Barbara opened the file and smiled. “Patrick James Kelly is listed as John’s brother.”
Katie sighed. “This is getting even more complicated. If Johanna Kelly is buried with her children in the Gregory family cemetery, and Patrick was her brother-in-law, where’s her husband?”
“We’re looking for information about Patrick Kelly,” Barbara said as she printed a copy of the marriage certificate. “As tempting as it is, we need to focus on that and not get sidetracked into looking at other relatives.”
“But he could give us an insight into Patrick’s life.”
“He could also send us on a wild goose chase.” Barbara added the copy of the certificate to the documents they’d brought with them. “We can research John Kelly another time.”
Peter rubbed Katie’s arm. “Does that make you feel better?”
“Not really, but Barbara’s right. Hopefully, the book Steve Gregory is sending us will tell us why Patrick was in Whitefish.”
Barbara pushed her chair away from the desk. “And after we’ve had something to eat and drink, we’ll focus on finding our great-grandfather’s death certificate.”
Katie wasn’t sure if they’d ever find an official record of his death. And maybe it didn’t matter.
* * *
The next day,Katie handed Penny a large pry bar. “I couldn’t believe how much information we found in the library. Even though they didn’t have the original documents, they had databases filled with records about who lived in Whitefish in the 1900s as well as copies of the newspapers from around the area.”
“It sounds like it was worthwhile going there. You might want to stand back.”
Taking a few steps away from her sister, she watched in awe as Penny hooked the end of the pry bar around some kitchen cabinets and ripped them from the wall. Katie jumped at the deafening thud of wood against wood.
The remodeling of the cottages Penny was working on wasn’t supposed to start until next week. But, straight after Christmas, her impatient sister had decided to get a head start on the construction team.
Looking at what she’d achieved in such a short time, Katie couldn’t help but feel proud of what Penny was doing. “I couldn’t imagine this cottage being turned into a small business before you started, but now I can.”
“Have a look at the plans. They’re sitting on the table in the old living room.”
Carefully, Katie made her way through the half-demolished wall separating the existing kitchen from the living areas. As she studied the architect’s plans, she was even more impressed.
“This is the first time I’ve seen the drawings of what the outside of the building will look like. It will be gorgeous.”
“I hope so. Can you give me a hand to get rid of these cabinets?”
Katie pulled on her leather gloves and walked back into the kitchen.
Penny was already holding one end of an old cabinet. With a lot of muscle and even more good luck, they carried it outside and threw it into the dumpster.
“One down, ten to go,” Penny said with a grin.
“I can’t believe you enjoy this so much.”
“It’s better than finding creative ways to sell another new multi-level building. Talking about changing careers, what are you doing here? I thought you’d be writing your next novel or spending time with Peter.”
“I’m procrastinating.”
Penny pointed to another cabinet. “Do you have writers’ block?”
“No. I have boyfriend block.” She placed her hands on either side of the cabinet and helped her sister lift it out of the kitchen. “Peter flew to New York City this morning. He wants to get a few things sorted before he moves here and check on something that’s happened at work.”
“And why do you have boyfriend block?”
Katie sighed. “I can’t work out what to do next. After Peter comes back, there’s only another eight weeks before I leave for Los Angeles.”
Penny lifted her end of the cabinet higher as they slowly made their way down the porch steps. “If that’s a problem, why are you going back to Los Angeles?”
