Maria looked around, taking in the kitchen area filled with things that made it a home. A spice rack hung on the wall, some bottles low on ingredients, proving that the display wasn’t just for show. A pot was on the stove top, the burner glowing softly beneath it, tendrils of steam rising from the top.

On the windowsill a row of small pots held a variety of herbs, the names spelled out in bright pastel paints in a child’s handwriting.

“I don’t even know where we can go,” Maria finally said, her eyes filling again. “I have no job. I have some family on the big island, but they had to evacuate to a smaller home after the volcano eruption and don’t have room for us. And Pali has to stay in this school district. His place on the football team is his only chance at a scholarship.” She lowered her voice to a whisper again. “My daughter, Alani, doesn’t even know anything about this. Her best friend lives next door. They’ve grown up together, seeing one another every single day. It’s going to kill them to be separated. I don’t even know how to tell her. I said you were a friend of mine from the mainland.”

Quinn felt dirtier than pond scum. She was probably the furthest thing from a friend right now, unless friends were known to swoop down and kick you out of your own home. “I know this is hard. But this was all done legally, Maria. It’s not my fault your husband didn’t tell you what he was doing.”

Maria’s eyes widened. “Legally? Wait, are you going to call the police?”

This was excruciating, and Quinn wished she could blink her eyes and disappear. But a lot of money was on the line. It wasn’t as though she could just tell them, “Never mind, go ahead and keep the house,” and she’d find something else. For a split second, she wished Ethan were here to step up and make everything fall into place.

“No, I’m not calling the police. I’ll come back tomorrow, after you’ve had a chance to process this. I won’t just kick you out today, but we need to agree on a move-out date. Maybe by the weekend? I can’t stay in a hotel forever, and I have a lot of changes planned to the house. I need to start the remodeling while I’m here,” Quinn said.

The girl walked in, her ponytail swishing from side to side. “You can stay in the guesthouse,” she said, smiling at Quinn. She looked to her mother, her eyebrows up. “Mama, you said she was our guest. Pali should give up his room.”

First Maria looked surprised; then she nodded. She turned to Quinn.