No More Waiting (The James Family Book 3) (6 page)

“She knew the truth?”

“Yes, Evan didn’t let her ever forget it. He had several other children with several of my staff, but I couldn’t care less about it because we were only married in name by the time I met Timothy.”

“He actually filed for divorce when he learned about your mother, and we were about to runaway together when he was killed in a car accident.” I heard the suspicion in her voice. It was more than likely not an accident.

“I’m sorry that you lost the love of your life, Grandma. I could never imagine losing Vanessa.”

“Then don’t ever let her go.” I could hear the weakness in her voice. She was getting tired.

“Grandma, I’m going to let you rest. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Thank you, sweet boy. I’m so glad you gave up going to war, but you know your true grandfather had served his country proudly during in WWII. You remind me of him so much.”

“Goodnight,” I whispered, bending down to give her a kiss on her forehead.

I walked to the room that had been mine since I was a little boy. Putting my suitcase down, I walked to the bed and sat on the edge, thinking about her revelation. As I sat there, I understood that times were so different then. Life wasn’t full of the choices today as they had been before. My grandmother suffered at my grandfather’s hands. I knew that was why my mother loved someone so out of her realm. She wanted what was real. Just like I want with Vanessa.

Needing to hear her voice, I gave her a call and told her everything that happened since I landed. “Oh, Tim. I’m sorry. I know that wasn’t what you expected coming here, but it’s for the best. Didn’t you say you couldn’t stand the others and it’s for a reason. I’m glad there’ll be none of that asshole blood in our kids’ genes either.”

“Thanks, baby. You’ve made me hard as fuck without even trying. Just the thought of knocking you up with my babies gets me stiff. Damn, I might have to change my plans after I see you next week. I wonder if there’s a house for rent somewhere in Urbana.”

“Are you saying you want to come and stay there?”

“No baby. My home is in Seattle, and I love it there, but it will be our place until you finish the semester.”

“I like that idea much better than waiting until the end of the year, but what about your job?”

“Let me worry about that.” I never told her that I had money saved up and invested while I was in the service. Since they had hated me, I wasn’t included in the Ellison wealth, but it hadn’t put a damper on my situation. I had more than enough to start the security firm I wanted to establish. There were plenty of potential clients that I already had shopped. It was only a matter of time until I had all my ducks in a row. I had some of my battle scarred buddies who already had their own firm out in Boston and were working in Seattle for the time being. They gave me plenty of inside information and potential employees for when I was ready to get the ball rolling.

“Get some rest and I’ll call you tomorrow.”

9

Tim

The week with Grandma had been perfect and I hated to go, but it was about that time. I had to see Vanessa. I told her that I would come back with Vanessa before she returned back to school, so she could meet my future, but things don’t always work out according to plan.

Just as I was about to say goodbye, an ambulance was called because my grandma wasn’t waking. I hid the tears and rode in the ambulance with her, holding her hand the whole way there. I got to the hospital and they took her in. Realistically, she was ninety. There wouldn’t be much they could do if it was that time, but I didn’t get to say goodbye. The rest of the family didn’t show up until over two hours later. We lived ten minutes from the hospital, but they didn’t want to ruin their dinner. Fucking assholes. They didn’t even care. I wondered if they did something to her. I knew all they cared about was their inheritance. Slimy motherfuckers. I found out that my grandfather hadn’t been the one with the family money. It had been mostly my grandmother’s, and that was the reason he didn’t want her to leave him. He and his children spent the majority of the family fortune throughout the years, but my grandmother was a shrewd businesswoman and kept most of her remaining monies a secret. I didn’t know what she had because it wasn’t my business, but I overheard the lousy family talking about her secret money. They were all at risk of losing all they had. I smiled thinking that it would be great if they did.

“What the fuck are you smiling about?”

“Whoa, trailer trash much? My smiles aren’t any of your damn concern, so shut it.” While he was giving me shit, I had a text from Cam asking me if everything was okay and if he could do anything for me. Cameron really was a great guy, and our only issue would be his sister. He cared about her and her well-being. I thought the world of him and I felt guilty for not telling him that I was in love with his sister, but it would still have to wait.

