He was silent on the other end for some time.
“Hello?”
“I’m tryna think of how I can get Bert to take this damn thing back.”
Through my laughter, I said, “Too late. I him to refuse you if you try to return.”
“I know. He told me already when I called the store.”
I snickered. “You might as well enjoy it, ’cause it’s not going anywhere.”
“Thank you,” he said after some time.
“You’re welcome. I’ve gotta go, but I’ll call you this weekend.”
“Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
Though that conversation was half a decade ago, it still filled me with joy to remember. It was the least I’d been able to do for the man who taught me so much.
“Hello?”
I startled, opening my eyes and turning to the opened front door. Only when I saw the man now filling the space of the doorway was a sheriff’s deputy did I relax.
That was until he said, “Ma’am, this is private property. You can’t be in here.”
I dipped my eyebrows and stared, not liking the tone he used. “Yes, I’m well aware this is private property.Myprivate property.”
His eyebrows lifted as his pale blue eyes widened in surprise. “You’re the owner of this home?”
Lifting my chin and staring him in the eyes, I answered with, “Yes. Is that surprising to you?”
“Indeed, ma’am, it is. This house wasn’t on the market.”
“Hm.”
He stood there. “The previous owner, Thomas Walker, hadn’t sold the home before his death.”
“No, but he left it to me. His granddaughter.”
Another surprised expression. I was used to the look. Thomas Walker, my very anglo-saxon, blue-eyed, blond-haired grandfather, and my honey-gold complexion didn’t match what this man would consider family. But I’d be damned if I was about to explain to my family’s history.
“I’m going to need to see some identification.” His voice was stern as if he assumed I was lying.
I was ready to let out a stream of curses. This deputy dared to intrude on me as I was making peace with being in my deceased grandfather’s home. Yet, I held back. Instead, I stomped over to the coffee table and dug in my bag. Pulling out both my wallet with my ID and the papers I’d received from my grandfather’s lawyer, I handed them to the deputy.
As he studied them, I peered down at his chest, reading the name on his badge.McDowell.
“Well,” he stated as he slowly held out his hand, giving me back my papers and ID.
“I sure hope that cleared everything up for you, Deputy McDowell.”
His gaze narrowed, and an eerie feeling passed through me.
“A few of the neighbors grew concerned when they spotted a vehicle pulling in the driveway just before the sun went down.”
I gave him the most polite smile I could muster. “I appreciate you keeping the citizens of Harlington safe. Now, if that’s all, it’s been a long day of traveling, and I still need to unpack.”
