Page 27 of Gaming with the Gargoyle in Hallow's Cove
“Essentially nothing.” Hayley crosses her arms and pouts. “I’ve tried to get it out of him, but he acted like it was some sort of huge secret.”
“That’s rich, considering it was his idea. Basically, Sydney, as you know, Preston was a two-timing asshole. Because of that, we aren’t sure which, if either, of his marriages were legal. Therefore, they don’t know how to split his estate, or if they should at all.”
The girls gasp, and even those little sounds make me feel so supported. “As such, it’s likely going to revert to his father’s estate, as all of the assets were his first. Inhiswill, it mentions that any living grandchildren can inherit as well. Jake cracked a joke that since he was Gabe’s dad too, and Preston’s mom got Gabe written out of the will, I should just have a baby with Gabe.”
The looks on their faces are priceless. Hayley is downright shocked but Sydney, ever practical, nods her head and purses her lips. I look down at my hands. It sounds so shitty and shallow when I say it like that.
“Anyway, it seemed like a reasonable idea once I thought about it… now though? It seems really dumb.” I bury my face in my hands and hold back tears. I can’t believe Gabe went along with it.
Sydney cuts straight to the chase. “Do you not want a baby? We can go to the clinic if you like?”
I’m so grateful for her unwavering support, these two are girls’ girls for real. “No, it’s kind of the exact opposite issue. I really want this baby, not just a baby, but Gabe’s baby. But now that I’m pregnant, we have to go back to how we were before and—”
“Why?” Hayley interrupts.
I blink. “Why what?”
“No, she’s got a point. Why do you have to go back to how it was before?” Sydney asks, leaning forward in her seat.
“Because… well, because that is what we agreed on. What we discussed.”
“So discuss it again.” Sydney crosses her legs, and I’m reminded that between the three of us, she’s the badass business bitch. “If things have changed… which I am assuming they have?”
I nod.
“Then it’s time to have another talk. There’s literally no point in you sitting around and crying about scenarios that may not happen if you haven’t even talked to him about it.”
“I’m sorry, didn’t you like, run off to the hotel and fix shit without even telling Brooks?”
“Hush, I’m a mated mother now, I’m wise… plus I have learned how fucking dumb our men can be when they do the same thing. I don’t know about you guys, but I like to have information when I make choices.”
Hayley smiles, and I’m so happy Jake found her and trapped her here with us. She’s a burst of fresh air wherever she goes. “Like, remember when we asked all the townspeople before we went storming into that dungeon? It’s just like that. Gabe kept saying that it was important to have as much information as possible before we started.”
“You guys are right, of course. Sorry, it’s just hard when he’s sleeping and I can’t talk to him for hours, my mind just spirals to the worst case scenarios.”
“Wow, I can’t imagine what that must be like, I have no idea.” Sydney says, sarcasm dripping from her voice. “That’s what friends are for, girl.”
“What, are you seriously trying to tell me that you, Sydney ‘I’m a boss ass bitch’ spirals?”
“Girl… you have obviously never been a parent. The first few days after giving birth are nothing but joy and one long spiral all rolled into one. I don’t know how many times I told Brooks that I was obviously not cut out to be a mom!”
“I could make spiraling an Olympic sport… and I’d medal.” Hayley says. “You haven’t even begun to know the things I can spiral about.”
I sniff and wipe tears from my eyes. “Thanks guys, I’m so lucky you moved here and met the guys… or met the guys and moved here or… whatever.”
“Here,” Hayley says, reaching into her bag. She pulls out a big bottle of sparkling cider and grins. “I know you don’t live here, but is there any chance of glasses anywhere?”
“In the study,” I say, pointing. “It’s where Preston shoved shit that he knew his dad loved but he wanted to get rid of. He had a big hutch filled with glasses and booze.”
Hayley jumps up and opens the door, stopping when she does. “Wow, this place is really out of touch with reality. Uh, Gwen… I think you have some voice—uh messages on your answering machine. It’s blinking like a bomb about to go off.”
With a groan, I lever myself out of the chair. Sure enough, the light is blinking and it says there are twenty messages in analog text. “It’s probably all contractors wondering why they haven’t been paid.”
I press the button and a female voice plays. “Hello, I am trying to reach Gwen Fairfield. Gwen, I know you probably don’t want to hear from me, but we need to talk. This is Cecelia, by the way, Preston’s uh… other wife. Call me back when you get this.”
Cecelia. Jeez, her name, even her voice, sounds beautiful.
“I thought I heard—” Sydney says as the next message begins.