Chapter Three
Not quite sure where to go or what to do with herself, Marsha automatically drove to her art gallery. She left the folder in her car and walked into the shop. It was empty, except for Kristi standing behind the jewelry case, cleaning the glass.
“Marsha. I didn’t expect to see you here today,” Kristi said, coming around the counter to stand beside her friend. “Didn’t you have a meeting with your lawyer today?”
Marsha nodded. “I did. And I wasn’t sure what to do with myself afterward.” She walked toward the back room, and Kristi followed.
“Is everything okay? You look a bit stunned,” Kristi asked.
Marsha set her purse on top of the desk and turned to face her friend. Could she tell Kristi how betrayed she felt over having been left out of Craig’s business decisions? Since she hadn’t had time to process the information herself, Marsha didn’t feel she could share it quite yet.
“I just have a lot to think about,” Marsha finally said, then locked her purse in the bottom drawer. Kristi nodded as if she understood.
“If Jeffrey or I can help you in any way, please don’t hesitate to ask,” Kristi said. “We’re always here for you.”
Marsha smiled. “Thank you. I know you are. I think I need time to process what I need to do.”
The bell on the front door jingled softly, announcing a customer. Kristi headed out to the gallery. Marsha stayed in the office for a moment, thinking about everything Richard had told her. She’d have to tell Kristi at some point that their shop wasn’t profitable, and they’d need to come up with a solution to change that. If they couldn’t make money at the gallery, they’d have to close it. That thought hurt Marsha’s heart. She’d already lost the most important person in her life. She couldn’t bear to lose her beloved gallery as well.
Standing up straight and squaring her shoulders, she walked out onto the gallery floor. First things first, she thought. She’d look over the receipts from the past few months and see how she could make the gallery profitable. Then, when she was ready, she’d drive to Malibu and see the house that Craig had purchased. It would take time and all the energy she had to take care of her finances so she would be able to support herself.
The thought of all she had to do weighed heavily on her.
Marsha spent two days going over receipts and expenses for the gallery, trying to figure out what they could do to make more money. Even though Kristi was a partner in the business, she didn’t tell her why she was doing this. She thought it would be better to have solutions before telling her the problem. Besides, immersing herself in the finances helped take her mind off of losing Craig.
Evenings at home alone with her memories were the hardest part of each day. Marsha would make herself dinner and sit at the dining table alone, watching the ocean view. It was soothing but not enough to keep her from thinking how silent her nights were now. And lonely.
Her thoughts wandered, too. She wondered why Craig hadn’t discussed his businesses with her or the sale of the two insurance offices. They’d always worked as a team, so why hide it from her? And the house in Malibu. To buy a house eight years ago and never mention it was so out of character for Craig. By the time he’d bought it, they’d already been married for eleven years and had purchased their own home. Why would he need another home? Her mind went to several different scenarios—all of which she didn’t like. She hoped it was just an investment opportunity for him and nothing more.
On Friday, she finally forced herself to stop by the Torrance office to check on it. When she walked inside the building, Carla, the receptionist who’d worked there for ten years, greeted her with a hug.
“I’m so sorry about Craig,” Carla said softly. “I know we talked at the funeral, but it still doesn’t feel real. I’m sure you’re still trying to process it.”
“I am,” Marsha said. She smiled at Carla, who she’d personally hired when she stopped working at the insurance office. “But I thought I should check in and see how things were going here.”
Carla wrapped her arm around Marsha’s waist and led her to Justin’s office. He was a sales agent and the office manager who Craig had hired years before.
“Someone here to see you,” Carla said cheerfully to Justin.
He quickly stood from behind his desk. “Marsha. It’s so great to see you.” He walked around his desk and hugged her.
“I just wanted to check in,” Marsha said, looking up at Justin. He was tall with dark hair and eyes. Craig had made him the office manager a few years ago because Craig was always traveling between his offices. Which seemed odd now since Marsha knew Craig had sold the other two offices. Once again, the question came to her. Where had Craig been going on his trips to the other offices?
“Can I get you something?” Carla asked, interrupting Marsha’s thoughts. “Coffee? Water?”
