Chapter 34
Carmen
Peter Jacobs just saved the day. I can’t even believe it. He did exactly what I told him to do. It was only a hunch. But I had a sinking feeling that Eli told Bridget about the plan and that Glen would reveal it in front of our entire family. If Bridget would have texted Shelly and Ben, they would have been angry. Dana Johnson would have been punished, but they wouldn’t have told a soul about the inheritance. After the stunt that Bridget pulled with the Instagram pictures, I doubt that my grandmother would have believed her. But if Glen did it in front of all of the Lawyers and bitter distant family members who secretly covet our wealth, it all would have been over for Eli. When the chapel doors are closed, my cousin marries the love of her life. After Reverend Hamilton says “You may kiss the bride” I sigh in relief. Those guards will ensure that Glen and Bridget aren’t going to make it into the reception. I’ll make sure of that. The pianist begins playing a piece as Ben and Eli are presented with the marriage license, which is given to them on a platter. They sign it with a gold fountain pen and then the magic document is presented. This is the document that will give the pair five million dollars and the property in Texas. I can’t believe it. After they sign this piece of paper, nothing can ever be taken away from them. With the audience as witnesses, both contracts are signed. After all of the boring paperwork is taken care of, we walk back up the aisle. Jake kisses my cheek as he loops my arm through his.
“I’m glad that’s over,” he mutters.
“Me too,” I tell him. Seriously, that wedding was just too much drama. Then again, why am I surprised? Two months ago Chelsea was kidnapped by a stalker who was in love with her. After she escaped, that stalker then attempted to kill us all. Thanks to him, I have a scar that is difficult to hide. I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I had been holding my breath. I thought that Brent Harris would show up here with an Uzi and begin shooting us all. But he didn’t. Instead, a random ex of Eli’s who was probably wooing her in hopes of getting his hands on the land shows up and causes a ruckus.
“What was that all about?” Kailey asks us while we’re in the foyer. She definitely broke protocol to ask us. I blink in surprise when she has a notepad in hand.
“I’m not sure,” Jake says, shaking his head at his sister. I frown at who I see behind Kailey. The stripper Jazmyn stands there, with her hands on her hips.
“Alex?” Jake blinks, as if he can’t believe the sight.
“Kailey invited me.” She says those words as if she’s defending her presence.
“So you did follow me. I told you so,” Kailey says. Alex shakes her head.
“That was quite the wedding. It was beautiful!” Eli hustles over to me, her dress dragging on the tile. She takes one look at Alex and tears up.
“Hey, guys. Let’s get out of here before the masses descend,” she suggests. I shake my head.
“You have pictures.”
“Who cares? They’ve already gotten plenty. I’m hungry.” Since everyone is in a placating mood, we all follow Eli out of the church and into the sunlight. Alex and Kailey are unsure of what to do until Eli gestures for them to go with.
“Who’s watching Bella?” I ask Alex. She smiles up at me.
“My downstairs neighbor. I figured that something like this would be too overwhelming for a baby.” It’s weird to listen to her southern drawl. I had assumed that she was from the mid-west.
“Oh,” I say as Jake drags me over to one of the five limos that are waiting for us. My guess is that Grandmother wanted us to be comfortable after the taxing ceremony. That doesn’t bother me at all. Alex, Jake, Jill, Matt and I end up in one Limo. Jill groans as soon as her butt touches the soft leather.
“When can we change?” she asks. I laugh.
“I know. This dress is uncomfortable,” I whine.
“I don’t like the dress. For our wedding, you better pick something less Cinderella,” Jake softly tells me. Our wedding? So he sees this as a long-term commitment? Okay, the idea of marrying Jake isn’t what makes me begin to feel anxious. It’s the idea that I still have zero idea of what I’m supposed to major in after my year off from school. What purpose do I have? Where do I belong? Maybe I can talk to Mom about all of my doubts and fears. She’ll help me make sense of at all.
“We are having a small wedding,” I whisper to him. “Maybe we’ll get married in Vegas. I don’t really care about the wedding. I just want a fun honeymoon.” Jake squeezes my shoulder.
“Okay. So did you have anything to do with Peter having the e-mail?” Jake’s question makes everyone in the limo to stare at me.
“I had to know why Bridget was doing what she was doing. I…”
“You hacked her E-mail?” Alex asks in shock. Jill chuckles.
“Man. Carmen, you would make a good private investigator,” Jill says.
“How did you hack her e-mail?”
“That’s an invasion of privacy. If you ever did that to me. I’d be so pissed,” Alex nearly yells but I’m unrepentant. I saved Eli’s inheritance by snooping. It’s more important to look at the outcome.
“I would have no reason to hack your e-mail,” I argue, and Alex rolls her eyes at me.
“How long has she been doing this?” Alex asks everyone.
“Since she was a kid,” Matt responds. “We were all kind of hoping that she would outgrow it, but she didn’t. If anything, I think that snooping is a talent of Carmen’s.” Matt says it as if he can’t possibly believe my skill at finding out information. I take mental notes of this conversation, thinking that after everything settles down, I’ll do my research on possible occupations.
“I still can’t believe this. Carmen, how good of a snoop are you?” Alex asks.
“I’m not too terrible. I just find answers. It’s not like I go through everyone’s stuff for the heck of it,” I playfully argue.
“Give me an example,” Alex tells me. I look around the room, and when my eyes land on Jake, I find that he’s content to find that I’m getting along with his sister.
“Okay, so I wanted to know if Jill was a mean person. So I snuck into her room and read some of her text messages. Jill, you should probably never leave your phone unlocked,” I tease her. Jill giggles.
“And what did you find, Carmen?” Her blue eyes are friendly which surprises me. Most people would have gotten upset by my admission, but my calculations are right. Jill is just a really patient person.
“Nothing interesting. You’re a nice person.”
“Why didn’t you just get to know me instead, Carmen?” And there is the million dollar question. If I tell Jill that I started snooping because everyone had the habit of leaving me out, everything will get awkward. So I change the subject.
“Well, you’ve been busy hanging out with Jake. Anyways, Alex, what do you think of Kailey? She seems to like you,” I say, because I can’t think of anything else to ask her. Alex nods.
“I like Kailey too. She’s really nice.” Jill gives me a “we’ll talk later” look, and I know that my evasion hasn’t gone unnoticed.