From out of nowhere, a sob escaped my chest. I hadn't even realized I had been holding it in, but once released, the dam broke. Dean pulled me into him. His strong arms held me in place, and his body was a rock I could cling to as I drowned in my grief.
I lost my place in time. Everything hurt as the world crumbled away until the only thing left was Dean. He didn't let me go. My tears mingled with the water, splashing across his chest and then down the drain. He held me until the tears stopped.
When I pulled back and my sobs had been reduced to
sniffles, he kissed my forehead and gave me one of his special smiles. I rinsed my reddened face in the hot water. I felt drained, but stronger now. I heard the shower click as Dean stepped out. I stayed in the water for a moment longer, letting it wash away the last of my tears before I turned it off.
Dean was waiting for me, a towel wrapped around his slender waist. He had a large cream-colored towel held open and waiting to envelop me. I nearly started crying again because of his thoughtfulness. He wrapped me in the warm towel, slowly patting me dry. He worked his way from my shoulders, down my back, across my stomach, and down my legs. His hands were strong yet gentle as he blotted the moisture with the soft towel.
When he finished, he rose from my feet to kiss the tip of my nose. I gave him a soft smile, and he opened the door to the bedroom. Our clothes lay strewn across the floor. He quickly slid back into his dark pants and jacket, assuming the professional demeanor of a bodyguard. He watched with twinkling eyes as I pulled a dress from the closet and slid it over my body. I couldn't help but feel a warm glow when he looked at me.
As I ran a brush through my hair, he glanced at his watch and grimaced. I had completely lost track of time and had a horrible suspicion that we had gone over his fifteen minute window.
I considered leaving my hair down, the wet strands brushing gracefully against the dark fabric of the conservative dress, but I pulled it up into my traditional bun. I quickly finished in the bathroom and tucked the dirty clothes into the closet to throw in the wash later.
I opened my door, peeking out from side to side to make sure no one was coming. We didn't want to risk both of us coming out of my room with wet hair. I was about to tell him it was all clear when Emma walked by. She gave me a curious look, stopping for a moment.
"You okay? You look nervous," she said. I could tell she had been crying, but she was putting on a brave face. "The lawyer is running a little late, but the plan is still to have the reading in the parlor."
I nodded. Daniel had asked for his will to be read the day after his death. He had everything in order and had hoped it would help his family, and company, move on quicker.
"Thanks, Emma. I'll go make sure Bianca's ready," I said, hoping she would continue on down the hall. Dean hid behind the door. I could feel him twitching to get out, running late himself.
Emma nodded and finally progressed down the hall. She slouched as she walked, moving slowly. It seemed like an eternity before she was finally far enough out of sight that Dean could escape.
"I'll see you later, okay?" he whispered, kissing my cheek softly before ducking out the door. I watched him hurry down the hall and toward the guard station to check the incoming visitors into the house, his hair still glistening with water. I then carefully closed the door and headed to Bianca's room.
I stepped into her room, expecting to find her still in bed. Instead, she was dressed, making the bed herself. Her movements were quick and almost frantic, as though she were desperately trying to distract herself.
"Bianca?" I stepped closer to her, smelling her sweet perfume. It was Daniel's favorite, the one she only wore for special occasions.
"He always made the bed. Before the maids could do it, he would make it. Even in hotels." Bianca stared at the bedspread. "I hate making beds, but it didn't feel right to leave it that way."
I wrapped my arms around her, the hairspray in her hair crunching against my jaw. Her whole body was shaking, but she kept her face perfectly still. I took her hand, guiding her downstairs to the kitchen. I had a feeling she wasn't going to eat, but I needed to at least put the food in front of her. She sat staring out the window the rest of the morning, letting the coffee and eggs cool without ever touching them. When it came time for the reading of the will, she followed me like I was guiding her on a leash.
Chapter 29
Present Day
The Saunders clan sat quietly in the parlor. Emma and Jack were on an old-fashioned love seat, Emma's head resting on Jack's shoulder. Robbie stood beside them, staring out the window, his hands behind his back. Several employees and close staff huddled in a group by the corner, solemn and quiet like a silent flock of black birds. I stood next to Bianca, who sat stiffly in a blue wing-backed chair. Her hair was perfect, her makeup unsmudged, but I knew inside she was screaming with loss.
A lawyer fumbled with long sheets of paper at the head of the room, preparing to read the will. Daniel had only been dead for less than a day, but it was per his wishes that the will be read now. I swallowed my tears down. Now that I was here, Daniel's death was real again. For a few blessed moments with Dean, my heart forgot to hurt. Now it just ached as though it were making up for the missed time.
Bianca's brown eyes stared blankly at the room. I knew she didn't see the people there, the flowers starting to arrive by the armload. She was lost in her own world.
The lawyer cleared his throat and began the proceedings. Everyone faced forward, their eyes looking at the lawyer, but I don't think very many of us were actually listening. Daniel had made his wishes known before his death, so I wasn't paying very much attention. The lawyer rattled on about the estate, the trusts, and so on. It was all what I had expected.
"... in addition to the aforementioned shares, a seat on the board of directors shall be given to Rachel Weber. She will no longer be an employee of DS Oil and Gas, but rather a partial owner of the company," the lawyer read. My eyes suddenly focused on him, but the lawyer was already reading the next section.
Bianca squeezed my arm, giving me a soft smile. "He told me he was going to do that. He always considered you a part of our family, and now, you have a part of the company, like you should, since you're our daughter."
I stared blankly at her, desperately trying to wrap my head around what Daniel had just done. A moment ago I was just a thousandaire, but now I was now a billionaire.
***
The leaves fluttered outside, their oranges and browns floating to the ground and turning the grass to gold. The sky was a brilliant blue with soft wisps of clouds riding the highest winds. The breeze shook the branches of the tree outside, but beside the window in Daniel's study, it was warm and safe. I sat in Daniel's big leather chair, my feet curled up under me as I stared across his empty desk. It felt like he was still here. The books and the globe were still the same. In this room, I could imagine he wasn't gone and I could ask him what he had meant by giving me a part of his company.
"Hey, partner," Jack said, poking his head in the door. "I thought I might find you here."