Part 17 (1/2)

”Yes.”

”Is that your intention?”

It occurred to Kathryn that with a few simple words here, before the judge, Eden could destroy everything. She wouldn't, of course-she'd learned the true blessing of obedience, both to G.o.d and to those G.o.d had placed in authority over her. But for a moment, Kathryn felt a pang of empathy for her. In a way, she was no more than a slave doing the bidding of her master for her master's gain.

Then again, that's the way it was with G.o.d. They were all his children, for his sake. And when his children were obedient, even unto death if so required, they were blessed. So this was really Eden's blessing.

She let the empathy pa.s.s and smiled at her daughter, who glanced up at her with questioning eyes.

Eden turned back to the judge. ”Yes.”

”Very well then.” He gave the power of attorney doc.u.ment to Eden. ”Powers of attorney aren't forever. As long as you are mentally capable, you may revoke it at any time and regain full control of the accounts.”

”I can't think of a reason she'd change her mind,” Kathryn said. ”Can you, Eden?”

Eden hesitated, for just a moment, then answered as Kathryn knew she would. ”No.”

”Regardless, it's a protection for both of you. Do you understand that?”

”I do.”

”Good. Go ahead and sign the form.”

Fact was, Kathryn was sure that as soon as she had legal access to Eden's trust, Zeke would want her to transfer all the money out. Eden would no longer have access to any of it, ever.

Eden signed the form and then pa.s.sed it to the judge.

He shuffled the forms together into a neat stack and smiled. ”Well, that's that. Congratulations, Eden. It's quite an accomplishment to become an adult and a millionaire all in the same day. The good Lord smiles on you.”

”He most certainly does,” Kathryn said.

”Your Honor, may I say something before we adjourn?” McDermott said. ”Off the record, of course. I think it's appropriate considering the absence of my client, Eden's father.”

The judge nodded.

A knot tightened in Kathryn's gut. The man had sat silently the entire time. What could he possibly have to say now? Not that it mattered-everything was finished and there was nothing he could do to ever hurt Eden or her again. Not without ruining his own life.

McDermott c.o.c.ked his head and studied Eden for a moment. ”You resemble your father. I didn't see it at first, but I do now.”

Eden said nothing.

”I realize you never knew him, but he was a good man. Maybe the finest I've ever known.”

Kathryn harrumphed. ”Good? James Ringwald was as evil as they get.”

”He made plenty of mistakes, but he tried to do what was right. If that wasn't true, I wouldn't be here today and neither would you. The trust was his idea, to make sure his daughter would never go without.”

”How dare you? James was a liar and a betrayer! I don't appreciate you trying to poison my daughter with your filthy lies. If not for him, my daughter wouldn't have been stolen from me in the first place.”

”Mrs. Lowenstein,” the judge said and gave her a stern look.

”It's okay, Mother,” Eden said.

Kathryn sat back in her chair, eyes fixed on the wolf across the table.

McDermott smiled at Eden. ”You're strong like him too. I can see it in your eyes. I worked with your father from the early days and saw him climb his way to the top. Tough business, politics. It takes an iron backbone to stand on your own. It's a lot easier to be a puppet on a string. To let others think for you. That's what I admired most about him. He thought for himself.”

His gaze s.h.i.+fted to Kathryn and lingered there. ”He was his own man, not what others wanted him to be. No one ever had him under their thumb. Ever. He was too strong for that.”

”What are you trying to say?” Kathryn said.

”Mrs. Lowenstein,” the judge said.

”It's okay, Your Honor.” McDermott said. ”I appreciate Mrs. Lowenstein's vigilance for her daughter. Being the parent of a girl who's coming of age is a very frightening thing. I understand, but eventually we all have to let go.”

Kathryn glared at him.

He stood, took the doc.u.ments from the judge and slid them into his steel briefcase. ”I'll have my a.s.sistant execute the paperwork first thing tomorrow morning. Per the trust, the a.s.sets will be released after a thirty-day cure period that begins tomorrow.”

”Cure?” Kathryn demanded. ”What do you mean thirty days?”

”I mean the trust specifically stipulates that thirty days must pa.s.s following proof of paternity before any funds can be accessed. A waiting period that ensures proper vigilance. After that, you will have access to the money.”

First she'd heard of it. But Zeke likely knew. Of course he did.

McDermott shook hands with the judge, then nodded toward Wyatt and Kathryn. ”It was a pleasure meeting you both. Eden, good luck to you. I wish you only the best.”

”Thank you.”

Kathryn's pulse hammered in her ears as the man closed the door behind him. It really was over, just as Zeke had said it would be. James was gone and now his dog too. No one would ever come after Eden again.

Wherever James was, she hoped he was burning for his sins, weeping because she had won. All the years that had been stolen from her, G.o.d was returning to her sevenfold.

Everything would be different now. She had Eden and there was nothing James could ever do to take her away again. No one could. She and Eden would always be together and no one would ever change that.

No one.

15.

BOBBY WAS often with me when I went outside, particularly when I ventured to the woods that b.u.t.ted up against the swamp about seventy-five yards behind the house. Or to the lake, which was less than a minute's walk, hidden from the house by a bunch of trees that grew on dry ground.

We'd been like glue for years, spending much of our free time together, protecting each other. He kept me safe from the swamp and the dark waters and whatever alligators might take a bite out of me, and I kept him safe from Mother.

I didn't actually believe that Mother would hurt him, at least not while I was pure. But she reminded us both quite often that Bobby would be lost without me and by that she meant thrown out. In her way of thinking, G.o.d had restored all of us through me. If I failed, G.o.d would punish all of us.

At least that's what she said, and I had no reason to doubt her. So I kept close to Bobby, like a guardian angel, if only to a.s.sure him at all times that I was there for him. Mother loved Bobby, I think, but her attention to me overshadowed every other concern in her life-I knew that no sacrifice, including Bobby, was too great to keep me pure.