If At First

Part 20 - Chapter 19

"Are you serious?"

"Didn't you ever wonder why they kept taking mom back when she would quit all the time?"

"No."

"Did you wonder why they were willing to hire you without an interview, when you had zero experience and everyone and their brother is looking for a job?"

"No."

"You ever think of becoming a detective?"

"Shut up."

"Anyway, mom would never take a dime from Mr. Treane unless she worked for it, so it's not like we'd ever have known the difference. And Nana wouldn't allow dad to be named as a recipient after she died, so she put you in charge of it." He beamed. "Dad forgot all about it until Nana called you to Townsend, and then he figured that's what she wanted you for."

"Me." I said, closing my eyes. "No, she never said anything about it. Andy, are you making this up? I'm sort of having a bit of a situation here, so if you're being mean..."

"No, I'm not. And not only that, but you're loaded. You can buy a house, you can go to Europe like you've always wanted, you can finish school, you can do pretty much anything you want. Think about it Tab! Mr. Treane retired on only twenty five percent. You get the rest of it!"

"You're serious." I peeked up at him.

"Dead serious."

"So we can pay Haven back the money you owe him."

"I already tried, Tab. He wouldn't let me. Said he never expected me to pay him, he was just playing for fun."

My head was clearing more quickly now, and recent events were coming into focus. The room shook, and I looked wide-eyed at Andy who didn't seem to notice. "Where are we?"

"In a plane."

"A plane? With a bed?"

"Haven's plane." He nodded.

Of course Haven has a plane. "Where is Haven? Where's Fitch? What happened last night after-" My hand flew to my neck. The necklace was gone. "My necklace!"

"Relax. It's right here," he said opening a drawer and showing me. "Fitch is in jail, and Haven is flying, but Greenleigh can take his place when you want him to. Haven asked me to come get him when you woke up. Said he'd drive himself crazy sitting here staring at you."

Of course Haven can fly a plane. "Haven came with us?" I asked, instinctively looking for a mirror and putting a hand to my hair. It felt messy, though all the hairpins had been removed. I was still wearing my torn gown, but the bags I packed to take back to Madison were on the chair opposite Andy. "Did you take the pins out of my hair?"

"God, no! What would I do that for?" He answered. "If you want, there's a bathroom in there. And I don't mean to be a jerk, but you want it."

I pushed myself upright with my left hand, and my head roared. My stomach was sore from the inside out, and my face felt swollen. "Ow! Why do I hurt everywhere?"

"It shouldn't be too bad, you've had some pain killers already. But from what I heard it sounds like you were in a fight."

"A fight?" Flickers of memories from last night darted through my mind. "I don't remember a fight. Who with?"

"Fitch. I don't think you won." He smiled sympathetically, "I brought you water and something to make you feel better. A doctor, some guy named Bennett, came to see you just before we boarded and he said to give it to you for the nausea when you woke up."