“I don’t think she’s put those pieces together yet.” I had the sudden urge to go to her, to do whatever it took to shield her from the storm that was about to rain down on her. Harriet had only wanted to care for the woman who had loved her so well. And now there would be a whole lot of heartache before there was healing.

“Just let me know how we can help. You know Bell and I will do whatever we can.”

I knew they would. As much as Kenna refused to see it, she wasn’t alone. People cared for her and had her back. No matter what.

9

Kenna

Pounding sounded on my door. I stayed curled up in my spot on the couch and just stared at the slab of wood. I wanted to be alone. Trying to keep up the façade of having everything together when, really, I was falling apart was exhausting. The banging picked up again. Whoever was knocking was strong enough to make the door shake.

“Kenna Morgan, you have to the count of ten to open this door before I come in whether you like it or not,” Bell called. I didn’t move. “You know I have a key.”

I groaned and pushed to my feet, padding over to the door and pulling it open. “Hey, Bell.”

She pushed right by me. “Why didn’t you call me?”

My brow furrowed as I shut and locked the door. “Was I supposed to?”

“Yes. When something crazy turns your world upside down, you are supposed to call your best friends so we can be here for you.”

I scowled at the floor. Crosby. Always nosing around in things that weren’t his business. “Crosby told you.”

“No, actually, my dad did. But he thought I already knew.”

“Your dad?”

A little of the bluster went out of Bell’s stance. “He gave Harriet a checkup right before she rewrote her will so that if it was ever challenged, they’d have someone’s testimony about her state of mind.”

I blinked back at Bell, my eyes fluttering rapidly as pieces fell into place, each one uglier than the last. “The Abbots are going to fight this.”

Bell edged closer to me, started to reach out, but I stepped out of her path. Bell sighed. “Crosby thinks they might.”

Crossing to the couch, I sank down onto it and pulled my blanket over myself. “Maybe I should just let them have it.” I didn’t have it in me to engage in a battle with the Abbot family. Their cruelty was unparalleled when something threatened whatever it was they wanted.