Love Isn't Blind 2 by Sweet and Special Books Read Free Book Online Page B

didn't really know her that well. No one in the family really did. She and grandma never really got along and when grandma died, I think we all just sort of forgot about great-aunt Helen.”
    “Is there going to be a funeral?” She pulled out her own office chair and sat across from him.
    “No. She'd made arrangements to have her remains cremated before any of the family was notified. Her ashes have already been interred in an old family plot and she specifically requested that there be no gathering for the purpose of mourning.”
    “It sounds like she really planned this all out.”
    “My mother said the rest of the family is quite upset. No one got along with her, but now everyone is mad about her cutting them out of everything. I guess she donated all of her money to charity in the end.”
    “So no one gets anything?”
    “Not exactly. She left me her house.”
    Bayley's mouth opened, but she couldn't quite find the words to ask what that meant for them. She reached out to take Shane's hands in hers and squeezed them to comfort him.
    “Great-aunt Helen was a bit of an eccentric lady, but she was also quite wealthy. She donated nearly a million dollars to a children's hospital and the only thing left now is her old house. I don't even know if I've met her before. I have this vague memory of her coming to visit when I was young, but that was so long ago. I'm really not sure why she left it to me.”
    “Maybe this is a sign that things are supposed to work out for us. Wouldn't it be great for us to have a proper home of our own?”
    Shane looked around their apartment, taking in the clutter and the tight space. “It would, but it's not that simple. The house is out in the country and it's a little run down. There's also the matter of the inheritance and future property taxes. It would actually cost us more every month to live there than it does here, and we'd be far away from the friends and lives we've made for ourselves.”
    “Couldn't we sell it and use the money to help us buy something here?”
    “I guess. With the location and the state of the real estate market, it's a long shot to sell right now, though. My mother suggested I hold on to it for at least a few years before trying to sell it.” He swiveled in his chair and pressed the power button on his computer monitor. “Here. She said the lawyer was going to email me some information.”
    He clicked through to his email and downloaded a folder containing several legal documents and a few image files. He promptly double-clicked the image files, and they both gasped softly when the first photo of the house loaded on the screen. It was a large old three story house that was bigger than the small apartment complex they currently lived in. Large oak trees blocked some of the view, but it was clear that this old house was more of a mansion than the simple cottage or farmhouse they'd imagined.
    “Maybe we should at least consider moving in,” said Bayley, trying to contain her excitement.
    “It wouldn't hurt to go take a look at it.”
    “I'll call Erica and ask if we can borrow her car. They mostly use James' car when they go out, and she's offered it to me before. I'm sure she won't mind under the circumstances.”
    Shane clicked through the photos. Each room was lavishly appointed with furniture and decorations that looked to be about a hundred years old. They'd want to update several of the pieces, but at least they wouldn't have to worry about trying to furnish such a large house with the meager possessions they currently owned.
    “Bayley, this place has six bedrooms and five bathrooms. The kitchen alone is bigger than our entire apartment.”
    “Erica said we could borrow the car any time. When do you want to go?”
    Clicking away from the photos, Shane opened his calendar and scrolled through the next week of deadlines and appointments. “I've got a few days before my next major push. Should we go today? If we leave after lunch, we can be there