Heat Wave Read Online Free PDF

course. We are well aware of that. We have a copy of the will. He left you all his money, too, except as you will find out, and I apologize for bringing this up at this difficult time …” Russell took out his handkerchief and wiped his eyes before continuing. “Gus made some bad investments last year.”
    “I’m aware of that,” Carley told him.
    Russell raised his eyebrows. “You are? Well. Well, then, perhaps all this won’t come as such a shock to you.” He cleared his throat. “I have no idea about how much of the financial aspect of running this house Gus shared with you, but it’s a huge house, and it requires a lotof maintenance. Also, of course, for your family, there is the basic cost of living, groceries, clothing, car insurance—” He stopped suddenly. His face caved in. He looked old and very sad. “Carley, my dear. Gus left you no money. Well, enough, I suppose, for a month or two, if you’re careful.”
    “The insurance policy?” Carley began.
    “It appears he was unwise. He cashed it in.”
    Carley’s fingertips went cold. She knew the symptoms of panic attacks, and fought to stave one off. Deep breaths, she told herself.
    Russell cleared his throat. “Carley. Annabel and I have been talking.”
    Carley forgot the breathing as her mind sharpened in self-defense. “Okay.”
    “We think you and the girls should come live with us.”
    Carley stared.
    Annabel leaned forward, her voice rich with concern. “The house is too big for you to live in alone with the two little girls. It will be too
lonely
. In our house, we’ve got room for everyone. Think how much better it will be, especially for Cisco and Margaret, to have three adults living with them, not just one.”
    Carley chose her words with care. “Annabel, Russell, what a kind offer. But the house is our
home
, mine and Cisco’s and Margaret’s. The girls have grown up there. Their bedrooms are there. The yard they play in, the attics they play in. It would be terribly disruptive, disorienting, to ask them to move.”
    “They have bedrooms in our house,” Annabel pointed out.
    “True. And of course they’ll still spend overnights with you; they love doing that. That won’t change. But we need, the three of us, to learn to get on with our lives there, in our home.”
    “If the three of you lived with us,” Russell said carefully, “perhaps the girls wouldn’t miss their father quite so much.”
    “Oh, Russell,” Carley argued. “The girls adore you, but Gus was their
father
, and nothing can protect them from missing him. I may not be stating this well, I’m overwhelmed, I’m
sad
, and I’m heart-brokenfor my daughters, but I don’t think anyone can be a substitute for their father.”
    “If you live with us,” Russell continued, “we’ll take care of all your expenses. If you don’t live with us, you’ll have to find work.”
    “And that would mean,” Annabel added quickly, “that the girls would become latchkey children.”
    A flush of anger shot through Carley. “No, that won’t happen.”
    “But how can it not?” Annabel asked, tilting her head delicately.
    “I have some ideas,” Carley said, lying through her teeth. “I’m not ready to discuss them with you yet, but I will, soon. I’m grateful for your concern, but—” Tears pressured the backs of her eyes. Her mind was spinning. She stood up, unsteady in her high-heeled boots.
    Her father-in-law hurried toward her. “Carley, please. We’re all overwrought. We’re not going to come to any sensible conclusion right now. Won’t you just think about our offer?”
    Emotion made Annabel’s voice tremble. “Carley, we just want to take care of you.”
    “I understand,” Carley said. “And I’m grateful.” But her teeth were clenched as she left the room.

6
    • • • • •
    S he strode home, fueled by anger and determination, her thoughts in a whirlwind. It was lunchtime, but she wasn’t hungry. She had to keep moving. Tossing her