The dinner had dissolved into awkward silence by the time Hannah finished her meal. After that, it was a small matter of politely excusing herself and preparing for bed. Her body was still weak from the stress and dieting. She needed to make sure to get a good night's rest for an early start the next morning.

Before going to bed, Hannah paused. So far she’d been flying by the seat of her pants. That would only last for so long. Especially since she wasn’t sure exactly when or what got everyone to start working together. After some careful consideration, she got out a small pad of paper and started writing down what she needed to do tomorrow.

1. Check the details of the project

2. Touch base with Dr. Fry

3. Check personal assistant situation

4. Consider wardrobe changes

The last one wasn’t as big a deal, she supposed. But a change in clothing would help her feel more comfortable. Less under the thumb of the rest of the family. Hannah slid under the soft blue silk sheets as she smiled to herself. Tonight was amazing. Getting to feel and look so beautiful. Finding out her maid wasn’t so bad and probably not in on anything. At least not yet. Watching her soon-to-be-ex starve as she ate his steak. Her sister in law actually stood up for her.

Who knew dying would mean getting to have the chance to see such nice things? Not that she’d recommend it. Especially since she doubted it was a normal occurrence. She’d need to try and figure out what caused it at some point.

But that was Later Hannah’s problem. For now? Sleep.

The first night of undisturbed sleep she’d had in years.

***

Instead of the soothing sounds of singing birds and a softly glowing clock, Hannah woke up to being shaken awake by an angry looking pregnant woman. Hannah sat up, looking at the sister in law, who had shown up without her husband. As Hannah rubbed her eyes, she could see Jessica folding her arms. 

“Move over, I want to talk.” Jessica half spat out.

Maybe it was too much to hope Jessica would be nice after last night. Hannah complied and got herself comfortable, glancing at the time. 3 AM. 3 freaking AM. It was too early for this. She didn’t dare complain about wanting coffee though. Jessica had been cranky about not getting any during the pregnancy.

“Jessica, is there something you need help with? Girl talk or something…?” Hannah trailed off. Too tired to remember how she should be talking.

Jessica was eyeing her carefully. “Yes. I’m fine with the offer but I don’t get why you are making it. Medication or not, you aren’t acting like yourself.”

Ok. This was fine. Out of all of them, Jessica would be the hardest to fool. She wasn’t a top lawyer in the state for nothing. Often out-maneuvering people with double her experience and connections in the judicial system. Jessica could be the Attorney General if she really wanted to be. Someone would even offer to help her run for the office in about two years. Something Jessica would turn down, not wanting to deal with the bullshit that came with such a title. Not to mention the person who did offer had insulted her husband. 

Say what you will about the dynamics of this couple. Both were, in their own ways, fiercely loyal and in love with each other.

“I had a big breakthrough in therapy. And found out some… things. I don’t want to go into it all right now.” Hannah rubbed her eyes as she spoke. “I don’t want to say anything I might be wrong about.”

“Hannah. I’m the family’s representation. I need to know if you are in some sort of issue.” Jessica put a hand on Hannah shoulder, sending a bit of pain through it. “And if you are setting up my husband for anything.”

Wincing, Hannah spoke carefully. “I’m not setting him up for anything. But when I went in the house the other day I noticed something. Took it out without thinking.”

Jessica let go, frowning. “What?”

“A camera. One that’d be hidden once the drywall went up. It looked like it was part of a network.” Hannah looked down. “And only family, myself, and Chip have the ability to change plans for things to be installed. And I didn’t.”

A silence fell into the room. It was heavy. Hannah almost couldn’t breathe. No, wait. She wasn’t breathing. Her mind going back to the day she accidentally broke the drywall in the house and finding the camera. By the time she came back with the family, it had been fixed and even rebreaking it there was no camera or even the mounting system. Everyone pretended it had never been there in the first place. Jessica wasn’t going to believe her now. Why would she? 

As if on cue, Jessica suddenly shoved something into Hannah’s chest. Hannah looked down and it… it was Smile Spud. The goofy little plushie that had been the last thing Mr. Kerr had bought Hannah. He didn’t even get to give it to her, it was in his closet with some gifts he was going to hand out to everyone. Mr Kerr had promised to get her one eventually.

