LITMIR.BIZ

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so set against her joining the firm. “Donna, will you stay for dinner? My in-laws will probably make an appearance and I need the moral support.”

      “Sure. I’m a glutton for punishment.” Donna rose, picking up glasses as she walked toward the kitchen.

      “Thanks. You’re a lifesaver.”

      “I put some chicken out to thaw. How ’bout if I work on dinner while you take a few minutes for yourself—maybe grab a shower.”

      “You sure you don’t mind?”

      “It’s fun for me to cook for more than one.”

      Grateful, Laura hugged her friend. “I won’t be long.”

      “Take as long as you want.”

      Upstairs, Laura shed her traveling clothes and luxuriated in a long, hot shower. She washed her hair, willing the pounding water to erase her worries. Pulling on a thick, ankle-length terry robe, she combed her hair. Donna was right. A hot shower had been just what she needed.

      Humming, she skipped down the stairs, pausing at the landing that curved down to the final four steps. Her in-laws stood in the foyer. Donna, clearly uncomfortable, glanced up at her.

      Wishing she’d taken the time to get dressed, Laura knotted the sash to her robe. She felt vulnerable, at a disadvantage. “Hello, Edward, Meredith.”

      Her father-in-law managed a small smile, but Meredith began crying.

      Laura felt the pit of her stomach drop. “Let’s go into the living room.”

      Trailing them, Laura knew she had to get this over with, but it didn’t lessen her trepidation. She’d always wanted a closer relationship with her in-laws, but Edward traveled so much for work and Meredith had never encouraged a deeper connection. Despite the fact that they had never been close, she had always hoped Meredith would become a true mother figure, especially since she really didn’t have one of her own. But the woman was entrenched in a social life that hadn’t included her daughter-in-law. Laura knew they both thought Jerry had married beneath himself.

      Meredith had barely taken a seat when she began her tirade, waving her lace handkerchief like a flag. “Laura, what are you thinking?”

      Laura started to answer. “I—”

      “You’re not thinking of the children, just yourself. Jerry did everything he could to keep this family together.” She sniffed into the rumpled square of cotton. “Now, the moment he’s gone, you want to rip it to pieces.”

      Laura hated conflict, but she didn’t have any choice. Again, she wished she and Meredith had the sort of relationship that encouraged confidences. She would like to pour out the whole story—tell her about the real Jerry, who emerged behind closed doors. But what purpose could it serve now? To hurt his parents, turn them against her? Their only child, they had idolized him. “You don’t understand, Meredith. I’m doing what I think is best for my family.”

      “By taking them from their home, everything they know? From us? Hardly, Laura. You’re being selfish.”

      The words hurt. “I’m sorry you feel that way, but I have to do what I believe is right. And Rosewood’s not that far. You can visit—”

      Edward leaned forward. “Laura, why don’t you consider taking up something to get your mind off Jerry’s passing? You could go to school or…”

      With what? Her allowance was too small for that. “I appreciate the suggestion, Edward. But we need a new start. And we can’t get it here.” Laura caught sight of Kirsten hovering in the doorway.

      “You seem to have forgotten that the children are part of our family, too.” Meredith’s thin lips tightened.

      Laura hated this tension. It seemed her entire life had been nothing but fighting. She wanted so much for it to stop. “And the kids can visit you.”

      “I want to stay here with them!” Kirsten nearly shrieked the words.

      Meredith held her arms out to her granddaughter and Kirsten rushed into them. “See what you’re doing to her!”

      “She’ll adjust. It won’t be easy. I know that.” She reached for her courage. “But my mind’s made up.”

      “Then expect a fight, my dear.” Meredith rubbed Kirsten’s back. “This isn’t over.”

      The hard knot in Laura’s stomach grew even harder. Why couldn’t her in-laws see that she was fighting to save her family? That she wished she didn’t have to uproot them? But they hadn’t seen anything wrong in the way their son had dictated his will, easily accepting Paul as the executor.

      In the end, there wasn’t anything Meredith could do about the children.

      Laura contacted a Realtor who was thrilled to get a listing in the exclusive area and immediately leased out her home to an executive and his family. She committed the house for a year. By then she would know if she could succeed or if she would have to come back.

      Without the funds for professional movers, Laura had to downscale. Calling it an estate rather than a garage sale, she culled through the pieces. Even with the rent from the house, it would be tight at first. Kirsten was horrified and locked herself in her room, but Gregg helped her tag the furniture.

      Laura hadn’t planned on selling any of the children’s things anyway, not that she could get her daughter to listen. She thought of the baby grand piano and the other pieces Jerry had given to his parents. She certainly could have used the money.

      Laura pitched some of Jerry’s shirts in a box for the Salvation Army. They’d collected a lot of things over the duration of their marriage, but Laura wasn’t attached to them. If it hadn’t been for the kids, she would have liked to forget all of that time. So most of the art and collectibles were going on the block, as well. They had been Jerry’s taste anyway, too contemporary for the turn-of-the-century house they were moving to.

      Once the plans were in motion, Laura lost no time having the sale, then packing up the house. She hired the cheapest movers she could find.

      Farewells with Meredith and Edward were filled with tears and hugs for the children. They were stiff with her, showing their displeasure. Kirsten huffed as she got in the car, her entire face a pout. Despite her own uncertainty, Laura didn’t cave. Instead she headed west out of the city. This time her anticipation edged ahead of her fear.

      “This old house?” Kirsten asked in disgust when they pulled into the driveway.

      Laura hung on to her patience. It had been a long drive, which her daughter had made feel even longer by sulking the entire way. It was also late in the day and they were all tired.

      “Cool roof,” Gregg offered, bouncing out of the car. “Big, old yard! Are there swings?”

      Grateful for her youngest’s attitude, Laura followed. She had barely turned the key in the lock when she spotted the moving truck arriving.

      Soon the driver and his helper were unloading the furniture.

      “Excuse me, some of these cartons should be upstairs,” Laura said, when they’d finished taking the beds and chests up.

      “Not in the contract,” one of the men replied as he deposited her kitchen table in the middle of the living room.

      Laura sighed. She had chosen the cheapest movers she could find. She and the kids could carry the boxes upstairs. Since she had packed them herself she hadn’t collected big ones anyway. “All right. Could you assemble the beds next? That way I can get them ready before…”

      The man was shaking his head. “Not in the contract.”

      Laura gaped at him. She couldn’t help it.

      The man shrugged and headed back to the truck.

      Maybe she should have paid just a little more.

      “Mom!”

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