All That Glitters (Landry 3)

your family--"

She turned her dark, blistering eyes toward

Paul's portrait, and those eyes softened. "I'm doing

this for my son," she said, gazing up at him with more

than a mother's love. "Look how he smiles, how

beautiful he is and how happy he is. Pearl will grow

up here, under that portrait. At least he'll have that.

You," she said, pointing her long, thin finger at me

again, "took everything else from him, even his life." Beau looked at me desperately and then turned

back to her. "Madame Tate," he said, "if it's a matter

of the inheritance, we're prepared to sign any

document."

"What?" She sprang up. "You think this is all a

matter of money? Money? My son is dead." She

pulled up her shoulders and pursed her lips. "This

discussion is over. I want you out" of my house and

out of our lives."

"You won't succeed with this. A judge--" "I have lawyers. Talk to them." She smiled at

me so coldly, it made my blood curdle. "You put on

your sister's face and body and you crawled into her

heart. Now live there," she cursed, and left the room. Right down to my feet, I ached, and my heart

became a hollow ball shooting pains through my

chest. "Beau!"

"Let's go," he said, shaking his head. "She's

gone mad. The judge will realize that. Come on,

Ruby." He reached for me. I felt like I floated to my

feet.

Just before we left the room, I gazed back at

Paul's portrait. His expression of satisfaction put a

darkness in my heart that a thousand days of sunshine