Chapter Nine
Clanking echoed down the hallway from Alex’s room.
He’d disappeared after breakfast before she could offer him the keys to her car to run the errand at the hardware store.
He’d returned in short order with a bag of supplies, stopping long enough to hand her the bill and ask where she kept the tools.
As her guests were in the process of checking out at the time, he’d given her a nod when she’d told him and gone straight to work.
She had her fingers crossed she’d done the right thing in trusting his word that he could fix the problem and wouldn’t end up making it worse.
It was a test of his skills…and his honesty.
She couldn’t figure him out. Yesterday there had been moments when it seemed as though he wanted to get closer.
This morning he was Mr. Cool. Maybe she shouldn’t have shared so many details about her life and failed marriage.
Other than Rosa, no one knew as much about that part of her past. The death of her grandmother had overshadowed the bitter ending of her marriage among the local gossips.
There’d been speculation but no one, other than Rosa, had come right out and asked.
Cilla had simply become a part of the fabric of the community.
His backing off was probably for the best. As attractive and fascinating as she found him, it wasn’t sensible to get involved with a man who wouldn’t be in town long. She’d stopped believing in fairy tales and happily ever after. Today she lived in the real world of paying bills and doing laundry.
Didn’t mean she couldn’t have a moment of regret. Making love with her ex had been pleasant, but the kiss she’d shared with Alex had given her a glimpse of what she’d been missing. Sex with Alex would be unforgettable, and would likely ruin her for other men. Probably best not to indulge.
With a sigh and a final glance down the hall, she grabbed the last laundry bag and added it to the one already situated at the top of the stairs.
She’d be washing and drying sheets, duvet covers, and towels for the rest of the morning, in between regular housecleaning.
Since there was no one checking in until the day after tomorrow, Rosa had the day off and Cilla was handling the chores herself.
The upkeep on the place was never-ending, and that was without all the extras that needed to be done—like plumbing updates.
The morning passed without incident. Other than the occasional noise from Alex’s room, she might as well have been alone. Most people disliked housework, but she enjoyed taking care of Ivy House. It was a lot of work but immensely satisfying.
It was quiet when she started up the stairs with a load of towels. She tiptoed along the hallway and stopped outside Alex’s room. There was nothing but silence. The door was open, but there was no sign of him. Disappointment was followed by a dose of hard realism.
He must have gone out while you were busy. He didn’t have to account to her for his whereabouts. It was wrong to snoop, but if he didn’t want her to enter, he would have closed the door. Right? He’d need fresh towels after last night’s shower incident, and she had a basketful of them.
It was a flimsy excuse, but she had a legitimate reason for entering the space.
Not as confident as she’d like, she crept inside, feeling more like an unwanted invader than an innkeeper.
The bed was neatly made with no sign of clothes anywhere.
Not that he had much. He’d landed in town with no luggage.
Like the outer area, the bathroom was tidy. All signs of the water disaster, along with any debris from the repair, had been cleaned up. The new showerhead gleamed. She had to remember to settle her bill at the hardware store.
Given it was her justification for being in his room, Cilla gathered the dirty towels and replaced them with fresh. With no other reason to stay, she carried the laundry basket to the next room and got back to her chores.
When she was done, all the beds were freshly made and the bathrooms were clean. She’d dusted and vacuumed each room between loads of laundry. All that was left on her to-do list was to empty the garbage cans and restock the coffee and tea stations in each room.
Her stomach growled. A quick glance at her watch showed she’d missed lunch.
It was almost two. She’d hoped to be finished with work inside by now so she could tackle the garden.
Oh well, there was nothing to be done about it.
She’d grab a quick bite to eat and get back to her chores.
They wouldn’t take long. It would give her a couple of hours outside before supper.
As she left the guest room, her phone rang. The familiar number made her stomach knot. “Barbara, thanks for getting back to me.” Her lawyer was already versed on the sordid issues of her life. What was one more?
