Read Online The Ghost of Valentine Past by Anna J. McIntyre - Free Book Online Page A

Danielle greeted when she reached Heather’s side.
    Closing her menu, Heather looked up at Danielle. “Umm…hi. I saw you when I came in, but I didn’t want to interrupt.”
    â€œDo you mind if I sit down a moment?”
    â€œUmm…sure…I mean...no, I don’t mind.”
    â€œI heard you have a mold issue.” Danielle took a seat.
    Heather groaned. “If that was my only problem. What do they say, when it rains it pours?”
    â€œYeah, I understand you’ve been having a hard time finding someplace to stay because of Bella.”
    â€œRight…that too.” Heather tossed the menu to the table.
    â€œYou mean you have more problems than mold and finding a place to stay?”
    â€œI’ve lost Presley House, Danielle.”
    â€œYeah, I know. I was there when it burned down.”
    â€œNo, I mean the property. I’ve lost it.”
    â€œI don’t understand.”
    â€œI told you Mother had power of attorney for my grandfather, after he was committed. I didn’t realize what a mess everything was. The property manager wasn’t getting paid; the electric meter was pulled. But what’s worse, the property tax wasn’t being paid.”
    â€œYou’ve lost the land for back taxes?”
    Heather nodded. “I had no idea. They sent the notices to the wrong address. I spoke to someone in the assessor’s office, and she told me she was looking into it…that something looked odd.”
    â€œOdd?”
    â€œYeah. Just between you and me, she said there was something odd about the file. I may have to get an attorney. Not that I can afford one now.”
    â€œHave they sold the property yet?”
    â€œYes. Deep inside I know this entire thing isn’t kosher. Something crooked went on.”
    â€œSeriously?”
    â€œYes. But I can’t think about it right now. I’m trying to figure out where I’m going to stay tonight. As it is, I have to get rid of most of my upholstered furniture—even my bed. The mold got into everything.”
    â€œIt’s that bad?”
    â€œWorse. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I suppose I should just find a home for Bella, but I don’t want to do that.”
    â€œStay with me. Bella’s welcome.”
    â€œStay with you? I can’t do that. I can’t afford to stay at an inn.”
    â€œWe’ll work something out. Heather, if it wasn’t for you, I could’ve died in that fire. And you didn’t have to give me the emerald. I can give it back to you. You can use it to pay for an attorney, help get your property back.”
    Heather shook her head. “No. I can’t do that. That emerald belongs to you. The sins of my great-grandfather demand that it be returned to the rightful owner.”
    â€œYou had nothing to do with what he did.”
    â€œI feel cursed enough these days. I don’t want to test fate.”
    â€œYou’re serious, aren’t you?”
    â€œVery.”
    â€œAt least accept my invitation to stay while your house is fixed.”
    â€œDanielle, they say it’s going to take a month, or more.”
    â€œThat’s okay. I’m letting Chris rent a room while he waits for his house to close escrow.”
    â€œChris is buying a house?”
    â€œYes, on our street. He’ll be our new neighbor.”
    â€œSweet. When does he move in?”
    â€œI don’t know. The sellers have just decided on an asking price; they haven’t even written up a purchase contract yet. But I don’t imagine it’ll take more than a month.”
    â€œIt’ll probably take longer than that. Getting loan approval can be a bitch, and Chris isn’t working yet, is he?”
    â€œUmm…I believe he has a little inheritance he’s using to help him buy the house.”
    â€œNice.”
    â€œSo, you want to stay at Marlow House?”
    â€œI’d like to…but I