"Hi Alma," Amanda greeted her sister as she walked towards the table where Alma was seated. "Thanks for inviting me to lunch. I'm glad to have an excuse to get out of the office for awhile at least."
"Busy day?" Alma asked.
"Not for me really, but Andrew was too busy to make it. He has a lot to do now that he's vice president of the company. With as much as he does though, you'd think he was the president. He really should be. After all, he's been working there longer than that Lawrence Arrendale . . ." She paused when Alma didn't seem to be paying attention to what she was saying. "Alma, are you listening?"
"Just look at those people," Alma whispered, motioning to an amorous couple who hadn't been able to keep their hands off each other since they arrived at the restaurant. "How can they act like that? It's disgusting."
Amanda shrugged. "I think it's kind of sweet."
"But to act like that in public? I don't think I would even behave that way in private."
Amanda laughed, "When you fall in love you'll change your mind."
Alma stiffened up. She hated when Amanda tried to act like the older, wiser sister, especially when she was completely wrong. "Don't tell me you and Andrew ever carry on like that?"
"Not in public, no, but we have been trying to start a family," Amanda grinned. "We can't wait to have a baby."
Alma said nothing and looked away, hoping Amanda wouldn't go on about the subject. She didn't want to know the details of her sister's married life.
Amanda noticed that Alma's eyes seemed to wander around the restaurant as if she were searching for someone. "Are you expecting someone?" Amanda finally asked.
"Yes," Alma reluctantly admitted.
"You didn't say anything. Who is it?"
Alma said nothing and looked away.
"Alma . . ." When Amanda turned her head she saw Vanessa approaching their table. "You didn't tell me she would be here."
"If I had, would you have come?"
"No, and I'm not going to stay now," Amanda said as she began to stand up.
"You're being ridiculous. Sit down. Just listen to what she has to say for one minute, give her a chance to explain."
"I don't care what she has to say. I just want her to get out of my life."
"I'll do that," Vanessa said quietly. "I have something I think you both should see. After that, if you still want me out of your life, you won't have to say it again. I'll stay away."
"Fine," Amanda gave in. She sat down with her arms in front of her and scowled.
"The reason I gave Lawrence the Boardwalk is because of my ex-husband. You know, he was Lawrence's uncle and his guardian after his parents died. He took everything that boy had and left him to fend on his own. The Boardwalk was something Sebastian and I bought together. It may not have been bought with exactly the same money, but Lawrence was owed something and Sebastian isn't here to pay his own debts."
"And that's your problem?" Amanda asked.
"Yes, because we were married, hun . . .or thought we were. We lived as if everything that was mine was his and everything of his was mine. I didn't want that debt. I couldn't live with it on my conscience without making some effort to set things right."
"Yet, you have no problem taking our home from us?"
"That's not the way it was," Vanessa said, keeping her voice deliberately calm. "It was your home, certainly, but it wasn't your house, hun. It was your mother's and she chose to leave it to me."
"I've heard enough," Amanda reared back. "I can't listen to any more of your nonsense. You can justify this all you want in your own mind, but I'm not going to buy it."
"Just read this," Vanessa said, dropping an envelope on the table. Amanda eyed it skeptically. "It's a letter from our mother. The lawyer gave it to me with the inheritance. This is the reason I didn't offer to give you the house. It wasn't what she wanted."
"Don't you dare presume what my mother wanted. You never even met her, yet you come into our lives and try to take over."
As Amanda ranted, Alma reached for the envelope and opened it.
Amanda rolled her eyes. "Why are you wasting your time?"
Alma studied the words before silently handing the piece of paper to Amanda.
As she read the letter Amanda slowly sank down into her chair.
"She knew that she had provided for both of you and I can see myself that you're both doing fine for yourselves. You have steady jobs, nice places to live. I admit, I don't need the house or the money for myself, but I wanted to carry out her wishes. It may sound silly, but I feel like if I accept her gift, I'll be doing what I can to help her rest in peace. I didn't accept it for myself. I wasn't thinking of me . . .or of you. I was thinking of her. I just thought you both had the right to know."
Alma looked at Amanda who stared at the letter and said nothing.
When Vanessa stood up and reached out her hand, Amanda gave her the letter. "I'd like to be friends, but I won't force it. If you ever want to talk, you have my number." When she turned and left the restaurant Amanda didn't stop her.
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