Eventually.
As though his mother’s life were a waiting room for his inheritance.
Vanessa realized what she had revealed.
Her mouth closed.
Thomas looked toward the forestry officer.
The officer nodded.
“The contractor was paid thirty-eight thousand dollars for removal. The lumber was later sold through a broker for considerably more.”
“How much?” Richard asked.
Thomas answered.
“Preliminary estimates place the market value of the stolen timber and associated damages above four hundred thousand dollars.”
Richard looked physically ill.
Vanessa took another step backward.
“This is insane.”
Thomas continued.
“A portion of the proceeds was deposited into an account held by Lane Interiors LLC.”
Richard stared at her.
“Your company.”
Vanessa shook her head.
“It wasn’t like that.”
“How was it?”
“I was making an investment.”
“With stolen trees?”
“I was protecting our future.”
Richard laughed in disbelief.
“Our future?”
She grabbed his arm.
“You told me we were getting married.”
The garden reacted again.
Richard pulled free.
“I never said that.”
Vanessa’s entire face changed.
For the first time all afternoon, the polished mask dropped.
“You absolutely did.”
“I said maybe someday.”
“You told me once your mother was gone, everything would change.”
Evelyn felt Emily move closer.
“Dad,” Emily whispered.
Richard turned sharply.
“No. That isn’t what I meant.”
Emily’s face crumpled.
“What did you mean?”
“Not this.”
She clutched her baby tighter.
Richard looked toward Evelyn.
“Mom, listen to me.”
Evelyn looked at him.
He had spent years fearing she might embarrass him.
Now he was begging her to believe he had not been waiting for her death.
There was something terribly sad about it.
“I’m listening,” she said.
His mouth opened.
No explanation came.
The forestry officer spoke again.
“Ms. Lane, we need you to come with us to answer questions regarding the timber removal.”
Vanessa’s face hardened.
“Am I under arrest?”
“Not at this moment.”
She exhaled.
“Then I’m not going anywhere.”
Thomas’s eyes shifted toward one of the troopers.
The trooper stepped forward.
“Ma’am, we strongly recommend that you cooperate.”
Vanessa looked around.
Then, amazingly, she smiled.
It was the same smile she had worn after dumping water on Evelyn.
Only now it was shaking at the edges.
“This is because of her.”
She pointed at Evelyn.
“You did this.”
Evelyn stared at her.
“No.”
“Yes, you did.”
“I didn’t forge Richard’s name.”
“You set me up.”
“I didn’t steal my own trees.”
“You brought police.”
“They were coming whether you poured water on me or not.”
Vanessa’s expression froze.
That was when she understood.
The SUVs had not been summoned because of the pitcher.
They had already been on their way.
The investigation had already reached her.
The humiliation she had inflicted on Evelyn had merely ensured that everyone would remember exactly who Vanessa was when the truth arrived.
Vanessa’s face twisted.
“You old—”
“Don’t.”
Richard’s voice cut through the garden.
Everyone looked at him.
Vanessa stared.
Richard stepped between her and Evelyn.
It was too late to mean what it might have meant ten minutes earlier.
But he did it.
“Don’t speak to my mother like that.”
Vanessa laughed.
“Now she’s your mother?”
Richard flinched.
Vanessa’s eyes filled with fury.
“You stood there.”
