Page 209 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

“Max and Tate were going to go then Gram took another turn for the worse and they canceled their reservations.” Shayna got up from the chair. “Speaking of Tate, he wants to go to town to a party and I said I’d go with him.”

“When are you going to leave him?”

“Who said anything about leaving?”

“You said you were in love with Max.”

Shayna laughed. “But he’s penniless. He’s a fun diversion. I’ll never leave Tate, at least not while Gram’s still alive. Once she’s gone and Tate has enough money that my half will let me live in the style I want, I might consider it.”

Becca’s burgeoning warm feelings for Shayna dissipated. “I see,” she said stiffly.

“Don’t go all high and mighty on me now,” Shayna said, lifting her elegant shoulders in a shrug. “What else is there in life but to snatch the happiness we can while we can? I won’t be young and beautiful forever. I need to think of the future.”

“And what about eternity? You’re planning for when men aren’t chasing you anymore, but what about after you’re dead?”

Shayna held out her palm to ward off Becca’s words. “Don’t start preaching now, Becca. If God loves me like you say, he would want me to be happy.”

“No, he wants you to be holy,” Becca said. “This life is a training ground for the life that lasts forever. Happiness is nice, but contentment in God is eternal.”

Shayna blinked and she almost seemed to be listening. Then she shook her head. “Save it for someone else who will swallow that pap.” She walked to the door. “See you at breakfast.”

Becca wanted to say something to get through to her, but she knew it was useless. Only God could do the wooing. All she could do was try to live in such a way as to make others thirsty for the Living Water.

She washed her face and put a touch of makeup on to cover the redness around her eyes. She wasn’t going to skulk in her room all evening. She was supposed to go to the movies with Nick tonight, and the thought of putting all this away for a few hours appealed to her. She pulled out her favorite dress, a red silk that ended just below the knee and skimmed her figure. The neckline was demure, but the color brightened her mood.

Nick was watching a ballgame when she stepped into the living room. His face brightened when he saw her. “I was about to come looking for you,” he said. “I approve of the red dress.” His gaze wandered over her figure then back to her face.

Her face burned. She should have chosen something less eye-catching. The last thing she wanted was to have to ward off Nick’s attentions all evening. “Thanks,” she said. “I should probably grab a sweater.”

“Use Gram’s mohair wrap. Shayna loves it.” He went to the closet and pulled out a silver mohair shawl and dropped it over her shoulders.

Becca stroked it. “It feels like a kitten.”

“It’s yours,” Gram said from the doorway. Her face was bright as she advanced into the room.

“Oh no, I couldn’t take it. It likely cost the earth,” Becca said.

“I never wear it. Shayna wears it more than I ever did.”

“Then you should give it to her.” Becca started to pull it from her shoulders and hand it to her grandmother, but Gram put a firm hand over hers.

“No, I insist, Becca. I want you to keep it. It’s nothing. You’ll be inheriting much more than a silly wrap anyway,” she said.

“I don’t want your money, Gram,” she said.

“Perhaps not, but you have no choice. You will be my primary heir, Becca. My mind is made up.”

Gram thrust her chin out in a way Becca was already coming to recognize. “Please don’t do that, Gram,” Becca pleaded. Everyone already thought she’d come here to sway her grandmother into doing this very thing. Max would be certain she was a gold digger.

“It’s my money, and I can do what I want with it. I want you to have it. You’ve got a level head on your shoulders, Becca. I know you won’t waste it or squander it. And you’re a Christian. My decision is final.” Gram patted Becca’s arm. “Don’t fret. You and Nick go out and have a good time. My lawyer should be here any minute.” She glanced at her watch.

Becca realized there was no way she was going to talk her grandmother out of her chosen course of action. There was no law that said she had to take the money if it came to her. She could always make sure it got split up evenly. “All right, Gram. I’ll see you later.”

“Wow,” Nick said when they were out of earshot. “You got through to the old lady really fast.”

“I didn’t want to get through to her, as you call it. I don’t want her money.”

“Maybe not, but you’re getting it all the same. Think of the things you can do, the places you can go with that kind of money.”