“Not a chance. But you can see why I insisted on decorating the store.” Shelby pulled a band from her wrist and swept her hair into a quick bun. Autumn had not yet alerted the attic of its arrival. She’d promised Liddy she’d help clear out the musty space after church.
Dad was at home tending Ollie, and Caleb was outside putting meticulous stripes in the yard with the mower. Because when you were an artist, the lawn was your palette.
Shelby opened another box, unearthing old Christmas decorations she’d never set eyes on.Goodwill.The next box contained what appeared to be costumes and wigs. Back in the day her grandparents had gone all out for Halloween, turning their home into a favorite stop for trick-or-treaters.
Gram is gone.
The thought was like a frigid wave. This house would soon be on themarket and another family would move in. It didn’t seem right. She fondled the rings around her neck, seeking comfort.
“Time moves on, sweetheart. Changes come. It’s a natural part of life.”
You hated change.
“Guess my stubbornness isn’t the only thing you inherited from me.”
Time to think about something else. She shifted her thoughts to Caleb and her dad. Better to think about someone else’s problems right now. “How’s it going at the house, between Caleb and Dad?”
“Not terrible. Not great either. Your dad keeps dropping not-so-subtle hints about us moving to Grandville. It’s pushing Caleb away.”
Shelby sighed. “He should know the harder he pushes, the faster Caleb will run.”
Liddy scrapped a pile of mangled hangers. “You know, when Gram left him this house, I was kind of hoping...”
Shelby’s gaze darted to Liddy. Hoping they’d move here? The thought buoyed her spirits.
“Well, shoot, you think I wouldn’t love living near my best friend and favorite sister-in-law? My son’s only grandparent?”
“But I thought you loved living in New York.”
“I do, I do. It’s done great things for Caleb’s career and we have close friends there. But our family’s here. And his career is to the point where he could make it work if he wanted to.”
Shelby digested this. “Have you told Caleb how you feel?”
“Not in so many words. He’s so averse to the idea—and the more your dad pushes, the more he digs his heels in. I think he’s afraid your dad will only exert more control over him if he moves back.”
“He’s an adult. Dad doesn’t have any control over what he does.”
“Tell him that.”
“I’ll talk to Dad. He needs to stop pressuring him.”
“That would help. Thanks.”
The thought of having Liddy, Caleb, and Ollie in town warmed her through. “It would be a dream to have you guys close by. Or you could just leave Ollie and I’ll raise him as my own.”
“Twenty-one hours of labor says he’s mine.”
“Sure, throw that in my face again.” Though Shelby’s own mom had endured twenty-three with her and had no trouble leaving her behind.
Liddy moved over to an old bureau by the window and gazed out to the lake, which shimmered under the clear blue sky. “This would be a great place to raise a family.”
If only Caleb would get on board with the idea. Shelby dumped a box of old clothes into the Goodwill pile as Liddy sorted through the drawers of the bureau. “More old westerns.”
Gram and her westerns. “Set them aside. I might read them later.”
“Heard from Gray yet?”
Shelby had already caught Liddy and Caleb up to speed about his potentially staying to help resurrect the business. “Nope. But I’ll be surprised if his boss lets him take so much time off.”
