Hitchin' Up by Patti Benning

Author:Patti Benning [Benning, Patti]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Summer Prescott Books
Published: 2024-03-30T00:00:00+00:00

SEVEN

Janice’s house was three down from the Coopers and instead of garden gnomes, she had neatly trimmed hedges along the short walkway up to her door. Flora and Grady took their shoes off inside, then followed her into the kitchen, where she took a paper off of the fridge. It was a handwritten list of numbers for different services, and Austin’s was listed under lawn care.

While Flora copied the number into her phone, Janice poured her and Grady glasses of iced tea. After securing the paper back onto the fridge, she sat down across from them at the small kitchen table, her eyes glinting.

“Tell me, Flora, do you know what Willow’s planning to do next? It’s so terrible she lost her house, and I just hope it doesn’t end up sitting like that for years.”

“I think it’s a bit early for anyone to know for sure what will happen,” Flora said. “She just lost everything yesterday.”

“Of course. You know, I think she might get a decent price if she sells the lot to someone who wants to put a new construction on it. If you talk to her, maybe you could mention that to her. A lot of people want new builds these days, and if she can convince her insurance to take care of the removal of the old house, I’m sure she could make a tidy sum.”

“I’m… not sure how she would feel about that,” Flora said slowly. “It’s her home. She might prefer rebuilding.”

“But maybe we could convince her not to,” Janice said. “For her own good, of course. Starting over somewhere new would be better for her, I’m sure.”

Flora stared at the other woman for a long moment. “I see.”

“I have a friend who lives in a lovely condo complex just twenty minutes from here. Hold on just a moment, I’ll get you a pamphlet for the complex. It might be just the place for her.”

Janice popped up and opened a kitchen drawer, removing the pamphlet and handing it to Flora before giving her an encouraging smile.

Flora glanced at it, then back up at the other woman. “Thanks. I’m sure she would be touched that you’re thinking of her.”

“Of course. I just want what’s best for her.”

“We should get going,” Grady said unexpectedly from next to Flora. “Thank you for the tea, ma’am.”

“Oh, it was my pleasure. I hope the two of you have a lovely day. Here, I’ll walk you out.”

As soon as Janice shut the front door behind them, Flora and Grady made a beeline back toward her truck, which was parked at the yellow house. Only after they were seated inside the cab did they exchange a long look.

“That seemed weird to you too, right?” she asked.

“Why do you think I told her we had to leave? The lady was being all sorts of odd. She knew exactly where that pamphlet was. Shoot, I don’t even know exactly where my wallet is sometimes, and I use it every day.”

“She’s way too adamant about getting Willow to leave.

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