Page 66 of Just Say Yes

The questions swirled, tangling with the guilt that clawed at my stomach.

He didn’t deserve forgiveness, and I didn’t want to feel this hopeful.

The entire ride, I couldn’t shake the heebie-jeebie feeling of Dad’s ashes being casually buckled into the back seat. It was sweet that Logan didn’t want to put the ashes in the truck bed, but, honestly, I wished he had.

The fancy North Shore community was gated, so I rolled to a stop at the guardhouse. “Hi. My name is MJ. I’m meeting with Elizabeth Peake?”

“Good morning,” the guard answered as he picked up a phone. “I’ll let her know you’ve arrived.” The friendly guard smiled at me as he waited for someone to answer his call.

“Nice neighborhood.” I smiled and looked at the mansions just behind his guardhouse.

“Luxury lakefront living at its finest. You’ll—” He paused and spoke into the phone. “Good morning. Your guest has arrived. Yes, of course, madam.”

Madam?

The guard hung up the phone and smiled at me. “Your identification, miss?”

I scrambled to grab my wallet and hand him my driver’s license. If the guard recognized and was curious about my King last name, he didn’t show it.

He handed it back to me. “You’re all set. Follow the curve to the end of the road. The big blue house on the right. Have a wonderful day.” He pressed a button, and the gate groaned as it opened. I tucked my ID away and exhaled before winding down the road toward my destination.

When the house came into view, my jaw dropped open. “Damn.”

The sprawling estate and pristine landscaping screamed of a life I could barely fathom. The King estate back home suddenly felt small, modest, even humble. The King estate in Outtatowner was considered large and ornate for such a small town, but this home wasunreal. It was at least double the size and by far the largest house on the block. The lake shimmered aqua and white behind the house as I made my way down the driveway. Huge metal sculptures decorated the manicured lawn. High hedgerows lined both sides, providing privacy from prying eyes.

It was exactly the kind of multimillion-dollar home I would have expected my father to own.

When I came to a stop at the end of the driveway, my palms were sweaty. I glanced in the rearview mirror at the white box in the back seat. “Here goes nothing.”

Unbuckling, I rounded the truck and retrieved him from the back. The box was surprisingly light, and I tried not to think about the gruesome fact that the entirety of my father fit inside such a neat little package.

I rang the buzzer at the door and waited.

A man’s voice crackled over the speaker. “Who is it?”

“Hi. MJ, um ... King.”You know, the same person the guard just announced was here? Your long lost, half ... whoever?“I’m here to see Elizabeth?”

Without a reply, I was unsure of what to do next. Moments later, the door opened and an older gentleman in a well-tailored suit smiled at me. He had a short crop of salt-and-pepper hair, and his suit was beautifully starched and pressed. “Good morning. Ms. Peake is eagerly awaiting your arrival.”

I stepped inside, grateful to be out of the chilly autumn wind. “Thank you.”

The man gestured toward the box in my hands. “May I?”

“Um ...” I held it out. “Sure.”

I hesitated before handing the box over, my fingers reluctant to let go. It felt wrong, watching a stranger cradle the last remains of the man who had shaped so much of my life—for better or worse.

He accepted it with a sad sigh. “Oh, it’s just so tragic, don’t you think?”

I tried not to look completely confused as the man gazed wistfully down at my father’s ashes.

I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “Yeah.”

The clack of high heels echoed down the hallway and drew my attention. When my gaze lifted, I was stunned speechless. I had seen images of Elizabeth Peake on television after my father’s arrest. She had vehemently denied any accusations against him, and while she had been pretty on camera, she was absolutelybreathtakingin person.

Her tailored skirt swung in time with her dark hair. With her arms outstretched, she walked toward me.

“Welcome. Please come in.” She stepped into my space, dropping air-kisses on either side of my head.

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