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“We came by to help,” Lori said in a reasonable tone of voice as she stepped past me and into the house.
“We heard you were packing up some things today and thought you could use a hand,” Ireland said as she touched my shoulder with a smile.
I clenched my jaw. “I don’t need any help.”
Emmett placed his arm around my shoulder and maneuvered me into the house. “Don’t fight us. It will be easier if you just let us do our thing.”
“And what is that, exactly?” I asked him with my brows raised.
Heath still had his face buried in his phone.
He threw a thumb over his shoulder. “Heath’s ordering pizza because we’re starving, and we’re going to help you pack up.”
I shook my head. “You don’t have to do that.”
“That’s what neighbors do. Now, where should we start?” Lori asked from Gram’s doorway.
“I was in the bedroom, but you don’t need to—”
Lori walked through the open door to Gram’s room. “Emmett, grab those boxes from the truck.”
“Be right back,” he said with a wink.
When Ireland followed Lori, and Emmett headed outside, I asked Heath, “Is this your doing?”
“Mom asked what you were up to, and I told her. You know her; she wants to help. She was friends with Lila.”
I grimaced. “This will be hard on her, too.”
Heath surprised me by drawing me into his arms. “That’s why we’re here. To make it easier.”
I blinked away the tears as I rubbed my cheek against his chest. I could get used to his hugs. They were comforting. “I don’t need your help.”
He rested his chin on my head. “For once, just let someone in. You don’t have to do everything on your own.”
My stomach rumbled, and his arms fell away. “Let me order the pizza. You’re obviously starving.”
“I could have made something.”
He raised a brow without looking away from the screen on his phone. “With everyone here?”
I shook my head and left him alone in the foyer to order the pizzas. It didn’t seem like I’d be able to dissuade them from their mission to help me pack a few boxes. I’d let them help tonight, and then I’d send them on their way.
If I had to, I’d stay up all night to finish. I didn’t want to drag it out or involve more people than necessary.
Emmett brought packing boxes inside and dropped them on the floor.
Lori pointed at each one. “This one’s for things you want to keep, and this one’s for donations. Emmett, grab some garbage bags for trash.”
“Already have some,” Emmett said, pulling them out of a box.
Lori nodded. “Perfect. We’ll be done in no time.”
Lori held up each item and asked whether I wanted to keep it or donate it. The clothes went into the donation pile, her jewelry and keepsakes in the keep pile.
Some of the decisions were harder than others, but for the most part, it was quicker than if I’d attempted to do it myself. There was no time to fall apart or reminisce about what each item meant. I could always go through the items later.
I hated the idea of erasing Gram from my life, but this wasn’t my place anymore. I had to think of it as someone else’s. There was no way I could run an inn from California, even if I had good memories of helping around here. Plus, there was the fact that Heath lived here and seemingly had no issues being close to me.
