Page 32 of The Best Friend Power Play

My phone buzzes again.

I'm expecting to see another message from Hannah, most likely a GIF with some dorky cartoon guy dancing terribly in an apron, but it's not from her.

My heart surges into my throat when I see it's a text from Ma.

Ma: Can you call me?

I smash the green call button immediately.

"I'm sorry I ruined our night of carbs and reality TV," I say as I speed down the highway driving Hannah's Jeep.

"Don't be silly. All that can wait. Nothing is more important than family."

I glance over at her and smile. "Thank you."

It's about a twenty-minute drive from Comfort Bay to Starlight Cove where my parents live.

"Are you okay?" she asks.

"I'm fine. Really. It's Ma I'm worried about."

It's been three months since her dad—my grandfather, a man I've never even laid eyes on—died, so I'm glad the probate lawyer finally called. The sooner the will is read, the sooner our family can move on.

Especially Ma.

Her father wasn't a good person. He gave her an ultimatum when she met Pa, that if she married him, he'd cut her out of his life for good.

Ma was young and in love and had a fiery streak of independence, so she followed her heart.

True to his word, the old man cut Ma out of his life.

But really, he cut himself off from all the good stuff—getting to know his grandkids, spending holidays together, being a family.

Luckily Dad's side of the family more than made up for it. Nonna has eleven kids, my Dad being the youngest, so we have cousins, aunts, and uncles galore. About half are scattered throughout Monterey County and the rest are back in Italy.

"Do you have any idea of what to expect from the will?" Hannah asks.

"I don't. The optimist in me hopes he leaves his substantial fortune to Ma. Not that it makes up for what he did, but the money could really help them out. They could both retire, and…I don't know. Do whatever they want to."

"And what does the pessimist in you think?"

My jaw bunches up. "That my grandfather will find some way to twist the knife from beyond the grave."

"Whatever happens…" Hannah places her hand on my leg. "Your mother will be surrounded by family who love her."

I smile, and our eyes meet briefly. "That's what's getting me through this."

"Will Nonna and your brothers be there?"

"Yeah. Nonna was already at their place when they got the call from the lawyer, and Malik and Farrow are on their way."

"What about Brock?"

I shake my head. My oldest brother is in his reclusive-mountain-man era and doesn't even own a cell phone. "Ma and Pa will most likely go visit him in Cedar Crest Hollow and tell him in person."

"Right. Okay. What about Bianca and Sandy?"

Bianca is Malik's wife, Sandy is Farrow's.

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