Page 19 of Easton Island

“I am. Everyone has been kind.” The woman adjusted her shawl and slowly stood. “I’m feeling a little tired. I might go lie down before dinner.”

“Do you need me to show you where your room is?”

“No. I remember.” She gave them a half-hearted smile and shuffled out of the room.

Elizabeth waited until she was gone. “What a mess.”

“What is it?”

“I’m afraid it’s worse…much worse than we thought.”

Chapter 8

“Prissy’s current situation is even worse than falling asleep behind the wheel and leaving her water running?” Morgan asked.

“I’ve solved the mystery about why she didn’t have power at her house.” Elizabeth picked up a stack of papers sitting on the end table. “I got to thinking about it, and with her consent, Ben went to her house to get her mail. She and I went through it.”

Morgan picked up the top sheet and scanned the headline. “This is a water shutoff notice.”

“Prissy hasn’t been paying her bills—not her water, not her electric. Her property taxes are past due.”

“Is she low on funds?”

“I don’t know. When I asked her about it, she insisted everything is paid and current, and has no idea why she doesn’t have power even though it says right here it was shut off for non-payment.”

Morgan rifled through the stack, confirming what her grandmother had told her. “It looks like we intervened in the nick of time.”

“Imagine having your utilities shut off and being confused about why. I’ve also contacted Nigel Beckworth, our family attorney, to discuss a power of attorney.”

Morgan sank down in the chair Prissy had vacated. “Do you think living at Easton Estate will be enough?”

“To keep her safe?” Elizabeth asked. “I hope so. We won’t know until we try. Brett is here. Perhaps it’s time for a family meeting.”

“I was thinking the same thing.” Morgan sent her brother a brief text, asking him to meet them in the library.

On my way.

“He’s on his way.”

Quick steps echoed. Brett strode into the room. “Tristan and I were making sure his volcano had enough juice for a show-stopping eruption tomorrow.”

“He’s excited.” Morgan turned to Elizabeth. “Will you have time to attend the science fair? It’s in the morning, starting at ten.”

“I have my call with Nigel at 9:00. I’m also scheduled to work, so please don’t promise Tristan I’ll be there. I would hate to say yes and disappoint him.”

“We won’t mention it.” Brett pulled up a chair and sat opposite his sister and grandmother. “Uh-oh. What’s with the serious faces?”

“Prissy.”

Taking turns, the women brought him up to speed with what they’d discovered.

Elizabeth handed Brett the papers.

He grew quiet, studying the water bill notice. “She’s not paying her bills and they’re threatening to shut her utilities off.”

“The electricity is already off,” Morgan said.

“Her property tax bill and homeowner's insurance can be paid online and brought back into good standing,” he said.