Summer on Kendall Farm(39)

“Doug, you might just be the person I’m looking for.”

“How’s that?” Doug asked.

“I need a lawyer.”





CHAPTER ELEVEN

SLEEPING WAS SOMETHING Jace never had a problem with. But for the past few days, he’d found it hard to slip into the familiar darkness and rest. His childhood came back. It was the letter Kelly had given him from Sheldon. Why would he write it? What could he want after all this time? The area where the letter was posted was a notoriously rich community. While Sheldon had lost the Kendall, he’d obviously landed on his feet.

Jace imagined him living high and hearty, sailing on the cruisers that dotted the bay like huge dollar signs. He wanted to feel good about his brother having taken the time to write to him. But maybe Sheldon just wanted to rub in his new wealth?

Flipping over in bed, Jace punched the pillow hard. He tried several times to find a comfortable place, but sleep was not on his agenda that night.

What should he do? Now that the opportunity was there, now that Jace knew where to contact his brother, why was he hesitating? Why didn’t he respond? Why didn’t he tell his brother that he never wanted to see him again? Or why didn’t he tell him he wanted to know how to get the Kendall back and wanted his help?

Images of Sheldon berating him in front of his friends came back. Thoughts of him refusing any request Jace made came back. But the worst was Laura. She was his girlfriend, Jace’s. Yet Sheldon was the one she chose. Jace had resolved this years ago and promised never to set foot in Windsor Heights again.

But now there was Ari. The child changed all that. Jace would do anything for his son. Even return to the Kendall. Jace knew where Sheldon was—he had to do something. He had to answer the letter. See what he wanted. Find out if he was still the conceited jerk he’d been when the two of them occupied space in this house that Kelly had restored so well.

Kicking the covers off, Jace got out of bed. There was a desk in the room, but no paper he could find. There was some in Kelly’s office. He went there and switched the light on. By the copier, he found paper with the Kendall logo on it. It must be part of the new image Kelly was making for the house and grounds.

He didn’t take time to wonder if he should use it. Putting the paper on the desk, he grabbed a pen and wrote the date on the top. Then Dear Sheldon. After that he paused. Jace could think of nothing else to say. He had no idea what his brother wanted. He couldn’t use his only reason for wanting to find Sheldon. The two weren’t brothers. They couldn’t depend on each other, couldn’t count on each other for anything. They’d never had that kind of relationship. So why would Sheldon help him retake the Kendall?

In the end he wrote, I’m back. I live at the Kendall. Why are you looking for me? He signed it with only a J. Pulling an envelope with the new logo, he addressed it to his brother and slipped the folded paper inside.

“Jace?”

Twisting around in a swivel chair, Jace saw Kelly standing in the doorway. She wore a nightgown covered with a robe. It was white and her red hair contrasted with it starkly. During the day, she pulled her hair back. Tonight it was loose and pretty, framing her face.

“What are you doing here?” Kelly asked.

He held up the envelope he’d just sealed.

“Have you answered Sheldon?” She took a step into the room.

“If I’m going to get any sleep, I have to find out what he wants.”

“He’s been keeping you awake?”

“His letter,” Jace said. “I can’t imagine why he wants me to contact him, but I’m willing to ask. He could want to put me in my place again.”

“You don’t believe that?” Kelly said.

“Can you think of why he’d want to find me? We were never friends, let alone brothers. He lives in a well-to-do area, which means he’s somehow got plenty of money. Why would he need to see me?”

Kelly shook her head. “I don’t know, but there are other reasons.”

“Give me one?”

“The olive branch,” she said.

Jace made a sound that was a combination of a laugh and a grunt. “I don’t think the olive branch was part of his education.”

Jace’s task completed, it was time to return to bed, but Kelly standing in front of him had him wanting to wrap his arms around her. His thoughts got worse when she came to the desk and reached over him for a stamp. He could feel her warmth. She was barely an inch from him as she moved back and handed him the postage to add to the letter.

“I’ll take it to the post box in the morning,” she said.

Her voice felt distant as he tried to concentrate on her words, but her hair fell over her shoulder and brushed his arm as she moved. He inhaled deeply. His hand shook as he put the stamp in place. It was crooked on the top of the envelope when he finished.