Chapter 4. The Will

Jeremy and Linda took care of Sarah, not wanting to allow anyone else to see to the girl. "This has been too much for her." Linda said softly. "She and Robert were very close…"

"I know." Jeremy was also looking after Toby who refused to leave Sarah's side. He was fond of the half brother Sarah was devoted to. He was glad that Kathy had corralled Karen and led her back to the line of limos and cars. Now that it was just the four of them he felt free to speak. "Linda, I don't think it's a good idea to just leave Sarah and Toby with them."

"What can I do? I'm only the ex-wife." Linda lamented.

Jeremy sighed. "Love, I think we should stick around for a bit. Something is raising my hackles." He looked over at Sarah who was slowly regaining her senses. "Feeling better, princess?"

Sarah looked up at her mother and the man and groaned. "I feel like a fool. What happened?"

"You swooned." Her mother said dramatically. "Quite nicely too."

Sarah looked embarrassedly up at the actress. "Thanks for the review." She looked around. "Tell me it was not witnessed by everyone."

"Jeremy grabbed you before you could make a spectacle of yourself." Her mother assured her. "It was just us, most everyone else had gone back to their cars."

Sarah looked at Toby. "What are you doing here?"

Jeremy held the boy on his lap. "Little man would not leave his sister's side." He said praising the boy. "He has more sense than most of the adults he's surrounded by." When Toby tugged on the man's suit jacket, Jeremy looked down at him. "Yes?"

"If Sarahww is a princess… does that make me a prince?" He asked wide eyed with wonder.

Jeremy smiled over at Linda. "It does indeed, Prince Toby." He winked at his lady as he hugged the boy. "I wish we could just pack these two up and keep them with us always."

"Uncle Jer, you're squishing me!" Toby squealed.

Sarah chuckled softly. "What a great scene this is." she said softly. "Graveside and we're cutting up."

Linda rested on the bench with her arm around her daughter. "Hell baby, your dad would have loved it. He was not all straight lace you know… well at least he wasn't until Karen got her hooks in him." She looked down at Toby and blew him a kiss. She looked at the mound of dirt now covering her ex-husband. "Let me tell you two kids about Robert Williams. He was brilliant and cunning and what my mother calls canny. He had a sense of humor like no one else. He loved life…. He was a good man."

"A very good man," Jeremy agreed softly. "One who was comfortable in his own skin."

Linda nodded, "He was one hell of a lawyer… but he was something a lot of men are not...he was fair."

"More than fair," Jeremy stated. "He was just."

Sarah looked at the man sitting beside her. "You liked Daddy?"

Jeremy nodded. "Why should I have?" He saw the glance toward her mother and said to Sarah. "Sarah, your father and I were friends, or at least we were friendly toward each other. He saved my bacon more than once on contracts."

"Even after you took mother away from him?" Sarah asked feeling anger and pain she'd long hidden.

"Took me away…Sarah where did you get an idea like that?" Linda asked.

"The press clippings…" Sarah said quietly. "They said there was a hot romance going on."

Jeremy snickered. "Not bloody likely." He turned the girls' face. "Sarah, I didn't get involved with your mother for several years after her divorce. Everything you read was publicity."

Turning to her mother the girl let years of frustration out. "Then why? Why devoice a man you seem to respect and be so…fond of?"

"Fond of? Baby I loved your dad…never stopped loving him in fact, and yes Jeremy knows I was hot for your dad." Linda said in her plain way. "Baby, when my breaks starting coming I had to go after them… Robert was already becoming a force to recon with here….we agreed that it was best to end the marriage… before it became a casualty of two forceful careers. It was a mutual decision. But I never stopped loving him, not even after he married the moron." She winced and looked at Toby. "Sorry kid, Auntie Linda is being a meanie."

Toby giggled.

Jeremy snickered. "When your dad would come to New York on business we'd go out, the three of us. You've no idea how many speculated on that. Your father and mother could never quiet stop this amazing connection they had."

Sarah shook her head. "I thought….that Jeremy …."

Raising a brow the actor smirked. "Thank you… I think…my male ego enjoys that kind of praise."

Linda stood up. "We'd best get back to the house and see what's happening there. I have to make sure your Aunt Kathy remembers she's not the widow."

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Karen was seated in a chair in the parlor, accepting well wishes and condolences. She'd taken little notice that Toby was not there. The Reverend Mr. Morrissey sat beside her holding her hand comfortingly, Kathy was standing at her side, like a sentinel. There was a smug satisfied look on the woman's face that faded slightly as Linda brought Sarah and Toby into the living room. Kathy's brats made a face at Toby, disliking being displaced by the little boy with strange eyes.

"He's weird." The daughter said.

"Totally." The son agreed.

