, mossy green with white trim.”
“Good choice.” I indicated the bed. “King-size? You’re kinda small for a king-size, Fee. Are you going to need steps to get to the mattress?”
She laughed. “Yes. I got a little stool.” Then she became serious. “I know you like a king-size bed.”
The back of my neck prickled. “What?”
She slipped a small box from her pocket and handed it to me.
“What is this?” I asked, eyeing it suspiciously.
“Take it and find out.”
My anxiety grew. “I think I’m supposed to be the one to give you a housewarming gift, Fee. In fact, let me take you right now and pick something. Whatever you want.”
She frowned, holding the small box. “What I want is for you to take this, Halton.”
I accepted the box, my nerves tight. It was light and made a dull thump when I shook it. Fee laughed and perched against the edge of the bed. “It won’t bite.”
I opened the lid and lifted out a key. A shiny, silver key dangled from a chain with the initial H on it. Simple, heavy, and profound.
My eyes found hers. “What is this?”
“A key to the house.”
“This house?”
“Yes, my house.”
I closed my fingers around the key, holding it so tight, I felt the sharp edges digging into my skin.
“Why?” I asked. “Why would you give me a key?”
“So you can come and go as you need. It would be easier than having to call when you want to come over. I’m not just down the hall anymore.”
“What are you talking about, Fee?”
She looked confused. “What am I… Halton, what’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong? What the hell are you thinking, Fee?” I didn’t give her a chance to respond. “You can’t give me a key. What do you think is going to happen? I’ll stay here with you?”
She began to shake her head, and I kept going.