Maxine by SUE FINEMAN Read Free Book Online Page B

money I have, wouldn’t you use some of it to help people?”
    He didn’t answer.
    “I didn’t ask for the money, Nick. Sometimes I feel guilty, having so much when others don’t have anything.”
    He stared at her for a minute, his eyebrows knit. “How much money do you have?”
    “I have no idea.”
    “How many people work for you?”
    She shook her head.
    “In your house. How many in your house?”
    “I don’t know. I don’t even know all their names or what they do. Why?”
    He picked up a rock and tossed it into the water. “I wouldn’t want anybody in my house I didn’t know and I’d sure as hell want to know what they were supposed to be doing.” He glanced at her. “I’m the suspicious type, okay? Maybe someone in your house is working with your husband.”
    “Maybe so.” Most of the staff had been there since long before she married, and they didn’t like Lance. But he could have brought someone in.
    “Do you still have guardians?”
    “They’re still living in the house, if that’s what you mean.” Even though she didn’t want them there, the trustees had insisted they stay.
    “How old are you?”
    “Twenty-six.”
    He shrugged up his hands. “They why in the hell do you still need guardians? Do you pay them?”
    “I don’t know, Nick. I don’t handle the payroll.”
    “For Christ’s sake, Cara, you’re a grown woman. Isn’t it time you took charge of things?” He tossed a rock at the water and walked away.
    She was stung by his words and his tone of voice, but she would not apologize for her money. Nick had never even seen her house in California. He had no idea how many people it took to keep that place running. And, she had to admit, neither did she.
    Cara shivered from the cold breeze off the water and walked inside. Mr. Pettibone had run the house since she was a little girl. He did the hiring and firing, supervised the staff, handled problems and disputes, and generally made things run smoothly. Her guardians had had some disputes with him when they first came, but Mr. Pettibone had made it clear that he considered all matters having to do with the management of the house and grounds and the staff necessary to run it to be his responsibility, and his alone. Mr. and Mrs. Corinth had deferred to his judgment, giving him the respect he demanded. In exchange, Mr. Pettibone left all matters dealing with Cara to Mr. and Mrs. Corinth. He’d ordered the household staff not to interfere with the way Cara was supervised. She knew now that he was separating their duties the best way he knew how, maintaining peace and order in the house, but Cara’s friends on the staff distanced themselves from her when she needed them the most. At thirteen, she was left without family, without friends, without comfort.
    Mr. Corinth was a stern, rigid man who demanded respect, but gave nothing in return. Mrs. Corinth moved quietly through the house, looking in on Cara, opening doors without knocking, invading her privacy, disapproving of her clothes or the way she wore her hair with a look and shake of her head. When she spoke to Cara, it was always to criticize, never to praise or encourage.
    As a teenager, Cara didn’t wear makeup because Mrs. Corinth didn’t approve. Her friends stopped visiting because her guardians watched and listened to everything. And Cara wasn’t allowed to leave the house without one of them with her. They’d cut her off from everyone. No matter what the trustees wanted, she should have sent those people packing years ago.
    “You look deep in thought,” said Nick.
    Cara looked up. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
    “I’m in. Are you hungry?”
    “Starving. Nick, about what you said—”
    He held up his hand. “I don’t know anything about your life, Cara. I should keep my big mouth shut.” He dug through the kitchen as she settled on a stool at the bar.
    “Do you really think Lance could be working with someone in my home?”
    He shrugged. “You never