Page 79 of Find Me in California

A chill ripples across Matt’s shoulders. “Are you saying she planned to die today?”

“No, she had a stroke. I just find it—” She stalls.

“Odd?” Matt supplies. Liza wasn’t just out of money. She was short of time too.

“I guess.” Lenore shrugs.

“So why move here for just a year? She had a house in Beverly Hills. She had money.”

“From what her power of attorney told me, she sold her house last year and donated her estate across several charities and philanthropies, including the Hollywood Arts Council, Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, and the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, if I remember correctly.”

He leans forward. “Did she come here because of Julia’s grandmother?” Julia had wondered if there was a connection.

“I don’t have an answer to that. I do know she and Ruby Rose had history and that Liza was frustrated Ruby couldn’t remember her. On multiple occasions I had the impression Liza had something important to tell Ruby.”

“Do you know what about?” It couldn’t have been what Julia told him about Adam. He doesn’t see how that information would be relevant to Julia’s grandmother.

“I don’t, but you can ask Adam.”

His ears tighten at the name, which has new meaning to him. “You found him?”

“His daughter reached me a little over an hour ago.”

“His daughter?” If Adam is his grandfather, that would make her his aunt. He sinks back into the chair.

“Adam suffered a fall. He’s recovering from a broken femur and a concussion. He only remembered his duty to Liza this evening and asked his daughter to call me. Siobhan said her dad was acting strangely, mumbling something about Liza dying and that her spirit had visited him. He’s sorry he wasn’t there when she passed.”

“I was with her. He might find some comfort in that.”

“I’ll be sure to let him know,” Lenore says.

“Where is he now? I’d like to pay him a visit.” Matt wants to ask him if it’s true. Is he Matt’s grandfather?

“You can call Siobhan.” Lenore writes the phone number on a sticky note. “She’ll let you know if he’s up for visitors. I imagine there are a few more things to be settled with Liza’s estate now that she’s passed.”

“Thank you.”

Matt and Lenore both stand.

“I’m sorry things didn’t turn out differently, but I’m glad you finally came. Liza would have been pleased to know you were at her side.”

A note of disagreement rumbles in his throat.

They shake hands, and Matt leaves to meet Julia in the lobby. She jumps out of her chair when she sees him and rushes over. “I’m so sorry about earlier. I feel horrible springing that on you about Adam.”

“It’s all right. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. It’s been one thing after another today.” He looks down at the paper with Siobhan’s phone number and can barely read the numbers because his hand is shaking so much.

Julia rests a hand on his, steadying the tremors. “Come home with me. I’ll cook dinner. We can talk.”

Emotion presses behind his eyes. He nods tightly, way past the ability to make any more decisions today. He picks up Liza’s box from the floor near where Julia sat, and together, they walk to her car.

CHAPTER 39

JULIA

Julia waited longer than she should have, risking injury to Mama Rose and herself, before moving her grandmother into assisted living, and now she’s dragging her feet to move her to a more affordable place.

She excels at procrastinating, but she isn’t known for her patience.

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