If I Didn't Know Better (The Callaways #9)(29)

"So what's happening in Angel's Bay?" Annie asked. "What does the house look like?"

"It's filled to the brim."

"I told you."

"I'm up for the challenge. Taking care of Aunt Carly's things is what she'd want me to do. And I'll feel better for doing it. It will be my way of saying good-bye."

"Have you found anything good yet? I know she had some really interesting jewelry, and you might overlook that while getting caught up in some dusty old paintings," Annie teased.

"I will put anything aside that looks interesting, valuable or sentimental. Then you and Kate and anyone else in the family can take a look and see if you want it."

"I know. I trust you, Mia. I would help if I wasn't so busy right now."

"It's fine. It feels good to be here. I forgot how much I like the town. Everyone is so friendly and down-to-earth. It's a nice change."

"Well, I'm happy that you're happy. We'll talk soon."

"You've got it."

As she ended the call, her gaze was caught by something moving outside the window. She looked down at the backyard. A shadowy figure moved through the studio door.

Had Ashlyn come back?

She really hoped the little girl hadn't snuck out of the house again, but she wouldn't put it past her.

Setting the bag aside, she hurried down the stairs and into the yard. She pushed open the door of the studio. "Ashlyn, are you in here?"

She stopped in surprise when she realized it wasn't Ashlyn in the cottage but a woman. She appeared to be in her early thirties and had brown hair and dark eyes. Her silk blouse, gray pencil skirt, and high heels suggested she held down some type of office job.

"Hello," Mia said, feeling a little awkward and uncomfortable. "Can I help you?"

The woman hesitated. "You're Carly's niece, aren't you?"

"Yes, I'm Mia Callaway and you are…"

"Christina Wykoff. I probably should have stopped at the house first."

Probably, Mia thought, wondering why Christina looked so nervous. "Did you need something?"

"I used this studio last year. I heard that you might be putting together a display of Carly's art, and, well, I'm not sure I want my painting to be part of that."

"Oh, right. I was going to try to contact the artists before I did anything." She couldn't help wondering how Christina had heard about her plan. It had to have come from Kara since she doubted Jeremy would have told anyone. Although, come to think of it, she'd mentioned her plan to Jeremy's friend Kent as well.

"This studio is more messy than I remember," Christina commented.

"I've just started cleaning things out."

"Yes, I saw the paintings on the patio, but mine wasn't out there."

"Why don't you describe it to me, and I'll keep an eye out for it? If you give me your number, I'll let you know when I have the display ready, and you can come by and see if your piece has come to light. I certainly won't display it without your permission."

"I suppose that will work," she said slowly, but she didn't look happy about it. "I would never want my art to be displayed in public. It was for me, and the piece I did for Carly was for her. You really should think about what you're doing. The people who stayed here over the last couple of years came for a reason and their art was personal."

Christina's words gave her pause. Mia hadn't really thought that anyone would leave something behind with Carly that was that personal. Wouldn’t they have taken their emotional pieces with them when they left?

Christina opened her bag and took out a business card. "Please call me when you have things organized."

"All right." She read the card. "Are you an attorney?"

"No, I'm the business manager for Hamilton and Sloan."

"Okay. Was your painting a seascape, landscape, still life or a portrait?"

"I'll know it when I see it. Just call me when you've put all the paintings in one place."

"Of course."

"This mess is very—disturbing." On that note, Christina left the studio.

Mia felt a little disturbed, too; not by the clutter but by Christina. She didn't seem like the kind of woman who would spend days making art in a studio like this. So why had she stayed here? She had to have been one of the people who had come to the studio to work out some sort of problem, and Mia couldn't help wondering what that problem had been.

She stared down at the card again, but there was no answer on the foil-embossed card. Didn't she have enough to worry about? Why waste a moment thinking about a rather rude woman?

It bothered her that Christina had made no attempt to ring her doorbell. She'd just let herself into the studio.

Maybe that's the way Carly had let the artists come and go, but Carly was gone and Christina knew that. It would have been far more courteous if she'd rung the bell and asked for permission to look for her painting.

Putting the card into her pocket, she debated whether to pull out more paintings in the hopes of getting that organized or finish turning the guest room into a more comfortable living space for herself.

She decided the paintings could wait for another day. She was going to be here for a few weeks. Christina would just have to wait.