Linda shot a look at them and they cowered. She moved toward Karen but was suddenly blocked by Kathy. Linda looked at the other woman with mild amusement.

"We want to thank you for your concern, and for looking after Sarah and Toby. But as you can see, we have things under control here. You're not needed here anymore, so why don't you run along now." Kathy said in a nasty tight little voice.

Linda rolled her eyes, used her arm and pushed the woman aside. She looked down at Karen. "Karen, I'm going to take Toby and Sarah out for a bit."

Karen looked up, still in a drug daze. "Alright." She agreed.

Linda turned to direct her next comment to Kathy. "Don't ever try to tell me what to do again." She held out a hand to Toby, who gladly went with the actress and her actor boyfriend. As they made their way out of the parlor and into the foyer, Steven motioned for her to wait a moment. He whispered something in her ear, and Linda frowned. Steven said something else and made a face. Linda nodded as she sighed in exasperation. The continued to discuss something, and Linda came out to the porch where Jeremy was waiting.

"We better go to the kitchen and have something there…Steven says there's a problem with the will." Linda looked ready to spit rust.

"The will?" Jeremy frowned. "That doesn't sound like Robert."

"It's not." Linda said herding everyone back into the house and toward the kitchen. "He also suggested I get Karen to eat, and get the sedatives out of her system, which means wrestling Kathy for control."

Jeremy laughed. "I love mud wrestling."

"Fine, you take on Kathy!" Snapped Linda

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Breanna had seen the strange behavior of her son in the Prince's chapel, hardly the behavior of a happy bridegroom. Her mind went back to the crystal her father had shattered and the particles of dust that littered the hall still. She wondered what clues where to be found in that dust. Knowing that her father would have it swept away before Jareth and Adrianna were gone from the palace she made an excuse to leave the great hall where the reception was being held. No notice was taken as many of the guests were meandering about the beautiful palace of Prince Stephan.

Swiftly the Fae woman returned to the corridor where the dust laid on the floor some chards larger than others. Finding a large piece she raised it to her face. "Something about you he does not want me to know. Well, Father, two can play your games." Laying the chard flat into her palm she focused. "What was shattered, come together and reveal to me your secret." The dust and chards burst into the air and formed a solid crystal in the hand of the Fae woman. "Try and keep me in the dark, will you Father? Well not for long." She looked into the swirling depths of the reformed crystal. "Show me." She coaxed the orb tenderly, raising it toward the window, "take me." She let the crystal float then followed it on the soft wind.

Through the portal of time and space she moved, into the world of man. She knew she was cloaked to the sight of men, who had long ago forgotten the bonds between mortal and immortal. She followed the orb, through a park, that held her son's scent as clearly as it held the scent of the swans swimming in the pond. Breanna was astonished and astounded to find his scent so fresh in the mortal world. As far as she knew no child had been wished away recently. Yet his scent was heavy on the air.

She followed the orb, flew past the town, with its little shops and houses on neatly arranged streets. Ahead of her was the old Victorian that was draped in mourning. The sting of death hung over the stately house fresh. The orb passed though the walls as if they were butter, and Breanna followed. She held her hand out to the orb as she set foot in the bedroom. The crystal came to a rest in her hand softly, still glowing and spinning. The room had the taste of magic, and it was delicious. Who ever belonged to this place was well acquainted with the realm of the Fae. "Whose room is this?" She wondered aloud not fearing she'd be heard, for mortals did not hear what they didn't want to hear, and hearing creatures of magic was not acceptable to most. She looked about the room; with it's feminine but childish furnishings. The canopy over the bed said volumes about the owner of the room. "A young girl?" Breanna sniffed the air, "No, but one who clings to her recent childhoods past." She touched the bed. "Tell me her name."

'SARAH.' The furnishings cried out softly, melodically.

Breanna heard loud steps running up the stairs and laughter, childish and uncaring even malicious. The door of the girl's room opened with a loud bang and two younger children rushed in and giggled madly. A boy and a girl entered, the furnishings groaned, these two did not belong here. The Fae woman decided to watch to see what was going to happen.

The girl of the pair looked about the room. "Let's find something to play with."

The boy picked up a book and carelessly tossed it aside, it fell open and he stepped on it carelessly breaking the binding. "There's nothing fun in here, just stupid old Sarah's junk. We should have gone into Toby's room. He's always got toys that are fun to play with and break."

The girl picked up a music box and tossed it aside, the glass sides shattered as it hit the floor. "I know, but she told us never to come in her…means she's hiding something…something she doesn't want Aunt Karen to know about."

Breanna could understand the dislike the furnishings felt toward this pair.

The boy moved to the vanity, pulled at a drawer and found it would not budge. "Must be something important in here, she's locked it up."

