“So you’re absolutely sure it was Mr. Walker’s fault?” They were going to win this case. I sank back in my chair and let the bite of lasagna fall from my fork. I’d suddenly lost my appetite. “And, Aiden hasn’t seen this video yet?”
My father shook his head. “No, I’m sure it will come as a shock.” He seemed almost sympathetic, but continued eating.
“Since we’re talking calmly about all of this, I’d like to pose a question to you. Have you thought for a minute, knowing that I disagree, what it’s been like for that man? I still think this is wrong. He didn’t do anything.”
“Again, darling, we’re not suing him. We’re suing the estate. Would it be any better if there were no heirs? If this man wasn’t around to see what his father’s irresponsibility had caused?”
“He’d be ashamed of his father. I’m sure of it. But why should we compromise his future?” My mother’s laughter chimed across the table.
“Oh, Alexandra. We’re merely putting a dent in his wealth. The man is worth far more than we’re asking. Besides, he has the rest of his life to make it back. His father’s estate is probably earning that much in interest alone over a five-year period.”
I didn’t think it was as easy as all that. Aiden had gone back to work, sure, but there was more going on that had him stressing. He was worried about losing his home.
“What if the tables were turned? What if I was left with nothing but your estate and someone came along trying to take even a small part of it? Say it was all your fault, too; how would you like that?”
My father pushed himself back from the table and sat as if contemplating leaving, but he stayed put, glaring at my mother as if I’d posed the question to only her. I had
a feeling they’d had this conversation before.
“That’s not the situation we’re in.” My father’s voice was a surprise as I’d expected to hear from my mother instead.
The silence drew out, and I couldn’t help but think that I was fighting a losing battle. Neither were going to budge. But I didn’t have to be around to witness it. Besides, if there was a way to get out of being at the courthouse, then Aiden wouldn’t have to see me there. He wouldn’t learn that I was a traitor as well as a liar.
“I’m not going to be there.” I pushed my plate aside; the barely eaten food had already begun to go cold and the small portion I’d eaten threatened to vacate the premises.
“Excuse me?” My mother’s tone was sharp enough to cut glass, and a growl of frustration bubbled from my father’s throat.
“You have to be there, Lexa. If you’re needed, it could delay the entire process. You will be there if I have to have a judge order it. So, I’d advise you to reconsider.” Dad’s hard eyes were penetrating as they held me in my seat. I couldn’t move, I was so angry.
“If my opinion is asked, I’m going to speak it. And just so we’re clear on how things are going to go down, if you do this, if you drag that poor man to court over that accident, the accident that took his entire family, then you can consider yourself childless.”
My mother’s hand clutched her neck, and my father’s angry stare went blank. “You don’t mean that. Your father and I are all you have now that Shawn’s gone. Think carefully of your words. If they were designed to hurt, then congratulations. You know damned well how hard it was to lose Shawn.”
“Yes, and I can imagine Aiden Walker has had to deal with that grief times three.” I pushed back my chair, and it dragged across the tile making an unpleasant noise as I stood. “So if you keep this up, you can mourn me, too. I’d rather have no parents at all, than parents I’m ashamed of.”
As I walked out, I turned around and gave them one last thought to chew on. “When you’re counting your money — the money you destroyed another person’s life to have — look around. Shawn will still be dead, and no amount of money is going to bring him back.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Aiden
I sat behind my father’s desk, frozen with a mixture of emotions buzzing around in my head. Shawn had indeed captured my father bragging about his flight experience during his goofing off with my sister. The two were making silly faces at the camera, and seeing Ally on the video, laughing and sticking out her tongue, brought tears to my eyes. She was so alive, so happy with Shawn. The two probably would have gotten married, and my sister might even have been pregnant by now.
Instead my father, who was in the background of the tape, was trying his damnedest to impress Shawn, who wasn’t even listening to him. The truth was he’d quit flying lessons long before getting more than his required time. I could tell the pilot wasn’t sure about letting dad take over, but my dad had been convincing enough. The video stopped as Dad took control. Allison’s last words had even been in jest about how she hoped Dad didn’t kill them all.
I should have been with them, and then I could have spoken up and told the pilot what a bad idea that had been. Knowing my father, though, it wouldn’t have mattered. He always got his way. The fact that I was sitting behind his desk only solidified that further.
I raked my hand through my hair and then scrubbed my face with my palms. What the fuck was I going to do? Layne stayed quiet as if waiting for that answer, as well.
“I want to offer them one last settlement.” I took the pen and pad from the desk drawer and thought a moment before writing down a number. I’d be fine. I had gone over the finances, and I would be able to keep Olde House, as well as a few of the cars if I wanted. I’d decided the Rolls and Dad’s ’Vette were first up to go, and I’d even decided to sell my mother’s SUV. I’d keep the Shelby, as well as my sister’s Mustang, and my truck would be handy to have around. I just had to figure out what I would do about the office.
“Have you thought about what I said, about the office?” I tapped my pen and waited for him to answer.
“I’d be in a position to buy it if that’s the route you’d like to take. I’d bring in another partner, of course. You’d always have a space here if you’d like, but I understand if you want to part ways completely.”
He knew I was about to fold and let those assholes win. The offer to stick around the office my father built was noble, but I knew I’d be working from home or maybe I’d open a smaller office, one without its own parking garage.
“I don’t want to leave you in a bind. So, we’ll make sure the deal is solid, and I’m selling a couple of the cars and a few of our art pieces. Mother would have hated that, but she’d understand my reasoning. Better the art than the house.”