She drove down Pine Tree Road, taking a right and then a left on Loblolly Way, which was now her new address. Odd, she thought, since the overgrown drive faced Dolphin Drive, where she saw a mailbox that’d seen better days. But Kimberly had informed her this was not the case, and that the house was technically on Loblolly Way. Alison didn’t care one way or another. She had a beach house, and right now she wasn’t going to allow anyone or anything to diminish the pride and accomplishment she was feeling.
Grateful the bridge was open so she didn’t have to wait, she headed to her new home. There was hardly any traffic. Ali figured most people on the island were working, and tourists were minimal this time of year, so there was no one on the bridge fishing like when she’d arrived. Once she made the turn, she parked in the public lot, knowing she wouldn’t have to do this much longer. She would call Gib, maybe ask him to show her how to use the equipment, or maybe she’d hire Hal to help out—though Ali had to remind herself not to spend her money needlessly. She would do as much of the work herself as she could in order to keep her expenses as low as possible.
She locked the paperwork in the glove compartment of the Jeep, then made the short walk to her new home. She was so excited that chills went up and down her spine. She wondered if the Beamers, or the Sterlings, or the other foster family whose name she couldn’t even remember, had ever thought she would accomplish anything in her life, much less pay cash for her very first home. It didn’t matter, she thought as she walked down the path to her house. Most likely, she was nothing but a distant memory to them, if even that, and this was fine with her.
With shaking hands, Ali used the code Kimberly had given her to unlock the key box so she could use the house keys. Kimberly had said she would pick up the key box later that evening. Pushing the door aside, Ali wished for a photo to document this milestone, but the cell she’d purchased didn’t have a camera. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, relishing the scent of the golden knotty pine, the salty air, even the stale odor of whatever had been in the freezer. This was all hers, and no one could ever force her to leave her home again.
Ali closed the door behind her, locking it, even though she felt pretty confident no one would barge in and attack her. Then she remembered the bones. How could she forget what she’d found yesterday? Who did the bones belong to? Ali would do her best to find out, but not now.
Focusing on the present, she walked through the rooms again, imagining how she would decorate them. She went to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator, the smell forcing her to take a step back. It occurred to her she hadn’t bothered to have the power turned on.
“Crud,” she said. Apparently, Kimberly thought she’d taken care of this, or purposely didn’t tell her. She wasn’t sure how one went about this on the island. Ali had the number to Valentina’s store on her receipt, so she dialed, hoping she wouldn’t interrupt her if she were giving a reading or with a customer.
Valentina answered on the first ring. “Souvenir Shop.”
“Hi, it’s Alison—Ali. I hope I’m not interrupting anything. I need to have the power turned on at the cottage, and I’m clueless.”
“Congratulations! Of course you need power,” Valentina said. “Palm County Cooperative is in Fort Charlotte. I can’t believe your real estate agent didn’t give you the info.”
“Honestly, I think she assumed I knew. It’s my fault, as I was so excited when I left her office,” she admitted.
“We haven’t had one single customer today. If you’d like some company, I could go with you,” Valentina offered.
“No, I wouldn’t want to screw up your day, but thanks,” said Alison.
“You wouldn’t be. As I said, the store is dead. Renée left me a note saying she was going to the mall with a friend. You’d be doing me a favor.”
“Then I accept. I’m at the cottage now,” she told her. “Do you want to meet me here or in the public parking area?”
“I’ll meet you at your place. It’s been a while since I’ve seen the inside. Give me ten minutes to close up shop.”
“Thanks,” Ali said, glad for the company. She really liked Valentina and Renée. They were both kind and helpful. She hoped to remain friends with both of them.
Ali made a mental list of the items she would need for the night. Starting from scratch, she needed a bed, but this late in the day, she’d simply use the sleeping bag, now covered in cat hair, that she’d had for years. Since she was going to town, she planned on stopping at the dollar store to get a lamp and a few basics for the night. Maybe she’d run into Tammy and see the kittens she’d rescued.
She heard a light knock on the front door. “Hang on,” Ali called.
She unlocked the door, and Valentina came inside, walking with her to the kitchen. “Wow, I remember all this knotty pine. Looks like it’s still in decent condition.”
“I don’t know a lot about the wood, but I’ll learn. I’ll polish it up, and hopefully, the walls will sparkle, though it’s a bit dark. Not sure what I can do to give this place some light. Like at your place,” Ali said.
“This is rustic, but charming. Don’t knock it, seriously. I’ll help you, if that’s what you want. I’m pretty good at decorating. It looks like your windows have been covered with sun-protecting film. Remove that, and you’ll get as much sun as my place does.”
“I didn’t notice, but I’ll definitely remove the stuff. Your place is gorgeous,” said Ali, not wanting to ask how Valentina was able to afford it when her souvenir shop wasn’t that busy during the summer months.
“It’s nice,” Valentina said. “Too big for the two of us, though when we fight, it’s great to have all that space between us.”
Ali laughed. “I can’t believe you two fight.”
“Not often, but we have our moments. Renée is a good girl. A little nosy. No, I take that back—she is extremely nosy.”
They both laughed.
“You’re lucky you have her,” Ali said. “At my age, I’m not sure if kids are in my future.”
Valentina swiped her hair away from her eyes. “By choice, or you haven’t met the right guy?”
“Maybe a little of both. I’ve been on my own for so long I don’t know if I could share my life with a man, let alone a child. Though I like kids, don’t get me wrong. If it’s meant to be, I suppose it could happen, but I’m not looking for anyone.”
“You’re honest. I like that. Women often get pressured into marriage, then kids. I think society expects us to marry, have babies, and live happily ever after.” Valentina spoke with a trace of sadness in her voice.
“Have you ever married?” Ali asked. Just because Valentina had a teenage daughter didn’t necessarily mean she’d been married. “If that’s too personal, it’s okay.”
“Renée is rubbing off on you,” she teased. “It’s fine, really. Yes, I was married once. A Frenchman, if you can imagine that.”
“I can,” Ali said. “You’re refined, not like me.”