Page 69 of Delicious Surrender
Nigel had left three articles on her desk, with a sticky note on top.Do your magic. We need these before two p.m. today.
Brynne got to work and finished the first two articles bynoon. She canceled lunch with Jared and told him he had to wait until after work for all the juicy news.
She was eating a sandwich at her desk when her cell phone rang.
“Hi Auntie! What’s up?”
“Brynne. This is your Aunt Josie’s lawyer, Alistair Mackenzie.”
Her heart dropped into her stomach.
“I am sorry I’m calling with some bad news. Josie passed away yesterday.”
“What?!” She choked back a sob. “No, that cannot be. Please say this is a joke!”
The man cleared his throat. “I’m afraid not, dear. I’m here with the doctor and it appears she took her own life.”
“That’s impossible. There must be some mistake.”
“I take it you didn’t know about her illness?”
Brynne put her forehead down on her desk. “What? No, she never told me. She said everything was fine.” Her mind scattered. How could she not know this?
“Cancer had spread to her bones, and her brain. They gave her three months, and she was going to need palliative care quite soon. She refused it.”
She started quietly sobbing. “How can this be?”
“Josie left a letter for us to find and has named you as her executor. She didn’t want a funeral or public announcementsuntil after you spread her ashes. There are more details I can share when I see you.”
“Oh my god. Okay.” Brynne tried to process his words.Executor. Funeral. Ashes.
The lawyer interrupted her scattered thoughts. “How soon can you get to Skye?”
Brynne grabbed a tissue and wiped her nose. “Uh, I will try to get a flight out this afternoon. I should be able to get there by tomorrow at the latest. But I have to arrange the time away from my two jobs.”
“I understand, dear. There is money set aside for your travel and anything else you need. Do you need me to wire you an advance?”
“No. Thank you, Mr. Mackenzie. I can use my credit card, and we can figure this out when I get there.”
They arranged to meet at his office tomorrow afternoon, unless she had an issue getting to the island. Brynne hung up the phone and stared at it, her mind in complete turmoil.
She didn’t want to be seen bawling at her desk, so she ran to the restroom and sobbed alone in the stall. When she heard the outer door open, she held her breath and pulled herself together. She texted Jared a brief note.
Brynne:My auntie passed away. She was dying and didn’t tell me! Leaving for Skye asap. I’m her executor. Will call u later.
Brynne repaired her tear-soaked face and went to find Nigel. Margaret was at her desk, reminding her of a mean junkyard dog.
“I need to see Nigel. I’ve got an emergency.”
She looked over her reading glasses at Brynne and replied in a patronizing tone. “What’s the emergency? I will see if he can spare the time.”
Brynne felt the rage sizzling along her nerve endings, like the fuse on a stick of dynamite. She clenched her fists hard and dug her nails into her palms.
How about you get the fuck out of my way before I clobber you with your stapler.
Nigel saved Brynne from blurting her thoughts when he came out of his office. One look at his concerned face and she promptly burst into tears.
He ushered her into his office and shut the door. She sat opposite his paper-strewn desk and explained the situation in between sobs. He looked uncomfortable but told her not to worry about the unfinished article, someone else would finish it. Brynne nodded and stood—thanking him for being so kind.