Seaside Avenue (Cedar Cove #7)(93)

“Olivia said it could take months to evict this couple. Judy tried to warn me.” Grace sighed. “The Smiths are something else,” she said, shaking her head.

“Yeah, they’re experts at working the system.”

“That isn’t the worst of it,” she murmured. She hadn’t wanted to say anything to Cliff because he’d get upset and she was distressed enough for both of them.

Cliff poured himself a cup of coffee and leaned against the counter. “Okay, out with it. What else is going on?”

She shrugged, trying to make light of it, although she was sick about the whole mess. And sick of it. “How,” she asked Cliff, “can one snap decision cause me all this anguish?”

“Okay—tell me.”

She took a sip of her coffee, hardly noticing that it was cold. “I drove past the house, and Cliff, it looks just terrible. I don’t think the lawn’s been mowed in months. There’s a broken-down car sitting in the front yard.” Grace bit her lip. “There’s junk everywhere, Cliff, and there’s damage to the exterior paint. If that’s how the outside looks, can you imagine what it’s like inside?”

She remembered 204 Rosewood Lane

a year ago, with its pristine lawn, thriving flower garden and new paint job. The previous tenants, Ian and Cecilia Randall, had maintained the house beautifully during their brief stay. But now…

She wished she’d sold the place, regardless of her emotional attachment to it. But in its present condition, that was no longer an option. She wondered what the house would be like six months from now.

“Oh, Grace,” Cliff said. Walking over to her, he put his hands on her shoulders. “Surely there’s something that can be done.”

“If so, I don’t know what it is.” She forced a smile.

“Did that phone call Sunday morning have anything to do with your drive-by?”

Grace nodded. “Mrs. Vessey said everyone in the neighborhood’s angry. The police were by on Saturday night about a noise complaint. Plus Mr. and Mrs. Wicks are building a new house and they have to sell their current one. They’re afraid their property value will be affected. I can’t blame them for being worried, can you?”

“No.” Cliff pinched his lips together. “You’re already doing everything you can. No point in worrying about it.”

“I don’t see how it can’t worry me, and the thing is, Cliff, if they find out I’m trying to get them evicted, they might do even more damage.”

“Will you let me help you?” he asked.

“How?” What could Cliff possibly do? The law was the law, and as far as Grace could see, they had no alternative but to play this out.

“I’ll think about it.” He kissed her cheek and headed out to the barn, while Grace went into the bedroom to finish getting ready for work. Her aerobics class was that evening and Olivia still insisted on attending.

The day was, fortunately, a busy one, and Grace had little opportunity to brood on her own problems. She had two kindergarten classes in for story hour, probably her all-time favorite activity. Reading a Beverly Cleary book entertained her as much as it did the kids. She also had a training session with a new assistant, a couple of meetings, publishers’ catalogs to study….

Only at lunchtime did she think about the house. As soon as the mess with these renters was cleared up, she’d take care of the necessary repairs and put it on the market. Being a landlord was more trouble than it was worth.

The workout that evening exhausted her, although Olivia seemed energized and ready to take on the world. Breathing hard, Grace muttered, “I’m getting too old for this.”

“Nonsense!”

“I’m not joking.” She bent forward, hands on her knees as she drew in deep breaths. “I’m sure it’s not supposed to hurt this much.”

“No pain, no gain,” her friend said with a laugh.

If Grace had been a different kind of person, she might have envied Olivia’s svelte figure and the effortless way she danced through the aerobic exercises.

“It might help if I lost weight,” Grace mumbled. In her own opinion, she could easily stand to take off fifteen pounds. However, as Olivia had pointed out, this was what she’d weighed for years. Her body was obviously comfortable at her present weight and whenever she made an effort to diet, she struggled to pry off every single ounce. It was a losing battle, and unfortunately the losing part didn’t apply to her weight.

“I’m telling you right now,” Olivia said. “I’m not giving up my coconut cream pie.” For an instant, her face grew solemn. “Unless I have to.”

Grace touched her arm. “Being the good friend I am, I’ll eat it for you.”

Olivia laughed and jabbed her in the ribs. Soon afterward they were on their way to the PancakePalace where Goldie, as usual, awaited their arrival. She had the coffee poured and the pie dished up even before they were inside.

Grace had taken the first creamy, luscious forkful when she saw Cliff pull into the parking lot. “Cliff’s here,” she said in surprise. If there was a problem at home—or with the house on Rosewood—he could reach her on her cell.

Cliff didn’t walk into the PancakePalace alone. Jack Griffin was with him.

“Jack,” Olivia exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”