The girl pushed him aside. "Let me see." She too then tugged on the handle. "Well, what secrets is old Sarah keeping in here, I wonder." She looked around. "Find a nail file." She said to her brother. "Look over there." She continued to tug. "I'll bet it's something good."

The boy shoved the bottles of perfume and the containers off the vanity not caring that the contents spilled on the floor. "Here's a file." He picked up the metal file and handed it to his sister. "You sure you know how to do this?"

"Sure." She said shoving the metal into the keyhole. "Just give me a moment." The girl jammed the metal file, part of the lock and part of the wood broke off. "See, I told you I could open this." She pulled the drawer open. "Just more junk;" She tossed the little red leather book to the floor, stepping on it as she shoved the contents of the drawer about and broke something.

"What the hell are you two doing in my room?" a voice at the door shouted. "OH! You little monsters!"

Breanna looked at the mortal girl entering the room, the one from the crystal.

Sarah was furious, her face went beet red as she stormed in. "What have you done…" she looked at the mess of cosmetics dumped and books being stepped on. The red book being on the floor alerted her that the locked drawer had been opened. She roared, as she moved toward the pair. Her hand reached out, connecting with the face of the girl. "Get out of my room!"

"Momma!" The boy screamed. "Sarah hit Terry!"

Sarah could hear Kathy coming up the stairs two at a time. The woman flew into the room, pulling Sarah off her daughter and coddling the girl. "What do you think you're doing? Terry, darling are you alright?"

"Get your brats out of my room." Sarah said in a dark and dangerous voice. "Get them out of my house!"

"It's not your house." Kathy said with murder in her eyes. "It hasn't been your house for a long time you spoiled brat." Her hand went back poised to strike.

Linda and Jeremy came into the room. "That's enough Kathy." Linda warned grabbing the raised hand. "Get your kids out of Sarah's room…" She noticed the drawer and the ruined cosmetics. "And get out your checkbook; I'm going to make sure you pay for the damages."

Kathy sneered at Linda. "You've no say…. Besides… I think this will make a nice room for Terry when we move in. Of course we'll have to strip and repaint the furniture."

Green eyes looked down into icy blue, "Oh you plan on moving in do you…well I don't see that happening. It's not your house."

"It's not yours either." Snapped a voice at the door, Karen was looking at the mess and glared at Sarah. "Look what you've done."

Terry, still protected by her mother sneered at Sarah.

"Terry did this." Linda said to Karen who was still somewhat dazed. "She and that brat Todd broke into Sarah's drawer."

"Don't be silly." Karen gasped. "They'd have no reason to do that."

Kathy simpered. "I was just telling Linda here how wonderful this room will be for Terry."

Karen blinked. "Why would you tell her that?"

Terry sneered. "Mommy, I hate all of Sarah's things! I want new things."

Sarah looked at Karen, "They came in here, and ruined my things…aren't you going to do anything about it? Don't you care?"
Karen put a hand to her temple. "Stop whining!" she ordered, then she hissed. "Clean up this mess."

Sarah felt as if she'd been hit by a line backer. She knelt down and picked up the large book and then saw her red leather bound copy of the rare book The Labyrinth lying on the floor beneath the vanity it's pages dirtied by shoes. The sound she emitted was heart wrenching.

Karen looked at Kathy, "Take Todd and Terry down stairs." Kathy sent a look of triumph to Linda, who to the other's dismay seemed less than impressed. Karen addressed Linda. "I think it's time you left."

"I'm sure you do." Linda said coolly. "But Steven says there's reason for me to stay. Oh and Karen I wouldn't make any plans on moving your sister in."

"Why not, it's my house!" Karen roared.

"That's the point dear…it's not your house," Linda said leaving the room. "Coming Karen?"

Jeremy looked at Sarah. "You ok?"

"No…but I will be." Sarah dumped the soiled cosmetics and broken bottles into her trash bin.

"Come down when you've got things straight." He suggested. "I can almost guarantee fireworks."

Sarah tenderly picked up the red leather book, her fingers trembling as she pressed it to her heart.

'Say your right words.' Taunted a voice in the wall. 'Say your right words.'

Sarah whispered. "No…. my kingdom is as great…my kingdom is as great."

There was uncontrollable fierce laughter and more taunting. 'Say your words…'

Sarah stood up, looked into the mirror, her face streaked with makeup and tears. "Hoggle." She moaned. "Help…"

Breanna watched amazed as a gnomish face appeared in the mirror. She recognized the image at once as the little gardener from her son's palace. The sad little man looked at the girl and the vision faded. Sarah squared her shoulders and went to face the dragons below. The Fae woman paused a moment, wondering how in the world the girl had managed to make enemies of the impish Goblins and friends with the Gnomish Dwarf. She moved to the hall and down the stairs to witness what would occur next.

