Free Treasured Past by Linda Hill Page A

across her chest.
    “These windows are wonderful. You could take advantage of the light coming in by putting in a window seat. Nothing too extravagant. Simple but in keeping with the woodwork in the rest of the room.”
    She continued to describe her vision until I could almost see the room transform before me. I was nodding, agreeing with her, watching the enthusiasm grow on her face.
    “It’s a great idea,” I told her. “What else?”
    She turned immediately to the far end of the room where an old stone fireplace was centered in the wall. At some point someone had painted it the same white color as the walls.
    “The fireplace is beautiful. I bet that the stones underneath the paint would be perfect if we could strip it off. Does the fireplace work?”
    I shrugged. “I’ve never tried it.”
    “You should probably get it checked out. I imagine it would make a big difference in what you decide to do with it if you couldn’t actually use it.”
    “That makes sense.” I studied the imposing stone mantel, trying to imagine what it might look like if the cold dark center below it was bright with flame.
    “Wouldn’t it be nice to have a cozy rug near the fireplace, with a soft, comfy couch?”
    I nodded. “I love it. You have a wonderful eye.” Annie focused on me once again. “Do you think so?”
    “Yes. Everything sounds beautiful. But I don’t have a clue about where to start.”
    Annie’s eyebrows pulled together as she thought. “Let me make a couple of phone calls. You need to get some estimates from people who are familiar with doing renovations. You don’t want some hack to come in here and put up traditional woodwork. Whoever does it will have to be able to replicate what’s currently here.” She walked toward me and frowned. “This is going to be expensive.”
    “It sounds like it,” I told her.
    She screwed up her face in an apologetic cringe. “Do you have a budget in mind?”
    “I do have a limited bank account.” I laughed.
    “But let’s start putting some numbers together and see what we come up with.”
    “Really?” She seemed barely able to contain herself.
    “If you’re sure you really want to do this.”
    “Kate, this is wonderful.” She stepped forward, wrapping her arms around my neck and squeezing me tightly. I know the hug only lasted a few seonds , but it felt as though time was suspended. The clean, fresh scent of her hair filled my nose as I took one deep breath. The unexpected feel of her arms around me and the closeness of her body against mine left me unable to breathe.
    When she finally released me, it wasn’t until I saw the smile on her face that I could finally exhale. The sound of the air leaving my lungs was like a heavy, yearning sigh.

CHAPTER TWELVE
    My strategy was simple. Say nothing to Donald about my meeting with Melanie. Give no indication of what I’d learned at all. Nearly weeks had passed since our meeting, and I knew that Donald was beginning to stew. It wasn’t like him not to stop in and ask for a status report on where his son’s case was headed. But I knew that he was waiting for me to come to him, and I refused.
    I had spoken with Donald Junior only once since our initial meeting, to let him know that a court date had been set for mid August, a full ten weeks away. I mentioned that I had met with his wife’s lawyer and that we had discussed terms of the settlement but had reached no conclusions.
    He reminded me again that he wouldn’t settle for anything less than the value of the house. Funny. The way he’d phrased it, it sounded as though he wasn’t really interested in the house itself. Just the price that it would fetch and the money it would put in his pocket.
    I had wondered how long it would take Donald to find his way into my office. But after three weeks, I didn’t have to wait any longer.
    “Am I interrupting?” Donald’s white hair was in stark contrast with his tanned skin. I knew that his question was a mere