Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 86972 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86972 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
“Oh,” I replied, understanding full well her need to leave.
She looked down at her album again. “But when I retired there was no place I wanted to be but here. This is home.”
I realized something standing in that lavender scented room filled with things from times gone by. My gran could have given this album to Wanda after Nancy’s passing, but she held onto it. I wasn’t sure why she did but I did know why she wanted me to be the one to bring it to her. This was Gran’s way of making sure I met Wanda. She was teaching me things even after she had passed on. I thought of the rest of the list and wondered if more lessons were to come or even possibly a few revelations.
Thirteen
Rio had been sitting on the front porch swing when I pulled into my driveway. I had texted him when I left the nursing home. My visit had taken longer than anticipated. Wanda Sellers had ended up being more than an old lady I was to drop a book off to. I promised to come back and bring proper ice tea because the stuff they serve at the nursing home has no sugar in it, according to Wanda.
I headed to go up the stairs and stopped when I reached the top. “Sorry,” I said although I wasn’t sorry I had gone.
He shrugged. “You’re just thirty minutes late,” he held up a bag from the burger place in town. “Gave me time to eat dinner.”
“Okay, well, want to go inside to do this?” I asked him and went to unlock the door.
He picked up a large 11 x 14 envelope and his burger bag. “Yep. Especially if you have some muffins or cookies.”
“I have cupcakes I made yesterday as a trial. They are gluten, dairy and nut-free, but I think they turned out good. The icing needs some work before I make them for the café,” I said.
“I’ll eat ‘em,” he replied, and I closed the door behind him.
“Make yourself at home. I will get the cupcakes and a couple bottles of water unless you like oat milk and want that instead.”
He scrunched his nose. “I’ll stick with the water.”
“Thought so,” I replied and went to make up a tray with the cupcakes and a few slices of blueberry loaf I had left.
“Can we go search the attic after you read these?” he asked, as I walked back into the room with the food and drinks.
“Sure. I’ve not been up there yet because I hate ladders, but I will toughen up.”
He handed me the envelope then reached for a strawberry cupcake. “These look like a professional made them.”
I shrugged. “Well they don’t taste like it, yet.”
Rio took a bite as I pulled the letters from the envelope. I wasn’t sure what I was going to find out or if Rio was right in his way of thinking. What I did know was he was right about something. Gran’s list wasn’t a simple list of things she wanted done after she passed away. It was more than that.
As I was unfolding the first letter on the stack, yelling from outside caught my attention and my head snapped up to look toward the window.
“What the fuck?” Rio muttered, standing up and walking over to see what was going on.
I put the letter on the coffee table and followed him as another shout rang out.
“Dammit, psycho bitch,” Rio said and started for the door.
“What is it?” I asked, hurrying after him and out onto the porch.
“Fleur,” he said, heading down the stairs, and I realized then the red convertible was in the middle of the street two houses down and she was standing on the hood of it spinning in circles.
On the street in front of her stood Saul. He was the one who had been shouting. “Get DOWN, Fleur!” he yelled and she stopped spinning then threw her head back and laughed.
Rio was running down the street with his cupcake in hand toward Saul when I reached the bottom step. I couldn’t figure out what she was doing or why they were yelling or why the car was parked in the middle of the street. But what concerned me most was where Lily was and if she was alone.
Rio reached Saul and he glanced at him then turned his head to look back in my direction. The sun was starting to set, but there was still plenty of light left to see his scowling face clearly. It was as if our day yesterday hadn’t happened and we still didn’t like each other.
“You don’t love me!” Fleur called out then spun around again. I was starting to wonder why he didn’t just get her off the car and that was when it moved. Both Rio and Saul jumped out of the way and I covered my mouth in horror. No one was driving the car, but Fleur was on the hood of it. Had she left the engine on and the car in neutral or in drive? Why would she do this?