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“Even if I agreed to teach you, you live in Houston.”
“But you and Jerry made that work.”
“Because Jerry knew what he was doing. He acquired properties in the Houston area, supervised those renovations. I locate the investors, make sure the money’s in place. And I buy homes in this area for flipping, as well. I can’t teach you how to find and then buy the right properties, not from here.”
She opened her mouth, but no sound emerged. Her grip on the purse tightened. Not from here. Unless she did something more drastic than she had planned. Fortunately, she’d had an idea.
Chapter Two
Two days later Laura arrived back in Houston, flushed with anticipation and fear. She had rented the incredible house on Elm Street in Rosewood. To her amazement, it had been surprisingly affordable, far below what she would have had to pay in Houston for something a fraction as nice. Now she had to lease out her own home and tell the children…and her in-laws. At the thought, she nearly turned the car around in the opposite direction. But it had to be done.
“Okay, guys, we need to talk,” she said to the kids as soon as she let herself in. “No, stay—please,” she added to Donna. “I need your support.”
Donna settled back down on the sofa, turning off the TV. Laura had already phoned her on the return trip, cluing her in on her unexpected plans.
Kirsten sighed as she collapsed into the cavernous chair that had been her father’s favorite. Again it struck Laura how much her daughter resembled him.
Gregg snuggled next to Laura, still young enough to be excited by his mother’s return. She smoothed the dark hair on his forehead. He had always taken after her in more than just appearance. They shared the same temperament.
“Since your father died, a lot of things have changed. And we have to make a new life for ourselves. For that to happen, I need to learn about your dad’s work. And the only way I can learn is for us to move to where his partner lives.”
“Move?” Kirsten jumped up, all her casual disdain gone. “We can’t move. All my friends are here.”
“You’ll make new friends—”
“I don’t want new friends.” Kirsten’s voice was shrill. “Nana and Grandpa won’t let you do this.”
Laura knew her declaration of independence wouldn’t be met with enthusiasm. She also knew that she would have to stick firm, not show her fear. “It’s not their decision. You’ll be able to visit them, but we have to stick together as a family, make this work for all of us.”
“Moving to some hick town won’t work!” Tears streamed down Kirsten’s face.
Laura got up to comfort her daughter, but Kirsten backed away. “You can’t make me go!” She galloped up the stairs, slamming her door behind her. The sound echoed through the quiet house.
Donna’s expression was sympathetic, but Laura’s heart sank. She looked down at her son. “What about you, pal?”
Gregg hunched his skinny shoulders. “S’okay, I guess. Do I still get to play peewee ball?”
She hugged him. Hard. “I’m sure you will. Rosewood has the very best stuff for kids. It’s one of the things that decided me. It’s really safe—kids ride their bikes to school and their moms don’t worry. And they have all kinds of great things for you to do.”
He screwed his face into lines of thought. “Where are we going to live?”
Laura described the house, the nearby park. “And your room has a killer view of the whole street.”
“Cool.”
She hugged him again, wishing the transition could be as easy for her daughter. But Kirsten would have to adjust. They all would.
Gregg wriggled free. “I’m gonna go start packing.”
“Okay, sweetie. We’ll get some boxes later today. Maybe just go through your toys for a start. See if there are some you’d like to put in the donation box.”
After he had trooped upstairs, Donna whistled. “This is fast, Laura.”
“I know. And I didn’t plan on it. To be honest, when the idea hit me, I was scared to death. Then I found out that I could afford this great house—oh, Donna, you’ll love it. And the town is safe, the kind of place you want to raise kids in. And I liked the people, well, Annie and Ethan Warren, the ones who run the bed-and-breakfast. He’s a schoolteacher, and she runs the inn.” Laura paused for breath. “You know how bad it’s been—how terrible things were with Jerry. Now I’ve got another chance…” She stood, pacing toward the large window that looked out on the fashionable street. “Does that sound as awful out loud as when I think it?”
“Not for anyone who really knew Jerry. I don’t know how you stuck it out this long with him. If he hadn’t gotten sick…Well, I know you wouldn’t have wished that for him, but I don’t think you’d have escaped any other way.” Donna hesitated. “I’m guessing Kirsten’s reaction will seem mild compared to her grandparents’.”
