The Right Bride

Chapter Twenty-Eight


MARTI SPENT THE next ten days with George. His health deteriorated and his personal physician visited the house more and more often.

She spent every possible moment with him. He liked sitting in the private garden and telling her stories. The tumor was robbing him of his memory. He often repeated himself and forgot things he’d told her. Some of his stories seemed to meld together.

She didn’t mind. She enjoyed his company. Being with him distracted her from thinking about Cameron. The pain and hurt lived inside of her, but she tried to hide it so George’s final days were happy and unspoiled.

They were having breakfast on the back patio when his son arrived with the family lawyer. She didn’t like the looks of this, but George was having a good day so far and she hoped he was up to the meeting. He’d had several meetings with the lawyer the first days she’d lived in the house. She hoped nothing was wrong.

“Father, Mr. Spencer and I have come to speak with you about the changes you made to your will several weeks ago.”

“There’s nothing to discuss. I’m sure Mr. Spencer has set up everything I asked him to do. The will is finished and to my exact specification. Is that not the case, Mr. Spencer?”

“It is, sir. Your son contacted me last night with concerns about your new will and has asked to see a copy. I’ve told him you wish for the contents to remain sealed until the time of your passing, sir.”

“Those are my instructions. Walter, there is nothing you need to be aware of prior to my death. What’s mine is mine. I can do with it as I please.”

“No, Father. You have a brain tumor, and I believe you’ve been unduly influenced by your mistress whore.”

George’s face turned a dark red. Marti feared the stress might trigger a stroke or heart attack.

Without a word, she pushed her chair back and rose to leave. George grabbed her hand and held it. A light tug prompted her to sit again. The other gentlemen joined them at the table. Now she knew why he wanted her there. To make sure his son didn’t try to make him do something he didn’t want to do. He’d said often she gave him strength and renewed his convictions. He needed her to stand against his son, who was only after one thing: as much of his father’s estate as he could get his hands on.

“Marti is no such thing. She is a friend and like a daughter to me. More so than you’ve been a son these last several months. Your judgment and genuine concern are clouded by your greed. You and your sister don’t come here to see about my welfare. You’re checking to see how long it’ll be before I kick the bucket, and I’m tired of it. I asked Marti to stay with me because she’s here to be with me. She cares about my well-being.”

“I’m sure she cares about your well-being,” Walter said, dripping sarcasm. He knew just what Marti was taking care of and it wasn’t his father’s health. She was trying to get him to leave everything to her, if she hadn’t already. He wanted to see the will.

“You know, Father, when you changed the will you were in your final weeks of illness. Whatever you’ve changed, I can have a judge fix based on your inability to think rationally with a tumor growing rapidly in your brain.”

George just smiled at his son. He couldn’t believe he’d raised such a selfish, self-centered man.

“You can try, but it will only be a waste of time. I had two well-respected physicians declare me mentally competent and lucid hours prior to the changes I made to the will. In addition, the changes I made were to include family members, not exclude them. You have nothing to worry about. I’ve taken care of your sister and you,” he said cryptically, for it could mean a number of things.

He’d let Walter stew on it.

“What do you mean, you’ve added family members? Who? Some of the distant cousins?”

“My decisions are final. The document will remain sealed until my passing. Everything will be distributed forthwith. You’ll receive your inheritance within a matter of days. That’s all you need to know.”

One of the servants stepped out on the patio to announce a delivery for Marti.

George’s face lit with excitement. Marti, on the other hand, had no idea what the delivery could be. She hadn’t ordered anything and her publisher couldn’t have gotten the new books done so quickly.

“Walter, excuse us. I have a surprise for Marti. Come along, dear.”

She helped him to his feet. His motor skills had been failing quickly. A wheelchair waited in the house, but George didn’t want to use it until it was absolutely necessary.

She walked with him to the front door, supporting him around the waist. He had his arm around her and held her tight. To anyone looking on, it appeared they were walking arm in arm. The feel of him in her arms leaning on her made it clear. He was losing his battle with the tumor. His physician had told her it was a matter of days now, not weeks.

