Gemotions

Eliza smoothed the silk of her dress, the fabric whispering against her skin. She kept her head high, offering a curt nod to her brother, Thomas, as the will was read. The antique shop, the one she'd always coveted, was hers.

The solicitor finished speaking, and Thomas, to her immense satisfaction, paled. He’d assumed he'd inherit the shop, the way he'd always assumed he was the one who mattered. She’d known their father better.

Eliza took a deep, steadying breath. She’d waited for this moment her whole life. She was the one who understood antiques, who knew their value.

The solicitor gave Thomas a very ornate, jewel-encrusted pen.