Page 70 of Royal Desire

Blake answers for her. “She has to stay until her oxygen levels are stable. They said it could be until late tomorrow, but we’ll have to see how she’s improving.”

Payne slides his hands into his pockets. “I just got off the phone with Dean. He’s still at your house. I’m sorry to tell you this, but it’s a complete loss. He said they can get in tomorrow to see if they can salvage any personal belongings, but other than that, it’s gone. I’m so sorry, Ms. Sinclair.”

I turn to Grandma and see the emotion sweep over her features. She’s a strong woman. I’m not sure I’ve seen her cry more than a few times in my entire life.

But I can add today to that list.

Her eyes glass over. I pluck a tissue and hand it to her. She swipes her face, and her voice trembles. “I figured as much. It was bad. I was there to see it burn from the inside.”

Blake moves to sit on the side of her bed. “We’ll go tomorrow and salvage everything we can. Insurance will take care of the rest.”

Grandma tries to talk herself into not being emotional about losing every possession she owns on earth. “It’s just stuff, right? I can’t pull a U-Haul to heaven.”

I turn back to Payne and change the subject. “Did you find a rental in town?”

He tips his head and shrugs. “It’s not in town where Ms. Sinclair can walk to church, but it’s close. And it’s no rental. It won’t be ready tonight, but it will be by tomorrow.”

“Where is it?” I ask.

Payne’s eyes shift my way. “You’re going to live with me.”

My jaw drops.

Blake’s eyes widen.

Even Grandma is left speechless.

Payne hesitates before he goes on. “All of you. I have plenty of room. You can live with me as long as it takes you to rebuild. The plans are in motion, and your rooms will be ready by tomorrow.”

I’m not sure what to say, so I ask about the elephant in the room. “But ... what about your mother?”

Payne exhales. “Like I said, there’s plenty of room. Too much, actually. My mother tends to stick to herself, so that won’t be an issue. The way I see it, there’s no other option. I asked Devon, and there are no rooms available at the manor for as long as you’d need a place to stay. I have the space and the means to make it comfortable for everyone while you’re displaced.”

Of course, it’s Blake who speaks first for everyone. “That’s so cool of you. We appreciate it, right, Grandma?”

Grandma blows her nose. “I can’t walk to church.”

If she hadn’t almost died twice in the last week, I’d give her a good nudge for being rude. “Blake and I will make sure you get to church if you don’t want to drive on the mountain roads. I’m sure one of your friends can give you a ride. It’s not like Payne lives in the next state.”

“I suppose,” Grandma mutters.

Payne claps his hands once and rubs them together like he’s solved the world’s problems, which for us, he has. “Well then, that’s settled. Blake and Ruby, you can stay with me tonight. I have a suite at the manor, and there is plenty of room. Tomorrow, we’ll get you moved in.”

In the spirit of not stressing Grandma out further, I don’t mention that there won’t be anything to move in since we only have the clothes on our backs.

Blake looks relieved. “Thanks, Payne.”

My gaze angles up to the man I’ve tried to shake for over a decade. Now I’m moving in with him and his mother, the woman who has never hidden the fact she hates me.

I’m not sure if she hated me or just hated me for her son. I guess it doesn’t matter. If Grandma is consistent in anything in life, it’s attending church and keeping me up to date with the Winslet rumor mill. From everything she’s told me, Tallie Deacon became a recluse after her husband went to prison. Before that, there weren’t many people in Winslet who wanted anything to do with her.

Not that she wanted anything to do with them other than hire them to clean or cook for her.

But no one’s seen her since Owen Deacon went to prison.

And now we’re moving into her house to live with her and her son.

“Are you sure?” I ask.