“No, thank you, dear. I’m fine,” Marsha said.
Carla smiled and nodded, then exited the room.
“Please, sit down,” Justin said. “Since Craig’s passing, I’ve been going over the office’s books because I knew you’d want to see them.”
Marsha sat, noticing the stack of papers spread all over Justin’s desk. “Looks like you’ve had a lot to go through,” she said, chuckling.
He smiled. “Yes. But I’ve been trying to get everything in order for quite a while. Before Craig died, he’d talked about selling the office to the employees as he’d done with his other two offices.”
Marsha’s brows shot up. “Oh. I had no idea.”
“I’m sorry. I thought he would have mentioned it to you,” Justin said. “Craig asked me to go over the finances, and together, we’d come up with a price to sell the business. We were hoping to have it completed by the end of the year.”
Marsha was dumbstruck. She had come in to talk about the income the office was bringing in so she’d know what she had to work with. But now she was hit with selling the office.
“Maybe I should have my lawyer speak with you about this,” she said. “He’d know better how much Craig sold the other two offices for and what this one might be worth.”
Justin nodded. “The entire team would really like to make the deal work.”
“I understand,” Marsha said. “I’m just not sure I can sell it right now. I’ll be in need of a regular income as well.”
“Oh.” Justin looked confused. “I thought Craig and you were financially set. Craig talked about retiring.”
“To be honest, Justin, that’s news to me. But as I said, once you have a proposal, I’ll have my lawyer look at it. If I can afford to sell, then I might want to. I’ve just been hit with a lot of changes all of a sudden.”
“Yes. Of course, you have. And I’m sorry to add this to your plate. I had no idea Craig hadn’t shared this with you.”
Marsha nodded and stood. “Thanks for telling me. Let me know when you’re ready to make an offer. I’d also like to look over the finances to see what the office earns in a year. Can you send me the financial statements when you get a chance?”
“I can email them to you later this afternoon,” he said, smiling. “I almost have everything in order.”
“Wonderful. I’ll talk to you soon,” Marsha said. She walked out of his office and nearly bumped into Glenda, the other agent who worked there. “Oh, Glenda. I’m so sorry. My mind was elsewhere.”
“That’s understandable,” Glenda said, smiling at her. Glenda was a tall blonde in her mid-forties. She’d worked for Craig for years. “How are you?”
Marsha sighed. “Okay, considering. I’ve been hit with a lot over the past few days. I’m just trying to figure out what needs to be done.”
Glenda nodded. “Craig will be missed. We all adored him. He was the perfect boss.”
“Thank you, dear. I certainly can attest to that.” Marsha said goodbye and waved to Carla on the way out. Once she was in her car, she just stared straight ahead of her. So much had been going on in Craig’s life and she hadn’t had a clue about any of it. It baffled her that he’d kept so many secrets from her.
Marsha drove to the art gallery and got there in time to let Kristi leave at her usual time. “Sorry you’ve been stuck here all week,” Marsha told her. “There’s just been a lot going on.”
Kristi smiled. “I wasn’t stuck here. But it will be nice to get home early tonight. And Mari and Kevin will be running the gallery this weekend, so we both can have time off. I’m sure you could use a breather from everything at this point.”
Marsha nodded. “There was so much I had no idea Craig was involved in. I always thought he confided everything in me, but I’m learning differently. I have no idea what to think.”
Kristi tilted her head and stared at Marsha. “Really? That surprises me. You and Craig were the closest couple I’ve ever known. Do you want to talk about it?”
Marsha waved her hand in the air. “I don’t want to take up your time tonight. Go along home, we can talk on Monday. Enjoy your kids and your weekend.”
Kristi frowned. “Are you sure there isn’t anything I can do to help?”
“You just being here and willing to work longer hours while I sort things out is help enough,” Marsha said. She hugged her friend. “I promise I’ll tell you everything once I figure it all out.”
That evening, Marsha picked up a pita sandwich and salad on her way home and sat alone, once again, at the dining room table, eating her dinner. It was cloudy out, and she could see rain coming toward the house across the ocean. She felt exactly like the weather looked—cloudy, dismal, and depressed. What had Craig been thinking, selling off his businesses and buying a second house? If she hadn’t known better, she would have thought he was planning on leaving her. But he’d bought the house years ago and sold the businesses a while back. And he’d been excited about their upcoming cruise for their anniversary. So, why keep secrets?
