After a few days, Z told me that he and Quint were heading back to Texas and that I’d be staying on for two more weeks, finishing a project that Burns and I had started.
It was easy now to look back and see what a great opportunity Z had given me. Then, it was a different story. I’d gotten it in my head that Z was leaving me there. Abandoning me. I couldn’t have been more wrong, but it took Burns and his wife to convince me of that.
Three days later, I was in the basement of the Butler’s house where Burns and I were working on one of our projects, when I heard a knock on the door. Burns had hollered to whoever it was to come in, and in walked Z.
I didn’t see Burns leave the room, but he had. Z came over and sat across the work table from me, handing me a piece of paper.
“What is this?” I’d asked.
“Adoption papers.”
A few weeks later, Z took me to the Hays County Courthouse and made me his son. The only other person who knew about it was Quint, and I told him that I wanted to keep it between the three of us. Z hadn’t done it so anyone would think what a great guy he was. He’d done it because he wanted me to know that he’d never leave me behind.
My legal name after that day became Decker Ashford Alexander, but I’d always used Ashford as my last name. Z respected my decision, because that’s the kind of man he is.
I stopped the Bummer, wiped the tears from my eyes, and looked over at the two cell phones that I’d thrown on the passenger seat. Maybe I couldn’t—or wouldn’t—contact Quint. The man was on his honeymoon. But I sure as hell could call Z.
34
Mila
“Are you okay?” Grinder asked as he drove me back over to the old house.
“Yes and no. I know none of this is Decker’s fault. I don’t know why I got so upset with him.”
“Maybe because he was a damn wanker,” Grinder muttered, looking out the driver’s side window.
“He really did ask me if I was sure I wanted to stay, and I told him I did.”
“He shouldn’t have asked in the first place.”
I understood Grinder’s thinking, but I disagreed. If Decker hadn’t, I would’ve been even angrier.
“I’m sorry about interrupting your meeting.”
“Not a problem. Are you sure you’ll be okay on your own here?”
“Definitely.” While I hadn’t decided what I’d do about the property, I didn’t have to yet. It wouldn’t be mine for four more years, and I couldn’t think that far ahead.
As soon as I could, I intended to return to my life in Boston. I’d find a job, a new apartment, and move on from this in the same way I’d moved on nine years ago when I’d originally gone to Massachusetts.
While I’d gotten lazy about spending time with friends other than Adler, I did have them. Lots of them were from the music program. Maybe one could even help me get a job.
I supposed the bank would contact me about my grandfather’s house, since I was the only remaining heir. Given it was mortgaged for more than it was worth, they’d either take it over or I’d have to sell it, and I could handle either from Boston.
Whether it was my father or Marshall Livingston, or even Adler, who had killed Sybil, I knew Decker and the Invincibles would see to it that they were brought to justice.
In the meantime, I needed money, and I intended to get it.
I waved as Grinder drove off. There were still several hours of daylight that I could use to start cleaning the place up. In fact, the first thing I’d do would be to call and get the utilities turned back on.
Wait. That would be the second thing I did. First, I’d call my father.
Nine years ago, my hand shook when I dialed the number that I’d had to look up. Not this time.
“I’m calling for Judd Knight,” I said when the operator said, “Knighthawk, how may I help you?”
“This is Mila Knight. I’m calling for my father.”