Unexpected Riches (Bellingwood Book 13) Read Online Free PDF

Maybe I can find out if there's a link between this young man and my family." She turned to Aaron. "It does seem odd that a Carter was buried in our old Carter family plot, don't you think? That's a coincidence that even I recognize as just too much."
    He nodded and laughed. "Makes sense to me. The genealogy idea is a good one. Especially if there is someone who has done a great deal of research. If you need me or one of my people to reach out to your aunt, just let me know. I'd like to see what she has."
    "Come to think of it," Beryl said. "So would I. Maybe I could find an entirely different set of relatives that are at least tolerable to be around for short periods of time." She looked around the room. "Not that you all aren't my favorite family in the world."
     
    ~~~
     
    Aaron left without eating, claiming that he was needed back at the office. Andy and Lydia went back out to the kitchen to finish preparing the food and Beryl leaned back in her chair.
    She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I could really use a kitty snuggle," she muttered, more to herself than anyone else.
    "Do you want me to let them out?" Rebecca asked.
    Beryl opened her eyes and nodded toward the kitchen. "No, not while they're here. It's just too much chaos. But if you wouldn't mind going downstairs to play with them, at least I wouldn't worry that they're lonely."
    Rebecca glanced at Polly, who nodded. "Wait," Polly said. "Take your sketchbook. Did you get a good look at that photograph?"
    "Of course I did. That's what you wanted me to do, right?"
    "You're a smart girl," Polly said. "See what you can do with it." She watched Rebecca head down the steps and then said, "I wish I could draw like she does. I always have."
    "You do your own thing very well." Beryl's voice slurred as she relaxed, her body molding itself into the chair.
    "Oh honey," Polly said. "You've had a rough day. Did you not sleep last night?"
    Beryl opened her eyes again. "I was in the studio until about three. I have too much work to do. I'll be fine. Just let me rest my eyes for a minute."
    Polly put one of the many blankets from the back of the couch over Beryl's lap. As she stood up to go to the kitchen, Beryl pulled it up around her shoulders and gave her a sleepy smile.
    "We should leave," she said when she turned into the kitchen. She dropped into a chair across from Andy. "Beryl's exhausted."
    "She'll be fine," Andy replied. "Just give her a few minutes to regroup. We're almost ready to serve lunch."
    "I'm not kidding." Polly looked at Lydia for help. "She's asleep out there. She didn't sleep last night because she was working and then the emotions of all of this really took her out."
    Lydia glanced around the room and without a word, started closing up plastic containers and replacing aluminum foil on dishes.
    "What are you doing?" Andy said. "She'll kill us if we leave."
    "I'd rather she kill us than wear her out any more. If I don't miss my guess, that woman is about to have one of Polly's crazy couple of weeks ahead of her."
    "My what?" Polly asked with a laugh. Then she nodded. "You're right. Those weeks. I try not to make anyone else live through them. Do you think that young man is related to her?"
    Lydia continued closing up containers while Andy stood up to put dishes and glasses away in the cupboard. Lydia glanced at Polly. "I suspect it's a very distant relation, but there will be some connection. There are going to be strangers in town and we all know how Beryl is with too much human interaction."
    "It's bad," Andy acknowledged. "Very, very bad." She reached down into a tote and took out a marking pen and a plastic container of pre-cut labels.
    "What are you doing?" Polly asked.
    Andy looked at her with a sheepish grin. "You be nice. Beryl will be glad to have names and dates on these containers."
    "Okay then." Polly held up a box of crackers. "Shall we label these as crackers or baked flat wheat toasted thingies?"
    "Put them in the cupboard and leave me