When I called Vanessa to tell her what happened, she was upset for me. I wanted her by my side, but something about my family gave me pause. I wouldn’t put it past them to try and hurt her. She was everything to me, and I knew their petty vindictiveness would rear its ugly head.

“Mom, is in there dying and you’re smiling. I bet you’re waiting to see what you get from her will, aren’t you?”

I stood tall and got in his face. “Don’t ever say something like that to me again. You know nothing and are the one waiting for her to go. I’d love to take her back home with me to live. My grandmother is more important than any kind of money, and you all make me fucking sick. She wasn’t even more important than your dinner. So don’t say shit to me because I’m one step from ending you.” The security came just in case I was going to snap, but I stepped back. It was his final warning. I didn’t like the look he gave me.

As we waited for news, an idea popped in my head and I ran to speak with a doctor. Six hours later and my suspicions were confirmed. “Sir, it seems that you were right. If what you are telling me is true, I suspect that the subtle poisoning would show in her hair and it’s been there for at least six months, but her hair was recently cut so I don’t know how long she’s been poisoned and by whom. I’ve already contacted the authorities and your grandmother has been stabilized. I’m sorry to say this, but at her age, it won’t be long before the damage takes its toll.”

“How long?” I asked, fighting the tears of pain and anger.

“A few days to a week.”

“Thanks for taking the matter seriously, doc. I don’t know if it was one or all of them, but I felt something was off when I arrived.”

“I’ve asked the cops to pull you away for some questioning a little gruffly. Since you haven’t been around and the tests show poisoning over a long time, the police asked to talk to you privately.”

“Thanks. I’ll do what I can, but seems I was unaware of a lot.” Just as we were finishing talking when Nick came up to us with his almighty, I Rule the World persona.”

“What are you doing talking to him? I’m her next of kin, not him.”

“Well, where have you been for the last six hours, Evan?”

“I was trying to sleep. Not all of us are used to sleeping like bums.”

“Just admit that you’re a pussy. I understand, but I don’t give a fuck about you and your superiority complex.” I really wanted to beat him to death at the moment, but I couldn’t do that. There were too many flaws with that plan.

“If you’ll excuse me, I have my rounds to make.” The doctor just walked away ignoring Evan. He was pissed, but I turned around and did the same.

~~~~~

Three days passed, and a world of shit came to the surface. The worst was that my grandma never recovered more than to say “I love you, Tim.” She died in the morning while I sat at her bedside. They gave us some privacy, not letting Evan or the rest of the trash see her. Not that they really asked. He only asked for confirmation. It was never made public that she was poisoned. They had told them it was her organs failing probably from old age, and immediately he jumped to asking for her to be cremated. It wasn’t going to happen, but he didn’t know that. Pompous Nick was going to get his just desserts and more very soon.

I called Vanessa because it was her birthday and I wouldn’t be there. As much as we missed each other, we knew it was for the best. Like the family that they are, they all called and planned to come up for the service to pay respect, but I told them to hold off until I knew what the plan was. I didn’t know what the investigators needed or how this was going to be handled.

“Vanessa. I’m so damn sorry, I missed seeing you for your birthday.”

“Tim, how many times do I have to tell you I understand? Your grandma died. You’re going through a lot of shit, and I wish I could be at your side.”

“I’m missing you like crazy, Vanessa.”

“Soon we’ll be together,” I promised.

~~~~

I had to stay at the house for the next two weeks as the cops built their case against my uncle and the rest of the bastards. It was my last day there when I had to go see my grandma’s lawyer.

“Hello, Mr. Robertson.”

“Thank you for coming, Mr. Russell. Please take a seat and we can get started.”

“Is there anyone else coming?” Normally there were many people in the will.

“No, because of the investigation I wanted to hold off. There’s no reason to rush the rest of the family. You have to return back home.”

