Page 48 of Key West Homecoming

“I have news for you.”

Emma put down her pen.

“Tell me.”

“I took the notice of pending claim to the courthouse yesterday morning. Judge Ellsworth signed off on the motion to intervene at four. As of nine o’clock this morning, the pending sale of Twenty-Three Hibiscus Lane is formally halted.”

Emma stared at her.

“The sale is stopped?”

“It is. Coastal Title has been notified and so has the buyer’s attorney. They have thirty days to respond, but I’d be surprised if they stay in this fight. They’re a rental LLC. There are easier properties to buy.”

Emma let out a breath.

“That fast?”

“In this case, yes. Samantha Larson did the right thing, the paperwork was clean and you moved quickly when she called. It doesn’t always happen this way, so enjoy this part.”

Emma looked down at the folder containing Gloria’s will.

Three days ago, she hadn’t known the cottage belonged to her. Now the document saying it did was sitting in her lap, and a judge had stopped Arthur from selling it.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, but we’re not finished.”

“I know.”

“Your uncle will receive a courtesy letter from my office by the end of the day. He’ll know you have counsel, the sale has been stopped and we’re challenging the probate. I expect him to contact you.”

“I won’t answer.”

“Good. Calls, texts, emails, anything he sends goes to me.”

Emma nodded.

Rachel pulled her calendar closer.

“What are you doing with the rest of your day?”

Emma thought about Jake sitting on the porch yesterday and asking her to come back after she talked to the lawyer.

“I have a tenant to update.”

Rachel smiled slightly.

“Good. He’s earned it.”

She wrote something on the calendar.

“Be back here at nine tomorrow. Your uncle should have my letter by tonight, and I’d rather we be in the same room when he starts reacting to it.”

Emma slipped Gloria’s will into her bag.

For once, she didn’t mind the thought of Arthur reacting.

Emma sat in her rental car beneath the shade of a mahogany tree for a full minute before starting the engine.