I put the letters and photos together that I had found proof in that my mother and Rebel were together. The rest I tucked away back in the attic where they belonged. I sent Rio a text to let him know I found some information and when he had time I would tell him. I didn’t say anything about Hillya though. I would but just not yet. I wasn’t sure if I should talk to her or tell him first.
Saul hadn’t texted or called since I got home. He could be dealing with Lily getting released from the hospital and I didn’t want to bother him. This was all very new and kissing and attraction didn’t clarify how to handle things with him. I would wait until he contacted me. Sitting here doing nothing was pointless though.
I had the next item on Gran’s list and it seemed simple enough. That of course didn’t mean it was. I wasn’t sure I wanted anymore revelations right now. Taking a hat box filled with my gran’s scarfs, some costume jewelry, and a beaded purse that I had never seen her carry to a Miss Keerly Evans didn’t seem like it could lead to anything. Unless I was going to find out that Keerly Evans was my long-lost cousin or sister or even that I was adopted and this was my real mother.
I seriously doubted all those things and put the address Gran had left into my GPS then took the hat box to my car. The house was only ten miles away. I could get this done and marked off the list. That would leave me with only two more things to do before it was complete.
The address was located in a nice subdivision just out of town. The homes were newer and all large. The driveways had bikes, basketball goals, and other items that said kids lived there. The back yards had tall privacy fences and I imagined pools. When I pulled into the driveway of Miss Keerly Evans’ home, there was a three-car garage tucked off to the back left of the house and one of the garage doors was up. I could see a new Mercedes SUV parked inside.
This looked harmless enough, but thanks to Gran’s previous request, I was still a little nervous as I walked up the sidewalk with the hat box in my hands. “Please, Gran, just let this be simple. No relations I didn’t know about or life-changing events,” I whispered before I reached the front porch.
The two large wooden doors looked like elaborate barn doors. I pressed the doorbell and waited. This was one of the larger homes in the subdivision and I wondered why someone who lived here would want Gran’s old scarves and fake jewelry.
When the door on the right opened, a lady with long pale blonde hair draped over one bare tanned shoulder stood there smiling at me. She wore a pair of white shorts and a hot pink tank top. Her feet were bare and her toenails were painted the same color as her shirt.
“Hello,” she said then looked from me to the hat box. It took only a moment for her to recognize the box. I could see her eyes widen before they shifted back up to meet mine. “You’re Honey’s granddaughter.”
I nodded. “Yes. Are you Keerly Evans?” I asked.
Her bright smile widened and her perfect white teeth made you wonder if there was any flaw on this woman. “Oh no, I’m Isla Evans. Please come inside,” she said, stepping back. “It’s blazing out there today.”
I came inside the house and it smelled of coconut. It was as if the house had been bathed in suntan oil. Isla closed the door behind me and walked over to the wide curved staircase and called out, “Keerly!” Then she turned back to me. “She’s going to be so excited.”
“Great,” I replied unsure what else to say.
“Would you like something to drink? I just made a pitcher of fresh lemonade. Keerly likes to help me squeeze the lemons. It takes entirely too long, but it entertains her so that’s how we do it,” Isla said, just as small footsteps caught her attention. We both turned to look up the stairs at the railing and a little girl with dark brown curls and big brown eyes stared down at us.
“What Momma?” she asked and I understood then. They must go to Gran’s church. Gran loved to keep the nursery and preschool at church. Keerly must have been one of her little friends.
“Honey sent you something.” Isla glanced back at me. “Her granddaughter brought it to you.”
The little girl’s small chubby hands grabbed the rails as she peeked through them down at me. She looked to be about three maybe. “But you said Honey went to live with Jesus.” Her voice sounded sad and unsure.