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Her jaw clenched and she lowered her head. “I don’t know. I wasn’t expecting any of this,” she said softly. “I love this house, but my life is in Boston right now, and I don’t have time to take care of everything here. It’s not fair to my grandmother’s memory.” She sighed heavily and met my gaze with a determined one of her own. “She’d come down from heaven and kill me if I neglected her house.”
“That is for damn sure,” I agreed, picturing Rachel in my mind.
She was a spitfire, even if she was only five feet tall. If a bird took a shit on her railing, she’d go outside and curse at it. The woman had no filter. It was what made things interesting as a kid.
Reaching out, I placed my hands on her shoulders, wanting more than anything to pull her into me. “If you decide to sell, sell it to me,” I said, the words leaving my lips without a second thought.
Her mouth dropped and she gasped. “Really? You would buy this place?”
I nodded. “In a heartbeat. I know how much Rachel loved it here. I can take care of it.”
She stared at me as if trying to decipher if I was being serious, but there was also happiness mixed with relief in her gaze.
A laugh escaped her lips and she smiled. “I’ll let you know what I decide. I’m still going to think about it.”
I moved my hands off her shoulders. “Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere. Well, except for home. You’ve probably had enough visitors this past week to last a lifetime.”
She snorted out a laugh. “Just a little. I’m not complaining, though. It’s been nice seeing everyone.”
There was an awkward silence between us. I wanted to ask when I could see her again, but before I could speak, she beat me to it.
“Do you still live off Yacht Drive?” she asked.
I nodded. “I do. So, if you ever need me, you know where to find me. My phone number is still the same.”
She smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
I took a step back toward the stairs. “Take care of yourself, Everleigh.”
Turning on my heel, I started for the stairs. I was just about to get into my 1974 blue convertible Bronco when Everleigh’s mother pulled into the driveway beside me. Becky got out of her car and waved, her blonde hair billowing in the wind.
“Hey, Jensen,” she said warmly.
She jogged over and hugged me, her petite frame fitting snugly against mine. When she pulled away, I spotted tears welling in her hazel-green eyes; they were the same as Everleigh’s.
“Glad to see you made it back on shore. I bet Everleigh was beside herself at the sight of you.”
She let me go and I smiled sadly. “Itwasa shock to her, but I could say the same for myself. It’s been a long time. I just hate the circumstances.”
Her voice broke when she spoke. “Me too.”
“I’m sorry about your mother,” I said sincerely. “I’m going to miss her.”
Becky nodded. “So am I. I know she was really fond of you. She always said you reminded her of your grandfather. They used to be good friends.” Rachel used to tell me stories about my grandfather. He had died before I was born, so I never met him. From what I was told, he was an adventurous man. Becky glanced up at the house. “I take it you and Everleigh are on speaking terms now?”
I shrugged. “It appears so. I told her I would buy the house if she wanted to sell.”
Becky’s eyes watered even more. “Oh, Jensen,” she said, placing a hand over her heart. “I’m at a loss for words. My mother would be happy to have her home belong to you.”
I held up my hands. “That’s if Everleigh will sell it to me. It’s up to her.”
Becky squeezed my arm. “I wouldn’t worry about that.”
We said our goodbyes and I got in my car, uncertainty settling in my gut. With Everleigh back in town, I didn’t know what was going to happen. One thing was for sure, she probably wasn’t going to be happy the next time she saw me, or at least that was what I was hoping. The truth about me and Michelle wasn’t going to stay hidden long. If she got mad, I had to believe she still cared about me. But if she brushed it off, then I could only assume it didn’t bother her. Either way, I had to be prepared.
9
EVERLEIGH
