Lola’s third husband loved to read. She remembered Lola telling her he had developed macular degeneration several years before he died. Lola read to him constantly.

Mandy appeared in the doorway. “I guess you could say this room is a memorial to Lola’s third husband. She never comes in here now, though. Actually, she never goes into any of the rooms. She looked them all over when the decorator was finished, but that’s about it. There’s a room on the second floor that’s called the game room. Lola’s fourth husband was a big-game hunter. He died wrestling a crocodile in the Amazon. Lola saw it all. She had a set of luggage made from croc skins, but she threw it away after the accident,” Mandy said through tight lips.

“Oh,” was all Cady could think of to say.

“Mandy, do you know anything about my grandfather? Over the years I asked Lola a dozen times, and all she would ever say was that he was just an ordinary man. All I know about him was that he was a lot older than Lola and that he died in his sleep. It seems to me there should be more to say about a man other than that he was ordinary.”

“If that’s all there is to say, what else can a person say? He looked ordinary. He dressed like everyone else, so that made him ordinary looking. He sold furniture, and from time to time, decorated a client’s house, but he wasn’t really a decorator. Now, if you want Herself to make up something that will suit your fancy, I’m sure she can do that. To tell you the truth, I don’t even think she remembers him because…”

Cady grinned. “Because he was so ordinary. Okay, I have the picture.”

“All the scrapbooks are in these cabinets. I labeled them by the year, so you shouldn’t have any problem following Lola’s life and career.”

“Who was the real love of Lola’s life? Do you know?”

Mandy yanked at her apron. “Of course I know, but it isn’t my place to tell you. If she wants you to know, she’ll tell you.”

“Why didn’t you call me, Mandy?”

“Because Herself said not to. She would have booted my fanny out of here if I had done that. I know my place, and so does Anthony. That’s why we’ve lasted this long. Your grandmother can be stubborn as a mule. Are you sure you can’t get your father to come here? It doesn’t seem right that his mother is…and he can’t be bothered. As much as Lola says she doesn’t care, I know it’s a heavy weight on her heart.”

“He’s not well. My mother said Dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, but she never mentions a doctor. Personally, I think Dad thinks that’s what he has. He’s in a wheelchair and takes tons of over-the-counter medicine. At least that’s what my mother told me. The wheelchair is an attention-getter. Again, that’s my opinion.”