Karen asked Steven to ask everyone to leave; she'd had enough mourners and enough pity. She paced the parlor, looking like a tiger ready to pounce. When the crowd had gone, she was still pacing. Kathy moved toward her, pills in hand. Karen slapped the hand and told her to back off. Kathy looked worried as Linda looked at the pair.

Steven looked at the widow, then at the ex wife and then at Sarah standing on the last stair glaring at the two sisters. "I think you ladies should sit down, we need to talk about this will."

Karen glared at the law partner of her late husband. "Steven, this is not the time or the place." She then looked at Linda. "Outsiders should not be here."

Linda crossed her legs as she sat. "I couldn't agree more, Kathy leave."

Kathy gasped in shock and disgust.

Steven raised fingers to his lips and whistled loudly to silence the three women bickering. "Time out!" He looked over at Kathy. "You are not in the will… get out!" He was curt with Karen's sister.

"I will not." Kathy stamped her foot petulantly. "I'm here to support my sister." Pointing to Linda she shrieked. "She should get out!"

"She's in the will." Steven snapped.

Karen looked over at Linda who wore a butter could melt smile. Kathy glared at her. "How is that possible?"

Linda looked over at her sheepishly and said while fluttering her lashes. "Robert loved me."

Sarah took a seat on the stairs, suddenly amused by the frivolity. Terry was yanking on her mother's sleeve. "Mommy Sarah's laughing at you."

Kathy slowly turned, her lips curled, "You won't be laughing long missy."

The look gave Sarah a sudden wish to be hanging over a certain bog once more; she felt that would be much safer.

Steven paced. "Karen you know that Robert was concerned about the children's future… he made you the trustee of their trust funds. You hold the purse strings for both Toby and Sarah." He looked over at Linda. "You are in and out of the country too often."

"I agree." Linda said calmly.

Sarah felt the goose as it stepped up to the grave.

"That means that I can cut off funds to anything I don't deem necessary?" Karen asked still slightly dazed from the day's worth of sedatives. Steven nodded, and Karen looked toward Sarah sitting on the stair.

The goose stepped onto the grave beginning to walk across it, no make that stomped across it like the Russian army.

Karen was breathing heavy suddenly; a gleam came into her eye. "I want all payments to Sarah's college stopped!"

Sarah stood up, "You can't do that."

"Yes I can," Karen stood as well. "I see your classes as frivolous, totally useless." She began to shake with joy. "If however you stop taking those stupid photography classes and switch your major to some useful secretarial courses… I'll pay for your college tuition."

Sarah reeled. "I don't want to be a secretary!"

"Cut off her funds." Karen sharply told Steve; turning back to the girl she smiled wickedly. "Get a job and a place to live because you're out. You're over eighteen; I'm not paying for you!"

"You can't throw her out." Linda said quietly.

"Yes I can, and I can throw you out as well."Karen said.

"No, you can't." Linda said softly.

Karen turned on her, eyes like steel. "Why can't I?"

"Because it's not your house," Linda wriggled her nose at the widow.

"Of course it's my house." Karen said, and then looked over at Steven. "Isn't it?"

"Actually, no," Steven sighed. "Robert and Linda owned the house jointly."

Kathy made a lunge for the lawyer. "You mean she still owns part of the house?"

"Yes." He looked at Karen, "She also owns most of the furnishings… and Robert's half was left in trust to Toby…with Linda as the trustee."

Linda smiled. "Now you were saying about the college fund?"

Terry began to whine, "I want Sarah's room!"

Kathy hushed the girl and looked at Linda. "I suppose you'll be moving in."

Linda looked toward Karen who was still seething. "Not on your life." She addressed the widow. "You are welcome to stay in the house for as long as you like… but I'm going to have Steven and the partners watch you. I'm going to be making an inventory, and your sister will pay for the damages done to Sarah's room by her brats."

Karen fumed. "I'm not changing my mind… No more photography classes or no more money."

Linda shook her head at Karen. "You are a sad excuse for a woman Karen." She felt pity for the other. "Karen, tighten up the purse stirrings if it makes you feel more powerful… but you have no power over us." She looked at the dropped mouth on Sarah. "You can stay in the house Karen, but not Kathy, and not her destructive brats." Linda picked up her purse. "Sarah I'll be by in the morning, I've got some things I have to see to this evening." Turning to Kathy she said forcefully. "Get out of my house and take those brats with you." Kathy spat at her as she passed by.

The door closed and Kathy glared at Sarah. "You'll pay for this missy, I swear it."

Sarah backed up the stairs and ran for the safety of her room, even with the goblin taunts it was safer than the parlor.