“I had an omelet for breakfast.” I pressed my lips together in a smile as I sat at the counter.
“I’m surprised you managed even that with nothing in your fridge. When was the last time you went grocery shopping?” she said as she looked through the pantry. Her eyes skimmed over the food quickly before she closed the door again. “You only have snack food.”
I sighed quietly. “Did you want something to eat while you’re here? We made tacos the other day and have leftovers—”
“Ugh, no. You know what Mexican food does to my stomach.” She shook her head in disgust then smiled again. “How about I make you a nice sandwich instead? Go relax on the couch and I’ll bring it to you.”
I wasn’t exactly hungry, considering I had already eaten not that long ago, but decided to just go along with it. I took a seat on the couch and sunk into the cushions, blocking out the sound of my mother preparing lunch as she critiqued the kitchen size.
My mind wandered.
Chapter 14
Lily
I stood under the spiraling center of a large and elegant marble staircase, tilting my head back in awe of the elegance this two-story mansion radiated. Directly above the stairwell was a large chandelier on the top floor, sparkling in the sun that shone through the large windows by the staircase and reflecting little freckles of light onto the ceiling above. Every inch of flooring in this house was marble, the ceilings were carved with different designs in each room, and the interior walls were painted in textured ivory white.
I was supposed to be taking photos and looking for minor imperfections to document but was distracted the second I walked into the large, airy foyer. It was hard to believe this place could have any imperfections.
“Lily, I need those photos by today,” Mom said, sorting through some paperwork on her clipboard.
“Right. Sorry.” I pulled my gaze from the chandelier and walked over to her, my footsteps echoing through the room as I pulled my phone out. “Where should I start?”
“Second floor and work left to right through each room, then work your way downstairs. Make sure you note anything and everything that doesn’t look ideal. The last owner of this house held way too many parties.” She pursed her lips and shook her head in disapproval.
I nodded once and headed for the staircase again, letting my hand glide up the polished banister as I ascended the stairs one step at a time. Considering what happened to me on Tuesday night, I was in much higher spirits. I had the night off work last night, had a decent night's sleep because I got to go to bed early, and woke up this morning feeling refreshed. After missing work the previous morning, Mom wanted to make sure I was one hundred percent better again. Inviting me along to the inspection meant she could keep an eye on me. I surprisingly didn’t mind. It was a nice distraction from how pear-shaped my week had become.
The luxurious Bay Ridge mansion was just about to be put on the market. Previously owned by a young, widowed woman who had inherited her husband’s fortune and recently decided she wanted to live in the Bahamas instead. So, she contacted the agency to organize the sale of the property.
After taking photos upstairs, I wandered down the long hallway to the right of the foyer, leading to the double doors at the end. I opened the doors with a soft click and stepped into an empty room filled with soft, natural light. The walls were eggshell white and lined with built-in bookshelves. It was an office, with pristine views of the perfectly kept gardens in the front. I took photos from every corner, slowly spinning in the middle of the spacious room.
I left via the second door in the left back corner and stepped into the large living space and kitchen at the back of the house, where Mom stood at the kitchen counter, filling out paperwork.
“My whole apartment could fit in this space,” I said as I craned my neck to look around. “And the office? I could spend hours drawing in there. Or reading—”
“Anything is bigger than that apartment, sweetie,” she said as she flicked through the papers before sending me a smile that didn’t meet her eyes.
I returned a small one of my own and looked back around the room with a sigh. “I took as many photos as possible, and everything seems to be working just fine upstairs.”
“Good, good. I’ll just finish these, and then we can head back to the office.” She signed off on another form and turned to the next page.
I tapped my fingers on the counter when the room fell silent. The only sound was the scratching of my mother’s pen on the forms before she said, “Oh, by the way.”
Mom flipped the final page and capped the pen. “As a member of the PTA, I’ll be holding bible study meetings over the summer with some of the other mothers from the school. It would be great if you took time out of your Sundays to come along.”
I frowned slightly. “But mom, you don’t go to church. Why not do a book club instead?”
She gaped at me and placed a hand on her hip. “We’re still Christians, Lily.”
I had a feeling this had more to do with status than religion. While our family could be overbearing conservatives, going to church hadn’t been much of a priority for them. Or me, since I considered myself an atheist. I wouldn’t admit that to my parents though.
“Don’t forget about this weekend either. I still need you at the ticket booth,” she added.
“I know.”
“And don’t be late,” she warned as she scooped up the papers with a small, pleased smile on her face. It was an expression she pulled when she had gotten her way with something, and it made me wonder why she was so adamant I be there on Saturday.
“I am so, so, so sorry!” Jen said desperately, pulling me into a tight hug the second I walked around behind the bar at The Den. “I shouldn’t have left you on your own, especially when it was that busy.”
