Page 66 of Take This Heart
“What the people do with the information is their decision,” she says, turning to go.
“What’s in it for you?”
She steps closer, voice low and icy. “Maybe I enjoy seeing the Whitmans get a taste of discomfort. Everything’sgone pretty sunny for you, hasn’t it, Goldie Whitman?” Her lips curl as she steps back. “Enjoy the fall. I know I will.”
When she walks away, I stare after her, everything inside me shaking.
“What wasthatabout?” Juju asks. “She’s always seemed so nice when she comes in here!”
“She’s been in here often?”
“Not super often, but maybe four or five times in the past few months?”
“I think she was threatening me,” I say slowly. I look incredulously at Juju. “From what Milo said, she just found out she’s Bruce Granger’s daughter. Would she really take on the rivalry that seriously as a new member of the family?”
“No way. I didn’t know Bruce had another daughter!”
Juliana’s family lived near us in St. Paul. Our families were close, and they got a lake house here around the same time as us. It wasn’t until she got her associate’s degree from college that Juju decided to move to Windy Harbor full-time. She was my best friend growing up, and her brother Jackson and Camden were best friends. Still are. One of the Fairs was always at our house, or we were at theirs. So Juju knows all about the Grangers.
“My dad has told us about the Granger rivalry for years, and we always knew to steer clear of them, but I’ve never seen any blatant hatred firsthand until now. Dad always kept us kids out of it, but it seems like Bruce isn’t doing the same thing with his kids.”
Juju shakes her head. “It’s such a waste. I hate it.” She leans closer and whispers, “And I’m sad that I was ever nice to Ava.”
I wave her off. “Don’t be. I don’t expect you to carry this grudge on my behalf.” My eyes narrow. “But if she tries to be your best friend, I’m gonna bitch-slap her.”
Juju snorts. “I’d like to see you try.”
I laugh. “I’d probably bump into something first and end up hitting myself. Seriously though, Ireallydislike her.”
“As much as you dislike Milo?” She smirks and putsdislikein quotes.
I roll my eyes. “I feel a whole different kind of dislike for him.”
“Is it the kind of dislike that makes you want to ravage his body and have his babies?” Erin’s voice comes in low from behind me and I startle and then smack her in the arm.
Erin and Juju cackle and I groan, shaking my head. I lift my coffee and take a big bite of my scone.
“Better go. Coffee’s getting cold,” I say with my mouth full and hightail it to the door.
“That’s right. Leave like a scaredy cat,” Erin says loudly.
“I’ve gotta get home to Kevin.”
“I can’t believe you named that little angel Kevin,” Erin groans.
“What did you name his sister?” I ask.
“Sabrina…which is a perfectly fitting and beautiful name for a dog.Unlike Kevin.” She pouts.
I point my scone at her and open the door to leave. “Take it up with my dad.”
“Fine, you win!” I hear her yelling as I walk out.
Back at the property, Milo is crouched in the gravel going over drainage for the courtyard. He looks up when I stomp toward him, and his brows draw together.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, straightening.
I hold the crumpled flyer up and wave it. “Your cousin is stirring up a smear campaign against my family and this project. How great do you think she is now?”
