Page 23 of The Matchmaker Club

We had just sold Marlena’s memories for five hundred grand. I felt sick. I know we didn’t have a lot of options, but it still felt wrong.

After five minutes, my grandmother and Lainey ran into the parlor and sat down as if utterly innocent of any foul play. An instant later, the men reappeared.

William didn’t sit this time. “Today, you will sign a confidentiality agreement. After all three of your signatures and all paperwork are in our possession, you will have thirty days to find a place and pack your things. My son Lucas will stay here and oversee the repairs.”

“What?” I sat up, adrenalin swarming through every part of me. “Lucas is going to be livingherewith us?”

William’s lips tightened.

My grandmother squeezed my arm. “Let Mr. Freeman finish.”

“If he stays here, I’m leaving,” I said through gritted teeth.

My grandmother responded with one of hershut the hell upglares, then turned to William and smiled. “Sorry for the interruption.”

“As far as anyone in this town is concerned,” William continued, “this is our property, and you have merely been hired caretakers who are retiring. At the end of your thirty days, you will give Lucas all letters and anything else that ties my grandfather to Marlena. In return, Lucas will hand you a check for four hundred thousand. This is our final offer. Take or leave it.”

My grandmother stood up. “You have yourself a deal.”

He looked at Jack and nodded before walking out the door without another word. He obviously didn’t like the deal. And neither did I.

When it was my turn to sign, I scribbled out my initials and signatures in all the highlighted places Jack asked me to, and then took off up the stairs, making sure all of them heard my door slam shut.

Childish? Maybe, but they definitely didn’t want me to say what I was really feeling at this moment.