“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.
“Me, either,” Jamie agreed. “We weren’t in there more than twenty minutes.”
“Fifteen, to be exact,” Kate said as she started the engine.
“Just like that”—Amanda snapped her fingers—“I am now a Hilton again. My baby will always be a Hilton. Thank you, Kate, for getting the ball rolling for us.”
“I never knew that you had such a big name, Kate,” Jamie said.
“Let me introduce myself. I am Katherine Elizabeth Truman, but my friends all call me Kate.”
Jamie smiled. “Pleased to meet you, Kate. I’m Jamillia Juanita Mendoza, and all my friends call me Jamie.”
Amanda nodded seriously. “I’m Amanda Christine Hilton, and I’m just Amanda.”
“Well, I am Grace Elizabeth Ruth—what’s our name again, Mama?”
“Mendoza.”
“Okay.” Gracie took a deep breath. “I’m Gracie Mendoza, and Mama only calls me by all my names if I’m in trouble.”
“I’m honored to meet all of you.” Kate followed Amanda’s directions to the nearest IHOP. She and Gracie shared a middle name. That did make the little girl partly hers, now didn’t it?
They shopped. They ate. They laughed. They argued. And at the close of the day, Kate drove them all the way home and parked in the driveway at the cabin just as the sun dropped below the horizon.
Poor Gracie greeted their arrival with a tiny snore. Jamie eased her daughter out of the car and carried her inside. Amanda started to get out but grabbed her stomach with a wince.
“I’m fine.” Amanda smiled. “It’s just been a big day. Thanks again for everything, Kate. I’m going to have the best-dressed baby girl in Bootleg, Texas.”
“Hey, it’s amazing how far the dollar can be stretched at those places y’all took me to. And you are very welcome. It made me feel like I was really a part of something when you and Jamie let me buy a few things,” Kate told her.
“Do you feel like because you have money that we . . .” Amanda paused.
“Sometimes having money is as hard as not having it. That doesn’t make sense, but it puts me at a disadvantage with folks who don’t have as much as I do. I never want to make either of you feel like . . . well, you know. It makes me so happy to do things for y’all and for Gracie, but I don’t want . . .”
Amanda laid her hand on Kate’s arm. “I know what you are trying to say. I can never do for you financially what you do for me, but if you ever need anything I can provide, all you have to do is ask.”