Laura sat down, then glanced toward the staircase. “I imagine she’s already on the phone, telling her grandmother.” She leaned her head back on the top of the sofa, picturing how furious they would be. Hit hard by the loss of their son, they drifted between grief and anger.
“They can’t keep you here,” Donna said wistfully.
“I’m going to miss you. But it’s not that far. You can visit—bring your laptop. You’ll like Rosewood, I know it. And the house has an extra bedroom with your name on it.”
“I am mobile,” Donna admitted.
Laura smiled. “I don’t know what I would have done without you all these years. With Jerry…”
“You don’t have to say it. I know. Maybe you’re right. Rosewood’s atmosphere might be great for my work.”
“Not to mention there could be new single men for you to meet.”
Donna laughed. “If I can’t find the right one in a city of more than four million, what chance do I have in a teeny town?”
“Different priorities?”
“Does that mean you’ve spotted someone there?” Donna looked intrigued. “Paul Russell?”
Laura shook her head. “Hardly. Not only am I a brand-new widow…but Paul? He can barely stand to speak to me. I’m not sure why, either. He seemed to have made his mind up about me before he ever met me.”
“Something Jerry said?”
Laura thought of Paul’s disapproving expression. “Maybe. But I don’t think Jerry would have said anything negative. You know how he was about appearances.”
“Maybe Paul’s just an odd duck, then.”
“Maybe.” But Laura hadn’t thought so. Well, until he had been so set against her joining the firm. “Donna, will you stay for dinner? My in-laws will probably make an appearance and I need the moral support.”
“Sure. I’m a glutton for punishment.” Donna rose, picking up glasses as she walked toward the kitchen.
“Thanks. You’re a lifesaver.”
“I put some chicken out to thaw. How ’bout if I work on dinner while you take a few minutes for yourself—maybe grab a shower.”
“You sure you don’t mind?”
“It’s fun for me to cook for more than one.”
Grateful, Laura hugged her friend. “I won’t be long.”
“Take as long as you want.”
Upstairs, Laura shed her traveling clothes and luxuriated in a long, hot shower. She washed her hair, willing the pounding water to erase her worries. Pulling on a thick, ankle-length terry robe, she combed her hair. Donna was right. A hot shower had been just what she needed.
Humming, she skipped down the stairs, pausing at the landing that curved down to the final four steps. Her in-laws stood in the foyer. Donna, clearly uncomfortable, glanced up at her.
Wishing she’d taken the time to get dressed, Laura knotted the sash to her robe. She felt vulnerable, at a disadvantage. “Hello, Edward, Meredith.”
Her father-in-law managed a small smile, but Meredith began crying.
Laura felt the pit of her stomach drop. “Let’s go into the living room.”
Trailing them, Laura knew she had to get this over with, but it didn’t lessen her trepidation. She’d always wanted a closer relationship with her in-laws, but Edward traveled so much for work and Meredith had never encouraged a deeper connection. Despite the fact that they had never been close, she had always hoped Meredith would become a true mother figure, especially since she really didn’t have one of her own. But the woman was entrenched in a social life that hadn’t included her daughter-in-law. Laura knew they both thought Jerry had married beneath himself.
Meredith had barely taken a seat when she began her tirade, waving her lace handkerchief like a flag. “Laura, what are you thinking?”
Laura started to answer. “I—”
“You’re not thinking of the children, just yourself. Jerry did everything he could to keep this family together.” She sniffed into the rumpled square of cotton. “Now, the moment he’s gone, you want to rip it to pieces.”
Laura hated conflict, but she didn’t have any choice. Again, she wished she and Meredith had the sort of relationship that encouraged confidences. She would like to pour out the whole story—tell her about the real Jerry, who emerged behind closed doors. But what purpose could it serve now? To hurt his parents, turn them against her? Their only child, they had idolized him. “You don’t understand, Meredith. I’m doing what I think is best for my family.”
“By taking them from their home, everything they know? From us? Hardly, Laura. You’re being selfish.”
The words hurt. “I’m sorry you feel that way, but I have to do what I believe is right. And Rosewood’s not that far. You can visit—”
Edward leaned forward. “Laura, why don’t you consider taking up something to get your mind off Jerry’s passing? You could go to school or…”
With what? Her allowance was too small for that. “I appreciate the suggestion, Edward. But we need a new start. And we can’t get it here.” Laura caught sight of Kirsten hovering in the doorway.
