Inheritance by K.C Baylor (unputdownable books txt) 📕

"What are you doing here?" He spoke with callus

"I'm no longer any of your concern remember William. I can go where I want." She walked past him to stand near Julian's car.

"Why are you hanging out with them? Julian I thought I told you to keep your wife away from her" Harmony looked over at her husband clearly not understanding what he was talking about. William walked over to Elizabeth and reached for her arm

"I don't know what you're trying to prove Liz but the game is over"

"You're crazy, I'm not the one playing any games. Let go of my arm before you hurt me."

"Fine, do what you want." With those words William let her arm go and walked down the hill to his car Julian assumed.

"William wait" when he wouldn't stop Elizabeth followed behind him. Harmony called after her stopping when Julian touched her arm. The two stared long after they were out of sight. The long car ride was silent; neither of the two knew what to say after the scene witnessed back at their house. Harmony was the first to break the silence

"When did William speak to you?"

"He came to my office around one o'clock saying he saw you having lunch with Elizabeth. Something he didn't think was a good idea." Julian could sense something was on his wife's mind but thought it over before prying it out of her. His mother met them on the front porch.

"Where is Elizabeth?" she asked kissing Harmony on her cheek.

"With William. It's a long story,” Julian answered for his wife. All of the memories of child hood came back to him when he entered his old home. The only difference in the house was the living room set. Now white leather covered the antique chairs he remembered, the dark oak finished coffee table that could also be used as a linen or comforter chest was still there much to his pleasure.

"Something smells wonderful mom" Those words always bought a smile to his mother’s lips. Madelyn loved cooking. Using her spare time to pick up the trade when his father was away on the numerous business trips he had to attend.

 "Thank you my sweet boy. Tonight for the two of you I made a wonderful wild rice beef stew with homemade focaccia a recipe I've learned from Chef Fausto Oneto's cookbook."

"Well it smells absolutely delicious" Harmony wrapped her arm around his mother’s waist and followed her into the commodious kitchen. Where they giggled like schoolgirls reunited.

A single purple flower was placed on each of the dinner bowls. The wineglasses were already filled with red wine. Chardonnay he was almost certain, that was the only red wine his mother drank. One untouched plate was too familiar to both Julian and his mother, this time it was empty because of Elizabeth. Madelyn walked around the table filling the bowls with her stew. Sitting only after hers was filled.

"I hope you two enjoy it" His mother never tasted her food first only after the spoons reached their mouths and a comment was given would she enjoy her own food.

"This is excellent Madelyn." Harmony was not quite use to calling her mother yet.

"And you Julian?" She looked his way. He let the hearty stew enter his mouth and found himself amazed at her work.

"I love it. This is by far the best thing I've eaten all day." Satisfied with their compliments she allowed herself to enjoy her food. This ritual was picked up Julian was sure from her never knowing what his father would say about her cooking.

"Julian, I called my boss today to let her know I was ready to come back to work. Claire told me that Michael is already asking about me." This was no surprise; they both discussed her going back to teach when he started at the company.

"Who is Michael?" his mother asked confused.

"Michael is a fourteen year old student who has a huge crush on Harmony" His mother’s laugh was like music to his ears.

"I'm sure my son has told you all about the crush he had on my friend Belinda she had dark hair similar to yours, and the prettiest brown eyes. He would follow her around the house trying to get every thing for her from pillows to water. It embarrassed his father so badly I had to send him to my sister's when she came to visit." They all laughed in unison. He reminded himself to thank his wife for the excellent dining choice for the

evening. They all shared stories of the past over dinner making them all forget about his father not being there to share it with them. After a wonderful dessert of strawberry swirled pound cake, Julian decided to call it a night.

"Mom thank you for such a great evening but I think it's time we headed home. We have a long drive ahead of us."

"Yes and with cooking like that Julian is sure to fall asleep behind the wheel. He ate more than enough shares." Harmony teased rubbing her small hand on his stomach making his mother smile.

"Ohhh, do you really have to go? There is more than enough room here." Madelyn invited knowing he couldn't.

"May be we can have you for dinner one day this week." Julian hated his father at times like this for leaving his mother alone in a house that was never completely a home. He almost accepted her offer not wanting to leave her alone in the oversized house.

