Page 75 of Give Me Strength

“Then he should’ve thought about that before getting behind the wheel while intoxicated. He knew that you were hospitalized, and were in therapy for a while. All that was disclosed in the lawsuit papers. And in the financial statements the Blackwells get every year, which is us going above and beyond. The details of what was said during your therapy sessions four or five years ago are not Clement’s concern.” She signs the pages assigned to her before tucking the papers back into the manila file. “That should amend the last five years of payments.”

I look at her, the lines on her face slightly deeper than I remember. I know she’s worried about me. “You’re not going to stop until the man’s bankrupt, are you?”

“No, just disinherited.” She admits with a shrug. “Nobody messes with my favorite niece. And if we don’t do things this way, he will never learn otherwise. That said, I believe his parents are finally starting to see the light. Who knows how long it’ll be before anything actually gets implemented?”

I shake my head, smiling fondly. From what I know about Mr and Mrs Blackwell, they seem like nice people. Then again, parents can do everything right and their kids could still turn out like Clement.

“How are your driving lessons with Russ going?” Aunt Bonnie asks, changing the subject.

“Okay, I guess. It’s taking longer than I expected, but Russ is a very patient teacher.”

She nods, her expression encouraging. “You’ll get there. Eventually. How’s therapy been?”

“It’s been good, actually,” I tell her, feeling a bit more relaxed. “And Dr. Jenkins has been helping me a lot with the transition and everything else.”

“Sheila Jenkins?” she asks.

I nod. “Gilbert suggested her, and I’m glad he did. Why? You two have history?”

“Ancient history,” she waves me off, but her eyes twinkle with nostalgia.

I lean forward, my curiosity piqued. “Really? What kind of history?”

She glances toward the door, where Gilbert could walk through at any moment. “Very ancient history,” she says, then pins me with a look. “Nothing you should concern yourself with.”

Sounds ominous.

“Does Gilbert know?” He and Dr. Jenkins are friends.

She considers this, her brow furrowing slightly. “Maybe. I have not seen your therapist naked, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

I shrug. “I’m not.”

“Good.” She tilts her head, a knowing smile playing on her lips. “Sheila is an acquittance of a friend of a friend, is all.”

“If you say so.” Aunt Bonnie is usually a lot more convincing that that, but I’ll let it slide for now. “Speaking of Gilbert, stop trying to buy this house from him. It’s ours now.”

She freezes, her smile faltering “It’s… what?”

“We co-own it, Gilbert and I. Along with a bunch of other stuff.”

An indecipherable look crosses through her eyes. “What other stuff?”

“Stuff.” I shrug. “It was a lot of paperwork. But he checked with Mr. Greenfield, and none of it affects the Blackwell settlement. Speaking of the settlement, Mr. Greenfield told me that he got another letter from the Blackwells, Clement’s parents I mean. They want a sit-down with all of us, but are waiting for you to come back. Somehow, Clement got a hold of my recent medical records, and was raising a fuss over my tattoo. Something about body modifications not covered under the provisions of the settlement. Then Gilbert riped Clement a new one, because he accessed those records illegally. Again. The Blackwells are more scared of you, so they want to put out the flames before things get even messier than they already are.” I pin her with a look. “What is with you three and suing people?”

She crosses her hands. “Is that why you didn’t tell me about Principal Richardson? Or Leland?”

I should’ve known she would find out eventually. “Gilbert is handling it. He promised not to tell you yet.” He didn’t, but it’s best to let her think he did. “How did you find out, anyway?”

She leans back, sighing softly. “Lynn, I have always had access to your cloud account. Russ and Will, too.”

Of course she does.

I pull out my phone and log into it, then scroll to the settings. Sure enough, she’s on it. Russ and Mr. Greenfield are on it now, too. So is Gilbert, but I only agreed to give him access because he was eating me out in the shower and denying me my orgasm.

Aunt Bonnie doesn’t need to know that part. She and I, have always had a special bond, but some details are best left unsaid.

I let out a weary sigh. “I’ll tell you the same thing I told Gilbert. Same thing I told Mr. Greenfield. I just want peace. All I want, is to graduate high school in peace. Feel free to sue after I’ve walked across that stage and gotten my diploma.”

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