Page 72 of Fresh Old Bounties

“Nothing’s wrong, Mom. Good morning!”

Mom groaned. “Who did you inherit that sunny morning attitude from, because it surely wasn’t from me.”

“As you keep telling me, the Fae stole your real baby and left me behind.”

She laughed. “They sure did. Now, what is it so urgent that you’re calling this early on a weekday?” Her voice sobered. “Does it have something to do with your grandmother? Are you still bothered by her death?”

“Who is it?” my stepdad asked in the background.

“It’s Hope.”

“Ah. Tell her hello from me.”

“Hello, Dan,” I said loudly.

“Hope,” Mom chastised. “My ear.” To my stepdad she said, “She says hello.”

“Mom, do you know who Grandma’s friends were? I’m thinking of doing something special for her birthday.”

“Her friends? No, sorry, honey. I know she had a few friendly neighbors, but I didn’t spend long enough with her to know about her friends. Wait, no. I remember another lady of her age who used to hang around sometimes when I dropped you off. Let me think.”

She mulled on this while I opened a new note on the laptop, ready to write down names.

“I think it was…Miranda? Mandy? Something with an M and an N in it.”

I typed both names dutifully, if a little disappointed that’s all she remembered. “You don’t remember her last name?”

“Oh, no way. It’s been way too long. She seemed nice, though. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have left you alone with them.”

“Of course not.”

“Your grandma was a good woman, Hope. I hope you know this. No matter how your father turned out, it was of no fault of hers. She loved you very much.”

“I know, Mom.” I blinked away the sudden wetness in my eyes. “Thank you.”

“I’m sorry I can’t help you more. You could come for a visit and drive over, if you’re bent on finding her friends. I’m sure they still remember her.”

“I can’t afford the time off right now.”

“I see.”

From her tone of voice, she clearly saw none of it.

“What about her belongings?” I asked. “Grandma’s I mean. Do we still have anything left from her? A couple of boxes in the garage?”

“None that I know of. Her lawyer donated everything except for her journal, which went to you.”

The mention of a lawyer perked me up. “Do you remember the lawyer’s name? Did you keep their business card?”

“No, sorry, hon. We only interacted a few times.”

“That’s too bad.”

“What you’re trying to do is very nice, Hope. But don’t worry too much if it doesn’t pan out, okay? Your grandma wouldn’t have liked you to stress about her.”

“I promise I won’t. All happiness, no stress.”

“That’s my changeling.”

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