Once he was gone, she’d leave this house and be on her own again. She needed to make her own plans for the future. The task seemed daunting, especially since she’d set her heart on a life with Cameron and Emma. She didn’t want to consider anything else, because everything else was simply existing, not living.

Cameron and Emma came over twice the last few days to have dinner with George. Cameron brought Shelly both times. Both times Marti excused herself after dinner and took Emma up to her room where they spent time alone together. He’d been nice and friendly. They’d kept what little conversation they shared to everyday things, Emma, and George, but she caught the heated looks and longing in his eyes whenever she let herself look directly at his face.

He and Shelly looked and acted like they’d come to some agreement on their relationship. Closer, more comfortable in each other’s company, Cameron paid attention to her with an attentiveness that proved his intention to make a life with her. Shelly was friendly to Emma and didn’t dismiss the little girl every time she talked. She’d actually heard Shelly engage the little girl in conversation several times. They were becoming a family. Marti was happy for them, but knew it was just another reason to make her own plans.

She never thought she’d have to say goodbye to so many after returning home from her trip.

Over the next two weeks, she needed to say goodbye to George upon his passing, and goodbye to Emma and Cameron before his wedding to Shelly. She’d say goodbye to Jenna, Jack, Sam, and Elizabeth after the charity benefit for Cameron’s foundation.

She’d already taken care of the artwork for Jenna. Jenna didn’t know it was her doing, but it was taken care of just the same. She’d had her assistant at Fairchild Industries contact Cameron about the property and working on a development idea. Those plans were in the works.

She had a few gifts to finish up before she left for good. It didn’t matter if she stayed in the city or left on her ship. Able to work anywhere, she liked it that way.

She would forever be tied to Cameron, but she needed her freedom. Maybe another trip on her ship was just the ticket. Someplace exotic, warm, nothing like San Francisco and the memories she’d made here.

She opened the front door and stepped out onto the entryway with George at her side. A man wearing a suit handed her a set of keys.

“Miss Fairchild, I presume. These are for you.”

She took the keys and looked behind the man at the brand new convertible Jaguar parked on the circular driveway. Black with tinted windows, it gleamed in the morning sun. She’d been looking at brochures with George, trying to decide which car she’d like to buy. She’d never had a car of her own and wanted something wonderful for her first big purchase. This was the car she’d picked out. Speed and beauty combined into the most perfect automobile. She loved it.

“George, no. You didn’t.”

“It’s the one you wanted. I called the dealership and had it delivered. It’s yours.”

“No. You can’t. It’s too expensive.”

“It certainly is,” Walter said and stepped out the door. “Dad, you can’t be serious. You bought your friend a car.”

“Walter, shut up. I can do as I please.”

He turned to Marti. “It pleases me to buy this for you. I hope you like it and enjoy it. Think of me every time you’re behind the wheel.”

“Oh, George. I will. I will always remember you. I’ll remember our long talks and poker games. I’ll forget you owe me twenty-five fifty, by the way,” she said and winked at him. “I’ll remember the day I met you, again, on the docks at the harbor, and how we stood in the pouring rain. I’ll remember everything we talked about and the reasons for my being here. Because of you I met Emma and Cameron, and for a little while, I was happier than I’ve ever been in my life. My grandmother gave me The World; you gave me a little piece of heaven. I’ll remember it all. I’ll remember you.”

In the end, a life came down to the people you leave behind and their memory of you.

George held her close. She understood his inner desire to be remembered by someone who loved him for who he was and not what he had.

“I’m leaving.” Walter’s angry voice intruded on her moment with George. “Just remember, Marti, no judge will uphold his will if he’s left it all to his mistress. I’ll keep you in court for the rest of your days.”

“Just leave. I don’t want anything from George except his friendship, and I’ve already got it. You and I have nothing to fight over.”

The attorney thanked George for his time, assured him everything was in order, and left with Walter.

She took her new car for a spin with George. They took some back roads and listened to the purr of the engine as she put the car through its paces around every turn. George had the time of his life, told her he hadn’t felt like this since he was a teen, driving his first car.

She was glad to give him one more fun day. It was the last one they would share. His health took a turn for the worse the next morning.