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The next three hours passed by swiftly, and I was checkingfor ten o’clock to arrive The idea Portia ht not see to understand why she’d sent us here A sain

At ten, I put the cleaning supplies away and reat rooaveLike I wasn’t alone and he was my friend I knew that wasn’t the case, but it felt like it

"Why is she here? I assume this is about her other job Yes, I knew, and if you have a problelance my way "I need my coffee, Beulah Where have you been?"

Jasper cleared his throat and got my attention then nore her and sit down"

Portia’s head snapped up fro "What?"

"I want to talk to you I have questions I feel that Beulah should be in here for this Now, let’s begin with how you knew Beulah’s mother You and I both know you don’t have a kind bone in your body So why did you so willingly help these two girls?"

Portia’s gaze swung to me "You told hi a second job"

She sighed dra her iPad down on the sofa beside her with obvious disgust "I help you and this is the thanks I get Do you understand that he could take all that back? Deirl?"

I didn’t kno to respond to that I stilled and waited, dropping aze from hers to study my hands

"Father left me this house, the money, the investments, and the corporation His will stated that I was to do with you whatever I pleased If I chose to take care of you, fine If not, you’d find another man to leech off So, mother, I’d be more careful how you speak to Beulah All she did was tell me what you should have already explained Since it wasHeidi, I’d like to knohy you did it What do you owe Beulah and Heidi’s s out of the kindness of your heart ThereI need to knohat that is"

Portia glared at h uilty She’d helpedto her in a way I didn’t think was necessary, derowing up I didn’t know the kind of er and bitterness in her son’s tone, I iined it hadn’t been a happy hoo She made some bad choices and went a different way in life I don’t owe her a da No one does She had passed away and I felt a connection and pity for the life she’d lived She had so much potential when I knew her But she," Portia paused and I lifted my eyes to finally look at her "She was stupid Na&iuot her nowhere I was kind to a woman I once knew That was all I feel like I did my duty and whatever you choose to do with Beulah’s eure out a way to take care of Heidi and herself She’s al more than what she’d already said to me before No explanation No real connection to my mother, but my mother had known if we came here she would help us Because I knewShe was hiding so But why?

"Why would I fire Beulah? She’s an excellent cook, keeps the house clean and puts up with your bullshit I’d say the only sht for a moment there you possessed some compassion I had missed when she toldThat’s disappointing"

Jasper dropped his hands to his sides that had been crossed over his chest "I’ve got things to do You can continue your pointless routine of living," he told Portia Then he turned to me "I need to speak with you about a business matter Please meet me in the pool house in thirty minutes"