LITMIR.BIZ

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investors and sellers…It takes commitment, guts.” He held up his hands as though to say he knew she didn’t have either.

      “I have both,” she lied. If she’d had any real courage, she would have left Jerry years ago. But she couldn’t tell Paul that.

      “And it takes expertise.”

      Laura leaned forward. “Which you can teach me.”

      “I’ve already told you—”

      “Please don’t reject this out of hand.” Laura bit her lip, wondering how much of the truth she should tell him, guessing he wouldn’t believe much. “I know you think you owe it to Jerry to run the firm as you see fit, but don’t you owe it to him to listen to me, as well? To consider what I can offer? Half the profits will benefit his children.”

      She wasn’t convincing him. She could see that.

      “You’re forgetting a pretty important technicality.”

      She blinked in confusion.

      “Even if I agreed to teach you, you live in Houston.”

      “But you and Jerry made that work.”

      “Because Jerry knew what he was doing. He acquired properties in the Houston area, supervised those renovations. I locate the investors, make sure the money’s in place. And I buy homes in this area for flipping, as well. I can’t teach you how to find and then buy the right properties, not from here.”

      She opened her mouth, but no sound emerged. Her grip on the purse tightened. Not from here. Unless she did something more drastic than she had planned. Fortunately, she’d had an idea.

      Chapter Two

      Two days later Laura arrived back in Houston, flushed with anticipation and fear. She had rented the incredible house on Elm Street in Rosewood. To her amazement, it had been surprisingly affordable, far below what she would have had to pay in Houston for something a fraction as nice. Now she had to lease out her own home and tell the children…and her in-laws. At the thought, she nearly turned the car around in the opposite direction. But it had to be done.

      “Okay, guys, we need to talk,” she said to the kids as soon as she let herself in. “No, stay—please,” she added to Donna. “I need your support.”

      Donna settled back down on the sofa, turning off the TV. Laura had already phoned her on the return trip, cluing her in on her unexpected plans.

      Kirsten sighed as she collapsed into the cavernous chair that had been her father’s favorite. Again it struck Laura how much her daughter resembled him.

      Gregg snuggled next to Laura, still young enough to be excited by his mother’s return. She smoothed the dark hair on his forehead. He had always taken after her in more than just appearance. They shared the same temperament.

      “Since your father died, a lot of things have changed. And we have to make a new life for ourselves. For that to happen, I need to learn about your dad’s work. And the only way I can learn is for us to move to where his partner lives.”

      “Move?” Kirsten jumped up, all her casual disdain gone. “We can’t move. All my friends are here.”

      “You’ll make new friends—”

      “I don’t want new friends.” Kirsten’s voice was shrill. “Nana and Grandpa won’t let you do this.”

      Laura knew her declaration of independence wouldn’t be met with enthusiasm. She also knew that she would have to stick firm, not show her fear. “It’s not their decision. You’ll be able to visit them, but we have to stick together as a family, make this work for all of us.”

      “Moving to some hick town won’t work!” Tears streamed down Kirsten’s face.

      Laura got up to comfort her daughter, but Kirsten backed away. “You can’t make me go!” She galloped up the stairs, slamming her door behind her. The sound echoed through the quiet house.

      Donna’s expression was sympathetic, but Laura’s heart sank. She looked down at her son. “What about you, pal?”

      Gregg hunched his skinny shoulders. “S’okay, I guess. Do I still get to play peewee ball?”

      She hugged him. Hard. “I’m sure you will. Rosewood has the very best stuff for kids. It’s one of the things that decided me. It’s really safe—kids ride their bikes to school and their moms don’t worry. And they have all kinds of great things for you to do.”

      He screwed his face into lines of thought. “Where are we going to live?”

      Laura described the house, the nearby park. “And your room has a killer view of the whole street.”

      “Cool.”

      She hugged him again, wishing the transition could be as easy for her daughter. But Kirsten would have to adjust. They all would.

      Gregg wriggled free. “I’m gonna go start packing.”

      “Okay, sweetie. We’ll get some boxes later today. Maybe just go through your toys for a start. See if there are some you’d like to put in the donation box.”

      After he had trooped upstairs, Donna whistled. “This is fast, Laura.”

      “I know. And I didn’t plan on it. To be honest, when the idea hit me, I was scared to death. Then I found out that I could afford this great house—oh, Donna, you’ll love it. And the town is safe, the kind of place you want to raise kids in. And I liked the people, well, Annie and Ethan Warren, the ones who run the bed-and-breakfast. He’s a schoolteacher, and she runs the inn.” Laura paused for breath. “You know how bad it’s been—how terrible things were with Jerry. Now I’ve got another chance…” She stood, pacing toward the large window that looked out on the fashionable street. “Does that sound as awful out loud as when I think it?”

      “Not for anyone who really knew Jerry. I don’t know how you stuck it out this long with him. If he hadn’t gotten sick…Well, I know you wouldn’t have wished that for him, but I don’t think you’d have escaped any other way.” Donna hesitated. “I’m guessing Kirsten’s reaction will seem mild compared to her grandparents’.”

      Laura sat down, then glanced toward the staircase. “I imagine she’s already on the phone, telling her grandmother.” She leaned her head back on the top of the sofa, picturing how furious they would be. Hit hard by the loss of their son, they drifted between grief and anger.

      “They can’t keep you here,” Donna said wistfully.

      “I’m going to miss you. But it’s not that far. You can visit—bring your laptop. You’ll like Rosewood, I know it. And the house has an extra bedroom with your name on it.”

      “I am mobile,” Donna admitted.

      Laura smiled. “I don’t know what I would have done without you all these years. With Jerry…”

      “You don’t have to say it. I know. Maybe you’re right. Rosewood’s atmosphere might be great for my work.”

      “Not to mention there could be new single men for you to meet.”

      Donna laughed. “If I can’t find the right one in a city of more than four million, what chance do I have in a teeny town?”

      “Different priorities?”

      “Does that mean you’ve spotted someone there?” Donna looked intrigued. “Paul Russell?”

      Laura shook her head. “Hardly. Not only am I a brand-new widow…but Paul? He can barely stand to speak to me. I’m not sure why, either. He seemed to have made his mind up about me before he ever met me.”

      “Something Jerry said?”

      Laura thought of Paul’s disapproving expression. “Maybe. But I don’t think Jerry would have said anything

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