A December to Remember (17)

“My girls, listen closely to what the nice solicitor is reading.”

Vanessa looked up pointedly.

“Hidden within North Novelties & Curios are thirty-two Monopoly houses. Working together you must find all thirty-two and present them to Steele & Brannigan. Upon receipt and verification, you will be presented with the key to a lockbox that holds the deeds to the building, land, and the woods, and a comprehensive ledger containing details of every item in the shop, as well as details that will help you in your winter solstice endeavors . . .”

“Easy,” said Simone. “I’ll drive over to Lakeside now and pick up a Monopoly game. Job done. We’ll give you the houses, and you can hand over the key.”

“Good idea.” Maggie patted her arm. “We can come with you.”

“I could do some Christmas shopping,” added Star.

“Ahem.”

All eyes turned back to Vanessa, who cast her own back down to the paper and continued to read.

“And before one of you—probably Simone—gets any ideas about simply purchasing a fresh game of Monopoly . . .”

Simone shook her head, her mouth pulling between a pout and a smile. Star chirruped out a giggle, and Maggie grinned at their father’s uncanny ability to pin them even from the grave.

Vanessa continued, “You should know that I have customized each house in some way, details of which are inside a sealed envelope”—Vanessa held up said envelope while continuing to read—“which is only to be opened upon receipt of all thirty-two houses, whereupon they will be marked off against written details of my customizations. Happy hunting, my babes of the woods. May Artemis watch over your endeavors!”

“Crafty old fox.” Maggie sighed. “Does he mean Artemis the Greek goddess or the cat?”

“Both, probably,” said Simone. “Can’t be the same cat from when we were kids, can it?”

“It looks the same.” Maggie shrugged. “Answers to the same name.”

“To be fair, a stray will answer to any name if you feed it,” said Vanessa.

“But to have the exact same markings?” Star was incredulous.

“Well, I remember her from when I was maybe three years old, which would make her over forty, which is impossible.”

“Dad said she came with the shop,” said Star.

“So that would make her like seventy years old?” Simone balked.

“That’s assuming she was a kitten when Dad inherited.”

“Maybe this Artemis is like the original Artemis’s great grandchild,” Star suggested. “She slept on the end of my bed last night.”

“Did you sleep in our old room?” Simone asked.

“Yeah. It felt too weird to go into Dad’s room. It’s just the same in there, you know, still the old daisy wallpaper.”

“That was faded even when we were little,” said Simone.

“Except behind the armoire, where it’s all still like new. It’s like a time capsule. The same patchwork quilts on our old beds. Remember the rag rug?”

“Where Dad used to sit cross-legged and read us bedtime stories.” Maggie smiled. If nothing else, Augustus had made great readers out of his daughters.

“Wasn’t it dusty?”

“I go in every couple of weeks and give it a once-over,” said Maggie. “And I changed all the bedding yesterday; I had a feeling Star might end up staying.”

“Witch.” Simone smiled.

“Takes one to know one.” Maggie grinned back.

“You ought to hire a cleaner to go in once a month to save you having to do it,” Simone offered helpfully.

“Like I can afford a cleaner!” It irked Maggie that things like keeping their dad’s flat in good order was something her sisters didn’t even have to think about. It wasn’t their fault, but neither was it fair.

“Did it feel odd sleeping in the flat?” Simone asked. “Was it spooky?”

“Not spooky. Nostalgic maybe. But then I spent a lot of time there on my own, if you recall. Maggie said you’ve rented the Dalgleish cottage. What was that like? Old memories of snogging Kelly?” Star grinned.

They used to play with Mrs. Dalgleish’s daughter, Kelly, when they stayed in Rowan Thorp for the summer. Kelly was Simone’s first-ever kiss.

“What about you?” Simone countered, blushing. “I saw you out of the window last night, in Troy’s car. Did Antonia know?” She made it sound like an accusation.

Troy and his wife, Antonia, owned the Rowan Tree Inn.

“Spying, were you? Troy very kindly picked me up from the station last night. Don’t make it sound seedy.”

Troy and Star had been summer sweethearts in their early teens, but it had fizzled out quite naturally. He’d been a good friend to her when she’d been in desperate need of one and they’d remained close into adulthood. Star was also friends with Antonia and was a firm favorite with their children.

“You started it.” Simone pouted.

“I made a joke. You made an accusation.”

“And also, I wasn’t spying, I just happened to be looking out of the window as you drove past.”

“All right!” Maggie interjected. “Dad’s forcing us to work together and it’s going to be a bloody nightmare if you two keep bitching at each other. So grow up and suck it up.” She let out a shaky breath. Confrontation wasn’t her forte, but her nerves were already stretched too thin.