“What language?”
“Money.” Meg laughed. Encouraged, I continued. “I know I don’t have enough in assets to qualify for a bank loan. But if you told her Baggage is a good investment—”
“Phee’s not a bank. She doesn’t care about assets or return on investment. She cares about family.”
“She’s surrounded by family. What does she need me for?”
“Why don’t you ask her?”
“I guess I could. I have to go over there anyway to say good-bye.”
“Exactly. What do you have to lose?” Meg asked.
“Besides my pride?”
“You’ll go,” Meg said, in her quiet, sure way.
It annoyed me that she was right. “Because I need the money.”
My sister smiled. “Because you care about family, too.”
The big double bays to the carriage house stood open, exposing a jumble of furniture and stacks of cartons.
“Up here!” Jo yelled cheerfully when I called.
“Watch that table!” Phee ordered, her voice carrying down the narrow wooden staircase.
“Ow.”
“Where do you want this, Miss March?” asked a young man’s voice. Eric’s son Alec.
“Please. Like it or not, we’re family now. Call me Aunt Phee.”
“Yes, ma’am. Where do you want this?”
“Put it by that wing chair.”
I edged my way around a marble-top sideboard and up the steps. How would Phee manage these stairs in a few more years? “Hi, guys. Hey, Alec. Oh, wow. Are you moving in or opening a flea market up here?”
“I see no reason to give up all my things,” Phee said stiffly. “I’m downsizing, not dead.”
“Nobody wants you to give up your things, Aunt Phee,” Jo said. “Robbie, don’t touch.”
I moved to rescue a lamp from his baby hands and tripped over a table. “Ouch. This room is awfully crowded.”
“You should see the kitchen,” Jo said. “Or rather, you can’t see the kitchen, because it’s buried in boxes.”
Phee glared. “Aren’t you supposed to be on your honeymoon or something?”
“Don’t worry, Aunt Phee.” Jo grinned. “Eric and I aren’t missing out.”
“Stop it. I do not want to hear another wedding sex story,” I said.
“Hello? Gross,” Alec said.
Oops. “Sorry, nephew.”
He smiled, a flash of his father in his face. “’S okay. I don’t want to hear about Dad and Jo having sex, either.”
