Page 10 of The Next Mrs. Parrish

Daisy Ann put the finishing touches on her makeup and looked at her watch. Still plenty of time. Preston Hollow was a ten-to-fifteen-minute drive at most. As she descended the staircase, she was greeted with wolf whistles from Mason.

“Your mama looks amazing, doesn’t she, boys?”

She adored him, had loved him since eighth grade when she was a boarder at Hockaday School and Mason a student at St. Mark’s. They’d broken up briefly when they’d both gone off to college, but soon after graduation they got engaged. Daisy Ann had been twenty-three when they wed. Her beloved mother died just six months after she and Mason were married. And that’s when Birdie stepped in to fill the void. Daisy Ann would be forever grateful for Birdie’s love and strength during those dark days.

They had almost arrived at the house when she felt the vibration of her cell phone in her purse. She pulled it from her bag and glancedat the screen. A text. From Wade Ashford. She glanced over at Mason, then went back to her phone and swiped.

The account is running low again. You need to transfer more money. How long are you going to keep this up? It’s time to make a new plan.She deleted the text and turned her phone off.

– 6 –

AMBER

Amber stretched and breathed in deeply, glancing at the clock on the nightstand. It was only sixa.m., still early, but she had a lot to do before Jackson’s release next month. She nudged the leg next to hers with her foot.

“Get up. I need you out of here.”

The man mumbled something incoherent, then rolled over on top of her. “Morning. You don’t really want me to leave just yet, do you?” He began to kiss her neck, slowly working his way down.

She was tempted to give in, but common sense prevailed, and she pushed him off her and got up. These past seven months with Jackson gone had allowed Amber to indulge herself and she’d taken full advantage. There was nothing quite like the feel of a twenty-one-year-old body. She loved being with men closer to her own age. Jackson was closing in on fifty, and let’s face it, he had been a one-trick pony at best. She stood by the bed, naked, and waited until Marcus followed suit.

“The staff will be here at eight. Can’t risk anyone seeing you.” The truth was Amber had in her employ a live-in nanny for Jackson Junior who was well aware of the young studs parading through Amber’s bedroom, but Marcus didn’t need to know that.

He smirked and walked over to where she was standing. Amber’s eyes rested a moment on his flat abs then took in the rest of him at full attention. Grabbing her, he pulled her close and she felt her resolve melt away. “Well, maybe just one more time…”

—

Once Marcus left, and after Amber showered and dressed, she peeked into Jackson Junior’s room to find him still asleep. She lingered for a moment, watching him. He was such a beautiful child, and she enjoyed the compliments she got when they were out. But the temper tantrums and stubbornness made her want to scream. She knew it was normal for a two-year-old, but it didn’t make it any easier to deal with. If she didn’t have a nanny, she would completely lose her mind. She reached out and pushed a curl from his forehead. This is how she liked him, sweet and docile and sleeping.

She turned away and headed downstairs where she poured a cup of freshly brewed coffee, carrying it to the deck overlooking the Sound. It was a gorgeous May morning, and she inhaled the intoxicating salt air. She’d never tired of their Connecticut estate on the water, had fallen in love with the magnificent waterfront home the first time she’d seen it, when she was just a poor little helper bee groveling at Daphne’s feet. Back then, she’d never been inside a house so grand, one in which dazzling views of the sea beckoned from wide windows and French doors. It never ceased to thrill her when she walked through its doors, knowing that it all belonged to her—and to Jackson as well, of course. It would all be changing now, however. She no longer needed Jackson or his money or his house, because now there was fourteen million dollars parked in an offshore account in her son’s name. There was no reason to stay here with Jackson—theirs was a marriage in name only and he wouldn’t miss her any more than she would miss him. When he came home from prison in June, he would find her gone. She was finally free to be herself, to take what she wanted when she wanted without kissing anyone’s ass anymore. She’d never marry again, well, unless she met someone with billions, then maybe. But she definitely had enough money now to figure out how to parlay that into more. She was young and smart and with the right investments, she’d be sitting pretty for the rest of her life.

She rose from the lounge chair and went inside to her office. Well, she called it her office, but it was so much more than that. She unlocked the door and entered the space that was strictly her own. At once, the serene interior calmed her. She loved this room and all it contained. There was no clutter, nothing out of place. Every item had been carefully chosen by her, and it was the one room in the house where she felt most herself. Her books covered an entire wall from floor to ceiling. After years of having to borrow books from the library, the thrill of being able to buy any book she wanted never dulled for her. She made notes in their margins, underlined passages, inked her name inside each cover. They were her treasure…and her passport to the world.

The art in the room was simple and chosen for the artists, not the art itself. Women who were self-taught, like Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun and Augusta Savage, who’d had to fight for recognition and admission to academies and art societies. They were a source of encouragement to Amber to keep striving despite setbacks and roadblocks. The entire room was a paean to talent, intellect, and determination.

Sitting at her desk, she breathed in the soothing scent of sandalwood and oud, smiling to herself. Who would have thought it would be so easy? Mr. Stones had been a bit of a challenge, but the rest had been smooth sailing. Her next step had been deciding where to go. Definitely out of the country, definitely Europe, but where? She finally decided that the best—and most fun—plan would be to figure that out once she’d traveled around the continent a bit, and so she’d booked a first-class ticket to Paris. She’d start there, visit a few luxury fashion houses, and dine on the Seine. One entire week would be dedicated to visiting the Louvre, and perhaps she would be there in time to see Delacroix’s famousLiberty Leading the Peoplebefore its removal for restoration. Just the thought of it made her shiver with delight. All her travel documents were in order, and the only thing left was composing a note she would leave forJackson. She picked up the pen, thought for a minute, and then began to write the letter she would leave on their bed.

Jackson,

If you are reading this, you have already been told or gleaned the fact that I am gone. I’m sure you’re as elated as I am that we are no longer together. Of course, your elation will be short-lived when you discover that your little horde of diamonds was used to finance my new life far away from you and Bishops Harbor. How kind and thoughtful of you to provide me with such a wonderful parting gift. In exchange for your generosity, I leave you little Jax.

I know your first instinct will be to go into search and destroy mode, but you would be wise to think twice about trying to find me. Don’t forget that I know about the lies you told and who you paid to have Daphne committed all those years ago. It would be a shame if you forced me to come back and divulge that information. Unless, of course, you’re missing life in prison.

So, that’s it. Thanks again. You’ve been a real gem!

Amber

She slid the folded letter into an envelope, sealed it, and wrote Jackson’s name on the front, then rose from her desk and left the room.

The nanny, Chloe, was sitting at the kitchen table feeding Jax, who was now awake and in his high chair.

“Good morning.” Amber went to her son and kissed the top of his head. “How’s my sweet boy this morning?”

He giggled, tapping the tray with the palm of his hand. “Mama.”

She ruffled his hair and turned to Chloe. “I have a few errands to run this morning. I shouldn’t be too long.”

“Okay. I’ll take Jax for a walk in a little while and then put him down for a nap later,” Chloe said.

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