Page 2 of Crazy Little Thing Called Love

“Go away, Del.” His sister reached over the bar to smack the back of his head.

“Ow!” He rubbed the offended spot. “What was that for?”

“You know what. You’re being an ass. Now go away so I can talk to my best friend in private.”

“Fine, but I’m only going because I have to grab more ice from the back. Not because you’re the boss of me.”

Charlie snorted. “Please, I’m the boss of all of you.”

Charlie was the third of the four Jackson siblings, ahead of Del but behind the twins, Ace and BJ. However, being the only girl meant she had the ability to wrap her brothers around her finger when she wanted. Cassie had seen it numerous times over the years. In her opinion, Charlie was indeed the boss of her brothers.

“Then I’m taking a ten, boss.” Del gave a smart-ass salute. Shifting his gaze to Cassie, he winked again. “If you need a husband, I’m always available. Enjoy your drink.”

With that, he turned and headed into the back.

Marry Del, ha! She wasn’t that desperate. Or stupid.

“Ignore my idiot brother.”

“I always do.”

Charlie chuckled. “Now, spill it.”

Grabbing the toothpick from her drink, Cassie swirled the stick in the liquid before bringing it up to her lips to pop one of the pimento-stuffed olives into her mouth. She chewed, enjoying the salty flavor before answering.

“I met with Gran’s lawyer today.”

Charlie’s face softened, and she covered Cassie’s hand with her own. “Oh sweetie, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were hearing the will today. I would have gone with you.”

Thankful for her friend’s endless support, Cassie shook her head. “No, it’s okay. I was fine on my own. I didn’t want to bother you.”

“It’s never a bother to be there for you. You know that.”

She did. Charlie had been great these past few months through all the late-night calls and tears. Her friend stood by her side when she had to move her grandmother into hospice care, literally holding her up as she made the heart-wrenching decision to take her grandmother off life support after the doctor announced a lack of brain activity. Charlie was closer than a friend. She was a sister at heart, and Cassie wouldn’t have made it through the loss of her grandmother without her.

“I know.” Cassie squeezed her best friend’s hand, pouring all her thanks into the action.

“What did the will say? Is there a problem?”

Her stomach sank. “Yes. A big one. Gran put a…stipulation in her will.”

“A stipulation? Regarding what?”

Taking a deep breath, Cassie clutched her friend’s hand tighter. “Regarding me and the ownership of the house.”

The house. Her home. The only home she had ever truly known. The only place she felt safe and secure. From age thirteen, Cassie had lived with her grandmother in a beautiful Queen Anne style house. Its bright yellow and white trim filled her soul with happiness from the moment she crossed the threshold as a devastated teenager who’d lost first one parent and then the other.

Losing her parents ripped a hole in her that she knew would never be filled, but living with Gran helped ground her. She loved this town, she’d loved her grandmother, and she loved the house.

And now she might lose it forever.

It wasn’t like she’d be homeless. She had her trust fund, and the money she made from her jewelry business could pay for a modest apartment in town, but it wouldn’t be her home. Not like Gran’s place. Losing the house would be like losing another piece of herself.

Charlie shook her head, a frown marring her face. “But I thought your grandmother was leaving it to you in her will? She said she would.”

“She did, but…”

“But what? What’s the stipulation?”

---