In fact, the numbers were dizzying because there were multiple properties to be liquidated, cash assets, stocks, and…wow. If her siblings didn’t fight the updated will, running for mayor wouldn’t be as much of an obstacle as she’d feared. And all I did was show up. But judging by the date of this amendment, Dennis Seaton made this change when he first got diagnosed. He never planned to make the inheritance contingent on my response.

“That’s incredible,” Junie said, after scanning the pages herself.

“Well done, your life is complete. You pulled off the longest con.”

Her mother stared at her, open-mouthed in shock, and then Junie dissolved in nervous laughter. “I can’t believe you said that.”

“I have no idea how I’m supposed to react. I can’t cry for someone I didn’t know, so if not gallows humor, there’s nothing.”

Junie sighed. “Sometimes I wonder how it would have gone if I hadn’t disappeared and cut all contact with Dennis.”

“Why did you do that?”

“I was afraid…” Junie broke up abruptly, her expression suddenly stricken.

“Let me guess, you were afraid he’d make you get rid of me.”

“I wasn’t supposed to tell you that.”

That had to be Trev’s handiwork, trying to protect her feelings. But Dennis Seaton had clearly been a selfish prick in his heyday, so it didn’t come as any surprise. Some part of her realized she should be shocked and/or hurt by all of this, but it felt like these revelations were about someone else. She’d never had any illusions about her father, even when she’d believed he was a shiftless mundane. The biggest surprise was that the man was willing to pony up assets to try and make amends at the end.

“How do sloppy joes sound?” Trev called.

“Delicious!” Junie shouted back.

In half an hour, he had dinner done: sloppy joes and salad. The man was a wonder, and Leanne took a moment to admire him in the silly apron before she sat at the kitchen island. There were three stools at the counter, so they ate there instead of setting the table properly. Junie cleaned her plate with relish, rambling on about how much she liked her roommate.

After the meal, Leanne said, “Okay, so if you’re planning to stay in St. Claire, we need ground rules. I will return your calls and texts, but you don’t get to decide how fast I do it. No more showing up unannounced. We’ll make plans in advance, and you will honor my schedule. I refuse to be the bad person if I have other stuff to do. I understand you want to work on our relationship, but I need time…and space. Does that sound fair?”

“Extremely fair,” Junie said. “I need to stop and think before I act on impulse.”