“You seem to have forgotten that the children are part of our family, too.” Meredith’s thin lips tightened.
Laura hated this tension. It seemed her entire life had been nothing but fighting. She wanted so much for it to stop. “And the kids can visit you.”
“I want to stay here with them!” Kirsten nearly shrieked the words.
Meredith held her arms out to her granddaughter and Kirsten rushed into them. “See what you’re doing to her!”
“She’ll adjust. It won’t be easy. I know that.” She reached for her courage. “But my mind’s made up.”
“Then expect a fight, my dear.” Meredith rubbed Kirsten’s back. “This isn’t over.”
The hard knot in Laura’s stomach grew even harder. Why couldn’t her in-laws see that she was fighting to save her family? That she wished she didn’t have to uproot them? But they hadn’t seen anything wrong in the way their son had dictated his will, easily accepting Paul as the executor.
In the end, there wasn’t anything Meredith could do about the children.
Laura contacted a Realtor who was thrilled to get a listing in the exclusive area and immediately leased out her home to an executive and his family. She committed the house for a year. By then she would know if she could succeed or if she would have to come back.
Without the funds for professional movers, Laura had to downscale. Calling it an estate rather than a garage sale, she culled through the pieces. Even with the rent from the house, it would be tight at first. Kirsten was horrified and locked herself in her room, but Gregg helped her tag the furniture.
Laura hadn’t planned on selling any of the children’s things anyway, not that she could get her daughter to listen. She thought of the baby grand piano and the other pieces Jerry had given to his parents. She certainly could have used the money.
Laura pitched some of Jerry’s shirts in a box for the Salvation Army. They’d collected a lot of things over the duration of their marriage, but Laura wasn’t attached to them. If it hadn’t been for the kids, she would have liked to forget all of that time. So most of the art and collectibles were going on the block, as well. They had been Jerry’s taste anyway, too contemporary for the turn-of-the-century house they were moving to.
Once the plans were in motion, Laura lost no time having the sale, then packing up the house. She hired the cheapest movers she could find.
Farewells with Meredith and Edward were filled with tears and hugs for the children. They were stiff with her, showing their displeasure. Kirsten huffed as she got in the car, her entire face a pout. Despite her own uncertainty, Laura didn’t cave. Instead she headed west out of the city. This time her anticipation edged ahead of her fear.
“This old house?” Kirsten asked in disgust when they pulled into the driveway.
Laura hung on to her patience. It had been a long drive, which her daughter had made feel even longer by sulking the entire way. It was also late in the day and they were all tired.
“Cool roof,” Gregg offered, bouncing out of the car. “Big, old yard! Are there swings?”
Grateful for her youngest’s attitude, Laura followed. She had barely turned the key in the lock when she spotted the moving truck arriving.
Soon the driver and his helper were unloading the furniture.
“Excuse me, some of these cartons should be upstairs,” Laura said, when they’d finished taking the beds and chests up.
“Not in the contract,” one of the men replied as he deposited her kitchen table in the middle of the living room.
Laura sighed. She had chosen the cheapest movers she could find. She and the kids could carry the boxes upstairs. Since she had packed them herself she hadn’t collected big ones anyway. “All right. Could you assemble the beds next? That way I can get them ready before…”
The man was shaking his head. “Not in the contract.”
Laura gaped at him. She couldn’t help it.
The man shrugged and headed back to the truck.
Maybe she should have paid just a little more.
“Mom!” Gregg ran inside. “There’s a lady here.”
Laura poked her head around the kitchen door. Annie had been trying to follow Gregg, but he was already hopping back through the maze of boxes to watch the movers.
“I’m here.”
“Hi! I just saw the truck. Welcome!”
“Thanks.”
Annie looked around at the haphazard cartons. “Wow.”
Laura hated to admit again how blunder-headed she was. “I picked a discount moving company,” she finally said.
“Ah. Well, I love a bargain. It’s like finding treasure.”
Laura straightened a box that was tilted precariously to one side. “I’m afraid it’s going to take a complete treasure hunt to find anything here.”
