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She’d even updated one of the bathrooms thanks to Kain’s generous tip. There had been no more talk of selling the Heron.
“Kendall?” Her mother rushed forward. “What’s wrong?”
“I…I can’t talk about it. I have to go outside and take the appraiser around the property.”
“Appraiser? What for?”
“Evidently Shane’s still interested in selling.”
Lily shook her head firmly. “No. He’s worked too hard on everything to just sell it.We’veworked too hard to sell it now.”
The numbness coated her chest and flowed out until all she could think about was how cold she was. “I was wrong.” How could she have been so clueless? She’d thought they were working toward building a life at the Heron.
She’d told him she loved him.
But he hadn’t said it back, had he? He’d taken her in that rough, possessive way that had been a part of Shane since they met. But he’d never said the words.
Kendall took her Carhartt jacket off the peg and pulled on her snow boots, gloves, and hat without thinking about matching. Just getting warm. She forced on a smile and met Mr. Clark at the end of the driveway.
“Are you appraising the house as well?”
“No, just the land for now. Mr. Justice wanted to see what the land was worth.”
“The property is worth more than this entire operation, so you’re damn right I want to sell. I will be selling.”
The memory of Shane’s words slapped at her.
“Right. Well, let’s go see the property line.”
“I have the town plans, but I need to make sure there are no issues. I’ll take some soil and water samples for a few tests and walk the property line.”
She nodded.
“You don’t need to come along if you have things to do.”
“No, that’s fine. I’d like to go with you.” She needed to walk the paths and see for herself just what the Heron was worth. Since obviously that was the only thing Shane really cared about.
She’d know every detail.
* * *
Later that night, with her hands around her third cup of tea, she stared out at the icicles forming off the eaves. The ice storm had come in with a vengeance, encrusting the steps, the drive, the dock—everything—in a hard shell of ice.
There was nothing to do but sit and wait for it to stop.
Mr. Clark had told her he would get back to them in a few days with the information.
A few days to know what her heart was worth.
“Honey, come sit down.”
“I think I’m just going to go up and try to get some sleep.”
“You don’t know what Shane’s thinking. Wait until tomorrow to think the worst of things.”
Wait until tomorrow? Her brain hadn’t stopped whirling since the appraiser had shown up. “We have options. Maybe if we sell this place, we can move out to Utah. It really was the most beautiful place I’d ever seen besides Winchester Falls.”
“Kendall…”
