The air smelled like jasmine and a hint of chlorine from the pool in the back. Somewhere in the neighborhood a leaf blower whined. I glanced up at the blue sky. It was a perfect seventy degrees in late October.
“Come on,” Mara said, heading for the door. “The kids are dying to see you. Jordan’s been talking about Uncle Grady nonstop.”
I followed her inside. White marble entryway. Soaring ceilings. Light everywhere. A formal living room to the left that nobody ever used and the dining room to the right with the table that seated twelve. The house opened up into the great room—kitchen, living space, and a wall of glass overlooking the infinity pool.
I set my bag down by the white marble island the size of Esme’s entire kitchen and dining area.
“You want something to drink?” Mara opened the built-in fridge. “Water? Kombucha? I stocked that cold brew you like.”
“Water’s fine.”
She poured me a glass and handed it over. Then she leaned against the counter and studied me. “Do you hate being here?”
“What? No.”
“You’ve got that trapped animal look.”
“What’s a ‘trapped animal look?’”
“The one where you’re trying very hard to be polite but you’d rather be somewhere else.” She tilted her head. “Are you worried about the meeting tomorrow?”
I took a sip of perfectly filtered, perfectly cold water. “I’m nervous, but curious. What do you think he left us?”
“I don’t know really. Enough for a down payment on a real house maybe?”
“My house is real,” I said.
“I’d call it more of a one-room dwelling.”
“I like it there.”
“I know. It’s just that I worry you’re throwing your life away.”
“I’m not,” I said, bristling.
“Okay, okay.” She put up her hands. “So what do you want to do? Are you going to take whatever he left you?”
“I’d have said no. Until lately.”
“What’s changed?” She tilted her head to one side, studying me with almost violet eyes. Our mother’s eyes. “Have you met someone?”
I looked at her for a long moment, debating about how much to tell her. I’d mentioned Esme casually a few times, but had not confessed to the extent of my feelings for the woman who was supposed to be “just a friend.” I set down the glass.
“Yeah, I’ve met someone.”
“Grady. Really?”
“But it’s complicated.”
“Tell me everything.” She came around the island and leaned on the counter next to me, giving me her full attention. “Who is she? How did you meet?”
“Do you remember me mentioning my friend Esme?”
“The flower shop owner, right? Single mom. Two kids.”
“Yeah, that’s her. We’ve been friends pretty much since I moved up to Willet Cove. At first, she was just someone fun to hang out with. She’s one of those people everyone wants at their party. You know the type. Outgoing and witty. Super effervescent. Can talk to anyone.”
“Sounds like you. The old you anyway before Dad wrecked everything.”
