“Are you really never coming back here to live, Kate?”

It was hard to think about owning a place like this and wanting to live in something the size of the cabin. But then on second thought, a huge place like that would be pretty damned lonely.

“Probably not. I’ll live in a hotel until I find an apartment or small house that I like.”

“Or maybe you’ll stay in Bootleg?”

For the first time, Amanda didn’t want any of them to leave the cabin. She felt safe and comfortable with all four of them living together. And besides, she needed Jamie for when the baby came and Kate for her quiet strength.

“I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it. Right now I have to get us to the courthouse on time,” Kate answered.

Kate might appear calm on the outside in her cute little business suit and high-heeled shoes, but she was a nervous wreck on the inside. Time for a modicum of closure on the whole marriage thing.

The courthouse ruling took less than fifteen minutes for all three. They walked in with the same last name and came out with their different maiden names, and just like that, it was finished.

The firm had sent a seasoned lawyer, Mary Beth O’Bryan, who had made short work of the whole process. “I knew it would be easy. The judge wanted to get out of town and his plane leaves at ten, so he had to get through this in a hurry. Would you mind if I ride with you back to your house? There are a couple of things we need to discuss, and this will save time for both of us. It’s all about Conrad, so I don’t suppose you mind talking in front of the other two?”

“I’m good with you riding with us and with talking to you in front of them,” Kate answered.

When they’d settled into the six-passenger van, Mary Beth opened a briefcase and took out a file. The gray-haired woman adjusted her glasses and introduced herself to Jamie and Amanda. “I’m one of the lawyers in the legal department of Kate’s firm. We have notified the church in Bootleg of their windfall found in the bank deposit box and let them know that they will most likely own the cabin where you are staying, though it will have to go through probate. They are not interested in selling it, but they will lease it to any of you on a yearly basis for enough to pay the taxes and insurance on the place. That comes to about four hundred dollars a month, and at the end of the first year they will renegotiate if things aren’t done by then. Their pastor is nearing retirement, maybe in two years, and they are hoping to use the cabin as a parsonage if they hire a new pastor with a family.”

“We’ll take the lease,” Kate said. “Cut them a check for an entire year’s rent.”

“And you will be responsible for upkeep and for the utility bills?” Mary Beth asked.

“Agreed.” Kate nodded.

“So we’ll split everything three ways?” Amanda asked.

“How about I pay the rent for the year? Amanda, you take the water bill, and Jamie, you pay for the electricity? If we have a maintenance problem like plumbing or decide to paint the place, we will discuss the split on that then,” Kate said.

Amanda frowned and shook her head. “That doesn’t seem quite fair. You’d be taking on the biggest chunk.”

“Let me do this for the first year until y’all get on your feet,” Kate said. “We’ll take it back to the table in a year when we have to renegotiate the lease anyway. Jamie?”

“Thank you,” she said. “Just hand me the electricity bills from now on and I’ll pay them.”

“Now on to Conrad’s stuff. He didn’t have an apartment or house somewhere else. He had five hundred dollars and change in his personal checking account, and when his outstanding bills and taxes were paid up, he had about that in his business account. Both have been closed. Where do you want the money sent?”

“Split two ways. One check in Amanda’s name and one in Jamie’s. It’s not much, but it will help with baby expenses and school clothes for Gracie this year,” Kate said.

“Again, thank you,” Jamie said.

“Any questions about all that?” Mary Beth asked.

“My house has both our names on the deed,” Jamie said. “I want to sell it, but what happens now?”

“Where are you financed?” Mary Beth already had her phone out.

When Jamie told her, Mary Beth made a phone call, asked a few questions, and smiled when she hung up. “Were you aware that you bought insurance that stated in the event of your death, or his, the house would be paid for in full? You need to send them a copy of the death certificate and they will process the paperwork at that time.”

“You mean the house is totally paid for now?” Jamie asked.

“That’s right. Conrad is dead, so it is paid for as soon as they get the death certificate.” Mary Beth nodded.

“Would you take care of all that for her, please?” Kate was every bit as happy as Jamie with the news.

“Be glad to. Anything else?”

“His van?”

“He still owes ten thousand dollars on it. The police have released it, and it’s at the company parking lot. What do you want to do with it, Kate?”

“Sell it for enough to pay it off or take a loss on it. I don’t care. I don’t want to see it again,” she answered.

“Then I think that’s all of it. Other than if you’ve given any thought to your mother’s retirement.”

“Yes, I have, but I haven’t decided what I’m going to do about it yet. I still have four more weeks, right?”

“Actually, you have until the last day of this year.” Mary Beth closed the files and put them inside her briefcase. “And here we are, at your house. I’m glad that we’ve gotten everything cleared up and can move forward. I’m sorry that the murder hasn’t been solved and that it’s hanging over your head. Right when you should be taking over the business.” Mary Beth shook her head slowly. “It’s not a good thing.”

Kate knew that it was ruining her reputation a day at a time, but right then, she was far happier with Jamie’s news than with the worry of her own problems. “I know, Mary Beth, but it is what it is and we can’t change it.”

Jamie stuck out her hand and shook Mary Beth’s a long time. “I can’t believe I don’t have to make house payments. Thank you.”

“You are very welcome.” Mary Beth smiled.

“What are you going to do with it now?” Amanda asked. “Rent it out?”

“No, I’m putting it on the market to sell,” Jamie said.

The car came to a stop in front of Kate’s house, and the driver opened the door for them. “Y’all have a nice day, Miz Kate.”

Kate had never hugged Mary Beth before, but she slipped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed. “Thank you for everything.”

Mary Beth’s smile warmed her heart. “It’s my job.”

“Still, I want you to know you are appreciated.” Kate crawled out of the car behind the rest of her crew. “How’s the family, Lucas?”

“Doin’ well, ma’am. Grandson graduates from college at the end of the summer. We’re right proud of him. He’ll make a fine Fort Worth policeman.”

“I’m sure he will,” Kate said. “If you are Mother’s driver today, tell her that I missed seeing her.”

“I’ll be sure to do that.” Lucas tipped his hat toward her and turned back to the vehicle to drive Mary Beth to hers.

Later, she’d call her mother and tell her the courthouse news. She would have liked to see her that day, but with Teresa, business always came before family. And as she’d told Mary Beth, it was what it was and some things never changed.

Kate turned around and motioned toward her car. “Now let’s go inside the house and get our luggage and load up my car. Then Amanda can find the nearest IHOP on the GPS and we’ll get some breakfast.”

“French toast for me!” Gracie wiggled her shoulders.

It took only a few minutes to load the car, and Amanda poked buttons on the GPS system. “I can’t believe that it was over so quick,” Amanda said.