Home at Last by Judith Keim

Author:Judith Keim
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wild Quail Publishing
Published: 2020-04-12T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The following morning, Lulu awoke with a new sense of purpose. In the coming days, she was moving out of Cami’s home and into the rental down the road. She hadn’t wanted to do it while Will was around because, to her, it symbolized a new beginning.

With it being a slow time of year, she had the day off to begin cleaning the house. Far from the portrait the press had painted of her, she knew very well how to clean a house. Melba had made sure of that.

Thinking of Melba, she punched in her cell number.

Melba’s cheery “Hello” brought a smile to Lulu.

“How are you?” Lulu asked her. “And how is my mother?”

“I’m fine, thank you, and so is your mother. After all these years of trying to come up with the right combination of medicines, we’ve finally found one that is keeping her steady.”

“She was wonderful here at Christmas. I kept waiting for things to change, but they didn’t,” admitted Lulu.

“What’s going on with you?” Melba asked.

Lulu wished she could be honest, but she wasn’t ready to tell Melba or her mother about the baby. “I’m moving into a rental house. In fact, I was going to ask you about that cleaning solution you use for the bathroom.”

“You’re cleaning the house yourself?”

“As much as possible,” Lulu said. “It’s part of my plan for making a fresh start.”

“Good girl,” said Melba. “I’ll email you a list of my favorite products. Here’s your mother. She wants to say hello.”

“Lulu, I’m so glad you called. I’ve been thinking of you and everyone there. I want to make another visit as soon as possible. I felt so well, so happy there.”

“I’ve rented a three-bedroom house. When you come, you can stay with me.”

“How lovely. I take it everything is settled between you and Will. He told me he was going to convince you to join him, but it sounds as if that isn’t happening.”

“No,” said Lulu. “I don’t want the kind of life you had with Dad.”

“I’m so glad,” Rosalie said. “I wanted you to make your own choice, but I was worried about it.”

A new tenderness filled Lulu. She and her mother were building a stronger relationship. As her stomach rumbled, she wondered if news of the baby would destroy it.

“Well, my darling. Have a good day. Talk to you later.”

Lulu clicked off the call and padded into the kitchen. Drew had already left for work but Cami was sitting at the kitchen table sipping a cup of coffee. She looked up at Lulu and smiled.

“You’re cleaning the house today?”

“Yes,” said Lulu. “If it gets overwhelming, I’ll do as you suggested and hire some of the inn staff to help, but I’m thinking of this process as a cleansing of sorts.”

“I like that,” said Cami. “I have to admit, though, I’m going to miss you around here. Especially in the morning when we sit like this and talk.”

“Yeah, I will too. But it’s only fair that you and Drew have the place to yourself.

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