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my sweet. One way or the
other.”
    I take a sip of my coffee. “So, have you had
company this morning?”
    “As a matter of fact I have,” she confirms.
“And now I get some more. My two favorite people, two days in a
row. I couldn’t be happier.”
    “Yes, I thought I saw Kennedy leaving. What
did she want?”
    Tanny laughs. “She was just visiting. Is that
allowed, Mr. Nosey?”
    I smile, wanting to press her for
information, but knowing I’d better not. Tanny is the type of
person that needs a soft approach. To be such a sweet and loving
woman, she can be quite stubborn when she decides she doesn’t want
to do something. Despite her appearance, she’s a tough woman, so I
can’t come at her straight on. “I’m sorry. Of course it is. I
haven’t kept up with Kennedy much in the last several years, so I
was just curious. That’s all.”
    “She’s been doing just fine. Couldn’t be
prouder of the young woman she’s become. She went through pure
hell, but she didn’t let it break her. She’s made of stronger stuff
than what it looks like.”
    “Pure hell? What’s that all about?” That
piques my curiosity even more.
    Tanny begins to shake her head. “Those aren’t
my stories to tell. If you really want to know, you’ll have to ask
her yourself. Even then, I’m not sure she’d want you to know.
That’s for her to decide.”
    Now I really want to press her, but I
know it won’t do me any good. Tanny has a fierce sense of loyalty.
Normally, that extends to me, but it also extends to Kennedy. I
know this from years gone by. So, between the two of us, she’ll
betray neither one.
    Damn.
    “Well, I’m sure I’ll find a chance. She’ll be
working for me on one of my cruises.”
    “She will, will she?” Tanny asks with a sly
grin.
    I falter for a split second. “Yes. Or did she
tell you something different?”
    Tanny’s grin melts into a kind smile. “No,
she didn’t tell me any different. I just don’t think you should
make too many assumptions or take too many things for granted with
her. She’s not the same girl you knew all those years ago,
Harrison.”
    “She’s an adult, Tanny. I’m sure she is
perfectly capable of making decisions for herself. And dealing with
the consequences.”
    “Maybe she’s not the one I’m worried
about .”
     
    ********
     
    I glance at my watch again. Along with Tanny,
myself and my father, there are various other attorneys and
representatives present. We are all waiting, albeit impatiently,
for Malcolm’s lawyer to arrive. He’s nearly twenty minutes late
already. At this rate, I’ll be leaving before he even gets
here.
    Across the table, I see my father glance at
his watch within seconds of me glancing at mine. I resist the urge
to curl my lip at our likeness. I don’t want to be anything
like him. But I am. I know I am. To some degree, it was inevitable.
I learned from him. From watching him, listening to him, being
around him. It’s times like this when I see the similarities and I
abhor every single one of them. I just haven’t yet found a good
enough reason to change things. After all, Henslow Spencer is very
successful. And, at this point, that’s my biggest
motivator— having more, achieving more, being more. Just…more.
    With a muffled thump, the door behind me
opens. I don’t turn to see who entered. I just know it had better
be the lawyer or I’m outta here.
    A robust man wearing a wool jacket with
leather on the elbows makes his way to the only empty chair at the
round mahogany table. He sets his briefcase atop it, making eye
contact with each of us and nodding a silent greeting. After he’s
retrieved a thick manila folder from inside his case, he snaps shut
the locks and sets it on the floor, clearing his throat before he
begins.
    “Sorry for the delay, gentlemen. There were
some…last-minute details that needed my attention, but now I’m
ready to execute this, the last will and testament of Malcolm Henry
Spencer.”
    No one