Page 32 of Kindred Lies
“I did,” he said. “She was old and frail, and looked nothing like she does in that portrait in the sitting room. The only thing that remained was the coldness in her eyes. I would never have made the connection…”
Lyoness stilled. “What portrait?” She spun around to meet Amethyst’s gaze. “And how do you know her name? I never…”
“You didn’t have to,” Amethyst interrupted her. “I’ve been reading her journals, investigating her story, and I even met the ghost of Easton Hill earlier today. You just filled in some of the gaps…”
Cooper stepped over to Amethyst and wound his arm around her waist. A gesture of comfort and love. She was grateful for him. “The portrait is of Marianne after she lost her son.”
“I need to see it.” Her mother stood. “Show me.”
Cooper led them all to the sitting room. The portrait was where it always was and Marianne appeared even more desolate than Amethyst remembered. Lyoness studied the portrait and frowned. “She looks so much like you.” She turned toward her daughter. “But your nothing like her.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Amethyst said softly. “There was a time she wasn’t so miserable and had hope for a bright future. Life took all that happiness out of her. You can’t blame her for being so pessimistic. Loss made her that way.”
Lyoness nodded. “I know,” she replied. “I lived a part of it with her.” She turned to Nick. “I really did believe you died. I was there…” She took a fortifying breath. “When the bomb went off I was in the city. I found out I was pregnant and I went to Oklahoma City. I had pushed you away, but I missed you so much. Grandmother convinced me it was the only way to keep you safe. Once she met you and saw us together she realized how much I loved you. She wanted to protect me… Her dying request was for me to protect my heart and I listened when I shouldn’t have.” She shook her head. “I realized too late that it was a mistake. I never intended to keep our child from you. When you died…when I thought you died…it broke me.”
More tears fell from her eyes. Nick pulled her into his arms. “You’re not the only one at fault here. I should have went after you years ago. I loved you so much and it hurt me when you pushed me away. My pride kept that distance between us. The bombing should have been the kick in the ass I needed to find you again, but I let you go. I never should have.”
This was all nice and good, but neither one of them seemed to understand how all of it was affecting her. Perhaps it was selfish of her; however, Amethyst couldn’t help how she felt. They loved each other. Great. Her parents would have a long and healthy life together now. That is if Nick could convince her mother that the curse was hogwash. So there was death and misery in her family’s past. So what. She’d had enough of it growing up to span her entire lifetime. Amethyst refused to let something as stupid as a curse destroy any more of it. She turned on her heels and left her parent’s to their reunion. Instead of watching and listening to any more of that story she’d go finish reading her grandmother’s journal and write her article. It was the only way she could see a way to find closure.
* * *
Cooper followedAmethyst up the stairs to her room. She’d had a lot to absorb in a short time. He wanted to make sure she wasn’t going to do something she might come to regret later. It seemed as if her mother and father were on their way to a happy reunion. That didn’t mean Amethyst was all right with it all. He kept a slow pace not wanting to spook her. She’d had enough surprises for a lifetime. She pulled the key to her room out and opened her door. He reached her in time to stop it from closing behind her. When he stepped inside he found her flipping open the journal. The second journal wasn’t full like the first. There were only a handful of entries. He feared she might not want to speak to him after she read those, but he wouldn’t stop her from finishing it.
The entries were all short. Well, except for the last one. The final entry had been the one where Marianne had given up and accepted that fate wasn’t on her side.
Amethyst gasped and turned to him. “Is this true?”
“I’m afraid it is,” he said softly. “Hannah was so jealous of Marianne she did everything she could to destroy her life.”
“She killed her husband and her child?” Amethyst frowned. “Her son didn’t die of natural causes. How could anyone harm a baby?”
“I don’t know.” It had disgusted him too. “She was married and had a son of her own. I will never understand how someone I’m related to could be so…evil.”
“Related?” She set the journal down and came to his side. “You never…” Amethyst tilted her head to the side. “I should have seen it sooner. You mentioned George buying the inn but didn’t say anything about your great-grandmother. That was Hannah wasn’t it?”
He nodded. “Marianne hated this inn after she lost Easton and their son. She wanted to leave but she couldn’t while she was still tied to it. That and it cost money to leave…” Cooper sighed. “George bought it to free her. He felt it was his duty after his wife murdered Marianne’s family. They only uncovered the truth when Hannah tried to kill Marianne too. She would have succeeded if not for my great-grandfather. Hannah’s jealousy was out of control.” He stepped closer. “You see, my great-grandfather loved Marianne too. Hannah couldn’t live with that truth and blamed Marianne.”
“No wonder she thought she was cursed,” Amethyst said softly. “I would have started to believe that too after all of that.” What an epic mess. Her entire family had suffered so much and all because one woman had been jealous. She didn’t know if Marianne had suffered before Hannah had torn her life apart. Her belief in the curse had to be rooted somewhere. Amethyst would have to do a little more research into her great-grandmother’s background. She had the journals for reference, but they were not the entire story. For her to do this article justice she’d have to learn more about Hannah too.
“Cooper,” she said.
“Yes?”
“Has the ghost of Easton Hill ever been actually seen before today?”
“I don’t know,” he said. “The rumors…” Cooper shook his head. “Are probably completely false. I don’t think anyone actually saw him before.”
“Why does he haunt that island? Or why is he rumored to?”
That unease filled his face again. “That’s where he died. Hannah set it up so he would think Marianne wanted to meet him there. Then when he showed up…she shot him.”
“I see,” she said and then nibbled on her bottom lip. Amethyst glanced at Cooper. He had shoved his hands into his pockets and was shuffling his feet. “Is there anything else you’re not telling me?” Why was he suddenly so nervous? She went to his side. “You can tell me anything.”
“I don’t know that I can…” He blew out a breath. “All I’ve ever known is this town. You’ve been places I don’t know I’ll ever go. I don’t feel…worthy.”
“That’s…” She almost said silly, but she held back the word. Amethyst didn’t want to dismiss his feelings as nothing. He had them and she shouldn’t make him feel even more awkward. She lifted her hand and cupped his cheek. “You’ve been so good to me,” she said. “You didn’t have to help me, but you did. Even Ben and Olivia in there own way did. This town called to me and I realize now I’ve always been meant to come here. Fate had to find a way to rectify the mistakes in my family line. The truth had to come out.”
He pulled his hands out of his pockets and reached for her. She let him hold her because it was something they both needed. They had been through a lot in the past couple of days. Her world was turned upside down, but one good thing had come of it. Well there was more than one positive note, but Cooper topped it all. She’d found him and realized she could love and be loved by someone other than her mother. This was an entirely different emotion she’d believed herself incapable of.
