He Gave Her My Home, So I Took Back My Life novel · Chapter 13 of 24

Chapter 13: The Doorway

Graham found his smile again before anyone else found their voice.

"A family matter," he told the cameras lightly. "Coffee's in the tent. Give us ten minutes."

He did not look at the man on the grass.

Cal did not look at him either.

He was looking at me.

I took the stone out of my pocket and walked past him, down the drive, without a word.

I heard the cameras turn to follow me.

I kept going until the maples closed over my head and the carriage house doors stood open in front of me.

His boots came up the gravel behind me.

"Nora."

I turned and threw the stone at his chest.

It hit him, and dropped, and he did not flinch.

"Eleven days," I said. "You stood in front of me for eleven days and let me call you Cal."

"I was coming back at noon to tell you."

"You were late."

"The lawyer's office didn't open until ten." He held up the brown envelope. "My lease, my license, my father's death certificate. I wanted them in your hand when I said it."

"Say it now."

He stayed on the gravel, with the garage doorway between us, and did not try to come in.

"My name is Callum Rowntree. Graham is my brother."

My knees wanted to sit, so I held the door frame.

"Ten years ago our father died," he said. "Graham brought me a form to sign about the boatyard. I read it first. It sold the yard, and my name was already on it."

"You said no."

"I said so at the funeral lunch, out loud. By dinner the family was saying I'd stolen from the estate. He had a signature on paper, and I had a temper."

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