Near You (Montana Series #2) - Mary Burton Page 0,30
bags. She had finally made it to the home goods store and bought the rest of what she needed. What was not in stock the cashier had ordered online, which meant she should have her items in a couple of days. That suited her. She had no desire to spend the evening unpacking dishes.
A soft breeze brushed her skin as she fished in her purse for her keys, which had already sunk to the bottom. Her fingers finally brushed the metal, and she quickly unlocked the door.
Tonight, she would chill. Have a glass of wine. Heat up the to-go meal from a small Italian restaurant and think about the two murder cases that would not leave her alone. She flipped on the lights and tunneled through the room between the unpacked boxes. It takes time to make a house a home, she reminded herself. Rome was not built in a day.
She set her bags on the kitchen counter. The pasta dish went in the microwave, and she twisted the wine bottle top off with a quick turn.
She filled a paper cup with the red and, after a sip, determined it was passable. Moving around the first floor, she closed all the curtains and shades. Other than the school district, the instant privacy of the existing drapes had been a big selling point for the house.
Her phone buzzed with Maura’s number. Grateful for the distraction, she answered, “Maura, how’s it going?”
“It’s great. I found a few items at the Beech Street house I thought you might like to have. Can I stop by?”
“Sure.” What did this near stranger think was important to her? “I’ll text you my address.”
Fifteen minutes later, headlights swept across her front window as the cleaner parked behind her car. Ann set her wine down and opened the door to see a smiling Maura carrying a box. “Come on inside.”
“Great.” Maura stepped into the foyer, her gaze sweeping the barren room. “I thought you might like these. They seemed personal.”
“Set them on the kitchen counter. I’ll go through them later.”
“I have the truck loaded, and I’m headed to the charity center. If you have a quick look, I’ll haul off what you don’t want.”
She could not imagine wanting anything. It was all she could do to save what she did. “You don’t have to wait.”
“Honestly, it’ll be more efficient if you have the time to do this now. I’ve done enough of these moves and know the faster you can get through miscellaneous items, the better. They have a tendency to clutter our lives.”
That was why she had left them behind. “Can I pour you a glass of wine?”
“Yeah, sure. It’s been a long day.”
“Does red suit?”
“Always.”
Ann filled a paper cup and handed it to Maura. “No glassware yet.”
“Thanks.” Maura held up the cup. “I have boxes full of real glasses in the truck. I can bring them in now.”
“No, I don’t want them. Making a clean break, if you know what I mean.”
“I hear you. I’m on a journey of self-discovery myself.” She took a sip of wine.
Ann held up her cup. “Here’s to one foot in front of the other.”
Maura gently tipped her paper cup toward Ann. “Amen.”
Ann peered in the box, and her gaze went directly to a small teddy bear. Nate had named the bear Montana Mac, and it had been his favorite when he was four or five. Guilt jabbed her as she wondered how she could have left Montana Mac behind. “Where did you find this?”
“It was in the kitchen in one of the lower cabinets. I figured it was a favorite hiding place.”
She straightened the bear’s black, off-kilter nose. “The bottom kitchen cabinet was Nate’s space. He used to pretend it was a spaceship.”
“He and his little buddy must have been on a trip when he forgot about him.”
When Ann had made the decision to move out, she had done it quickly, fearing if she thought too much, she would change her mind. She had packed some of her clothes and Nate’s and driven straight to her parents’ ranch. In all the confusion, Nate had never asked about Montana Mac or, if he had, the request had been lost in the noise of her own guilt and worry. “Thanks, Maura. Good save. What else do you have?”
“Silver pieces that look like they belong in the family.”
“No. Yard sale finds. They can go.”
Maura rummaged in the box. “Earrings in the kitchen drawer. Look like real pearls.”