prompted her to sit again. The other gentlemen joined them at the table. Now she knew why he wanted her there. To make sure his son didn’t try to make him do something he didn’t want to do. He’d said often she gave him strength and renewed his convictions. He needed her to stand against his son, who was only after one thing: as much of his father’s estate as he could get his hands on.
“Marti is no such thing. She is a friend and like a daughter to me. More so than you’ve been a son these last several months. Your judgment and genuine concern are clouded by your greed. You and your sister don’t come here to see about my welfare. You’re checking to see how long it’ll be before I kick the bucket, and I’m tired of it. I asked Marti to stay with me because she’s here to be with me. She cares about my well-being.”
“I’m sure she cares about your well-being,” Walter said, dripping sarcasm. He knew just what Marti was taking care of and it wasn’t his father’s health. She was trying to get him to leave everything to her, if she hadn’t already. He wanted to see the will.
“You know, Father, when you changed the will you were in your final weeks of illness. Whatever you’ve changed, I can have a judge fix based on your inability to think rationally with a tumor growing rapidly in your brain.”
George just smiled at his son. He couldn’t believe he’d raised such a selfish, self-centered man.
“You can try, but it will only be a waste of time. I had two well-respected physicians declare me mentally competent and lucid hours prior to the changes I made to the will. In addition, the changes I made were to include family members, not exclude them. You have nothing to worry about. I’ve taken care of your sister and you,” he said cryptically, for it could mean a number of things.
He’d let Walter stew on it.
“What do you mean, you’ve added family members? Who? Some of the distant cousins?”
“My decisions are final. The document will remain sealed until my passing. Everything will be distributed forthwith. You’ll receive your inheritance within a matter of days. That’s all you need to know.”
One of the servants stepped out on the patio to announce a delivery for Marti.
George’s face lit with excitement. Marti, on the other hand, had no idea what the delivery could be. She hadn’t ordered anything and her publisher couldn’t have gotten the new books done so quickly.
“Walter, excuse us. I have a surprise for Marti. Come along, dear.”
She helped him to his feet. His motor skills had been failing quickly. A wheelchair waited in the house, but George didn’t want to use it until it was absolutely necessary.
She walked with him to the front door, supporting him around the waist. He had his arm around her and held her tight. To anyone looking on, it appeared they were walking arm in arm. The feel of him in her arms leaning on her made it clear. He was losing his battle with the tumor. His physician had told her it was a matter of days now, not weeks.
Once he was gone, she’d leave this house and be on her own again. She needed to make her own plans for the future. The task seemed daunting, especially since she’d set her heart on a life with Cameron and Emma. She didn’t want to consider anything else, because everything else was simply existing, not living.
Cameron and Emma came over twice the last few days to have dinner with George. Cameron brought Shelly both times. Both times Marti excused herself after dinner and took Emma up to her room where they spent time alone together. He’d been nice and friendly. They’d kept what little conversation they shared to everyday things, Emma, and George, but she caught the heated looks and longing in his eyes whenever she let herself look directly at his face.
He and Shelly looked and acted like they’d come to some agreement on their relationship. Closer, more comfortable in each other’s company, Cameron paid attention to her with an attentiveness that proved his intention to make a life with her. Shelly was friendly to Emma and didn’t dismiss the little girl every time she talked. She’d actually heard Shelly engage the little girl in conversation several times. They were becoming a family. Marti was happy for them, but knew it was just