Forever His

Present

The lawyer stared at me and I could feel my stomach sinking. I didn’t like the look in his because I just knew I wouldn’t like the words that would leave his lips.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Bennett, but you need to be at the location if you want to sell the house.,” he said. Walter Bradley had been my family’s lawyer since I’d been old enough to walk. My parents trusted him blindly and I had no choice but to trust him as well when they passed away and he was there to read us their will. My parents had left him as my godfather but he hadn’t been around as much as I wanted him to be. As much as I needed him to be.

“Are you sure there’s no other way? I really need to sell that house but I don’t want to go there and do it. I have my job and Pat will be leaving for college in a few months. There’s a lot to do. What if I give power of attorney to an agent or something?” I asked. I knew I was acting like a child but I really didn’t want to go back to the place I ran away from three years ago. That place wasn’t safe. I wasn’t safe. Pat definitely wasn’t safe there.

“You know it’s not possible, Aurora. If you want to sell the house then you need to be there to finalize the paperwork and proceed with the transaction. You need to meet the people who will be buying your house.”

“But why?” I whined.

“It’s your ancestral property. Your parents wrote it in their will that the house can’t be sold unless you or Patrick is physically present to sell it,” he explained and I swore internally. Leave it to my parents to make things extra difficult for us. “You or Pat have to go there and if he’s leaving for college then it’s best to go as soon as possible. The sooner you sell the house, the better. But if you want to keep it, you can always rent it out and generate a second income,” he said.

As much as the idea appealed to me I couldn’t keep that house. I had to cut all my ties with Ridgeview. I didn’t want anything tying me to that place, and giving me a reason to go back there. My priority was Patrick and I had to keep him safe. Ridgeview wasn’t safe for him.

I sighed and flopped down on the couch. “Alright. I’ll book the next available flight and get it over with.”

“You have a buyer, right?” He asked and I nodded and pursed my lips.

“Yes. That’s why I came to you because I want to sell the house without actually going there.”

“Just go and get it over with, Aurora. You know how much your parents loved that house. You’re lucky you don’t have cousins breathing down your neck for a piece of that property. Sell the house and use the money for whatever you need,” he said. It was a no brainer that the money from the house would be used to pay for Patrick’s education.

I sighed and nodded before standing up. Walter’s gray eyes followed me and he gave me a soft smile as I prepared to leave.

“Thank you for explaining,” I said. “I’ll just go and finish it off.”

“Are you sure you want to sell the house?”

I nodded. “I do. Pat needs to go to college and education doesn’t come free.” I wasn’t going to tell him that I needed to finish off my last remaining link to the place that terrified me.

With another smile and a small wave I left Mr. Bradley’s office and strode out of the building and straight to my car. It was only when I buckled myself in did I call Patrick who answered on the second ring.

“So? How did it go?” He asked.

“We have to go there to sell the property. Mom and Dad wrote it in their will. We can’t have somebody else sell the house for us,” I said, hating the anxiety that had begun to seep into my bloodstreams.

I heard him sigh on the other end. “So when do we go?”

“We aren’t going anywhere. I’ll go and handle it. You’ll stay here where no one can hurt you,” I told him. “I’ll be home in ten minutes and then we can look at flights.”

“Aurora, you don’t have to do this,” he said. “i don’t have to go to a fancy college. I can just enroll in the community college—” I cut him off.

“Shut up. You are going to go to Stanford. Mom and Dad wanted you to go there. You will pursue the degree of your choice and you’re going to be successful,” I told him in a stern tone.

“Yes, but you don’t have to go to that place. And I can pursue my degree at a local college as well. It’ll be hell of a lot cheaper,” he muttered but I wasn’t going to budge.

“Patrick, I’m going to Ridgeview to sell the house and then we’re sending you to college. End of discussion,” I said and hung up before leaning back in my seat and exhaling a deep breath. I really didn’t want to go back and face him. He would kill me if he saw me. I still remembered the last words he said to me.

“If I see you here again, I’m not letting you go. You’ll belong to me.”

A shudder reverberated through my body as a familiar thrill cascaded down my spine. I didn’t want to go back but a part of me—the part that was clearly insane—wanted to go back and play this game of cat and mouse. It would be amazing if I could go and leave without him finding out. I just hoped he’d forgotten about me over the years.

“Don’t be silly, Aurora. He must be with somebody else now,” I said to myself as I started my car and drove away from the curb. My heart was heavy throughout the drive but there was nothing I could do about it. I knew why I was feeling this way and the fear wouldn’t leave until I was out of Ridgeview for good.

I braced myself as the airplane came to a rocky and sudden landing. I pressed my hands against the seat in front of me as I came down and didn’t release my hold until the plane came to a crawl and eventually stopped.

Phew. I made it, I thought as I unbuckled my seatbelt after watching the other passengers do the same. I stood up after a while and stretched before stepping out and pulling my carryon from the compartment above my head.

It didn’t take me long to enter and exit the airport. I hailed a taxi and couldn’t help but miss my little brother. It would’ve been nice if Pat was here with me to sell the house, but I couldn’t endanger his life just because I was feeling a little emotional. No, I could do this on my own. I was due to meet with the buyer in two hours, so I thought to eat and freshen up at the local motel before heading out to meet Mr. New Owner.