“Hi, Cilla. Jan told me you made an appointment for next week but said you sounded worried. I’ve got back-to-back appointments, but I have a couple of minutes before the next one. What’s up?”
“Richard came by yesterday.” She sank down on the top step of the staircase and set the laundry basket down beside her.
“I hope you informed him the paperwork is in order. There’s no way he’s getting his hands on your inheritance. Your grandmother was a shrewd lady. I admired her attention to detail. She was adamant about her wishes.”
“Richard’s not giving up. He’s—” She stopped, took a breath, and tried again. “He’s threatening to try to have me declared incompetent and himself named guardian of my estate.”
“That’s not as easy as it sounds, Cilla. It’s a scare tactic. You own and operate a viable business, have no criminal record, and no record of mental health issues. The courts would toss out his petition.”
“He knows judges, Barbara.”
“That may be so, but no judge is going to want to risk their career on something like this.”
“Is there anything we can do?”
“Legally, no. He hasn’t done anything yet, and it’s his word against yours.”
Cilla had no idea how much Alex had overheard, but she didn’t want to drag him any further into her family problems.
Barbara wasn’t done. “You might want to let him know if he tries it, we’ll sue him for slander. He might know judges, but the media loves a juicy scandal. Richard is a prominent lawyer. This is the kind of story they’d sink their teeth into.”
The idea of a very nasty and public lawsuit might deter her brother. He wouldn’t want anything to taint his name or affect the position he currently held in the legal and social communities of the state.
A buzzing noise sounded in the background. “I’ve got to go, Cilla. My next client is here. I’d say don’t worry, but I know you will. Just remember the law is on our side. Eleanor Wainwright’s will is ironclad. Any court case would be long and expensive.”
That’s what she was afraid of. “I also received a legal document from my ex that I need you to look at. I’ll bring it when I see you next week.”
“Whatever it is, we’ll handle it.”
When the line went dead, Cilla pocketed her phone. Nothing had changed, but at least someone other than Alex was aware of the threats. Barbara’s confidence boosted her own. Whatever happened, she’d handle it.
She gathered her laundry basket and headed downstairs. After stowing it, she perused the refrigerator. Nothing appealed. Discussing the ongoing situation about Richard with her lawyer had killed her appetite.
Thirsty, she filled a large glass with sweet tea and perched on one of the counter stools to consider her options.
She could grab something from Susie’s Diner, but that would entail having to get cleaned up and changed.
Too much trouble, considering she planned to go straight back to work as soon as she’d eaten.
Leaning her elbows on the counter, she rested her head in her hands.
She couldn’t understand her brother, which was only fair, considering he’d never understood her.
It made her sad but there was no changing reality.
They were the only two people left in their family and they couldn’t be further apart.
And where was Alex?
“Not your business.” She scrubbed her hands over her face.
Her life was a mess. Last thing she needed to do was get involved with a man, especially one with major family issues of his own.
“Sent here to meet someone but doesn’t know who,” she muttered.
It sounded preposterous, but she wasn’t exactly in a place to judge his family.
“Cheese and crackers and fresh fruit,” she announced. It was her go-to meal when she wasn’t in the mood to fix anything. Good thing Rosa wasn’t around or she’d click her tongue and shake her head.
Cilla took out her phone and brought up her contacts, but stopped before she called.
This was Rosa’s day off. No need to interrupt her.
She’d share when her friend came to work tomorrow.
Not only would Rosa bolster her courage, she had to be made aware of what was going on in case Richard showed up again when Cilla wasn’t home.
She’d put nothing past him. Not after the revelations of yesterday.
She was bone-deep tired. Running Ivy House and bringing it back to its former glory was a labor of love.
It was hard, physical work, but she’d never been afraid to roll up her sleeves and get dirty.
Yes, there were stressful days and too many sleepless nights wondering how she was going to make it all work, but it was worth it. This thing with Richard tainted that.
He could have taken her offer for the remaining acres. Why did he want to take what was hers? That’s what hurt the most. His thirst for some kind of twisted revenge, along with his driving need for money and power, mattered more to him than she did.