Natalia set the table, brought the coffee and creamer, and took a seat. “That is a damn shame, that they’d treat you that way after all these years. And to think those kids are deprived of getting to know the best teacher in the universe. Can they do something to fight the will?”
“Hmm, I think so, and I think some of them will try. In fact, I wish they went ahead and did it. I’m sick of all of them making it seem like I’m a leper and they shouldn’t be near me.” She sat down across from Nat. “Jonas said if they fought they’d lose their million dollars, but I don’t know. He also said they’d lose all rights to the properties they are using under Ginny’s estate.”
She fixed a cup of coffee, took a sip, and sighed. Perfect. Now all she needed was some more sleep and maybe she’d start feeling human soon.
“So they’re screwed, and they’re pissed at you because Ginny left them a million apiece?” Nat bit down on a slice of bacon and groaned. “Oh god. This is why I missed you. Nobody makes breakfast like you. I’ve been deprived. It sucks to live off cereal and toast.”
Sam grinned and picked up a piece of the crunchy meat. She’d never been a fan before, but it smelled really good now. The taste exploded in her mouth. It was a salty delicious sin. Hell, she was in trouble now. She took another sip of coffee and grabbed two more pieces of bacon.
“Yeah. Can you believe it? You can feed a small country with their inheritance. It’s not like that kind of money is just a few cents. And they’re complaining.”
“What are you going to do with Ginny’s money?” Nat sucked on her greasy fingers and moaned.
Sam passed Nat a napkin and grinned when she declined, choosing instead to continue to suck the grease off her fingers.
“What she always wanted me to do. She has particular charities she wanted taken care of. That’s what I’ll do. Keep them going for her. I know Ginny set up her own charitable funds. But come on, I am not keeping all that money. And I’d really like to rub the family’s nose in the fact they can’t do anything about me giving it all away.”
A warm breeze entered the large kitchen. Her thoughts were focused on what she’d need to follow-up on to set up funding for Ginny’s charities. She took a deep breath and almost gagged. She scrunched her nose in distaste. “Ew. What is that stench?”
Nat bit down on a piece of bacon, visibly sniffed, and shook her head. She lifted her brows while staring at Sam. “I don’t smell anything.”
Sam stood and inhaled the disgusting scent again. “Yuck. It’s so nasty. How can you not smell that?”
Nat scrunched her face and sniffed hard, making a loud inhaling noise through her nose. “Nope. I don’t smell a thing.”
Sam stepped toward the door leading to the backyard; she didn’t even need to sniff anymore, the scent was overpowering. “Oh yuck. It’s stronger over here.”
She opened the door and glanced down. A dismembered animal strewn on the walkway leading to the backyard. A scream tore from her throat and the food she’d eaten rolled up her throat. She gagged. It was hard to control her stomach. She used a hand to cover her mouth and swallowed to keep from vomiting all over the entry. The smell of dead animal was unbearable.
Nat rushed over and gasped at the mutilated dog corpse. “Get back inside. You look like you’re going to be sick all over the floor. Go sit down, and I’ll go get help.” She pushed Sam inside and ran out the backdoor.
Sam took shallow breaths. The stench permeated into the kitchen. Moments later her back door slammed open, almost coming off its hinges. She jumped in her seat. Riel walked in wearing only a pair of shorts. Oh good lord. What the hell had Natalia done? His eyes sought her, and her heartbeat accelerated in her chest in a furious, untamed gallop.
“Sam? What’s wrong? Are you OK?” He marched right up to her and knelt in front of her seat.
She visually caressed him from the top of his spiky hair down this naked torso before she remembered he had asked her a question. “It stinks really badly. Please, take it away or I’m going to be sick.”
He nodded sharply, stood, and headed back out the door. She closed her eyes and focused on keeping her stomach contents still. The little bit of food she’d had was still rolling around in her gut, pushing her to let it out. It took some mental manipulation to keep things inside. Moments later the scent of dead animal started to dissipate. She opened her eyes to find Nat smiling at her.
“I’d say he likes you all right. All I had to do was say your name, and he ran over before I finished the sentence.” Nat strolled up to the table and took a seat across from her. She grabbed another piece of bacon and continued to eat. Nat grinned. “We are not wasting perfectly good food. Besides I don’t smell anything. You’ve got some keen sense of smell. I don’t remember you ever doing that before.”