The Life She Wants. Robyn Carr
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car shopping or something. But it was divided—your share and those of your sisters could only be used for health and welfare. Rosemary would have needed it to sustain the family, and there was tuition to pay, of course...”
Emma was shaking her head. “I borrowed and had a partial scholarship. She might’ve used it for education for Lauren and Anna.”
“Didn’t Rosemary give you money for college?”
“She sent me spending money from time to time. Maybe she was afraid to touch the money, saving it for her old age. She ended up marrying a real jerk. They moved to Palm Springs.”
“Rosemary changed lawyers immediately,” Aaron said. “I have no idea what’s happened in the last eighteen years, but you were due to inherit from your father’s estate—half at the age of thirty and half at thirty-five. It was important to John that you learn to make your own way and earn a living before you came into any money or you’d have blown it on shoes or something.”
She smiled. “That sounds like him,” she said. “He was so cautious.”
“It was an irrevocable trust, Emma. As trustee, Rosemary could only use your portion on your needs, not on Anna’s or Lauren’s. Have you ever had an accounting done?” Aaron asked.
“Of what?”
“Of your father’s estate. The terms of his will.”
“Aaron, I was married to one of the richest men in New York. Why would I worry about my father’s will? He had a small office in a small town and lectured me if I threw a pen out before it was writing in invisible ink! I wouldn’t call him a tightwad, but he didn’t let go of a dime before he’d squeezed all the juice out of it.”
Aaron laughed. “It’s true. And he married a woman who liked nice things...”
“Well, she didn’t waste any money on me. After my first year of college I admitted defeat with Rosemary and hardly ever came home to visit. And you know what happened when I struck out on my own. I fell in love with and married a thief.”
“May I make a suggestion? You should ask for an accounting of your father’s estate. There’s still the house. It’s a substantial house.”
“She said the mortgage alone was killing her,” Emma pointed out.
“Emma, the house was insured against your father’s death. There was no mortgage. I still have a small practice, mostly just for old clients and friends. If I were your attorney, I could look into this.”
She started to laugh. “Oh, Aaron, you are so sweet. I can’t afford an attorney! I’m working at a fast food restaurant! Besides, if there turned out to be something left of his estate after all these years, would I have to fight for it? Because I can’t even consider going to court. Not ever again.”
“Here’s what would happen. I would see her lawyer or accountant, petition for an accounting of the proceeds of the estate on your behalf, and if there turned out to be something left for you, you’d have to sue. It usually doesn’t go that far unless there are millions at stake. If it’s a small amount, the trustee is usually happy to settle to save money. And if there is anything, I won’t charge a fee of any kind until you can afford it. It wouldn’t be a contingency or percentage, just my usual fee. Which,” he said, laughing at himself, “is a steal.”
“Well, I won’t be suing anyone, that’s for sure. I won’t even ask for anything from her—she hates me and at this point the feeling is mutual. I’m starting over. But you are kind and I appreciate your generosity.”
“Let’s find out, Emma. There was once some money involved. And your father’s house. That was a rich house, wasn’t it? Everyone envied it.”
“He built it with my mother,” she said. “He never said but I think they hoped to have a few children.” She shook her head. “Even the idea of money makes me sick. I live in two rooms. I pinch my pennies in a way that would make John Shay so proud. And I can’t bear the idea of owing you money for services that you’re really doing as a favor.”
“If it turns out there’s nothing there or if you choose not to pursue the recovery of it, my fee will be zero.”
Her eyes got a little round. “Why, Aaron, I think you wouldn’t mind catching Rosemary with her hand in the cookie jar!”
“You found me out,” he said. “John was such a gentle man. She seemed to suck the life out of him.”
“I think he married Rosemary to have help with me,” she said. “It must have been so hard for him. And everyone who knew my mother loved her. I don’t think people even like Rosemary. She’s a hard woman.”
He was quiet for a moment. “John was a good friend. He was careful with his will. It would take months to get an answer, Emma. Months before you have to decide how to proceed. For your peace of mind, I’d be happy to look into this for you.”
She shrugged. “Why not? What can it hurt? I won’t get my hopes up. If Rosemary was involved, I’m sure she’s had a real party spending it. She quit working the week my dad died.”
“Then I have something important to do and it makes me so happy to do it for you.” He squeezed her hand. “I’m glad you came home, Emma.”
* * *
Lyle was finishing up for the day, standing at the counter while he looked at the orders for Saturday delivery. In August sales started picking up again after summer. In summer there weren’t any floral holidays and people had their own blooms. Summer in Sonoma County was pure heaven.
The door to the shop opened and he smiled to see Riley Kerrigan come in. Took her long enough, he thought. He hadn’t seen her in at least a couple of months. She looked fantastic, as usual. You’d never guess by looking at her that she owned a domestic and industrial cleaning service. She looked more like a bank executive or high-powered attorney. After all her years of secondhand clothes followed by scrimping to get by and build her business, Riley was making up for lost time in the wardrobe category.
“Hi,” she said. “I thought I might catch you before you left for the day. How’s it going?”
“It’s all good. How’s everything at Happy Housekeeping?” he asked, knowing full well that was not the name of her business.
“Happy, happy, happy. So. Is she back?”
He nodded. “Over a month now,” he said. “Tell me something—did it take willpower to wait this long to ask?”
“I didn’t expect her to call, if that’s what you’re getting at. How is she?” Riley asked.
“Doing very well, in spite of everything.”
Riley’s smile was very small. “Emma has a way of bouncing back.”
“If she can bounce back from this, she’s a superhero. She stayed in that apartment alone, slept on a cot, even though her husband’s blood was all over his study. Because no one offered her a guest room, not even the legal team who were so well paid. And she wasn’t safe in a hotel—too many victims of Richard’s fraud threatened her. I offered to go out there but she wouldn’t have it—she didn’t want me in jeopardy. She made the drive to California by herself—she said she needed the time alone and away. Her husband has been dead a few months. It took her a month here to find a bad job. She says she’s holding up very well. I’m amazed she’s even standing.”
“I’m sorry she’s going through this, but she wouldn’t want my sympathy or my help. If you think of anything I can do without, you know, getting involved, let me know.”
“Sure,” he said. “She says she’s over it, by the way. Your feud.”
“Me, too,” Riley said. “But still...”
“She said that, too.”
Riley smiled at her dear friend. They’d been the