And her mother threw it into the fireplace about a year from now. As a punishment for not ‘doing right’ by her brothers. Hannah held it close, her breathing slowing down as soft tears came out.

Her sister in law sighed and gently patted Hannah’s back. “Yeah yeah. I can’t deal with you acting weak. I suppose the tough act was the combination of the medication and trying to deal with the cameras huh?”

Hannah nodded as she buried her face in the squishy potato. God. She had honestly thought after finding out everything she’d be so much stronger than this. Isn’t that how this sort of thing worked? Maybe it didn’t, maybe she’d always be weak.

“Right. Well I’m confident my husband didn’t do it. Which leaves Chip, Beauregard, or your mother. So why give us a bugged house?” Hannah peeked out at Jessica’s sharp tone. “Hoping we’d get screwed?”

“I figured whoever did it would remove the cameras.”

“And if you bribed Russett he’d back off?” Jessica asked cooly.

Another nod. “I mean. You guys do need the space. It’s not your fault you were pulled into staying with Mother. Beau has always been a mama’s boy.” Seeing Jessica arch her brow Hannah quickly added. “Not in a bad way! Just he worries about her.”

That got a sigh from Jessica. “Don’t I know it. Good thing he cares about me more.” She gently put a hand on her stomach. “And he better care about this child more than her too.”

“Oh don’t worry. I know he’ll be a great dad to your kids.” Hannah smiled at that. 

Despite the parts she hated with her brother, she couldn’t deny he was an amazing father to his children. It was part of what made admitting what he did so hard. Too bad Jessica caught the wording.

“Kids?”

“I mean. I assumed you’d want at least two.” Hannah let out a nervous chuckle. “I guess I shouldn’t assume.”

“No you shouldn’t.” She folded her arms. “But with what you saw at the house I can’t blame you for not saying anything. You expected a reaction from me or my husband if we were the ones with the cameras right?”

“Something like that.” Hannah, decided she wasn’t going to get any sleep, turned on the light by her bed. “I do want your future kid or kids to have a good home. They’ll still be family.”

Jessica put a hand on her stomach, contemplating. “Alright. When you have enough evidence, let me know and I’ll get to work on helping you build a case. I’ll go down to the house in an hour with Beauregard and see what I see.”

Hannah blinked in surprise. “You’re going to investigate? For me?”

“Of course not. That’s not my job. My job is to help with legal issues for the head of the family and that is you.” A pointed red nail poked into Hannah’s nightgown. “Got it?”

“I uh. Wait. I’m the head of the family?” Hannah shook her head. “But I thought that was just of the company.”

Her sister in law could only stare at Hannah. It was a strange sight to see, as Jessica rarely was frozen in her words or actions. The lawyer took a moment to recover before speaking again.

“Did you only get the summarized version of the will?”

“Yeah. That’s what mother gave me. She made it clear she’d be in charge of the family accounts and assets. I signed the paperwork I was supposed to… sign…” Hannah trailed off, thinking about how often her mother had and would have her sign off on purchases and other paperwork. 

“That bitch. I never liked her as a mother in law. No wonder you didn’t…” Jessica let out a calming breath as she slowly stood up. “I’m getting my hands on all legal paperwork you signed since your father’s death. You hire an investigator for everything else. Got it?”

“Uh sure but. Why can’t you help with that?” Hannah climbed out of bed herself. No point in staying in the queen bed if she wasn’t going back to sleep after all of this. 

Jessica pinched her nose. “I don’t want anything I can be made to use against you right now. And if you somehow signed away the head of family assets? Then I’ll be in charge of protecting them from you.”

“So the less you know ahead of time…”

“The more I can help you grow your backbone and get at whatever sicko was putting in hidden cameras. Where was it by the way?”

“The bedroom.” Hannah honestly wasn’t sure there was a camera still there or not. But that didn’t mean there weren’t a few near the area. Not to mention some speakers as well.

Jessica nodded and walked out. Leaving the room like nothing had ever happened in the first place.