Chapter 1
ANGEL
“This place is a dump.”
A laugh I shouldn’t have let escape did. “Mehki!” I sent my son a mock glare. “That’s not nice.”
My six-year-old glanced around the foyer of the large house. He pushed his glasses up on his face. “You told me never to lie.”
I rubbed his hair. “That doesn’t mean you have to say everything that comes to mind either. What if Aunt Lou was here?”
He frowned as if confused by my question. “But she died. Why would she be here?”
A pang of sadness washed over me. My great-aunt Louise had put everything she had into this home, until she couldn’t anymore. I scanned the immediate area, trying to figure out a plan of action.
Mehki’s soft hand slipped into mine. “Are you sad, Mommie?”
The tears that had been just near the surface all day spilled down my cheeks. I nodded. “Yes, babe.”
The news that my aunt had passed away had hit me like a brick. Because I’d always planned to visit, I’d always wanted to spend more time, I’d always wanted to learn how to make her famous cheesecake or her delicious pepper steak. I just never made the time. Between work, Mehki, and life I always had something else to do.
Guilt washed over me as I recalled the last time I’d spoken with Aunt Lou on the phone. She’d asked me to come to Rosewood Heights to go over her end of life business and I told her I’d be here soon. That was three months ago. Now, she was dead.
I felt my baby’s little arms wrap around me and I hugged him back. “I’ll be okay, though.” I kissed the top of his head. “We got this.”
“We got this,” he mimicked, squeezing my waist. “Mommie?”
Pulling back, I brushed my thumbs over his cheeks. “Yes?”
“I think Aunt Lou knew you loved her.”
I smiled. “Why do you say that?”
“Because you told her every time you talked to her on the phone. I heard it.”
My heartbeat pounded in my ears. “Thanks, babe. You made Mommie feel better.”
Sort of. The last time I’d spoken with Aunt Lou we’d had a really good conversation, about regrets and life choices. She’d urged me to get some happiness—and a man—while I was still young enough to enjoy it. I’d argued that I was too busy to wade into a dating pool full of men I didn’t know—orwantto know. My chance at love died before Mehki was born.
Another pang of sadness welled up in me. One thing Aunt Lou was right about was the effect of regret on a life. It had the power to propel things forward or stop everything in its track. It was a savage emotion, able to trip me up in two-point-two seconds.
“I’m hungry.” Mehki pulled out his tablet. “What’s that smell?”
“Moth balls,” I muttered, scowling at the stale smell flowing through the house. “We should open up the windows.” I walked into the living room and cracked open a window. The mild breeze floated into the room and I inhaled deeply. “This is better.”
I busied myself opening more windows in the dining room, the sunroom, and the kitchen. Once I made it back into the living room, I placed my hands on my hips and sighed. The five-bedroom house hadn’t been lived in for a while. It wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been, but it wasn’t that great either. There was obvious damage on the roof, a clicking sound coming from the vents, and I had a feeling there were other hidden problems that would cost a fortune to fix. Such a shame, though. The huge home was once a focal point in the community. Aunt Lou loved to tell me all about the annual garden parties she used to throw and the Rosewood Heights Women’s Association Tea she hosted every month.
As if he’d read my thoughts, Mehki said, “We can’t sleep here, Mommie. It’s dirty.”
Once again, I couldn’t help the laugh that burst through. “That’s why we’re here. To clean up.” Yet, as I glanced around once more, I prayed that no one wanted to visit the house. Mehki was right, it really wasn’t suitable for guests.
Aunt Lou had only passed away yesterday, but there was so much to do before my parents arrived tomorrow. She didn’t want a funeral, but she’d requested that we commemorate her life with a short ceremony at the beach before we released her ashes in the ocean.
As the executor of her estate, I was in charge of getting everything ready. I hadn’t had a chance to read through everything she’d left for me to decipher. And even if I had, law wasn’t my strong suit. I preferred spreadsheets, cost analysis, budgets, and forecasts. But I would handle business as best as I could.
First things first… I dialed Aunt Lou’s attorney and informed him that I’d made it to town. He’d agreed to meet us at the house within an hour, which meant we had to make the best of it until we could head back to the inn, where I’d booked a room.
“Let’s order pizza,” I suggested.