“Okay, so let’s get this over with. I have a flight to catch.”

“Absolutely. Well, you are the sole beneficiary of all of Mrs. Ellison’s estate. That includes over a hundred million dollars. The home on Beacon Hill passes down to the eldest child of hers at her death per her husband’s will.” I swallowed hard. As much as I didn’t want the money, my grandmother wanted me to have it. I didn’t know if I would still build a company if I don’t have to. That would be something Vanessa and I would have to talk about. “Are you okay, Mr. Russell?”

“Oh, yes I am. I’m just thinking about the future.”

“Well that’s a good thing. It’ll take a few weeks before the money and assets can be turned over to you, but once it’s done you’ll be a millionaire. Well with your family, you probably are a millionaire.”

“Just barely, but that’s been through saving and investing during my time in the service,” I informed him. There wasn’t a dime given to me by my grandfather’s family.

“Is that everything?”

“No, there’s more. Here is a key to a savings deposit box and this is the information for it. Please do stop there before you leave.”

“Thank you. I will,” I promised, taking the letter and key.

I left the office feeling confused. I lost the only family member that loved me and yet I was left with everything she could give me. I had to call Vanessa.

“Hey, baby,” I said the instant she answered.

“Oh, Tim! I’m so glad you called,” she said in a rush, almost like she was upset.

“Why, baby? What’s wrong?” I was panicking.

“Nothing, I just wanted to hear your voice.”

“Well then, I’ve got a lot to tell you.”

I spent the next half hour breaking down everything that happened. My flight had to be cancelled again, but I didn’t think I would be forced to stay another week. Not if everything worked out according to plan. The moment I opened the security deposit box, I opened a can of worms. Inside the box was a letter from my grandmother to me.

My dear Timothy,

I wrote this letter for the one day that I wouldn’t be in this world anymore. It’s everything you need to know, even though I wish I didn’t have to tell you. Secrets in this book are dangerous and damaging to the family. It’s my diary. I’ve marked pages that you should skip, but there’s so much that you need to know. I did what I had to do. I love you and I hope that you will forgive me for never revealing the truth and for my crimes. Remember to love hard and with all your heart. Never become cold.

After reading the first ten pages in my rental car, I realized what I learned from her before she passed on was nothing. Lies, theft, and murder were in this book. Its intrigue could rival the greatest crime writers. When I got to one part, I couldn’t read anymore. My parents’ death. He killed them. I cried hard. My grandmother enacted her revenge, and I knew why she waited until she died to reveal everything. She could have been prosecuted. 

Instead of going back to the estate after picking up the secrets of the past, I checked into a hotel. I didn’t want any of my “family” knowing that I was still in town. There were too many issues that kept me here, but what those asses didn’t know was that their plans for killing my grandma were a waste of time and lives in prison.

It only took the police three days to get arrest warrants for the entire family. All six of my former family were going to be charged with the murder of my grandmother. I couldn’t wait to see the expressions on their faces when they learned the truth.

To get them all in the same place, the police suggested that they gather at the estate to go over the will. Since I was a part of the family, I was in the will and had to be there. I wanted to tell them and the police let me.

“I knew you couldn’t stay away. What trying to get your greedy hands on our family fortune?” I had the full thing being recorded in my pocket. Damn I loved technology.

“Nope. I’m here to laugh at you fools. I know one of you shits, if not all of you, participated in grandma’s death.”

“That’s a bold statement, and you’ve got no proof.”

“That’s a terrible thing to say Uncle.” I called him uncle in spite. “I loved her more than any of you, hell all of you put together.”

“What’s your point, loser?” My snotty ass cousin said.

“Little snobby bitch, one day you’re going to get over yourself. Did you get enough surgeries? You’re twenty-five going on plastic. It’s fucking gross.”

“So, now that I’ve got you all around, there was something you didn’t know. Grandma had six months to live. She had an aggressive cancer. She was going to die anyway, you idiots, I really hope you enjoy prison.” I smirked, loving each look of disbelief and fear that crept on their faces.