"You two drive safely and please call me to let me know you've arrived ok"

"We will." Julian kissed his mother on her forehead before walking off the porch stairs toward his car, Harmony following closely behind.  They both waved one last time as the car rolled out of the driveway and down the street.

"Why wasn't your father at dinner?" Harmony had to ask

"He came to my office asking me to tell my mother that he was going to Tokyo for two weeks on some kind of business matter." Julian thought when he took over the company it would leave his father with more time to spend with his mother but was sadly mistaken. He should have known his father would find other business ventures to participate in

"She'll be ok. I'll have her over for dinner on Thursday. Maybe I'll invite her to lunch tomorrow." Harmony's head lye on the headrest, she studied his face sensing his grief she stated softly

"Tonight is a lovely night to play the guitar don't you think? Maybe even on the veranda with the wind catching in our hair and the notes washing over us." That indeed sounded good to him. Hearing her play would definitely soothe his soul. Harmony was so many things wrapped into one beautiful package. The long drive home was not as quiet as before the two talked idly, never again mentioning his father's business trip or the loneliness of his mother. As they had promised, Julian gave his mother a call when they made it home. While he did that, his wife was changing her clothes. She came downstairs in a simple white peasant nightgown that rested on her thigh, so thin it was almost see through. She stood behind him pressing her breast against his back holding her guitar loosely in her fingers. She inhaled the scent of his skin, caught in a moment with her husband. Only after the moment had passed, did he go upstairs to change. Melodies from her guitar floated up to the bedroom, strumming the tune of a familiar song. Anxious to sit beside his wife he hurried to meet her on the veranda. Harmony sat on the floor leaving enough room between the wall and herself for Julian to sit behind her. He took his place wrapping his arms around her small frame. Her hair began to slow dance around his neck and face just in time to the music. The words of the song bought tears to his eyes. Something at the moment he wasn't ashamed to admit but it didn't matter because he was with the one person in the world who he could cry in front of and not worry about saving face.

"Beauty isn't in a picture, beauty isn't in your closet, when I think about beauty the only thing I find is that beauty defines you. The way that you smile, the way that you laugh, the way you walk away and gotta look back." The words to her song overwhelmed him not because of her amazing voice, not because she was the person singing it but because the reality of his father never telling his mother those words, not once that he could remember. In his house there was no affection from his parent’s not real affection not the kind of affection that lovers have when it takes the will power of an army to keep you from wanting to touch that person. His parents were always polite to one another almost frighteningly so. Displaying kisses in front of relatives at family functions or in front of

him pre high school years. Julian could not remember seeing his father laugh except once when he was asking him so many questions about God around the age of five or six. The laugh that erupted from his father was a genuine one. That memory stuck out in his mind because his father has never done that before that or after for that matter. There are so many questions he wanted to ask his mother but the fear of insulting her or hurting her feelings kept him from doing so. Why is my mother sitting alone in a big house right now? After his father has no more business to run is the question that keeps repeating over and over again in his head. Julian was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't notice when the music stopped or that a damn broke loose releasing tears long over due. Harmony silently wiped her husband's eyes asking no questions, offering no words of wisdom or advice just wiping silently, something worth all its weight in gold.

        Shortly after, the couple went up the stairs to bed. Harmony curled her body into a ball of comfort much like kittens do to humans. He stroked her back gently thankful for her presence. Moments later their breathing was synchronized. The sounds of crickets chirping somewhere in the bushes blended perfectly.  The light of a dying candle flickered out signaling the promise of a new day in the morning.  

               Julian awake to an alarm clock that was recorded in his own voice some gadget his aunt Marilyn thought would be cool for him to own. He looked over to see his wife still pretty close to him, he hated leaving her alone for the majority of the day but was reassured thinking of her having lunch with his mother at noon. The time was seven in the morning a time where most birds in their right mind were still sleeping. His body was becoming familiar with his new sleeping and rising patterns something he began three weeks before he took over the family business. Using his early rising time to study the Wall Street Journal, he learned how well his shares were doing. A quick shower would have to do if he had any plans on eating breakfast and catching a glimpse of the paper. The temperature of the water was inviting; it felt like a thousand little hands tapping into all of your pressure points. His choice of suit today was simple, a black Hugo Boss with his favorite royal blue silk button down. To pull his entire look together he put on a royal blue and gray-stripped tie. The