Page 12 of Bittersweet Revenge

I turned my hand in order to hold his. “I’m not going to leave you again. Even after we find out who killed her, I’ll find a way to stay.”

He smiled. “Yes, we’ll find a way.”

“I’ve reread her journal and made a list of potential suspects… Father’s in it.”

Archie sighed and nodded. “Yes, I expected him to be. I just hope it isn’t him.”

“Why?” I asked, somehow taken aback by this. Did he want Father to remain on the throne?

“Because he already took so much from me, much more than I’m ready to admit. If he did that – took away the one ray of light I had in my life…” He turned on his back, staring at the ceiling. “I’m not sure how I’d deal with it.”

“It might be someone not in the journal.”

Archie shrugged. “Maybe.” He took a deep breath. “Is there any clue about who gave you the journal in there?”

I shook my head. That would have been so great. “No, Mom only refers to that person a couple of times and calls him ‘her ally’.”

Archie nodded. “Could I–” He stopped and the emotion in his eyes hurt me too. “Could I read it?”

“Of course! It’s your mother’s too.”

“Yes, but she wrote it for you.”

I shook my head. “She wrote it for us, you were her ‘beautiful boy’.”

He took a shaky breath, turning his head toward me, his silver eyes shining with unshed tears.

“You know, she was always happier when he was gone. She was a real mom then – happy, carefree. Even though I knew I shouldn’t, I found myself looking forward to every business trip of his. She would always make me the best peanut butter and chocolate pancakes. I miss those so much.”

I stood up and swayed, probably due to my hunger. I grabbed the post.

His sad look morphed into concern. “You need to eat, Esme. Even if only for me, please do.”

I nodded, reaching under the mattress. “Here, take the journal, and I’ll make you the pancakes. I’ve got the recipe.”

“Yeah, but…” He wrinkled his nose “Take a shower before, okay?”

I sniffed under my arms. “Asshole!” I muttered, heading toward the bathroom.

“I’ll be right here, reading.”

I was already feeling better after I’d showered and dressed, but now the hunger was back with a vengeance.

“Let's see if they have the ingredients we need.”

“Okay and maybe you can just give me your list too while you cook for me.”

“It’s a short list really,” I replied as we arrived downstairs under the butler’s wary eyes. Was he worried I was going to leave and get him in trouble?

“We’re just going to cook something. Is it allowed?” I asked him.

He seemed surprised by my request. “Yes, Miss. Please feel free to use this house’s amenities as you wish. This is your home.”

Ah, my home. What a joke!

“So, the list?”. Archie asked sitting on a stool at the kitchen island.

I shrugged before going to the pantry, trying to find the ingredients I needed. “It’s really short, pathetically so. Our father and the Astors.”

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