“What?”
Eli stood and walked toward his mother, who was at Jo Ellen’s bedside, holding her hand.
“Brace yourself, Mom. It’s from Dad.”
She lifted a brow. “Excuse me?”
“This is a legal document signed by Dad stating that the property on Gulf Shore Drive is to be co-owned by both families.” He gave a soft laugh as the impact of that hit him. “I assume this is news to you?”
Some blood drained from her face as she took the letter without letting go of Jo Ellen’s hand.
“I’ve never seen this,” she said. “This isn’t the law firm I used…this…this…” She read the page, straightening with eachword. “Oh, my goodness.” She looked down at the woman in the bed. “Jo! Look what he did! Look what Roger did for you! For all of us!”
The room practically exploded with questions, all of them raining down in a cloud of confusion, surprise, and, honestly, delight.
Tessa stayed silent, though, as the possibility meant so much more to her—not just a beautiful vacation home to share for generations. The loving generosity of the Lawsons had already made that possible. But if she owned the house?—
“You guys!” Vivien called out, waving the diary. “There’s more! He wrote more! There’s a handwritten note inside the back cover that I never saw before.”
Silence fell as she opened the notebook completely, lifted the unglued backing and turned it for them to see a man’s strong handwriting in blue ink.
“He speaks from the grave,” Maggie muttered, reaching out her hand. “May I, Vivien?”
“Of course.” She gave her mother the book and they all took one collective breath.
Maggie sat on the edge of the bed, helping Jo Ellen carefully sit up next to her. “Watch those ribs, Jo,” she whispered, as calm as possible.
How could she be calm, Tessa wondered. This would mean all of them—every one of the Lawsons—just lost half their interest in the home.
But something in the way they all reacted told Tessa that didn’t matter. She looked at Kate, who was nestled next to Eli, and Vivien, who still kept her arm around Tessa’s waist.
None of that mattered to them.
Would it matter to Maggie?
The older woman cleared her throat and exhaled.
“It’s addressed to Vivien,” Maggie started.
“You read it, Mom,” Vivien replied.
She nodded. “‘Vivien, when you find this, please give it to your mother immediately.’” She looked up. “And you did,” she said with a smile.
“Keep reading, Mom,” Eli urged.
“‘Maggie, there is an important legal document hidden in this book. I know it’s unusual, but I came down to Destin this week before everything hits the fan. You’ll understand by the time you read this. I wasn’t sure where to put this letter so it would be safe, but you could find it when I tell you where to look. Vivien always has these books in the pink plastic box?—’”
“My Caboodle,” Vivien whispered.
“I found it in the garage rafters,” Eli added.
“‘—so I’m hiding it in here for safekeeping and an easy way to find it. I’ll put it in the garage.’”
She looked up and around the room. “This is it,” she said breathlessly. “I’ve been dreaming that he wanted to give me something or lead me to something and this must be it!”
“Keep reading,” a few of them urged.
She nodded and looked back at the message. “‘Artie’s about to do something that isn’t easy, but it’s the right thing to do.’”
