May dropped her paper doll and they both came running back in my direction. “I told her,” Heidi said. “Let’s go see the ducks.”

I let them lead the way and May gave me a shy smile and hug. She was quieter than Heidi. I knew her life had been more different than my sister’s. She wasn’t comfortable receiving love the way Heidi was. She was nervous. I tried to show her with every visit she could trust me. She was learning that I would accept her hug and give her one back.

The sun was beautiful and warm today. We found a nice shady spot, the girls got comfortable and then I handed them each a cupcake before taking mine and joining them. They both giggled with delight at the sight of the cupcakes.

I’d used ingredients from Portia’s pantry to make them. Ms. Charlotte had left a lot of baking supplies behind. Portia never requested baked goods, so I used them to make things to bring to Heidi, May and the nurses. I hoped by the time the supplies ran out, I would have enough money to afford to restock.

They loved the cookies, and occasional cupcakes. One week, I’d made Rice Krispy treats. Then once I’d made brownies, but we were out of chocolate now. So I was making sugar cookies with sprinkles most of the time.

“This is the best cupcake I evah had,” May told me licking her lips.

“Beulah is the best cooker,” Heidi bragged. “Momma taught her and me to cook a lot. I can cook too.”

May’s eyes went wide with amazement even though Heidi had told her this story many times. And it was true. Momma had always let us help her with dinner. When there was extra money she’d make us sweets. I’d learned more from her than just baking and cooking skills. I’d learned how to love. Mom was the best teacher.

“I THOUGHT WHEN YOU SAID you were ready to take over your position at the corporation that you’d go to Boston, Chicago, or even New York for the summer. I didn’t expect you to come here and bring all these people. You can’t expect them to take you seriously at Van Allan Industries if you’re having topless parties every day. They aren’t just going to respect you because your father named you CEO at his death.”

I paused. Portia was talking, and although I hadn’t walked into the back yard yet, I knew it was Jasper she was talking to. I didn’t realize Van Allan Industries was now his. He was . . . not ready for that. From the little bit I’d experienced from him, I couldn’t imagine the tall glass building in Manhattan known as Van Allen Industries was now the responsibility of a spoiled, partying, twenty-one-year-old.

“Don’t recall asking you what you thought, Mother. Neither did my father. But then you were so busy fucking the tennis pro at the club you weren’t paying attention to the will and Dad’s last-minute changes. So, while you waste your breath telling me what I can and can’t do, remember this is mine. All of it. Dad didn’t care what happened to his unfaithful wife at his death. He had time to change his mind. But he didn’t.”

I backed away from the room. This was not my business. Wow! Their conversation was shocking though. It was not a subject I expected to hear them discuss. Jasper was cold. Angry and cold toward his mother. If she’d been having an affair, I understood his hurt. Especially since his father had died of a heart attack. But the complete emotionally detachment in his voice was shocking. He seemed so easygoing and carefree. Looks were deceiving. My mother had always told me that.

“I’m not going to defend myself to you. I am sorry for what I did but there were things in our marriage you knew nothing about. You’re my son. I want you to succeed. That is all this is about. It’s all I’m trying to say.”

He laughed and it was a hard laugh. It wasn’t real. I couldn’t see his face, but the sound made me shiver. “You worry about your tea parties, tennis matches, and shopping trips. I’ll handle everything else. Don’t give me advice. You’re not anyone I’d take it from.”

There was silence, and then footsteps.

“Jasper, please,” Portia called out, but a door slammed in the distance and I knew he had walked outside to the pool house.

I stood where I was to stay hidden and didn’t move until I heard Portia walk away and enter the house. I waited five minutes before walking to the entrance I always used in the back yard near the kitchen. I didn’t know what this family was like before Alfred Van Allan suffered a massive heart attack and died two days later, but I knew they were completely dysfunctional now. I felt sorry for Portia, although she didn’t sound like she had made wise decisions. I also felt sorry for Jasper because he had obviously been raised to be the man he was. They’d created him.

I had been raised by a woman who luckily put her kids first, above all else. Even before having a social life. I never once saw her date.

“I’d forget all you heard. Wasn’t your business,” the deep drawl I now recognized as Winston’s said from behind me. I was beginning to think he stalked me to catch me off guard and put me in my place. In his stuck-up, conceited world I was the minion he could look down on.

“I’m aware of that. It wasn’t on purpose. I just got home,” I snapped at him.

He gave a small shrug of his left shoulder, sat down on a lounger, then laid back and put his hands behind his head. “But you listened. You could have walked away.”

He was right. I could have. I started to argue that they were blocking my entrance, but it sounded lame even to me.

Instead, I walked away from Winston. I didn’t have to explain myself to him. I wasn’t going to try.

“He won’t keep you. She hired you, which makes him detest you. No matter how appealing you might be.”

That was a fear I was trying not to focus on, but after hearing what I’d just—as he’d pointed out I eavesdropped on—Winston may be right. If he fired me, Heidi and I would be on the streets. How would I keep her fed? I couldn’t afford the home where she lived, or leave her to work a job. Not alone. She couldn’t be left alone. Especially not on the streets.

My head began to pound. I hurried inside to get away from Winston and his threats. I couldn’t lose this job. This job was all I had right now. Working here was keeping Heidi in a safe home. If my mother was friends with Portia, or Portia owed her something, I had no idea what that connection was, but I knew Jasper wouldn’t care. He hated his mother, that much was obvious. He wouldn’t care about helping Heidi or me.

“You’re late,” Portia said as I walked into the house. I was actually early but their talk outside had stalled me. I couldn’t tell her I had overheard them though.

“I’m sorry. Traffic was bad.”

She glared at me. “I did you a favor letting you go today. The least you could do was return on time. I don’t need this from you. You’re the help. The help. Do your damn job and stop acting so damn entitled.” She slammed her glass down on the table causing the liquid to slosh over and drip down onto the floor. “Clean that up. Then get to your duties.”

I nodded. “Yes ma’am.”

She stalked from the room and I hurried to clean up her mess. I understood she was hurting over what her son had said to her. The bitterness and anger that often spewed from her came from that hurt. She’d had an unhappy life. She’d slept with another man. After her husband died, she was left to the mercy of her son. For a woman like Portia who lives in luxury, I imagine the threat of having her lifestyle taken away was tough. It didn’t make her treatment of me all right, of course. But I understood it.