Page 17 of A December to Remember
“Okay, take Star’s side, like you always do.”
“That’s simply not true, is it, Simone? I’m as bloody Switzerland as they come, but you make it very difficult sometimes.” Maggie was trying to keep her cool, but this was a lot to take in and Simone was not helping.
“Ladies, if I might be allowed to continue?” Vanessa appeared unruffled by the outburst; she had long been impervious to their bickering.
The sisters sat chastened.
“Sorry, Vanessa,” Maggie said, and her sisters followed suit, mumbling their apologies.
“I know this is a lot for you. But wearedealing in legalities here, and as a solicitor, I can serve you better if you let me do my job. These are the instructions for the first task.” She waved the unfolded paper and began to read.
“My girls, listen closely to what the nice solicitor is reading.”
Vanessa looked up pointedly.
“Hidden within North Novelties & Curios are thirty-two Monopoly houses. Working together you must find all thirty-two and present them to Steele & Brannigan. Upon receipt and verification,you will be presented with the key to a lockbox that holds the deeds tothe building, land, and the woods, and a comprehensive ledger containing details of every item in the shop, as well as details that will help you in your winter solstice endeavors...”
“Easy,” said Simone. “I’ll drive over to Lakeside now and pick up a Monopoly game. Job done. We’ll give you the houses, and you can hand over the key.”
“Good idea.” Maggie patted her arm. “We can come with you.”
“I could do some Christmas shopping,” added Star.
“Ahem.”
All eyes turned back to Vanessa, who cast her own back down to the paper and continued to read.
“And before one of you—probably Simone—gets any ideas about simply purchasing a fresh game of Monopoly...”
Simone shook her head, her mouth pulling between a pout and a smile. Star chirruped out a giggle, and Maggie grinned at their father’s uncanny ability to pin them even from the grave.
Vanessa continued,“You should know that I have customized each house in some way, details of which are inside a sealed envelope”—Vanessa held up said envelope while continuing to read—“which is only to be opened upon receipt of all thirty-two houses, whereupon they will be marked off against written details of my customizations. Happy hunting, my babes of the woods. May Artemis watch over your endeavors!”
“Crafty old fox.” Maggie sighed. “Does he mean Artemis the Greek goddess or the cat?”
“Both, probably,” said Simone. “Can’t be the same cat from when we were kids, can it?”
“It looks the same.” Maggie shrugged. “Answers to the same name.”
“To be fair, a stray will answer to any name if you feed it,” said Vanessa.
“But to have the exact same markings?” Star was incredulous.
“Well, I remember her from when I was maybe three years old, which would make her over forty, which is impossible.”
“Dad said she came with the shop,” said Star.
“So that would make her like seventy years old?” Simone balked.
“That’s assuming she was a kitten when Dad inherited.”
“Maybe this Artemis is like the original Artemis’s great grandchild,” Star suggested. “She slept on the end of my bed last night.”
“Did you sleep in our old room?” Simone asked.
“Yeah. It felt too weird to go into Dad’s room. It’s just the same in there, you know, still the old daisy wallpaper.”
“That was faded even when we were little,” said Simone.
