This changed everything. If it was a debt to be paid, it needed to be paid. Her brief hope of staying here in the cottage on the island crumbled into tiny grains of sand.
Her phone rang, startling her from her thoughts. She glanced at the caller ID and saw it was Mr. Howe, the lawyer. Her heart raced as she answered.
“Hello, Mr. Howe,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady.
“Hello, Evie. I’m calling about the situation with your grandmother’s cottage.” His voice carried a note of hesitation. “I’ve been looking into the matter, but I’m having a hard time disproving the validity of the document Mr. Barlowe showed you.”
She took a deep breath. “It’s valid,” she said quietly. “I found my grandfather’s copy of it in an old lockbox. There’s no doubt about it now.”
There was a pause on the other end of the line. “I see,” Mr. Howe said finally. “That does change things.”
“I’ll need to pay back the debt. It’s what Nana would want me to do.”
“Are you sure about this, Evie?” Mr. Howe asked. “There might still be other options we could explore.”
“No, I’m sure. It’s the right thing to do. Nana always taught me to honor our commitments.”
“But if you don’t have the funds to pay him back, he’ll get Genevieve’s cottage,” he warned.
“I know. But I don’t see another way out. I don’t have that kind of money.” Maybe if she sold the cottage, she’d have the money, but either way, she’d lose the cottage.
“I’m sorry. I know Genevieve would have loved for you to stay and live in her cottage,” he said, his voice filled with kindness and empathy.
“Do you think Nana knew about this loan?”
“I have to think not, because she was very precise about her wishes with her will. I don’t think she would have ignored this.”
“You’re probably right. Anyway, thank you, Mr. Howe. I appreciate all your help.”
After hanging up, she sat at the kitchen table, staring at the documents spread out before her. The reality was sinking in. She was losing the cottage.
She picked up her coffee mug, now cold, and walked to the window. The view of the island, with its gentle waves lapping at the shore, had always brought her comfort. Now, it felt more like she was seeing it for the last time, and the view was slowly slipping away.
Her phone pinged with incoming emails. At first she ignored them, but then she sighed and opened her phone to check them. A reminder that her rent was due back home. Two spam emails. And one from… Totten Technologies. Wasn’t that the company where she’d met the woman—Kristine, was it?—at a networking event she’d gone to right before she came here? The woman was smart, talented, and seemed interested in her, but had no openings at Totten for Evie’s skill set. Kristine had requested her resume and said she’d keep it on file. But isn’t that what people always say?
She clicked on the email and read it, her eyes widening. Kristine had an opening she thought would be perfect for Evie. She’d checked out her references and was impressed by the jobs she’d held. Kristine was on board with hiring her. She just had to formally get the okay from human resources. She wanted to arrange an interview as soon as possible.
She leaned against the counter, stunned. It couldn’t possibly be that easy to get a new job, could it? And Totten was one of the top technology companies in Baltimore.
It was like everything was giving her a sign that she should leave. The loan against the cottage, the almost job offer back home.
Her heart was breaking at the thought of leaving and losing the cottage, but maybe all these things were a sign she wasn’t meant to be here.
She stared out the window, not really seeing anything. Soon, someone else would be standing here in the very spot.
Not her. Not Nana.
She set her cup in the sink and headed back to the storage room. Now she had to get moving in earnest. There were things to pack up, to give away, to pitch. And the fact that she didn’t want to do any of that didn’t make any difference. She had to do it.
Evie heard a knock at the door, and her heart sank. She was sure it would be Randy, eager to open another item from the Christmas box. She wasn’t ready to face him, to share the news that would change everything. She walked to the front room, took a deep breath, steeled herself, and opened the door.
Randy stood there, as expected, his face lit up with a warm smile. “Hey there! Ready for today’s Christmas box adventure?” He held up a thermos. “I brought some hot cocoa to go with it.”
Evie tried to manage a smile but knew it wouldn’t fool him. “Come in.” She stepped aside to let him enter.
Randy’s smile faded as he looked at her. “Everything okay? Did you hear more from the lawyer?”
“Yes… I… Come in and sit.”