It hadn’t escaped my notice that I had no idea who the buyer was. I’d just spoken to his agent and he had been pretty vague about giving out information. Even though it bothered me, I told myself that if I didn’t like him I’d just refuse to sell the property to him. And if I did want to sell, I’d know everything once the papers were signed.

I got in the taxi and went straight to the motel and checked myself in. I was glad a room was available for me and I hurried to it and dropped my suitcase on the floor before flopping down on the bed. I wanted to take a nap but I didn’t have time, so I jumped into the shower to get rid of the airplane feeling and only then did I feel better. I blowdried my hair and slapped some moisturizer and sunscreen on my face before applying my favorite lipgloss which didn’t fail to remind me how it was his favorite as well. But I wasn’t wearing it for him and I wish I could forget about him. But no, it was as if he’d seared himself into my soul and I could never get rid of him.

“Snap out of it, Aurora. You need to move on from him. He’s a danger to you and your family,” I scolded myself as I finished tying my hair and picked up my sling bag. I checked the time on my wristwatch and relaxed when I saw that I still had an hour before I was due to meet the buyer. That gave me plenty of time to eat at my favorite restaurant.

I left the motel and headed to my next destination in a taxi. I took my time perusing the menu and ordering my favorites and only once my cravings were satisfied did I relax and call the waiter to bring me the bill. Since I still had twenty minutes I decided to call my brother and check on him.

“What’s up? You’re safe, right?” Patrick said with a hint of concern.

“Don’t worry. I’m fine.”

“You haven’t seen him, have you?” He asked, a sprinkle of fear in his words.

“No, and I don’t intend to. I’ll just sign the papers, take the money and I’m coming straight home. I have no intention of staying here past sundown. My flight will take off at eight so if you want you can come to pick me up from the airport,” I said, hoping to lighten the situation.

“Uh, I have some friends coming over. But that’s alright. I can come and pick you up.”

“No, if your friends are coming, then go with them. I’ll come in a taxi,” I said. I didn’t know why I was having such luck with taxis today; everywhere I had to book one.

“Are you sure? It’ll be dark…”

“Patrick, you’re the younger sibling, not me. I’ll be fine. Just go and have fun. I’ll be home soon,” I told him. “And make sure to eat on time. Don’t think I don’t know how careless you are with food.”

“Okay Mom,” he drawled, sarcastically and I rolled my eyes.

“Good. Now I have to go. I’ll call you once the deal is finalized,” I said and hung up. I paid for the food and made sure to leave a generous tip for the waiter before walking out of the restaurant. Since I’d been hailing one taxi after another I decided to forgo it this time and just walk to my destination. The buyer wanted a personal tour of the house before we went to the office to finalize the transaction. I had no problem with that. The house was big but a tour wouldn’t take too long as long as the buyer didn’t ask too many questions or complained too much.

By the time I turned onto the street where my house was I paused and leaned against the wall, which had my legs screaming in relief. I winced as I flexed my legs, regretting the decision of not hailing a cab. The walk hadn’t been long but it was tiring for some reason.

Once I was sure my legs had stopped protesting, I resumed walking, loving the way the sun caressed my skin and the breeze whispered over my skin, leaving tiny goosebumps on my arms. The weather was perfect and I was sad that I’d had to leave soon.

The house finally came into view and I quickened my pace. I noticed an expensive black car parked right in front of it and was glad I wouldn’t have to wait for my client.

The house was big and had been in my family for five generations. It was a three-storey victorian manor with arched windows and marble columns. But it had a strong structure and stood tall and proud and we rarely had problems with it.

“Hello,” I said to the man standing in front yard with his back to me and his arms folded behind his back. “Mr. Connor, right?”

The man turned and flashed me a smile which I returned before nodding. “Ms. Aurora Bennett, I presume.”

“Yes. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I said and shook his hand. He was a handsome man and I was surprised how young he looked. His profile told me he had just entered his forties but judging by his bright blue eyes and a head full of thick, brown hair, he looked to be in his early to mid-thirties.

“It’s good to meet you as well,” he said before letting go of my hand.

“Is your client here?” I asked, looking left and right for the person who would be buying my house.

“Yes. You can tell by the car that he’s here,” Mr. Connor said and pointed at the black car.

“Oh, I thought it belonged to you,” I admitted.

“Oh no.” he shook his head and chuckled. “I can never afford it, and my son wouldn’t take two days to wreck it.” I laughed at that and nodded in understanding.

“So where is he?” I asked.

“He wanted to see the backyard,” he explained and I nodded once again.

“I’ll just go and unlock the front door for you both so I can give you the tour of the house,” I said and began making my way towards the heavy, wooden door but froze when a man appeared from the back of the house. “No,” I whispered to myself as I stared at the man who was the reason I stayed away from this place for so many years.

No, no. he shouldn’t be here. How could he be here?!

The man looked from his cellphone and smiled when his green eyes landed on me. The same green eyes which captured me all those years and refused to let me go. He pocketed his phone and I knew I should’ve turned and run in the opposite direction but as always, I couldn’t move.

“Hello Aurora,” he said and I swallowed hard at the way his eyes flashed dangerously.

“Vincent.”