The Tessa Randolph Collection, Books 1-3 by Paula Lester (good short books .TXT) 📕

answered. “We won’t take much of your time. Mrs. Cross told me you were wrongfully terminated from your position on Artemis Green’s staff, and I wondered if my firm may be able to help.”

She shrugged, misery etched on her features. “I doubt it. Nathaniel is ruling the roost now, and he’s a worm. I doubt your lawyers will be nearly as venomous as his.”

“Lark! Where are your manners? You shouldn’t talk ill of others in mixed company.” A barefoot woman dressed in a turquoise and cream peasant skirt and cream linen top with sleeves that ended in wide, flowing openings, entered the living room from a hallway. She had buttery blonde hair swept up in a loose bun at the nape of her neck. She smiled brightly at Tessa and then Mrs. Cross, though it faltered at the edges on her.

“What mixed company, Ma?” Lark looked baffled. “It’s Louise Cross who used to work at the Green place with you and a paralegal lady.”

Lark’s mother crossed the room in a sashay that, combined with the peasant skirt, made her appear to be floating. She shook Mrs. Cross’s hand and then Tessa’s. “I’m Sky. Welcome to our home.” She waved a hand around and a frown tugged at her lips. “Such as it is.”

With a groan, Lark threw herself into the love seat next to Tessa. “You know how I feel about that, Ma,” she grumbled.

Sky ignored her daughter and perched on the edge of the coffee table, since there weren’t any more real chairs. Tessa figured she was around Mr. and Mrs. Green’s age, but she looked healthy, like Artemis had, rather than frail like Mrs. Green—or Mrs. Cross.

Sky blew out a puff of breath. "Yes, I know how you feel about it, dear. And we did it your way, didn't we? That's why we’ll be stuck in this apartment forever.”

“To be fair,” Lark leveled her gaze on her mother, “we live this way because of the way I was raised. Can I help it if I took some notes from my mother?”

“A woman can change her mind,” Sky said. “I thought it was best at the time. Now, we’ll only be here for as long as the money lasts. Then, we'll have to find a new place to live."

"I'll find another job." Lark sounded exhausted, as though they'd had this conversation many times recently. "I'm sure I can find something at a local restaurant or hotel or something. I can cook and clean."

Sky waved a hand. "Yes, yes." Her tone was resigned. "We'll make do, I suppose." She glanced at Tessa and Mrs. Cross as though she'd forgotten the other two women were in her living room. "Recently, we had a chance to do better, you know. Now, that's gone forever."

"Because Lark was fired?" Tessa guessed. "I was actually hoping to hear about that."

But Sky was already shaking her head. "No, no. She was never going to get rich working for Artemis. But she gave up her chance of getting the real money that was due to her.”

“What was due to you?” Tessa was confused.

Sky sent a look of question over to Lark, who nodded as if allowing her mother to say whatever she was about to reveal.

“Lark is his. We had an affair about a year or so after I began working for him. You see, his wife wasn’t doing well at the time, and he just needed some companionship. Honestly, it was a fling. I was a free spirit at the time. And it wasn’t like it is today. I couldn’t be sure that she was his.

“Still, he offered me a huge amount of money for us to just go away—disappear into the night.”

“And you didn’t take it.” Lark shook her head, smiling lovingly at her mother.

“I was silly. Money didn’t mean a thing to me, and I thought you needed your father in your life. Working there, I was able to bring her along many days. Artemis practically treated her like one of his own while they were together.”

“You did the right thing, Ma. I loved getting to know him. My half-sister too, even if I couldn't tell her we were related. And you were right—money isn’t the answer to anyone’s prayers. Just look at what it’s done to Hannah and Nathaniel.”

Sky glanced at her daughter. "Of course, now I’m regretting the way I raised you.”

“Why do you say that?” Tessa asked.

“Because she refused him again! About a month ago, he offered to give Lark her inheritance but on the condition that she quit her job. And she refused! Refused the huge sum that he tried to give her. Instead, she begged to be allowed to stay on, so she could be near him every day."

"There are things in life that are more important than money, Ma." Lark's tone was firm.

Tessa's mind raced, trying to catch up with the story Sky had told. But her mind was stuck on the first point. "So, Artemis Green was your father?"

These words startled Mrs. Cross out of some sort of stupor. “What was that? I still had my cheaters tuned to the radio.”

“I was just telling your friend that Lark is Mr. Green’s daughter.”

Lark nodded, and Tessa said, "And why couldn't you tell Hannah?"

"I couldn’t tell anybody. My father was afraid it would upset his wife so much that she may have a stroke or heart attack or something. She's been frail since her sickness.” Lark shrugged. "Plus, the whole affair thing. I went along with it to make my dad happy. And it was worth it. I got to be near him. Talk to him. He was very kind to me. It was a win-win situation. Until now."

Sky spoke up. "Yes, now, everything is over. You don't have your father anymore, and you don't have any of the money you’re due because you're his daughter just as much as Hannah is. I’d say I told you so, but that ship has sailed."

"It isn't really Hannah who's going to