“I’ve never seen her move that fast.” Carolina stared after her. “She always said she had a bad hip.”
“She looked fine to me. I can’t believe you called the cops on her.”
“I actually didn’t.” She looked up at him. “I called Bernice.”
A familiar car pulled into the driveway. Bernice rolled down the window and looked between the two of them. “Is she gone?”
“Yes, but when I called you I was calling her bluff. I didn’t mean for you to call the cops.”
“I didn’t call the cops.” She sneered. “I tripped my house alarm. I knew they would send a police car out. The siren you heard was them at my house.”
“That’s actually brilliant,” Carolina smiled.
“What would be more brilliant is you getting back to work. I had three people who live on the lake come by after you left. They said they saw your front door and were asking if we could do something like that for them.”
She brightened. “See I told you it would bring in business.”
“Good thing too. You still owe me for my vet bill.”
“I know, I know.” She looked at Thomas. “Everything okay here?”
“Yeah. Next time I get a crazy lady I can’t handle I will definitely call you.” He grinned.
Driving back to work, Carolina couldn’t help but feel she’d won a major battle that day.
She had never measured up when it came to her ex-mother-in-law. But today, she’d at least earned her respect. Janice would never cross her again.
But that was all in the past.
And now she could focus on looking toward her future.
Chapter 33
It was Sunday and she had the day off. She spent it by sleeping in until seven and enjoying her cup of coffee on the back deck with Phoenix.
“Hello? Is anyone home?”
She jumped in her seat. “Yes?” She stood and Phoenix barked at the woman coming from around the front of the house. The woman was around her same age and was very attractive with blond hair and blue eyes. In her youth she would have been stunning.
“I tried knocking but no one answered.” She cast a worried look at Phoenix. “Does he bite?”
“He hasn’t yet.” She tightened the belt on her robe and crossed her arms over her chest. “Can I help you?”
“Yeah, Bernice told me you’re the owner of this house. My name is Hannah Reece. I live next door.”
“I’m Carolina Johnson, nice to meet you.” She smiled.
“I’ve been trying to contact the owner for months trying to get compensated for the damage to my mailbox that your renters caused.” Hannah eyed her suspiciously.
“I heard about that when I arrived.” Her own smile slipped.
“You didn’t know about the damage when it occurred?” Hannah cocked her head like she didn’t believe her.
“No I didn’t. You see my husband, I mean my ex-husband, rented the lake house out and took care of all of that. I never knew anything about it. He kept me away from that kind of information. He kept me away from a lot of things.” She sighed. “Anyway, I got the lake house in the divorce. Along with all the issues.” She held up a finger. “Let’s go inside so I can write down all your information.”
Hannah nodded slowly and walked up the steps and into the house.
“Would you like some coffee?” Carolina pulled out a pen and pad from a kitchen drawer. She refilled her coffee cup and looked over at Hannah.
