When in Doubt Don't Chicken Out by Eliza Watson

Author:Eliza Watson [Watson, Eliza]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Elizabeth Watson

Eleven

That night, Declan and I were sitting on the library couch next to the lit fireplace. Clichéd pep talk or I told you not to put all your eggs in one basket would have been better than the silence between us. It would also keep me from blurting out that I knew about the Whelan place. I needed to tactfully bring it up. To know if he’d wanted to leave my tiny apartment or to leave me.

Declan sipped whiskey from a crystal glass, studying his sketch. A couple at the gathering had contracted him to paint a family portrait, when he hadn’t even been promoting his services. He’d be ready to start it when he returned to Emily’s tomorrow. I snuggled into his blue wool sweater despite the fireplace heating up the room. I was brainstorming ways to obtain clients, including Liam, and was grateful for Gerry’s offer to distribute my cards to his five buddies.

“An inch to the right,” Rachel said, supervising Gerry’s placement of Caroline and Lawrence’s wedding portrait over the fireplace. “That’s perfect.”

Gerry nodded at Declan. “It’s brilliant. Should be doing wedding portraits, ya should.”

Declan glanced up from his sketch pad. “Jaysus, wouldn’t want to be dealing with bridezillas demanding to look thinner, their hair longer, nose smaller. I’d go mad.”

“I’ll definitely have you paint my wedding portrait.” Rachel blushed, avoiding Gerry’s curious look.

The doorbell rang. Rachel escaped to answer it. Gerry’s mesmerized gaze followed her out of the room.

Did Declan still look at me that way when I left a room?

Rachel returned to the library.

“Who was at the door?” I asked.

“Cousin Enid.”

“What’d she want?”

“I didn’t ask. Just shut the door in her face.”

Curiosity more than common courtesy had me in the foyer opening the front door to find Enid still standing there.

She slipped a sheet of paper from a large envelope and a pen from her purse. She thrust both at me. “Here is everything you need to get started. My family tree, or at least the family tree as I know it. What must be my closest paternal DNA matches, seeing as they don’t share matches with my maternal relatives. And my account information.”

I squinted at the paper’s small print. “What’s this?”

“A confidentiality agreement.”

I wanted to ask why the document wasn’t on Edwards and Price letterhead, the solicitors’ firm she’d claimed was buying the estate and handling her bogus lawsuit against George. However, I kept my yap shut, needing money and experience more than I needed to be snarky.

“I won’t share your information with anyone, except Declan. He’s helped me with past research. I might need his assistance.”

Enid reluctantly agreed.

I wrote in his name and read the document word for word, not trusting the woman.

“If I learn you aren’t discreet, I won’t give you a cent.”

“Speaking of which…” I gave her a knowing look.

She slipped a white envelope from her purse and handed it to me. I tore it open. She let out an offended hrmph as if I was rude for counting the money in front of her.

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