Uncovering You 8: Redemption by Scarlett Edwards Read Free Book Online Page B

He lowers his voice. “…my son, is partly my fault.”
    “Yeah, well you came too late,” I say briskly. “I’ve already dealt with those issues with Jeremy.”
    “About things that have happened in the past, yes,” Hugh tells me. “Not about occurrences that are yet to come.”
    “And you propose to tell me that you know what the future holds?” I laugh. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
    He shakes his head, gravely serious. “I assure you, that was never my intention. I worry for your well-being, Lilly.”
    I’ve heard that line from one too many people, one too many times, in the last few weeks to take it as having even a shred of truth.
    “Go away, Hugh,” I tell him, starting to close the door once more. “Go away! When the thought comes to you to pay me a visit again, remember that you will always get the same reception from me.”
    Hugh pulls his foot back. “If that is what you want,” he says softly. He starts down the hall. A few steps away he stops and looks over his shoulder at me. “But Lilly,” he adds, “if I were you, I would not reject offers of help so rashly. Or with so little thought. Else, I fear, you will find yourself very much alone, and very much too soon for your liking.” He give me an innocent smile. “But what do I know?”
     
    ***
     
    After Hugh leaves, my mind is back on overdrive.
    What did he want? Why did he come? What was in that envelope?
    And, most of all: What did he mean by his parting remark?
    It sounds like a warning. But it’s not as if I need Hugh’s advice to understand all the implications of the situation I am in. I know that my spot is precarious. I know that Jeremy’s moods can change on a whim. I know that whatever understanding I think I have—of Jeremy, of myself, of our place in the world—may be completely inaccurate.
    I’ve spent all this time with the man, and yet I still have only a small glimpse of who he is. Hugh alluded to my not knowing the whole truth of Jeremy’s upbringing. I don’t doubt that. Everything I know comes from Charles. Who, while seemingly well-meaning, obviously was not in a position to see everything.
    That’s why it’s so important for me to finish dealing with Robin and Fey and send them on their way. I want them both completely satisfied, and completely certain that I am one hundred percent all right. I need to know that neither of them will interfere. I must be free to pursue my own goals without worrying interruptions from either of them.
    And then…I think of Jeremy, and his visit last night, and shudder in memory of the pleasure. I’ve become so nonchalant about my thoughts of revenge. Sometimes, I forget the man I aim to get back at is the same one who can bring my body to such highs. He can also bring me to dastardly lows. But I attribute those situations to Stonehart. Not Jeremy. It’s how I segregate things in my mind and deal with the dichotomy of my two very conflicting opinions of the man.
    I hear the door in the other room open. I instinctively tense, then relax when I hear Fey’s easy laughter.
    I walk over and greet her. She and Robin both have small shopping bags in their hands.
    “Lilly. Boston is so beautiful!” Fey gushes. “How come you never told me how nice it was?”
    “Last time we were here,” I say, thinking back to our trip to Harvard for The Game, “you didn’t hold that opinion.”
    She makes a face at me. “That’s because I was hung over and spent the whole night before puking my guts out, remember?” Robin makes a small sound of concern. Fey looks at him and pats his hand. “Don’t worry, babe. That was the last time I ever got blackout drunk. I promised myself it wouldn’t happen again.”
    “I’d hope not,” he mutters, then goes to set his bags down on the bed.
    “What’d you two get?” I ask.
    “Oh, just this and that,” Fey says. She digs through one of the bags, and the next thing I know, a black, furry something is flying straight at me.
    I shriek but