“Jack!”
He stopped, hand on the front
doorknob. Molly approached from behind and came close. She touched his upper
arm and turned him round. “I’m sorry about that.”
Jack shrugged. “It doesn’t matter.”
“And I’m sorry I was rude earlier; at
the house sale.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t bring a diamond tiara,” said
Jack.
Molly giggled and he smiled too, the
tension dissolving.
“How about I take you for a drive or
something?”
“A drive?”
“Sure. I’m not hungry anyway. Are
you?”
His stomach did feel empty but he
didn’t mind a little fib. “No. Not at all. That sounds great.”
“Ace. Wait here while I get by boots
and keys.”
She disappeared up the impressive
staircase. Jack watched her go, feeling bad again for thinking her legs were
sexy in that dress.
Someone cleared their throat nearby.
It was Ruben, standing in the doorway. He was leering now, no attempt made to
disguise his hostility. “She’s got a pretty little package, ain’t she?” Jack
looked away. “Don’t feel bad. Cousin to cousin’s perfectly legal.” Ruben’s
footsteps came closer. “You know you’ve made my mother cry, coming here like
this.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause
trouble.”
“No; I’m sure. Course not. Not a
friendly fellow like you.”
Jack turned to face him. “Look I’m
sorry about the money. I guess your father had his reasons for not writing you
into his will but the decision was nothing to do with me.”
There was an old scar above Ruben’s
right eye. He scratched at it and said, “I’m sure. But you’re still going to
keep the money; aren’t you? And now you’re taking my sister out. All very
nice.” Ruben looked to the right and then back at Jack and said, “Just be
careful what you believe. Half of what she tells you will be a lie.”
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