“How dare you.” Gloria’s words turned low and venomous. “Don’t think I’m going to leave you anything in my will. I’d rather give my money to charity. At least then I know it will go to someone who is grateful to get it.”

Ah, the ungrateful daughter card.

“Go right ahead. Give it all to charity.” She sighed. “I don’t know why you are the way you are. I know your mother wasn’t very nice to you, so maybe you’re just passing down the way you were treated. But I’ve finally had enough. The only regret I have is that I didn’t get to this point sooner.”

“The way you’re acting would break your father’s heart.”

She nodded to herself. Breaking her father’s heart was another one of her mother’s favorite admonishments. “If you ever want to talk to me in a way that is loving and supportive, please give me a call. I would love to hear that from you. Until then, I don’t want to talk to you.”

“I mean it, Molly Ann. I’ll cut you off without a cent.”

Feeling twenty pounds lighter, she said softly, “Bye, Mom.”

So, Austin got the friends and the mother. Molly got the house and all their money.

She smiled. That was okay with her.

Chapter Seven

The rest of the week passed peacefully. According to the agreement, Austin was supposed to be out of the house before Saturday. Once Molly received the go-ahead from Nina, she confirmed the meeting with the real estate agent for six o’clock Saturday evening.

The timing was somewhat unusual, but Tanya was amenable, and going back to the house at suppertime gave them the best chance of avoiding curious, nosy neighbors dropping by.

When midafternoon on Saturday came, she reluctantly decided she should go over an hour early. Tanya knew a company that would sell the contents of the house at a flea market for a commission, but Molly wanted to collect photographs of her father and make sure there wasn’t anything else she wanted to keep.

When she pulled into the long, familiar driveway, a sour feeling like heartburn settled at the back of her throat. She parked and studied the scene.

It really was a beautiful house, spacious and well-positioned on a large corner lot. The backyard faced a large park with lots of trees that offered a nice sense of privacy. She hated the sight of it.

When she let herself in the front door, a rotting smell assaulted her.

What the hell? Quickly, she walked through the silent downstairs.

The kitchen was exactly as it had been when she had left the house a few weeks ago. Everything single thing.