“Lucinda dropped these off the other day. I know I have plenty of time to get the nursery ready, but I just feel like I need to get everything done right now,” Joanna said with a shrug. “I have no idea why.”

“I believe they call that nesting.”

“Well, it’s annoying,” Joanna said with a laugh. “I started out with a small list of things we’ll need for the nursery, but the more I think about it, the longer the list gets.”

“Wait until we have to start childproofing this place for a two-year-old,” Evelyn said with a snicker. “Oh, and I should warn you—if that baby is anything like Addison was when she was young, we are all going to have our hands full.”

“Really?” Joanna said, her shoulders dropping just a bit.

“Oh, my God, yes. She was an absolute terror,” Evelyn said, throwing her hands up in the air. “As soon as she learned to crawl, she began grabbing at cords and curtains, and when she started walking…well, let’s just say I wore trainers for a few years just to keep up.” Evelyn smiled as the memories came rushing back. “Wait, would you like to see her playroom?”

“I would love it!” Joanna said as she quickly turned to head back upstairs.

“Oh, no, it’s not up there.”

“It’s not?”

“No,” Evelyn said, motioning to a set of doors Joanna had never traveled through. “It’s in there.”

Joanna followed Evelyn across the entrance hall. “I don’t understand. You told me these doors led to the formal living room.”

“They do, but I had to become creative when it came to Addison. When the weather permitted, and her father wasn’t home, she played on the front lawns, but if it was too cold or raining, she played in here,” Evelyn said as she pushed the two towering doors open.

“Oh my God,” Joanna said as she stared into the cavernous space. “It’s huge!”

The room was impressive, if only for its size. Matching the dining room in width, its length appeared almost double that of the master suite, but contrary to the other rooms where sunlight was defeated by heavy curtains, the formal living area wasn’t that lucky. Across the front wall, running just shy of the floor to the ceiling, were six windows framed by draperies, which had been left open, and the light streaming in only enhanced the damage done by time and neglect.