Page 26 of Sensing Selma
“Like I said,” Jeremy said as he held the open door. “Pack up. You ladies leave before nightfall.” He walked out and slammed the door shut.
“Susan...?”
“Oh, Holly. Please, not now.” Tears burned my eyes, and my throat was constricted with frustration and fear.
Would Brad succeed in changing his brother’s mind? I couldn’t imagine how he could. Dismayed, I turned to the stairs and headed up to my sister.
Pouting, she watched me come up. Only when I reached her did her features soften.
“Are you okay?”she said.
I shrugged.
“Is a romance blooming between you and Bradley Baker?”
Again, I shrugged. Was it? I didn’t really know.
“Come on,” I said. “We should pack up what we still have in our respective bedrooms. I have a feeling Mr.Baker may be very serious about throwing us out on the street tonight.”
Our heads held low, we returned to our bedrooms. I wept with every article of clothing that I put into my suitcase. How could a day begin with such promise and end with such despair?
From down the hall, I heard footsteps...a man’s footsteps.
Brad?
I rushed to the door, eager to hear what he’d have to say but came face to face with Mr.Baker.
“Expecting someone else?”he said as my smile quickly faded.
I did my best to hide my disappointment. I did my best to hold my head high. I did my best to fight back the tears.
But it was a losing battle, and I knew that I would break down any second now.
“I just thought I’d be the first to tell you,” Jeremy said, the pleasure so disgustingly clear in his eyes. “I’ve fired my little brother. There is no way I can trust him now.”
I fought back a gasp.
“I’ve sent him back to London where he is to take over another project of mine.”
My eyes burned and my heart felt like it had stopped beating, leaving an aching emptiness in my chest.
“He will not be returning to Bath. Not today. Not next week. Not ever, if I have anything to do with it.”
“He’s a grown man,” I said.“Doesn’t he have a say about this?”
Jeremy gave me a greasy smile before he said, “You don’t know Brad.He’ll do whatever I tell him to.Blood is thicker than water.If it’s between me, a brother who stood by him and raised him throughout the years, versus you...someone he just met and was bewitched by, he’ll choose me anyday.Do yourself a favor and forget you ever met my little brother.When Brad left, he’s already forgotten you.”
I bit back tears, although they were threatening to spill.I couldn’t give this horrid of a weasel the satisfaction of seeing me cry.
He looked past me into my room and grunted at the sight of my open suitcase. “Good. You’ve taken my word seriously. Probably the smartest thing you’ve done in a long while.”
He turned on his heel and stormed off. Once gone, Holly came out of her room. Seeing my tears that now flowed freely, she came to me and pulled me into her arms.
“Never mind that nasty man,” she said. “Most of our things have been put to storage and besides...” She pulled away and looked at me, taking on the temporary role of big sister. “I’m just about ready to put an end to this chapter and start a whole new one at Moon Manor.”
I nodded, though with little conviction.
“Come on,” she said. “Cheer up. We are going to be staying at Moon Manor, which is so pretty and romantic, while working with Keely Lee, the hottest new female director in the world. Things aren’t all that bad after all.”
