Free Unbreakable by Amie Nichols Page A

told him.
    “Don’t sweat it Jeffery,” I say about the
chandelier as he takes a pitcher of sweet tea from the fridge
pouring some in the glass. “It was Jane’s Idea to have a chandelier
in kitchen,” I scoff at the ridiculous taste my adopted mother had.
“I was going to change it to something else anyway,” I reassure
him.
    He smiles at my comment knowing that I am
telling him the truth, and not just saying it to make him feel
better. “How’s your foot?” He says taking a drink.
    “It’s fine, just a small cut. I think I’ll
live,” I giggle as I hop up on the barstool at the end of the
kitchen island. I want to ask where Luke is, but I am too
embarrassed to.
    “He went to the hardware store to get
something temporary for the light, until you decide on what you
want,” he states as if he read my mind. “So what are you going to
do today, Lilly?” He inquires raising one eyebrow.
    He has become more concerned with my
day-to-day activities since daddy and Jane died. I know he feels
like he needs to look after me.
    “I’m going to go through some stuff in Dad’s
study. I need to see all the properties I own and figure out what I
want to sell and what I want to keep,” I shrug. Emma’s dad,
Elliott, is still my lawyer and has been after me to get this done.
“Mr. Williams has asked to make a list of assets I want to keep,” I
explain.
    “Well, that my dear, might take you awhile,”
Jeffrey expresses as he finishes his tea and puts the glass in the
sink. “Ted owned half of Louisiana,” he says and starts walking
back to the utility room. “Well, back to work,” he waves and is
gone.
     
    I walk
into my daddy’s study putting down my PB&J sandwich, which I
made for myself with a glass of sweet tea, on the desk. It is so
warm and inviting in here. I inhale deeply still able to smell his
cologne. I look at the massive mahogany desk, which daddy always
sat behind when he was actually home, and over at the matching
mahogany file cabinet against the wall. It’s so big with wide
drawers. I open the top drawer. It is full of manila folders
categorized by Parishes. I pull out the one labeled ‘Vermilion
Parish’ first since it is just west of us here in St. Mary’s
Parrish.
    I turn to walk toward the desk, when the
folder slips from my hand and falls to the floor underneath the
file cabinet. I get down on my knees to see if I can reach it, but
it’s too far. There is not enough room from the floor to the bottom
of the cabinet for me to get my arm under there. I stand back up,
putting my arms on either side of the wooden monstrosity, and try
with all my might to move it. It doesn’t budge, not even a little
bit. Then I move up against the wall, and slip my hand behind it
thinking if I push it might be easier. I feel cold metal on the
back of my arm where it brushes against the wall behind the
cabinet. What’s back there? All the walls are wood. I go to the
desk and look in the top drawer to find a flashlight. I shine the
flashlight behind the cabinet and strain my eyes to see what is
behind it. All I can make out is black. As I move the flashlight
down, I notice a round silver dial. It’s a safe! I didn’t know
daddy had a safe in here. What could be in it? It is about the same
size as the file cabinet. It’s so big and it is built into the
wall. I have to get this cabinet moved.
     
     

Chapter 10
     
     
    I walk into the kitchen hoping Luke is back
to help me move the file cabinet. He’s on the ladder in the kitchen
wiring the replacement light. He looks down at me and smiles.
    “Hi!” he says sweetly, “You look beautiful.”
His eyes look me up and down as he climbs down the ladder.
    My stomach does that all too familiar flip,
and my heartbeat picks up, “Hi yourself.”
    He steps off the ladder and steps in front of
me. I can smell the delicious smell of him. I don’t even know what
it is about his scent, but it makes my heartbeat quicken. He’s
about a foot taller than me and is