Page 68 of The Cottage on Plum Island
“It’s best if you don’t,” Andrew told her encouragingly. “It’s going to be alright. I promise you.”
“You’ll keep me updated?” Jennifer made Andrew promise. When she walked him to the front door, she asked. “What about Georgia?”
“I’ve updated her,” Andrew told Jennifer. He opened the front door and turned toward her. “Oh, your car is in the garage, and later on this morning, Paul Holland will be here to see you.”
“Who is Paul Holland, and why is he coming to see me?” Jennifer’s head dipped back as she looked at him questioningly.
“He’s the second-best defense attorney at Gains Law,” Davina answeredfor Andrew.
“I don’t need an attorney. And why do I get the second-best attorney?” Jennifer didn’t know why, but that hurt, and she felt slighted.Shouldn’t I have the best attorney from Gains Law?
“I can’t defend both of you,” Andrew answered her question, winking at her, before slipping through the door and gently pulling it closed behind him.
Jennifer suddenly felt cold and alone in the mausoleum with a strange old lady.
“Can I show you to your room?” Davina asked as Jennifer turned awkwardly toward her.
“Sure,” Jennifer said, nodding.
While she followed Davina up the sweeping staircase that reminded Jennifer of something out ofGone with the Wind, her mind ticked over making plans.
“Here you are,” Davina opened the door, and Jennifer stepped into a suite that, except for a kitchenette, rivaled the one she was in at the Langham. “I’ve put you next to Angela, and when Harley gets here, he’ll be in the room on the opposite side of the hall to you.”
“It’s lovely,” Jennifer grudgingly admitted. “All I need now is good room service.”
Davina pointed to a phone beside the bed. “Star-one will get you to the kitchen.”
Jennifer gaped at Davina. “You’re joking?”
“No.” Davina shook her head. “My late husband liked his luxuries.”
“Clearly!” Jennifer said snidely as she walked further into the room.
“While you’re here—“ Davina stood in the doorway. “I was hoping you and I could get to know each other.” She folded her hands in front of her, reminding Jennifer of a proper lady of the manor. “I’m sure you have a million questions.”
Jennifer stopped, looked around the room, and looked at Davina before pursing her lips and shaking her head. “No,” she denied. “Your family’s absence and silence over the past forty years answered any questions my brother or I had.”
Davina’s mask slipped for a split second as she flinched like Jennifer had slapped her before she regained her composure.
“Fair enough.” Davina put her hand on the door handle. “I’ll leave you to get some sleep. Breakfast is from six to nine.”
“Wow! It really is like a hotel!” Jennifer nodded.
“Goodnight, Jennifer.” Davina backed out of the room and closed the door as she disappeared.
Jennifer flopped onto the amazingly comfortable king-sized bed with a white divan with lemon swirls that picked up the soft touches of lemon hues in the silver drapes and cream walls.
“The Gains family love cream,” Jennifer noted.
Her eyes spotted her laptop case on the oak desk against the wall near a door that looked like it led to the bathroom. She got up and walked over to the door. Popping her head in, her eyes widened. There was a sizable dressing room on the one side and a bathroom she wanted to live in on the other side.
“Okay, Jennifer, don’t get seduced by all the opulence!” Jennifer gave herself a stern talking-to. “So what if the sunken tub has jets, and the shower probably has settings ranging from a gentle rainfall to a powerful water massage.” She drew in a breath and turned to her laptop. “Nope. I’m not falling for it.”
Jennifer grabbed her laptop and took it to the bed. Kicking off her shoes, she bounced onto the mattress that she imagined a cloud must feel like. Jennifer pulled her laptop out of the bag and set it up when she heard a gentle whirring noise. Her head shot around the room and landed on the closet near the windows. She tilted her head as she studied it. It had two doors—top and bottom.
Jennifer bounced off the bed and walked over to it, her feet sinking into the soft carpet. She pulled the bottom door open first. Her brows shot up—it was a small refrigerator stocked with beverages, including small bottles of different types of milk, sparkling, and still water.”
“Huh!” Jennifer snorted. “Look at that.”