“Oh, Craig,” Marsha said, touching the heart pendant hanging around her neck. “What have you been hiding from me?”
With a sigh, Marsha put her dishes in the dishwasher and went to change into night clothes. It was going to be another long, lonely night.
***
The next day, the sky had cleared, and it was another perfect Southern California day. Marsha dressed in jeans, a white blouse, and flats, all the while forcing herself not to think about what she was doing that day. She put on a light touch of make-up and did her hair. Then, having no other reason to procrastinate, she took the folder the lawyer had given her and headed out to her car.
It was time to see the house in Malibu.
Marsha looked inside the folder and typed the house address into her map app on her phone. She also took the one key taped to the paperwork and slipped it into her pocket.
The drive to Malibu took her an hour and a half. The landscape had changed greatly since the Palisades and Malibu fires, and it broke her heart to see it this way. She could tell there had been a lot of clearing up where houses used to stand and some new construction. Marsha was happy people were rebuilding in the area.
She took a right onto a road directly across from Big Rock Beach and wound her way through a neighborhood that looked to have been built in the 1960s and 70s. She turned left into another neighborhood and soon stopped in front of a house on the right side of the road with the house number on it that she was looking for.
Marsha sat in her car for a moment and studied the home. It was a long, ranch-style design that looked to have been updated recently. There were large windows in the front, possibly the living room, and the steps up to the house and the driveway were done with flagstone pavers. The yard was large, with beautiful, lush landscaping.
And it didn’t look like anyone was moving around inside.
Stepping out of her car, Marsha walked up the paver steps to the front door. She turned a moment and gazed at the lovely view of the ocean down below. The homes on the opposite side of the street were at a lower level, allowing a beautiful view. Maybe not as dramatic as her Palos Verdes home, but still gorgeous.
Marsha pulled the key from her pocket and unlocked the door. As soon as she heard the lock click and give way, she knew she was at the right place. She stepped inside a bright, cozy living room with cream sofas and a Spanish-style fireplace lined with red brick. Walking farther into the house, she saw the dining room and kitchen. Both rooms were clean but looked like they’d recently been used.
“Did you stay here sometimes?” Marsha asked Craig aloud, knowing he couldn’t answer her. She walked to the dining room window and peered outside. The backyard was large, with a beautiful patio, a grassy area, and a tiered garden. From here, you couldn’t see the house that was surely behind it because of the large bushes.
It was a beautiful house, from what Marsha could tell. Definitely a place where Craig would feel at home. Marsha turned and noticed a row of photos on a sideboard in the dining room. She panicked. Was the house being rented out and she was trespassing? Still, the photos drew her in. In one, a woman with long dark hair and an olive complexion smiled up at the camera from a chair in the backyard, hugging a young boy, possibly six years old. In another, the woman and boy were standing in the water at the beach, smiling and splashing around. The boy looked younger in the photo, around three. She looked down the line of photos, and in each, something about the boy’s face seemed familiar. His smile and the shape of his dark brown eyes reminded her of someone. When she reached the last photo, her heart beat faster. Standing on the beach with the sun setting in the background was the pretty woman, the little boy, and a man with his arms around them. She knew now why she recognized the little boy’s eyes. They were exactly like his father’s. Craig.
Marsha took in a breath and backed up into a chair, nearly tipping it over. At that exact moment, she heard someone coming in through the front door.
A woman was laughing as she told someone not to run into the house with his shoes on. “You’ll get sand all over the house,” the woman said.
Marsha stepped into the hallway between the dining room and living room and stared directly at the woman and her son. The woman was startled and reached for her boy but just stood there, staring back.
As Marsha stared at the woman, her eyes went to the heart pendant necklace hanging around the woman’s neck. Marsha lifted her hand up to touch her own pendant. Reality hit her like a brick. Marsha rushed past the woman and the boy, out the door, and to her car.
Her heart was shattered.