Sisters by Choice (Blackberry Island #4)(72)

Amber stepped to the side.

The kitchen was a mess. Dishes were piled in the sink and the floor was dirty. Heather hadn’t had time to clean things up—she’d been so busy with work. As she looked around, she saw what Stacey must. Old, faded wallpaper. A scratched and battered stove, mail piled on the table.

Stacey nodded, then moved toward the laundry room off the kitchen. Heather winced as she thought about the pile of clothes on the floor. Amber didn’t do laundry until she had to and it had been several weeks since she’d bothered.

“The bedrooms are this way,” Heather said, motioning to the hall.

The craft room was a disaster, with yarn and fabric and bins piled haphazardly. Next came the hall bathroom that Heather used. It was old but tidy and clean. The same with her bedroom. She picked up after herself and always made her bed.

Amber’s room was a jumble of clothes on the floor, an unmade bed and books piled on the nightstand. The small attached bathroom was messy and both the sink and the toilet needed a good scrubbing.

Stacey took it all in without saying a word. They returned to the living room.

“I’ll be sending over one of my gardeners to do some work on the front yard. It won’t take much to get it looking nice. As for the house...” She looked around. “Well, as I said before, I’ll send over a list and a timetable. Between now and then, it would be really helpful if you’d pick up and put things away. Maybe give the house a deep cleaning.”

Amber’s face tightened with anger. “You can’t tell me what to do in my own home. I think it’s time for you to leave.”

Stacey stood her ground. “Ms. Sitterly, according to the deed, this is your mother’s home, not yours. My job is to get the property in the best shape possible, given the budget I have, and that is what I intend to do. She said you are welcome to stay here until we close escrow, but if you don’t cooperate with me, she will have no choice but to evict you.”

Heather felt her world start to collapse. Evict? Would she really? Amber’s face reddened.

“Don’t think you can threaten me and get away with it.” She marched to the front door and held it open. “Get out now, or I’m calling the police.”

Stacey offered her a neutral smile. “Of course. I’ll be in touch. As will your mother.”

With that, she left.

Amber had barely slammed the front door behind her before she started ranting.

“What a bitch. We don’t even know if she was really hired. She could be part of a scam. I’m going to call your grandmother right now and give her what for. How dare she do this to us. I can’t believe that woman threatened us. I’m going to insist your grandmother give us this house. It’s the only fair thing to do. I should sue her. Maybe that’s a better idea. I could call a lawyer and—”

“Mom, stop!” Heather tried to control her breathing, but she wasn’t sure she could. A sense of panic seemed to take up residence inside her chest. It grew and grew until she found it difficult to think about anything else. If only she could catch her breath.

“What?” her mother demanded. She rolled her eyes. “Let me guess. You’re going to take everyone’s side but mine. You always do. You’re just like your grandmother.”

“I hope so,” Heather said, her voice unnaturally loud. “I hope I’m like her or Sophie or Kristine. I hope I’m like anyone but you.”

She gasped for air, feeling herself starting to shake. What was going to happen to them? Where were they going to go? How was she supposed to get her mother settled somewhere and then get away?

“You ungrateful brat.” Amber glared at her. “How dare you?”

“I dare because this is what you always do. You blame everyone but yourself. You never take responsibility for anything. Why don’t you have to earn your way like the rest of the world? What makes you think you’re so much more deserving? Why can’t you take care of yourself? Why is it always my job or Grandma’s job or Sophie’s job but never your job? You complain about your life but what about mine? What about the fact that you keep me trapped here? I don’t want to take care of you anymore. I don’t!”

The last few sentences were delivered at a scream. The shaking got worse. Heather didn’t know if she was going to pass out or throw up. Either way, she had to get out of here. She raced for the door and out onto the small front porch, then hurried toward her bike.

Anywhere but here, she told herself as she began to pedal. Anywhere but here.

  It was well after eight when Sophie finally sat down at her desk to clear out some email. She was tired but happy. Maggie and her family had arrived on Blackberry Island and she would be starting work on Monday. Elliot had hired a digital marketing guru who earned more than should be legal but who was already making terrific changes to their digital marketing plan. Sales were up, the warehouse was running smoothly and—

She spotted an email from Bear. The warehouse manager rarely bothered to email—he was more the type to walk directly into her office and complain. Even before she opened the message, she felt a sinking sensation in her gut.

“But we’re all doing so well,” she murmured, reading the short message.

I thought you should know. Time stamp 18:07.
She clicked the link that took her to CK Industries’ security footage. The newly installed security camera showed the back area of the warehouse. She watched the time count up from 18:06. Precisely at 18:07, Amber walked into view. She glanced over her shoulder several times before grabbing a couple of cat beds and two canister sets. She hurried over to a side door, unlocked it and placed the items outside, then locked the door and walked out of view.