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“So what are your plans?I dropped by to check on you and ask if you needed help today, but since you said youweren’tstaying in town, I have yet to cancel my plans.”
“I’m just going to wander through the house and make a few lists.You go and enjoy your day.”
“You’re sure?”
That she didn’t want her mother hovering over her, lecturing her all day?“Positive.”
“Perhaps I’ll stop by again later.If not, come to the house this evening and fill me in on what you accomplished.”
“Maybe.We’ll see,” Hadley said, unwilling to commit just so she could get what would probably be another lecture.
Her mother approached and gave Hadley a hug.The scent of Chanel filled Hadley’s nose.The scent was beautiful, but Hadley wished she found it as comforting as Mary Elizabeth’s favorite perfume.Or Nan’s.
“Keep your door locked.I don’t like the idea of you here alone and that man knowing it.”
“I’ll be fine, Mom.Thanks for stopping by.”
“Your father will be thrilled that you’re here.Are you staying the weekend?”
“I think I might, yeah.”
“Good.I can’t wait to see Kyle.Oh, I wish the kids could come.”
“Actually, Mom, there’s something I need to—”
“Can it wait?I have to run or I’ll be late.Do whatever you like with Mom’s things.I have what I want to keep already.The rest is all yours.”
Hadley blinked at the rapid-fire statements but supposed, given Nan’s many years, sentimental items had been handed down over time.For the first time, she noticed her mother wearing one of Nan’s necklaces, a gift from her grandfather many years ago.“Uh, okay.Drive safely,” Hadley said as she walked her mother to the door.
Hadley watched as her mother left the house, her head turned in the direction of the home next door.
Hadley stood behind the screen door, waiting to make sure her mother got in her car and actually left the driveway before turning to survey Nan’s home.
However inadvertently, she’d gotten a reprieve from telling her mother the truth.At least for now.
And in the meantime…where to begin?
She grabbed a pad of paper and pen from the kitchen and divided the page with several lines, making columns for keep, donate, and undecided.
Nan had beautiful things but she’d stayed true to form with her dark furnishings.They didn’t suit Hadley at all.She liked light and bright beach chic, and the dark floors, dark rugs, and dark wood furniture did not say beach house to her.
But was there a market for that type of furniture now?The dark stained wood definitely seemed to be a thing of the past.
The furniture wasn’t in bad shape, and some of it held a particular charm with its elegant carvings.In another color, they wouldn’t be bad, actually.
Maybe a few coats of paint would make them salvageable and change her mind about keeping them?
The idea appealed and she tucked it back for later.She’d thought at first she needed to get a handle on Nan’s personal items, but packing up her clothes and shoes didn’t appeal.It was just too soon for that.
Hadley roamed through the house but decided to leave Nan’s bedroom to be dealt with last.
Maybe in time she would be able to do what needed done when it came to passing on her grandmother’s personal items.For now there was plenty to keep Hadley occupied—like the dark walls that needed painting.Nan had liked jewel tones, and in the nineties, she’d had the house painted from top to bottom in deep burgundies and golds and navy blues.Hadley found the rooms dark and unappealing and definitely not the light and bright style she preferred.
Sorry, Nan, but you said to make it my own.
Unlike Cheryl, Nan wasn’t so set in her ways that she’d resent Hadley changing things.In fact, it was easy to imagine Nan sitting in her favorite chair cheering on Hadley’s plans.
Hadley moved through the rooms, her lists growing.Hadley planned to get rid of the clutter and knickknacks, keep about a third of the furniture to try her hand at painting the pieces to lighten them up and use in the house.She’d never done anything of the sort before, but the DIY shows on TV made it look easy enough.A few gallons of paint were a lot cheaper than buying new, and she had to make the money Nan had left her last as long as humanly possible.
